If there's a sport that resembles skiing or snowboarding it'll have to be this. I'm really getting a kick out of wakeboarding. The last time I went was some 4 years ago, but when I tried it again last month, I realised I've been missing out all these years. And WOW.
I had a few false starts the first time, and I forgot how to get up. But I think, once you've got it, you don't really lose it. It's like riding a bicycle. After the first two splats, I finally managed to stay within the wake.
And the rush of the wind and the sounds of the boat ride in front of you and the fact that you are skimming water gives you a huge rush. There are only so many words I can use to explain this exhilarating feeling.
The second time, just yesterday, was even better. With the help of good old "Uncle Robert" the instructor, we managed to understand how to properly cross the wake, how to stand rod straight when crossing the left, how to bend when crossing the right, how to thrust your hip towards the handle, how to land lightly and absorb the shock before standing straight... ok these technicalities are boring. But in the second lesson, I managed to cross both wakes, return back to the inside of the wake and I skimmed the outside right next to the boat. When the boat did a u-turn, I was hanging on to the rope for dear life, but it was like being on a roller coaster. Only better. No safety handles, no seats and no safety net. Just a rope.
When I crossed the wake yesterday, there were a few moments when the board hit the wake and lifted straight up into the air. And when I landed back onto the water, there was a very neat pop sound. *GRINZ* And part of the thrill is losing control and feeling sort of wobbly, but then getting your sense of balance quickly such that you regain stability and you feel top of the world again. Yes, it's the same feeling as the one I had while skiing. (I ALSO LOVE SKIING).
Given, there were many splats. I had quite a few concussions. The first time, I felt sick the whole day after going into the water because of one awful thump in the head by the wake.
And then there are the floating debris and the obiquitous jellyfish. Every so often we would see one floating past the boat. And as you are submerged in the water waiting for the boat to get started, you feel a tad vulnerable knowing that you are probably in the same habitat as that blasted jellyfish.
But that was all worth it. Now I'm looking forward to my next lesson come Nov 4!
Must remember to bring my camera...
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Death of my Laptop - may Natalie R.I.P.
My beloved laptop died. It just decided to cough up the blue screen on Monday. And then it told me it was going to begin "initial dump of physical memory", at which point I couldn't watch anymore. I tried to resuscitate it, but then it started to make these grinding noises. Every grind brought about the slow steady destruction of every single file I had inside. I could see my pictures get ground away, jpg by jpg. It was heartbreaking.
And then it was sent for the full body works. But when it came back it just wasn't the same anymore. My codecs were all gone, my beautiful wallpaper with Ponte Vecchio stripped down, with the standard uniform Microsoft background in place. There were no picture to see, no movies to watch, no songs. No more Ares. No more Received Files from friends. No more diary entries. No more legal documents. And at this point, no Internet connection. It's like Robocop. I've gotten my laptop back. But it just isn't the same anymore.
And then it was sent for the full body works. But when it came back it just wasn't the same anymore. My codecs were all gone, my beautiful wallpaper with Ponte Vecchio stripped down, with the standard uniform Microsoft background in place. There were no picture to see, no movies to watch, no songs. No more Ares. No more Received Files from friends. No more diary entries. No more legal documents. And at this point, no Internet connection. It's like Robocop. I've gotten my laptop back. But it just isn't the same anymore.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Sheares Bridge Run
I signed up for the Army Half Marathon today... There was a booth right outside Hall 5, just where the World Climbing Competition was being held. It was like a sign. And the promoters were so eager...
So I signed up on behalf of Qinlong and myself. It's a good incentive to get myself fit and running again!!!
So I signed up on behalf of Qinlong and myself. It's a good incentive to get myself fit and running again!!!
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Wine Tasting
Hmmm... Did a wine tasting at Ponti Wines yesterday. Zach helped to organise the gathering. It was a hodge podge of friends from all over, including one or two whom I recognised. His uncle is a wine afficionado who buys wine by the cases. I had a good chat with him about Australian wines (I LOVE AUSTRALIA). It turns out that he is a Katnook Estate fan!
Yes I have been drinking. Quite a bit recently. I've discovered the wonders of tasting wine and trying to glean the various flavours and complexities within the wine. It's amazing how many layers can be deciphered from just one sip, one sniff, one whirl of the glass. Yes I sound pretentious. But the wine was just so good! There's really no other beverage (apart from coffee) that can intrigue me just as much. I am very impressed with his uncle, who certainly knows his wines very well. He even set up a wine portal for friends and other wine lovers. Zach himself knows how to appreciate wines. Thankfully I found a wine kaki in him!
