Some people will say that it’s all about others trying to make a buck. Whatever the case, This Is It did a great job in leaving behind a final impression of who Michael Jackson was. Humble. Polite. Talented. Forget all the rumours, forget the accusations, this documentary showed off Michael in his element and a wish for the world to enjoy his music with him.
He was a perfectionist. He could pick out a single off beat and just stop everything. He knew how to keep a song “simmering” (one of his words) that when the band hit the beat, everyone would go nuts. He encouraged his young dancers and musicians to shine. He let the music take over his body. He still had his voice and even though at 50 years of age, he could slide across the stage effortlessly. He did look a little tired, but maybe he was just holding back, saving his energy for the number of shows lined up.
While the documentary only showed rehearsals of his greatest hits, it’s still fascinating that even after decades, one can still listen to Billie Jean and go, “Man … there will never be another.” I choked up a little when a video montage of Michael throughout his years as a performer played towards the end, from a young age of 5 with the rest of the Jacksons, right up to his final days. He truly was one gifted individual.
I didn’t really like the fact that the screening at Hoyts Melbourne Central was held in Lounge 9. It was this huge room, with chairs, stools, tables, a snack bar and lots of space for those who wanted to dance along. The colours on the projector screen didn’t pop enough, the sound was a little bit muffled (not sure if it was the space or the film itself) and the lights from the snack bar annoyed me. Regardless, people were cheering and clapping after every rehearsed song knowing that this will be the closest thing any of us will ever get to see for a could’ve been Michael Jackson concert.
Filed under: Others That Don't Fit
But we only brought home 9!! Some we had to let go cause of size (too teeny) and some cause of type – one was a stingray, which is apparently a no no, and another was a starfish, which Miss South Yarra and I shouted excitedly at first, “OCTOPUS!!!” until the rest said, “Err no … starfish”. Heh.
We jumped into our rented sampan and headed out into the big blue too early on a Saturday morning, well, OK it wasn’t THAT early (think it was around 8.30ish) but we woke up at 6am! My first ever fishing trip. Didn’t even expect to catch anything. In fact, when we reached our first fishing spot, I got Ah Boy to put the bait on the hook for me, threw it in the water, left the fishing rod alone and said out loud, “OK, who wants to makan??” Everyone declined, too busy trying to catch something because we were all supposedly competing. There was a prize for the person who caught the first fish, the person who caught the most and the person who caught the biggest. I decided that I was going to just enjoy the sunshine and eat my sandwich. The rest started complaining they had no bite so we decided to reel our lines in and move to a different spot. Since I was still eating, I told Ah Boy to reel mine, and whadya know?? I had a fish!! Suddenly everyone was like, “OK we’re staying!!”
I think we were out there for about 4 hours before we decided to call it a day. I caught 3 fish, Miss SY caught 4 fish (not including 2 little baby fish and the starfish), Janice caught 1 fish (not including the stingray she had to release), Homie also caught 1 (another one he had to release) but Ah Boy … he caught nothing 
That’s OK though, there’s always next time and guaranteed everyone’s competitive mode will kick in.
But man, for all that effort, the meat was practically nothing, just enough for a snack. Look at it! Pathetic. Heh.
We beer battered the little suckers, deep fried it and it was mmm mmm mmm. So fresh! Nothing like catching your own food, eh?
Oh, there was also this weird incident that happened to us out on the water. We were happily fishing when suddenly we were attacked by this huge swarm of flies. Yes, flies. Not bees. Not birds. Flies. It was like a scene straight out of a horror film. Miss SY and I were the more calm ones, trying not to jump around too much while reeling our line in … we didn’t get that much flies disturbing us but I turned and saw Janice and Ah Boy slapping themselves all over —they had flies all over their back, in their hair, stuck to their hats. Not sure what that was but …. gross!
Filed under: Eats
Check out the size of the grapes we got from Coles - a whole bag of grapes that size!
Filed under: Eats
I think we have found our neighbourhood cafe. Yes. Va Piano. This little cafe that’s around the corner opposite our tram stop has been opened for, hmm, about 3 months now and we love, love, love the food. The cafe is opened Mon-Sat, 7am to 3pm. I am always tempted to stop by every morning before work but by the time I get out of the house and walk to the tram stop, I see the tram coming and never have time to go, “Oh hello! One meatball wrap to go, please.” I need to start waking up earlier and getting ready in a flash.
Boo stopped by this morning before her afternoon shift so we decided to have brunch at Va Piano. Being the greedy pigs that we always are, we ordered four meals between the three of us. The guy takingour order had to clarify a couple of times, “So guys, you DID order four, right?” “Yup, we’re hungry!”
Filed under: Others That Don't Fit
This has been on the news for the past few days. A mom and her baby at the train station. Mom just lets go of the pram for a second to adjust her pants/belt, and the pram rolls off the platform, tips over and lands on the train tracks … 3 seconds later, the train hits the pram. But it’s good (and lucky!) news because the baby survives with just a scratch. I would be absolutely traumatised and devastated if it happened to me, even though my child survived, but just knowing what could’ve happened if luck wasn’t on my side. It’s quite easy for people to go, “Oh, what a stupid mom, why wasn’t she more careful, why didn’t she do this, do that, do this?” but things happen, or should I say shit happens, and you just never know. So buckle up, people and keep your eyes on the road.
