Music-maker and dreamer of dreams

I never paid enough attention to Michael Jackson to be particularly worked up over his death, or even to have a favourite song. But, as nz_bonjovi_gal said, "respect for talent where it's due, regardless of what you think about him or the headlines he made."

It's weird, him being dead. Like, I know it's true, but it still hasn't quite sunk in. He's just always been around. And I'm probably young enough that he's always been white, too.

I remember once my dad tried to show me what a moonwalk looked like. I laughed myself silly. Another time my class all sang Heal the World at the primary school end-of-year concert.

Listening to the inevitable TV/radio tributes, etc. I have decided I actually quite like Man In The Mirror, Black Or White, and that one from when he was on The Simpsons. And I cannot deny the epicness of Thriller.

--
And to other news:

Caps Lock may someday be removed from the keyboard.

The new keyboard isn't perfect. Hill called "Caps Lock" a frustrating hangover from typewriter days, a key that can introduce garble, emulate shouting or foil password entries without the user noticing.

"I think maybe sometime in the future, we should maybe entertain removing it," he said. "It's one of those things you kind of have to approach with caution. There might be some people out there who just really like their `Caps Lock' key for whatever reason".

THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. HOW WILL ALL THE CAPSLOCK COMMUNITIES SURVIVE? HOW WILL I SQUEE ABOUT MY FAVOURITE TV SHOWS? NO. JUST NO.

GREENDAY PRE-SALE IS FOR. THE. WIN.

Roll on December 19. \o/

I have many things to update about, but I haven't really had the willpower lately.

Had exam on Monday, didn't do nearly enough revision, but I think I got good enough marks on the assignments that I've passed the paper.

I had a piano lesson the day after for which I did almost no practise (side note: Dad will you please set the dishwasher GOING so it stops BEEPING) and seriously pissed off my tutor (side note: thanks Dad). I now have an ultimatum (side note: why is it still beeping) and I have to be a hell of a lot better by next semester or he'll stop teaching me (side note: Dad why do you suddenly not know how to use the dishwasher) and I will be in deep shit with everyone.

Saw Midnight Youth last night on their first headlining tour! I had somehow forgotten just how epic their live show is. Halfway through their song Benjamin they suddenly broke into Whole Lotta Love and it was awesome.

Instead of doing the rock-hand-devil-horns-hand thing, they got everyone to put one finger in the air. I hope this becomes The Thing To Do at their concerts.

Nicked the set list as soon as they went offstage, got it signed, got a coupla guitar picks, got into the greenroom, had a nice chat with Nick and with Jed. Much happiness.

I hope Drain My Pockets Dry is released soon. Or at all. It's a cool song.

about 6.30pm:

Lovely Woman: *comes through my checkout*
Me: *scans groceries* *chats a bit* *scans Pinky bar*
Lovely Woman: The Pinky bar is for you.
Me: !
Lovely Woman: Every time I come here I bless someone with chocolate.
Me: THANK YOU! :D

The world is a nicer place because people like her are in it.


also, last week:
Lovely Old Man: *iz my first customer*
Me: Hi, how are you?
Lovely Old Man: All the better for your cheerfulness.
Me: :D

ETA: Guess where I'm gonna be on the nineteenth of December.

Che Fu is getting a Queen's Birthday honour!
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to music! :D

For anyone who doesn't know, Che Fu is this guy:




And here he is with Supergroove:


I've seen Supergroove four times and each time was fantastic fun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY nz_bonjovi_gal!

Look, he sings!

ASSIGNMENTS OF DOOM ARE FINISHED

Assignment two for the fusion history paper was handed in last week, two weeks late. Found out Monday that the final assignment was due end of the week. Five thousand word essay. Much to everyone's relief, this was reduced to 2000-3000 words. Stayed up all night typing, trying to decide whether "jazz-rock is a subgenre of jazz, the new mainstream of jazz, of an entirely new genre outside the defined boundaries of jazz". Settled on the new mainstream of jazz. Got to bed at 8.30 this morning, slept an hour, got up to go to class. GOT IT IN ON TIME.

and now Word has screwed up my html typing, making me go ctrl+b for bold text instead of typing the tags.

