Bandaged Soul...so I can open my heart to you again.

Last night my eldest sister asked if I would like to hang out since she and the kids are staying over. She suggested watching the movie - Mamma Mia! Well, I've watched it already but I didn't mind a second go at it. So I bought the Saturday night tickets online after I got home from Saturday Service and used my HSBC prepaid movie pass to pay for it, at $7.50 per tickets. And they were valued at $10 last night. Not bad right? So she managed to convince the twins not to tag along and we headed for our 9.30pm show at GV Tampines. My sister is a fan of ABBA. I'm a bit of the same but not crazy over it. I just love dancing to the fast numbers and I enjoyed the harmonies. I think the most hilarious movie moments were the scene with this song: Take a Chance on Me - ABBA I feel that this is a movie that an ABBA fan won't mind watching it over and over again. Importantly for me, it's one with happy ending. I think I'm going to buy the DVD when it is released ;P Today...

Today I enjoyed myself tremendously at the worship vocalists workshop. We started with a time of worship, then went through revision on expectations for the vocalists. The 5Ps. Purpose, Preparation, Position, Passion, People. The gist of it - it's about knowing and embracing our vision, preparing and equipping ourselves technically and spiritually towards that, finding our security and stability knowing where we've been placed, passion for God and His people. The funny part came when a recorded video of one of the praise and worship sessions was played. We just kept laughing, cos we were all guilty as charged. We basically scrutinized the first minute of the first song and commented on what we could improve on. It was a far cry from where we hope to be when we watched a well-known Church's live worship video, even after we minus what we were not comparing - the lightings, the atmosphere, the number of rehearsals they would have had prior, less restrictive attire, I guess wh...

Bummer. Just before one crisis is resolved, another one arises. I wish I can take everything in my stride. Guess I've been a bit too sheltered as the youngest child in the family and have become a bit ironically disadvantaged. Thank God such skills can be nurtured along the way, just harder to press through with a lack in tenacity. I'm not going to use this as an excuse to push all the responsibility to do what needs to be done. Definitely it's a learning experience...part of growing up, and a process, I'm sure, that if I seek it's purpose, I would find Abba Father's hand in it. He is in control, you know... ;) Surely it would be foolish to expect that life is ever going to be a bed of roses. Even roses have thorns. The bigger the flower, the bigger the thorns. Well, maybe we should say bed of rose petals...but they don't last long after you pluck them off. Hmmm... whoever thought of using 'bed of roses' to illustrate a good life either didn't t...

Yet another week has come. Another headache in the morning. Monday blues' taking its effect on me again. Why do weekends always feel so short. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I do not appreciate every new day that my Abba Father has made. Maybe the little time I have to unwind doesn't settle in before I need to wind back just creates that yearning, making me look forward to the next weekend. Well, no point hoping for the unchangeable with what I have on my plate. Well, perhaps we're not supposed to settle? Why wait till 5 days before unwinding? For the busy and well-occupied, what's the possibility of disciplining oneself to come away from a day's work, and look to the source of your strength and rest, whatever works? No such luxury? Or perhaps there could be a more feasible alternative? Hmmm... I think I know what I need to do ;) So how as the short weekend been for me, then? On Saturday, cell group had a BBQ session at one of the members' condo - The...

Went to watch a movie with an ex-colleague cum dance buddy just now. We had a blast. Mamma Mia! was filled with all the ABBA songs that we always look forward to at jam and hop in school when she was still with us. I love Meryl Streep. She was the main reason why I wanted to watch this show in the first place. You see, I'm not really a musical fan. Cos singing when you're supposed to speak your lines in a conversation just doesn't sit well with me. Even when it comes to opera, which I'm learning to appreciate for other reason, it still requires a bit of getting used to. Some of the singing scenes in the movie I thought were rather 'cheesily' done, but they weren't that bad. The storyline and acting really gave fresh perspectives to the lyrics of those familiar tunes, and I found myself strangely able to identify with the words for most of the songs. Some parts were really hilarious and we couldn't stop laughing. The singing was good. Even Brosnan, whom a...

Last night I watched a video posted by a church friend about America's Got Talent featuring this girl Jessica Price. What she said made me cry. Somehow it stirred up some emotion and reminded me of something that's taken away from me. The crying gave me puffy eyes when I woke up. But what made me stayed at home this morning was the headache that came with it. Haiyah, stop dwelling in self-pity, can? But I think that's what a lot of people do - whine over things that they suffered. Sometimes I'm tempted to do it, and sometimes I actually indulge myself for a while. Perhaps it's ok to whine sometimes, just don't let it stop you from doing the more important things before you. Pity parties may help if the process and the pain make you learn from your past. But if you overdo it, you'll be more miserable and you make those around you miserable, too. Then it becomes counter effective. It's easier said than done. But must try. Everything happens for a reason. S...

So like I expected, my nephews and nieces 'congregated' in my room after the birthday feast last night. As I said I would, I let them play with Touch. So one of the older ones started exploring with it and decided to show me a few really cute YouTube videos. Let me just share a few of 'em with you... KICK HIS ASS! SERIOUS BABY BLUDDDDAAHH!!!

