morning rambling
wow it turned into a suspense!
It's surprising unexpected. prob coz of the tail i left 'how could there be 67 kings...'
doesn't it sound like a setting where a gigantic dark castle-styled mansion filled with 70 something inhabitants, each with their own secrets to tell.
i'll carry on with the story althou i suck at suspense.
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after lunch thoughts
lol. I didn't mean to remove it though. I should probably type 'to be improved'. YES nothing's to be removed. Shamey shamey I didn't finish any of Woolf's great works, not even a single novel.
There I digressed. Intermission I. Want I.
After lunch I continued on the cliffhanger you left me, and in courteous return, didn't quite forget to leave you another hanger to tackle with. So I hope you enjoy it!
The merits of a marathon style blog novel is becoming clear. Unexpected plot developments could be v mind broadening. What I had in mind initially was a weird story in modern setting, where the mysterious man who owned 77 mail boxes (or 78 if including his own) was waiting to forget, or to remember. Whatever reason it is. A cold-hearted city story even.
But now it seems more interesting stuff is coming up. I'm all eager to know what's in store. Don't press yourself to write. Move your fingers and type only when thoughts come to you. I'm v v free at the moment and after the nap, I woke up with a few immature ideas which I thought would maybe tail nicely to your last entry. But sometimes I plainly didn't know what more to write.
So like said, no discussion. Just have fun!
ps. i take back my last sentence.
Let's discuss while we have fun!
This's going suspense, not some free verse. Have to discuss or else the characters will be split beyond recognition
Thursday, August 25, 2005
intermission I
filed under: NovelX, slapstick
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
the strange mail room, continuée par Jady
filed under: slapstick, the strange mail room
Amazing. And why does it sound like it's gonna be a half thriller half fantasy flick again? LoL. Ok, no discussion, I'll just continue.
So I was there in the grey, troubled downpour, fingering the stack and unsure what to do next when a deep voice suddenly boomed in my ear, 'boy, I believe those are for me, thank you very much.' I jumped and almost dropped the loosened bundle, and turned, shamefaced, only to be confronted by a stern, expressionless face. It was humid, warm day, and the moment I saw him I couldn't help cold goose bumps bobbing on my back—the man was well-built, and well-dressed in a black three-piece suit, which struck me as too thick for the weather and too formal anyway, his face, even and handsome, didn't betray the smallest hint at his age, but what made my nerves frantic with discomfort, was something I couldn't quite name. It was perhaps all the small yet very noticeable oddities about the man. His unblemished skin, for one, was pale and translucent like milky glass veined with faint lilac lines; his seagreen feline eyes, streaked with dark golden rays, held me steadfast and gave me an uncanny feeling that he could read my mind and was reading it there and then; but his gloved hands, though quick and polite when he reached over for the letters, were somewhat neurotically shaky. I held his gaze for only that couple of seconds, and he withdrew into himself like the setting sun calling back all the rays, suddenly inaccessibly distant, and quicky disappeared beyond the heavy oak doors of the old mansion. I don't know for how long I stood there, staring fixed at the crimson, immaculately maintained mansion, until one moment I suddenly shook awake, as if just escaped a nightmare, and rode my bike away as fast as my leaden limbs could manage.
Back to the post office. I put down the empty canvas bag and collapsed at one corner of the mail sorting room, drenched and still breathless from the strange encounter. Fortunately it was quite deserted in the late afternoon, I heard the postmaster answering a phone call in the next room, and no one else was around to witness my pale-faced aftershock. But I wasn't someone that scares easy and shrinks away in defeat from a mystery. My old man believed all along that I'd become a scientist or something, because I have an unusually strong, innate inquisitiveness in me that never let anything pass by unanswered or unexplained for, that I easily stood out from the simple, unquestioning townsfolk. And there I was on the cobblestone floor, calming down and devising plans to revisit the place and find out more, when a familiar voice halted my thoughts—'how ye doing my boy, you don't look too well. Must be the storm? Helluva heavy one eh, haven't had one like this in years..' 'yeah indeed. I think I'd better take off early and change into some dry clothes, sir, before I catch a cold or something.' I hurriedly cut the old postmaster short, before he lapsed into long reminiscence again. The old man worked here since as far as I could trace my memories back, and probably could be traced to years before I was even born. He's like the grandpa for every kid in town, a wise old man with a memory like an elephant's; almost a walking depository of the whole town's stories. He beamed at me and nodded permission. As I passed him, his wrinkles seemed a bit more gathered than his usual, relaxed self, and I wondered what could possibly be on his mind, troubling him. 'Take good care, son!' his last kind words reverberated in the dense downpour, almost like an admonishment; I waved him goodbye and broke into the pummeling rain.
the strange mail room
filed under: slapstick, the strange mail room
A tentative start after 'the bird'. I forgot which object/event made me jump at the idea. Oh yeah, well, anyway. It's about my forever changing address. My winter/fall academic report was mailed back home. I was kinda pissed for a while. I thought they'd mail it to my summer residence but instead they used my home address and as a result, my parents were the first to look at it. Whatever happens to my privacy!!! Then I thought there's so much inconvenience and 'sorrow' for someone forever on the move. It would be nice to have a safe address where you can always go back to retrieve your mails, no worries about the safety or its permanence.
