Wonder why sometimes people are so serious all the time. Being in such a serious is both stiffling and has made me a bore. Grr.. Only avenue of madness is intranet chat (dn care if someone actually tracks our crappy conversations). But yes, my only way to stay less sane in an overly-sane environment.

Hmm which also explains why I'm chilling out at home, too tired to move from last nite's crazy mid-week ktv with the girls, and wondering what brainless movie I shld watch online.

was walking home frm the bus stop when i had the sudden urge to grab a tennis racquet in my hand and smack the tennis ball against the wall.. had a sudden adrenaline rush to start playing sports - tennis or rugby..! ahhh!

Wah it's the start of this frenzy of weddings again. Havta attend Boon Keng and Yvonne's one this wk, two wks later is Pauline and her erm.. Can't remember her fiance's name. Never met either. Thankfully (in some sense) Jocelyn didn't invite me to her wedding dinner in Oct. Haha! It's like what my colleague said, he kena one red bomb and I kena the other red bomb from our batch of joiners. *faint* it's the craze over having wedding dinners. Just checked out facebook today and realised another of my colleague also got married recently. Think hotels have not bad business.. If anyone's gonna invite me, pls hint to me earlier then I can save. Haha! Kidding. I'm all happy to join in the fun..

Yawn.. Absolutely tired this morning. Can't imagine how I overslept this morning and almost ran late until my dad gave me a surprise lift to work. Yeah, so tired now that I'm having a headache. Must be the terrible nightmare.. So tempted to take half-day off..

Watched this really touching video of a father enduring all things, bringing his son with him on this journey no matter how hard it is. Truly inspirational and touching - just like how our Father carries us so lovingly along our life's journey.

Bring out the tissue papers and hankies ppl.. More at http://www.godtube.com/

The past 6 days have been SWEET! Got to spend rare and lovely times with ya. Hee, really a very rare treat. Love it! Can't wait to take more days off or half-days again. Take care in camp!

I so love shutterfly. Beats facebook a thousand times for photo uploading. Yep, I'm not quite a camera whore.. I've only got old photos in my PC. Well, anyway they're finally uploaded.

Sheesh, how different we all used to look last time..

Strangely, it took a bus driver to realise I wasn't smiling and staring into space the whole journey back. Had got on the bus listening to music, so didn't notice that the bus driver was trying to talk to me until sth caught the corner of my eye. Well, I took off my earphones and chatted briefly with her; talking about things like how our city life has made us all tired. Everyone's going home late, spending less time at home and just repeating our cycles travelling to and from work.

Hmm although this wasn't exactly what I was mulling about on my journey home, this is one of the topics parked somewhere in my head which I think about when alone. Guess this is how I keep my brain active - thinking about things all the time.

Anyway what I was actually doing was re-playing what I had done (notice how I'm not using the word "accomplish) the past 24 hours. Wonder if I'm just a digit or figure of existence in the world or in people's lives. The world moves on without you, people can continue their lives without you. Not much difference whether or not you're around. Hmm I suppose this might be a little different for family, loved ones and close friends. But by and large, this is probably quite true. Which is why our real worth is not as a person on this earth but as a child of God.

Random thought: it brings me much joy to see children smile and laugh cos these are from the bottom of their heart. Just smile when you feel like smiling, frown when you feel like it. Not like how adults are; having to contain sometimes your frustration, smiling when you really feel like just giving a blank look. Nah, am just in a melancholic mode recently.

Might just take a day off to space out on my own. Go ECP, Botanic Gardens or just stroll along some park (if I know how to get there). That said, I'm sure I'll never get down to doing it becos I keep procrastinating my leave-taking. Gee, I really shld subscribe to my colleague's belief in taking quarterly breaks to refresh myself. Meanwhile, I'll space out in my dreams..

Irritating SQ website is not working when I want to redeem miles for the coming Bali trip. Grr... Why must it not work now? Sucha bad timing..

Anyway I'm so looking forward to holidays. Hmm maybe I shld make it a point to go for annual trips - regional or not regional. Just go somewhere to unwind. After Bali will be Spain/Greece! Found another kaki with same travelling pattern and hostel-loving kind. Haha!

Ok, back to trying my luck with stupid SQ website.. :(

Wow, just realised how loooonnngg ago was the last blog entry. Yep, working peeps don't hv much time or even energy to blog. Besides, our lives are boring. Like hamsters going through the routine of life - wake up, get to work, take lunch, work again, get home, sleep (repeat).

Must start thinking of holiday and psyching myself up cos as it is, my horizon looks endlessly dull. Haha. Need to think of work in little packets like how Jonathan does it - work hard and dive hard (only that I can't dive).

Hmm, I'll dream abt my exotic holiday for a start in lala land first. Then I'll try making it happen in time to come. Heh.. Not thinking of going Germany tonite after hearing Pete's 'sausage-making' story. Yikes...