I think I'm caught up on flist, so:

nz_bonjovi_gal *bighugs* and I got you a birthday present you're gonna LOVE.
automatictlc too bad you didn't get backstage but glad you had such a great time, and that's fantastic news about your mum.
blackredcrimson I have not yet read your entries properly yet but I shall when I have had more than an hour's sleep.
tinselworm *bighugs* I may have read your entries in the wrong order so I'm not sure how recent the entry was that prompted the hugs but there they are anyway.

Actually, *BIGHUGS* to all my flist!

Am doing 40 hour famine, have grand total of one sponsor, though have been promised a couple more. If anyone wants to sponsor me online please do so.

On Sunday I am Not Wurking! Instead I am going along to SkyCity to help set the world record for guitarists playing at the same time in the same place! I have been Practising.

Have 228 unread emails.

Going to bed now.

Mel, via text, just now: I decided quite a while back that there are actually two answers to life, the universe and everything: 42; and wikipedia. Depending on the question. Lol.


Am in the middle of Assignment of More Doom. Have written 649 words on nothing in particular. Should be right once I get to the actual nuts of the topic.

Please sponsor me for the 40 Hour Famine! I have no sponsors and my famine page looks all sad and lonely...

Assignment Of Doom is DONE FINISHED OVER

Now on to dreading Assignment Of More Doom!

I am gonna do the 40 HOUR FAMINE!
Sponsor me please? Very good cause etc.

Have just bought Green Day tshirt from Closet.co.nz, aka Dave's store, as the first fifteen people get the new CD for free! I got the second one. There are still thirteen left I think?

Next week there is an attempt to break the world record for guitarists playing the same song at the same time in the same place. I am joining in! Today I learnt five whole chords.

Memes!

You Scored as Lord Havelock Vetinari You are Lord Vetinari! Supreme ruler of Ankh-Morpork! Cool, calculated, and always in control. You graduated from the assassins guild, but failed a course on stealth and camouflage, because the professor never saw you there (even though you attended every class). You always seem to know what everyone is thinking, and after a conversation with you, people feel that they have just escaped certain death. Which Discworld character are you? Not sure about that, but I like it... Next best results were the Librarian and Captain Carrot. edit: Find out Which Lost Character Are You at LiquidGeneration.com! ... ok then.

have been v busy

have been to Steve Coogan and Dylan Moran

have been neglecting flist

will catch up later once I have finished assignment etc.

am at Masonic Tavern tonight with jazz choir - Why Don't You Do Right, Drive My Car (Bobby McFerrin version), Bo Rhap.

am late leaving for uni

am cold

byee

*runs in*

HAVE MIDNIGHT YOUTH ALBUM

WON TIX TO ALBUM RELEASE PARTY TOMORROW NIGHT

\O/

*runs out*

NOO THE END IS IN SIGHT D:

GO DENNY GO!
... Paul has a pocketwatch? ... actually it suits him.
Denny WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
oh DENNY

( ETA )

only one left D: ... I bet it will be EPIC.

Taupo was lovely, sunny during the day yet cold enough to warrant having a fire at night. Chocolate eggs, Ferrero Rocher, and Flakes. Read Pratchett, watched Diana Krall, Roy Orbison, and Flight of the Navigator. Bought too many Easter eggs. Spent several days with no deeds to do and no promises to keep.

Which reminds me, Simon and Garfunkel is apparently sold out. :-(

( Received this email from the Electric Confectionaires guy )


Have ordered the It's Okay, Pluto hoodie. Shall get the other one on a tshirt at some point, when I have a bit more money.

Meanwhile I NEED THIS SHIRT.

k I'm going to bed now. night night.

Saw a notice on the board at uni the other day:

The Electric Confectionaires are looking for a new member. Bass, Guitar, Singer, or Keyboard.

Am wondering whether to email about it.

--

( Re Boston Legal )
--

Approximate uni!quotage
John: Yeah, Bebo's kinda dodgy.
Kendall: Is John on Bebo?
John: No.
Mareka: It's not dodgy yet then.

John: I haven't played drums since last year... It seems simple enough, there's all these big circles you have to hit.

--

Going to Taupo for Easter weekend. Happy Zombie Jesus Day all.

--

... I'm sure there was something else.

--
edit
( Just sent this email )
--

Which hoodie should I get: Save the Clocktower or It's Okay, Pluto?

Firstly MASSIVE MASSIVE HUGS for tinselworm.

Simon and Garfunkel have confirmed they're coming to NZ in June! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
(Dad is not interested because he reckons they're past it but whatever.)

And Diana Krall is coming back in November!

