3.27.2006
Swan Song
It's just been officially announced that Shun, one of the two vocalists of EXILE, will be leaving the group on March 29 (the same day as their new album "ASIA"'s release). Reason being to focus on his solo career.
I must say I'm shocked. I've always known that Shun is very keen on making a name of himself outside of the band, but so far it hasn't been that successful. And to be honest I haven't been that big of a fan of his solo music either. Not so much because the songs are of a different style, but because he sings differently. Why leave the band when it's at its peak, having just released a best-selling single & all??
I'm just...speechless. I've liked EXILE even before they became immensely popular, & a big part of it was because of Shun. While Atsushi is also a great singer, there's something special about Shun's voice that really makes him stand out from other male vocalists. And now that he's gone, I don't know if I'll like EXILE the same way anymore...
First DAI splits, & now this. All I can do is sigh. =\ It's especially sad because I really liked "ASIA" & was really looking forward to their next album...ugggggh!!
P.S. It's weird, 'cause right before DAI split, I picked it up when I saw Tomiko mouth "sayonara" at the end of "TAO"'s PV. And yesterday, when I heard "ASIA"'s ending track "Love, Dream & Happiness", I had the same uneasy feeling. But then I thought, "Why would EXILE split??" BOY WAS I WRONG.
P.P.S. Just realized that I became an EXILE fan when I was in my 1st year of university...everytime I hear their old songs I'm reminded of those days. And now that I'm in my 4th & final year, they "split" (well, more like "go separate ways"). Interesting how this is working out...
It's just been officially announced that Shun, one of the two vocalists of EXILE, will be leaving the group on March 29 (the same day as their new album "ASIA"'s release). Reason being to focus on his solo career.
I must say I'm shocked. I've always known that Shun is very keen on making a name of himself outside of the band, but so far it hasn't been that successful. And to be honest I haven't been that big of a fan of his solo music either. Not so much because the songs are of a different style, but because he sings differently. Why leave the band when it's at its peak, having just released a best-selling single & all??
I'm just...speechless. I've liked EXILE even before they became immensely popular, & a big part of it was because of Shun. While Atsushi is also a great singer, there's something special about Shun's voice that really makes him stand out from other male vocalists. And now that he's gone, I don't know if I'll like EXILE the same way anymore...
First DAI splits, & now this. All I can do is sigh. =\ It's especially sad because I really liked "ASIA" & was really looking forward to their next album...ugggggh!!
P.S. It's weird, 'cause right before DAI split, I picked it up when I saw Tomiko mouth "sayonara" at the end of "TAO"'s PV. And yesterday, when I heard "ASIA"'s ending track "Love, Dream & Happiness", I had the same uneasy feeling. But then I thought, "Why would EXILE split??" BOY WAS I WRONG.
P.P.S. Just realized that I became an EXILE fan when I was in my 1st year of university...everytime I hear their old songs I'm reminded of those days. And now that I'm in my 4th & final year, they "split" (well, more like "go separate ways"). Interesting how this is working out...
3.24.2006
Just got out of my German lit class not long ago...got out an hour early 'cause two of the students who were supposed to present got "sick" & were absent. =P I guess I shouldn't judge considering that I was about to pull the same trick, lol. But I'm glad I didn't, 'cause mine went swimmingly. My prof kept thanking me for the great presentation (??!!) & even the German girl who knows all about German lit said it was interesting. =) But the best part was that I actually enjoyed presenting...talking about a book based on a bitter 50-year old man's rants sure beats the hell out of talking about reovirus & its infection route...<rolls eyes> The funny thing though is that I could actually relate to the book; it's about an Austrian writer who reunites with these people whom used be his best friends after 20 years. He attends a dinner party hosted by these old friends, & he begins to bitch about every single person who's there...FOR 181 PAGES (I kid you not). After the first 20 pages or so I started laughing so hard, because I could see myself doing the same thing when I'm here. In fact I told the class that story as an anecdote to end my presentation, & everyone got a good laugh out of it. It's weird how things work out, because I chose this book on radom, & it just so happened that the author shares the same wavelength as me...
Anyway, I'm not writing this entry to rave about my presentation. After class was over I went to Timmy's to grab some food, & like almost every Friday I sat in front of Carr Hall to eat. It was then that I realized I've been neglecting life; so much has been going on in the past few months I completely forgot to enjoy life, as my mind was simply too occupied with other thoughts to appreciate the lil things that used to amuse me so much. The weather was chilly but I've never felt warmer inside (CORNY!! I know, it's the arts student in me talking =P).
Promised Keith I'd have a light lunch so we can have an early dinner, & I did. Can't wait for some Eye-talian food (hopefully)!!
3.21.2006
IT'S HERE, IT'S HERE!!!!! MY "Do The Box" ARRIVED TODAY!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
<regains self-control>
...will take pictures tomorrow, since I don't want bad lighting to ruin this beautiful work of art (??). The box is just too cool. It's so nice I don't wanna open it, lol (in fact I'm not planning to open it until tomorrow when I watch the DVD). And I had tears in my eyes just from seeing the 6 album covers & reading the tracklistings at the back of the box...xP
DAI FOREVER!! (Oh, & I've got set #6933...I was hoping for a more special number but ah well =P)
EDIT: And here are the pictures!! I took 32 just to get these 7, lol.