I'm managing better than I thought, even though there are still a lot of getting used to. It's interesting how one event happening around a person can cause so many changes and adjustments in one's life, and sometimes even in the lives of others. I guess that's how people are connected to one another, whether you like it or not. Places I used to go to, driving routes I used to take, things I used to do, events I used to attend, places I used to eat at, what I used to spend my time and money on, things I used to look out for, opinions I used to look forward to to stimulate thoughts about myself and my God, that sense of assurance I used to depend on; the list goes on. But I'll learn to deal with it. The only thing that is constant in life is change. If you refuse to adapt, you'll be very miserable. Thankfully, God never changes. "God is good, and His mercy endures forever!" A good reminder in service today. What a faithful God we serve! This afternoon a...

Feeling kinda lazy to walk out for lunch. Didn't sleep well so feeling tired. Later going for a follow-up appointment at CGH. Probably I'll grab a bite during the usual long wait. Bade farewell to 2 students yesterday. One to overseas student internship programme and the other to NS enlistment. The latter has been temping at our dept for a few months and yesterday was his last day at work. Will remember the 2 phrases he always uses (which some of us have adopted) - "shi de" (that's right) and "tai bang le" (great!). He says it in a very calm way. Correction, he says everything in a calm way, even in a not-so-calm situation. Haha... Walked really far to get lunch at the airport - from one end of T2 to the other end of T3, literally. I was like thinking to myself (now no longer to myself, I guess), are we there yet, are we there yet??? Haha...I've never been to T3 mah. Maybe that triggered the old sore on my left foot and I'm still feeling it now. ...

2 songs that have successfully given me a good laugh over the past few days to counter the dark cloud over my blood pump. Abuden (formerly known as Ese Sentimiento Calido) By Budak Pantai From The Album - Assorted Nuts Abuden (formerly known as Ese Sentimiento Calido) - Budak Pantai ABBA Medley (Delhi Mix) By Budak Pantai From The Album - Assorted Nuts ABBA Medley (Delhi Mix) - Budak Pantai This one blew the cloud away and brought the sunshine... Who Am I By Casting Crowns Verse 1: Who am I That the Lord of all the earth Would care to know my name Would care to feel my hurt Who am I That the Bright and Morning Star Would choose to light the way For my ever wandering heart Pre-Chorus: Not because of who I am But because of what You've done Not because of what I've done But because of who You are Chorus: I am a flower quickly fading Here today and gone tomorrow A wave tossed in the ocean A vapor in the wind Still You hear me when I'm calling Lord, You catch me when I'm fa...

I feel that my heart is tearing apart. Don't really know how to explain it, and why exactly. Of course I know what's triggering it, but the underlying reason seems a bit more complex and multi-faceted than what I'm able to handle all at once. In our commonly-understood social context, perhaps the 'trigger' might be frown upon by the narrow-minded. When can I find someone whom I can trust, AND who will not plunge the flag of his/her moral compass into my heart? Or maybe I'm just refusing to be comforted. Sometimes it's not the confiding that we need, but there's only that someone that we want to confide in. No one else will do. I need to know the truth, as only the truth can truly liberate. Even if the truth and my correct response to it might hurt, and I'm scared. Somehow I have a feeling that the pain is inevitable for this one. But as long as I do not allow self-pity to set in, I'm sure the process would not be prolonged unnecessarily. So I...

So it arrived just after 11am today. I was still at Cyber Centre reviving the old when my new one arrived at my office reception. So you can imagine how excited I was when my counter staff told me the good news. She knew I was expecting it to come in tomorrow. So I was exclaiming as I ran towards my desk. Like a kid I started opening the parcel, exploring my new toy. It was so chio, can...so now it's up and running, and even connected to my school and home internet. Next is to install office. So with all these excitement, I would have blogged about it much earlier had I not been 'hijacked' to go on a mission at IKEA. I knew it was not just a dinner invitation, sigh...ahaha! But I wish I had more time to window-shop, though. Wait time was longer than walk time. Well, I think I've been visiting that place too often, so not much new things to see, anyway. So it's back in action for Ben-Hur, despite its lack of drive, optically speaking. Thus from laptopless, I now have...

A quick one before I dash to my brother's house for his delicious home-cooked chicken rice. Have been rather disoriented since I became offline and laptopless for almost a week. Absence makes the heart grows fonder. I just collected Ben-Hur this morning but still can't get it fixed because my colleague forgot to bring his stuff to work today. Sigh...but at least I think I have all my stuff ready. Tomorrow will be the day of its revival. Still got to fix my portable HDD. Think it's infected. Argh!!! Can't wait for tomorrow... will be ordering Max and Touch online! Yay! This weekend would have been the worst hit if I didn't have Puccini's Turandot to look forward to on Saturday at Esplanade Theatre. Went to the opera with Jasmin and Kenneth. Was afraid that I might fall asleep from my last experience. I even deliberately took a nap just in case. Maybe the 45-minute shuteye did help cos I was really engaged throughout despite the heavy dinner at the Simply Peranaka...