I got to leave school early this afternoon. The sky was dark and had been threatening to rain since late morning. Being the Geog teacher, I had been 'analyzing' and trying to guess when rain will fall - predicting it to be in the afternoon, definitely today.
As I was leaving the school, was thinking whether or not to bring the BIG umbrella. By 'calculation', based on the way the clouds look, they'd hold a while more. I was probably gonna reach home JUST before the rain pours or the rain would fall just MIN(s) before I reach home. To bring or not to bring. Decision: Not.
On the bus, still pretty sunny, with the dark clouds looming nonetheless. When I was within 1 km from my place (but still 'circling' around my neighborhood cos of the bus route), it was like... quick quick bussie, anytime will rain. Strangely, the bus keeps hitting the red lights (which I know would 'jeopardize' my hope in reaching my flat dry).
"Trapped" in the bus, I was thinking, WHO really decides on the VERY MINUTE the first drop of rain, then the second, and the third, then the downpour to fall? - Esp in times when we are at the 'critical threhold' where either you just make it dry, or end up very drenched, just affected by those very minutes - traffic lights / passengers alighting/boarding.
So many rains a day in so many places. WHO presses the 'fall' button? The world may boast its technological advances to precision in timing in setting off fireworks during countdowns / celebrations, in sending the murderous H-bomb that kill in 000s, all at the touch of a button. But who can control the very thing that affects our lives daily? Not us, even with our 'fantastic' technology. The world may boast its technological advances in modifying the very element I'm talking about - rain, through seeding. But we can only modifying, subjected to natural limitations such as humidity and pressure. We can't just shift it to any place we want it to fall.
Its just amazing how despite our 'achievements', the simple rain that falls each time can remind us of how great our Creator Abba is. He is the One who decides on each small storm's beginning and end. I'm not even talking about huge storms that have been grabbing headlines lately.
Why am I even blogging about this? No, bong, its not cause I think too much. I thot I was a little cuckoo to read so much into it earlier. But in evening, human fears strike again. I worry about my future. I linger through memories of decisions made, some of which I 'regret' in my human nature but yet have to trust God that that is what pleases Him. Then I realize, I'm not thinking too much. "I hold everything in place. I am in control of every single timing." That's what He's saying.
I pray, that I will trust my faithful Father.
If anyone is still interested if I'm caught in the rain? I was ONE minute behind. So was caught in a moderately heavy rain. But one minute after I stepped into my flat buidling, the moment I stepped out of the lift, it was raining very heavily. Kindof in between ey? ;)
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Monday, September 26, 2005
Where will you be in December?
I was so happy that I've found someone to go with me to India!!! YES!!! can you believe it?
But now, our plans might shift. What's the plan? Need to work it out first. But its a hard decision to make. Stay tuned.
Oh yeah, but where will YOU be in December? At least, where do you think you will be? Then I can plot our where my pals will be on the map. :D
But now, our plans might shift. What's the plan? Need to work it out first. But its a hard decision to make. Stay tuned.
Oh yeah, but where will YOU be in December? At least, where do you think you will be? Then I can plot our where my pals will be on the map. :D
Sunday, September 25, 2005
nursing
spending my weekend just resting
spent most of yest afternn in bed cos wasn't feeling well. EC managed to get me out for some fresh air. but she said i looked like crap. well, i felt like crap. like 50 year old woman. lol. thnx for being patient when i'm so full of crap yest. lol
today, getting out of house to church was a challenge again. impending flu coming up. but told myself must go to church. den end up? CM sunday. Honestly, when i see the kids, and worse, the parents, they really frighten me!! oops. :P
hopefully tom will feel better. haiz..... la la la la.... i'm bored.... feeling old... lol
spent most of yest afternn in bed cos wasn't feeling well. EC managed to get me out for some fresh air. but she said i looked like crap. well, i felt like crap. like 50 year old woman. lol. thnx for being patient when i'm so full of crap yest. lol
today, getting out of house to church was a challenge again. impending flu coming up. but told myself must go to church. den end up? CM sunday. Honestly, when i see the kids, and worse, the parents, they really frighten me!! oops. :P
hopefully tom will feel better. haiz..... la la la la.... i'm bored.... feeling old... lol
Saturday, September 24, 2005
bandaged...
since i'm on the topic of footwear, here's my 'injuired' shoe while i was in kunming. (yeah, all my footwear gave way there) and its final resting plce was in a 3-star hotel in Kunming city, together with my faithful sandals. They have served me well.
Oh yeah, and tt's wat is good abt taking first aid course and a first aid pouch w u wherever u go. LOL
Oh yeah, and tt's wat is good abt taking first aid course and a first aid pouch w u wherever u go. LOL
Before & After...
First one taken in Ang Snoul, Cambodia, en route to river near the orphanage w kids in June 2004. Second one taken in Xundian, Kunming, China, on the last visit to the Pri school when we bid them farewell, June 2005. Left it behind in China, never to see it thereafter. Dun ask me y i take pics of my sandals (esp the first pic). I dunno. lol
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Its been more than a week since i last blogged. where hv i been? wat hv i done? still in singapore (duh) and largely busy with work (reads: setting of examination papers).
since d last entry, most of my time had been spent setting the papers, day and nite, in and out of school. Finally submitted them. Den was busy with meetings. Only til Friday evening was i finally and suddenly free from it all - at least for this weekend.
so friday nite, went to new frens' plce to chill. there was a gathering of 2 swiss, 1 german, 1 'half-malay;half-chinese;half-indonesian;half-singaporean' (or so she claims, but tt totals up to 2 rite? :P), and 7 other singaporeans (pure? how i noe?). it was supposedly a pasta dinner. but turned out to be more a 'suppertime' drinks cum food prepared by our swiss pals and local delights bought by us. A bizarre mix of mooncakes (traditional pastry type, colored skin type, walnut type), alcohol (tequila, vodka, jap rice wine only found in okinawa they claim, cheap thai whisky), pasta (with three types of sauces); otah, choc cake, fried champedak, ... .... .... i almost cldn't make it for this gathering cos was exhausted from week. but was gald i made it. sitting round the table with nice breeze, great food and good company... was great.
saturday was largely... sleep.... mooncake... sleep... toast.... sleep... was catching up on lack of sleep from fri's late rendevous and from the week in general. in total, my waking hours was like abt 9??? lol. so was too stoned to do anything or meet anyone.
so today, not so stoned anymore. but despite the sleep last nite, still sleepy. must be the weather. in fact, i was caught dozing off standing while waiting for AO to pass me something. playing for service wasn't too fantastic cos i was too stoned to b alert (glad i was on piano and not KB). so was sermon time. so is it now. must b the weather. oh. did i oreid type that? lol. i'm going to sleep again now... nites....
btw, eyes recovering fine. eyes still adjusting to fine prints. dry sometimes, but very managable. best part, no need to take out lenses or wash (i hardly do tt anyway :P) after long day out. like can just shower and sink into bed. :D speaking of bed..... ..... .....
since d last entry, most of my time had been spent setting the papers, day and nite, in and out of school. Finally submitted them. Den was busy with meetings. Only til Friday evening was i finally and suddenly free from it all - at least for this weekend.
so friday nite, went to new frens' plce to chill. there was a gathering of 2 swiss, 1 german, 1 'half-malay;half-chinese;half-indonesian;half-singaporean' (or so she claims, but tt totals up to 2 rite? :P), and 7 other singaporeans (pure? how i noe?). it was supposedly a pasta dinner. but turned out to be more a 'suppertime' drinks cum food prepared by our swiss pals and local delights bought by us. A bizarre mix of mooncakes (traditional pastry type, colored skin type, walnut type), alcohol (tequila, vodka, jap rice wine only found in okinawa they claim, cheap thai whisky), pasta (with three types of sauces); otah, choc cake, fried champedak, ... .... .... i almost cldn't make it for this gathering cos was exhausted from week. but was gald i made it. sitting round the table with nice breeze, great food and good company... was great.
saturday was largely... sleep.... mooncake... sleep... toast.... sleep... was catching up on lack of sleep from fri's late rendevous and from the week in general. in total, my waking hours was like abt 9??? lol. so was too stoned to do anything or meet anyone.
so today, not so stoned anymore. but despite the sleep last nite, still sleepy. must be the weather. in fact, i was caught dozing off standing while waiting for AO to pass me something. playing for service wasn't too fantastic cos i was too stoned to b alert (glad i was on piano and not KB). so was sermon time. so is it now. must b the weather. oh. did i oreid type that? lol. i'm going to sleep again now... nites....
btw, eyes recovering fine. eyes still adjusting to fine prints. dry sometimes, but very managable. best part, no need to take out lenses or wash (i hardly do tt anyway :P) after long day out. like can just shower and sink into bed. :D speaking of bed..... ..... .....
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
goodbye specky... ...
Specs.... they have been with me for close to 2 decades. Started with a pink plastic frame, then a smaller maroon one, den another pink one which in Sec sch they thot it was too 'hip' and wanted me to change new specs during spotcheck?!?! den i moved on into metal frames. black. gold. silver. blue. den it was back to my current 'hip' blue specky u either love or hate.
tis week, i hv ditched specs by undergoing lasik. mon was a breeze. eye just took a longer time to adjust and stabilize. for today for the second eye however, i realized i had taken the first one's blessedness for granted. it was like there waws something gritty stuck in my eye ALL DAY LONG and i ws tearing like no ppl's business. P says tt's cos everyone knew abt my mon procedure and prayed for it but for todays, no one was informed so they din pray. lol. still, thanks mom, dad, mommy, P, KN, SR, AO and all others who prayed for muaz. It was a comfort knowing that i'm covered not only by the love of Daddy but also of you pple.
Anywayz, how was the procedure like? Well, just not something i'd like to go through again. Mon's was smoother than today's. In fact, procedure was delayed today due to some unforeseen backlog. So ended up having to bring my mom out of the center for lunch (with a dilated pupil!! that was crazy!) Just din feel that good during the procedure itself and after tt. Discomfort all the way in the afternn into the evening. Decided to go down for worship prac tonite, just to play flute. Strangely, after i left my place, the eye slowly got better. and its realy pretty decent comfort wise now. God works ey?
anywayz, vision is still blur. will take time to stabilize. and only after this den did i realize that my left eye's degree is almost DOUBLE that of my right eye's. no wonder i get so disoriented when i dun hv my specky. whichever the case... i've ditched my specky for now. For how long? I dunno. Maybe until age catches up.. that ... is another story for another time.
tis week, i hv ditched specs by undergoing lasik. mon was a breeze. eye just took a longer time to adjust and stabilize. for today for the second eye however, i realized i had taken the first one's blessedness for granted. it was like there waws something gritty stuck in my eye ALL DAY LONG and i ws tearing like no ppl's business. P says tt's cos everyone knew abt my mon procedure and prayed for it but for todays, no one was informed so they din pray. lol. still, thanks mom, dad, mommy, P, KN, SR, AO and all others who prayed for muaz. It was a comfort knowing that i'm covered not only by the love of Daddy but also of you pple.
Anywayz, how was the procedure like? Well, just not something i'd like to go through again. Mon's was smoother than today's. In fact, procedure was delayed today due to some unforeseen backlog. So ended up having to bring my mom out of the center for lunch (with a dilated pupil!! that was crazy!) Just din feel that good during the procedure itself and after tt. Discomfort all the way in the afternn into the evening. Decided to go down for worship prac tonite, just to play flute. Strangely, after i left my place, the eye slowly got better. and its realy pretty decent comfort wise now. God works ey?
anywayz, vision is still blur. will take time to stabilize. and only after this den did i realize that my left eye's degree is almost DOUBLE that of my right eye's. no wonder i get so disoriented when i dun hv my specky. whichever the case... i've ditched my specky for now. For how long? I dunno. Maybe until age catches up.. that ... is another story for another time.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
sunrise or sunset?
Imaged uploaded is a sunrise during the reefwalk weeks ago. Rare to catch a nice sunrise. Sunsets usually work better. A gal gave me a card for Teachers' Day asking 'do u see a sunrise or sunset?' I like sunsets more. But i tink i shld see more sunrise? lol
Wats been up:
1. SCALP BURN!!!
2. Teachers' Day was so-so. Sad tt despite all the hard work into my CCA, my efforts were not appreciated.
3. Spent Teachers' Day bringing kids out to log data. Hot hot hot.
4. Kids out for performance at CS today. It was.... sigh... disappointing due to poor acoustics. Gals cant be heard. They were good, but cant be heard and cant hear each other so cldn't play as a group. Now, they feel lousy. SIGH.
5. Lasik is coming up on Mon. Had been specky these few days. Still dun hv mom's support. But i'm going ahead.
6. Currently its really just sigh. The only good news :) is my dear EC can go and take her OWD oredi!!! After one long year gal! So happy for u. Lets hit the water tog. For u, i'll go down the water once more tis yr. :)
Thursday, September 01, 2005
simple prayer answered
the sky is still holding! despite how according to 'nature', there was no rain. we completed our data collation. Just over 200 trees recorded. I'm so dying... lol...
My Daddy heard my prayer! Thank You Dad!
My Daddy heard my prayer! Thank You Dad!
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Rain rain go away
Dear Daddy
My gals and I are going to collect field data using the GPS system tomorrow. We have no other slots to do it.
The weather forecast says its likely to rain in the east and partial cloudy in the central. I dunno if we are considered east or central. There are no sight of stars tonite (clouds).
Dear Daddy, please blow the clouds away and hold the rain til after 2pm. I can only ask this of You and no one else.
A simple little prayer of someone learning to pray with simple faith.
In Jesus name Amen
My gals and I are going to collect field data using the GPS system tomorrow. We have no other slots to do it.
The weather forecast says its likely to rain in the east and partial cloudy in the central. I dunno if we are considered east or central. There are no sight of stars tonite (clouds).
Dear Daddy, please blow the clouds away and hold the rain til after 2pm. I can only ask this of You and no one else.
A simple little prayer of someone learning to pray with simple faith.
In Jesus name Amen
Monday, August 29, 2005
hitting the lows after the high
It was an interesting dive trip. Was away for the Project AWARE - Reef Check survey over the weekend. Even before I left the country excited things oredi happened.
Pre-trip:
Divers to meet at 7pm. But the school function started at 7pm. So I was expected to be late. JK was aware tt I'll leave sch at 8.10pm and fly to his dive shop. But there was a change of plan....
When I got up the cab and gave him the directions, the cab driver was SO BLUR. So I attempted to call JK to get even more detailed directions.
JK: Where are you?
ST: In a cab
JK: Where exactly?
ST: SG area
JK: Get down the cab
ST: huh?!?
JK: We're going to your school to pick you.
ST: ?!? Where are you now?
JK: Outside your sch. Where exactly are you? Stop wherever you are.
ST: Near the stadium........ .... more exchanges on location .... .... mess... ....
ST: I din noe you were coming
JK: I tried to call you. But you did not pick up.
ST: I was in a service cant pick up.
JK: You shldn't even hv .... aiya, watever.
ST: Anyway, my mobile din even register your call.
JK: No reception den. Are you at the ... .... I'm at the ... ...
ST: I dun see the van/
JK: We are in a car.
ST: black color car? I'm behind the car's junction...
..... ..... ST ran to the car 100m away in her pants and heels...
In the car... after the brief greeting formalities...
ST: Did you bring my stuff?
JK: Yeah.
ST turned back and saw her gear bag.
ST: Did you bring my red haversack?
JK: @#$^&*@ JK called a couple of ppl... confirmed ST's haversack was in shop. JK instructed JL to drive back to shop....
Throughout the trip:
Company wasn't fantastic. Pple pretty exclusive. Cos the pple oredi knew each other from their YEP trip or were from the shop, my buddy and i mostly talked to each other, ate aside from others, or i just walked by the beach myself. (They were not terribly exclusive.) But its ok. I understd and am not upset. Enjoyed the quiet moments anywayz. :) I"m hear for the dive, to try out something new, and tt's enough. GOod company is a bonus.
Dives:
Different from the usual. INstead of moving ard, movementw as very restricted. There was a lot of focus on the demarcated area. So the scope of visual was limited, but intense. Never had I scrutinized rocks or corals that closely. Did fish and bentic survey. Fish survey was boring... and cold... Bentic was challenging but more fun, especially the snapping and reeling back of tapes and pegs. Was having fun with my new accessories - slate, rattler/shaker cum pointer, and my black gloves. Love the gloves. lol.
I did not participate in the nite dive. first time i said no to a dive. primary reason - i was tired and not feeling too good - bad state to dive. secondary reasons - the company wasn't good to dive w, and of course, JK made it clear tt he did not really welcome non-staff to dive, but asked out of courtesy?!?!
Only leisure dive on Sunday morn was like.... sososososo... y? cos i got a fairly new DMT. He's a nice chap. But still fairly inexperienced. I'm not extremely good in directions,but thot the route he took was weird. My buddy (who's a freelance instructor confirmed my view, tho she said she kept quiet out of respect for the dive leader) Anywayz, he took us across loads of currents. Most of the time I just stayed real low to reduce the influence of the currents and at times while waiting for him to figure out exactly where we are heading i just find a rock or depression to hid in from the currents (learnt from previous trips. lol). I tink i spotted more interesting stuff than he did!
Final dive was a cleanup dive. It was the battle between the genders of who's gonna pick up more crap from the sea. And guess wat? We won hands down. We managed TWO FULL mesh bags of crap including fishing nets, lines, plastic bag, satay stick, glove, .... as well as an ANCHOR!!!. The boys? A mesh bag hardly full. lol. It was fun lookng for crap and manuevering abt to pick them up esp with some requiring some untangling from the reefs etc.
All in all, this was a VERY DIFFERENT trip from all the previous. It wasn't 'fun'. Different company. Different perspective under water. But I appreciated it just as much. Meanwhile, feeling very sian from the low after the high nitrox.... lol.... BLEAH.
Pre-trip:
Divers to meet at 7pm. But the school function started at 7pm. So I was expected to be late. JK was aware tt I'll leave sch at 8.10pm and fly to his dive shop. But there was a change of plan....
When I got up the cab and gave him the directions, the cab driver was SO BLUR. So I attempted to call JK to get even more detailed directions.
JK: Where are you?
ST: In a cab
JK: Where exactly?
ST: SG area
JK: Get down the cab
ST: huh?!?
JK: We're going to your school to pick you.
ST: ?!? Where are you now?
