It's not easy.... to be.... ME!

Yup it really isn't.... all of you lucky people back in Singapore... just don't know what I'm going through here. I have to admit it's really, really tough... with so many activities in my schedule... so many places to go to... and so many things to do.... and as you are going to see, I am absolutely NOT talking about work. ;)


08/25/06: Nickelback @ Houston Toyota Center
Yeah! My first real Rock Concert!! Ok I know some of you are saying... "Nickelback isn't even REAL ROCK..." but to me it's the loudest concert I've ever been to. Add to that the fact that Hinder, Chevelle and Hoobastank (yes.. THE Hoobastank!!) opened for the 2 hours, and you get a great concert experience!!


"Chad Kroeger and friends!!"

To make the experience even more worthwhile, I actually bought tickets for General Admission, which pretty much means the general standing area in front of the stage and you can get as close to the stage as possible as long as you're early! Sharon and I, being typical Kiasu Singaporeans, actually made it to the 2nd row from the front of the stage! The downside was that there were 2 really big (and I mean Texas-size BIG) ladies in front of us who were jumping up and down and doing their rock thing.... but then again we still got a great view so it was ok.


"Check out the Pyro and the Devil Horns! I was one of them... for the night only of course!!"

All in all, despite the standing for 4 hours, the squeezing amongst scores of sweaty young ladies (hehehe), and the ringing in my ears for the next week or so, it was all worth it as Nickelback put up a really great show. Chad really had good rapport with the crowd and their use of pyrotechnics, smoke, and of coz their great-sounding music, made sure it was a night for everyone to remember!


09/01/06: Cedar Point @ Sandusky, Ohio
This was the start of our 4-day Memorial Holiday Weekend.. so what do you think I decided to do with it? Well, being the roller-coaster junkie that I am, I actually made a pilgrimage down to the Best Amusement Park in the World (and by the word "World", they actually mean USA), Cedar Point, as voted by Amusement Today!! Click here for the 2005 Annual Golden Ticket awards, which is like an Oscar for Amusement Parks.

As you can see from Cedar Point's website, they've got some of the greatest roller coasters ever built and I was inspired to go there after catching a documentary on TV showing the best rides and roller coasters, most of which came from Cedar Point!


"Cedar Point's amazing range of coasters...."

Although I was there ALONE, I did manage to have quite a time. The most memorable rides I think were the Millenium Force (with the steepest drop in the world of 80 degrees!!) and the world-renowned Top Thrill Dragster, which broke down early in the morning and took the WHOLE DAMN DAY to repair! I only managed to get on it at 9-plus at night, after queueing for more than 2 hours!!

I did a count at the end of the day though and realized that I actually got on 13 rides altogether... and do take in mind that I queued up for FRONT ROW seats for ALL my rides! Best experience for all!! If any of you roller coaster fans ever, EVER, make it to Cleveland, Ohio (which I highly doubt), do take a trip down here and you won't regret it!


09/07/06: Counting Crows and Goo Goo Dolls @ Woodlands Pavilion
After my solo debut at Cedar Point, I took it one step further and went for this concert by myself too! Actually it really wasn't my choice... obviously I would have loved to go with someone.. ANYONE.. but no one around here had a clue why I would wanna play with Goo Goo Dolls and Count Crows... hahah


"Let Love In - Goo Goo Dolls"

The concert was held at an open air pavilion and thankfully, the weather was good and pretty cool in the evening actually. Both of the bands had simple yet nice eye-catching video screens (looks like Coldplay is rubbing off on EVERYONE) which made for a visually stimulating experience along with the good music. I especially liked Johnny Rzeznik, the front man from Goo Goo Dolls who took some time getting warmed up but ended on a real high with everyone singing along with him.


"Johnny Rzeznik leading the Dolls..."

I have to say though, that the energy levels weren't as high as those at the Nickelback concert but I guess that boils down to the fact that it was really a different kind of music and with an open air concert, you don't really get the fans pumped up as much. Still, I had a great time.. even though I was sitting in between 2 couples and looking like a loser... argh... haha


"Colourful Counting Crows!"

09/08/06: Carlos Mencia @ Houston Toyota Center
Woohoo! My first live Stand-up Comedy!! And I wasn't alone.. WOOHOO x 2!!!! Peter and Angie were together with me this time.... and they were big, BIG fans of Mencia's TV show, Mind Of Mencia, whereby he lets loose at politics, races, genders, and pretty much everything you can make fun of.


"Mencia is the one in the middle... with 2 strangers beside him... haha"

I have to say that this was a really great performance.. not just from Mencia but also from the openers (there were 4 other comedians who opened, including Mencia's brother, Joe, and a Wee-Man lookalike comedian!!) who performed more than admirably. This was one of the few occasions I can remember laughing so hard that I actually teared at many points during the show... and at the end of everything, my jaws were aching from laughing and smiling for 3 hours on end. Yes I know you can imagine me looking like the Joker from Batman, but I sure as hell ain't that pale... grrr...


"Spot the Wee-Man lookalike! He actually did the Wee Man Dance!!"


As you can see, I have had a hell of a week and I've got more in store in the coming weeks... namely a trip back to Singapore, a business trip to Washington DC, Evanescence is coming to town and so are the All-American Rejects.... how can any normal human being take something like this!?!?!

HELP!!!