FATE! Gives hope. Takes Away. Shoves in my face.

So last week something strange happened to me that I thought i would share with you all the story that sort of felt like something that was written in a movie script. I’ll make it as brief as possible and not get into too much detail.

It all started in June when I went to overseas. I was at a my friends’ workmate’s Farewell dinner. I knew a few people there from my past trip and introduced myself to the ones I didn’t know. This is where I met this Girl who was taking photos on the night. The most I probably said to her that night was “Hi”, “My name is Nam” and “Bye”.

That night she had uploaded photos to Facebook and added me as a friend. She started messaging me on FB and I replied. I would only find out that I had a message on FB when I had WiFi access either at the hotel or my friend’s place and my mobile would go off with message updates. So I replied.

I had flew back to Melbourne and we exchanged numbers so we could message each other using “Whatsapp”, a free messaging program on iPhone and other smartphones. So for about 2-3 weeks we would constantly message each other. A few DnMs here and there. A few questions asked and feelings reviled about how we felt about each other.

So all on a high knowing that she was interested in me. It came to the last week of us messaging and she was become silent. I started to feel negative vibes, but kept telling myself that she was busy at work or at the gym. Which was not that un true. It had come to a point where it had been nearly 3 days that I had not heard from her. So I messaged if something was wrong or if I did something. The reply was not what I wanted. It said “no you did nothing. I’m sorry but I have sorted things out with my Ex Boyfriend”. Heart Shattered! I was at a birthday party and with friends when my face dropped and went into a black emotion, while trying to hold back my tears and emotions. No use hiding it from my mates. They saw past my wall and asked whats wrong.

Comes to the week of Negative energy.
Sunday. I find out She had patched things up with her ex boyfriend.
Monday. Friend broke up with his girlfriend of 6 years.
Tuesday. ONLY good news. One of my best friends proposed to his girlfriend of 4 years.
Wednesday. get a message from a friend who said they were going to breakup.
THursday. Met up with the friend from Wednesday message to discuss why.

So it was an interesting week full of negative energy. Anyway I had moved on as much as I could from my situation. I knew the girl from my situation was still coming to Melbourne Late Aug. for a trip of 12 days. But we would not be meeting up and all the little plans I had planned would not be happening anymore. So I pushed it aside to forget.

On the other hand Facebook would not let forget. She was still linked to me as a friend. I originally blocked her for a few days and then unblocked her when I thought to myself I should thank her for showing me that there is love for me out there. Even if it’s not with her.

Skip forward a month and a few week. Her updates on Facebook were counting down the days to her trip. I knew. She was here. Her birthday came and photos she uploaded from the day. At this point I just couldn’t handle it so I deleted her from my Friends list and I was happy again.

Skip forward a week. I’m on a tram going to a meeting and tram comes to a stop. I am at the door. I look out the door window and see her face. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. Door opens. She looks up. Takes a second look and realises who I am. We have awkward wave hello, I had to jump off to go to a meeting and she was jumping on the tram.

So heading to my meeting, I am in shock and can not believe what just happened. In my meeting I get a message from her saying it was great seeing me and hope that I was not Angry with her still. I message back.

We then meet up later that night and talk. I told her that I had deleted her a week ago on her Birthday. So I add her back. She says she wants to be friends. We will see. I think it will take me some time to actually stop seeing her a the one that got away and as a friend.

Anyway, that is my story, well the short hand. Major details left for me to know.

I just found it strange how Fate had given me hope of love, taken it away, then shoves it in my face which causes me to delete her off Facebook and then we cross paths on her last day in Melbourne. I figured she is my life for a reason and I can’t explain it.

So I hope you like that little story, I am still riding this high I guess.

Until Next Time.

Nam

 

Boyce Avenue in Melbourne @ The Forum Theatre

 So last night went to Boyce Avenue‘s first concert in Melbourne and it was amazing.

I have been following this band for awhile now on Youtube. When I found out they were coming to Australia for a tour I had to go.

Originally they were booked in at the Corner Hotel in Richmond, but moved to the Forum Theatre when they had sold out of tickets at the Corner.

I remember gettin that email saying “Boyce Avenue booking dates at the Forum Theatre”. Since it is one of the venues that I look after as part of my day job, all i saw was their name. Straight away I walked up to the manager who is in charge of bookings and asked “how much are tickets? and can I grab 4 for a booth?” he told me that it was general admission but I could ask the manager down at the Forum to Reserve a table for me. Which I did.