JK: Outside your sch. Where exactly are you? Stop wherever you are.
ST: Near the stadium........ .... more exchanges on location .... .... mess... ....
ST: I din noe you were coming
JK: I tried to call you. But you did not pick up.
ST: I was in a service cant pick up.
JK: You shldn't even hv .... aiya, watever.
ST: Anyway, my mobile din even register your call.
JK: No reception den. Are you at the ... .... I'm at the ... ...
ST: I dun see the van/
JK: We are in a car.
ST: black color car? I'm behind the car's junction...
..... ..... ST ran to the car 100m away in her pants and heels...
In the car... after the brief greeting formalities...
ST: Did you bring my stuff?
JK: Yeah.
ST turned back and saw her gear bag.
ST: Did you bring my red haversack?
JK: @#$^&*@ JK called a couple of ppl... confirmed ST's haversack was in shop. JK instructed JL to drive back to shop....
Throughout the trip:
Company wasn't fantastic. Pple pretty exclusive. Cos the pple oredi knew each other from their YEP trip or were from the shop, my buddy and i mostly talked to each other, ate aside from others, or i just walked by the beach myself. (They were not terribly exclusive.) But its ok. I understd and am not upset. Enjoyed the quiet moments anywayz. :) I"m hear for the dive, to try out something new, and tt's enough. GOod company is a bonus.
Dives:
Different from the usual. INstead of moving ard, movementw as very restricted. There was a lot of focus on the demarcated area. So the scope of visual was limited, but intense. Never had I scrutinized rocks or corals that closely. Did fish and bentic survey. Fish survey was boring... and cold... Bentic was challenging but more fun, especially the snapping and reeling back of tapes and pegs. Was having fun with my new accessories - slate, rattler/shaker cum pointer, and my black gloves. Love the gloves. lol.
I did not participate in the nite dive. first time i said no to a dive. primary reason - i was tired and not feeling too good - bad state to dive. secondary reasons - the company wasn't good to dive w, and of course, JK made it clear tt he did not really welcome non-staff to dive, but asked out of courtesy?!?!
Only leisure dive on Sunday morn was like.... sososososo... y? cos i got a fairly new DMT. He's a nice chap. But still fairly inexperienced. I'm not extremely good in directions,but thot the route he took was weird. My buddy (who's a freelance instructor confirmed my view, tho she said she kept quiet out of respect for the dive leader) Anywayz, he took us across loads of currents. Most of the time I just stayed real low to reduce the influence of the currents and at times while waiting for him to figure out exactly where we are heading i just find a rock or depression to hid in from the currents (learnt from previous trips. lol). I tink i spotted more interesting stuff than he did!
Final dive was a cleanup dive. It was the battle between the genders of who's gonna pick up more crap from the sea. And guess wat? We won hands down. We managed TWO FULL mesh bags of crap including fishing nets, lines, plastic bag, satay stick, glove, .... as well as an ANCHOR!!!. The boys? A mesh bag hardly full. lol. It was fun lookng for crap and manuevering abt to pick them up esp with some requiring some untangling from the reefs etc.
All in all, this was a VERY DIFFERENT trip from all the previous. It wasn't 'fun'. Different company. Different perspective under water. But I appreciated it just as much. Meanwhile, feeling very sian from the low after the high nitrox.... lol.... BLEAH.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Fast updates
Today went with the kids from COSI to the zoo... in heels... with my makeup... in black... See, i did not expect to join them. but got roped in last minute after playing for church service. at the zoo, we were stuck in the rain for an hour. my heels were soaked. i was exhasuted. but spent good time, esp with Sophuan, the girl i met during my last trip jun last year. some rude youths from church were present, but mostly i ignored them. other than that... it was great with the kids. they got excited over the rain and the (i dunno wat name) fruit that dropped onto the ground more than over the animals. i bet they've seen more than we did. and yes, i saw my cousins, the giraffe. and giraffe comes from the phrase 'very fast moving camel and leopard'. go figure.
will be super busy next week. many events. most exciting one: my training for a conservation dive next weekend. mon, tues and thurs nite i will be away for 3 hours each for the training. this is on top of my other school meetings and trainings which ends at 6pm on mon and thurs. my epms is due next mon. fri will be rushing from place to place... bringing kids to nus, den rush to a school function (grrr...) den RUSH for my dive trip. (supposed to report at 7.30pm, but sch only releasing me at 8.10, meaning the whole world - just the dive grp wld be waiting for me). so, i'm pretty dead next week. and the following. sometimes i really feel like drawying out of this trip, like frees up 3 nights, and entire weekend. hey, but told myself not to feel, JUST DO IT. bcos tt's wat i really wanna do.
ok. not too fast update done.
will be super busy next week. many events. most exciting one: my training for a conservation dive next weekend. mon, tues and thurs nite i will be away for 3 hours each for the training. this is on top of my other school meetings and trainings which ends at 6pm on mon and thurs. my epms is due next mon. fri will be rushing from place to place... bringing kids to nus, den rush to a school function (grrr...) den RUSH for my dive trip. (supposed to report at 7.30pm, but sch only releasing me at 8.10, meaning the whole world - just the dive grp wld be waiting for me). so, i'm pretty dead next week. and the following. sometimes i really feel like drawying out of this trip, like frees up 3 nights, and entire weekend. hey, but told myself not to feel, JUST DO IT. bcos tt's wat i really wanna do.
ok. not too fast update done.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Rattana
Five years ago, I met her in my 3-mth stint in Cambodia. She was the daughter of Laundy. They were staying with us in my aparrment to take care of an infant.
Rattana, was a dark, 5-year old. Thin. Long limbs. Pretty curls. Big eyes. She was smart. What makes my heart each time was when she broke into her sweet smile and chuckle.
She would come into my room in the day. Sit beside me by the table while I prepare for the English classes. She would draw using the paper and pencil provided for her. Sometimes house, sometimes cat. I have a cat in my journal drawn by her on one of the occasions. My table always had some snacks, one of it was preserved fruits (long and squiggly type). I would feed her with those and each time we both put those into our mouths, we would cringe together. But the practice continued. She was a curious lad everready to learn new English words. I was folding away my laundry, and she would ask me what they were in English - skirt, shorts, shirt. We played lanterns during Mid-Autumn festival.
Two years later, I saw her in COSI. As usual, I carried her and piggy-backed her.. But she got heavier. One afternoon, while we were at the playground, she was sitting on my lap on a swing. Her dark palms on mine. And I thought to myself, one day, she will outgrow me. Her hands will grow bigger, she can't sit on my lap anymore.
Two days ago, I saw her in my church sanctuary. She was tall - at my chest. She's 12. Her hair was less wavy. But still the same sweet smile. She brightened my tough day.
That night, the memories came back so fresh to me. The smell of the dust in the evening air outside the MC in Cambodia, the touch of the dark hardwood study table I use each day in my room, my currently 5 years old notebook, the smell of the soaps I used, the golden sunsets, the feel of the tiled floors of the office on barefoot, the babies, the dusty sanctuary. That night, I remembered Cambodia the way I have not for a long long time.
I will be meeting her soon today with CP and OL. For her, I will make time. :)
Rattana, was a dark, 5-year old. Thin. Long limbs. Pretty curls. Big eyes. She was smart. What makes my heart each time was when she broke into her sweet smile and chuckle.
She would come into my room in the day. Sit beside me by the table while I prepare for the English classes. She would draw using the paper and pencil provided for her. Sometimes house, sometimes cat. I have a cat in my journal drawn by her on one of the occasions. My table always had some snacks, one of it was preserved fruits (long and squiggly type). I would feed her with those and each time we both put those into our mouths, we would cringe together. But the practice continued. She was a curious lad everready to learn new English words. I was folding away my laundry, and she would ask me what they were in English - skirt, shorts, shirt. We played lanterns during Mid-Autumn festival.
Two years later, I saw her in COSI. As usual, I carried her and piggy-backed her.. But she got heavier. One afternoon, while we were at the playground, she was sitting on my lap on a swing. Her dark palms on mine. And I thought to myself, one day, she will outgrow me. Her hands will grow bigger, she can't sit on my lap anymore.
Two days ago, I saw her in my church sanctuary. She was tall - at my chest. She's 12. Her hair was less wavy. But still the same sweet smile. She brightened my tough day.
That night, the memories came back so fresh to me. The smell of the dust in the evening air outside the MC in Cambodia, the touch of the dark hardwood study table I use each day in my room, my currently 5 years old notebook, the smell of the soaps I used, the golden sunsets, the feel of the tiled floors of the office on barefoot, the babies, the dusty sanctuary. That night, I remembered Cambodia the way I have not for a long long time.
I will be meeting her soon today with CP and OL. For her, I will make time. :)
Monday, August 15, 2005
Five dollars movie ticket... Is it for real?
Yeah it is! I watched it today. But spent another 5 on cab, thereby, making the price of watching the show equivalent to watching it elsewhere during weekends. lol
Where was it? PRINCESS at bedok! sounds dodgey? Its pretty decent actually. The tickets are printed using dot matrix printer... popcorns sold there cost SGD1.50, packed in the plastic containers u use to pack ur ice kachang and ice jelly.
cinema theatre itself gave me a feeling i've neva felt in a long time. Its not new, not as much cushion, but sufficiently comfortable. Best part, it wasn't full, less than 10 pple... and we bought our tix at 1515 hours, when the show was scheduled to start at 1515hrs... and it DID start by 1520 hours, cos... i dun rem seeing ANY commercials! nope. no farnie smell... farnie stains.. it was really decent.
The show was... hilarious... thoroughly enjoyed it. Given today's almost-real-life graphics, when the scene openned, i really forgot and thot it was an animation film. ONly to be reminded after the boy appeared that.. no, its not (even if computer graphics were applied). The way they put the makeup of the kids... Johny Depp, the bright colors... really made them look like animation many times. The line between the 'real' and the 'graphics' are is fine here, its different from the other films such as Star Wars or Titanic, etc... cos... the effect really adds and enhances the fantasy feeling. Brilliant.
I loved the little men, or was it man? same face, different roles. lol. i really wonder who that man is in real life, and how they even chose him for this role(s). Imagine urself holding that role, .... , .....
Anyways, the sound of the crunch each time a kid bites into the chocolate makes my knees go soft.... so i'm back to crunching chocs. managed to kick tt (therapuetic) habit for at abt 3 days.... but... after the show.. succumbbed back to the dark side......
in short, i loved the movie. its was more than the 'fun'. it was the fantasy-like journey u're brought into... and heartwarming bits abt family.. but humbug that. *laughs*
Anyhow, tix on weekdays cost SGD5 and on weekends SGD7.50. For the price, its really comparative to cineleisure where i watched bewitched last weekend. less cushee on the armrest. but like the one at cineleisure, no headrest. but cheaper. u take ur pick.
Where was it? PRINCESS at bedok! sounds dodgey? Its pretty decent actually. The tickets are printed using dot matrix printer... popcorns sold there cost SGD1.50, packed in the plastic containers u use to pack ur ice kachang and ice jelly.
cinema theatre itself gave me a feeling i've neva felt in a long time. Its not new, not as much cushion, but sufficiently comfortable. Best part, it wasn't full, less than 10 pple... and we bought our tix at 1515 hours, when the show was scheduled to start at 1515hrs... and it DID start by 1520 hours, cos... i dun rem seeing ANY commercials! nope. no farnie smell... farnie stains.. it was really decent.
The show was... hilarious... thoroughly enjoyed it. Given today's almost-real-life graphics, when the scene openned, i really forgot and thot it was an animation film. ONly to be reminded after the boy appeared that.. no, its not (even if computer graphics were applied). The way they put the makeup of the kids... Johny Depp, the bright colors... really made them look like animation many times. The line between the 'real' and the 'graphics' are is fine here, its different from the other films such as Star Wars or Titanic, etc... cos... the effect really adds and enhances the fantasy feeling. Brilliant.
I loved the little men, or was it man? same face, different roles. lol. i really wonder who that man is in real life, and how they even chose him for this role(s). Imagine urself holding that role, .... , .....
Anyways, the sound of the crunch each time a kid bites into the chocolate makes my knees go soft.... so i'm back to crunching chocs. managed to kick tt (therapuetic) habit for at abt 3 days.... but... after the show.. succumbbed back to the dark side......
in short, i loved the movie. its was more than the 'fun'. it was the fantasy-like journey u're brought into... and heartwarming bits abt family.. but humbug that. *laughs*
Anyhow, tix on weekdays cost SGD5 and on weekends SGD7.50. For the price, its really comparative to cineleisure where i watched bewitched last weekend. less cushee on the armrest. but like the one at cineleisure, no headrest. but cheaper. u take ur pick.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
mind your own business
i was on my way back from the celebrations on the bus last nite. just as i was abt to get down from the 2nd deck of the bus to alight, i saw a 2-dollar note on the chair on the adjacent row behind me.
I thot for a moment and recalled a 50+ yr old man sitting there. He just got down a little before me, but was alighting at the same stop as me. I thot to myself, shld I bring the 2 bucks down for him? Well, its only 2 bucks. I dun wanna talk to anyone i dunno. Its only 2 bucks. No big deal.
*took two steps down the flight of stairs*
Thot again. Wow, in my mom's days, they would immediately rush down with the money and go 'hey you left your money behind'. Is this wat our system has taught us? To be 'tolerant' to the point of 'mind your own business - no matter wat?' Sad, but to some extent true.
*backtracked, picked up the purple note and went down the stairs*
"urm... you left this behind on the seat". Not a single word of thanks, we both alighted.
What is this society becoming?
I thot for a moment and recalled a 50+ yr old man sitting there. He just got down a little before me, but was alighting at the same stop as me. I thot to myself, shld I bring the 2 bucks down for him? Well, its only 2 bucks. I dun wanna talk to anyone i dunno. Its only 2 bucks. No big deal.
*took two steps down the flight of stairs*
Thot again. Wow, in my mom's days, they would immediately rush down with the money and go 'hey you left your money behind'. Is this wat our system has taught us? To be 'tolerant' to the point of 'mind your own business - no matter wat?' Sad, but to some extent true.
*backtracked, picked up the purple note and went down the stairs*
"urm... you left this behind on the seat". Not a single word of thanks, we both alighted.
What is this society becoming?
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
You noe you are hooked on Bejeweled when
you look at your fren's face, and u want to arrange her nose upwards to be in line with her two eyes... ...
damn the sound effects. :P
damn the sound effects. :P
Of Memories...
2. Fireworks
At 0000hr tis morn, while I was still working on my computer, i heard the sounds of fireworks booming away. But no, i cant see the fireworks. Why? typical high rised buildings.
20 years ago, when I was still in Pri sch, we would be able see most of the fireworks, at least half of the top of the fireworks from my living room when we look out into the corridor. The biggest and highest fireworks, yes, we can catch the full sight. If we really wanted to, we would go up to the 10th storey (i stay on the 9th) and catch the lights in its splendor.
Now, I can only hear the fireworks. I can't see the 'culprit' high rise, but am pretty sure they are the ones who are blocking me from it.
In any case, the mood of National Day is really here. Why? Early last morning, I have to lead in community singing... and rouse the girls to a 'high' singing... thereafter, brought some kids to practise community drumming. That was a torture. I ended up with a swollen head ready to explode from all the noise (bad accoustics that trap the sounds of drums of kids which were so not syncronised for at least 5 hours) and a pretty deaf pair of ears. By the time we got back to school, it was 9pm (spent 15 hours working), and I was totally exhasuted with the 'prep' for National Day. How can I not feel the mood? *laughs*
At 0000hr tis morn, while I was still working on my computer, i heard the sounds of fireworks booming away. But no, i cant see the fireworks. Why? typical high rised buildings.
20 years ago, when I was still in Pri sch, we would be able see most of the fireworks, at least half of the top of the fireworks from my living room when we look out into the corridor. The biggest and highest fireworks, yes, we can catch the full sight. If we really wanted to, we would go up to the 10th storey (i stay on the 9th) and catch the lights in its splendor.
Now, I can only hear the fireworks. I can't see the 'culprit' high rise, but am pretty sure they are the ones who are blocking me from it.
In any case, the mood of National Day is really here. Why? Early last morning, I have to lead in community singing... and rouse the girls to a 'high' singing... thereafter, brought some kids to practise community drumming. That was a torture. I ended up with a swollen head ready to explode from all the noise (bad accoustics that trap the sounds of drums of kids which were so not syncronised for at least 5 hours) and a pretty deaf pair of ears. By the time we got back to school, it was 9pm (spent 15 hours working), and I was totally exhasuted with the 'prep' for National Day. How can I not feel the mood? *laughs*
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Of Memories...
1. Drinks during Chinese New Year
As far as I remembered, as a young kid 20 years ago, it was the glass-bottled F & N orange soft drinks. The bottle was unlike even the old glass bottled soft drinks in the other SEA countries we are familiar with. It had a straight narrow 'neck' and a straight wider 'body'.
A couple of years later, other colored soft drinks came into the picture. There were the colorful (red, green, orange, purple) FANTA (the red and green gone now), caffenited soft drinks (huge war between SARSI, PEPSI, COKE den, of which SARSI seemed to have vanished and I just realize today I cant find Pepsi original anymore), SPRITE, 7-Up.
Soon, the generation prefered 'healthier', 'non-carbonated' versions of drinks. In came the lemon tea (mostly Yeos, if I remember correctly). Today, many other teas entered the market... Green tea, green tea with jasmine, white tea (the latest, so haven't had that during chinese new year yet).
I wonder what's next. But one thing that seems to have survived all these 20 years, despite all the new drinks that have emerged (essentially simply water and sugar), the orange soft drink has remained.
I miss the old days.
As far as I remembered, as a young kid 20 years ago, it was the glass-bottled F & N orange soft drinks. The bottle was unlike even the old glass bottled soft drinks in the other SEA countries we are familiar with. It had a straight narrow 'neck' and a straight wider 'body'.
A couple of years later, other colored soft drinks came into the picture. There were the colorful (red, green, orange, purple) FANTA (the red and green gone now), caffenited soft drinks (huge war between SARSI, PEPSI, COKE den, of which SARSI seemed to have vanished and I just realize today I cant find Pepsi original anymore), SPRITE, 7-Up.
Soon, the generation prefered 'healthier', 'non-carbonated' versions of drinks. In came the lemon tea (mostly Yeos, if I remember correctly). Today, many other teas entered the market... Green tea, green tea with jasmine, white tea (the latest, so haven't had that during chinese new year yet).