The skeleton
There was a mysterious person who went with the name 'Raymond King' (change the name if you want, I suck at naming). Age? Not sure. Nobody knows. He looked like in his late 20s or early 30s. He lived in a big mansion in which there was the strange mail room. There were 77 pigeon holes each clearly numbered. The incoming letters were all addressed to him, with the same address '1 moonriver lane, queen's circle'. Each morning, Mr. Raymond King would rountinely go to the mailroom, spent a couple of minutes there making sure the letters were correctly sorted out to their right pigeon hole. And every morning he would sit there on the wooden stage, lost in thought, as if waiting for someone. He thinks he's the dream keeper, guarding the mails as if they're tender dreams that would one day escape.
And some day, not sure when because you never know when, some strangers would come and open the pigeon hole with their key, retrieve their mails and go away. Most would smile and say 'hi' if they bump into Mr. King. They exchange v few words.
It was a small business. People who for various reasons were in need of a permanent and secretive mailing address, could request a mailbox through Mr. King. The key was mailed to them so they could come and check their mails anytime they want.
That's the main storyline which doesn't even sound like a story for now. I'm sure you can do sth about it hahaha!
Here're figments of ideas. Let's flesh out the story. Hmm, is first person narration alrite? If not, change it anyway you want.
The Strange Mail Room (title pending...)
It was a rainy Saturday morning.
I quickly brushed off the raindrops on my watch and stared hard. It was too dark. I leaned a bit forward to retrieve some natural light, only to discover half my body was now out of the shed and the raging rain threatened to throw me off my bike.
The watch was fogging up from inside, making the rhythmic movement of the second hand a blurry ghost on patrol. The clockwork would soon rust. I stroked hard at the glass panel, cursing bitterly under my breath why my only luck ran out on the first day of this new job.
'Get the mails and finish the delivery by noon.' The officer said and there I went off in a flash of second, my heart welling up with the excitement of a nine year old boy embarking on his first adventure. Well, there I lied. I would soon be twenty by summer's end. But I was excited nonetheless, until someone poured two buckets of ink into the sky and the storm ensued. It must have been five buckets of ink, or his rage. The rain drops felt hot on the cheek. Maybe it was summer?
About five more minutes to Moonriver Lane, my next destination. I did a head calculation and tapped my foot impatiently at the pavement. Snatching up a handful of letters, I studied the address as I prayed for the rain to cease. It bothered me. Honestly speaking the minute I retrieved those letters from the big deposit box, I had an eccentric feeling hanging at the back of my mind.
To Mr. Raymond King
1 Moonriver Lane
Queen's Circle
154266
Mesmerizd, I flipped to another letter below. It had already been sorted out. I did a quick count with my fingers and there lay 10 letters, with exactly the same address. Wait! I was almost fooled! There below 'King' was carefully subscripted a numerical, almost too small to be discerned. Something screamed at me 'this's no simple case'! I could hardly control my boiling excitement at the new discovery that my hands shook a little. Three letters subscripted '9', and the rest with different numericals ranging from 3 to 67. It couldn't be there were 67 Raymond Kings!
TO BE C'TD (BY JADY)
off judy went...
Monday, August 22, 2005
this pill, this melodrama
filed under: musique, scribble, slapstick
an ambiguous title which in simple terms, yells 'love psychedelico', YEAH!!
How funny. I can't see the blog but luckily I can still post. Ah, you know Gang got addicted to love psychedelico coz of 'standing bird'! One day she came to my room and asked whether I had any nice song to recommend. Then I randomly picked one and there it was 'standing bird'. Only a few words make sense to me but most often even those familiar sounds escape me. 'Ai ja sobani nai somewhat of a 'ride & role'. ' - This's the only complete line I know. If anyone would to ask 'what is love psychedelico'? It would be a headache question to answer. A blend of rock and metal which exude a laid-back attitude, almost a faded rhythm that reminds me vaguely of the 60s. Mixture of Japanese & English aside, Kumi's voice is just right for the flavour! I used to complain about Naoki's instrumental arrangement.(that guitarist, bass, keyboard and what not. so let's simply say he's the vocaless part) Lots of raging beats that lack sophistication and technique. But graudually even those became part of love psychedelico's essense. The first song that got me empty my wallet for the 1st LP album was 'everybody needs someone'. The effect of enclosed sound from the headphone prob enhanced the rhythmic shock. Kumi's voice is clean, not too sharp, not too mellow. And the detachment in the rage, I'm really glad I get to know them. Oh, 'standing bird' is prob the most representative song of LS.
Bonus: i love all their album/single cover designs.
