How to make an unexpected surprise.

Hmm.

I remember telling you guys a couple of posts back that I had received a handwritten and hand-delivered letter from a classmate of mine. I also remember that I intended to reply with a poem and CD including one of my earlier songs.

Telling this to Char, she said that my classmate should be happy with my reply, but I think I'm over-loading on the tension due to my inability to send out the reply soon enough.

Yesterday, she reminded me of her existence by messaging me a lame joke about Singapore Idol. I didn't know what to do then, so I didn't reply, cuz I didn't want to go like: 'Oh (very sarcastically), right!!!'

Anyhow, I don't really like Singapore Idol. I don't like much commercialised stuff (except 'The Amazing Race') cuz it tends to get fake and lame sooner or later. And that's saying a lot since this is only the first Idol for singapore.

I mean, come on... half of the bloody contestants can barely sing (Taufik, Olinda and Jessea excluded) while another half have hardly any showmanship developing through the contest.

I know this because I endured one episode to update my Idol knowledge. I am sadly disappointed by everything. Even Taufik cannot hold his own anymore.

And I don't wish to say anything about Sly: if I do, legions of his fans will be after my arse. All I can say is, there isn't the right combo.

Anyhow, I could always resort to 8 Days to get my info (however trashy it can get). I just won't be able to trust it wholly.

Sly sucks, people!!!!!

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Dinner Is Served

Hmm.

Being a banquet waiter is kinda interesting, that is, if you get over the fact that the stress involved to be courteous, polite and efficient in your job is high and you can handle it well.

I did a dinner for the CPF (Cntral Provident Fund) Board last night, and it went well. i was nice, polite, a bit over-zealous in blustrous behaviour but you can hardly blame me. There were a lot of very beautiful people there.

Ok, forget the last comment.

I'm glad to say I was efficient in my service, and if the guests humoured with me, I humoured with them:

Guest1: 'There are only five fried buns and five steamed for the shark's fin arh? can have all fried or not?'

C: 'Oh, I'm so sorry, the chef only prepared five of both types per table.. so I'm terribly afraid we cannot change that...'

Guest2: 'Yeah, lucky I took a fried one, otherwise no more left'

Guest3: 'Maybe you took one which got dropped on the floor, and they picked it up'

Guest1: 'Is that true?'

I didn't know what to say, but one guest voiced the one thing going through my head at that point in time:

Guest3: 'No comment?'

C; "No comment, yeah.'

then the whole table laughed, while I continued to serve the remainder of the Shark's fin soup.


Anyhow, my focus that night was on the dessert (muahahahahaha) cuz it included sweet corn with milk and sago, and after that, chocolate cake.

I managed to whisk three pieces of cake away after the guest couldn't take anymore, and I thoroughly enjoyed it by myself. Of course I invited two more people to join me in enjoying the cake. i also managed to copp some sparkling juice (half a bottle).

Ahh, life a a banquet waiter:

Stress is there, but if you are smart and fast, then you are ok. Also, there is free food.

Ok, please don't all of you become a banquet waiter cuz you'll be stealing my business.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Academic results and Mother's Love IX

Hmm.

My school results came out recntly, and my mother wasn't really happy. Well, I told her my results over the phone, and i could hear her unhappy tone over the phone. I, therefore became unhappy since she was unhappy with my results and I accidentally cut her off because my phone became unhappy with our unhappy conversation and developed the unhappy habit of conking off whenever it could, and causing me to be further unhappier.

Urgh.

She said that I should cut down on my guitar time, and start focussing on being the best. When expressing my views she was being very negative about my marks, especially since it was just the first semester, she said this:

'I'm being supportive of you, you know, and I'm trying to encourage you to get better results' all the while sounding as though she were talking to a new-born.

For your very information, my guitar playing (though it may take up a considerable amount of time everyday) is completely out of my mind whenever I focus on my school work, and telling me to hang the darn thing up is in no way encouraging me to do better in school.

I dunno, maybe I'm just so paranoid about whatevr she says that it turns out negative to my ears everytime.

Anyhow, recently saw some DVDs featuring the band Yes, and they really rock dude!!! Steve Howe is really one guitar pro. Chris Squire is a great showman-cum-bass player, and Jon Anderson's vocals bring the audience really close together.

I just wish I could bring on such expertise in my playing and singing... I suck terribly recently (no thanks to pressure from mother to quite guitar).

Anyhow, check out next time, gotta go.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Smoking Woes

Hmm.

Blogging at Chri's place now, since I can't go online at my place (technically) I decided to blog at his place. Right.

A couple of days back (just after the sleepy talk on Wednesday) Alvin and I were walking to Bugis Junction, and there was a lady smoking ahead of us... being the blunt and sarcastic personality, I decided to bring up the topic of smoking in asia.

C: 'Hey, you read recently in the papers? Some dude suggested that Cigerette packs go up to 30 bucks just so to discourage smoking?'

Al: 'Oh? that expensive?'

C: 'Yeah, smoking really is a terrible habit' (at this point in time, Alvin notices I'm talking about the smoking lady)

Al: 'Hmm.' then very quietly 'You just had to do that right?'

