The Calm Before The Storm

No, do not expect posts to come here like clockwork. I still say things when I feel like doing so.

I had to swallow my pride and drop my principles for two unrelated events and do things that I did not particularly agree with, and that does not make me a happy camper.

``MT, you could've walked away.''

I could have. But the ramifications of walking away are worse than the consequences of just biting my tongue, doing what needs to be done, and never going back to them again in future.

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I just joined the Atelier Flute Ensemble JB (AFE JB) for my first rehearsal with them for the upcoming concert on 2025-10-25. The trip to the rehearsal grounds was a cross-border adventure of going through the Woodlands checkpoint, the CIQ checkpoint, dining and chilling at Restoran Khi Ten, having the rehearsal, before the mad scramble back across the border after to catch the last bus back home from Woodlands interchange.

I won't go into too much details of the adventure, but I will share that folks from AFE JB were confused when I pointed out that it was my first trip out to Johor Bahru. I mean, I'm not exactly the kind of person who ``travels for the sake of travelling''---even when I was visiting the US back in the past, it was to visit old friends. I don't really like being the touristy tourist, nor am I the sort to travel ``for the sake of'' shopping for ``cheap'' goods (the price of anything one gets should always take the opporunity-cost into account as well).

AFE JB was very welcoming of me, and they remind me much of TGCC Chinese orchestra in terms of engagement, ethos, and skill level. I definitely have found a sort of kindred spirit for flute-playing with them away from SIN city. If you happen to be in the area over the time frame, do consider getting a ticket to check AFE JB out in concert.

I'm playing on Davie for this concert, and am looking forward to it!

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In other news, pay day came and went, and I got myself a Hollow Knight: Silksong. So far, it's been fun-enough. Yes, I still get my ass kicked by the bosses, but that's to be expected for an old fart with shit-tier coordination especially with controllers (these contraptions use reversed controls, where the left hand is for movement while the right are for actions, something completely different from when I play with just the keyboard).

For some reason, I tend to fare a little better with the 2D side scrolling type games, compared to the 3D stuff like Elden Ring. But considering that I'm still in the ``tutorial area'' (i.e. Act 1), I won't be holding my breath for a completion of the game any time soon.

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Phases 1--3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were a fun watch. Not as fun as John Wick (which I'm going to re-watch again for the sick gun-kata-esque moves), but still fun enough. Not sure if/when I'll start on phases 4 and beyond.

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I recently curated a collection of all national anthems for listening. I got inspired to do this from my recent readings on A Critical History of New Music in China by Liu Ching-chih (tr. Caroline Mason), particularly on how music was co-opted to instill inspiration and will for the... nation 😏. Maybe this collection of national anthems can act as a strong pick-me-up for days where I just want to kill myself.

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``MT, that's a lot of random <hr />-esque segues in this one post.''

I am well aware. This is just a short update on things that have happened.

I call this week, ``the calm before the storm'', because lots of really high-stakes events are happening next week. It also does not help that for many of these high-stakes events, I have more or less exhausted all actions that I can take, and am at the mercy of happenstance.

That's all for now. We'll see what happens ahead. Future-me, hope you are doing well; Present-me is exhausted from being this anxious about what may come, as the weather continues its unrelentless steamed broiling.