I had spoken to some friends who I knew were interested in B.A. and that would like to come. Trevor was one, James the other and Jose, which the show was on his birthday. So I shouted Jose the ticket. My sister Trish wanted to come but was flying to Bali that day so she missed out .

Getting Closer to the day. I found out a few more people were coming along, Mandy, Carlos and Tija. Which was great! it ment more people in our booth and that I wouldn’t have to share the booth with total strangers.

On the day I had to head down to the Forum around midday to setup a few tills in the bar and eftpos machines since things had been moved around prior to the gig happening. I thought I would see them do sound check but sadly they were not there yet. I did my thing and went back to my office and did work till I finished.

My Reserved Table

With two and a half hours to kill before doors open, I was trying to organize a quick dinner with everyone. FAILED! Everyone decide to do their own thing. So I ended up walking down to City Square and had dinner alone at Caboose. Ended up have a main, dessert and a glass of Chardonnay. So I spoiled myself since everyone else were with others.

Around 7pm I thought I’d head to the Forum to see what the line was looking like. I was shocked. The Line had made it way around the corner up the Lane way half way down the side of the building. So I decided to line up and wait for the others since we were meeting at 7:30. Lets just say I hate when people arrive late! I hate it when I do.

So MY FRIENDS, arrived at 7:45ish or later and the line had already gone up the lane way in to Flinders Lane and around the back of the building to Russell Street, nearly surrounding the building. Doors opened and the crowd slowly moved in. We found our table and sat down. It was at the back, but it was the best view that any of the booths/tables had since everyone else was standing. We could of gone to the dance floor but I wanted to relax in a booth.

The support act came on and I had never heard his stuff before, Mark Wilkinson. It was just a acoustic set, him and his guitar. Amazing tone and control. He played for about 30 minutes and then went off and we were waiting for main act.

Boyce Avenue came on and everyone went crazy! They started off with a original song and played a few originals first and then threw in some Covers, Iris by Goo Goo Dolls, Taio Cruz – Dynamite, just to name a few. One Encore, but I do wish they did another and finished up at 11pm ish.

I bumped into my friend Wenona in the foyer who some how got “All access” pass to watch the show from a sponser “Unique Melody“, and asked me how to get back stage. At that point I knew of several ways but I could be fired for doing it with out permission. So pointed her to security and walk down to the side of stage and waited for someone from the tour to take her down. Bonus was when we met the Sound Engineer, the one of the guys from Unique Melody told the guy I was with them, so I got to go down and meet the band.

Alejandro Manzano from Boyce Avenue

Daniel Manzano from Boyce Avenue

Fabian Manzano from Boyce Avenue

All three brothers were really nice, easy to talk to. I mention to Fabian that I had seen his Vlog about goin on tour and the junk food training he did, asked him how that was going, he said “oh. i’ve had so much bad stuff over the tour” haha then I mentioned that I heard before the show that they were at Nandos down the road and he just laughed.

Also I wanted to get their autograph but had nothing for them to sign. I found a sharpie in my bag and then thought “what the heck” let them sign my Macbook Pro since I do watch their videos on it.

So that’s all I have to report about going to watch Boyce Avenue. Amazing Show! Amazing Company, Amazing People! What else can I say? I hope their tour is as a success as Melbourne was and can’t wait to they come back.

 

The weekend that was. [Part 2/2]

So Part 2, I left off at when I got to bed that Saturday morning.

But before I start again, I have to do this:

FRANKLIN is AWSOME!

Day 2! Saturday

Okay, that’s done. So on Saturday I got to bed about 7am. and i had to get up around 10:30am. Why? So I could pick up Jose and Suisse from The Collektive and drive them to their Tech Run at Groove Urban Dance Competition. So I got to Jose’s place and he was still getting ready. So he offered some food too fill me up. Pizza it was! hehe. So while Jose was getting ready I got a sms from Suisse asking if I was on the way and if i could pick up Jose and Lanie as well. Which i did not tell her I was with Jose already and played mean and said “no”, then told her i was was at Jose’s waiting for him. We left and picked up Suisse and Lanie and then we’re on our way to the competition.

