An Inane Entry by a Serial Procrastinator

"Why oh why do I blog?"

I return to this question I asked myself many times when I first begin to blog.

According to economist Steven D. Levitt and author/journalist Stephen J. Dubner who co-wrote Freakonomics, which by the way is an absolutely fantastic read though I have just started on it. You might have already heard about it or read it since it was published a few years ago. "Well, better late then never!" That's what I say to myself all the time.

Sorry I digress. According to the guys, human behaviour can always be explained by the economic law of available incentives. I shall not attempt to go into the content of the book as, like I said earlier, I have only just started.

"So your point is..."

My point is, I can immediately apply what I observe about my desire to blog to what Levitt and Dubner were talking about. Superficially, I blog because it is a way for me to express myself. It is also a way for me to connect with various groups of people. Dig deeper, what drives me really is a need to talk to people without being interrupted, without being judged right away and getting the message across. Thus, the incentive of me initially spending hours crafting blog articles is that I am able to impose my views on unsuspecting students, friends and family members!

This brings me to the real point I am making: With the note-making application on Facebook, and the fact that a lot of people who matter to me and whom I want my views to reach are on Facebook, why do I still bother to blog?

Why?

Because I still can't bring myself to mark my papers yet!

 

   

Powered by Qumana

Leaving Manila

The past two weeks have been most interesting, thought-provoking and enriching ones.

The lessons I have learnt, the places I visited and the people I met made this an unforgettable experience.
______________________________________________________

Am continuing this post on board of flight PR 501 on my way back home.

I am excited to be home in about 20 minutes time. Back to my family and friends. Though two weeks passed without one feeling it when engaged intensely in challenging activities and novel experiences, it is a long time to not be just next to loved ones, especially the boys.  

Powered by Qumana

Lighting "Only for Love" from "The Banquet" OST

For our fourth group assignment, the groups have to each choose a piece of music of about a minute or two and design lighting for it. The piece of music my group settled on is the really heart-wrenching theme song from The Banquet OST.

I am so excited about it that I have been up since 4.30 am thinking about what can be done, imagining what I want the stage picture to look like. We will start work at 12 noon later. Arrggghhhh I can't wait!

Let's see if I can take a video of it and upload onto YouTube. Will definitely paste a link to the song when I have access to the net.

:D 

Powered by Qumana

Thoughts on Keith Johnston's "IMPRO"

Reading Johnston's book again after a long time. I read it many years ago as an undergraduate who needed to go through the assigned reading list. Unfortunately, like a clueless youngster, much of what Johnston has siad in the book didn't register at all.

I know that now because there is not even a sense of familiarity with the text at all. Unfortunate.

I am glad I decided to read it again.

Here's something that really makes sense to me:
"I've always directed plays as if I was totally ignorant about directing; I simply approach each problem on a basis of common sense and try to find the most obvious solutions possible."

To be like a child again, to tackle each task by the most obvious means.

What a timely reminder. :)

After the simple, common sensical solutions are applied, we can then highten the theatrical experience by adding accents, be they subtle or obvious.

Question is, how do we know what works and what doesn't? :)

    

Powered by Qumana

Important Lessons About the Theatre

Day 5 of the ASEAN Design and Technical Theatre workshop.

One very important lessons I have learnt about being a lighting designer is that when in a new venue, never pretend that you know everything, even when your intentions are good because anything wrong that can happen, will happen. Always ask the technicians for help as they know their equipment the best.

Take this from someone who caused an Ellipsoidal spotlight to fall straight on its nose while being lit because she didn't think before removing the light's counterweight. The thud was the loudest sound I have ever heard.

Thank god the light is still working.

Powered by Qumana

Loss

I think I have lost it.

Yup. Lost it. I still have lots to say and thinking a lot but there's something holding me back. I can't seem write any more.

Why, I don't know.

It's sad.

Finally A Post

Amost one month and many thoughts later, I am finally writing what I promised myself to write. Good chance to test out the Qumana blog-ware I downloaded. Feels a bit strange blogging after not doing so for such a long time. Feels even more strange to be writing on board of Philippine Airlines flight PR0504 on my way to Manila.

Strange-ness began six days ago actually.

Just when I was settling into my new part-time-teacher-with-balance-in-life-now routine, I received a call offering an opportunity to attend a 2-week lighting workshop in Manila. That was Tuesday. The fully-sponsored workshop was to commence in 6 days from the time the call was made. SIX DAYS.

Spoke to my darling husband who said:"Go if your Principal agrees to let you off school." despite long-made plans. So I spoke to my Principal the next day who said something to the extent of "Go for it and continue to contribute to the service." I was actually half-hoping that she would say no. Since she said "Yes" and this is too good an opportunity to let up, I began the hectic process of preparing for the trip and settling things before I go away for two weeks.....................
...........................................................................................................

OH NO! I just remembered something! Now I know why I was feeling antsy the whole morning! Will settle it as soon as I land.

Will write again soon.

Powered by Qumana

Site Under Construction

Target Completion Date: 15th March 2009