I wonder what's next. But one thing that seems to have survived all these 20 years, despite all the new drinks that have emerged (essentially simply water and sugar), the orange soft drink has remained.
I miss the old days.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Dear Abba
You said that my purpose here on earth is to glorify You - to be perfected into the image of Jesus Christ through worship, the offering of my life as a living sacrifice. The rest comes secondary to this divine purpose.
To be perfected into the image of Christ - love You commanded. The incomprehensiveness of the depth of the meaning of love. Love thy neighbors. Love thy enemies. Love them unconditionally. Above all, love You will all my heart, my soul, my mind, my strength, my will.
How to love You when all I'm doing is just holding on to the faith and the hope You have sowed in me ages ago? My Father, songs and words alone do You no justice. What is it I need to know You? To hear You?
Some say, our purpose is to be ready for heaven, meanwhile enjoy and to live happy as well. What is the definition of enjoy and to live happy?
What does it mean when it is said that I should seek You as a jewel? How do the rest of the other things - work, upgrading - come into the picture? How do they add up to Your big plan?
Abba, I wish I can hear You more clearly in this noise. I wish I can understand Your love more. I wish I could long for You and Your return more. I wish I can have a better idea of what is going on. Can I?
Your wondering child
To be perfected into the image of Christ - love You commanded. The incomprehensiveness of the depth of the meaning of love. Love thy neighbors. Love thy enemies. Love them unconditionally. Above all, love You will all my heart, my soul, my mind, my strength, my will.
How to love You when all I'm doing is just holding on to the faith and the hope You have sowed in me ages ago? My Father, songs and words alone do You no justice. What is it I need to know You? To hear You?
Some say, our purpose is to be ready for heaven, meanwhile enjoy and to live happy as well. What is the definition of enjoy and to live happy?
What does it mean when it is said that I should seek You as a jewel? How do the rest of the other things - work, upgrading - come into the picture? How do they add up to Your big plan?
Abba, I wish I can hear You more clearly in this noise. I wish I can understand Your love more. I wish I could long for You and Your return more. I wish I can have a better idea of what is going on. Can I?
Your wondering child
Saturday, July 30, 2005
black tie event
went for the black tie event.
God was good. y? i was so gonna be late cos i cldn't get cab for like half an hour. no point panicking, told myself. only prayed quietly for a cab. but still no cab. but there was a reason for that! see, wheni arrived at the function room, i just BUMPED straight into one of the other volunteer i noe. see, i dunno a lot of pple there. so its a GREAT thing to bump into her. and we stuck to each other. if i had a cab and reached on time (according to the invite) i'll be all by myself. speaking of His timing.
anywayz, guess wat?!?!? i've got like Song from song & kelly sitting with us at our table!!! plus a power 98 DJ. (i dunno who she is, cos tt's not my station). plus a yoga guru from India, and a couple who set up their own business in event management. COOL ey! i mean, here's an unglam teacher, with 'glam' pple like Song. He's decent to talk to. nice chap who was trying not to be bored. *laughs* all in all, it was a nice dinner, having acquainted with new pple like that.
i need to learn how to do nite makeup man. my usual makeup tricks are not enuff to get by more 'glam' nites. anyone expert? *laughs*
God was good. y? i was so gonna be late cos i cldn't get cab for like half an hour. no point panicking, told myself. only prayed quietly for a cab. but still no cab. but there was a reason for that! see, wheni arrived at the function room, i just BUMPED straight into one of the other volunteer i noe. see, i dunno a lot of pple there. so its a GREAT thing to bump into her. and we stuck to each other. if i had a cab and reached on time (according to the invite) i'll be all by myself. speaking of His timing.
anywayz, guess wat?!?!? i've got like Song from song & kelly sitting with us at our table!!! plus a power 98 DJ. (i dunno who she is, cos tt's not my station). plus a yoga guru from India, and a couple who set up their own business in event management. COOL ey! i mean, here's an unglam teacher, with 'glam' pple like Song. He's decent to talk to. nice chap who was trying not to be bored. *laughs* all in all, it was a nice dinner, having acquainted with new pple like that.
i need to learn how to do nite makeup man. my usual makeup tricks are not enuff to get by more 'glam' nites. anyone expert? *laughs*
Thursday, July 28, 2005
happy
brought my guitar gals to do community performance. language barrier... difficult for the kids. but i was pleaslantly surprised to hear from some tt they found the experience fruitful nonetheless. really happy.
tis yr's been gd. i get to get my dreams come true. brought kids overseas for community service and now my guit gals.
am looking at an end-aug dive trip tt has some conservational stuff invovled (if not, i'm getting pretty bored w the site). but... really depedns if i get the leave. *fingers-crossed* suuposed to hv some methodist trs gathering tt evening. hope they forget abt it and just sign my leave form.:P
am extremelt exhsausted. had been rushing from place to place... with kids.. or for church since yest morn. collapsing anymoremtn now. just thot i shld blog tt good stuff tt happened to my kids tis afternn. memorabile wat.
OHOH and i just got infvited for a black-tie eevent tom nite!! HOW HOW? i forgot how to dress up proeproly after all these ' i'm darn too tired to care abt how i look'. *panicks*
tis yr's been gd. i get to get my dreams come true. brought kids overseas for community service and now my guit gals.
am looking at an end-aug dive trip tt has some conservational stuff invovled (if not, i'm getting pretty bored w the site). but... really depedns if i get the leave. *fingers-crossed* suuposed to hv some methodist trs gathering tt evening. hope they forget abt it and just sign my leave form.:P
am extremelt exhsausted. had been rushing from place to place... with kids.. or for church since yest morn. collapsing anymoremtn now. just thot i shld blog tt good stuff tt happened to my kids tis afternn. memorabile wat.
OHOH and i just got infvited for a black-tie eevent tom nite!! HOW HOW? i forgot how to dress up proeproly after all these ' i'm darn too tired to care abt how i look'. *panicks*
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Today... ... ...
I got up at 4 plus am to reach sentosa to go to kusu for the reefwalk w TS & EC. It was a nice slow walk on the reeftop. Muddy. Saw interesting stuff, some i see in the sea. tho d colors cant match when i'm in the sea, its still beautiful. except the sun really zapped out the energy. not feeling well lately anywayz.
hung ard and got home in late afternn. tired and snoozed alittle. got up n watched the making of the island (wanna watch tt show!!) and starwars finally!
feeling alittle blue. maybe cos been tired physically. most prob cos i hvn't really been reading the word or praying.
getting tired of drifting ard. tis world is not my home, i'm just a passerby. how impt it is to rem tt thot. but being plugged into this world so real, with all the expectations from pple in all aspects... ... how easy it is to lose sight of the even more REAL, which, doesn't seem so obvious or clear now.
Is tis wat life is abt? Finding the REAL in the midst of the surrounding mounting pressures?
They say its all abt Jesus. Its just abt Jesus. Is it so simple to just focus on Him? How real is Jesus? I'm putting my faith in His name. But tt aint sufficient. Just aint sufficient. So wat? So how? .... .... ....
How real is Jesus to u?
hung ard and got home in late afternn. tired and snoozed alittle. got up n watched the making of the island (wanna watch tt show!!) and starwars finally!
feeling alittle blue. maybe cos been tired physically. most prob cos i hvn't really been reading the word or praying.
getting tired of drifting ard. tis world is not my home, i'm just a passerby. how impt it is to rem tt thot. but being plugged into this world so real, with all the expectations from pple in all aspects... ... how easy it is to lose sight of the even more REAL, which, doesn't seem so obvious or clear now.
Is tis wat life is abt? Finding the REAL in the midst of the surrounding mounting pressures?
They say its all abt Jesus. Its just abt Jesus. Is it so simple to just focus on Him? How real is Jesus? I'm putting my faith in His name. But tt aint sufficient. Just aint sufficient. So wat? So how? .... .... ....
How real is Jesus to u?
Five years ago
25 July 2000, Tuesday, 0846hr
Day 43 in Cambodia
At LD's place having breakfast now. As usual, in the past 6 days, many things happened. I can cycle! At least balance, but still can't turn. :(
.... ... ... ...
Yest while we were going out for dinner with the field director, etc (whoever), supposed to wait for Js. Where we were supposed to wait for them, there were police doing inspection, along the road, doing body search, holding rifles. It was a little scary waiting there. Actually not scary, but you will feel concerned. Was praying half the time for safety...
In the meantime, saw a mother squatting by the side of a photo shop, with her baby asleep on the floor. I was commenting to AR abt d guy, in front of us who was munching on a 'nom-pang' (bread)that its prob his dinner, and how blessed we are. He was saying tong2 ren2 bu4 tong2 ming4. Which was absolutely true. Wat's d only diff? The diff is where you are born in. There are so many more out there. Am I just going to settle for wat i have while many others are out there suffering? What if Jesus had decided to stay in His own glorious heaven and not come down as a lowly baby?
Then practical thots come along. THots abt yah, spend a few yrs in d mission field, then wat? COmpetition in Spore wld have made me'obsolete'. Maybe work a few yrs, gather some experience as a safety net? Actually, in the first place, I have made education my safety net already. How many safety nets do I need? Isn't the Lord more than sufficient? ...
...
Yi-hee. yest AR & Vim/CO were saying they'll give me an "A" for my khmer considering d fact I was here for only 1 mth plus & without a teacher. But I know it is of an d from the Lord, with all the prayers. If not, dun tink i can move so quickly. :) Can get a little scary sometimes when emailing or wirting stuff, will tink of typing/writing d khmer words.
Sok Mean gave me a little heart which says Just for You on Sunday. So cute & so sweet. :) Chaya passed me foto we took tog. so nice of him to rem. Can still rem how he wanted the nice bkgrd behind us, then pose, then no negative!! hee hee. Received a little from .... yest. Very interesting letter. Shall end here. Tired already. :)
0916hr
Day 43 in Cambodia
At LD's place having breakfast now. As usual, in the past 6 days, many things happened. I can cycle! At least balance, but still can't turn. :(
.... ... ... ...
Yest while we were going out for dinner with the field director, etc (whoever), supposed to wait for Js. Where we were supposed to wait for them, there were police doing inspection, along the road, doing body search, holding rifles. It was a little scary waiting there. Actually not scary, but you will feel concerned. Was praying half the time for safety...
In the meantime, saw a mother squatting by the side of a photo shop, with her baby asleep on the floor. I was commenting to AR abt d guy, in front of us who was munching on a 'nom-pang' (bread)that its prob his dinner, and how blessed we are. He was saying tong2 ren2 bu4 tong2 ming4. Which was absolutely true. Wat's d only diff? The diff is where you are born in. There are so many more out there. Am I just going to settle for wat i have while many others are out there suffering? What if Jesus had decided to stay in His own glorious heaven and not come down as a lowly baby?
Then practical thots come along. THots abt yah, spend a few yrs in d mission field, then wat? COmpetition in Spore wld have made me'obsolete'. Maybe work a few yrs, gather some experience as a safety net? Actually, in the first place, I have made education my safety net already. How many safety nets do I need? Isn't the Lord more than sufficient? ...
...
Yi-hee. yest AR & Vim/CO were saying they'll give me an "A" for my khmer considering d fact I was here for only 1 mth plus & without a teacher. But I know it is of an d from the Lord, with all the prayers. If not, dun tink i can move so quickly. :) Can get a little scary sometimes when emailing or wirting stuff, will tink of typing/writing d khmer words.
Sok Mean gave me a little heart which says Just for You on Sunday. So cute & so sweet. :) Chaya passed me foto we took tog. so nice of him to rem. Can still rem how he wanted the nice bkgrd behind us, then pose, then no negative!! hee hee. Received a little from .... yest. Very interesting letter. Shall end here. Tired already. :)
0916hr
Saturday, July 23, 2005
going thro the motions....
been v tired over d week. so how i lived was just going thro the motions... moving from point a to b, going thro some usual motions, den from b to c.... while going thro these motions, some of the things which happened:
1. realization tt national day hol (for two days) are ruined. last min informed tt pple like me hv to accompnay kids to some 'do your community some good' performance over the national day eve and the PH itself. like FULL day stuff tt ends at nite. consolation, at least my kids were quite enthusiatic abt tt stuff... so its like more worthwhile burning the two days. just irritated abt the 'seemingly-efficient' 'high and mighty ones' who can only arrow and deprive their bonded slaves of their rest so LAST MINUTE.
2. surprised tt despite being tired and running thro the motions, i'm able to during a class itself come up w something fun for kids (cos they really look like they need to be kept them alive and awake). the method itself i thot was effective and fun in teaching the drawing of diagrams. so... wow. not going thro the motions afterall - during that session.
3. my PE boss told me she's excited abt speaking to my P abt introducing diving as an enrichment so we might have something interesting to get into media. and could be pushing for like overseas trip - more than wat i had been asking for - just a discovery session. but alas... P's been too busy to speak to her, and this boss is leavig soon..
4a. juz witnessed an old pal's wedding today. happy for him. :) at the same time, met up w some old jc frens. was feeling anti-social at first. later, circumstance forced me to open up and engage in some small talk for a while. all was good.
4b. cannot stand wat the pastor was speaking during the exhortation. being insensitive, and i tink biblically unsound, he said... pple 'pi4 xu1' (MUST/NEED TO) find a second half, pple 'pi4 xu1' leave parents and start a new family... com'on. its good for that to happen and i truly believe that. but doesn't mean if that doesn't happen it makes anyone incomplete. Apostle Paul spoke abt how if u dun hv the 'need/urge' to engage in this sortof commitment, den its better u stay that way to serve GOd better. everytime he went into the 'pi4 xu1' i just turned to my fren and gave her the... 'i'm so walking out of here' expression and we laughed. lol.
also... wat kind of analogy is 'marriage is like coffee. when u order coffee from coffee shop, u dun tell the person i wan coffee with sugar and milk. it comes with it. marriage of two persons is like the 'coffee with sugar and milk.. they are integrated together.'...... ...... ....... ...... lol
5. finally got my hands on starwars!!! AH HA HA HA. am gonna watch that soon. :)
6. another boo boo happened. but i cannot be bothered to expound on it.
7. brought gals sailing. a little disappointed i cldn't join them for the 7-session course cos of another project in aug. but had a really good time interacting with them during the process.
8. had a terrible dream tt kept me tired. i dreamt i was working til like 4am. and i was like... oh no have to get up at 5am, must try to work faster so i can sleep. and i finished my work at 4.45am. only 15 mins to sleep before getting up for school. it was then i woke up. as in really wake up. but the feeling is... i hvn't slept a wink, because the dream was so real. humbug.
meanwhile, i'm gonna go snooze n go for jazz by the beach tonite. FINALLY! :) still going thro the motions a bit...
1. realization tt national day hol (for two days) are ruined. last min informed tt pple like me hv to accompnay kids to some 'do your community some good' performance over the national day eve and the PH itself. like FULL day stuff tt ends at nite. consolation, at least my kids were quite enthusiatic abt tt stuff... so its like more worthwhile burning the two days. just irritated abt the 'seemingly-efficient' 'high and mighty ones' who can only arrow and deprive their bonded slaves of their rest so LAST MINUTE.
2. surprised tt despite being tired and running thro the motions, i'm able to during a class itself come up w something fun for kids (cos they really look like they need to be kept them alive and awake). the method itself i thot was effective and fun in teaching the drawing of diagrams. so... wow. not going thro the motions afterall - during that session.
3. my PE boss told me she's excited abt speaking to my P abt introducing diving as an enrichment so we might have something interesting to get into media. and could be pushing for like overseas trip - more than wat i had been asking for - just a discovery session. but alas... P's been too busy to speak to her, and this boss is leavig soon..
4a. juz witnessed an old pal's wedding today. happy for him. :) at the same time, met up w some old jc frens. was feeling anti-social at first. later, circumstance forced me to open up and engage in some small talk for a while. all was good.
4b. cannot stand wat the pastor was speaking during the exhortation. being insensitive, and i tink biblically unsound, he said... pple 'pi4 xu1' (MUST/NEED TO) find a second half, pple 'pi4 xu1' leave parents and start a new family... com'on. its good for that to happen and i truly believe that. but doesn't mean if that doesn't happen it makes anyone incomplete. Apostle Paul spoke abt how if u dun hv the 'need/urge' to engage in this sortof commitment, den its better u stay that way to serve GOd better. everytime he went into the 'pi4 xu1' i just turned to my fren and gave her the... 'i'm so walking out of here' expression and we laughed. lol.
also... wat kind of analogy is 'marriage is like coffee. when u order coffee from coffee shop, u dun tell the person i wan coffee with sugar and milk. it comes with it. marriage of two persons is like the 'coffee with sugar and milk.. they are integrated together.'...... ...... ....... ...... lol
5. finally got my hands on starwars!!! AH HA HA HA. am gonna watch that soon. :)
6. another boo boo happened. but i cannot be bothered to expound on it.
7. brought gals sailing. a little disappointed i cldn't join them for the 7-session course cos of another project in aug. but had a really good time interacting with them during the process.
8. had a terrible dream tt kept me tired. i dreamt i was working til like 4am. and i was like... oh no have to get up at 5am, must try to work faster so i can sleep. and i finished my work at 4.45am. only 15 mins to sleep before getting up for school. it was then i woke up. as in really wake up. but the feeling is... i hvn't slept a wink, because the dream was so real. humbug.
meanwhile, i'm gonna go snooze n go for jazz by the beach tonite. FINALLY! :) still going thro the motions a bit...