( I WANT ONE )

Last Thursday night was Kingston's last gig before going to the States for a coupla months. It was great. Bouncyhappyfuntime music yay.
There were three other bands playing, none of which I knew, but turns out the drummer for Falter is in my course. Ran into Charlotte and a couple of her friends, and ended up giving Charlotte a lift home.
Saw Dave and Sarah and Scotty yay! Chatted about uni and various things.

nz_bonjovi_gal did you get my txts t'other day about the P? And was the Taylor Hanson interview today any good, cuz I was in class.

I am now on Twitter, my name is piano_Aisha, I'll prolly not be twitting much cuz it won't let me twit from my phone.

Dear inner_starfish,

Thank you for purchasing your tickets from THE EDGE®. The details of your order are as follows:

Steve Coogan
$69.90
SUBTOTAL: $69.90

Dylan Moran
$67.90
SUBTOTAL: $67.90

Wayne Brady
$78.90
SUBTOTAL: $78.90

Total: $216.70
Transaction Fee: $5.00
GRAND TOTAL: $221.70


bet they will be worth it though.

In less expensive news, my new piano teacher this year is Mark who is awesome, today after my lesson he said "Good work." Next week we play Stella by Starlight, which every time I play I seem to love a little bit more.

Monday was madam_eglentyne's birthday, also Eric Clapton's! Happy birthday!

- THE WHO WAS AWESOME. Shall write more about that later.

- A while ago I went to Rock the Park with Samuel and Paul, it was AWESOME, Midnight Youth ROCKED, I bought their tshirt and single and got the shirt signed. Then I drove the wrong way, so we got icecream and went to visit Samuel's grandfather and I played his piano.

On the way back to Paul's house we turned into a street after a station wagon, which promptly reversed into us. The guy had a piece of plywood for a rear windscreen and didn't even see us. He knocked out my driver's side headlight and bent the bonnet and side panel. He doesn't have insurance (neither do I) but he said he'd pay for all the repairs (and rightly so). Car spent some time at panelbeaters and is now SHINY AND FIXED.

It was annoying not being able to drive at night. I was reminded of what it's like not to have a full license.

- Have been having Conversations with people at uni. Am doing much better in that respect I think.

- New Midnight Youth single is GREAT, it keeps reminding me of Billy Joel. Go check it out.

- Note to self: Look up Steve Coleman, and Advanced Rhythmic Concepts for Jazz Improvisation by Ronan G... I can't remember his surname.

I RULE

and this is why.

Yesterday my first uni assignment of the year was due. I started it Thursday morning (time management fail), did most of it Thurs night, finished it Friday morning
AND HANDED IT IN ON TIME

It was formatted incorrectly and missing a cover sheet and bibliography but it was 893 words and it was ON. TIME. This is an Achievement for me.

The assignment was for my history of jazz-rock fusion paper, in which we listen to music and watch DVDs of Cream, Miles Davis, and Ahmet Ertegun. Wrote a review of Birds of Fire by the Mahavishnu Orchestra. I LIKE this album.


THE WHO TONIGHT YAY

JERRY MUST MAKE PARTNER! HE HAS A BETTER SHOT NOW THAN EVER

YAY IT'S PAUL

KATIE NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I LOVE YOU BUT YOU MAY HAVE SCREWED IT ALL UP FOR JERRY

I THINK YOU MAY BE RIGHT THOUGH

IT IS ADORABLE HOW KATIE GETS ALL PROTECTIVE AND OFFENDED ON JERRY'S BEHALF


OH MAN I FORGOT DENISE HAD CLAWS


EDIT: DENNY I KNOW YOU MEAN WELL BUT THAT MAY NOT BE THE BEST TACTIC
LOYAL!JERRY IS LOYAL
LOL FOURTH-WALL-BREAKING FOR THE WIN
JEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY I LOVE YOOOOOOOOUUUUUU

OMG BEST POLITICAL DISCUSSION EVAH

EDIT2:YYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
JERRY RULES OK
...
... what?
NO JERRY DON'T BE SAD WHAT'S WRONG?
OH JERRY I JUST WANT TO HUG AND SQUISH YOU AND MAKE IT ALL BETTER

OMG DID DENNY VOTE FOR OBAMA?
YES HE DID!
AND NOW ALAN LOVES HIM EVEN MORE.

Re next week's promo: JERRY! YAY