LP Official Website
Profile [from the official web]
Formed in 1997 when they met in the college music club so called “circle” at Aoyama Gakuin University. Made their debut with “Lady Madonna / Yuutsu Naru Spider” on April 21st 2000. In the meantime, they created the original sound world, bringing a great fusion of 60’s/ 70’s rock taste and modern digital sound.With unforgettable guitar riff, their characteristic Japanese-English naturally blended lyrics and Kumi’s unconventional vocal style, they gave Japanese music scene a tremendous impact every time they brought their new works.The first album “THE GREATEST HITS”, second album “LOVE PSYCHEDELIC ORCHESTRA” and third album “LOVE PSYCHEDELICO III” have still been making a remarkable record as a long term hit seller.In November 2004, they went on their first time Asian solo tour.
KUMI【Vocal & Guitars】
Date of Birth>1976.4.11 Blood Type>O
Born at>Tokyo-prefecture Hobby>Trip
NAOKI【Guitars, Bass Guitars & Keyboards】
Date of Birth>1973.7.21 Blood Type>O
Born at>Shizuoka-prefecture Hobby>Painting
Single Covers
Album Covers
My fav LP song is 'days of days over you' ^^
Standing Bird
filed under: lyrics, musique, slapstick
Jude, arhhhh, I'm inexplicably addicted to Love Psychedelico, or to be precise, to Standing Bird, the very first song you played to me! Now I get up in the morning and put it on repeat mode and let the rhythm and her defiant voice roll on, though I hardly understand half of the lyrics! Is it the existential angst (lol. This is a disease, my disease) in there that appeals to me? Some kind of cold rage..against something unnamable? Sighs, this is gonna be the Standing Bird Week for me…
Standing Bird
Romaji by: cori
Kaze no keeper mune ni yadoru light
Kienai sa asu e tada take a run
Kanaderu rage oto mo nashi ni fade
Akumei de ii sa you go along
stone in silence kanashimi o terase
Yamanu flavor wa meguru fate
you lean on, you go on
oh, nothing's done
Mou tada yureru sora to downcast sight
as ever, stand hard, shed the lights
stone in silence karenu me o sarase
stand forever itami aru moto e
Kimi wa ima tada omoi shiru Standing Bird
* wake up your sorrow, from the "deep narrow"
oh, sainamu wa pleasure kiri no mukou Eden
Ai.ja soba ni inai somewhat of "ride and roll"
Owaranai sa reach another star
green light, untied, high tide, breaking the wind
Owaranai keep believing star
stand hard, shed the lights, hang by, a way behind
stand forever hikari aru moto e
refrain-ing voices are touhou mo naku killing the time
Toki wa ima tada omoishiru Standing Bird
* repeat
** wake up your sorrow, from the "deep narrow"
oh, saihate no heart zensen no ue no "ride and roll"
Ai.ja soba ni inai somewhat of "ride and roll"
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Cheers!
filed under: logbook, slapstick
Jade & me finished house-moving. Wanted to celebrate with champaign & pizza. But sorry I had long beans cooked with green pepper, and a cup of plain water to wash away the greasy feel in my mouth. And Jade headed for her money grossing business (aka private tuition).
The furniture was so dusty we couldn't even remember its owner. Jade looked at the photo in which a black chimp died mysteriously. Alongside its bloody corpse lay three arrows. The hints missed her and Jade looked again, baffled. Oh I took the photo last year. Isn't it classic?
'Write something if you're in the mood.'
So here I am giving the brush a deliberate stroke. Whether in or out of the mood, there it was, a new trail of paint on the wall. I would be glad to mark the first stroke which I know, would soon be lost in a sea of coloured graffiti. Or at least I hope.
Here comes Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk...
- These're just a couple of my cravings
Cigarettes and chocolate milk
These are just a couple of my cravings
Everything it seems I like's a little bit stronger
A little bit thicker, a little bit harmful for me
If I should buy jellybeans
Have to eat them all in just one sitting
Everything it seems I like's a little bit sweeter
A little bit fatter, a little bit harmful for me
And then there's those other things
Which for several reasons we won't mention
Everything about 'em is a little bit stranger, a little bit harder
A little bit deadly
It's not very smart
Tends to make one part
So brokenhearted
Sitting here remembering me
Always been a shoe made for the city
Go ahead accuse me of just singing about places
With scrappy boys faces have general run of the town
Playing with prodigal sons
Take a lot of sentimental valiums
Can't expect the world to be your raggedy andy
While running on empty you little old doll with a frown
You got to keep in the game
Retaining mystique while facing forward
I suggest a reading of lesson in tightropes
Or surfing your high hopes or adios kansas
It’s not very smart
Tends to make one part
So brokenhearted
Still there’s not a show on my back
Holes or a friendly intervention
I’m just a little bit heiress, a little bit irish
A little bit tower of pisa
Whenever I see ya
So please be kind if I’m a mess
Cigarettes and chocolate milk
Cigarettes and chocolate milk
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Progress report
filed under: logbook, slapstick
Okay, after so long, finally set to work on this little corner of ours and fixed the few problems. The comment function beats me though----can't figure out how to create a comments page, even after pouring over all the html codes I altered before. Anyway, guess we should be more anxious about writing more than editing the template, else we can work together in a web-design company by the time we graduate. Which ain't too bad, hohoho. Now, feedback, s'il te plait! Guess we'll have to make do with the tagboard first..or a new post!