All In A Day's Work

Was at the US Embassy today...ok, yesterday, to be more precise. It was a certificate of appreciation presentation ceremony for those groups that performed for the Daniel Pearl World Music Days that the embassy supported. I was representing our Fusion Percussion

Anyway, the journey there was ok. Decided not to drive but just cab there since there's no parking on site, only a few alternatives around the area. Mistake. It was nearly impossible to get a cab back to TP after the event which ended slightly after 5pm. The rain didn't help.

THANK GOD I managed to hijack a cab dropping a passenger at the other entrance of Gleneagles Hospital. The taxi queue stood over 20 people (not kidding) and the cabs coming in were rather scarce. God, I hope I won't ever have to be in this situation again... Suddenly, a new found appreciation for dear old Matrix.

After that I met up with Francis, a Band alumni for dinner. Wanted to go to David's stall, but...it was closed for washing. Bummer... My brother lah, sms him earlier never reply. Went T3 instead and ate at Crystal Jade. Walau, less variety and more expensive than TM's. Expected lah, but... After dinner we went Coffee Club and la kopi for a while before heading homeward.




My free gift (magnet reindeer inside) from using Visa, spending above $50

It's always nice to catch up with those I've worked closely with before. I seem to remember more students from my earlier years as an SDO. I hope to be able to maintain those relationships, but I'm realistic enough to know that not all such wishes are mutual...just because. We all have that same 24 hours a day. Gotta know my limitation and learn to pace myself without feeling guilty about it.

Times are different now...bosses, too. Job scope has expanded (still expanding), expectation gets relentlessly higher by the season. And especially at this time of the year where we're asked to invite our alumni to come for the Alumni Night on Friday, 11 Dec, 7.30pm at TP Auditoria Foyer, it makes me miss them and the good old days even more.

Oh ya, my godbrother MM is starting school next week. Poor thing, gotta work and study... I tend to just call him when I miss him. Next week can only miss him twice, he says...haha. Better just sms first before calling...in case he's sleeping. Seriously, it's not easy to study and work, so I'm really proud of him that he has that determination.

Accidental Slapstick

Watched the 9.15pm Mulan with Ben, Jaslyn and Minyan just now. I can't exactly describe whether I like the show or not, cos the super irritating people in the theatre were laughing at places throughout the whole movie where, really, they weren't funny at all! I tried not to be affected and just concentrate on the movie. I mean, maybe I just didn't get it. Blaming it on a poor sense of humour could perhaps make me feel less irritated. As a result, I think it diluted the intended experience for the audience. Well, at least for me, that's what I think it is.

Bummer...

Mad About Bones

Monday morning sighting...amazing work of nature.


Wonder what's the name of the species...looks edible :P~

It feels so much like Saturday today.

Met up with Alex and Tiny (pronounced as Tini) yesterday. You know, gather gather, and ate at Pasta Manna - a.k.a. my brother's stall at Old Airport Road Hawkers' Centre. Apparently, pan-fried meatball pasta is their all-time favourite. I like it, too. I even added extra 'toppings' - bacon. Yummy! We ended up ordering the same entre. Both Alex and myself got the set so we had mushroom soup and a slice of garlic bread. Thanks to moi...we got super big portion of pasta at no extra charge :P

In addition, Alex ordered the supersized (dinosaur) sugarcane and 15 sticks of pork satay. I must say, the pork satay tastes really good. Seldom you'd get to eat pork satay, for obvious reason. We were really filled and satisfied by the end of the meal. So good we decided that the next round, we'd get a few others to join in.

And just before we left, I went to say "bye" to my brother and sister-in-law, and there stood Roger, another TP alumnus who came to get takeaway pasta. He is another of Pasta Manna regular. It makes me happy that so many people I know actually like my brother's cooking.

Went to watch New Moon with Kenneth after that. The saga was a little disappointing. I feel that the whole show has just too much of abandonment. Too much for me to take...rather depressing. The ending didn't help either. So abrupt. I'd give it a 4 out of 10. Should have watched Mulan, instead.

After I got back, I continued on my box set of Bones Season 4. Slept late, inevitably, and woke up around 2pm, laze around a little plus a bit of ding dong before finally deciding that I would go Ion Orchard for some plastic assistance. The things I would do for some people. Lol...

Despite a small detour to find the entrance to the car park, spinning round and round to find a parking lot, the journey down town was rather smooth. Quite proud of myself, actually, haha... I serious feel that some days, I'm led by the prompting within me to make those correct crossroad decisions when all by myself, especially when I charting new routes. I would like to credit it to the Holy Spirit. Don't ask me how I know. I'm still figuring this out myself.

Anyway, Peck came back again with the twins after their play time at Changi Beach Club and bought 2 sets of KFC (mainly for the kids), Mug root beer (I still prefer the not-as-sweet A&W) and Meadow Gold vanilla ice cream (it's my new favourite now). I bought some fruits from the 24-hour vege stall. Mom cooked chicken rice. So it's really a sumptuous dinner.

