Keyboard GET!

[nyankoframe]

I bought it yesterday evening, because I just couldn't wait any more. :P It came up to quite a bit (around $1850 for everything, including $150 sales tax), and was considerably over my initial estimates, but I don't really care. :D I had an interesting time thinking of how to get it into itsacz's car, but fortunately the employees and the manager (at least, I think he was the manager) had done this before (moving keyboards in boxes into compact cars), so there weren't many problems. And I'm glad I put it in the box, because it's still intact :P

I've uploaded some photos here. I like these three in particular. ^^





This picture is quite blurry, but whatever. It's not your average one pedal affair. :P



And of course, it's turned to Ojos Criollos. What else could it be? XD


I also went for dinner at a family friend's house last night, and it was great to be able to eat favourites like vambatu (fried brinjal) again, as well as some other dishes like salad with mozzarella and lamb. ^^;;; I also had a really interesting time there, with the conversation topics ranging from Microsoft vs Google (kind of a given, really, seeing how many MS,ex-MS and soon to be in MS people there were there - someone made a comment that Redmond is like a magnet for everyone and they're irresistibly drawn to it), to the whole Anna Nicole Smith controversy from both a social and legal perspective (one of the people there last night was a lawyer, and apparently there are some really interesting legal issues, that I can't remember right now, about the whole thing, starting from how she was awarded the money), to dealing with ADD/ADHD and how "the pill" (Ritalin, etc.) is a short-term solution and makes people completely unable to function without it. There was even some talk about Mayuri and how it reminded people of Pettah or Maradana on certain days. :P

It was a really great time and I've been invited to another dinner on the evening of the 9th. I also don't need to worry about brunch today, because I have leftovers

And this is totally crack, especially for the comments XD (warning, may contain lots of spoilers if you're watching Irohanihoheto BKI Iroha)

Comments

[nakaemi.livejournal.com]

Nice keyboard! But ouch! Do you consider it was expensive? I don't know much about instruments since I haven't bought one in many many years. And I'm glad there wasn't much of an issua in getting everything into Cz's car... ^^;; Ojos Criollos, huh?

At least you don't have to cook some days, huh?

Is that anime actually good? *curious* I can't dl much and I'm limiting myself. I recently finished Yakitate!! Japan (at last, -_-) and right now I'm dling Deltora, Gintama (it's sort of funny, that's why I'm watching it), and I've started downloading Nodame Cantabile (anime). I don't think I can add many more or I'll go mad, plus I don't really have the time and some will last maybe months in the PC before I actually watch them... *remembers the load of episodes still in the PC from diverse anime that haven't been touched*

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

It was somewhat expensive, but in Singapore, a new keyboard would have been at least 2x the price (even after converting exchange rate, US$1100 - just the keyboard's price - is S$1678, not including the headphones, pedals, and stands). But then again, it's not like I'm going to buy a keyboard every few months (or even years), so it was more like a long-term investment for me. ^^;;; I was actually worried about it, especially when Cz told me he had to carry his keyboard back without the box because it wouldn't fit, and I was worried about the keys being damaged...

And yup! It's Ojos Criollos (if you need a translation in English, it's "Creole Eyes"). The first ever duet piece I played at a concert, and it was really quite catchy. It reminds me a bit of ragtime, even though it was composed more than 40 years before and the composer is an American. :P He also lived in France, Spain, the Caribbean, Brazil and Argentina (I think) and Puerto Rico. :) I should send the recording to you if I haven't already. :P

Apparently he composed it because he found the Creole girls (in Puerto Rico!?) attractive, or at least their eyes. ^^;;

Yup. Although some days, I'm also too tired to cook, so I buy Lean Cuisine (or something else) from Safeway and then heat that up. I've had the chicken portobello (with free dessert) and it was okay, although not completely filling. ^^;;;

It's good, but also more historical, because it focuses on the events around the Meiji Restoration in Japan (1867-1869). If you've watched Peace Maker Kurogane or Rurouni Kenshin, then some of the characters will be familiar (the Shinsengumi, Hijikata Toshizou, etc.). And it's also a lot of fangirl bait in it. :P

Good to hear that you're downloading Nodame! *likes that series, even though he hasn't fully caught up yet because he watched the live action first* ^^;;;

[nakaemi.livejournal.com]

My brother almost screamed when he heard the prize, but when you mention that in Singaoreit would have been worse and all, I guess it's all right. ^_^

And ehehehe, I didn't really need the translation. *nervous laugh* I didn't know it was the first you played. I believe you had sent me the original piece, but not the one of you playing. ;)

Creole eyes attractive, huh? I should ask hubby if he liked me eyes. :p Although I still remember that when okaasan met me for the first time she said I couldn't be Puerto Rican because I was "white." -_- Stereotypes can be so annoying...

