We Know We've Been Going Less To The Gym...

...when we find ourselves totally doing easy options in both BodyCombat and BodyJam when it comes to moves pertaining to jumping (except sometimes for old BodyJam tracks and for the jump knees in BodyCombat's Muay Thai track) because we kinda feel the twinge in our knees;

...when into the second track of Jam/Combat and we feel a stitch in our sides and our stamina is shot;

...when we don't seem to be hanging out so much sweaty dri-fit clothes to dry before washing;

...when, and most obvious, our shampoo and body soap runs out far more faster when compared to three years back when we used to go to the gym about three times a week and shower there.

Carpark Calamities

So, we've decided. This year we're going to take a break from the choir, even tho' this year the Young KL Singers will also be taking things easy and will not be working on producing a show. While it may sound ok to actually continue on with the choir this year because of that, we still think it's time we gave it a break and give priority to other things that have given way the last couple of years, like making sure we don't have any rehearsals causing us to rush off or miss our friend's birthday parties or being able to go for Monday's Combat consistently again.

We might be itchy and end up joining the YKLS for gigs. Who knows. We love the experience with the choir after all.

Speaking of Combat, gym this year started with us heading to Curve for Combat! After sporadic attendance for two years, we shall be able to get back to a regular schedule! About halfway into today's class, what with FCI doing four tracks in a row and us shouting ourself hoarse by track 3 our throat was killing us when we headed to the water fountain to get a drink before plunging back into class. Rather tired after Combat, (and still as sweaty, no change there).

And as we were leaving the car park at E @ The Curve (still better remembered as Cineleisure to us) we got trapped.

Everything was proceeding smoothly with us paying at the Autopay, heading to the car, driving up to the barrier, and as we slotted in our token and prepared to drive out, the barrier didn't budge. So we pressed the intercom button and waited for assistance. The speaker blares out a ringing tone as if we just called for help using a phone.

And then it switched to the engage tone you get when no one picks up.

After almost 10 minutes of repeated stabbing and no one answering, we were losing our temper and decided to head to the office instead. Let some other poor bugger try the machine and see if he gets stuck. All the better if he does too, that way we can have a line of irate people wanting the car park management to resolve matters.

Only...the office was empty too. Hence the unanswered intercom calls.

Our temper wasn't getting any better and it didn't help when we tried the landline number written on the poster suspecting that the phone in the office would start ringing (it didn't, instead we got through to the fax instead) and that, sitting right there just behind the counter on the table for all to see, was a walkie-talkie. We were thinking whoever who's supposed to be manning the office couldn't be responsible enough to even take the walkie-talkie along.

After about 5 minutes we headed upstairs to the information counter, but seeing how it's already after 10pm no one was there. Headed back downstairs to further seethe.

After waiting in front of empty office for another 10 minutes, we see a guard on a bike, waiting outside the door to the carpark looking in at us. Who knows when he appeared there and why he has not dump bike aside and ask us why we were waiting there.

Anyways patrolman got onto walkie-talkie and managed to get office attendant who was upstairs "getting reports". Attendant makes his way downstairs and was very meek, and soon we were on our way home.

Am considering writing nasty letter although think would not get any concessions like free parking for entire year.

Janvier Soldat And The Training Regimen

So now our timetable's getting more packed whatwith three YKLS rehearsals a week at KLPac. Our gym schedule has been juggled from it's usual Monday slot onto a more fixed Tuesdays, Thursdays and/or Fridays, and Sundays, although this means that every day's spent out till late without often going home early for dinners or even for a night spent home doing nothing. Unless we needed to head home to pack for the gym, and end up napping a while before heading to the gym and then it ends up too late because we'd slept for over 2 hours...

Not to mention, if so happens if anything pops up, it'll be our gym time that we have to forgo.

Interestingly this year with a different director, a choreographer, and someone to teach us breathing exercises to boot for the upcoming YKLS production, we're bound to have some form of workout every week!

On our gym days, we'll be mucking about at the resistance machines and the free weights. We're cutting down a lot on our cardio classes (FCI has already complained that we don't go for his classes any more) but interestingly enough we don't seem to be missing much of BodyJam nowadays too...we attribute it to the fact that the choreography isn't as fun as a couple of years back. And it's rather a relief to be able to work out anytime without having to beat the jam just to make it in time for classes too.

And on rehearsal days...we're brutally abused by our choreographer who makes us all do Yoga stretching exercises.

We're definitely past our prime for Yoga. Our hamstrings, they scream like a violin in untrained hands.

So it looks like we'll be looking at a timetable like such:

Mon: Yoga
Tues: Gym
Wed: Yoga
Thurs: Gym
Fri: Optional Gym time
Sat: Yoga
Sun: Gym

Janvier Soldat And The Ass-Drilling Workout

Today, we had otousan lift our weight, then heard him moan and make assorted sex noises, then proceeded to have him blow us.