Then being the evil and blunt person I am, I literally shouted out:

C: 'Yeah!!!! Smoking sucks you know!'


Anyhow, before I came to Chris's place, I bought some clorets at a local mama shop. I dunno what came over the shoplady, she offered me to buy some cigerettes.

I just kindly smiled and said 'no thanks', though in my mind, and silently thinking:

'IF YOU DARE ASK ME TO BUY YOUR BLOODY CIGS AGAIN, I WILL TEAR YOUR HEAD OFF'

Anyhow, I reached Chris's place to find his mom sleeping face down, and I thought I had walked into a crime scene... you know, kinda freaky to see a person face down, and motionless..

Yeah. next time I see that, I'll be calling the cops.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

John Denver Rulz baby!!!! and Murky waters of Songwriting VI

Hmm.

I recently borrowed Alvin's 'The Very Best Of John Denver' and it really sounds great... from a technical and musical point of view.... his vocals are very well brought out, though stuff like the drums aren't that significant in the sound. I just couldn't stop listening to 'take me home, country road'. I'm gonna learn it someday.

Anyhow, I just recorded my souped-up, electrified, earth-shattering version of 'Majulah Singapurah', our nation's national anthem, and it includes feedback and some wierd stuff.

Apparently, when I asked Char the last time about my 'live' version, which I played for the debate team, she said it sounded like a joke, and Juline said it didn't sound metal enough.

Urgh. It was just supposed to be 'souped-up', 'electrified' and 'earth-shattering'. Actually, just playing it with an electric guitar and using feedback with the song should place it in those three areas. Alvin heard it previously before anyone else, but I actually woke him up on National Day this year just to play it for him.

Heeheehee: he wanted to get away from the phone.

Anyhow, I was revisiting my more recent compositions (which involved E-flat tunings, and other wierd tunings) which remind you of Nick Drake stuff.... I want to remove myself now from him cuz it's getting quite saddening.

Do not get me wrong: Nick Drake rules, baby.

I also managed to watch Alvin's original 1969 'The Italian Job', and though it is very british, and funny in certain places, the plot lacks the *wham-factor* and plods at the end... much like most of Dan Brown's books (with the exception of 'Angels And Demons').

I just wish to apologise for keeping you avid blog-readers waiting.. read previous post to see why.

I'll be *secretly* going online to blog just for you folks... keep on rocking, and keep you (hopefully) laughing, and watching out for Char, cuz she wants to whack me, wring my neck, chase after me on a bike etc... (OOOOOOH!!!!)

Haha, just kidding.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Mother's love VIII and Murky Waters of Songwriting V

Hmm.

My mum recenty banned me from going online for the rest of this month..... guess I'm not that good at following orders huh (judging that I'm blogging right now)?

So here I was sitting here blogging away, and she comes in:

Mother: 'I want to whack you'

C: 'WHAT??? Why? I never do anything what...' (heeheehee, Alvin)

Mother: 'How often you go online?'

C: 'maybe twice per day' (I'm lying through my braces folks)

Mother: 'Well, (shouts somethng unintelligible), (shouts more things that aren't even words), you an't use the internet for the rest of his month'

C: 'Ok.. whatever..'

And I'm still blogging.

I manage to go to some talk with Alvin last night, the details are at his blog... all i can say, it was very dull and poetic, (note extreme sarcasm for last word) and eventhoughI was siting next to my lecturer, I was sleeping 80% of the bloody time.

That means it was (toot)ing boring guys....

Anyhow, receivd a handwriten, and had-delivered noe from my classmates, (she gave it to me herself) and I containedsome confidentialstuff which only Alvin and myself know abou. To give you a tantilising hint, it was about how both of us used to be friends, why we drifted apart, why she wants to get back, and she is sincere about getting back again.

She said she was miserable during the holidays because of the falling-out (frankly speaking, I didn't know why she was so miserable, but what the hey) and she wants to start afresh. I actually didn't realise she was trying to be mean or anything, or ignoring me. (it gets some use to, but I passed right?) and she hoped I would reconcile with her etc....

I sent her a birthday card complete with poem and ambigram.

I was nice to her until she grew cold and critical. Even then, I was just neutral, no warm stuff going her way.

I even thought she was well shot of me.


Being the *enigmatic* and *sophisticated* and surprisingly *subtle* individual, I wrote back a reply.

So I wrote a peom.

many people would notice I'm a very blunt person when it comes to my comments... and poems are supposed to have hidden meanings, et etc.. decipher them youself stuff right? After all, if she wants to get back, she'll have to work for it you know?

Well, I wasn't THAT cruel... I just re-recorded a new version of 'Starry Night' (my personal composition since early this year) which, by the way, also includes hidden meanings. And I burned it into a CDs for her. I workd on it until mid-night and early in the morning. I do my share o reconciliation ok? I'm not that evil. Actually maybe i am.... that's why the song is included.. keep her puzzled.

I am going to send it soon, so I'll keep you guys posted then.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Amazing Grace (how unsweet the sound)

Hmm.

Managed to record (or rather re-record it) 'Amazing Grace' with me on bowed electric guitar. It sounded wierd just plain by itself, and on top of all my mistakes, it really didn't seem to work.