Out of the 7 wines we tried yesterday, I have a particular fondness for the first one, the Sauvignon Blanc. With about 15% of Viognier, it has a fruity, viscose, "oily" quality that gives it some interesting depth. After that one introduction to Viognier, it got very easy to detect even the slightest tinge of the grape variety. I have to check it out a bit more... And I like the premier reds, the last 2. It went down so smoothly, with barely an aftertaste. Plus the bouquet was beautiful. I also like the Blend. I can't remember what it was a blend of, but I know there was some shiraz and cabernet in that one. Very interesting, how they mesh the various types of grape in one wine and yet it turns out so rounded and full-bodied...
Reminds me of Australia and my wonderful wine-tasting holiday in Coonowarra =)
Yes I have been drinking. Quite a bit recently. I've discovered the wonders of tasting wine and trying to glean the various flavours and complexities within the wine. It's amazing how many layers can be deciphered from just one sip, one sniff, one whirl of the glass. Yes I sound pretentious. But the wine was just so good! There's really no other beverage (apart from coffee) that can intrigue me just as much. I am very impressed with his uncle, who certainly knows his wines very well. He even set up a wine portal for friends and other wine lovers. Zach himself knows how to appreciate wines. Thankfully I found a wine kaki in him!
Out of the 7 wines we tried yesterday, I have a particular fondness for the first one, the Sauvignon Blanc. With about 15% of Viognier, it has a fruity, viscose, "oily" quality that gives it some interesting depth. After that one introduction to Viognier, it got very easy to detect even the slightest tinge of the grape variety. I have to check it out a bit more... And I like the premier reds, the last 2. It went down so smoothly, with barely an aftertaste. Plus the bouquet was beautiful. I also like the Blend. I can't remember what it was a blend of, but I know there was some shiraz and cabernet in that one. Very interesting, how they mesh the various types of grape in one wine and yet it turns out so rounded and full-bodied...
Reminds me of Australia and my wonderful wine-tasting holiday in Coonowarra =)
Friday, August 04, 2006
Floyd
I'm watching Floyd the drunken celebrity travel chef. Ahh, my stress reliever. It's hilarious to watch him get really high while he pretends to cook something fabulous. Even more hilarious is his attempt to modify the actual dish in the homeland of the dish. Eg: cooking his version of curry in India. Now Floyd is cooking in Denmark... Cooking paella.... hmmm.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Marathon?
I'm contemplating whether to join the Standard Chartered Marathon again. The thought process goes like this:
1) Standard Chartered, ya?
2) Which category? 21 or 42.195?
3) If I do 21, it feels somewhat anticlimax. If I do 42.195, I better get some good training, or else I'd DIE.
4) I don't have time I don't have time I don't have time.
5) I will have to wake up REALLY EARLY on saturdays.
I just took a look at D's timetable, snitched off the standard chartered website, and I completely freak out. It means u have to run practically everyday. Inside I laugh. No, actually I laugh out loud. What are the odds of completing such a routine? Can D do it? (hurhurhur)
If I do 42.195, I must clock in a good time. My time last year was 5h 18min, which wasn't too bad for me. So if I get a time which is way worse this year, that would completely suck and drain all the satisfaction I got from marathon 2005. My ego is v v big. OK, so maybe the answer is: no 42.195. But maybe 21km?
Hmm, maybe I should sign up for AHM first. But AHM? Do I have enough fitness to do AHM at a proficient pace now? (Inside I yell, NO. But my ego says YES)
OK, my ego wins. I'll do AHM. Think about standard chartered tomorrow.
1) Standard Chartered, ya?
2) Which category? 21 or 42.195?
3) If I do 21, it feels somewhat anticlimax. If I do 42.195, I better get some good training, or else I'd DIE.
4) I don't have time I don't have time I don't have time.
5) I will have to wake up REALLY EARLY on saturdays.
I just took a look at D's timetable, snitched off the standard chartered website, and I completely freak out. It means u have to run practically everyday. Inside I laugh. No, actually I laugh out loud. What are the odds of completing such a routine? Can D do it? (hurhurhur)
If I do 42.195, I must clock in a good time. My time last year was 5h 18min, which wasn't too bad for me. So if I get a time which is way worse this year, that would completely suck and drain all the satisfaction I got from marathon 2005. My ego is v v big. OK, so maybe the answer is: no 42.195. But maybe 21km?