And it reminded us of DanHen's phrase when he took Amiable Aix for a ride. After DanHen had had Aix work out on resistance machines, free weights and other assorted exercises, which we missed as we were late, we were told by DanHen that he gave Aix an ass-drilling.

And so happens that we bumped into otousan today when we're halfway through our workout. Being the hyper gung-ho fler that he is he wanted us to work out with him (and to show him what we've been doing too).

Don't mind the fact that we're a lightweight fellow barely weighing 60kg, and he's much more stronger than us.

Starts off with the chest incline resistance machine and we're telling him to go for heavier weights, specifically the heaviest he could do just 6 reps. Male ego and gungho meant that instead of working his way up to the appropriate weight, he straightaway set for 55kg (we're not really sure, someone correct us if them resistance machines are measured in pounds or kilos) and pushed.

After his second rep the exertion on his face was like a scrunched up plasticine model of his face.

By his second set he grunted and made noises and stopped when we commented that it sounded like he was having sex.

Since his legs were pretty much in good shape (the only bits still in good shape, can the gf comment?) he wanted workouts just for the upper body. Hence triceps, biceps, more variations of chest workouts... By the time we got to doing dumbbell flyes, his breathing was like bellows hard at work. Standing over him to make sure he didn't drop the dumbbell on himself meant we got a full force gust to the face.

But with him around we finally have someone to spot for us, especially for free weights bench pressing!

Just Cruisin' Along Manulife

So yesterday we were rushing off to Fitness First Manulife for Combat, and we arrived just in the nick of time where people were just entering the class when we bumped into an friend whom we haven't seen in quite a while already. Started catching up on this and that in the locker room as we just arrived and needed to change into our gym togs for Combat while he was done for the day and was going to shower before heading off.

But it so turns out that we were so engrossed in catching up that by the time we left to head for Combat, it was already the Muay Thai track with only 3 more tracks to go, which meant we missed the entire class!

The funny thing was, when the Goth and us were catching up, there seems to be more than just sitting down and chitchatting. 'Course, we never did realize what was happening until much later.

See, the two of us were sitting in one end of the locker room, with a wall of lockers to the back of the Goth and behind us, the passageways to more lockers and the sauna and shower stalls. So all the while while the two of us are talking, we never realize that the Goth was also taking advantage of the situation.

Not until he gave us the sort of facial expression that where we thought meant, "There's someone behind you trying to get to his locker and you're blocking him," and we turned and got mooned by someone on his way to the showers.

Theeeeen it hit us that not only we've been spending ages talking, but he's been using the opportunity to ogle the sights. And instead of a quick catch-up, it dragged on at his leisure.

We'd to go for RPM instead for our workout. Sheesh.

Back-To-Back(breaking) Classes

Last week we'd promised Strawberry Swee that we'd attend her Pump class on the following Monday.

And last week, after months of having to forgo Monday's Jam with Riyo due to rehearsals, we returned to Jam only to find out that it's her second last class as she's not going to teach BodyJam any more. Imagine, the main thing we look forwards to every Monday, gone forever. Welcome home, Monday Blues.

So just last Monday we had to attend Riyo's final BodyJam class ever, and then Pump after that. We'd asked otousan to come along for Pump, only for him to ask us to join Combat before that. Now Fitness First Curve's Monday timetable goes as follows: Jam > Combat > Pump.

When we arrived, we were already late for Jam. Got in at track 4, danced the class away, then joined Combat with Peggy till track 5 before heading out a while to check on phone calls. Got back in after Muay Thai, stayed till the end, then prepped for Pump. So, well, technically we'd only did about one and a half classes in total so far.

It's been many many months since we last been in a Pump class. Thankfully we still remember which weights we'd use and what each track is about, and still thickskinned enough to ignore otousan's chiding look when we just lunked on the wee 1.0 weights for biceps/triceps. The killer tracks this time turned out to be lunges and shoulders. We think the squats track song was the same one as when we first experienced hell on squats (only, after that first time, we knew what to expect), "Bottom half! 8 times!"

With that much adrenaline rush on Monday, we didnt' feel the tiredness that came with having a long weekend.

It was only on Tuesday that hell hit in.

Deprived And Overdone

So when a poor guy has been deprived of his usual gym cardio schedule due to more commitments (at the moment) and rather than take the prudent measure of suspending his membership, what can he do

Overdo it when he does get the chance to go for class, that's what.

With the choice of either Combatting with FCI at Axis or going for Line Dance Funk with Bernard at The Curve, we opted for Combat, well, because since we've been away for quite a while (3 weeks or more?) and since we've to now choose our classes, we might as well head for something familiar. And yes well it was also nearer. Leaving the office at 6.50pm for either class that started at 7.30pm, it does help us decide where to go.