Monday, July 18, 2005
caffienated giraffe
did not sleep last nite. because stupid me drank lodsa coke. bought 1.5l of coke on sat to satisfy my craving on fri nite. drank and darnk yest happily at nite, forgetting that... it... has.. loads... of... caffiene.
frustrating day. handling 'very-concerned' parent who doesn't consider the bigger picture, brining the matter up to my P and VP. so wasted time handling something which, cld be settled in a much shorter time if she had called me direct instead.
racial harmony day celebration in sch today. so i wore my sarong kebaya. FINALLY. so i've donned punjabi, cheongsam, sari, and sarong kebaya oredi. just finding a chance to wear my vietnamese ao yai i tailor made 5 years ago before i become too fat for it. (its tailormade see..)
and i just BOOed again. got the date i'm sending my gals to do community performance wrong. like i kept thinking i told the lady its 28th, but she was expecting us on 21st. @#$#&*(@ yeah. tink i've just created a new verb in vocabulary for pple like me. BOO - (v) doing something really stupid without knowing until its almost too late, or simply too late. typically an action carried out by scatterbrains.
just wrote a super long letter to starhub expressing my disappointment with the provider. was like irritated but hopeful6 they cld do something abt my situation last tues. was damn pissed off yesterday. called them up today. had a nice chap on d fon, nice, but cant do anything to help my situation. so i just shot a nice long letter to feedback how they will be losing a customer (in two years lah, cos i'm stuck) because of how the situation was dealt with.
tis week is gonna be a long one in whcih i will leave work late everyday. didn't start off rested or prepared for this week. but watever, things are not rosy, but they are not bad. so just live on... anywayz, its just temproal. there are more impt things.
and oh yes J, there's like NO DETAILS. because we only exchanged a couple of smses. and tt's like so enough to turn me super duper off, with the exception that it makes an interesting conversation topic w my pals and we can all laugh at it. u need strange things like that in life. :) and of course, ana felt REALLY BAD about it. *laughs* tt otta teach her a lesson to try to do things like that. *chuckles*
*waiting for bedtime to crash*
frustrating day. handling 'very-concerned' parent who doesn't consider the bigger picture, brining the matter up to my P and VP. so wasted time handling something which, cld be settled in a much shorter time if she had called me direct instead.
racial harmony day celebration in sch today. so i wore my sarong kebaya. FINALLY. so i've donned punjabi, cheongsam, sari, and sarong kebaya oredi. just finding a chance to wear my vietnamese ao yai i tailor made 5 years ago before i become too fat for it. (its tailormade see..)
and i just BOOed again. got the date i'm sending my gals to do community performance wrong. like i kept thinking i told the lady its 28th, but she was expecting us on 21st. @#$#&*(@ yeah. tink i've just created a new verb in vocabulary for pple like me. BOO - (v) doing something really stupid without knowing until its almost too late, or simply too late. typically an action carried out by scatterbrains.
just wrote a super long letter to starhub expressing my disappointment with the provider. was like irritated but hopeful6 they cld do something abt my situation last tues. was damn pissed off yesterday. called them up today. had a nice chap on d fon, nice, but cant do anything to help my situation. so i just shot a nice long letter to feedback how they will be losing a customer (in two years lah, cos i'm stuck) because of how the situation was dealt with.
tis week is gonna be a long one in whcih i will leave work late everyday. didn't start off rested or prepared for this week. but watever, things are not rosy, but they are not bad. so just live on... anywayz, its just temproal. there are more impt things.
and oh yes J, there's like NO DETAILS. because we only exchanged a couple of smses. and tt's like so enough to turn me super duper off, with the exception that it makes an interesting conversation topic w my pals and we can all laugh at it. u need strange things like that in life. :) and of course, ana felt REALLY BAD about it. *laughs* tt otta teach her a lesson to try to do things like that. *chuckles*
*waiting for bedtime to crash*
Saturday, July 16, 2005
always look on the bright siiide of life... *whistle*
spent the ENTIRE day on course on a Saturday.
music course. looking on the bright side of life:
- someone told me someone said tt i'm hot. ah ha ha.
- i was on a super 'winning' streak. one of the activities - bingo. i had like a double bingo! and then, i 'won' a music activity book during a session from a 'lucky draw'. LN cldn't believe his luck, sitting beside me and watching me win all the stuff. *laughs*
well... but missed jazz by the beach. :( after a lot of 'misses' of pple who agreed to go w me, but pulled out like... one a week ago, another one two days ago, another one just today. was too tired to go alone. may try that next week.
meanwhile something REALLY interesting. Ana tried to hook me up like with her fren's son sort of thing. it hilarious. but i agreed to let her for the fun of it (more for HER fun cos she's been bugging me real long). i mean, absolutely NO OBLIGATIONS and no harm done. but this guy.. man he's a weirdo!! like among his first few sms-es were like... "are you a catholic?"; "did anyone mention to you that i'm a 'pious' catholic?"; "which church are you from?" MY GOSH!! U THINK WAT? I WAN TO MARRY YOU!?!? like or... I HAVE TO BE MS PERFECT? oh.. MS GODLY to be a fren? i mean... i understd when pple are concerned abt religion. hey i am too! but i dun go round telling pple i'm a 'staunch' christian and am only interested in like.. holy pple? wat is this? some holy moley thing? SPARE ME! BUT its really worth a laugh. :)
anywayz, sailing is struck off my list now because of other work commitments. so... not too bad. maybe i can finally slowly lose my tan before i get another one end of the year. :)
and cheers to all the weird, unattached pple.. and the hot ;) unattached pple... LOL.... sorriez... still amused. *chuckles*
music course. looking on the bright side of life:
- someone told me someone said tt i'm hot. ah ha ha.
- i was on a super 'winning' streak. one of the activities - bingo. i had like a double bingo! and then, i 'won' a music activity book during a session from a 'lucky draw'. LN cldn't believe his luck, sitting beside me and watching me win all the stuff. *laughs*
well... but missed jazz by the beach. :( after a lot of 'misses' of pple who agreed to go w me, but pulled out like... one a week ago, another one two days ago, another one just today. was too tired to go alone. may try that next week.
meanwhile something REALLY interesting. Ana tried to hook me up like with her fren's son sort of thing. it hilarious. but i agreed to let her for the fun of it (more for HER fun cos she's been bugging me real long). i mean, absolutely NO OBLIGATIONS and no harm done. but this guy.. man he's a weirdo!! like among his first few sms-es were like... "are you a catholic?"; "did anyone mention to you that i'm a 'pious' catholic?"; "which church are you from?" MY GOSH!! U THINK WAT? I WAN TO MARRY YOU!?!? like or... I HAVE TO BE MS PERFECT? oh.. MS GODLY to be a fren? i mean... i understd when pple are concerned abt religion. hey i am too! but i dun go round telling pple i'm a 'staunch' christian and am only interested in like.. holy pple? wat is this? some holy moley thing? SPARE ME! BUT its really worth a laugh. :)
anywayz, sailing is struck off my list now because of other work commitments. so... not too bad. maybe i can finally slowly lose my tan before i get another one end of the year. :)
and cheers to all the weird, unattached pple.. and the hot ;) unattached pple... LOL.... sorriez... still amused. *chuckles*
Friday, July 15, 2005
happy auntie giraffe
after a long week, and long day today, i've called it quits and took a cab home as early as i could today. wat awaited me was something very pleasant.
BOTH my sisters and cutie nephews were home!!!! its the first time ever i see the two cuties together. first thing i did was to whip out the camera and started shooting them tog. heh. and i had fun w the elder one, who's only 1 year plus.
really nice.... :) but still exhausted. wld oredi b concuzzed an hour ago had it not been for those handsome boys... :)
BOTH my sisters and cutie nephews were home!!!! its the first time ever i see the two cuties together. first thing i did was to whip out the camera and started shooting them tog. heh. and i had fun w the elder one, who's only 1 year plus.
really nice.... :) but still exhausted. wld oredi b concuzzed an hour ago had it not been for those handsome boys... :)
Monday, July 11, 2005
At Looooooooong Last...
I went running!!!
It was the usual 3km run. But I took 3 minutes longer. Drats.
Den went to buy chocolate bar, wafers, choc chip cookies. Sadly, not for my consumption. Using it to teach weathering this week. Mua ha ha... how to teach weathering w that? Use ur imagination and try to guess. I might just pass u one choc chip cookie if u guess correctly. *laughs*
Hope i'll run again
It was the usual 3km run. But I took 3 minutes longer. Drats.
Den went to buy chocolate bar, wafers, choc chip cookies. Sadly, not for my consumption. Using it to teach weathering this week. Mua ha ha... how to teach weathering w that? Use ur imagination and try to guess. I might just pass u one choc chip cookie if u guess correctly. *laughs*
Hope i'll run again
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Taken from June 30, 2005
The Power of a Transcendent Life
by Francis Frangipane
Frangipane Ministries, Inc.
There are a great many books written today about developing our
spiritual gifts or discovering our purpose . . . most of them are
absolutely worthy of our attention. Recognizing our gifts and being
trained to serve God in our individual calling is part of doing His
will. Yet, there is a deeper, more essential goal -- an objective that
is ultimately far more valuable both to God and ourselves. I am talking
about the genuine quest to possess the likeness of Christ.
To seek spiritual fulfillment
from "our ministry" or "gifting" is to walk a path that actually leads
away from the fulfillment.
A "calling" or task may be to serve as a pastor or teacher or a
housewife or in the marketplace, but regardless of my outward
responsibilities, my core destiny -- the reality that continues
unfolding within me regardless of outward circumstances -- is to
embrace a life "conformed to the image of [God's] Son."
You see, our destiny is not what we do for God, but who we become to
Him. As we reach for Christlikeness, our love for God becomes richer,
our witness to sinners more powerful, and our secret life holy. As we
seek conformity to Jesus, we discover that all our spiritual desires
are rooted and nourished by conformity to Him.
The fact that the gifts and calling of God operate somewhat independent
of our character tell us that God will use imperfect people. But we
still must beware. A day may come when we look to our gifts or ministry
and plead, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your
name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?" But
Christ will not have it.
Instead, He will utter those most terrible words, "I never knew you;
depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matt 7:21-23).
You see, our gifts are necessary and understanding our calling is
vital. Yet, attaining the nature of Christ is our destiny.
Beloved, as we approach the end of the age, a new priority is coming to
God's people: the summing up of "all things in Christ" (see Eph
1:9-10). Both our gifts and our calling must serve our destiny, which
is to reveal the nature of Christ. The focus that brings meaning and
fulfillment is that which works to conform us inwardly to Christ. Our
lives are to become "a fragrance of Christ to God" (2 Cor 2:15). Yes,
the path to Christlikeness is the way to transcendent life of God.
The Power of a Transcendent Life
by Francis Frangipane
Frangipane Ministries, Inc.
There are a great many books written today about developing our
spiritual gifts or discovering our purpose . . . most of them are
absolutely worthy of our attention. Recognizing our gifts and being
trained to serve God in our individual calling is part of doing His
will. Yet, there is a deeper, more essential goal -- an objective that
is ultimately far more valuable both to God and ourselves. I am talking
about the genuine quest to possess the likeness of Christ.
To seek spiritual fulfillment
from "our ministry" or "gifting" is to walk a path that actually leads
away from the fulfillment.
A "calling" or task may be to serve as a pastor or teacher or a
housewife or in the marketplace, but regardless of my outward
responsibilities, my core destiny -- the reality that continues
unfolding within me regardless of outward circumstances -- is to
embrace a life "conformed to the image of [God's] Son."
You see, our destiny is not what we do for God, but who we become to
Him. As we reach for Christlikeness, our love for God becomes richer,
our witness to sinners more powerful, and our secret life holy. As we
seek conformity to Jesus, we discover that all our spiritual desires
are rooted and nourished by conformity to Him.
The fact that the gifts and calling of God operate somewhat independent
of our character tell us that God will use imperfect people. But we
still must beware. A day may come when we look to our gifts or ministry
and plead, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your
name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?" But
Christ will not have it.
Instead, He will utter those most terrible words, "I never knew you;
depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matt 7:21-23).
You see, our gifts are necessary and understanding our calling is
vital. Yet, attaining the nature of Christ is our destiny.
Beloved, as we approach the end of the age, a new priority is coming to
God's people: the summing up of "all things in Christ" (see Eph
1:9-10). Both our gifts and our calling must serve our destiny, which
is to reveal the nature of Christ. The focus that brings meaning and
fulfillment is that which works to conform us inwardly to Christ. Our
lives are to become "a fragrance of Christ to God" (2 Cor 2:15). Yes,
the path to Christlikeness is the way to transcendent life of God.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Transcendance between two countries...
i went shopping in jb... with my dad.... yeah. my dad. no one could make it down (it was a pretty last min decision). i was all ready to go on my own cos need to get some shoes. and since my dad also happen to be going, we decided to go tog. (note: my dad doesn't shop. his... the... asian... dad). in the end, he did his stuff, i did mine and we met up later. :)
anywayz,some interesting things:
1. I saw quite a lot of st. johns boys n gals selling flags. (not quite flags, just with boxes for u to donate money). interesting point: the location. they were standing just BESIDE all the little immigration booths for both the entry AND exit points. honestly, singapore will not agree to this COMPLETELY. i'm not for or against this. just an interesting note from a local (institutioned) educator's point of view.
2. why is it pple claim that our country is more efficient, but our immigration neva live up to that name? most of the time, if not always when i cross the borders, i usually end up taking a significantly longer time at our end... then the other end. i cld pass the immigration that quickly, only to find myself stuck in my homeland's fence. vice versa. today, on the bike, same thing, to and fro. well, it cld b the security thing, it cld also be there are less counters open at our end. watever it is, doesn't matter, just an observation. :)
3. while stuck with 99% of the gender with the XY chromosones just outside the road leading to the immigration booths, i saw an interesting conversation struck up when one guy (the DOM type of look) with another when the former's scoot cldn't start up. its interesting to feel the tension... the interflux of intense competition (trying to get next in line) and the slight wavers of human kindness (when u see pple smile, or simply show some nuances of expression overhearing that conversation).
4. Barney speaks Malay!! (in Giant supermart)... urm... pun intended. *laughs*
Ok. I'm pretty tired. along the way, i had the time to tink of the things that are in my portfolio in the weeks to come. *shuddrs*. but i will NOT WORK TODAY!!! and start mugging tom.. hehz....
oh, and i got 3 pairs of shoes and 3 tops (one from a Mango sale, which is definitely a more humanizing experience than that of singapore's!!)
anywayz,some interesting things:
1. I saw quite a lot of st. johns boys n gals selling flags. (not quite flags, just with boxes for u to donate money). interesting point: the location. they were standing just BESIDE all the little immigration booths for both the entry AND exit points. honestly, singapore will not agree to this COMPLETELY. i'm not for or against this. just an interesting note from a local (institutioned) educator's point of view.
2. why is it pple claim that our country is more efficient, but our immigration neva live up to that name? most of the time, if not always when i cross the borders, i usually end up taking a significantly longer time at our end... then the other end. i cld pass the immigration that quickly, only to find myself stuck in my homeland's fence. vice versa. today, on the bike, same thing, to and fro. well, it cld b the security thing, it cld also be there are less counters open at our end. watever it is, doesn't matter, just an observation. :)
3. while stuck with 99% of the gender with the XY chromosones just outside the road leading to the immigration booths, i saw an interesting conversation struck up when one guy (the DOM type of look) with another when the former's scoot cldn't start up. its interesting to feel the tension... the interflux of intense competition (trying to get next in line) and the slight wavers of human kindness (when u see pple smile, or simply show some nuances of expression overhearing that conversation).
4. Barney speaks Malay!! (in Giant supermart)... urm... pun intended. *laughs*
Ok. I'm pretty tired. along the way, i had the time to tink of the things that are in my portfolio in the weeks to come. *shuddrs*. but i will NOT WORK TODAY!!! and start mugging tom.. hehz....
oh, and i got 3 pairs of shoes and 3 tops (one from a Mango sale, which is definitely a more humanizing experience than that of singapore's!!)
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Top 10 Yeahs & Bleahs of my Panasonic
Yeahs
1. I can fwd a sms to multiple recipients FOR THE FIRST TIME (i tink. will test the function out later).
2. its red.
3. the sms-ing keys are almost the same as that of samsung. so dun hv to encounter much changes in adapting than if i had changed to a nokia)
4. the alarm actually still works even if i turn off the fon!!! (unlike my previous samsung)
5. cooler game than samsung (if othello counts. we are talking abt RELATIVITY here)
6. its red
7. its one of the smaller fons ard in the mkt now. (fons are pretty huge now)
8. its got camera and recorder function, not like i use it. tink the mpix is small, if i'm not wrong.
9. dunno abt memory space. but quite big? (compared to old samsung again)
10. its red
bleahs
1. bleah ringtones
2. bleah msg tones
3. bleah and few choices of ring and msg tones
4. softest volume chosen is still pretty loud
5. no spare batt
6. u cannot find a contact no. easily. it only brings u to the first alphabet of the name, thereafter, happy scrolling
7. its not a clamshell
8. calender function sucks - u can record ur schedule. BUT it only shows the list of activities... and do not reflect the activities if u just scroll to the date itself. wats the point when u hv to check if u are free on THAT date?
9. its not a clamshell
10. and "BESTEST" of all best... its got jay chou's faces in some of the options for wallpaper.... SAVE ME!!!!
Still getting to noe my little red fren....
and of course, i still hvn't touched my work review and its so gonna be overdue by tom.....
1. I can fwd a sms to multiple recipients FOR THE FIRST TIME (i tink. will test the function out later).
2. its red.
3. the sms-ing keys are almost the same as that of samsung. so dun hv to encounter much changes in adapting than if i had changed to a nokia)
4. the alarm actually still works even if i turn off the fon!!! (unlike my previous samsung)
5. cooler game than samsung (if othello counts. we are talking abt RELATIVITY here)
6. its red
7. its one of the smaller fons ard in the mkt now. (fons are pretty huge now)
8. its got camera and recorder function, not like i use it. tink the mpix is small, if i'm not wrong.
9. dunno abt memory space. but quite big? (compared to old samsung again)
10. its red
bleahs
1. bleah ringtones
2. bleah msg tones
3. bleah and few choices of ring and msg tones
4. softest volume chosen is still pretty loud
5. no spare batt
6. u cannot find a contact no. easily. it only brings u to the first alphabet of the name, thereafter, happy scrolling
7. its not a clamshell
8. calender function sucks - u can record ur schedule. BUT it only shows the list of activities... and do not reflect the activities if u just scroll to the date itself. wats the point when u hv to check if u are free on THAT date?
9. its not a clamshell
10. and "BESTEST" of all best... its got jay chou's faces in some of the options for wallpaper.... SAVE ME!!!!
Still getting to noe my little red fren....
and of course, i still hvn't touched my work review and its so gonna be overdue by tom.....