Hmm, maybe I should sign up for AHM first. But AHM? Do I have enough fitness to do AHM at a proficient pace now? (Inside I yell, NO. But my ego says YES)
OK, my ego wins. I'll do AHM. Think about standard chartered tomorrow.
Sigh. I don't understand how, no matter how old I get, no matter how my outlook changes, and no matter how my interactions and my social circle expands and diversifies, the same problems will continue to plague me. People will still react towards u in the same way. No matter how much u think you have changed. Confidence, more developed opinions, changed perspectives, a more varied lifestyle, all comes down to nothing...
I've created some new friendships over the past few years. Some have fizzled; some have bloomed; others were on the verge of being a nice comfortable friendship. And then one day it just... disappears? How many have there been that just went on the same path? Am I overcomplicating things? I don't know why this is bugging me so much.
I've created some new friendships over the past few years. Some have fizzled; some have bloomed; others were on the verge of being a nice comfortable friendship. And then one day it just... disappears? How many have there been that just went on the same path? Am I overcomplicating things? I don't know why this is bugging me so much.
I'm back. It's been a long while, but I think the simple word, "WORK", vindicates me. It's been quite harrowing adjusting to my new responsibilities. People management, both upper and lower tier management, is a drain in itself. Not to mention, obligations to the client, what to do and what not to do, the PRs of the legal profession. I'm REALLY TIRED!!!
But I love my weekends. I'll willingly slog to the bone on weekdays in order to get my saturdays and sundays free, to go out and pretend that I have an alternate life, with alternate friends, and I don't even have to think about the office and my files, where I can become me again. I find myself behaving differently, because I have to assume a more assertive persona, a more demanding more aggressive stance. No one must know how much experience I actually have. And what better way to cover this up by not asking the first questions that come to my head; and to respond with full confidence although sometimes I myself am in doubt. Yes, I'm a fraudster. But thank God any mistakes were reparable. And as my seniors say, we all make boo boos.
Back to the weekends. Loved the lazy breakfast at Choupinette with Lee Si, and the gourmet deli shopping, zipping into Cellar Door and Culina, buying atas cheese and pestos, buying the mini chocolat noir tarts that I so loved in France. Loved the good old zi char at that place near Rail Mall, loved the wine place with all that wine sampling and the Italian deli and good old flowing conversation...
Loved the time spent with Lynn and the bridal gown shopping, loved the chalet and that silly but oh-so-fun Murderer game, plus supper. Loved sleeping at 6am and waking up at 1pm(deja vu, I felt like I was back in hall).
I'm a planner. I can't help it. I already planned my next Friday and Saturday. It's a good plan, and hopefully it'll get executed, unlike my Wine Network plans last saturday that got cancelled for Le P'tit Breton. OK, not being atas here, but the crepes were really good!! Brings back wonderful (but disgusting memories for a certain travel mate) memories wolfing down nutella crepe after nutella crepe (and the odd savoury mushroom one) in Paris 2 yrs ago!!!
But I love my weekends. I'll willingly slog to the bone on weekdays in order to get my saturdays and sundays free, to go out and pretend that I have an alternate life, with alternate friends, and I don't even have to think about the office and my files, where I can become me again. I find myself behaving differently, because I have to assume a more assertive persona, a more demanding more aggressive stance. No one must know how much experience I actually have. And what better way to cover this up by not asking the first questions that come to my head; and to respond with full confidence although sometimes I myself am in doubt. Yes, I'm a fraudster. But thank God any mistakes were reparable. And as my seniors say, we all make boo boos.
Back to the weekends. Loved the lazy breakfast at Choupinette with Lee Si, and the gourmet deli shopping, zipping into Cellar Door and Culina, buying atas cheese and pestos, buying the mini chocolat noir tarts that I so loved in France. Loved the good old zi char at that place near Rail Mall, loved the wine place with all that wine sampling and the Italian deli and good old flowing conversation...
Loved the time spent with Lynn and the bridal gown shopping, loved the chalet and that silly but oh-so-fun Murderer game, plus supper. Loved sleeping at 6am and waking up at 1pm(deja vu, I felt like I was back in hall).