We've long avoided the Axis branch for a couple of reasons: 1) the idea of driving down even that small stretch of the Federal Highway from Amcorp to Menara Axis gives us the shudders; 2) the studio's lack of proper ventilation can very well suffocate us in a packed Combat class. Been there, done that. But things worked for us this time because there was no traffic and the class isn't as packed as we thought.

FCI almost blinded us with his orange top. And got us puzzled when he asked about a certain sexual position (that still seems impossible to us).

So. Yes. Well. Dahlah we more than three weeks never go for class, jumping straight into the first three tracks all gung-ho we know we'll well pay the price later on. Then there's the shouty bits of course. The restrain from shouting came from the fact that by track 5 we were very out of breath...our poor old heart. Amazing that nearly 4 years of cardio classes and our stamina still hasn't improved.

Then he puts on Black Parade. There goes tomorrow's choir practise. No high notes for us.

Not only we've overdone the intensity level and the shouting, we also drank too much. There were moments when we felt like throwing up. But we needed our 100 Plus after class!

To help ease our muscles, we took some time off in the sauna. Now if ever you wanted a good hot sauna, the closet room sized sauna in Menara Axis should do the trick. In there, one ladle of water does the trick what would take 5 scoopfuls in the other gym saunas. We sorta had the impression we came out like a boiled lobster.

Waiting to use the shower, we heard Nut receive a compliment about his bum. We guess RPM does do wonders heh.

Then back home for a filling dinner before calling it a day. Must say that the cardio today did us much good - them sessions that normally have us falling asleep straight after dinner normally do.

BodyAches 45 and 36

Great. New Les Mills tracks launch in clubs this week onwards - BodyJam 45 and BodyCombat 36. However hopes for BodyJam weren't very reassuring when reading this review, and word was that there weren't much recognizable catchy music.

So Monday we headed for BJ45 at the Curve, and it was surprisingly uncrowded. Guess everyone already swarmed the place during the pre-Miracle preview, which was good as that left us all more space to move about. Impressions?

Some moves are okay, but overall we're missing old old BodyJam tracks more and more...for single tracks and techniques. Starts out fine, odd songs for the Contemporary Rock block, a torturous line dance track, and a more fun Disco block. The butterfly kick in the Contemporary Rock block reminded us plenty of Liu Kang's fatality.



Not to mention that there's usually never enough room in the studio to pull off the butterfly kick properly. Nanti nahas we all fatality each other. The Disco block is simple with some gaya moments, but what we don't understand is the obsession to have this skipping moves...our knees override our brain and takes the easier option nowadays. :P

Yeah, we guess we're also gonna be taking a break next Monday or Monday after...tunggu old tracks. :P

Then yesterday was BodyCombat. We have been missing Combat for a week over already. :S We sorta take it we've been long gone from Combat 'cos when we had to shout for YKLS our voice cracked. :P Dah lama tak practise shouting voice projection at Combat class. Of course, we'd seen a bit of what's new in Combat during Miracle and on Monday, and boy we weren't keen on lunges and knees...especially after that line dancing bit in Jam.

Still, Combat was good, with the claw move back again (although this time there's more clawing, so that particular track does look like a catfight :S ), less capoeira/ginga moves but boy are we gonna suffer with the lunging.

Today, our neck is killing us. It's been a long time since we've managed three cardio classes per week. :S

Nothing's Fine I'm Torn

And yet somehow, 'torn' doesn't convey what we mean well enough compared to the local counterpart - 'koyak'. Koyak has been a well-used word for us, but never in it's actual definition (torn) and never when we were conversing in Malay.



We remember the first usage of the word was when we were still in school - mainly in primary or early secondary school.

Dad: So, how did your exam paper go today?
Janvier: *shrugs*
Dad: What you think?
Sis: Koyak?
Janvier: Koyak.

Well, that at least prepares the lot of us for (probably) nonspectacular results, but usually everything turns out satisfactory. It's already known that English and Maths would be a given, while there's no hope for History and Geography (the subjects that rely on pure memory).

Then of course when we were out exploring KL we used it differently.

YMLau: So, you gonna get the PSOne or the Dreamcast?
Janvier: Dunno leh, both not really that cheap...
YMLau: Well Vexing Vun already has the PSOne.
Janvier: But if we get the Dreamcast we sure koyak liao!
Ants: Don't worry, can lend you money first.
Janvier: ...muh...

Our Dreamcast kept us happy for a long time, and still works. Of course, not all other possessions fared so luckily.

Dad: So are you still using your laptop?
Janvier: Er, no.
Dad: If you not using then might as well let me use la.
Janvier: Er, cannot. The laptop koyak already.

It's a shame, that laptop lasted 7 years. Anyways the both of us now use company laptops. :)

Nowadays we've another take for the word koyak. While initially we used it for whenever we risk back-to-back Combat and Jam on Tuesdays at FF Manulife, this time it's BodyJam 44 that caused us to be uber koyak'ed for the past couple of days.