Once we got there my friends registered to go in and I followed. We met up with the rest of the crew. We watched a few crew do their tech runs and then it was time for the Collektive to get ready for their tech runs. I was given the camera to video tape the tech runs, so I waited. When they came on I got up from my chair where I was going threw the photos I took the night before at Tiffany’s and set the camera on stage to start recording.

They came off, watched the footage I had and then we all went to Highpoint Shopping centre to get lunch and a few did some shopping.

Got back to the Venue for the Competition by 6ish and went backstage to hang with the crew, watched them get ready. Then up to the balcony/holding area to watch the show. The crew were the last performance before intermission. But with about 1 hour before going on stage members were getting nervous for two of their members who were traveling interstate from Sydney since they performed at Winterbeats the night before. Trevor and Lee had been in contact the whole day and told us their plane was delayed but it was cutting it close. They got there with pretty much 30 mins to get ready.

On stage they did their thing and again I recorded their set from the balcony. After they watched it and then got changed for the triple birthday party afterwards. I left with Jose, Lanie and Suisse to go to the club and the rest stayed for the verdict.

Got to the club and parked right out front. We had to go withdraw money and get some food before we went into the club and started drinking. Just to fill our tummies. Then we went inside. At this point there was only 4 of us. The 3 left me to go to the toilet, so I ripped out my DSLR and was setting up my flash unit, to be approached and told that I could not use that here in the club. I was “what? really? why? I’ve definitively have been here before and taken photos like this before.” to be answered back “it has always been policy, you can use photo flash or small cameras but not DSLR” …. go figure. so cloakroom it went.

More people slowly arrived and midnight passed and the other birthday boy, Trevor, arrived. Then the old school room opened up and we made our way up there. The dancers then started a circle on the dance floor. Which was funny cause I was on the out side of the circle and could hear other people who were not with us getting annoyed. haha. A couple of guys were looking for space to dance and saw the space in the circle and tried to get in but failed. haha.

Anyway more dancing. More Drinking for the birthday people. By that time the circle had engulfed the whole dance floor and pretty much the room was the people for the birthday party. By 2:30-3am people started leaving and I made the call to leave. Suisse was dead Jose was off his face Lanie, well lets say she ended up staying hehe.

So the drive home Suisse went to half sleep, like when your half there and half not. Jose he was gone!!!! He kept saying “why did I get so drunk”, well because you drank so much which you could of said no. “well all my friends kept buying me drinks and I couldnt let it go to waste” hahaha too funny.

Dropped them off and got home by 3:30-4am. In bed and this time i got abit more sleep then the night before.

DAY 3! Sunday

Woke up at 10:30am and got read to pick up John Paul and Eug to go to Trevor’s Birthday Buffet Lunch at New Quay Buffet. As the Invitation said midday, we got there at 11:50am. Walked in and no one was there. Two tables setup. But no one. so we sat down where we would have quick access to get out for the buffet. haha

Trevor, Trish and Jas arrive and then it was just the 6 of us for along time. Marty then called but was all the way at Harbor town so directions were given. Then after say 30mins to an hour people started rocking up. So on going joke. Main table = real friends, second table = strangers. Lets see who filled up the first table.

Ryan was the next to show up I believed. After that it was just a game of timing. We got half way to filling the table and then decided to tell the maitre d’ that we wouldn’t need the second table. He was not happy with the fact we had held on to it for so long. he had been turning people away. He told use if he could not fill it that we would have to pay for the empty seats. OK. so he split it in two. A group of 4 arrived. and took the table. By that time our table had filled up with Nick, Lee, Jose, Side, Jose, Marty, Leroy and Sarah.

The last table for 6 I kept an eye out to see if the place could fill up with walk in and then Anne, Mel, Tash and Rob arrive in no particular order. Then the place had a a couple looking for a table so the waiter asked if we would have anymore people come. “Nope take it away”.

Everyone had 5+ plates I believed and we all were so full we didn’t want to move. We then had to leave the buffet and just walk a few steps and sat down on these steps in the sun and just basked in the warmth of the light. Which we played some music, got my laptop and little speakers and sitting back chilling playing songs the crew knew routines to and so up they were dancing with randoms stopping in the distance to watch what we were doing. Fun Times.