However, once done, cannot be undone yes? Wrong.

That's why I love recording stuff: mistakes can be taken out! I just edited out the mistakes, added echo, reverb and away it went! I sounded kinda like Jimmy Page live, though he would have doen something less tame than what I did, you know what with his wah-wah pedals, theremin etc. mine was like a kitten compared to Jimmy Page's female tiger.

Anyhow, been helping my dad set up his booth at the Label Expo, at Singapore Expo. I left home at about 8;20 this morning, and was stuck there (excluding a short trip to nyp in the afternoon) until 5:30pm.

Kinda tired, almost dying cuz I worked 7am to 6pm yesterday, with both legs feeling like dried wood. I mean, I could hardly bend my legs due to the painful stiffness in them. I hate my job at the convention centre...

Anyhow, today went well and Label Expo (set-up) and we managed to complete the whole booth (along with my dad's old friend, and british counterpart) including machines and posters. All that remains is to lay out the brochures and wait fro the people to flow in.

However, I'll be missing the first action due to my dental appointment tomorrow, early in the morning. Sigh.

Jace has recently came back online and started blogging once more: she's been MIA since october 18th. thanks goodness she's back, and I do hope she'll start writing something that's not privy and overly sensitive cuz that'll cause her major repercussions and result in her never blogging again. I wish she'd just write about the fun stuff in life cuz that's where you really get the good taste right?

So I'm bogged down with my dad's exhibition until thursday (packing up time) and I'll be free on friday. wonder if the rest can make it on that day.

My cough has let up a bit, and I'm feeling better, legs included. So I'll be blogging off then, see y'all soon enough: mother's complaining.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

1st Cawldaddy Awards 2004

The voting Is Closed. The votes have been counted, and the decision is final: some things have been rigged... some just to provide pure laughter.

Awards:

Best hair: Helena Tan.

Worst Hair: Cao Yang (he deserves this more than Alvin cuz it actually really, really, looks bad)

Best Wardrobe: Ayob Bin Ismail (check out them shirts, mate!)

Worst Wardrobe: Alvin Chee (what d'ya expect? polos and high shirts... it really can't get better dude!)

Best Song: He's So Smart (kudos to Alvin this time round)

Worst Song: Perfect (classic punk-whine crap delivered from dumbasses who deserve to be shot, not awarded, but anyway)

Most Popular/ Notorious Personality: Tang Kam Yew

Least Popular Personality: Zelda Wu (by *popular* demand)

Character Awards:

Lame: Crawldaddy (sorry Alvin, I'm takin this one, and you know why... duh! I'm lame)

Silent: Lim Yoke Shyng (Minister of Silence kicks it once more)

Quirky: Ang Sian Lee (with he around, things will never be sian...)

Irritating: Zelda Wu (DUH)

Cool: Tan Jia Xiong (the bloke never sweats it doesn't he?)

Evil: Patrick Chia (Tight fight guys...)

Stupid: Zelda Wu (DUH again)

Quote Of The Year : Zelda: 'My face is worh millions!!!'

maybe it just really isn't that's why it is the quote of the year.. yes? yes?

Occurance of the year: Crawldaddy and Alvin playing cardboard box goalkeeping

Come one guys... anything can't be lamer than that!!!


Ok, total tally for Zelda: a whopping three awards, literally wiping away the oppositing in her nominated categories (Gail: 'What happenin'?') and I garnered one meself, for being lame.

Cheers, vote next time.

Crawldaddy

OT and other miscellaneous going-ons

Hmm.

Having a bout of cold/flue/whatever right now, so my throat is perpetually clogged up with uncloggable phlegm, thereby causing me to cough like a smoke-deprived smoker (I'll come to that later).

I just acquired Nick Drake's debut album 'Five Leaves Left', and so far it's pretty cool... I've lent Char my other Nick Drake CDs, but I do believe they didn't hit her that hard as much as the other stuff she listens to.

I went for work yesterday, and had OT until 1am. Guess what, waiting for the bus since 1.20 am, the bloody bus was late. And guess what? It arrived at 1.50am, and it was the same bloody bus driver who took me around half of singapore the last time I had OT.

Determined to not be driven around half the country again, I sat there as he asked people where they wanted to be dropped off, however, he had to reduce his busload of passengers since goign around half of singapore wasn't another thing he wanted to do, especially with me in the back staring into his back. He then decided to push several passengers to another bus coming along..

Bus driver: 'Hougang! Aow Buay!' (Hougang! behind!)

Bus driver: 'Ang Mo Kyeeooo! Aow Buay!' (Ang Mo Kio! Behind!)

Bus driver: 'St. Mikal arh? Le sii tolorh?' (St. Micheal's? Where you stay?)

and then he went on for a few more people before he finally came to those he was driving around (hopefully not around singapore). Pointing to those he wanted to speak to (via the reflection in the mirror), he barked out questions:

Bus driver: 'Ler! Tolorh?!' (you! where?)'

when he did this to me, I decided to do this:

'Potong Paseh!' (Potong Pasir), and doing so in my most irritaed and angry tone imaginable. I wasn't going to taken for a ride again (in both meanings, by the way).