At first we thought it was due to our...inconsistent cardio class attendance. Halfway through the second block of BJ44 and our energy level was flagging already. We woke up on Tuesday to find our shoulders and neck aching badly, and we were unable to look down quickly. :S

Well by today we were feeling much much more sprite, and needed to get back into a cardio class (argh we have not tried BodyCombat 34!) to make sure we keep our cardio classes something more regular. So we ended up in Jam again.

And we now feel semi-koyak'ed. Not UBER koyak'ed like how we did on Tuesday. And the culprit is BodyJam 44, particularly the second block (which we find better than the first block) - there's a fair bit of bending low till the torso's almost parallel to the ground. As for BJ44 overall, we find it not as catchy. Ah well, all the better for us - we don't have to break our back then...if BJ44 was catchy then we die die must join the classes and suffer the consequences later.

Well, at least there's the Genting trip tomorrow for some R&R! Little getaways - a perfect cure to koyakness.

Manulife Option Still Will Koyak

So we had CalvinC telling us on Monday that Tuesday's class would have "Totally different tracks." And we lost the reference until we read back our comment we left on FBB At Gym's blog. Then it hit us, heh.

We really haven't been to Manulife in month's - both last week and this week we were late for Combat. Still, this week we'd manage to arrive just to miss the first 2 tracks so stayed on rather than scoot off to The Curve for Jam instead. So, snuck into class only to have CalvinC point us out to FBB and gang (er, hi everyone?) but the place was packed so we stayed close to the door. And now we paranoid of how they view us, and it didn't help that we stayed in for 'Jam 'cos we still shy.

Midway during Combat and actually we koyak'ed already. Is it because we aren't standing near the fan? Is it because the class is packed and there's limited space? Somehow or other not even halfway through Combat and we were already creaking slightly.

Well, we stayed for Jam because we heard Kenny start off with favvie BJ35. And then we thought we'd only stay for the first half, but as it turns out we stayed for the second half too as he did BJ41's Beyonce block.

In the end, recurring story lah...well maybe not as bad as last time, but close. Now to just pamper ourselves with soft pillows and mattresses.

Tube Logs

OK. There are times when we're impressed at the way our friends can pop us links to stuff on YouTube, stuff that makes us wonder just what did they type on the search bar to come up with it. But first off, here's a link to an awesome video that you. Should. Not. Miss.

It doesn't really matter if you don't know who the characters are. Work like this deserves credit for the effort they put in. Oh in case you have to ask, it's safe for work. The reason we put a link rather than embed it is because we can't find an option in GameTrailers for us to do so. Sounds safe enough?

Now. First up, something we've just been introduced to by QR. The concept of a video blog, or vlog. This is Minouye, quite the comedian. And he does his videos rather well.



Most of his vlogs are rather good. Worth a look-through. Oh and check out Merlign's Magic Stapler, and the Obscenity Of War (and the LOL Jar!) too.

Now QR sent that vlog to us some time ago, to which we filed somewhere in the back recesses of our memory. Bouncing about YouTube today however we came across this vlog, and that reminded us of Minouye.

This, is TMerman. Well, this particular vlog entry's somehow interesting and brings up a good question. How do you react when someone comes on to you when you don't like that person?



Asides from that, at times we struggle with our bloglist and have nooo desire to add vlogs to it. Nor do we think of starting our own vlog.

Now onto much more sturdier ground: music videos. Well we'd rather if we could just find the song rather than watch a music video (not unless music video was really good for some reason or like that awesome choreography by a Korean kid for Britney's 'Gimme More' as on wingedman's). So we just happened to check back on Slutilla's blog and came across the most. Freaking. Disturbingly. Salah. Video. EVER. If ever we are to keep our happy memories of Eric Prydz's 'Call On Me' in BodyJam we need to Chlorox our brain.

But it did make us decide to mooch about for some BJam songs we haven't manage to get on mp3. Like Freemasons' Club Mix of Beyonce's 'Ring The Alarm' or Alibi vs Rockerfeller's version 'Sexual Healing'.



Can't stop moving to the beat. Legs aren't moving but arms are. Dammit. No control. Left Right Left Down Up Down Up (sounds like we're keying in some cheat code hor). How we miss the first half of BJ35! Black Legend and Stupidisco! T_T

We Are A Level 9 BodyJamming Halfling Cultist

It pretty much was an 'anything goes' kinda day for us yesterday, given how we decided to spend the night with the Prince of Persia as he retold us the story of The Sands Of Time.