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
i just finished a book in 4 hours...
thanks to EC who shoved Every Boy's One by Meg Cabot to me on Sun despite i telling her i wanna finish another book (which i did in 2 days)... i've been crazy....
anywayz, this book is not as interesting as the first one i read by Meg.... still entertaining.. and i can return it before its overdue and dear EC gets fined...
when actually I SHLD BE DOING MY WORK REVIEW cos its kindof overdue soon.. CHONG EC!!!!....
in any case, she just stopped me from watching CSI... lol.... siao cha bor.. and she's holding on the fon waiting for me to blog this now... ah ha ha ha....
we are both crazy....
anywayz, this book is not as interesting as the first one i read by Meg.... still entertaining.. and i can return it before its overdue and dear EC gets fined...
when actually I SHLD BE DOING MY WORK REVIEW cos its kindof overdue soon.. CHONG EC!!!!....
in any case, she just stopped me from watching CSI... lol.... siao cha bor.. and she's holding on the fon waiting for me to blog this now... ah ha ha ha....
we are both crazy....
Monday, July 04, 2005
change? experiment?
I just got a new mobile. Its a RED panasonic sliding fon. I've finally gotten my red fon. dun get me wrong. i love white fons. my previous 3 fons were white.. but somehow... they get yellowish and dun look as nice after a while. red.. is a nice change. i used to go with samsung... despite it failing me time and time again... but now decided to go with panasonic, because samsung just did not hv the clamsheel i've always adored since day 1, and sitll adore. and yes... speaking of clamshell... i told pple... i will neva get sliding... i stick to clamshell.. sadly there are no decent clamshells ard (nokia has improved on their clamshell.. but still too bulky.. and well.. its nokia)..... so... the next best is the red sliding.. .lol
i hope it works out. haven't tested the sound yet. shall wait till tom when its fully charged
in any case... took longer than expected to get the fon. thot i'll head home from parkway after church... but no.... ended up in PS.... thot i'll leave at 5 to catch Minority Report.. but no..... ended up getting EC's fon as well and watching War of the Worlds. Its scary and exciting at the begining.. but alas.... liek mr n mrs smith... enidng was..... lame....
anywayz, meet up with bui bui and EC for lunch... so was good... shopped for fon with EC. i came back with 2 and she with one.... darn tired now. trying to finish the book Backpack i started two nites ago.. before sch... i've been doing nothing but reading this book since i started... lol.... man.... must finish.. must finish.....
ok... enff updates.. hungry
i hope it works out. haven't tested the sound yet. shall wait till tom when its fully charged
in any case... took longer than expected to get the fon. thot i'll head home from parkway after church... but no.... ended up in PS.... thot i'll leave at 5 to catch Minority Report.. but no..... ended up getting EC's fon as well and watching War of the Worlds. Its scary and exciting at the begining.. but alas.... liek mr n mrs smith... enidng was..... lame....
anywayz, meet up with bui bui and EC for lunch... so was good... shopped for fon with EC. i came back with 2 and she with one.... darn tired now. trying to finish the book Backpack i started two nites ago.. before sch... i've been doing nothing but reading this book since i started... lol.... man.... must finish.. must finish.....
ok... enff updates.. hungry
Monday, June 27, 2005
For my dear ones who love me...
I feel obligated to blog a bit despite work because I noe there are those who reads my blog to check out how i am....
1 week following my break to ko samui
- its mean literally work work work.. right from i touched down changi (even in samui airport). *laughs*
- spent a day doing a field work course.. it was... ok...
- went to chekc if i qualify for lasik.. and yeah.. i'm scheduled for that in Sept!! ExCITED MAN!!
- caught up w old bro P. visited his cafe and showroom. its really nice to hear tt i'm missed... i mean.. seirously.. i'd been away from church and CG (not deliberately)... not noeing tt.. pple actually do miss me. i'm not attention-seeking here.. all im saying is.. it feels good when u realize tt pple do miss u... ke ke
today....
school reopened!!!!! *tears out hair* but honestly, it went smoother than i thot, for the first day.. so thank God.
meanwhile.. its more meetings and projects.. so i'm so looking forward to dec hols... :)
1 week following my break to ko samui
- its mean literally work work work.. right from i touched down changi (even in samui airport). *laughs*
- spent a day doing a field work course.. it was... ok...
- went to chekc if i qualify for lasik.. and yeah.. i'm scheduled for that in Sept!! ExCITED MAN!!
- caught up w old bro P. visited his cafe and showroom. its really nice to hear tt i'm missed... i mean.. seirously.. i'd been away from church and CG (not deliberately)... not noeing tt.. pple actually do miss me. i'm not attention-seeking here.. all im saying is.. it feels good when u realize tt pple do miss u... ke ke
today....
school reopened!!!!! *tears out hair* but honestly, it went smoother than i thot, for the first day.. so thank God.
meanwhile.. its more meetings and projects.. so i'm so looking forward to dec hols... :)
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
any idea
how long it takes to airmail something from Britain to Singapore?
Muaz purchased a dive rattler from ebay.... item sent on 1 Jun via airmail... still no news... dun tell me lost in mail.... no way of like getting refund? any idea anyone?
Current mood: very disappointed
Muaz purchased a dive rattler from ebay.... item sent on 1 Jun via airmail... still no news... dun tell me lost in mail.... no way of like getting refund? any idea anyone?
Current mood: very disappointed
Sunday, June 19, 2005
tis trip...
1. was a super nuah one. for once, i dun journal my trip.
2. got my butt sunburnt from snockelling. i mean, seriously, butt burn? neva heard of it. but IT FREAKING HAPPENED TO ME. EC called me baboon thereafter.
3. managed to dive thanks to EC's pushing. always game for diving, but the thot of doing it alone, at the same time leaving her behind (but she had fun without me).
4. diving was great. hey, its rare to have an asian female going diving alone in these places and i was the only one. mua ha ha. felt weird at first. cos all ang moh ppl. buddied an english guy. EC was proud of me, said i did us asian woman proud, but just as she said that, i went 'yay' and ... tripped... wat an anticlimax. lol
5. (learnt from previous trip too).... generosity. i was brought up to be thrifty. but i've learnt... the gift of generosity and hospitality from my hosts. very touched.
6. i finished up a 'trash' book... and urm bought like 3 2nd hand books... which i tink i can only get to read next hol, next next hol, and next next next hol. lol
Finally, an interesting point to note for the benefit of my dear EC:
a snockel is not the same as a mask. ;)
cant rem the rest oredi. tt's the prob of not journaling during the trip. but good enuff. better move on to other stuff now....
buaz holidays.....
2. got my butt sunburnt from snockelling. i mean, seriously, butt burn? neva heard of it. but IT FREAKING HAPPENED TO ME. EC called me baboon thereafter.
3. managed to dive thanks to EC's pushing. always game for diving, but the thot of doing it alone, at the same time leaving her behind (but she had fun without me).
4. diving was great. hey, its rare to have an asian female going diving alone in these places and i was the only one. mua ha ha. felt weird at first. cos all ang moh ppl. buddied an english guy. EC was proud of me, said i did us asian woman proud, but just as she said that, i went 'yay' and ... tripped... wat an anticlimax. lol
5. (learnt from previous trip too).... generosity. i was brought up to be thrifty. but i've learnt... the gift of generosity and hospitality from my hosts. very touched.
6. i finished up a 'trash' book... and urm bought like 3 2nd hand books... which i tink i can only get to read next hol, next next hol, and next next next hol. lol
Finally, an interesting point to note for the benefit of my dear EC:
a snockel is not the same as a mask. ;)
cant rem the rest oredi. tt's the prob of not journaling during the trip. but good enuff. better move on to other stuff now....
buaz holidays.....
koh samui - itinerary (changing everyday)
12 Jun (Sun)
4pm - meet EC at bugis to go JB
6pm - got into a slight hassle w personnel in JB, they den sent us to Larkin. (their fault)
6.30pm - left Larkin for Hatyai
13 Jun (Mon)
Morn - reached Hatyai, get tix for Samui
Morn to afternn - SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP
Afternn to night - shop, bargain, eat (JAP!), drink, walk, shop, bargain, eat (watever), drink, walk...
14 Jun (Tues)
Morn - BF (bakkutteh)
Morn to Late evening - Travel to Samui (van, irritating wait at surat thani, ferry)
Evening to nite - washup, dinner w AR (my new fren in thaild) & frens
15 Jun (Wed)
Morn to evening - snockelling at Koh Tao & Pangyan
Nite - Dinner w AR & fren, den a nice walk by the beach.
16 Jun (Thurs)
Morn to afternn - out sightseeing w EC, AR & fren
Afternn onwards - i cant rem. but i vaguely remembered we decided to fly back and forfeit our coach tix, and i got psychoed by EC to dive the following day (ALONE!).
17 Jun (Fri)
I WENT DIVING DIVING DIVING.
18 Jun (Sat)
Morn - Spent more than an hour in the sea. EC n I went crazy doing stupid things like.... having waves crash at us, racing each other (as in running) in the sea, doing stunts (i hv yet to master doing handstands and she yet to master doing forward roll) in the water, i managed to tred water for 3 mins, back float, learning to open my eyes in the sea,..... all the while, me without my glasses....
Morn - got ousted out by our guesthouse cos they were full. so we packed and transfered to another one, with a beach with turgid water. gosh.
Afternn - Went to Nathon. Walked around. Getting bored. D
Evening - Dinner w EC, AR & fren
19 Jun (Sun)
Morn - we still did not manage to wake up to see the sunrise. wanted to swim again, but the thot of the sea with nice water so far away...
Packed and checked out.
Morn to Afternoon - walked and walked for at least 2 hours. we bought beer along the way while walking.. and the sun, the laughter, the exhaustion reduced our alchol tolerance, we got lightheaded. *laughs* but not drunk or high. just lightheaded on the street
Afternn till evening - on board i cannot rem wat flight home.
End of holiday - start of work (LITERALLY)
I only blogged tis cos i did not journal in my travel journal. if i dun blog, i will forget.
4pm - meet EC at bugis to go JB
6pm - got into a slight hassle w personnel in JB, they den sent us to Larkin. (their fault)
6.30pm - left Larkin for Hatyai
13 Jun (Mon)
Morn - reached Hatyai, get tix for Samui
Morn to afternn - SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP
Afternn to night - shop, bargain, eat (JAP!), drink, walk, shop, bargain, eat (watever), drink, walk...
14 Jun (Tues)
Morn - BF (bakkutteh)
Morn to Late evening - Travel to Samui (van, irritating wait at surat thani, ferry)
Evening to nite - washup, dinner w AR (my new fren in thaild) & frens
15 Jun (Wed)
Morn to evening - snockelling at Koh Tao & Pangyan
Nite - Dinner w AR & fren, den a nice walk by the beach.
16 Jun (Thurs)
Morn to afternn - out sightseeing w EC, AR & fren
Afternn onwards - i cant rem. but i vaguely remembered we decided to fly back and forfeit our coach tix, and i got psychoed by EC to dive the following day (ALONE!).
17 Jun (Fri)
I WENT DIVING DIVING DIVING.
18 Jun (Sat)
Morn - Spent more than an hour in the sea. EC n I went crazy doing stupid things like.... having waves crash at us, racing each other (as in running) in the sea, doing stunts (i hv yet to master doing handstands and she yet to master doing forward roll) in the water, i managed to tred water for 3 mins, back float, learning to open my eyes in the sea,..... all the while, me without my glasses....
Morn - got ousted out by our guesthouse cos they were full. so we packed and transfered to another one, with a beach with turgid water. gosh.
Afternn - Went to Nathon. Walked around. Getting bored. D
Evening - Dinner w EC, AR & fren
19 Jun (Sun)
Morn - we still did not manage to wake up to see the sunrise. wanted to swim again, but the thot of the sea with nice water so far away...
Packed and checked out.
Morn to Afternoon - walked and walked for at least 2 hours. we bought beer along the way while walking.. and the sun, the laughter, the exhaustion reduced our alchol tolerance, we got lightheaded. *laughs* but not drunk or high. just lightheaded on the street
Afternn till evening - on board i cannot rem wat flight home.
End of holiday - start of work (LITERALLY)
I only blogged tis cos i did not journal in my travel journal. if i dun blog, i will forget.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
packing and packing and packing
packing has pretty much been my preoccupation lately while at home (not much anywayz).
20 may - packed for a three day dive trip 20 - 23 may.
24 May - packed for a three day S3 camp 25 - 27 may.
30 may - packed for an elevan day work trip to china 31 may - 10 jun.
12 jun - will be packing for a not sure how many days trip to koh samui 12 jun - 19 jun??
i'm actually getting quite sick of packing. almost gave up packing for my china trip. dun wanna tink of packing tom. but finally hols is beginning for me. not much left really.
given these activities, i am super chao dta now. sigh. but KOH SAMUI!!! HERE I COME!!!
20 may - packed for a three day dive trip 20 - 23 may.
24 May - packed for a three day S3 camp 25 - 27 may.
30 may - packed for an elevan day work trip to china 31 may - 10 jun.
12 jun - will be packing for a not sure how many days trip to koh samui 12 jun - 19 jun??
i'm actually getting quite sick of packing. almost gave up packing for my china trip. dun wanna tink of packing tom. but finally hols is beginning for me. not much left really.
given these activities, i am super chao dta now. sigh. but KOH SAMUI!!! HERE I COME!!!
Monday, May 30, 2005
after wastage of many man-hours and countless of trees cut down for watever proposals
transport fares will rise as EXPECTED. Y kill those poor trees in the name of 'welfare' and 'justice'?
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
trying to blog....
currently distracted by a couple of frens msning... BUT I WANNA BLOG THIS ONE badly.. b4 the craze which has oredi started intensifies.
wat more am i gonna blog abt but my DIVE TRIP!!! *chuckles*
SOP: meet fri 7.30pm, reach mersing 12am, boat ride to dayang/aur ETA 5/6am.
This trip: meet fri 7.30pm, reach mersing 12.30am, stuck in mersing till 6am, approx arrival in aur 11+am.
WAT HAPPENED?!? silly 'resort' owner did not fix the small boat transfer out of mersing... w low tide, means we ALL GOT STUCK for hours. sleeping at the open jetty, with cold hard chairs (not to mention dirty) and MOZZIES... is difficult. no, cut out the sleeping part. boat ride was one of the more comfy cos it wasn't too cold and i had space (dirty) to sleep. in any case, cos of the late arrival, we missed one morning dive and power nap. waited till 1 plus for first dive. in any case, while waiting got to break d ice w 4 new pals playing pictionary.
first dive was uneventful. second dive was cut short by heavy rain. nite dive was cancelled cos of rain. so we lost out on two dives.
Day two: second dive an the pinnacle was worth all the missed out dives and crap. simply BEAUTIFUL!!! but surface currents were horrendous. we practically dragged ourselves down using the bouyline instead of free descend. by the time i hit the bottom, i've used up quite a bit of air. BUT IT WAS AWESOME.
Things i tried out tis trip: new accomodation, cutting down the number of weights to 2 (not a very good idea), launching the sausage (yeah E, i used it three times!!! but only 1/3 or 1/2 inflated. lol. but i did it myself!!)
Its farnie how in the beginning of my dive trips i'm not excited and in fact question why on earth i like to dive and 'suffer' the journey there when i'm not that comfy in water.. etc. but after meeting new pple... getting to noe them better... spending time interacting... looking at nature.. the horizon... under the sea... the sense of weightlessness (when i'm more in control) i noe y i go diving... tho i'm quite sure the next time round i'm on my way to the next dive, i'll question myself again.
all in all.. it was a good dive. superduper bruised. took pictures of bruises. looks like CSI pics. wld hv loaded them here if i knew how to. lol. mohamark had fun poking my bruises (EVEN IN THE SEA!!!) TM said i dun hv to worry abt taking bus home cos i hv loads of 'gor-kard jit-kor' (fifty-cents & one dolar coins). my gosh... 16 on left leg, 8 on right leg, NONE on right hand, and 2 on left hand of various sizes. quite a sight. *laughs*
meanwhile.... i'm glad i made it home safely. haven't gotten time to rest. still wldn't hv. so looking forward to break after i'm back from china. :)
wat more am i gonna blog abt but my DIVE TRIP!!! *chuckles*
SOP: meet fri 7.30pm, reach mersing 12am, boat ride to dayang/aur ETA 5/6am.
This trip: meet fri 7.30pm, reach mersing 12.30am, stuck in mersing till 6am, approx arrival in aur 11+am.
WAT HAPPENED?!? silly 'resort' owner did not fix the small boat transfer out of mersing... w low tide, means we ALL GOT STUCK for hours. sleeping at the open jetty, with cold hard chairs (not to mention dirty) and MOZZIES... is difficult. no, cut out the sleeping part. boat ride was one of the more comfy cos it wasn't too cold and i had space (dirty) to sleep. in any case, cos of the late arrival, we missed one morning dive and power nap. waited till 1 plus for first dive. in any case, while waiting got to break d ice w 4 new pals playing pictionary.
first dive was uneventful. second dive was cut short by heavy rain. nite dive was cancelled cos of rain. so we lost out on two dives.
Day two: second dive an the pinnacle was worth all the missed out dives and crap. simply BEAUTIFUL!!! but surface currents were horrendous. we practically dragged ourselves down using the bouyline instead of free descend. by the time i hit the bottom, i've used up quite a bit of air. BUT IT WAS AWESOME.
Things i tried out tis trip: new accomodation, cutting down the number of weights to 2 (not a very good idea), launching the sausage (yeah E, i used it three times!!! but only 1/3 or 1/2 inflated. lol. but i did it myself!!)
Its farnie how in the beginning of my dive trips i'm not excited and in fact question why on earth i like to dive and 'suffer' the journey there when i'm not that comfy in water.. etc. but after meeting new pple... getting to noe them better... spending time interacting... looking at nature.. the horizon... under the sea... the sense of weightlessness (when i'm more in control) i noe y i go diving... tho i'm quite sure the next time round i'm on my way to the next dive, i'll question myself again.
all in all.. it was a good dive. superduper bruised. took pictures of bruises. looks like CSI pics. wld hv loaded them here if i knew how to. lol. mohamark had fun poking my bruises (EVEN IN THE SEA!!!) TM said i dun hv to worry abt taking bus home cos i hv loads of 'gor-kard jit-kor' (fifty-cents & one dolar coins). my gosh... 16 on left leg, 8 on right leg, NONE on right hand, and 2 on left hand of various sizes. quite a sight. *laughs*
meanwhile.... i'm glad i made it home safely. haven't gotten time to rest. still wldn't hv. so looking forward to break after i'm back from china. :)
ENFP
i noe i'm supposed to be in bed soon. i noe i hv yet to pack my bag for the camp tom morn. but i cant help doing this instead. mua ha ha. looks like i outta change my profession.