I'm a planner. I can't help it. I already planned my next Friday and Saturday. It's a good plan, and hopefully it'll get executed, unlike my Wine Network plans last saturday that got cancelled for Le P'tit Breton. OK, not being atas here, but the crepes were really good!! Brings back wonderful (but disgusting memories for a certain travel mate) memories wolfing down nutella crepe after nutella crepe (and the odd savoury mushroom one) in Paris 2 yrs ago!!!
Monday, June 05, 2006
Friendship is a compromise. Or it entails some sort of accommodation. If not, some sharing would enable the other to understand what one is going through. But it is sometimes impossible for another to know if the other doesn't share. If one cuts others out. If one suddenly cuts the other out without nary an explanation, how would the other know what is going on? One cannot keep taking. Nuff said.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Birthdays and musings
I've given up on finding a nice blogskin for my blog. The intention was to find something original, something that wasn't available for all Blogspot bloggers. But I realise there's a reason why so many people just stick to the templates provided. They are dummy proof!!! I've toggled with the html, read countless of blog help sites and finally came to the conclusion that.... I'm too lazy and have too little time to make it perfect. So, for the time being, it's back to blogspot.
My birthday this year has been great. Meeting up with old friends, even sans presents, has been nice because meeting up is such a rarity nowadays. Presents are second priority, the meeting up is what makes it heartwarming because people are taking time out of their schedules and arranging to meet up. This weekend, we went to Amalfi, we being some of us hall mates. The Butter factory plan with some sec sch friends was scrapped to stay on with my hall friends. We trooped off to karaoke, which frankly, can be a bit of a downer when everyone is tired! Heh but at least we tried valiantly to maintain our social life in the midst of all that work!
Today we went to Joo Chiat, we this time referring to other hall mates. This has become somewhat of a familiar spot. I've been coming more and more lately, but no complaints. I love this area of Singapore, where the old meets the new. True Blue is an interesting restaurant. But I actually preferred the pongteh dishes in Ivins more than the one here... What was interesting was the banana flower salad dish. We were eating flower petals!
I find myself having to reevaluate my relationships around me. I place priorities on some and added to that comes expectations. When they fail to meet them, it makes me really disappointed. But sometimes these are small things which should come naturally, which I feel I am entitled to. So should I reevaluate the whole friendship, or should I reconcile myself with my tendency to over-expect? And then again, maybe I think too much. Birthdays make you expect, and they make you think about how some friends failed to deliver. But on the other hand, they touch you because certain friends go out of their way to just be there for you. Thank you you all. You know who you are.
Felt a bit down today because of Issue No. 1. Yes, I've mentally made a list of things that are of concern to me right now. And this translated in some hefty retail therapy. This is really very dangerous. I bought an iPOD video and some Zara er, things, in 1.5 hours while waiting for Zach. OK, to redeem myself, the iPOD was only going to be a matter of time, whether today or next week. And there WAS a sale on at the apple centre. But the extra Zara skirt was partly because I was feeling low. But really, time to remember that the saving must start. As Joey said, it's time to develop the hobby of collecting money=)
5 June is also my D-Day. The OFFICIAL start of my litigation career. I am appearing in court!
My birthday this year has been great. Meeting up with old friends, even sans presents, has been nice because meeting up is such a rarity nowadays. Presents are second priority, the meeting up is what makes it heartwarming because people are taking time out of their schedules and arranging to meet up. This weekend, we went to Amalfi, we being some of us hall mates. The Butter factory plan with some sec sch friends was scrapped to stay on with my hall friends. We trooped off to karaoke, which frankly, can be a bit of a downer when everyone is tired! Heh but at least we tried valiantly to maintain our social life in the midst of all that work!
Today we went to Joo Chiat, we this time referring to other hall mates. This has become somewhat of a familiar spot. I've been coming more and more lately, but no complaints. I love this area of Singapore, where the old meets the new. True Blue is an interesting restaurant. But I actually preferred the pongteh dishes in Ivins more than the one here... What was interesting was the banana flower salad dish. We were eating flower petals!
I find myself having to reevaluate my relationships around me. I place priorities on some and added to that comes expectations. When they fail to meet them, it makes me really disappointed. But sometimes these are small things which should come naturally, which I feel I am entitled to. So should I reevaluate the whole friendship, or should I reconcile myself with my tendency to over-expect? And then again, maybe I think too much. Birthdays make you expect, and they make you think about how some friends failed to deliver. But on the other hand, they touch you because certain friends go out of their way to just be there for you. Thank you you all. You know who you are.