As it turns out, we ended up heading to lunch with lad and Esteban - lad wanted to eat some roti canai from some store at Jalan Gasing, we have no idea where but just follow only la since he was driving. Plus he was nice enough to offer to lepak at the Curve after that while we 'Jammed. However, traffic was horrible even at noon already - we reached the (ex) Jalan Universiti roundabout only to be met by a near gridlock - and so we u-turned and headed back to TTDI for banana leaf rice instead.

BodyJam today was with both Tracy and Kylie, with a preview of BJ43. Yay! The few sentences we'd used to describe it?
More disco than cardio.
Less stressful than BJ42 (but that's because there's not much knee-stomping going on).
Complexity is coming back up but it's still easy to follow.
Songs, well, admittedly we only recognize the Timbaland one but we'll need time before the tracks grow onto us.

...The fact that there's a preview of BJ43 just reminds us that December's coming closer. Yikes. How time flies.

After Jam we'd met back up with lad and Esteban and dragged them to Outpost Cineleisure to view the Starcraft Board Game. Well, at least the shrink-wrapped box in any case. Set cost RM335 and isn't something we're too keen to just buy off-the-shelf. Heavyduty boardgames are under 'Nic and Ivan's territory, we only buy the light stuff. But it looks mighty fine. Then we had a call from wolfx - his friend has bought the game and is recruiting players for tomorrow. We couldn't raise our hand fast enough.

Somehow after looking at the boardgame we got sidetracked and ended up sitting down for drinks and a game of Arbos. Now this one we might get. It's a balancing game, where you're supposed to get rid of all your branches and leaves to win. However the tree isn't steady, and impressions are we would so be thinking of this as a drinking game (with disastrous results).

Skeletal hand tree. How Lovecraftian.

After a Red/Black dinner affair with the bloggers (with only Adrien's shy friend getting the fashion frequency mixed up and attending in brown) it was over to Akn's for some Munchkins.

So lad, Esteban, Akn and us did Munchkins comprising of Super Munchkins, Need For Steed and Munchkins Cthulhu. That's some 400+ cards altogether. Interestingly with three different themes going on, it wasn't long before our characters were rather funky, like being a Professor with Eye Beams powers wearing a Utility Belt Of The Middle-Age Gods battling the Plutonium Dragon. Surprisingly enough everyone got to level 8 or 9 fairly quickly compared to playing the game with just one set (e.g. playing Super Munchkins alone) probably due to the amount of cards and the vast difference between sets. Now if lad is interested enough to buy the base Munchkins set...? Or Munchkin Bites?

Argh. It seems that our only 'cave time' was while at Gua Tempurung.

Shoulder Sorrows

We ought to realise that we're not as sprite as we used to be.

So happens that after our Riblee's dinner we all adjourned to the Ongzebo for some drinks and games. That was fine.

What wasn't fine was the handstands that we did against the wall. The game of 5-man Twister probably wasn't so bad until a couple of players were out and the game took an aggresive turn by by blocking convenient spots and forcing players to balance awkwardly.

Of course we didn't know things weren't fine until Saturday morning when our shoulders and upper back muscles started screaming blue murder - so much so that we couldn't sleep nor rest properly in peace any more. So we did the necessary.

We went for BodyJam.

And BodyCombat (because we only did BodyJam on Tuesday this entire week). Oh heck, it was because Calvin was also instructinglah.

Oh goodness we don't need a towel for classes, we need a fricking mop. And we were dressed in a black Giordano Dry polo and in cargo pants - good water-absorbing clothes, not our usual synthetic dry-fits that taichis sweat from our body straight the floor. Well at least we've satisfied our urge to dress in office attire to BodyJam - we're sure a workshirt will never survive the class anymore. Still it was fun to have done the classes in different attire then the usual gym togs, although it's not going to be something regular.

Note to self: need to punch two more holes in belt. We remember now why we don't wear cargo pants to cardio classes anymore. Cargo pants felt a bit loose, and when we tugged the belt we found we could tighten it another two beltholes more (if there were two more beltholes). And Calvin had to tell us our pants were loose some more...OKla so well admit that we only had an Ikea hotdog for brunch and nothing else before BodyJam!

So, after two cardio classes and a stint at the sauna and a hot shower, shoulders are sooo much better now.

Do Wop A Do Wop

Alright. Seeing how we'd only gone for Monday's BJ & BC we needed to follow up with a class today - Raya's around the corner and we've to get some cardio or suffer by next week. So happens that last week we managed to get a look at how Line Dance Funk was, first impressions was, "Hey, it looks simple but the music's good!"

Yeah, so choreography was simple. That's probably why the class was quite crowded. :D But what stuck in our mind was the final song Bernard played for the class - Hellogoodbye's 'Here In Your Arms'.



The song played in our head the entire week okay? Good thing Germ knew the song title so we could look for it.

So this week we thought we would give the class a try. And we kinda like it. Bernard jumps straight into the movements (basically two sets of 8 that ends in a change of direction, repeat) and we did 5 different choreos by the end of the class. It was fun actually, with upbeat music from Timbaland and the likes (alright, will admit cannot identify the rest). Just a shame that he didn't repeat the Hellogoodbye song again.