Your #1 Match: ENFP |
The Inspirer You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends. You are also unconventional, irreverant, and unimpressed by authority and rules. Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're qutie the storyteller! You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist. |
Your #2 Match: INFP |
The Idealist You are creative with a great imagination, living in your own inner world. Open minded and accepting, you strive for harmony in your important relationships. It takes a long time for people to get to know you. You are hesitant to let people get close. But once you care for someone, you do everything you can to help them grow and develop. You would make an excellent writer, psychologist, or artist. |
Your #3 Match: ENFJ |
The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed. Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections. Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down. You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist. |
Your #4 Match: INFJ |
The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity. Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is. You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience. You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher. |
Your #5 Match: ENTP |
The Visionary You are charming, outgoing, friendly. You make a good first impression. You possess good negotiating skills and can convince anyone of anything. Happy to be the center of attention, you love to tell stories and show off. You're very clever, but not disciplined enough to do well in structured environments. You would make a great entrpreneur, marketing executive, or actor. |
Friday, May 20, 2005
yeah i did it again
i just successfully shouted at my sis to f***off. No i'm not proud of it. But neither am i ashamed of it. Because I'm just damn pissed off. and i'm damn pissed with her stupid bf for making her decide to stay here instead of the damn big place she has in my eldest sister's place. say should stay as a family? my foot! if stay as a family den stop doing unreasonable things.
bong, tis is something you will never ever understd. u did not understd the foreboding feeling you noe things WILL happen. either a matter of days, or in this case, close to immediately. thanks for understanding E.
actually tis is stupid. i kindof expected it. Tuesday, the CG was speaking abt how God works for the good of all He loves through difficulties and suffering. Some may question: you call this suffering compared to the many others out there? Ok, call me immature, call me very selfcentered, but yes, this is suffering to me. and this is a thorn in my flesh.
Oh God, I seriously need Your grace. Daddy, I'm sorry for my selfcenteredness and I noe You are in charge. I dunno how I'm gonna go thro these days. Moving out - is but an escape You are not pleased with. Staying put - yet being bonded by the sense of foreboding and dread of home is not what You ask of me either. Help me to glorify You. Remind me of Jesus I pray.
Meanwhile, I'm about to leave for my dive trip. I was angry with my mom just now because I partly blame her for how things have turned out all these years in relation to this matter. But yet I love her and dun wanna hurt her the way I noe i had.
Crap. God help me.
bong, tis is something you will never ever understd. u did not understd the foreboding feeling you noe things WILL happen. either a matter of days, or in this case, close to immediately. thanks for understanding E.
actually tis is stupid. i kindof expected it. Tuesday, the CG was speaking abt how God works for the good of all He loves through difficulties and suffering. Some may question: you call this suffering compared to the many others out there? Ok, call me immature, call me very selfcentered, but yes, this is suffering to me. and this is a thorn in my flesh.
Oh God, I seriously need Your grace. Daddy, I'm sorry for my selfcenteredness and I noe You are in charge. I dunno how I'm gonna go thro these days. Moving out - is but an escape You are not pleased with. Staying put - yet being bonded by the sense of foreboding and dread of home is not what You ask of me either. Help me to glorify You. Remind me of Jesus I pray.
Meanwhile, I'm about to leave for my dive trip. I was angry with my mom just now because I partly blame her for how things have turned out all these years in relation to this matter. But yet I love her and dun wanna hurt her the way I noe i had.
Crap. God help me.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
of nostalgia... of solitude...
juz back from meeting for kunming trip when i realized... my 'beloved' sis has moved back. she was away for a couple of weeks cos my mom went to stay over w my eldest sis. oh.. the peace and solitude.... now that she's back... Grace oh Grace
kept wondering if i made a mistake deciding to go on a dive tis weekend cos of wats coming up in next couple days and weeks. but now that she's back, yeah, not bad an idea.
will b away tom. back on mon nite. den tues will be off for full day CIP w kids. wed - fri will b out for camp and watchnite duties for the kids. sat will be full day in sch to meet parents, followed by meeting for kunming. and i'm leaving tues.
will hardly be home. maybe not so bad afterall...
man i'll miss the peace.
kept wondering if i made a mistake deciding to go on a dive tis weekend cos of wats coming up in next couple days and weeks. but now that she's back, yeah, not bad an idea.
will b away tom. back on mon nite. den tues will be off for full day CIP w kids. wed - fri will b out for camp and watchnite duties for the kids. sat will be full day in sch to meet parents, followed by meeting for kunming. and i'm leaving tues.
will hardly be home. maybe not so bad afterall...
man i'll miss the peace.
Monday, May 16, 2005
i'm an old woman...
my body has worn out after months of not running. FINALLY got to run today. man, it was tough. engine was totally like rusty and all. but thankfully i finished my 3+km in decent time.
suddenly recalled running the cambodia w some of the boys last year. man tt was fun. yeah, and no, i wldn't b heading for cambodia tis jun. wanted to. but just too busy to attend the meetings.... well.. i'll just send my baby boy there w the team den.... God doesn't tink its time for me, and so shall it be.
i hv decided to take up an offer by an NGO to help facilitate their volunteers. thot for over a week. actually still not sure, but decide to just take it on and see how....
meanwhile, sch is getting really tough. i'm so caught up w admin, prep for all the upcoming events... my teaching has suffered.. alas....
now still decideing whether or not to go for dive tis weekend. would like to hv a break, but afraid things might crop up....
old woman signing off.
suddenly recalled running the cambodia w some of the boys last year. man tt was fun. yeah, and no, i wldn't b heading for cambodia tis jun. wanted to. but just too busy to attend the meetings.... well.. i'll just send my baby boy there w the team den.... God doesn't tink its time for me, and so shall it be.
i hv decided to take up an offer by an NGO to help facilitate their volunteers. thot for over a week. actually still not sure, but decide to just take it on and see how....
meanwhile, sch is getting really tough. i'm so caught up w admin, prep for all the upcoming events... my teaching has suffered.. alas....
now still decideing whether or not to go for dive tis weekend. would like to hv a break, but afraid things might crop up....
old woman signing off.
Friday, May 13, 2005
major damage control
my boss for the kunming trip misintepreted my committee members' words and first thing in d morn i was gently confronted with something. Was a little upset. but its okiez. things do happen. words do get perceived differently. not much damage control i can do.
i looked forward to bringing my guitar girls out for the concert tonite. then as i was trying to do my bit on the 'can't do much damage control' for the previous thing, realized that i've gotten the venue for tonite's concert wrong. it was my oversight. most students have left school by then. i called my assisting teacher and we spent the next couple of hours calling them up. it was tough. i half wanted to strangle myself for wanting to bring them out, though i noe that was stupid. had to 'assure' some very 'concerned' parents as there are a couple of gals whom they themselves cannot contact. assured them i will pick them from the first venue personally and send them to the correct venue. managed to get all but three. everyone asked me to pray. i did, silently and quickly in my heart cos i dun hv time to pause to do a 'proper prayer'. whether it 'works' or not, i went on.
5.55pm. 5 mins before i was going to step out of my house to go to the wrong venue to pick the 'uncontacted gals', one called. phew. I just needed to reach one of the other two - they were together. i told God, i'll try till 6pm. By 6pm i finally got respond from one of their mobile but it was picked up. i prayed. bcos i'm so much closer now. 6.01, the fon got thro. i was saved the trip to the wrong venue.
not sure if i'll hear from parents. but i thank God for bringing someone (seroiusly out of the blue) who brought to my attention this matter. and i thank God He got the two gals for me. I thank God the gals enjoyed themselves and are hopefully inspired. and i thank God its over for tonite.
meanwhile, no talking shop tonite.
i looked forward to bringing my guitar girls out for the concert tonite. then as i was trying to do my bit on the 'can't do much damage control' for the previous thing, realized that i've gotten the venue for tonite's concert wrong. it was my oversight. most students have left school by then. i called my assisting teacher and we spent the next couple of hours calling them up. it was tough. i half wanted to strangle myself for wanting to bring them out, though i noe that was stupid. had to 'assure' some very 'concerned' parents as there are a couple of gals whom they themselves cannot contact. assured them i will pick them from the first venue personally and send them to the correct venue. managed to get all but three. everyone asked me to pray. i did, silently and quickly in my heart cos i dun hv time to pause to do a 'proper prayer'. whether it 'works' or not, i went on.
5.55pm. 5 mins before i was going to step out of my house to go to the wrong venue to pick the 'uncontacted gals', one called. phew. I just needed to reach one of the other two - they were together. i told God, i'll try till 6pm. By 6pm i finally got respond from one of their mobile but it was picked up. i prayed. bcos i'm so much closer now. 6.01, the fon got thro. i was saved the trip to the wrong venue.
not sure if i'll hear from parents. but i thank God for bringing someone (seroiusly out of the blue) who brought to my attention this matter. and i thank God He got the two gals for me. I thank God the gals enjoyed themselves and are hopefully inspired. and i thank God its over for tonite.
meanwhile, no talking shop tonite.
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
the 'too many things happening' equation
Too many things happening = no time to blog these things.
anywayz i wanna watch Kingdom of Heaven. anyone interested?
anywayz i wanna watch Kingdom of Heaven. anyone interested?
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Friday has been announced to be a day off for my school bcos of the good results from SYF and success of the concert friday nite. P tinks trs n students hv worked hard n done well so declaring a day off.
strangely, teachers themselves while happy, are half frustrated by this proposal and kindof made noise... me included. our scheduled tests have been disrupted, situation not helped by the fact all CA marks hv to be entered next week itself (means marking, plus keying in, plus checking of grades.. is gonna b crazy)
wats wrong w us? day off also complain.. geesh....
strangely, teachers themselves while happy, are half frustrated by this proposal and kindof made noise... me included. our scheduled tests have been disrupted, situation not helped by the fact all CA marks hv to be entered next week itself (means marking, plus keying in, plus checking of grades.. is gonna b crazy)
wats wrong w us? day off also complain.. geesh....
Monday, May 02, 2005
did an approx 16km hike from bukit timah to mandai tis morn. ended later than expected cos the person who was supposed to guide us came late. end now... crazily marking.
1. S3 Test 4 (done)
2. S2 Test 3 (done)
3. S2 Files
4. S3 Files
5. S3 graded assignment (done)
5. Key in grades and get kids to verify
6. for concert excursion for guitar gals - transport, forms, payment (done)
7. for excursion for geog students to watch nile river movie - confirmation w other teachers on dates, get parent helpers, forms, payment, consent forms
8. kunming trip - kids for vaccination, first aid list, log list, list for kids, go thro proposal by various committees (prog booklet, cultural prog), liaise w another org for a presentation come friday
9. go thro proposal by guitar com for get tog session
10. contact my sugar baby regarding cambodia (done)
11. prep for S2 lesson
12. Prep for S3 lesson
13. meet the director from YC (done)
14. arrangement for CIP trip for my guitar gals
15. check the guitar inventory
I tink tt's all... i hope... *fingers-crossed* oh, and of course, to visit my nephew again... hopefully tis week. possible? *sighz*
AND btw, my elder sis is PREGNANT again. i hope for a gal tis time. hek hek hek
1. S3 Test 4 (done)
2. S2 Test 3 (done)
3. S2 Files
4. S3 Files
5. S3 graded assignment (done)
5. Key in grades and get kids to verify
6. for concert excursion for guitar gals - transport, forms, payment (done)
7. for excursion for geog students to watch nile river movie - confirmation w other teachers on dates, get parent helpers, forms, payment, consent forms
8. kunming trip - kids for vaccination, first aid list, log list, list for kids, go thro proposal by various committees (prog booklet, cultural prog), liaise w another org for a presentation come friday
9. go thro proposal by guitar com for get tog session
10. contact my sugar baby regarding cambodia (done)
11. prep for S2 lesson
12. Prep for S3 lesson
13. meet the director from YC (done)
14. arrangement for CIP trip for my guitar gals
15. check the guitar inventory
I tink tt's all... i hope... *fingers-crossed* oh, and of course, to visit my nephew again... hopefully tis week. possible? *sighz*
AND btw, my elder sis is PREGNANT again. i hope for a gal tis time. hek hek hek
Sunday, May 01, 2005
You Belong in LondonA little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique woman like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well. What City Do You Belong in? Take This Quiz :-) Find the Love of Your Life (and More Love Quizzes) at Your New Romance. |  |
r u kidding? london's is really not on my list. maybe i just hv wrong perception of d place. hey and watever happened to the choice of font for blogger? now i'm stuck w huge words... *grumbles*
Friday, April 29, 2005
He who cares for and feeds the sparrows
is the Alpha and Omega.
is the Creator of heaven and the earth.
is faithful from before I was born through each breathe I take.
is faithful to accomplish every good thing He has already begun.
That, is something I have learnt and relearnt all my life.
That, would be something my gals have learnt a little through a major disappointment at tis time of their lives.
Wednesday, eve of SYF for guitar, 6.30pm, on bus 158 enroute home
Looked out of window and saw some sparrows hopping by the road at d traffic light. Wondered how it'd feel to hold one of them. Small, warm, full of life. Looked at their 'fake' camoflauge eye and the real eyes. Thot of how if my Abba provides for these little creatures, how much more would He provide for me (us - the guitar gals).
Thursday, 6.15am, on bus to school.
Started to rain. I thot 'surely God tis cant be Your showers of mercy rite?' When the bus reached another location, we moved out of the rain zone and I'm like.. hee.. thank You. So its not showers of mercy. (wondering whether i wan showers of mercy or not, because i have no brolly w muaz!) When bus moves on, it POURED and the song i HAPPENED to (or maybe, it wasn't happened to) listen was "open the floodgates of heaven let it rain". I'm like... OMIGOD... You serious God? but i've got no brolly. *laughs* in any case, God told me He's gonna bless and provided for me at the same time - when my next bus came, the rain stopped!!! My instructor got a verse too "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" 1 John 5:14,15
Thursday 12.30pm, Auditorium, SCH
Announced that my girls were awarded a silver. Girls were extremely upset (understatement). It was prep-talk from auditorium, out of auditorium, back in school. All the rousing them up, then preptalking them over the week had completely drained me. But still, as i told the gals, the LORD has d best for us, just we dunno wat it is then.
Friday 8.30pm, School
Girls finished their 2nd performance for the day. Over the day, they learnt much, they experienced much. They learnt wat it meant to truly enjoy music. They learnt wat it meant to perform. They had fun. THey learnt wat disappointment is. I hope they learnt what it means to give thanks in times of disappoinment.
Now, i'm gonna leave school. rest time. Amen to He who cares for and feeds the sparrows.
is the Creator of heaven and the earth.
is faithful from before I was born through each breathe I take.
is faithful to accomplish every good thing He has already begun.
That, is something I have learnt and relearnt all my life.
That, would be something my gals have learnt a little through a major disappointment at tis time of their lives.
Wednesday, eve of SYF for guitar, 6.30pm, on bus 158 enroute home
Looked out of window and saw some sparrows hopping by the road at d traffic light. Wondered how it'd feel to hold one of them. Small, warm, full of life. Looked at their 'fake' camoflauge eye and the real eyes. Thot of how if my Abba provides for these little creatures, how much more would He provide for me (us - the guitar gals).
Thursday, 6.15am, on bus to school.
Started to rain. I thot 'surely God tis cant be Your showers of mercy rite?' When the bus reached another location, we moved out of the rain zone and I'm like.. hee.. thank You. So its not showers of mercy. (wondering whether i wan showers of mercy or not, because i have no brolly w muaz!) When bus moves on, it POURED and the song i HAPPENED to (or maybe, it wasn't happened to) listen was "open the floodgates of heaven let it rain". I'm like... OMIGOD... You serious God? but i've got no brolly. *laughs* in any case, God told me He's gonna bless and provided for me at the same time - when my next bus came, the rain stopped!!! My instructor got a verse too "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" 1 John 5:14,15
Thursday 12.30pm, Auditorium, SCH
Announced that my girls were awarded a silver. Girls were extremely upset (understatement). It was prep-talk from auditorium, out of auditorium, back in school. All the rousing them up, then preptalking them over the week had completely drained me. But still, as i told the gals, the LORD has d best for us, just we dunno wat it is then.
Friday 8.30pm, School
Girls finished their 2nd performance for the day. Over the day, they learnt much, they experienced much. They learnt wat it meant to truly enjoy music. They learnt wat it meant to perform. They had fun. THey learnt wat disappointment is. I hope they learnt what it means to give thanks in times of disappoinment.
Now, i'm gonna leave school. rest time. Amen to He who cares for and feeds the sparrows.
Friday, April 22, 2005
bohemian vs power suit
My style of dressing: Bohemian
That has been confirmed by a couple of pple... ana, pple for the tues CG, and just today, my colleagues HZ n TS mentioned tt again. While its a style i'm proud of and luv, there are times i lust for the power suits.
Components of the power suit: makeup, nail polish, groomed brows, heels, jacket, tailored pants/snugly fitted skirts, DARK.
i luv the power combi too but alas, my profession does not allow me to don that without attempting suicide. there are times i wish i cld wear something tt makes me not look so 'unpro' when i teach, but under practical circumstances, i cant. walking from block to block (reads: changi to jurong), 'entertaining' and 'performing' in classrooms of soaring temperatures... means under the power suit, i'll either suffer heatstroke, tortured knees, kua-li face, or all of the above. G was appalled with her question "u mean u dun even put on a little bit of makeup?" *sighz*
meanwhile, i luv my boho dressing. simple, comfy n fuss-free... makes me who i am. *chuckles* but the lust for power suits still lingers....
That has been confirmed by a couple of pple... ana, pple for the tues CG, and just today, my colleagues HZ n TS mentioned tt again. While its a style i'm proud of and luv, there are times i lust for the power suits.
Components of the power suit: makeup, nail polish, groomed brows, heels, jacket, tailored pants/snugly fitted skirts, DARK.
i luv the power combi too but alas, my profession does not allow me to don that without attempting suicide. there are times i wish i cld wear something tt makes me not look so 'unpro' when i teach, but under practical circumstances, i cant. walking from block to block (reads: changi to jurong), 'entertaining' and 'performing' in classrooms of soaring temperatures... means under the power suit, i'll either suffer heatstroke, tortured knees, kua-li face, or all of the above. G was appalled with her question "u mean u dun even put on a little bit of makeup?" *sighz*
meanwhile, i luv my boho dressing. simple, comfy n fuss-free... makes me who i am. *chuckles* but the lust for power suits still lingers....
