Kyoto Jazz Massive

In this world full of physical ideation, we’re often limiting ourselves from the amazing ability of our senses to capture the beauty of our surrounding. We think our eyes can only see beautiful faces. Our ears to hear nice music. Other than what our mind perceived as beautiful or nice, we reject them.

I should say now, pity us.

Here’s the story.

A couple days ago, I went to this annual jazz event in Jakarta. One of the performers is this group called Kyoto Jazz Massive. Honestly I’ve never heard of them before. I consider myself a big jazz fan, so I went to watch them play with the least expectation. At first, I saw a bunch of, traditionally, not attractive people. Skinny average-looking Japanese guys with instruments and two overweight black women vocalists. I thought, when you are in show business, you should be at least pleasant to eyes. So there I was, sitting lazily, felt uninspired. And then they played.

And now I’m in love.

Okino Shuya and Okino Yoshihiro, the leader of the band, magically blend electronica with the instrument flair of jazz musicians in virtuoso level. Vanessa Freeman and Tasita D’Amour, the vocalists, sung not only with their mouth, but with the exquisite vibration come from their entire body and soul. So original, so rich, so entertaining, so inspiring. They make many factory-made, mainstream performers grew by today’s popular culture look and sound so minuscule.

When you decide to look with your ears and listen with your eyes, you will understand this so much feeling that I have now. In love.

Scents

I’m a scents girl. Just the right scent will turn even my lowest mood up high. These are:

• The smell of a newly bought book. It’s musky, mysteriously a mix of many, a promise to the exciting adventure you will get reading it
• The smell of my bedroom when I open its door in the evening, tired from a long day at the office. Its warmth hugs me, body and soul
• The smell of roasted coffee. I don’t really drink coffee since my heartbeat overreacts when exposed to caffeine, but the earthy scent calms me
• The smell of a freshly lit impregnated matches. The quickly vanishing smell from the chemical mix is strangely exciting for me
• The scent of my girlfriend in bed, just waking up in the morning. Her faint soap perfume from shower last night mixed with the sheet smell and her original body scent, makes up to me what I want to call the smell of happiness.

How to Handle Vinyl or Leather Stains

To all of you who have stuff with vinyl or leather finishing and get it stained, here’s some tips:

• General stains
  Blot a cotton ball with baby oil, then rub gently to the stained part. Dry with tissue paper

• Ink stain
  This is difficult to handle since the porous vinyl and leather absorb ink. Therefore, do this first aid immediately after the stain occurs. Blot a cotton ball with alcohol, then press it to the stained part. Leave for 30 minutes to one hour, maintain the pressure over the cotton ball, using heavy stuff like a dumbbell. After that, blot a cotton ball with acetic acid and wipe gently over the part. Repeat the steps if necessary. It may not be fully removing the stain, especially old and deep marks, but it can help to make it sheerer. It’s recommended that you try this on some tiny spots first before you apply to all the stains, see if it discolors your vinyl or leather, then you can decide which one you want to keep, the ink stain or the original color.

That’s how I maintain my ivory white car seats clean and shiny :)