And now, we've forgotten most of the moves. Heh, shouldn't matter. Easy to pick up what.

Onto other matters. Leaving the Buffalax clips behind and onto something sweeter. AC music!

A Capella la. Last time we brought you DeCadence stalking some men sparring in Central Park.

First, something lighthearted. Some "...original songwork from Japan," although one of them actually is from Russia, and another definitely nowhere from Japan. You'll know them when you hear them. Although it may be quite possible that you've already come across this from a long time back. Oh we love the antics of the singers during the Russian bit.



Now, got onto something sweeter. The UC Berkeley Men's Octet.

The Bohemian Rhapsody.

And the Elephant Love Medley.

There's a lot more from them boys, YouTube's 'related' sidetab will guide you along the way. Only we wish that there was a much better recording where they weren't drowned out by the audience...but at least some people did take the trouble to share the boys with the rest of the world.

And to finish today's rather 'Tube-filled post, a final AC piece. We remember reading about this on Fiesty Faustus' blog although his showed some anime video instead. We so hope that this doesn't get mondegreened.

It's 'Leva's Polka', by Loituma. We are not going to post the lyrics here because it's in the 'More Info' box on YouTube.

Now let's see if you still think about Hymen Stores and Benny Lavas. We still do actually.

Bloody Koyaked

While breakfast yesterday turned out well, it wasn't really breakfast after all. It became brunch instead.

Because we had to run down to the National Blood Centre, we decided to leave for lunch late instead of heading out during normal lunch hours. And being the natural procrastinator that we are, when we started our way we had scarcely enough time for a sit-down lunch before needing to be at the NBC.

So we decided to drop by Just Heavenly's lovely little shop to pick up something to munch instead because it was on the way. We could make use of the cafeteria area at the NBC to eat, see. We had an inkling for their butterscotch but that gave way to other treats. Instead we found these:

This was lunch.

Just Heavenly's Chocolate Durian (with an almond on top)!

So tea at the NBC turned out to be Just Heavenly's Triple Espresso Brownie With Walnuts along with sardine sandwichs and Milo courtesy of the NBC. Why so generous of the NBC? Because while we be at the NBC we took the opportunity to donate blood too. And after donating blood donors are supposed to eat and drink something.

It's in our generous selves (hah blow our own horn pulak, we're actually quite the skinflint) to donate since we're an universal donor. But honestly we have no motive for donating really. It's not because we feel it's a noble cause. It's not because we know anyone who suffering from thalassaemia or haemophilia or is anaemic. It's not because we had a blood infusion before and wanted to repay the favour. It's not because we're setting ourselves up for some good karma or for free government treatment.

But just because we can. And there's always the need for donated blood, because you never know who will need it. And just because we happen to be there. :D

Nurse told us to squeeze and pump on the tube.

While blood donation drives have been going on everywhere, we have a certain approach to these things. When it's held in public places like in shopping malls and the likes, we won't approach to donate because it's so frickin' out in the open that people can see what you're up to. And when we were younger we worried about sterility and contamination (we didn't know that the bags and such all came in sealed bags mah then) not to mention being in view of the public eye.

The only time we knew there was a blood donation drive in Taylor's during our college years, so happen we haven't eaten anything and weren't allowed to donate.

The time 1U had a blood donation drive going on sometime last year and we were finally brave enough to donate (probably because it was hidden in the old wing where Marks and Sparks were), we so happen to have popped an antihistamine the night before and weren't allowed to donate.

Only when we were in uni did we start donating blood when the blood drive came around. It did get good response as there were many students who donated. Only during one particular time did the donation drive seemed like a farce, because it was during the IMU Cup and there was points awarded for blood donating. All for the wrong reasons we feel, although it did benefit the blood drive because loads did donate.

The needle's a size 16G. With a filter to filter out WBC! A LA was given prior to jabbing our arm with that!

Anyways, if there's one thing we ought to learn about donating blood - it's that we should either do it earlier in the day or else not on a day when we're due for gym. It was bad enough for us to need to skip out of class between some tracks during BodyJam already, and we could only survive 3 tracks in BodyCombat, we were that koyaked.

Have to make up for Combat today...hopefully we've recovered!

-Requiescat in Pace-

First, Pavarotti. Then on Sunday, Colin McRae and Robert Jordan. And there's that airplane crash in Thailand.

BJ42 & BC33

Initial plan was to head to FF The Curve at 11am yesterday, as the quarterly launch for the new Les Mills tracks were finally here. BodyCombat was scheduled at 11.45am and BodyJam at 3.30pm. Unfortunately dad's car was on the fritz, so the parents gasaked our car to do their weekly lunch and shopping first.