Sunday, April 17, 2005
of taxi-drivers
there has so far only been 3 occasions when i refused to thank the taxi-drivers b4 i get off the cabs.
1. a seemingly drunk? not too alert? senile? driver.
that was totally nitemare leaving my legs jelly upon arrival back home. experience written down somewhere in blog last year.
2. he went on as many highways as possible before getting me home.
tt was just last tues after CG. was rushing to get home. got cab from tanjong pagar. i cant rem wat the route shld b, but am absolutely sure he took d wrong oneSS. He took ECP (which is not exactly rite oredi), nvm. he exited near beach rd (when he shld hv done either a fort road or katong one), nvm. went into beach rd and turned into nicol highway (when he cld hv headed straight into lavender/kallang).nvm. from nicol highway he exited from geylang (when he cld hv done a paya lebar).... i was too tired so i only realized the wrong turns after they were made. thankfully he was a reckless driver. so i did not get home too late.
3. he drove at a freaking snail's pace.
i cld hv taken a bus. might hv taken d same amt of time at a fraction of the cost. got lift from mommy n cabbing from ard her place. tis old man, the meter barely moved beyond 40km/hr. thankfully d distance was not too long... if not, i cld hv died....
ask me to choose between driver #3 (slow driver does not mean safe driver) and a typical cabby (reads: reckless speeder).... gimme the latter. *laughs*
1. a seemingly drunk? not too alert? senile? driver.
that was totally nitemare leaving my legs jelly upon arrival back home. experience written down somewhere in blog last year.
2. he went on as many highways as possible before getting me home.
tt was just last tues after CG. was rushing to get home. got cab from tanjong pagar. i cant rem wat the route shld b, but am absolutely sure he took d wrong oneSS. He took ECP (which is not exactly rite oredi), nvm. he exited near beach rd (when he shld hv done either a fort road or katong one), nvm. went into beach rd and turned into nicol highway (when he cld hv headed straight into lavender/kallang).nvm. from nicol highway he exited from geylang (when he cld hv done a paya lebar).... i was too tired so i only realized the wrong turns after they were made. thankfully he was a reckless driver. so i did not get home too late.
3. he drove at a freaking snail's pace.
i cld hv taken a bus. might hv taken d same amt of time at a fraction of the cost. got lift from mommy n cabbing from ard her place. tis old man, the meter barely moved beyond 40km/hr. thankfully d distance was not too long... if not, i cld hv died....
ask me to choose between driver #3 (slow driver does not mean safe driver) and a typical cabby (reads: reckless speeder).... gimme the latter. *laughs*
cloud gazing
i brought one class cloud gazing to show them wat cumulonimbus clouds really looked like. syllabus has changed such tt tt's d only cloud they learn abt. anywayz,tt day was perfect for cloud gazing. clouds appeared in their various stages of formation into a towering giant cauliflower. told them how i used to 'smoke' my frens telling them whether a heavy rain will ensue within a day based on the shape & height of the cumu clouds. fri told them either fri nite or sat heavy rain... and it rained heavy alrite last nite.
when i told them abt d rain i was tinking, oh no, but God tom we are gonna watch movies openair... rain can rain rite time? it rained close to the time movies were to b screened. but just before tt. so by the time movies were due to roll, rain had stopped. when i told FL abt the heavy rain, i wasn't extremely worried cos i knew rains from cumu clouds only last short while - 1 or 2 hours at most. talk abt how God really works in the physical laws of nature. lol...
but i did not leave the nite feeling happy.... i felt blue. hv some inkling idea wat caused the blueness, but they are many small issues which i hv chosen to brood on. so move on. wat helps me move on... the reminder that i'm just a passerby...
"All these faithful ones ........ saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth. And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. .... But they were looking for a better plce, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a heavenly city for them" Heb 11: 13 - 16
Yeah. Been reading Hebrews. Its a great book to start one from the beginning to looking to the end. Meanwhile integrating this book into the fast-paced life constantly filled with urgent matters to look into is a challenge.
when i told them abt d rain i was tinking, oh no, but God tom we are gonna watch movies openair... rain can rain rite time? it rained close to the time movies were to b screened. but just before tt. so by the time movies were due to roll, rain had stopped. when i told FL abt the heavy rain, i wasn't extremely worried cos i knew rains from cumu clouds only last short while - 1 or 2 hours at most. talk abt how God really works in the physical laws of nature. lol...
but i did not leave the nite feeling happy.... i felt blue. hv some inkling idea wat caused the blueness, but they are many small issues which i hv chosen to brood on. so move on. wat helps me move on... the reminder that i'm just a passerby...
"All these faithful ones ........ saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on earth. And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. .... But they were looking for a better plce, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a heavenly city for them" Heb 11: 13 - 16
Yeah. Been reading Hebrews. Its a great book to start one from the beginning to looking to the end. Meanwhile integrating this book into the fast-paced life constantly filled with urgent matters to look into is a challenge.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Truly humbled
I do not even noe where to begin.
No, I haven't been like really 'passionate' or 'on' or 'super-duper-filled-with-the-Holy-Spirit' sort of thing. But big things the Lord has revealed to me in small matters.
He has called me for a purpose. I am created to worship Him. I am called to be an extension of His hand. He will empower me for His purpose. He has won the battle and I enjoy His victory.
I had been living a defeated life. I think little of myself, in the area of work esp. (well, nothing wrong with that. i am little but He is big). I have allowed the 'mini-me' to shadow my big Dad. I hv allowed the spirit of delay to hold me back.
No longer so. Thro small things, my gracious and faithful Dad has shown me big things. mini-me doesn't matter. Daddy will pave the way and use mini-me. In fact, within the past 5 days He has chosen me to put into His jigsaw, little pieces into place. He brought a seeker for me to speak to, He put gals who wanted to noe more abt Christianity for me to spend time with, He brought gals from my class to approach me to pray, He made me lead a short worship. I'm not boasting, for I have nothing to boast about. I am humbled by how even tho i'm really truly so unworthy, so 'not ready', so 'not on fire'... all He asks is obedience... and He will empower for His kingdom. I am truly humbled.
My prayer is Father, unveil my eyes to see You, my ears to hear You. May my eyes never depart from You, my heart always close to Yours. Teach my Your heart, Your will, Your word. I claim Your promise You have spoken in Hebrews that You will reveal Your word in the minds and hearts of Your children. Give me the strength to carry forth Your tasks to love, the wisdom to know how to love, and Jesus' heart. Amen.
No, I haven't been like really 'passionate' or 'on' or 'super-duper-filled-with-the-Holy-Spirit' sort of thing. But big things the Lord has revealed to me in small matters.
He has called me for a purpose. I am created to worship Him. I am called to be an extension of His hand. He will empower me for His purpose. He has won the battle and I enjoy His victory.
I had been living a defeated life. I think little of myself, in the area of work esp. (well, nothing wrong with that. i am little but He is big). I have allowed the 'mini-me' to shadow my big Dad. I hv allowed the spirit of delay to hold me back.
No longer so. Thro small things, my gracious and faithful Dad has shown me big things. mini-me doesn't matter. Daddy will pave the way and use mini-me. In fact, within the past 5 days He has chosen me to put into His jigsaw, little pieces into place. He brought a seeker for me to speak to, He put gals who wanted to noe more abt Christianity for me to spend time with, He brought gals from my class to approach me to pray, He made me lead a short worship. I'm not boasting, for I have nothing to boast about. I am humbled by how even tho i'm really truly so unworthy, so 'not ready', so 'not on fire'... all He asks is obedience... and He will empower for His kingdom. I am truly humbled.
My prayer is Father, unveil my eyes to see You, my ears to hear You. May my eyes never depart from You, my heart always close to Yours. Teach my Your heart, Your will, Your word. I claim Your promise You have spoken in Hebrews that You will reveal Your word in the minds and hearts of Your children. Give me the strength to carry forth Your tasks to love, the wisdom to know how to love, and Jesus' heart. Amen.
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Term 2 Week 3
Monday
NAFTA day for the kids. Spent d entire afternn timing shuttle run. different perspective being the timer. I finally bought a new bible. After giving away the small one to my trek guide in nepal, i hv been surviving w tis really old big bible. i noe all bibles are the same, but d feel is different. it din feel so 'special' or 'personal'. So invested in one. Not cheap. but an investment. metal cased NLT.
Tuesday
Meetings day. Staff meeting followed by meeting for china trip in jun followed by d CG. Was late and left early. Exhausted.
Wednesday
Went for a session in another sec sch in the afternn and rushed for worship prac. pretty fun prac.
Thursday
Uneventful day which was good. needed the rest.
Friday
had lunch out at parkway w the trainee and contract teachers. bought a workbag. totally zonked out for the week. struggled to keep awake til ten and concuzzed.
Saturday
morn spent ironing away. afternn spent baking. evening at fort canning for ballet under the stars. it was like picnic style. me like it. later hung out w FL and her fren. its farnie how i ended up explaining stuff abt Christ. I mean... i'm like... me? its been a long long long time.
Sunday
Tough worship sessions. very sleepy cos got home late yest nite, plus mozzie attack. so cldn't sleep. song service somemore. so no w i'm gonne hit the sack
NAFTA day for the kids. Spent d entire afternn timing shuttle run. different perspective being the timer. I finally bought a new bible. After giving away the small one to my trek guide in nepal, i hv been surviving w tis really old big bible. i noe all bibles are the same, but d feel is different. it din feel so 'special' or 'personal'. So invested in one. Not cheap. but an investment. metal cased NLT.
Tuesday
Meetings day. Staff meeting followed by meeting for china trip in jun followed by d CG. Was late and left early. Exhausted.
Wednesday
Went for a session in another sec sch in the afternn and rushed for worship prac. pretty fun prac.
Thursday
Uneventful day which was good. needed the rest.
Friday
had lunch out at parkway w the trainee and contract teachers. bought a workbag. totally zonked out for the week. struggled to keep awake til ten and concuzzed.
Saturday
morn spent ironing away. afternn spent baking. evening at fort canning for ballet under the stars. it was like picnic style. me like it. later hung out w FL and her fren. its farnie how i ended up explaining stuff abt Christ. I mean... i'm like... me? its been a long long long time.
Sunday
Tough worship sessions. very sleepy cos got home late yest nite, plus mozzie attack. so cldn't sleep. song service somemore. so no w i'm gonne hit the sack
Sunday, April 03, 2005
woke up late
and almost missed service or attended another church's service.
in d end went for service late. for once, in a long while, i was able to concentrate on d sermon.
nonetheless, i'm no saint still. i still cannot stand my sister. (refraining from use of word 'detest'). patience tested.
back to school... back to marking.. .haiz.... i hope i dun screw up.
in d end went for service late. for once, in a long while, i was able to concentrate on d sermon.
nonetheless, i'm no saint still. i still cannot stand my sister. (refraining from use of word 'detest'). patience tested.
back to school... back to marking.. .haiz.... i hope i dun screw up.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Music playing... inside my room... while raining cool outside...
Its been an eventful week. Some highlights:
1. I passed my First Aid test on Thursday night.
The test took longer than usual becoz the examiner whom the entire class couldn't stand deliberately tested us on things we weren't taught! And he was a mean old man who thot the world of himself. In any case, we did not end w a happy note cos just as we were leaving one lady lost her HP. it was apparently stolen. the irritating examiner did nothing to help. he just let pple from other class walk out. only our class were nice enuff to stay. stuck there for longer than expected. but still... i passed.. and i even aced my class for the theory section!
Really thank God. Farnie as in, in this 'small matter' of first aid, my impression is i need to do my part in studying. but pple ard me keep telling me... PRAY... yeah.. of course pray, but i need to do my part too dun i?
2. Put to use my first aid knowledge the following day.
msged SHR to tell her i passed. she was farnie. out of humor, she replied 'yeah, tom u r ready to save lives in the sports meet'. urm... 'prophecy'... *laughs* i ended up doin bandage for a colleauge and helped her cos she was feeling faint. i mean i actualyl noewat to do!! i do feel gd tt i was able to not just feel concern.. but also noe wat to do...
3. some of my guitar club gals are actually afraid of me!
*laughs* they dun dare to hand in forms to me when late. wld rather pass to the other tr. MUA HA HA. FINALLY! some kids afraid of me! sadistic rite? actually happy studnets afraid of me. ke ke ke. but i do need that my gosh! if only more are afraid. *chuckles*
4. Tuesday CG
It was nice. haven't worshipped w pple like tt for a while, just sitting on the floor in a circle... w only guit accomp. reminds me of my CF and church youth days. praying tog in smaller grps gave me a strange familiar but yet unfamiliar feeling. but timing is not very ideal cos they end very late. and anywayz, i'm still not sure. need to ask Him whether this is the grp.
5. Fri
Yest was mad. Had Sports Day after which rushed gals for a prac in the SCH. just being in the venue itself made them tense and they cldn't perform up to std. worrying. currently not gold std. i wld give them a silver. but we hv the hope of achieving gold. 1. they can perform if we cont to push for the last 3 weeks. 2. we hv the grace of God. He noes wats best.
Den rushed for massage w HZL we had been planning long long ago.. and overdue for a month. thereafter, we had dinner at kfc. we spoke openly abt our religions. she listend to me talk abt my exp in Christianity. i listened to her and her views abt Islam. in fact, she told me she was glad one of her class gals received Christ cos she tinks pple need religion. But God, how do i do my part as a fren of hers?
6. Meanwhile, gonna b really busy w many things due soon. and we are just starting our plans for the kunming trip in 10 weeks. only had our first meeting yest! gosh...
So tt's enuff update. hv to move on to work oredi. :)
1. I passed my First Aid test on Thursday night.
The test took longer than usual becoz the examiner whom the entire class couldn't stand deliberately tested us on things we weren't taught! And he was a mean old man who thot the world of himself. In any case, we did not end w a happy note cos just as we were leaving one lady lost her HP. it was apparently stolen. the irritating examiner did nothing to help. he just let pple from other class walk out. only our class were nice enuff to stay. stuck there for longer than expected. but still... i passed.. and i even aced my class for the theory section!
Really thank God. Farnie as in, in this 'small matter' of first aid, my impression is i need to do my part in studying. but pple ard me keep telling me... PRAY... yeah.. of course pray, but i need to do my part too dun i?
2. Put to use my first aid knowledge the following day.
msged SHR to tell her i passed. she was farnie. out of humor, she replied 'yeah, tom u r ready to save lives in the sports meet'. urm... 'prophecy'... *laughs* i ended up doin bandage for a colleauge and helped her cos she was feeling faint. i mean i actualyl noewat to do!! i do feel gd tt i was able to not just feel concern.. but also noe wat to do...
3. some of my guitar club gals are actually afraid of me!
*laughs* they dun dare to hand in forms to me when late. wld rather pass to the other tr. MUA HA HA. FINALLY! some kids afraid of me! sadistic rite? actually happy studnets afraid of me. ke ke ke. but i do need that my gosh! if only more are afraid. *chuckles*
4. Tuesday CG
It was nice. haven't worshipped w pple like tt for a while, just sitting on the floor in a circle... w only guit accomp. reminds me of my CF and church youth days. praying tog in smaller grps gave me a strange familiar but yet unfamiliar feeling. but timing is not very ideal cos they end very late. and anywayz, i'm still not sure. need to ask Him whether this is the grp.
5. Fri
Yest was mad. Had Sports Day after which rushed gals for a prac in the SCH. just being in the venue itself made them tense and they cldn't perform up to std. worrying. currently not gold std. i wld give them a silver. but we hv the hope of achieving gold. 1. they can perform if we cont to push for the last 3 weeks. 2. we hv the grace of God. He noes wats best.
Den rushed for massage w HZL we had been planning long long ago.. and overdue for a month. thereafter, we had dinner at kfc. we spoke openly abt our religions. she listend to me talk abt my exp in Christianity. i listened to her and her views abt Islam. in fact, she told me she was glad one of her class gals received Christ cos she tinks pple need religion. But God, how do i do my part as a fren of hers?
6. Meanwhile, gonna b really busy w many things due soon. and we are just starting our plans for the kunming trip in 10 weeks. only had our first meeting yest! gosh...
So tt's enuff update. hv to move on to work oredi. :)
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Updates
Went for the Jazz at d beach w FL again yesterday. Tis time round, they were doing latin groove. Its nice except it gets tiring w all the upbeats throughout the evening. Smooth jazz was better last weekend. Anywayz, met KV again. It was quite farnie. He posed a simple qns: how was the week tt's past? It was a tough qns to ans! All i cld manage was a: had my ups n downs....
thankfully... downs were less... so i'll start w downs...
Downs:
1. Been exhausted.... even with sleep... strange.
2. Was demoralized for a brief moment.... related to work. When u feel tt effort put in wasn't given due recognition... anywayz,.... brief moments... passed....
Ups:
1. Did my first long distance of abt 5km finally at east coast on friday evening. Crowded beach. I realized tt major changes (at least to me) had taken place! The fencing and vegetation at the stretch between the seafood restaurant and the lagoon food center has been removed! Pedestrains route has changed. Previously blocked by the fencing... it is now a spacious and open area. Good or bad? I don't know. Just different. Gone were all my memories of running beside the cycling track w all the different pple.... Wats 'up' abt tis? i realized.... i thank God that i am blessed w the health to run... i am blessed w the health to come out and appreciate east coast...
2. Over these two weeks i hv been encouraged by my new frens, FL's "CH" frens mainly. i hardly noe them... but the joy of the Lord that they have are infectious. They dun talk abt it... but....its something one senses... i might join FL for her tues CG (she claims its CG tho i'm like... ITS 50-pple BIG! its NOT a CG). Timing is quite 'gd' actually... i hv been 'feeling' i shld join a grp somehow... i did not say anything.... and FL came along... it seems God has put these jazz meetings in place.. cos last week, i did not plan to go for tt session. Half the time i wanted to back out, go home, even on the journey. somehow, i managed to turn up.... noe these pple.... i hv no idea wats in store. slowly i'm 'missing' the passion i use to hv... slowly i'm 'missing' living life w purpose... now entirely clear abt the purpose yet... but... slowly.... in any case, my priority is to pass my first aid course first. lol....