In the end, I reached home at about 2:20, quite reasonable, after beign driven around the Boon Keng area, and then almost overshooting my drop-off point, and walking in the bloody rain.

I've watched 'American Pie 2', and thank goodness it's got less nudity, but just the right amount of crude humour (stuff involving super glue and walkie-talkies). It's a great movie about letting go and seeing the big picture. That's the good thing (one of them) about this movie.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Fun At Alvin's place.

Hmm.

I intended to have Alvin over at my place today in the morning. However, due to Murphy's Law hanging over my head since the holidays started, I eventually went to Alvin's place after lunch.

I returned him some of his CDs (Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol 1 and 3). I also brought him some of my recent recordings to peruse at his leisure, though I do believe some stuff is just plain crap. i also included Char's snoring clip... heeheehee.

I managed to take some shots of Alvin's now unveiled swollen pinky (see pictures below), and it simply looks wickedly painful. I mean, the dude had to do finger exercises, and seeing him wince was just about all I could handle after eating his chicken pie. Talk abotu pie, I'm watching my brother's brand new 'American Pie 2' DVD tonight.. nose bleeds coming soon...

I and Alvin managed to record down his parody of John Denver's 'Sunshine On My Shoulders', which transformed into his 'Freedom For My Finger', as seen on his blog. Apparently, we had to have several takes at the song because of some unneccasary interruptions etc. Anyhow, the final take was simply amazing due to the wonderful harmonization between Alvin's and my voice. It simply sounded wonderful, just Alvin's main vocal, my backup vocal, and a now repaired Tina (steel string acoustic).

Also we managed to squeeze out time to see one of Alvin's numerous 'Herbie' movies, you know that crazy Volkswagen beatle? yeah, pity I really didn't get as crazy about it as much as Alvin did ever since he was 4 yrs old huh?

Also managed to record down me bowing Alvin's banjo (no pictures guys), doing some kind of classical stuff on it. I really didn't know what I was doing. i intend to bow out 'Amazing Grace' on my electric very soon, the prototype version wasn't very, hmm, well done.

Also borrowed Alvin's original 1969 'The Italian Job' DVD and his 'The Very Best Of John Denver', which includes the very famous 'Take Me Home, Country Road'. I'm actaully listening to it now, very good album.

Well, I'll be looking forward to Alvin transferring our recording of 'Freedom Of My Finger' and my bowed-banjo 'Road To Monte Carlo' to me by tomorrow morning. Editing and mastering will commence then.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Alvin while doing finger exercises, clearly in pain. 

Another view of swollen pinky, with black spot marking the steel pin's position. 

Alvin's swollen pinky (notice black spots on the leftmost of pinky) with embedded steel pins. 

Alvin playing slide banjo (if you can believe it right?), song he was playing: roadhouse Blues, originally be Jimi Hendrix. 

Tina Is Fixed

Hmm.

In a spate of crude repair work involving my guitar-related possessions, I managed to fix my 'Bush' violin bow. Guess what...

I managed to fix my old acoustic guitar 'Tina' today, involving three screws, and a lot of courage.

'Tina' has a long history with me: Coming into my possession just before I turned 13, 'Tina' was named shortly after my first crush, who I incidentally, have fallen out of contact a year ago.

'Tina' was a gift from my Grand Uncle Peng Yew (alvin will remember him), when I approached him for guitar lessons. Grand Uncle actually found this guitar at the void deck of a HDB block, not really sure which block though.

Since I first touched 'her', 'Tina' became my only main guitar, until my aquisition of 'Estel' from my cousin.

'Tina''s untimely demise came shortly after my short spate of jamming with Chris Leow early this year, when she fell on her side and her neck split from one edge of the heel to next.

Shocked and saddened, I worked doubly hard to buy a new acoustic, being beyond doubt that 'Tina' would remain a thing of the past, just like the person.

In the end, I bought my (at present) main acoustic 'Crawldaddy'early in march, before I started jamming with Alvin, before The Fuzzy Green Grass started. soon after, came the electric 'Page' in April.

At this point of time, I was inactively searching for repair shops who could help me to repair 'Tina''s broken neck, but to no avail, no shop would touch the neck due to the amount of risk involved.

Personally, I didn't mind if 'Tina' was permanently disfigured, just so that she could be put back into action was my primary goal.

Time and money wasn't on my side. I refused to put the idea of throwing 'Tina' away simply due to the sentimental value she meant to me. After all, her tone and playability weren't that bad, just not so good.

In teh end, I resorted to epoxy, which worked for about twenty minutes before the split opened again.

I then decided to use three screws to secure the neck.

It worked.

I am now the proud owner of four guitars, and one mandolin.

The main lesson I've learnt from this experince is that nothing is impossible. Don't believe me? check out the pictures below.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Whole view of 'Tina'. Note paint job on body. 

THE most butt-ugly repair work I have ever undertaken: considering I *fixed* a broken guitar neck is no small feat... note old glue joint. 

Violin Bow is Fixed

Hmm.