Somehow the idea of missing BodyCombat 33 launch wasn't so bad - because we'll still get to do BC today. BodyJam 42 however die die must attend - because Kylie's instructing. We don't normally get Kylie or Tracy to instruct so must put extra effort for their classes...sometimes.

BJ42...still on simple choreography, good catchy songs, no shimmies but still the occasional diva-looking move. Our only problem was with the 2nd half block - there's this 1-beat spin move that, after doing it for some 10+ times our head starts spinning also. Today learn to take our options and just not spin dah. Much better. Songs are okay, but not as catchy as last quarter's BJ41 or favvies BJ35 (You See The Trouble With Me/Black Legend - Stupidisco/Junior Jack - I Like The Way You Move/BodyRockers - What A Feeling (Flashdance)/Global Deejays) and BJ38 (Self Control/Royal Gigolos - Temperature/Sean Paul - Pink & Blue/Outkast - 1, 2 Step/Ciara - Say Say Say (Waiting 4 U)/Hi-Tack).

BC33 pulak...the warmup track already really needed lots of self-control on our part, because the song was Mundian To Bach Ke/Panjabi MC! This was used in BJ39 as a Bollywood choreo track! Susah you know, trying to do forward knees without putting our hands in the air semacam buat tarian Bollywood! Other tracks weren't so bad and then came the ginga track - Fall Out Boys' This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race! So many evasive side kicks, our back's gonna ache. Most of the songs have good catchy beats, thankfully - BC33 is quite fun. The final Power track before Conditioning looks to be another shouty track again...but we is resolute on keeping silent this week. Keeping voice for upcoming singsong.

OK. Wednesday for Cardio Dance and new tracks again on Friday. Gotta keep it up even though will get sien soon enough - after one week of not attending classes during the long Independance weekend, we were totally koyak during last week's classes - could not complete Jam and head was spinning during Combat. Thankfully recovered by last Friday.

Time for BodySleep soon. :D

Under 32 Not Allowed

Talking to Leon yesterday, and he tells us that the word is out that BodyJam instructors can't use tracks prior to BodyJam 32 anymore. This is saddening news for us, as that means that we will never hear nor dance to quite a number of songs anymore. Yeah, we fall into the category of Jammers that love the old tracks, because there's a better variety of songs to do. Nowsadays har, Jam tracks are in blocks, meanings that you learns a choreography in a span of 4 songs liddat. Easier lah, but less variety. Just have to hope the songs are good.

It's funny really, when we first joined Fitness First back in August 2004 (we'd just left UH and was bumming for a month) we were mainly interested in the cardio classes. Not really in the resistance machines (we do think of hamsters when we look at the treadmills tho') although we realise that those are necessary if we're going to bulk up (which, nearing 3 years now, we still have not bulked up in any way...).

The first cardio class we ever entered was BodyCombat - instructed by CalvinC. Otousan and us were eager and it was more fun to try out the class for the first time with friends - feel less malu that way when we did something wrong. When lad joined a month later we dragged him along into class (although with the sales pitch we've been throwing at him he was interested too).

CalvinC's class left a good impression because it was super hyped up with members shouting, loud music and high intensity tracks. Not to mention (because of his taekwando background) his execution of the moves got some gaya one lar. After that first class (which did almost kill us even when we survived for the entire class) we've always attended Combat. Till today still not sien yet, although we don't go so often.

Oops, promote him too much already (not like he needs it). Anyways, for Combat, the class has gotta be highly motivating and intensive - otherwise no fun.

As for BodyJam, we remembers that the first class we ever entered was on a Saturday morning (was this with you as well, 'Nic?). Can't remember who was the instructor tho', some petite gal. Our first time doing BodyJam also felt rather awkward - hip and butt swinging was a start but shimmying was a bit too much for us. We were under the impression that that move was for ladies to show off their lovely lady lumps and so what were the guys suppose to do? We weren't overly keen on Jam from that first impression.

Can't say how and when, but otousan, lad and us ended up one day in Riyo's Jam class. What a difference - her class was the Jam version of CalvinC's Combat. With her Jam classes she gives the option of going full out on certain moves - rather intensive and definitely not diva-looking. It was fun and we didn't feel self-conscious at all. Oh yes, we never knew that a high percentage of guys doing BodyJam were said to spend the pink dollar. Wondered if we all would have walked into a Jam class in the first place if we knew.

We have seriously gone off-topic...we thinks. Then again we just let the fingers flow over the keyboard. Oh yar, BodyJam not doing old tracks anymore. Well, a list of our favourite songs (those we recognize...there're some songs we haven't identified) we'll be missing:

BodyJam 31
Royal Gigolos - California Dreamin' (!!!!!)
Jamelia - Superstar

BodyJam 30
Outkast feat Sleepy Brown - The Way You Move (!!!!)