I go a lot the Lean Cuisine way too... ^^;;

Hmm... Maybe I'll check that anime then... Some day... LOL

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

Then again, doesn't your brother use his keyboard only for tuning his guitar? :P So of course it would be expensive... ^^;;;;

It was the first duet piece, and yeah.. I was fortunate to be able to play it with a good friend of mine. ^_^ I got the score in late May/early June for my birthday from another friend, and I practised it with him from July to mid-October (when the concert was). Performing it also helped me feel more confident about playing a two-piano piece the following March.

Yeah, I agree with you about stereotypes. They can be really annoying...

You should consider watching it for the potential BL action between multiple partners for THE LOOK in episode 2 because it's got an interesting storyline. ^^;;;

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

Oh, also, the Iroha R2 DVDs have... interesting covers. ^^;;;

See here (http://forums.animesuki.com/showpost.php?p=848278&postcount=916) or on wao's LJ here (http://wao.livejournal.com/20398.html). :P

...

[(Anonymous)]

My mom buy one keyboard for $30 the last christmas and it is still in the box. She didn't used yet.

GD

Re: ...

[nakaemi.livejournal.com]

Err... You mean a toy keyboard, right? ^^;;;

Re: ...

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

I hope so, since I'm pretty sure you can't get a real keyboard for $30... Unless it's used, maybe? ^^;;;

Re: ...

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

She should use it for at least playing carols or songs on. Or have it there just to make it look like it's being used, even if it's not. :P

Re: ...

[(Anonymous)]

She doesn't know how to play it. She is taking guitar class. :P The last time I play the keyboard it fit on the palm of my hand.:PP

GD

[itsacz.livejournal.com]

I envy your new piano, mainly for the keys. ^^;; Of course, if I really wanted to spend on a keyboard I'd buy one more expensive than yours so I could get more keyboard features than the more piano-like ones you have there (i.e. more voices, beats, all those snazzy things). But hey, I prize my high-end gaming system computer more, so... :P

Sounds like you had fun at dinner. I wish I had family friends here - actually maybe I do have some family friend/distant relative (according to my parents). They've just not contacted me and I don't think I have their contact.

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

Well, it is a stage piano after all (and much more expensive than yours)... ^^;;; You should get the S90 ES then, but I think even on sale it's going for around $1899, and you still might have to get speakers or stuff. :P

I did! You should get in touch with them. ^^;; There are still some people I haven't met yet...

[scriabinesque.livejournal.com]

you got AKG Phones! K240 or K270?

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

K240. They were on sale for $89.99 (usual price $165). ^^;;

[scriabinesque.livejournal.com]

AKG phones rock!
good frequency response.

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

Yup! I can really feel the bass from the keyboard. :)

angela aki

[(Anonymous)]

listen to this, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhM3kdbzcu4

GD

[meganemagic.livejournal.com]

Your new keyboard looks good! I like the fact that it came with a stool; I should think it's worth what you paid :p Happy practising!

Sounds like you've been eating well. =)

I'm slowly getting interested in Irohanihoheto, and with such commentary it's hard not to but I still don't really have the time for it ^^;

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

It didn't actually come with a stool bench or stand, but they were on sale too. :P And I had fun assembling the bench.. ^^;; Thanks! I'm actually finding that after about a month (or more) of not playing, it takes a while for my hands just to warm up again...

To counteract eating well, there are some days when I'm so lazy to cook like last night that I just heat up a precooked dinner. :P

You should try and find the time for it whenever you can (there are only 5 more episodes before it ends, but either wao or I could give you the episodes - wao has raws, I have subs) ^^;;;

[chibi-nasu.livejournal.com]

The new keyboard looks great! I think we're all looking forward to hearing some recordings from you!

And I'm sorry about last night... ^^;;;;

[nyankoframe.livejournal.com]

I'll do some recordings as soon as I can which involves being unlazy and going to buy a cable if needed (which involves trying to get the USB-MIDI drivers to work on Vista even though they're not supported) ^^;;;

It's okay ^^;;;;