HE CALLED ME...

...mi amore.

"Good evening mi amore... Jen."

I was dumbstruck for a moment, and it was pretty obvious. He called my number and greeted me with those two romantic words... mi amore.

What are you playing at?! What's the matter with me? What's the matter with him?!

Three years ago, I would have run straight and fallen in your arms. But three years made me a stronger person... who cursed at my own emotions and sought to kill all emotions contained. A Stonemaiden.

So why do you seek to confuse me all over again?! We will always be friends, I tell you.

Do not EVER come with your sweet smile and curly hair. Do not say that my eyes sparkle like the night stars, like you did all those years ago.

I am my own... mi amore.

REVISITING SPRING

Remember I talked about Spring Awakening a few posts back? Here's another video, and it's actually an official music video from the music team.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JCoA92y24A

Maybe I better explain a little.

These singing, dancing guys are potraying 16 year-old teenagers, who seem to be undergoing notions of sex and masturbation. At the same time, they're complaining about life and how shitty it is to unable to express themselves. And strict parents. And horrible teachers. And why suddenly the guy sitting next to him suddenly looks attractive. And why his penis seems to rise whenever that pretty girl approaches.

MAKING A BABY

The Smiths were unable to conceive children and decided to use a surrogate father to start their family.

On the day the proxy father was to arrive, Mr. Smith kissed his wife goodbye and said, "Well, I'm off now. The man should be here soon."

Half an hour later, just by chance, a door-to-door baby photographer happened to ring the doorbell, hoping to make a sale.

"Good morning,Ma'am", he said, "I've come to..."

"Oh, no need to explain," Mrs. Smith cut in, embarrassed, "I've been expecting you."

"Have you really?" said the photographer. "Well, that's good. Did you know babies are my specialty?"

"Well that's what my husband and I had hoped. Please come in and have a seat"

After a moment she asked, blushing, "Well, where do we start?"

"Leave everything to me. I usually try two in the bathtub, one on the couch, and perhaps a couple on the bed. And sometimes the living roomfloor is fun.You can really spread out there."

"Bathtub, living room floor? No wonder it didn't work out for Harry and me!"

"Well, Ma'am, none of us can guarantee a good one every time. But if we try several different positions and I shoot from six or seven angles, I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results."

"My, that's a lot!", gasped Mrs. Smith.

"Ma'am, in my line of work a man has to take his time. I'd love to be in and out in five minutes, but I'm sure you'd be disappointed with that."

"Don't I know it," said Mrs. Smith quietly. The photographer opened his briefcase and pulled out a portfolio of his baby pictures. "This was done on the top of a bus," he said.

"Oh, my God!" Mrs. Smith exclaimed, grasping at her throat.

"And these twins turned out exceptionally well - when you consider their mother was so difficult to work with."

"She was difficult?" asked Mrs. Smith. "Yes, I'm afraid so. I finally had to take her to the park to get the job done right. People were crowding around four and five deep to get a good look"

"Four and five deep?" said Mrs. Smith, her eyes wide with amazement.

"Yes", the photographer replied. "And for more than three hours, too! The mother was constantly squealing and yelling - I could hardly concentrate, and when darkness approached I had to rush my shots. Finally, when the squirrels began nibbling on my equipment, I just had to pack it all in."

Mrs. Smith leaned forward. "Do you mean they actually chewed on your, uh...equipment?"

"It's true, Ma'am, yes.. Well, if you're ready, I'll set-up my tripod and we can get to work right away."

"Tripod?"

"Oh yes, Ma'am. I need to use a tripod to rest my Canon on. It's much too big to be held in the hand very long."

Mrs. Smith fainted

HORROR STORIES... TRUE?

Last Saturday, I was helping out at the Church's Children Drama Club. The kids, aged between 8 to 12 years, were told to pick an ordinary scene from school and act it out. With four groups performing a 8 minute skit, 3 of these groups gave a VERY similar scene: an angry teacher and a punishing principal.

What realy disturbed us was how the teachers and principals were portrayed and the words they used. "I'll SLAP you!" "SHUT UP!" "STUPID" and even "go to HELL".

The teachers asked the children, what made them think of their teachers in that sort of way? "Coz it's true!" they answered in unison, followed by many stories of terrors.

"My headmaster will simply cane us!" said one boy.

"One teacher made me made the whole class stand in the sun for 30 minutes!" another girl related. Mind you, these are Primary School students.