Having hiccups like nobody's business after talking to Pete over the phone just a minute ago. Feeling like a baby that needs burping after a meal. Anyone to burp me? Haha, kidding. But seriously, this bout of hiccups is driving me crazy. 30 seconds haven't passed without a hiccup. No matter how much I drink or the old wives' tale of trying to hold my breath, that loud "hic!" is still around. Gosh.. Oh well, I'll just watch silly Ch5 programmes and wish that the hiccups disappear in no time.

Had quite an eventful journey from church to Marina Square today. Was on the road towards Marina via the CBD area, where I had to inch closely to some p-plate car with a whole load of teenage guys. Because of the road works outside Lau Par Sat, I had to inch closer to that car in front of me so that the van behind wouldn't be stuck in a middle of a traffic light junction. Yup, there I was trying to be nice n inching slowly until one of the young pucks stuck his middle finger out of the car window and at me. Grr... There I was behind some young punks and in my van with Dora. We were both shocked. Irritating young boys..

Not only young boys who can be irritating, old men can be too. Well, I made my way safely to Marina Square and was inside the car park trying to find a lot. Got lucky and found a lot but due to space constraints I had to squeeze at a corner so that the previous car could exit. I was reversing and trying to get into the lot safely when some old uncle just zoomed straight in and took my lot. I was appalled. Dora sat beside me wondering why I didn't horn that bugger or even scolded him. Well I guess I didn't wanna pick up a fight - quite typical of me. So I end up suffering by having to turn around the carpark again and again for another 15-20mins because of this lot that someone snatched from me. Grr.. Old men!

Sigh, boys of all ages can drive you up the wall. Sometimes being nice just allows myself to be taken for a ride. Hrumph!

Anyway back home and facing 2 teenage boys at home. Thankfully they're engaged in their respective computer games and not bothering me. Haha, good that they are rather quiet.

Hmm went for the long-awaited gathering w Qinlei last night. Rou already had some bday celebration with her friends, so by the time she ended (which was like 12.30am) we told her not to come cos Indochine was abt to close.

Anway so I still owe Qinlei a gathering at Timbre cos gun-cheong spider me thought it wld rain cos it started drizzling while we were in the queue. Yup, so we left and ended up at Orchard shopping n makan-ing.

I picked up all the nice dresses and asked her to try n show me. Grr... she kept avoiding the topic. Keep walking away frm me. Wong Qinlei, you better wear one n lemme see!

And she gave me the biggest bomb on our way back - asked me to drive her mom's car cos she was a bit groggy after drinking. I freaked out completely. Didn't dare look at her while I was driving. Eyes all peeled on the road. Thank goodness the roads were v quiet the whole journey back. And she was right to lemme drive cos there the traffic police was on the road summoning another guy for speeding. Hahah slow coach me trotted along at 70km/h the whole way back.

Anyway driving the car was quite funny. When we first left the carpark, I cldn't adjust to the sensitivity of her brakes and ended up doing a pseudo-E brake. Hahah she laughed at me and I panicked. Thankfully I managed to get a sense of it quite quickly. But my gawd, I was so scared the whole way home.

Hmm my arms are aching frm gym. Shall stop typing n put on the deep heat frm Pete. Pain pain.. Feels like I'm going back to rugby training n worse. Only that the gym instructor is a tad more smiley than Rong Jing Xing.

Tonight's Starry Starry Night marks YZ's 1st ever evangelistic garage band concert. Praise the Lord that everything went on smoothly. We had 2 salvation and 3 who indicated interest to know more abt Christ! Whee! All glory to God cos everyone were just the hands and feet to do His work; not ours.

This is also the 3rd gig we had in YZ. First was in 1998, the Waaahh concert which was a 70's theme. Second was in 2000, the Millenium concert which was more funk age. And now is the most big scale concert, with 100 over youths. Amazing..

Well the seeds have been sown (although I wished I had a chance to share, but somehow the youths at my table were not interested) so now we await God's perfect time to let those seeds grow and take fruit.

It was a good ride back home with Fred tonight. Although I was a little sian that we didn't join the rest for supper, I guess it was good time alone with him. Hahah, after he complained that I haven't been spending time with him as much nowadays. Got to talk abt his experience serving in a larger capacity this time round, and also learning how to juggle between demands in school and responsibilites in church. Fred also shared how Charles was telling him and the other guys that doing background work such as logistics was much 'safer' than those on the stage - because it's doing these things that you really serve God and is less likely to be carried away with personal pride. I thought it was amazing sharing from Charles (once again :P) and it was good that he shared with Fred, cos I cld see that Fred's perspective about service has changed dramatically. I hope it'll be something permanent and not just a 'spiritual high' that's temporary. Besides praying for the young ppl who have heard the gospel, Fred will top my prayer list. :)

Hmm it's time to take a rest and get ready for tomorrow's service. Wish it will be a laid-back Sunday after service so that can spend more time with Pork Chop, cos it's going to be yet another wk where we're like guys in army who only book out on wkends. Bleah. But then again, there's Starry Starry Night briefing. Wonder how long it'll take... Sigh, just live with it lor. Time is limited..