Finally, after glueing my violin bow seven times with epoxy glue, I have resorted to the most desperate measures so save myself 15 bucks and a trip down to Bras Basah Complex:

Fix my violin bow, non too crudely.

I first drilled two holes beneath the split area, and carved two notches above the split area to prevent my reinforcement wires from slipping.

Actually my *reinforcement* wires were just two pieces of paper clips straightened out to form one straight wire, and then they were inserted into the holes, looped, and twined together with pliers to tighten up the split.

It actually worked, owing to the strength and resilient capabilities of paper clips.

I actually wanted to name my violin bow with a pleasant name just like my other instruments:


Acoustics: Tina (out of commision), Crawldaddy(steel), Estel (classical)

Electric: Page (after Led Zeppelin's legendary guitarist, who also, incidentally uses a violin bow)

Mandolin: Jonesy (after Led Zeppelin's bass and mandolin player)


However, since my violin bow caused me so much anger and frustration (not to mention time and wasted energy trying to glue the damn thing together 7 bloody times), I decided to Christen it after the name of the International Pain In The Ass:

'Bush'

As you probably realise, Bush is the epitome of international violence, either causing it, or propagating it indirectly.

Therefore, naming my violin bow after him also has that twofold meaning: being a pain in the ass, and causing trouble.

Kinda kinky huh?

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Yeah, really hated the damn thing, so 'christined' it after the biggest international pain in the ass. 

Repaired (non too crudely) violin bow. 

The Murky Waters Of Songwriting IV

Hmm.

Just wrote a new song. It's a country song (alvin won't believe this I suppose) contrary to the Jazz-pop songs which I've been churning out since Secondary Two.

Actually I pulled out Alvin's 'Will The Circle be Unbroken' CD which I've borrowed from him since May this year or so. So I burned all the songs into my hard drive and listened to them. Songs such as 'Keep On The Sunny Side', 'Dark As A Dungeon' and 'Tennessee Stud' just brought back the feelings of joy regarding bluegrass, which I do believe had been driven out due to lack of practise with Alvin.

Anyhow, this song is pretty interesting, as it talks about George W Bush (aka The Stupidest Person on the Face of This Earth besides Zelda, nominee for Stupidest person) and his inability to comprehend compassion and control violence.

Here're the lyrics:

Verse 1
There's a turning point in history where we're standin' now
When one man's decision can change the world
I think of all the people who suffer so much
Because this man is ruining the world

Verse 2
Oh people can't you see, just how we could be
Not letting this guy live our lives no more.
I'm standin' here a weepin' for our stranded souls
When all we once knew has gone away.

Chorus:
I'm wishin' for a better tomorrow
when fishin' in the wild needs no fear
I'm wishin' for a better tomorrow
when livin' our lives needs no tears

Verse 3
Well my mamma told me yeaterday 'you'd never need to cry,
Cuz two years go by very soon'
I said 'mamma please, don't say that so,
Because it ain't easy to heal the hurt'

Chorus

(Mandolin Solo)

Chorus

No more tears...
No more tears...
No more tears...

Crawldaddy's Votes for the 1st Annual Crawldaddy Awards

Hmm.

Just in case some of you guys were wondering who and What I am voting for in the awards, here's soemthign to give you an Idea:

Best Hair: Helena Tan

Worst Hair: Alvin Chee (man, you really shouldn't take this as surprise)

Best Wardrobe: Ayob Bin Ismail (cuz his shirts are so crazy, though the pants are always the same)

Worst Wardrobe; Alvin Chee (Hands down dude, I repeat, Hands down dude)

Best Song: Yes-Roundabout (the bassist is also quite crazy)

Worst Song: Hoobastank-The Reason (you really can't take punk-whine beyond this crappy song)

Most popular / notorious personality: Garry Tan (this dude should be the one on tv instead of that stupid Mr Kiasu)

Least popular personality : the answer is Obvious.

Character Awards:

Lame: Crawldaddy (who else?)

Silent: Lim Yoke Shyng (aka Minister of Silence to those unaware)

Quirky: Ang Sian Lee

Irritating: there's only one nominee, therefore, answer is Obvious

Evil: Crawldaddy (who can match me? patrick is just child's play)

Stupid: actually, the nomination should have spelt 'Very, very Stupid', answer Obvious again.


Quote of the year:

Zelda - 'My face is worth millions!!!'. Right.

Occurance of the year:

Crawldaddy and Alvinplaying cardboard box goalkeeping (while trying to stay away from Zelda).

Well, that's IT, so to retain the suspense, I'm pushing the closure of voting till THIS SUNDAY, 20th November.

I just wish to say that voting for the awards can be fully biased (especially if you don't know who you're voting for), and you can vote as many times as you want.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Fun With Char..

Hmm.

Char came to my place today, for some guitar work, and we had some fun.

I listened to some of her Iron Maiden songs, and it wasn't that bad as i had imagined it to be. i kinda thought they were this seriously hyper-heavy band which has noise zooming out of the speakers. Turned out it was like a cross between Queen and Pink Floyd.

I also recapped some Pinball Wizard with Char, she was trying to learn the intro and acoustic parts, but i do believe her classical influences are preventing her from fully grasping the strumming style... but there was sufficient progress to merit an *OK*.