A few people left, we were down to 7. Went to a bar to have a drink and then off we went home. I dropped off Trevor, John and Eug. Got home around 6pm jumped in bed at 7pm thinking I would set the alarm to go off at 8:30 pm so I could not over sleep for work the next day. But I ended up waking up at midnight. haha thought to myself I was screwed for sleep now. So went back to bed. 7am Wake up and I felt much better and well rested.

So Part two has ended. No photos but a interesting weekend that has been.

Hope I did not bored you so much. Next one will be shorter I hope.

Nam

 

The weekend that was. [Part 1/2]

So I survived the massive weekend i talked about earlier last week.

But before I blog about the weekend i have to say:

FRANKLIN is AWSOME!

back to it. haha

1st Day! (Friday) 

After a day of Meetings after Meeting at work, which I thought would never end. But did.
I got a call from my mate Keam Mar, who told me about the pre drinks arrangements an that I could get changed there as well, so off two Jamie’s I went. Did I mention that the majority of the people that were going are apart of a cheering squad? So I waited for a while because Jamie was not home. Luckily Andy & Dave showed up and kept me company till Jamie arrived after Gym. Up stairs we went.

Birthday Girl @ 3 Degrees before going to Alumbra

Everyone getting changed one by one. Ironing shirts. While having shots of some awful tequila. (sorry Andy, but it was!) Then to drink Straight Vodka as a drink over ice. I was buzzing!! Then I realised I had not had dinner. OH well, buzz and then sober up later to be able to drive.

An hour or two, a few people had arrive to join in on the fun of pre-drinks and prep. Then we got the call that the birthday girl was waiting for us. Did I forget to mention that i was the photographer for the night? So off we went to the first venue. 3 Degrees Bar in QV.

Miss Tiffany was very happy to see us. I went straight to work and started taking photos. More people arrived and then came time for my performance. I was playing guitar for Chris who decided to perform and had told me that I was playing with him with out my ok haha. Funny guy. So no technical setup. Guitar un amped and vocal over one speaker. I don’t know how we sounded but I was told by Keam Mar that he could hear the guitar more then Chris’s singing.

After that we had speeches by her best friend (i think & i hope haha) and then her boyfriend Joseph and then her mother, or as Keam’s reference on his photo of her “MILF mother” Ha. Then the cake was pulled out and the birthday song sung.

The Girls

The Boys

Ate cake and then danced to the old school pop tracks from the 90s? hehe till we got kicked out and then said bye to the people who were not joining us at the next venue.

Off to Alumbra Night Club @ Docklands we went at midnight. We got there before the Birthday girl. So getting looks by the other people waiting to get in. Why? because a group of girls dressed up in corsets and guys in such 1940s getup with suspenders all trying to get in as well, i bet wasn’t on their list of things they see at the clubs. I bet the guys were loving the girls in the outfits. but the girl would have been in a different mind set.

Anyway, funny thing happened to me when I got in. It’s not the first time that it has happened to me. I was following my friend Lucky to find our VIP booth/table and I got stopped by random girls. Why? well because I was holding my DSLR and they asked me to take a picture of them. “um… OK” was my response. This was not the only time I got asked that night, another 3 times by people not apart of the party I was with.
I found it funny how the actual Club Photographer would go and ask a random group of girls/people to take a photo usually. But the funny thing is that I got asked to take the photo of them. Just a thought.

So after about 3 hours of being at the club the music ends at 3am and we get kicked out. This is where we start to split with the rest and call it a night. A few of us went back to Jamie’s place to drop off stuff / get changed etc. We were all so hungry so where do we go at 3-4am in morning? China Bar! I knew I would end up here one of the nights of the weekend. So ordered my usual dumplings etc.

After a late night dinner back to Jamie’s place except we had lost him and were waiting for him to get back. We waited a good 30-60 minutes before Dave took one for the team and decided to go in search for him to get his lift pass. Up to the apartment we went. I hung out for a bit. Left and jumped in my car at 6am. I don’t think I can ever recall leaving the city and hearing the birds chirping. In bed by 7am.

I think i’ll finish up part 1 here. I didn’t think that I had this much to write and I’m sure I missed out on a few details. But i’m sure Part 2 will not have this much to talk about hehe.

NAM

Edit 24/8/2011 :
Here are links to my photo album for the night. 564 photos out of 833. I’m still learning to cut down but they look good.