BodyJam 29
Outkast - Hey Ya
Umboza - Sunshine (!!!)
Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (!!!)

BodyJam 28
Safri Duo - Bongo Song (!!!!!)

BodyJam 27
Umboza - Cry India (!!!!!)

BodyJam 22
Te Vaka - Pate Pate (!!!)

BodyJam 18
Geri Halliwell - It's Raining Men (!!!)

Withdrawing From The Jam

Eh, is it possible to actually get addicted, or suffer withdrawal symptoms from 'Jam??? For we're actually all a-fidgety today.

As we had some work that we knew was going to keep us back in the office today, we'd used the weekend to catch the Miracle '07 Launch at Cineleisure just last Saturday. We didn't find it worthwhile to pay to join just for the 'Jam launch - and we couldn't join the 'Combat launch earlier on because we were in the office (on a Saturday! Something that we hadn't done in quite a while). Yeah, Miracle is a charity event where instead of participating in the usual Les Milles quarterly launches for free, you get to pay (for charity, of course) to be seen Bodybopping at The Curve (last year) / Cineleisure (this year).

But we still made our way to watch the Launch as we wanted to see how the new moves are as well as check out the music. The club block songs are great. The moves are simple. So far, we like the second half (it always is with BodyJam...either first half or second half only, exception being BodyJam 37, where we like the first third and the second third but hey, last third had ...weird song choices).

Oh! And there's also the Tribes Teams to watch! Regular gung-ho members team up with an instructor to do a track for Attack/Combat/Jam! That was also worth a watch :D And you'd get to vote for your favourite team, either by ballot or you could even donate cash into each teams' boxes! We didn't vote/donate :P but we were impressed that Ken's BodyJam team garnered RM1000+ in terms of donations!

Respect.

So, today. Not only our head's been filled with 'Jam tracks without the help of our iPod, we've also been hearing the phrases, "Single, single, double, single, single, double," and "Slow, quick quick slow, slow, back step." The legs have their own thing going on by either doing step touches, or sashays or the new tracks but thankfully no salsas.

Plus as it got closer to 5.30pm we were already griping about wanting to go for 'Jam, don't care even if we go late. Darn screwed up, our priorities. When we had the whole office to ourselves late evening we were going through the moves for first block and second block in between the job. And hoping that we can get our fix tomorrow.

Question to self: What happen to that passion for 'Combat?

So Long Jimmy, You're Going To Boot Camp

We couldn't stay for the whole Cardio Dance class yesterday as we had to honour dinner plans and not keep friends starving (luckily Italliannies does free bread), so we didn't hear the announcement at the end of the class yesterday. Good thing otousan mentioned it today during Combat - Jimmy's not gonna be teaching the next two months as he'll be away for 'So You Think You Can Dance?'

So anyways that's how we got to watching SYTUCD (as 8TV's YouTube calls it) after dinner, but we got back late and didn't see him save him running out of the room elated for getting straight into Boot Camp. You would think that with only 7 people making it into Boot Camp (all others only got callback'ed) they'd show all the performances. Mebbe he purposely requested to keep it off-cam?

Anyways, a few things about the show. One, the teaser clips before adverts gave away what's to come. How to keep people gripping in their seats this way? You could just watch the whole teaser clips, and when adverts pop up you could take your own sweet time making supper or whatnot and know you haven't missed anything. Two, a minimum age requirement is fine (final contestant shown Sharon's super emphasis that she just turned 20 years old that day, 16th March) but we don't quite agree on the maximum age limit. But maybe it was a tactful way of saying, "You're to old to do breakdancing," especially if you compared him with the other younger contestants with legs in the air most of the time...

Onto the lighter bits of the show. We don't agree with the dancers that caused the 'Dance' bar to pop up at the skirt slits or such...or we could be looking at girls bringing their own poles to the auditions, and then the show being cancelled for all you know. There's a time and a place, it's not on showtime, and it's not in Malaysian public viewing. The guy who did the robot dance was very impressive (damn good body control) but we do think he's only capable of...'popping'. There were some who came off very...'unmasculine' and not in a good way (so much so that Judge Jeff found the bag-selling bit more interesting, oh dear). And 'twas a barrel of laughs from the students who were auditioning..."Actually, I ponteng to come here," and "Hai-yar, I'm going to go back do homework!" were gems.

Oh well...we might try to dedicate time for this series. Might. Plus now our Wednesdays seems to be free once more.

Trouble

Wii're looking for trouble by going for back-to-back BodyJam and BodyCombat while suffering from an URTI yesterday. Result? Wii're not that young and sprite anymore.

Wii're looking for more trouble when Wii thinks of going for the same thing again today.

Wii're looking for even more trouble by taking a second dose of antibiotics when the first dose might have caused an allergic reaction.

...

Lovely rain this morning, Wii so would have loved to sleep in.