3.18.2006
This all started a lil more than a month ago. For some reason, I began to have recurring dreams involving people whom I went to high school with. From the best of friends to the worst of enemies, I've dreamt of pretty much every person in my grade. Some of the dreams are totally meaningless, while others can be quite twisted/funny (lol as some of you would know...ya I'm a disturbed individual. xP Apparently I still have residual anger towards certain people, hahaha). Either way, I always wake up having the "WTF??" feeling. I wonder what these dreams could mean; I don't think it's so much that I miss high school (blech) or the people in it (blech blech), but the carefree days where life seemed all so simple. In a way though, I'm glad I'm no longer the naïve, shy (!!) nerd that I once was. I at least shook two out of those three off me. xD
So ya, it just hit me that an upcoming occasion (I can't say what it is, as some ppl who read this blog are also involved, lol) will most likely bring me face to face with some of the high schoolers whom
3.10.2006
"Electric Circus?"
It was the most eventful day I've had in a while.
--
After I got off the GO train, instead of driving straight home, I decided to drive to Woodside Centre instead. Destination: Club Monaco Outlet. Thanks to Claudia, I found out that it's closing & everything is 40-60% off the last ticketed price (!!). And really, nothing beats a nice & smooth drive (with a lil bit of speeding =P) after such a long day of school...& it's only that much better with great music. Got there, parked halfassedly, & semi-ran into the store. As soon as I walked in & saw the line up, I couldn't help but say "Oh my God". Those words just flew out of my mouth before I could even process them...
No, it wasn't because the line was long; I've seen worse. Rather, it was because of WHO was in the line - it was Eggie, who's by far the best crush I've ever had (lol I think only 2 people know who that is). xD It was crazy...I simply could not believe the chances; it's been 5 years since we last saw each other. I let out a smitten yet somewhat embarrassed chuckle. We didn't end up talking, as I just quietly walked away after we made eye contact. But damn, just that one look brought back all kinds of memories...GOOD memories. =) I know you don't read this (at least I don't think so), but I just wanna say thank you for everything. Thank you for pulling me back up when I needed it the most. I wish we stayed friends but I guess we just didn't share that much in common, lol. But it was always so much fun talking to you, & I truly enjoyed each & every one of our "midnight therapy sessions". =P I wanna know though...how the hell do you still look the same (ie. just as good) after all these years??
Anyway...after I settled down, I began the hunt for clothes. Ended up going on a "pants raid" where I bought every pair of pants that was my size. xP FYI, I'm no longer a 28, instead I'm now in the 30s, which means less choice since that's where most people lie. =\ But still, I got myself some hot pants!!
--
Rewind to 6 hours earlier. I was in my German lit class, & for the first time ever, I wanted to cry in the middle of class. xP Two girls were doing a presentation on Anne Frank, & it was so sad & moving that everyone around me (including our prof) started sniffling midway; I welled up just hearing her life in hiding & her final days in Auschwitz. What a story to be told...& what a way to tell it. The presentation lasted for an hour but didn't feel like it. I stayed for the whole thing even though I originally planned to leave class early to review my vaccines material one last time. It was just too good to pass up...but now I'm worried. How the hell am I supposed top that?? I don't even have a topic yet...=P
--
Fastforward to 2 hours later. In the middle of my test, I realized how well I knew the material - 2 pages on polio vaccine alone. I have no idea how I wrote that much, but I did. Hand & wrist were starting to hurt, yet the thing that bothered me the most was that you chose to sit in front of me. =P I give myself props for not getting distracted...well, not too distracted, anyway. Ended up going overtime & finished the 2nd question with some bs that I didn't even mean, lol. Ah well, no more midterms!!
It was the most eventful day I've had in a while.
--
After I got off the GO train, instead of driving straight home, I decided to drive to Woodside Centre instead. Destination: Club Monaco Outlet. Thanks to Claudia, I found out that it's closing & everything is 40-60% off the last ticketed price (!!). And really, nothing beats a nice & smooth drive (with a lil bit of speeding =P) after such a long day of school...& it's only that much better with great music. Got there, parked halfassedly, & semi-ran into the store. As soon as I walked in & saw the line up, I couldn't help but say "Oh my God". Those words just flew out of my mouth before I could even process them...
No, it wasn't because the line was long; I've seen worse. Rather, it was because of WHO was in the line - it was Eggie, who's by far the best crush I've ever had (lol I think only 2 people know who that is). xD It was crazy...I simply could not believe the chances; it's been 5 years since we last saw each other. I let out a smitten yet somewhat embarrassed chuckle. We didn't end up talking, as I just quietly walked away after we made eye contact. But damn, just that one look brought back all kinds of memories...GOOD memories. =) I know you don't read this (at least I don't think so), but I just wanna say thank you for everything. Thank you for pulling me back up when I needed it the most. I wish we stayed friends but I guess we just didn't share that much in common, lol. But it was always so much fun talking to you, & I truly enjoyed each & every one of our "midnight therapy sessions". =P I wanna know though...how the hell do you still look the same (ie. just as good) after all these years??