Char asked me to edit one drawing of a room in her house, which involved some cupboards, and a badly-perspectived lamp. I righted the lamp and tweaked the cupboard, and also drew two pics of a snoozing Char, which will remain hidden until she chooses to withhold it no longer. They weren't that fantastic anyway.

I also managed to do something right up my alley: Char was snoozing, and she started to give out these sort of funny high-pitched snores, and I recorded down three such snores, and I managed to save them down, delete them upon Chars' request, and restore them *without her knowing...*. Muahahahahahaha.

Shhh....

Man, only Alvin would be able to make it this thursday, even chris can't make it due to his bass being repaired.

I guess I'll have to wait for the week after next then.

Cheers, and please Vote!

Crawldaddy

Another shot of Char, hope she doesn't mind... This shot's quite nice... I mean Char looks good in it. 

A shot of Char, who (at present) seems to be seriously questioning my sanity. 

1st Annual Crawldaddy Awards

Welcome To The Annual Crawldaddy Award Nominations!

The awards are given to those who have made this year so interesting and hopefully just as much next year!!!

The Awards will be given out on December 4th.

The Nominations are split into Seven Categories:

Best / Worst Hair
Best / Worst Wardrobe
Most / Least Popular
Character Awards:
Lame, Silent, Quirky, Irritating, Cool, Evil and Stupid.
Quote Of The Year
Occurance Of The Year

And The Nominations are:

Best Hair: Helena Tan, Charlotte Chong, Zelda Wu, Koh Wei Ting, Tang Kam Yew.

Worst Hair: Alvin Chee, Cao Yang, Ayob Bin Ismail, Wu Jia Ying, Low Seng Poh.

Best Wardrobe: Ayob Bin Ismail, Helena Tan, Ng Lai Fung, Koh Wei Ting, Mohd Nizam.

Worst Wardrobe: Alvin Chee, Crawldaddy, Charlotte Chong, Soon Tats Fah, Zelda Wu.

Best Song:
1. Fuzzy Green Grass - He's So Smart
2. Fuzzy Green Grass - Search Away, Spring In Christchurch
3. Bela Fleck - Sinister Minister
4. Yes - Roundabout
5. The Who - Pinball Wizard
6. Led Zeppelin - The Rain Song
7. The Darkness - I Believe In a Thing Called Love
8. Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved
9. Neil Young - Buffalo Springfield Again
10. Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine

Worst Song:
1. Hoobastank - The Reason
2. Simple Plan - Perfect
3. Christina Aguilera - Dirty
4. Britney Spears - I'm A Slave 4 You
5. VJC - Parmugun
6. Fuzzy Green Grass - She Can't Sing For Nuts
7. Avril Lavigne - My Happy Ending
8. Jessica Simpson - Sweetest Sin
9. Nelly - Hot In Herre
10. 50 Cent - In Da Club


Most Popular / Notorious Personality: Alvin Chee, Crawldaddy, Garry Tan, Tang Kam Yew, Joseph Tan.

Least Popular Personality: Zelda Wu, Keri Tan, Julia Huang, Patrick Chia, George W Bush.

Character Awards:

Lame: Alvin Chee, Crawldaddy, Christopher Leow, Garry Tan, Tang Kam Yew

Silent: Lim Yoke Shyng, Wu Jia Ying, Cao Yang, Liu Jie Hong.

Quirky: Ang Sian Lee, Joanne Tan, Tan Chew Siew, Grace Wong, Ayob Bin Ismail.

Irritating: Zelda Wu.

Cool: Liu Jie Hong, Soon Tats Fah, Lim Yoke Shyng, Gail Pantin, Tan Jia Xiong.

Evil: Crawldaddy, Patrick Chia, Tan Hee Kiah, Ayob Bin Ismail.

Stupid: Zelda Wu.


Quote Of The Year:

1. Zelda Wu: 'My face is worth Millions!!!'
2. Tan Zhen Lin: 'Correct is correct, wrong is wrong'
3. Alvin Chee: 'Man.. That was a classic!!'
4. Soon Tats Fah: 'Please do not mind my twitching eye'
5. Charlotte Chong: 'What's wrong with my hair!?'

Occurance Of The Year:

1. Bush getting re-elected.
2. Charlotte cutting her hair.
3. Alvin Chee fracturing his pinky.
4. Zelda chasing Crawldaddy after getting stuck in the door.
5. Britney losing her virginity.
6. Ben Affleck and J.Lo breaking up.
7. Crawldaddy and Alvin playing cardboard box goalkeeping.
8. Crawldaddy making a tape dispenser from clay and hating it.
9. Alvin making his 1.1 metre 5-cent cardboard coin.
10. Hanging the damn thing up.

You have slightly under one month to vote, so please do so via email or tagging the tagboard!!!

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Late Nite Meanderings III

Hmm.

Just got back from work, form another OT, and at least Dad picked me up back from work. I didn't wish to spend another hour plus going around half of Singapore for no apparent reason.