I begin to wonder.... were the tall tales simply tall tales?! Was it just a child's fear of punishment that made them believe such stories? Did they really experience such treatment... or was it just a 'heard-about-it tale'?

What if the stories were true?

I then searched into my mind of my own personal experiences as a school girl... the fat girl. I admit, I DID hear tales of how the kids at the All Girls' School were made to parade around the field with their skirts lifted... just because the skirt hems were above their knees!

But when I was in Primary School, we were punished by doing that darn 'Squat-Stand-Squat-Stand' act, with our arms crossed over our chests and holding on to our earlobes. Why? Just because we were noisy. We were KIDS, for crying out loud!! And being rowdy was a child's joy.

The cane was given only to real indiscipline kids, after real thought. Was it because I went to a good school? I don't think so. A year after I left for Secondary School, a girl died. Just shortly after finishing her UPSR exams. Worse still, I knew her. Amelia. We used to spend morning pre-assembly breaks and recess together, since she was one year younger than me. I had thought that we would be together again, hoping that she'll enter then same Secondary School as her sister (my senior) and I did.

Amelia had a sudden asthma attack during recess, and when her cousin went to fetch a teacher, he simply said, "I don't care" and simply left the poor student to find other help.

That's all it took to kill her... the "Don't Care attitude".

Teachers are also human, just like everyone... under a lot of work stress. But why do they need to act so different. It is because they feel the burden of educating other people's children? Under-paid? Unappreciated? What ever happened to the "Joys of Teaching" ?

I'm not saying ALL educators are bad. But when one teacher makes a huge mistake in anger management, the entire profession gets a bad name. And it's not just them... what about the children? In turn, they are the ones who are hurt in the end.

They end up lacking confidence, trust and optimism. And just when you think that things could be improved in our education system... news like this come out. Schoolgirls made to squat in the dirty, murky pond, in the rain.

SCRATCH THIS!

Something's been bugging me ever since I saw this document lying on Rohana's table. Seriously, it's funny and yet... disturbing!

They're called "Scratch A Way", providing Scratch Removal Systems services in The Netherlands. Calling your organisation Scratch A Way is like saying, "Hey! If you've got crabs... scratch away!!"

Okay, now that's way past disturbing! Ewww...

AT PAK YUSOF'S INVITATION

While vacationing in Perhentian/Kota Bahru last month, we were fortunate to meet with Pak Yusof, the Tok Dalang.

He's a traditional Storyteller of a dying art, the 'wayang kulit' or 'shadow puppets'. Not only has he been performing over 40 years, but he also makes his own shadow puppets from cow or goat hide.

On July 8th & 9th, he was in KL to help perform in Istana Budaya's courtside theater. Off course, I was only too glad to be invited to watch.


The storyteller this time was another man, but he was truly awesome, just the same. It started at around 9am, although the brochure said 8.30pm. That’s just our way of telling time!

What really stunned me was how beautiful the puppets were, all crafted by Pak Yusof himself. The colours were dazzling under the light, on the white canvas screen. And the story told to the audience was exhilarating funny! I first thought it was going to be a real classic story… classic, as in classical literature. This was, after all, a tale as old as the Ramayana.

Instead, there was A LOT of modern jokes inserted in between. My favourite line has to be, “you bloody fool”… “apa blady fool, swimming pool ni?”



Hahaaah… you’ve got to be present there to really immerse in the story, jokes, and music.

This was actually my second wayang kulit show. I saw my first about a year back, during the ASWARA’s (National Performing Arts Academy) graduating class’ performance assessment.

Unfortunately, in both times I’ve experienced this rich culture being performed… I never got to watch the ending.


No joke; these performances are so long, they have to end it at 11pm. Just like that. The story gets cut. Like some movie you’re watching over the telly, and suddenly it’s time for the midnight news… and you’re too sleepy to catch the ending after the half-hour news.

So, I caught up with Pak Yusof and asked him to finish telling me the story. I mean, I love classics! I only wished that the rest of my friends who were with me during vacation… I wished they were there with me. But no…! Keeping promises was wayyy beyond them.

Oh well… sometimes I wonder who’s really the lucky ones! ^'o'^ ~Me~ ^'o'^

TIPSY, DIZZY DINING

Patricia took this picture of me while we were conversing over dinner. The picture ain't perfect... no thanks to my Nokia 6300 phone. The Sony Ericsson W800i had wonderful lense!!