Didn't get to watch movie this afternoon, so to compensate for my unfulfilled plan, I'm going back to my Bones again. I'm trying really hard to pace myself so I don't finish this season too quickly. I just bought it last Sunday. Thanks to Zam who helped me keep a set cos I had been constantly bugging him. It would be unreasonable to pace till Season 5 is out. Maybe I'll re run the 1st 3 seasons till I get over it.

Haha...I'm crazy liao :S

Note To Self:
When sms-ing, be careful that 'movies' can become 'mother'. So would you like to watch a mother marathon? Lol...

Noteworthies?

Writings on the walls at the backstage of Victoria Concert Hall.

What do you think?

Search In The City

I can't sleep. Actually, it's more like I don't dare to go to sleep now. May not wake up in time for 2nd Service later. Slept in the morning yesterday, too. Then woke up shortly after and decided that I should make a quick trip down to VCH to find things that we left behind from Friday's concert. I was there around 9.30am. Did some crazy stuff just to retrieve things that, I think, was important only to me. Otherwise it wouldn't have ended where I had to go digging with tongs.



After I found what I could, there was still some time before my parking coupon expired so I went behind the premise to enjoy the morning scene at the Singapore River. There were Dragon Boat races going on. So cool cos it was right smack in the CBD area so you have the row of skyscrapers behind.









There were groups of people jogging, tourists snapping away. The was also a couple of Indian men sitting on the floor, each with a basket containing a snake inside. The duo were appealing to a group of Japanese to take pictures with them.

Reckoning that my time was up, I went back to the car. Was driving towards ECP to head home but decided that I would drop by Marina Square. Well, it ended more than just a drop-by. Watched 2012 at the cinema, bought a couple of items at my usual boutique, took and put back a couple more at Muji (T..T). I can't really remember where else I walked but by the time I left, the car park fee was $7.49. Oucheee!

Ok, my eyes are closing (like duh...) I'm going to hit the pillow afterall.

Going Around The World With TP Band

It has been a while. Music therapy at the Band studio.

I have the privilege of being the first audience to listen through the whole repertoire. Wow...

So this year's a continuation of the series Avec l'Expression. 3rd installation with the theme "Around The World". And we're really going places...all the way out of school to Victoria Concert Hall. It's about time, after 2 years of sell-out in the school Auditorium of 570-seater. VCH's like 50% more in capacity than the audi, and with the inevitable increase in ticket price, these are just some of the challenges.

Well, if we never go, we'll never know!

In a few minutes, I'll be counting money again...praying for sell-out again this year. The music's sounding really good, I must say.

Come eh! 7.30pm tomorrow (20 Nov 09) at the good old Victoria Concert Hall...

Minding My Father's Business

I felt so much love and adoration for Abba Father today. Praise and worship was awesome. Such liberty, and so engaging. Thank You, Father. It was such a great thrill, I want more of it!

I felt He has opened the eyes of my heart today to receive the message on zeal.

Z = Zeal
E = Equals
A = Anti
L = Lukewarmness

Sometimes it seems that we are living in a culture that promotes apathy, unaffectedness. When you appear to be too enthusiastic about something, you get those stares as if you're so uncool. Now, everything has to be cool, smooth, no sweat, chill.

If something is really worth living and fighting for, your words, thoughts and deeds would reflect it as it burns inside you. You wouldn't care even if it makes you look like a fool in the eyes of the world. What matters is, what are you passionate about?

Jesus was not afraid to flip the tables of those turning His Father's house of prayer into dens of thieves. Are you afraid to stand for God's standard of righteousness?

Just like you can give without loving, but you can't love without giving; you can have work without faith, but you can't have faith without work...because that would be dead faith.

The same applies to zeal.

You can have action without zeal (just look cool only), but you can't have zeal without action.

If you're preoccupied with an outward appearance of coolness, like it doesn't bother you... well, don't get too used to it. One day, when it's time for you to be radical about what really matters, your pride will be so established that you might be too afraid or become too awkward to be moved even if you want to.

Jesus' food is to do the will of the Father. His nourishment, the essence of His life, is to act on the desires of the one He looks up to continuously.

What can't I live without? If the most basic of basics of Jesus is that of His Father's business, then it should be something that I wouldn't want to do without.

Where You Go I Go - Kim Walker

Stir up within me, Holy Spirit, an unquenchable zeal for my Father's business. That His name may be hallowed, His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I need to be fed daily with Your bread of life and living water, to forgive and be forgiven. I need Your gracious guidance and merciful deliverance. You are the Everlasting God and Your kingdom knows no end. Power and glory belongs to You. For You alone are worthy. No one else. And I want all these to be reflected in my life as my worship towards You. All I need, all I want, is YOU! Bring me there!