Album 1:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150267210335069.331542.603855068&l=d825953a6c&type=1

Album 2:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150267210975069.331543.603855068&l=384b825fd7&type=1

Album 3:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150267211315069.331544.603855068&l=d2095f3c81&type=1

Edit 24/8/2011 part 2 :

Another blog about the party from Amanda.

http://theoppositeofchocolate.com/2011/08/happy-21st-birthday-cheertiff/

 

Weekend Coming!

So the weekend that just passed was a interesting one.

I spent most of it just relaxing. Did not really go out much a except hang out with friends at their place or over lunch/dinner. Which was good to have such a chilled weekend. Considering that this weekend I have a busy weekend planned.

Starting with Friday afternoon after work I have a Burlesque party to go to starting at a bar then going to a club at midnight. Where I will be dressed up as a 1940-1950′s photographer\Press, why? because I am the photographer for the night. I have a grey fedora, plain white shirt, black braces, black pin strip slacks, and two ties which i’m confused about. One is a grey with blue accent vintage tie with a wide bottom, the other is a skinny tie a copper/brown with a red accent which I like but have nothing going with it. Then comes the shoes. a dark grey or black shoe? Where is my fashion designer sister when I need her. It will be a interesting night, plus not only will I be taking photos. I have a 15-20 minute set that I’ll be playing guitar for a singer friend of mine as well. I’m already nervous thinking about it.

Then comes saturday. I’m not sure what time I’ll have to be up yet, but I think early since my friends THE COLLEKTIVE are dancing in a hiphop dance competition called GROOVE presented by Hoopdreamz. I’ll be filming the Collektive’s routine or try record behind the scenes shots.
Straight after that we would have dinner somewhere and then off to the club for not 1, not 2, but 3 birthdays together. Lanie, Jose and Trevor are all celebrating their birthday. Another sleepless night or lack of sleep.

So we come to sunday. Another Early morning. for Trevor’s Bday Lunch at a buffet. I can not wait!

Well thats the weekend to be. Lets prey I’ll survive. I’ll keep you updated.

 

About me.

So I figured I’d introduce myself to the world that does not know me.

I am 26, a Capricorn, born in the year of the “Rat”. A black sheep of the family. A nerd/geek at heart, love my technology and gadgets.

I studied Audio Engineering after Highschool. Love music. I play mainly the Guitar, learnt Piano/keyboard for 7 years when I was younger, would like to pick it up again. Can keep a basic beat on the drums and play a little bit of Bass guitar if need be. I have a little Home Bedroom Recording studio that’s been in the works for a few years now. It’s just missing a few items, tech/gadgets (surprized?).

Also I am a amateur Photographer. I have shot very few photo shoots. I mainly worked for a group that organized dance comps. Where most of my skills were taught by a friend, then trial and error. Also have done a few club & party captures which was fun.

I have a passion for supporting ‘Dance’ since I have been around the Hiphop dance world with the Comps. I follow and much and support my friends as much as I can. I watch my mate teach his classes throughout the week and support his Dance Crew “The Collektive” as one of their fans.

With my world evolving in the last few years I have discovered that I want to dive into amateur Video Recording as well, a step up from taking photos. Best way to do this is with my mates in the Collektive, where we have filmed individual pieces to Behind the scene footage of their rehearsal before a major comp.
Which also means I need to buy more gear to feed my evolving thirst for tech/gadgets and experience.

So that’s what where my passions currently live in my life. Next is what I do for work.

I work a fulltime job Monday – Friday, 40+ hours. I am a Purchasing & System Controller for a few Theatres around Melbourne, Australia. The Job has its pros and cons like any job. But I believe the pros so far outweigh the cons which keeps me at this job. With this company I have been with them 7-8 years on and off in three different roles, as a food & beverage attendant/bartender, an Event Operations Assistant, and my current role. I have left the company twice and always come back for some unknown reason. I tried Mobile phone sales in a store, did no like being fake to customers. Then I tried Assembly Line Work for a car manufacturer, which was good money while I was a Casual fulltime, as soon as I became fulltime it was ok until I got Injured with a RSI, then management picked on me for doing nothing wrong. So I left and went back to my first job and the rest is history.

So that’s a little about myself about what i do, where my passion are etc.

It’s now time for bed.

Night, Night World.

Nam

 

Hello All.

Hi all,

My first attempted at Blogging.

I was watching my friend teach a dance class and decided that I should give Blogging a go and try document my life some how.

Lets see how well this last.

Nam.