(WHY did you have to die on me, W800i?! WHY?!)

Still, I like this picture... it's me in a tizzling perspective.

REWINDING TIME TO ONE MONTH BACK

Exactly one month back, I was on a Paradise Es-ca-pe... cast away on a beautiful island.

Now look where I am. Back in the dog-eat-dog-world. Into reality where everything rushes by.

But enough about my dull life in this dull world. With that horrible job, in that dull office.

Seriously, everyone is expected to work like robots. No creativity at all.

Let me take you back through time... to a place called Perhentian Island, located off the coast of Kuala Besut, Terengganu.

There were six of us: Hui Ling and Yew Cheong, a couple deeply in love but fun to be with. They arranged the entire trip, including flight and travel agent bookings. Then there was Ling Fei and Karen, another couple who just found love in each others' eyes. Makes me wanna puke at times.

Lastly, there was me and Grace. The two lamp posts who preferred to walk by ourselves rather than seen together. Believe me, Grace is weird. Scaringly weird. Must be all that family and work trauma.

We almost missed our flight from KL to Kota Bahru. It was SO hillarious! I mean, we haven't taken a plane in ages... so when the flight ticket said, "Departure at 7.40am"... we were like, "okay! Let's get moving to the gates at 7.35am" The next thing we knew, our names were announced on the airport PA system, and we were running helter skelter to the gates!

Hahahaahha, the lady at the gate had to reconfirm with the pilot via walkie-talkie, that the plane has not yet left the terminal! Off course, when we finally got on the plane, EVERYONE was looking at us, probably going "so THESE are the nim-wits delaying us!!" After an hour's flight, an hour's drive to the jetty, two hours wait and a 20-minute boat ride... we arrived. At beautiful Perhentian. Just look how blue the waters are!

It was a heavenly three days, three nights stay. Boy, if you’re looking for peace and serenity… or just an excuse to get away from it all… this is the place to be. Our chalet was clean and nicely equipped, the beds were comfortable and the bathroom was more than good enough.

The food served was excellent! One of the must-try is the Barbequed Barramundi. On top of that, spaghetti, curries, fried rice & noodles, sandwiches are part of the menu.

We played in the sun...

Basked in the sun... and went canoeing...

relaxed under the shades of the trees...

Hiked up a path to the other side of the island...

...and snorkeling!! None of us took up scuba diving yet, but we’re working towards that goal. Well, at least I am. (Yay!)

To commemorate our vacation, the sand-woman was created once again. We don't get snow... so we only make sand-woman. No snow-men here.

This is actually our second visit to perhentian. We loved it so much that we decided to come back, after one year. If I have the money, I'll probably go back there every year. It's peaceful, the people are friendly, and everyone has one thing on their mind: rest & relaxation, as we watched the sun set and the waves quietly settle.

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acknowledgements: Half of these pictures, the better ones, were borrowed from Hui Ling's blog.

THE PHOENIX RULES

Some said the movie wasn't a smash at all. And some said it was best thing after Transformers. Here's what I say: The Order of The Phoenix was awesome! Okay, so I didn't pick up the book since it was first printed... that was what? 3 years ago?

Anyway, apart from Harry being older than his age, Emily Watson being annoying and Rupert trying his best to do Ron's clumsiness... the whole show has to go credit for the Weasley Twins and Luna Lovegood. She is so adoringly blur! That's how I wanna be these days.

The effects were good too. My favourite scene has to be the Battle in the Ministry of Magic. Although most of the important aspects were different from the book, it did stay true to the main storyline.

But what really amazes me is Prof. Minerva McGonagell, played by Maggie Smith. For someone her age, she can still pull on a very stern and strong character! Or the fact that she's still standing!!


One last note: Prof. Severus Snape. He's got more lines this time, compared to The Globlet of Fire movie. Alan Rickman has, once again, did the best of his character. Snape rules!!

A HUGE WAKE-UP : SPRING AWAKENING

I've only heard about it recently... and it's been in the Broadway scene for almost half-a year! "Spring Awakening" IS the brand new generation in the musical world. Tales of innocence lost, maturbation, sex on stage, parental pressure and suicide. This is the way to educate kids of the real world... and portray the consequences. Also a good way for parents to convey on what kids really want to know.