Work went pretty smoothly today, two guys (me and an another fella) serving three tables. Actually my partner was a newbie to everything, and the only work experience he ever had was at a chinese restaurant, so at least he could carry the small 16" round tray. The bigger, 3-foot long oval tray was trickier, and I suspect he broke a few plates when I was busy elsewhere.

Anyhow, since he was so blur about everything, I just spent about one-thirds the time teaching him stuff and giving encouragement (if you consider ordering him to 'just do it' counts as encouragement). And he was pretty much ok, just that he was slow, which is ok for first-timers.

I am so glad my dinner service didn;t cock up at all, especially since I'm very slow in service. The feeling of being ahead of others while still keeping a healthy timing for oneself is pretty encouraging, but the real test comes when I go it solo for two tables: one person, two tables, twenty hungry, greedy individuals whose sole reason they are attending this wedding is to enjoy the free food.

OT was ok, had soem fun joking with my work mates, and I knocked off at two-thrity, although the time we officially end OT was 3am.

Oh yeah, I was waiting for my dad, and I saw this numebr plate on a bus:

'PU 55 Y'

Man... no wonderthe bloddy government evaded such situations by skipping cra number plates starting with SE-something.

Actually malaysian car number plates are increasingly interesting, especially the first three letters, here are some examples:

WET

NAG

FAD

You can imagine the rest.

oh yeah, let's not forget this number plate:

SAT 666 N

I'm really not making this up.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Cliffs and such: spectacular view huh? 

Brother with seals and seaweed. 

The Murky Waters Of Songwriting III

Hmm.

Today, got up from a five-hour sleep to be refreshed amazingly. I guess I still haven't siphoned off the energy resulting from yesterday's (wait, this morning's) frustration at the bus driver.

I managed to record down my other just-written song, and I'm coming up with pretty interesting stuff stemming from the alternate and open tunings used in other songs, including improvisation on 'Search away, Spring In Christchurch' and my latest 'On The Ground'.

It's kinda interesting how my songs are played: I usually use two-fingered chords, maybe theree-fingered ones occasionally when some form of variation is required to sparkle up the song parts. four fingers are a rarity.

I wonder which day next week I can jam with the rest. I really want to show them what I want to do, and receive some input from them cuz it takes two hands to clap yes?

ah.. at least I'm not working on Monday, yesterday's workout at owrk was enough. 10 hours on your feet can really take the crap outta you.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

blue sky, blue waters, view of Cook Straits during ferry journey from North to South Island. 

Couple of curious sheep. 

Boiling pool, note the cooking corn in sac in top left hand corner. 

Interesting huh? View of a 'salt' pool, full of minerals (the multi-coloured stuff), from Rotorua. 

This is actually one of my favourite NZ pix... 

What a ridiculous day..

Hmm.

Stayed up all night from my birthday right up till now. Andguess why I am not able to sleep right after I get back home from work? I did overtime to get more cash.

All the while doing OT, I was messaging Char in the attempt of keeping me awake. At least it owrked, but the lethargy didn't go away.

I ended my shift at 3 am in the morning, just a few hours beforehand.

You must be wondering why I am writing this now. Let me first say that late-nigth transport is provided by the hotel to it's employees. Secondly, the bus arrives at 3:30am, so don't be late huh?

The (toot)ing bus arrived at 3:50am, took me on a bloody hell ride around half of singapore, plopped me off at Potong Pasir MRT and let me limp home until my dad picked me up.

At 5:15 am in the morning.

It only takes a 30 minute ride from the hotel to the Potong Pasir MRT. Minus off any delays, it will take at most twenty minutes.

But NOOOO. Fancy mister bus driver who had a bad day took it out on us by driving me first to Boon Lay, then Woodlands, the Yishun, then Woodlands again, and finally a twenty minute crawl from Ang Mo Kio to Potong Pasir.

Now I know why people say doing OT is very Boh Hua (not worth the trouble): the hours are shit, the transportation is cocked up and they give us no overtime extra pay.

What The (Toot).

And considering it was the first day after my birthday, and I had to endure a 1hr 25 min ride with Malays blowing their smoke all over the shop, and that idiot bus driver blasting his mandarin pop since the moment his bus touched the pick-up point.

Even my Pinky Floyd Cd on full blast was out-volumed by his bloody speakers.

If you wish to take a look at how my expression was troughout the whole ride, just look at the pic below, and you'll get something like an already-diluted effect.

Ahh... and the mother of all things I still have to work today. At 7pm.

A big thanks to those who tagged birthday wishes,

God Bless Y'all.

And to that bus driver: your music tastes suck.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Crawldaddy: Pissed 

Happy Birthday to Me...

Hmm.

It's been a while... and my birthday is finally here. I am just sitting here, after a short chat with char about song chords and stuff, she mentioned something about one song recording being muffled. Strange. I recorded it down very well.

Anyhow, just came back from KL, bought myself (or rather let my mum buy for me) a new pair of shoes, an addition to the shirt and trousers which my mum bought for me the week beforehand.

When pointing the fact I have spent alot for my birthday, I joked that at least i got a whole suit comprising of new shirt, trousers and shoes. I just didn't get that haircut.

I'm working later at 5pm, completely forgetting I want some time for myself, and now I pay the price of forgetfulness.

