Sunday, July 10, 2005

Update..

Well, so much for increasing tag traffic... ploy worked pretty well, didn't it?

Anyway, some updates.

Broke SAF Bands record by being the only band to be deployed for 3 consecutive full military state funerals, (slow march up slope with escorting troop included) in 3 consecutive weekends. Wu-hoo~ Nice. So many people dying in such a short time. Haiz.. such is life.

K, just before you think I am being disrespectful to the deceased, you shd know that some of my meaner co-workers in camp actually referred to funerals in Mandai Crematorium as bbq functions. (Well, at least I dun go around telling people 'wakes are just curry functions'.) You know.. the fire.. the body.. yada yada.. Initially, when I was deployed for funerals and I hear such comments, I too, felt it was pretty uncalled for in such solemn affairs. But when you have to undergo so many of such funerals, you'll realise that one has to really become pretty emotionally detached from what he is doing in order to be more professional about it. Like surgeons who supposedly sway to music from stereos during major operations etc.. Would you want to see a band playing and choke on their notes as they sob or breakdown in tears? No.

But still, you might say that doesn't warrant the Bandsmen to make such remarks.. well, den I can only say NHFO. That's another thing I learnt in camp. That these four golden alphabets are supposedly sprawled across the walls of a certain airbase in Singapore. Wat does it mean? No Happy, Fuck Off. Nice. May elaborate on the story if I feel like it some other time.

Now, for the 4th weekend, my band is unfortunately slated for a Wasbe publicity stint at, of all places, Nee Soon CC. (How degrading~!) And as if that is not enough, we're going to performing side by side with not 1, but 2 Primary School bands! Now, that IS the ultimate insult. Ok, it's not like I really cared. Up till now, hours before the performance, I am still unsure of what instrument(s) I am supposed to be playing. Well, we're definitely seeing the drawbacks of trying to make use of economies of scale. Doesn't mean by combining 2 bands, you'll get a better band. Sometimes, the lack of clarity of who's in charge just makes things worse. We shall see how we flop later.

Been reading an army mate of mine's blog. Very entertaining read indeed. Just linked him too.. ha~ He had this theory of how he can categorized everyone he knows into 3 distinct groups.

People who agree with him, People who eventually agree with him, People who are wrong.
People he likes, People he's neutral with, Sam.

For his second grouping, I guess mine is pretty much similar, but it goes like this:

People I like, People I'm neutral with, Sam & Jason.

If you want to know why I feel that way, just ask Negoki, or anyone who is NOT a sick, revolting, self-centered, I-am-Sam or I-am-the-best-drummer-in-Singapore bastard.

And I just noticed that the movement of people I know within these 3 categories is pretty high. So much for having 3 DISTINCT groups.. I mean, what's the point??

Finally finished working my guts out for the programme booklet for Braddell Heights CO. Imagine having to rush back from camp only to find yourself overwhelmed with e-mails, smses and wat-not of impending deadlines and having to lose all sleep (2+ hrs of shut-eye doesn't count) just to make sure everything is ready for the press. Anyway, conclusion is, it's sent for printing as of yesterday. End of story. And that it is too late for anything to be done le.

As usual, there were dramatic highs & lows in the process of getting it done. Shan't really elaborate on it.. but I dare say I have put in 101% effort in doing my part. Enough said. Shall leave it to everyone to judge for themselves.

K, schedule in camp for up-coming weeks doesn't seem any better. OCS parades Corps of Drums and rehearsals... and coming Changing of Guards support.. hmmm.. no breaks till August for THE band dat's been working 6-days week for a month le. How nice. Will not want to make comparisons to the 2 other bands.. the atrocious numbers of offs they've been getting and how not everyone of them is involved in NDP, but they still use it as an excuse for the WHOLE band anyway. No.. no.. I din say anything.

So I think I should stop my ranting.. for now at least. tata~