Anyway...after I settled down, I began the hunt for clothes. Ended up going on a "pants raid" where I bought every pair of pants that was my size. xP FYI, I'm no longer a 28, instead I'm now in the 30s, which means less choice since that's where most people lie. =\ But still, I got myself some hot pants!!
--
Rewind to 6 hours earlier. I was in my German lit class, & for the first time ever, I wanted to cry in the middle of class. xP Two girls were doing a presentation on Anne Frank, & it was so sad & moving that everyone around me (including our prof) started sniffling midway; I welled up just hearing her life in hiding & her final days in Auschwitz. What a story to be told...& what a way to tell it. The presentation lasted for an hour but didn't feel like it. I stayed for the whole thing even though I originally planned to leave class early to review my vaccines material one last time. It was just too good to pass up...but now I'm worried. How the hell am I supposed top that?? I don't even have a topic yet...=P
--
Fastforward to 2 hours later. In the middle of my test, I realized how well I knew the material - 2 pages on polio vaccine alone. I have no idea how I wrote that much, but I did. Hand & wrist were starting to hurt, yet the thing that bothered me the most was that you chose to sit in front of me. =P I give myself props for not getting distracted...well, not too distracted, anyway. Ended up going overtime & finished the 2nd question with some bs that I didn't even mean, lol. Ah well, no more midterms!!
3.07.2006
The Odd Couple
When I took GER100 a few summers ago, there was this girl who used to audit almost every class. She was quite the interesting figure, as she was precisely what Courtney Love would've been like in her early 20s; every morning she would come in late, looking like she got wasted and/or high the night before. And I'm sure that was almost always what really happened. =P She even looked like Courtney herself, sporting the messy platinum blonde hair, the pouty lips, & the pale skin. But beyond all this, she was very talented when it came to languages. I forgot exactly how many of them she knew, but she was at least very good at German. She was so good, in fact, I looked up to her & tried to learn from her. And funnily enough, we somehow ended up having quite the friendship during those 3 & 1/2 months. We would chat about everything, from showbiz to music to languages to even family...really, can you imagine ME talking to Courtney Love?? xD I remember us talking about AC/DC even though I hardly knew anything about the band. I also remember us dissing those pretentious ones who act like they've never cursed once in their lives...
I don't know what made me think of her all of a sudden...to be honest I almost forgot that she even existed. I guess this is just one of those tidbits of UofT that I'll take with me. It's weird how sometimes the smallest, the seemingly most insignificant people can leave such an impression in your life.
When I took GER100 a few summers ago, there was this girl who used to audit almost every class. She was quite the interesting figure, as she was precisely what Courtney Love would've been like in her early 20s; every morning she would come in late, looking like she got wasted and/or high the night before. And I'm sure that was almost always what really happened. =P She even looked like Courtney herself, sporting the messy platinum blonde hair, the pouty lips, & the pale skin. But beyond all this, she was very talented when it came to languages. I forgot exactly how many of them she knew, but she was at least very good at German. She was so good, in fact, I looked up to her & tried to learn from her. And funnily enough, we somehow ended up having quite the friendship during those 3 & 1/2 months. We would chat about everything, from showbiz to music to languages to even family...really, can you imagine ME talking to Courtney Love?? xD I remember us talking about AC/DC even though I hardly knew anything about the band. I also remember us dissing those pretentious ones who act like they've never cursed once in their lives...
I don't know what made me think of her all of a sudden...to be honest I almost forgot that she even existed. I guess this is just one of those tidbits of UofT that I'll take with me. It's weird how sometimes the smallest, the seemingly most insignificant people can leave such an impression in your life.
3.06.2006
Today, as soon as my dad got home, he came into my room & gave me a parcel. I took a glance at it, & I recognized it as a package from YesAsia. Immediately I went "heh??", as I don't remember buying anything from them recently. The only thing I ordered was "Do The Box", which doesn't come out in a week. Soon I had a thought of what the package could possibly contain, & a sly smile came across my face...
So, about half a year ago, I ordered Ayu's "HEAVEN" single along with DAI's "Do The A-side". After waiting for a couple of months, the shipment never came, so I got annoyed & e-mailed YesAsia (nicely =P). They gave me a reply right away, & offered to send me another set. This time, I got them quickly, in fact, they arrived on the same day as my "(miss)understood" & "Utabaka". That was a great day. <beaming smile>
...& yup, once I ripped the package open, there they were - "HEAVEN" & "Do The A-side", THE SEQUEL. So now, I have two of each!! xD
I'm still debating what to do with them. I can either get a refund or sell them on eBay. OR, if I feel very generous, I'll give them to someone...but this choice is unlikely, since the money I get back could pay for my "Startin'/Born To Be..." single & EXILE album (with express delivery!!). =P Yay for free CDs!!