It's kinda weird: being 17.

No one say much about this age, you feel just indifferent even though you've spent four whole years on mastering the guitar, writing songs, listening to songs etc... and you feel older, look older than you actually are.

I kinda want to look 17 instead of being mistaken for 25 or something for a change. Alas, the eyebags and bored look on my face bears testimony to the fact that i feel different about life and what lies in store for me.

I just want to forget my awful childhood which was laced with so much embarrassment, anger and foolishness.

Maybe i am just thinking too much.

Sigh... happy birthday to me.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

Tired out...

Hmm.

I'm just sitting here typing my blog and listening to Yes's 'The Ultimate Yes 35th Anniversary Collection'. It's kinda cool reflecting on the day especially when you've just experienced almost six hours of entertaining friends at your place, of which at least four hours invovled singing and playing guitar.

I feel tired, needless to say, and I'm beginning the process of contemplating leaving my present part-time job, cuz they demoted me for no particular reason and without prior notice.

I've been fooling around with Photoshop 7.0, trying to get familiar with the stuff that's within for my own uses (you can imagine the stuff spinning in my wicked mind right now). Actually the best thing to do, is to just take a shot of Zelda, and put it up, and tell people I tried (but failed) to enhance it with Photoshop.

Ooooh, that'll hurt.

I don't know what to do with my time now, and songwriting is really beggining to drag on without any progress, though Char said my new song sounded alright.

I just want Alvin to come down and write songs with me, though i don't believe he'll be requesting I go his place (yet, I don't suppose he can help me lug my mandolin, amplifiers, cables one stompbox and three guitars). I have to confirm with him when he is able to get out of his home and come over to my place, before I can contact the others about the scheduled date.

whoa, listening to 'Roundabout' pre-keyboard solo right now, the tension is immense... oh no! just reminded myself of the scream in Parmugun. Drat it! feeling gone.

Yet again, I'll be taking more shots and trying to enhance them with photoshop, cuz that'll be the only thing keeping me busy.

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

my second 'shrine'... notice jimmy page about the lamp? 

soulful this time... 

told you we were lame.... 

now we're getting crazy... 

here's Chris and I, with intensity again... 

Fun at Crawldaddy's place.

Hmm.

Chris and Char came to my place today for some jamming... and i am certain that Chris's and my influence of being lame is starting to take it's toll on charlotte... she is getting lame.

we got off to a bright start, learning 'old man', 'better than life' and 'pinball wizard'.... all the time i was thinking about Alvin stuck in his place wearing his grandma's clothes... still not bathing yet etc.... wish he was here, then the lamenessness would be at it's peak.

Chris installed Photoshop 7.0 in my com, so we had a fun time erasing pimples from my brother's picture, increasing the size of the Mona Lisa's boobs (all of us were laughing) and mutilating some of my NZ pictures...

We pretty much goofed half the time away taking lame pics of ourselves (Char wasn't going to let herself get involved, she will, in time) and having a great time.

At least when Chris left, I managed to show char some of my NZ pics, teach her 'A simple life' and 'he's so smart'. She managed to show me some of her friend's blogs.. some of them were pretty cool.

Ahhh... Alvin, Alvin, Alvin... why did you have to fracture your bloody (literally) finger? Why did fate have to be so cruel to put you out of action for the whole damn holiday? i was looking forward to recording so much songs.... i can't blame you... your parents have locked you away in your home, wrapped in hospital clothes... it must be crazy especially when your com keeps hanging whenever you try playing fifa 2002 demo... it must be TERRIBLE.

Anyway, to top off the spate of Murphy's Law, today, i was demoted at my part-time job, to now a normal part-timer, instead of a regular. Sigh... life, life, it's just a bit of crap huh?

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

here's Chris and I, with intensity... 

The Murky waters of songwriting II

Hmm.

Talk about writing songs, and I'll flash back to the several songs I've written so far but have been unable to put into paper as documentation. Reason? Answer: Laziness.

I've been feeling this laziness creep through my veins every now and then and It takes a fair amount of juice to kick start the engines once they've slackened...

I visited Alvin today to learn how to use photoshop cuz he won't be able to make it on Wednesday... his parents changed his hospital visit to wednesday, and he feels that he'll be screwed if he brings up the idea of leaving the house...

I can't blame him... they tried to put him in a wheelchair, even though he spent like half the day without the pain from his fractured pinky (see pictures below).

His parents tend to be freakier than mine...

i went over to learn photoshop, then just fooled around and listen to his 'Bela Fleck and the Flecktones' songs, which he couldn't place into any musical genre.

I basically falls into pop fusion or something... I also became mortified when he played me the few songs sung by VJC (which incidentally featured Alvin's friend Michelle, a rugby player) which included vocal purcussions, screaming and the like.

Needless to say, I DO NOT INTEND TO LISTEN TO THOSE SONGS ANYMORE.

Arhhh.. very sian, very lazy (even though I made the effort to re-string my acoustic and electric guitars today).

Hope tomorrow would go smoothly...

Cheers,

Crawldaddy

how my com table looks like whenever I wish to start blogging...