This story is not all that bad : there's no total nudity. But there are explicit lyrics. It's the only Broadway Sondtrack that has the "Parental Advisory / Explicit Content" label on the CD cover. Even RENT does not measure up to that extent. But seriously, the story makes sense and awakens the mind (and body) to what has been taboo in the past. Probably is still taboo in Asian-Traditional families.

I had check out Wikipedia for the whole story. Nothing amiss (expect for visual and audio, off course!), you'll get the entire storyline. Kudos to the Music & Lyrics Team of Spring Awakening, for updating the Wikipedia entry. Check out Spring Awakening - A New Musical .

The music, at first, sounded very classical and slow. That's just to give the 19th century German stage persona. But in between, comes songs of rock and roll... with amazing voices, rythms and beats. It's no wonder they won Best Musical and Best Original Score at the 2007 Tony's and The Outer Critics Circle Award.

Here's their performance, thanks to the Duncan Sheik who wrote the music for Spring Awakening. Well, no I didn't have to ask permission. All he did was post this on YouTube! Haha... don't you just LOVE the web.

Check out the choreography in this video, especially in "The Bitch of Living". Amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgkdoIz5tmE

Yup... life's a bitch. I took off from work today and the only thing I can do in the morning in this post. Whatever happen to "sleep 'til late in the afternoon" ?

THE RIVERDANCE RAP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBeiQvFsQLM

Laugh your socks off!!!! This IS SO ORIGINAL.
Guys! I totally salute you for the song. And since I just can't get enough, here's another parody from the same director...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAKdAQRLCYw

FANTASIA AT THE 2007 TONY'S

When I first heard about Fantasia' s theatrical debut in The Color Purple, it was unbelieveable. I mean, I always thought that it was some celebrity's scheme to be more famous - diversify!

But looking at her in this video... like, wow!! She's totally mind-blowing. She plays her character so well, even if it's just one song and without costume. I can actually feel Celie's (her character) emotions. So, okay. I admit it, that Fantasia was born for this role. *bow to the great Idol*

I hope to get the OBC Soundtrack to The Color Purple one day. Better yet, I hope to watch it one day. Oprah did a mighty fine job at bringing this musical forward and producing it.

Enjoy the video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0HfXDb6np8

LIP-SINGING : A LESSON

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQxIg19Xe0k

Tiffany is so HOT! But Kamahao and their friend are just plain comical!

THE STONEMAIDEN IS READY!

Hellooooo Blogger / Blogspot Community!

My page is FINALLY ready, at it's best. Like, FINALLY!! I'm so excited that the colours and graphics are (mostly) exactly what I want.

Special thanks goes to Jerrard for helping with the last few details... a.k.a that darn background colour problem, blogged about earlier.

Also, I want to thank the creative people at The Pirate Queen - A Musical . I'm so so sorry that your new Broadway Musical show had to close down after only 85 performances. That's so sad! Doesn't anyone appreciate Irish music, dance, history and drama? Anyway, thanks for graphics and HTML / CSS scripts. If you want an audience... come to South East Asia. People here are suckers for any kind of Performing Arts.

People, this is me. Call me Stonemaiden.

NEW FACE ... I'M TALKING ABOUT THE BLOG

Welcome to the new jen.stonemaiden web log. Nothing fancy
Believe me... I spent two nights figuring out the whole HTML thingy.

It's awful!!! The PREVIEW and VIEW BLOG does NOT show the exact page! So... I just have ONE thing left to modify here : the blog background colour!

Okay, stop laughing in my face! I tried and tried... the backgound colour just won't appear!

HELP!!!

TURNING 25

25 years old... or young?

That's me on the right. Yeah, the big one. I'm 25 and have never been kissed... your regular good girl, virgin.

Gosh, i hope no one reads this! Hahahahahaha! Ok, not funny. That's just sick... finding amusement in something not funny at all.

Honestly, Ive NEVER had this responsible calling to wed. WHY would I put my whole being turned into 'wife' and 'slave'?

To have my freedom cut?!

No thank you! I prefer running the wild fields with my hair down.

But that's not the truth... I have always wanted to join the Holy Order. It's the beauty of silence and purity of acts.

Then came that darn education loan than I have to pay back for 15 years. Two years have past... so that makes another 13 years more to pay-up. And perhaps, THEN i'll enter the convent. If God Almighty will still have me.