3. i m reminded that i hv been bought by the blood of Christ. That doesn't just mean i'm saved. That also means i'm a co-heir of His kingdom. That also means i'm His daughter. That also means He's my fren. That also means i live the 'now' in view of the 'after'.... which is wat got me out of the demoralized state. *laughs* let's see how long tis will last.
Meanwhile its Monday again. My prayer Abba is that You will help me to face it w joy, not to take work as burden, but as opportunities You have blessed me with to bless. I ask Abba that You will give me the wisdom to deliver knowledge... wisdom to discern.... wisdom to guide. Amen.
thankfully... downs were less... so i'll start w downs...
Downs:
1. Been exhausted.... even with sleep... strange.
2. Was demoralized for a brief moment.... related to work. When u feel tt effort put in wasn't given due recognition... anywayz,.... brief moments... passed....
Ups:
1. Did my first long distance of abt 5km finally at east coast on friday evening. Crowded beach. I realized tt major changes (at least to me) had taken place! The fencing and vegetation at the stretch between the seafood restaurant and the lagoon food center has been removed! Pedestrains route has changed. Previously blocked by the fencing... it is now a spacious and open area. Good or bad? I don't know. Just different. Gone were all my memories of running beside the cycling track w all the different pple.... Wats 'up' abt tis? i realized.... i thank God that i am blessed w the health to run... i am blessed w the health to come out and appreciate east coast...
2. Over these two weeks i hv been encouraged by my new frens, FL's "CH" frens mainly. i hardly noe them... but the joy of the Lord that they have are infectious. They dun talk abt it... but....its something one senses... i might join FL for her tues CG (she claims its CG tho i'm like... ITS 50-pple BIG! its NOT a CG). Timing is quite 'gd' actually... i hv been 'feeling' i shld join a grp somehow... i did not say anything.... and FL came along... it seems God has put these jazz meetings in place.. cos last week, i did not plan to go for tt session. Half the time i wanted to back out, go home, even on the journey. somehow, i managed to turn up.... noe these pple.... i hv no idea wats in store. slowly i'm 'missing' the passion i use to hv... slowly i'm 'missing' living life w purpose... now entirely clear abt the purpose yet... but... slowly.... in any case, my priority is to pass my first aid course first. lol....
3. i m reminded that i hv been bought by the blood of Christ. That doesn't just mean i'm saved. That also means i'm a co-heir of His kingdom. That also means i'm His daughter. That also means He's my fren. That also means i live the 'now' in view of the 'after'.... which is wat got me out of the demoralized state. *laughs* let's see how long tis will last.
Meanwhile its Monday again. My prayer Abba is that You will help me to face it w joy, not to take work as burden, but as opportunities You have blessed me with to bless. I ask Abba that You will give me the wisdom to deliver knowledge... wisdom to discern.... wisdom to guide. Amen.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
exhausted giraffe
just came back from my first aid course. sometimes i wonder to myself whether i'm killing myself signing up for these couple of courses....
in any case, we did CPR today. i partnered a secondary boy. he n his classmates gotta pass this for some badge for scouts. it was hilarious. he was probably the farniest guy during CPR and got 'whacked' by my instructor a couple of times.
test will b next thurs. i'm not even halfway thro reading the book.. alas.. and much work... just exhasuted...
in any case, we did CPR today. i partnered a secondary boy. he n his classmates gotta pass this for some badge for scouts. it was hilarious. he was probably the farniest guy during CPR and got 'whacked' by my instructor a couple of times.
test will b next thurs. i'm not even halfway thro reading the book.. alas.. and much work... just exhasuted...
Sunday, March 20, 2005
nite by the beach...
just came back from sentosa.
been wanting to go for at least one of the jazz sessions at the beach (planning one next week as seen in earlier blog). but today FL called me up last min. so i scrapped d plan of running at EC and headed to sentosa.
journey took longer than expected. all the time wanted to turn back and go home and rest. (i've been sleeping all day today! but its good rest). fortunately i did not, cos the music n company was worth it.
gd to see FL again. got to noe her frens too. they were nice. got to noe a fellow guitar club OTIC of another sch. a lady from an organization i can possibly collaborate w. (yeah, cant stop talking shop). we played dtydti after the music session was over. overall it was a nice evening out.
i'm thankful for today. tho i slept most of it away, i really got to rest today. thank u Daddy. :)
now hv to go rest for church tom... and den.... term 2 week 1... commences.....
Current state: hungry
been wanting to go for at least one of the jazz sessions at the beach (planning one next week as seen in earlier blog). but today FL called me up last min. so i scrapped d plan of running at EC and headed to sentosa.
journey took longer than expected. all the time wanted to turn back and go home and rest. (i've been sleeping all day today! but its good rest). fortunately i did not, cos the music n company was worth it.
gd to see FL again. got to noe her frens too. they were nice. got to noe a fellow guitar club OTIC of another sch. a lady from an organization i can possibly collaborate w. (yeah, cant stop talking shop). we played dtydti after the music session was over. overall it was a nice evening out.
i'm thankful for today. tho i slept most of it away, i really got to rest today. thank u Daddy. :)
now hv to go rest for church tom... and den.... term 2 week 1... commences.....
Current state: hungry
Friday, March 18, 2005
Two events i'll like to go to...
1. Filmmaking Workshop by National Geographic Channel.
Getting behind the scenes and learning trade secrets with Bryan Smith, Executive VP of Production for National Geogprahic Channels International. Gives insider's view of the creation of a NG documentary, with the focus on storytelling and character devt.
Mar 26, 3 - 5pm, library@orchard
2. Jazz by the beach
Performance by The Groove, a multi-ethnic grp tt performs in Latin jazz.
Mar 26, 6 - 10.30pm, Siloso Beach, Sentosa Island.
Both fall on the same day. On Sunday, a day I'll usually work. The Sunday just before my First Aid certification test on 31st. sigh.... hope i can make it for either one. anyone wanna join me?
Getting behind the scenes and learning trade secrets with Bryan Smith, Executive VP of Production for National Geogprahic Channels International. Gives insider's view of the creation of a NG documentary, with the focus on storytelling and character devt.
Mar 26, 3 - 5pm, library@orchard
2. Jazz by the beach
Performance by The Groove, a multi-ethnic grp tt performs in Latin jazz.
Mar 26, 6 - 10.30pm, Siloso Beach, Sentosa Island.
Both fall on the same day. On Sunday, a day I'll usually work. The Sunday just before my First Aid certification test on 31st. sigh.... hope i can make it for either one. anyone wanna join me?
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Home
a place of rest.
where one retreats from the many stimuli outside.
where one finds time to breathe.
was just reminded of this.
been exhausted even before i left for perhentian.
ave waking hours at home for the past 2 weeks been less than 2 hours (excluding trip)
courses... more courses... sch camp... church prac...
i look fwd to sat when i can finally have a decent no. of hours at home.
where one retreats from the many stimuli outside.
where one finds time to breathe.
was just reminded of this.
been exhausted even before i left for perhentian.
ave waking hours at home for the past 2 weeks been less than 2 hours (excluding trip)
courses... more courses... sch camp... church prac...
i look fwd to sat when i can finally have a decent no. of hours at home.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Dive of the trip
Really exhausted now. But must blog tis most happening dive of the trip in...
Date: 13 Mar Site: Sugar Wreck
Time in: 1320hrs Time out: Approx 1430
Dive buddy: PL
Other dive mates: GR n EV
Divemaster: Yoe
Immediately after descend:
Visibility was about 1.5 - 2m. Meaning very bad. I lost my buddy immediately. Was left w GR n EV. We signaled to each other "where are the rest?" and shrugged shoulders with hands out in response "dunno". Hung ard descend point for half a min to wait and heard Yoe horn for us. But sound travels in all directions in liquid, so had no idea where he is. Suddenly he appeared w PL. And we proceeded w dive.
Approx 10mins into dive:
Was following Yoe closely cos of the low visibility. Occasionally checking on back for buddy. Just at the moment I did not check, Yoe signalled to me "where's ur buddy?" I turned back. Yellow cloudiness. All missing. (PL later told me she was playing w sea urchin w the rest, so got lost. lol) We backtracked quite a bit. Did the SOP. Search for a min den ascended to find them. After a while, saw them a distance away. They had to fight the currents to swim back to us. Poor pple. I was really glad i wasn't in their position.
We descended again.
Within 5 mins of descend
Yoe suddenly stopped turned back and blocked PL. A fishing line with many hooks was dropped right in front of him and us. We were too close. He took the line, tugged it (the person above was trying to pull it up, ha, thot it was big fish *laughs*) and snapped it. We went on with dive.
Next many minutes....
Saw many stuff... fish... corals... urchins... etc... nice dive site! And i made it a point to check on my buddy more often.
Last 5 mins
We were at abt 5 - 9 m depth. Abt time to do safety stop. I stopped checking on my buddy den cos... well... we were ending dive, and seriously at tt depth and good visibility, there was no reason how anyone could be missing! But... i was... wrong....
Yoe took up an urchin and played w it on his palm. I was looking at the urchin and all. Den decided to check on buddy. BUT THEY WERE NOT THERE!! Incredible. Yoe was also like... huh? So we looked ard tt area only (cos anywayz, everyone noes we were to end dive soon, so wldn't drift far). I spotted some bubbles, but those disappeared quickly. So we just did our safety stop, meanwhile i was playing w a batfish.
Ascended...
A distance away, i saw the rest of them climb up the boat. The boat came for us. We went up too...
The story behind why they got lost:
GR was v low on air again, so was sharing air w PL. So a bit like mahfan oredi. At this point, of all times, EV's mask strap gave way!!! So while using alternate air source, GR had to work on EV's mask while PL held on to the two of them. Finally they all ascended w EV like a blind person being led ard for that short while. LOL. And the farnie part was, both GR n PL thot EV was pulling a stunt when she turned to them w no mask! LOL. Absolutely hilarious. I missed the show. *chuckles*
We all concluded that must hv been d most happening dive of the trip. Pple got lost 3 times. We had a situation of guys going on alternate air source while leading a 'blind' diver ard. KE KE KE.
Date: 13 Mar Site: Sugar Wreck
Time in: 1320hrs Time out: Approx 1430
Dive buddy: PL
Other dive mates: GR n EV
Divemaster: Yoe
Immediately after descend:
Visibility was about 1.5 - 2m. Meaning very bad. I lost my buddy immediately. Was left w GR n EV. We signaled to each other "where are the rest?" and shrugged shoulders with hands out in response "dunno". Hung ard descend point for half a min to wait and heard Yoe horn for us. But sound travels in all directions in liquid, so had no idea where he is. Suddenly he appeared w PL. And we proceeded w dive.
Approx 10mins into dive:
Was following Yoe closely cos of the low visibility. Occasionally checking on back for buddy. Just at the moment I did not check, Yoe signalled to me "where's ur buddy?" I turned back. Yellow cloudiness. All missing. (PL later told me she was playing w sea urchin w the rest, so got lost. lol) We backtracked quite a bit. Did the SOP. Search for a min den ascended to find them. After a while, saw them a distance away. They had to fight the currents to swim back to us. Poor pple. I was really glad i wasn't in their position.
We descended again.
Within 5 mins of descend
Yoe suddenly stopped turned back and blocked PL. A fishing line with many hooks was dropped right in front of him and us. We were too close. He took the line, tugged it (the person above was trying to pull it up, ha, thot it was big fish *laughs*) and snapped it. We went on with dive.
Next many minutes....
Saw many stuff... fish... corals... urchins... etc... nice dive site! And i made it a point to check on my buddy more often.
Last 5 mins
We were at abt 5 - 9 m depth. Abt time to do safety stop. I stopped checking on my buddy den cos... well... we were ending dive, and seriously at tt depth and good visibility, there was no reason how anyone could be missing! But... i was... wrong....
Yoe took up an urchin and played w it on his palm. I was looking at the urchin and all. Den decided to check on buddy. BUT THEY WERE NOT THERE!! Incredible. Yoe was also like... huh? So we looked ard tt area only (cos anywayz, everyone noes we were to end dive soon, so wldn't drift far). I spotted some bubbles, but those disappeared quickly. So we just did our safety stop, meanwhile i was playing w a batfish.
Ascended...
A distance away, i saw the rest of them climb up the boat. The boat came for us. We went up too...
The story behind why they got lost:
GR was v low on air again, so was sharing air w PL. So a bit like mahfan oredi. At this point, of all times, EV's mask strap gave way!!! So while using alternate air source, GR had to work on EV's mask while PL held on to the two of them. Finally they all ascended w EV like a blind person being led ard for that short while. LOL. And the farnie part was, both GR n PL thot EV was pulling a stunt when she turned to them w no mask! LOL. Absolutely hilarious. I missed the show. *chuckles*
We all concluded that must hv been d most happening dive of the trip. Pple got lost 3 times. We had a situation of guys going on alternate air source while leading a 'blind' diver ard. KE KE KE.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
battered body
sun burnt from face to arms to legs... as in... really red and feeling quite raw.
rashes all over the body... arms and legs.... dunno where from. my guess... from the sea and showering with salt water all the 3 days as there's like no freshwater to shower in!!
bruises on both my arms.. and urm.. yah, legs also. from where? God noes.. prob from climbing up (actually i mean being hauled up onto) the speedboats from the sea.
cuts by corals on knees.... and abrasion on ankle cos of sand in booties....
battered... battered... battered...
rashes all over the body... arms and legs.... dunno where from. my guess... from the sea and showering with salt water all the 3 days as there's like no freshwater to shower in!!
bruises on both my arms.. and urm.. yah, legs also. from where? God noes.. prob from climbing up (actually i mean being hauled up onto) the speedboats from the sea.
cuts by corals on knees.... and abrasion on ankle cos of sand in booties....
battered... battered... battered...
narcosed giraffe
just reached home from perhentian.
'interesting' dives.
great dive sites.
saw many new things like anemones and corals i've neva seen before, fish like titan triggerfish, porcupine fish (the one in Shark's Tale that puffs up, razor fish, many many...
v. long journey.
nice local dive operator and DMs.
gotta noe PL
terrible food
very very very exhausting dives after dives.. such that the person-in-charge and a senior DM told us straight in our faces that we are crazy to try to clock so many dives in those hours.
no time to blog 'interesting' details cos got course tom morn... till nite... argh...
zzz... w wet hair...
'interesting' dives.
great dive sites.
saw many new things like anemones and corals i've neva seen before, fish like titan triggerfish, porcupine fish (the one in Shark's Tale that puffs up, razor fish, many many...
v. long journey.
nice local dive operator and DMs.
gotta noe PL
terrible food
very very very exhausting dives after dives.. such that the person-in-charge and a senior DM told us straight in our faces that we are crazy to try to clock so many dives in those hours.
no time to blog 'interesting' details cos got course tom morn... till nite... argh...
zzz... w wet hair...
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
long long long day
early in morn, last min call to tell me i hv to go sch on my own. by God's grace, i made it down in spite of late notice.
long day of many periods.
did marking.
did 2.4km run for the sch sports event. darn warm weather.
went for my first aid course.
darn tired now. but feeling pretty good...
long long long day
long day of many periods.
did marking.
did 2.4km run for the sch sports event. darn warm weather.
went for my first aid course.
darn tired now. but feeling pretty good...
long long long day
Monday, March 07, 2005
lesson observation is finally over today.... after much trauma. my performance was not up to my expectations. But will do. :)
met up w dive gang sat nite. tho things are not as 'simple' as previously, its nice to meet and talk abt simple things... :) getting pple who are concerned abt u, ur work... being caught up w each others' stories... always good to see my xiao mei, buddy, GR, LD n RG, ha ha.. esp the first two!
SYF coming up. Training intensifying. But half the time i still dunno wats going on.. worrying
starting my first aid course tom. hope i dun kill anyone...
still tinking abt tis thing called frenship. questioning the 'value/worth' of the so-called 'the times we've spent together in the past'. i used to treasure those and treasure old frenships. now i'm qnsing. does it matter? bcos it doesn't seem to matter for others. rediscovering.
looking forward to trip to perhentian tis weekend. been planning for it since end last yr when i looked at all the weekends. HA... its finally coming.
did my 2.4km run last wed. horrifying timing!! from 13+ mins mths ago, i degraded to 16 freaking plus mins!!! i'm a slow giraffe.
no input for now oredi. in a state of.... 'no feeling'. :) morning stressed... after observation was in cloud nine and very stimulated after the time w my extremely active class today... now.... emotions all expendited in the day... all gone.... :) looking fwd to meet my bed after watching desperate housewives.
met up w dive gang sat nite. tho things are not as 'simple' as previously, its nice to meet and talk abt simple things... :) getting pple who are concerned abt u, ur work... being caught up w each others' stories... always good to see my xiao mei, buddy, GR, LD n RG, ha ha.. esp the first two!
SYF coming up. Training intensifying. But half the time i still dunno wats going on.. worrying
starting my first aid course tom. hope i dun kill anyone...
still tinking abt tis thing called frenship. questioning the 'value/worth' of the so-called 'the times we've spent together in the past'. i used to treasure those and treasure old frenships. now i'm qnsing. does it matter? bcos it doesn't seem to matter for others. rediscovering.
looking forward to trip to perhentian tis weekend. been planning for it since end last yr when i looked at all the weekends. HA... its finally coming.
did my 2.4km run last wed. horrifying timing!! from 13+ mins mths ago, i degraded to 16 freaking plus mins!!! i'm a slow giraffe.
no input for now oredi. in a state of.... 'no feeling'. :) morning stressed... after observation was in cloud nine and very stimulated after the time w my extremely active class today... now.... emotions all expendited in the day... all gone.... :) looking fwd to meet my bed after watching desperate housewives.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
the mouse escaped....
i did not even hear it drop... the apple mouse i was bringing home w the notebook for work. just checked the retail price of it... cost a freaky 50 bucks!
sigh... everyone in sch 'envys' me for hving the cool processor.. but alas.. the price that comes with it....
can anyone tell me where i can get a replacement mouse at a cheaper rate?
Current state: Cant be bothered to really think of loss - too tired.
sigh... everyone in sch 'envys' me for hving the cool processor.. but alas.. the price that comes with it....
can anyone tell me where i can get a replacement mouse at a cheaper rate?
Current state: Cant be bothered to really think of loss - too tired.
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