Can't believe yesterday was Eat with Your Family Day at work and I left work 2 hours after our official time off. I was probably one of the few pathetic souls left in office. Yucks, whole journey home felt so sian. Everyone's taking the opposite train to start the wkend chill out and I'm going home. Ok, only plus point was my mom was nice enough to help me dye my hair and I just watched TV with my brother as he was playing games. Anyway the dye didn't work - my hair's as black as ever. Maybe I shld just hv a bright blond streak like how I always wanted to try for fun. But then again, it's not a common sight at work and I'll stick out like a sore thumb. Bleah. Ok, I'll do that another time. No pink streaks cos they fade too quickly. Haha.. Randomness.

Life is so fragile. One day you're going to school, next moment the school collapses on you and that's it. End of the journey and no chance to see the world. I can't say for sure whether it's good - that you're back with God sooner, or that you've missed out on seeing more of God's creation..

But this doesn't change the bottomline; which is to appreciate the people and things around us while we can. Even as people stress over their worldly pursuits (money, career, house, car, club, prestige...) these aren't going to last. Imagine having the nicest and grandest house in the hit area of Suzhou or Myanmar. Whatever you've worked so hard for, or even gave up precious parts of your life for, is crushed and reduced to rubble in a matter of seconds. Is the satisfaction or joy that you had such posessions enough to see you thru the agony of losing the family when a tragedy happens?

I dont' think we even need to tread to the end of a natural disaster to realise that such pursuits are frivolous, temporary and empty. Just take a look at funeral wakes and you'll realise that there's absolutely no difference in the way a rich or poor leaves this world. We all just go back empty handed. Sounds cliche? But that's a fact of life.

I'd rather choose a close-knit family, love-filled, God-filled and meaningful life than an ostentatious life of the rich and famous. Hrmph, the rich have their problems too. Fewer possessions, fewer problems. Life is simple.

just when i'm whining about work and how i wanna laze, the scripture reading in today's devotion has reminded me to choose to be responsible and follow through the piece of work. guess God always knows when i start whining and immediately points it straight back at my face. but that's in a gd way - keeps me from being a 'soft and fluffy' believer who thinks i can get away with things..

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From Our Daily Bread:

I Don’t Feel Like It (Matthew 21:28-32)
He answered and said, “I will not,” but afterward he regretted it and went. —Matthew 21:29

Have you ever faced an unwanted chore and felt as if it were the last thing on earth you wanted to do? Mowing the lawn, doing the wash, cleaning the house, or even preparing a Sunday school lesson after an exhausting week can make us feel like procrastinating.
When this happens, my wife and I have a motto we repeat to each other: "I don’t feel like it—but I’m going to do it anyway." There is something about recognizing our lack of motivation and then choosing to be responsible that helps us follow through.
God’s value on faith and obedience can be seen in the parables of Jesus. Christ spoke about two sons who were asked to work in the vineyard. The first said no, but "afterward he regretted it and went" (Matt. 21:29). The second said yes but did not follow through. Then the Lord asked His listeners, "Which of the two did the will of his father?" (v.31). The obvious answer is the one who finished the task.
Our Lord’s illustration underscores a key spiritual principle. God is interested in our faith and obedience—not just our good intentions. Next time you are tempted to shirk your duties, why not say, "I don’t feel like it," and then ask God for the grace to do it anyway. — Dennis Fisher

O help us, Lord, to heed Your Word,

Its precepts to obey;

And give us strength to quench the urge

To do things our own way. —Sper
Obedience is faith in action.

nice blog template that reminds me to remember who i am in God's eyes. thank God that Shann was back in church briefly on saturday! credit to rach and sophie who made a surprise visit at Shann's place after BS. guess i've gotta spend more one-on-one time with the girls or arrange group outings like we used to last time :)

Taking a long wkend break is wonderful.. To take things slow and look at things around you. Went for the long-awaited cycling trip at East Coast with Pork Chop yesterday - amazing! The whole trip was really enjoyable. Taking in the things which we seldom see in the concrete city. Wondering why I never seem to have seen such lovely places in Singapore. No skyscrapers but nice sea view and greenery. Wished we just kept cycling and never got back to the city life.

Thanks for going with me Pork Chop!

Singapore's public transport is lousy to the core.. There's no frequent or even regular cycle for busses or trains and it's getting more expensive (check out SMRT's announcement on its bottomline today). Mere peasants like us are told to have confidence in our 'reliable' public transport system, but somehow I've had to leave my home 20mins earlier so that I can be at work early. If I had left just a little later, I'd end up late for work. Even so-called 'premium' busses don't work.

Need to gripe about the public transport cos I stood from the MRT right up to the bus ride home today. It was over an hour on heels, carrying my laptop. Now my lousy and frail backbone is aching. Sigh, even more tiring than running 2-over km on the treadmill. Thank goodness I was on the other end of the train carriage; unlike some very unfortunate lady who was stuck in the midst of many blangah workers (not that I'm being racist, but it's always very uncomfortable for a lady).

Meanwhile, I'll just bear with the public transport cos mere civillians like us can't do much except writing complaint letters which probably gets tossed into the trash bins.