Felt a bit down today because of Issue No. 1. Yes, I've mentally made a list of things that are of concern to me right now. And this translated in some hefty retail therapy. This is really very dangerous. I bought an iPOD video and some Zara er, things, in 1.5 hours while waiting for Zach. OK, to redeem myself, the iPOD was only going to be a matter of time, whether today or next week. And there WAS a sale on at the apple centre. But the extra Zara skirt was partly because I was feeling low. But really, time to remember that the saving must start. As Joey said, it's time to develop the hobby of collecting money=)
5 June is also my D-Day. The OFFICIAL start of my litigation career. I am appearing in court!
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Thank you
thanks to the lovely people who made my birthday sweet and fun this year=) There were few expectations, so it was really great. It's a bit of a downer to be one year older... I had always been excited previously - the start of a new year rings in a new year of possibilities and lessons to learn. But this time was really blah. I feel OLD. Not wiser, not even improved in any way. Just my morose whiny self. Haha.
God bless you all. Thank you so much once again!
God bless you all. Thank you so much once again!
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Back from the Hiatus
I left Singapore for Melbourne exhausted. Working really sucks up one's youth and energy and there comes a point when u really really need a break. And Melbourne really did it for me. The trip was so great. All that shopping, all that sitting around and bumming around quaint coffee shops, sipping piping hot frothy mocha and cake piled high, all that wine-sampling and fine weather.... I came back a happy trooper.
Melbourne is a wonderful place to live, even if just an average place for tourists. Knowing locals made it so much better. We were introduced to the best food and shopping places. And the nicest places to hang out in on weekends. We travelled to Coonawarra for gourmet dining and we hopped from winery to winery sampling a large range of wines. We were eyeing the Katnook Merlot, but decided to settle for the Samuel Port from Wynns Estate instead. At Piper's, we had the wonderful eye fillet steak with beef cheeks tartlet and warm chocolate pudding... In Melbourne itself, my sister and I strolled down Williamstown and discovered the perfect koogelhopf (we even bought the entire cake back). Coffee is to die for. We also happily gambled, at Crown Casino. And watched, with great apathy, the ever popular LOAGIES take place amidst much hyperventilating from Aussie TV fans. Arrived home with a greater appreciation for costume jewellery, diamonds, alcohol and higher standards for what constitutes good coffee.
I came back to work feeling like I could work at full throttle... But the mood lasted a good 24 hrs. I lost the "glow"very quickly, that energised look was swept clean after just a day. And it wasn't even a particularly busy week. In fact, I've been enjoying my new room, getting used to my new premises, meeting up with and chatting with people, celebrating birthdays, going for teas... Life has been good. Haha. Now that I'm billable, suddenly others have to think a little before assigning work to me. But I expect next week will be unpredictable.
Today was the start of the birthday celebrations=) And yay, I got Zara vouchers! Now to find things to buy... It has been a very mild week... Like the calm before a storm. A lot of time for myself to contemplate, to do the solitary things that I enjoy, to just sit... and mull. But mulling can be detrimental too. Sooner or later the thoughts will start to plague me and I have to get busy again.
Melbourne is a wonderful place to live, even if just an average place for tourists. Knowing locals made it so much better. We were introduced to the best food and shopping places. And the nicest places to hang out in on weekends. We travelled to Coonawarra for gourmet dining and we hopped from winery to winery sampling a large range of wines. We were eyeing the Katnook Merlot, but decided to settle for the Samuel Port from Wynns Estate instead. At Piper's, we had the wonderful eye fillet steak with beef cheeks tartlet and warm chocolate pudding... In Melbourne itself, my sister and I strolled down Williamstown and discovered the perfect koogelhopf (we even bought the entire cake back). Coffee is to die for. We also happily gambled, at Crown Casino. And watched, with great apathy, the ever popular LOAGIES take place amidst much hyperventilating from Aussie TV fans. Arrived home with a greater appreciation for costume jewellery, diamonds, alcohol and higher standards for what constitutes good coffee.
I came back to work feeling like I could work at full throttle... But the mood lasted a good 24 hrs. I lost the "glow"very quickly, that energised look was swept clean after just a day. And it wasn't even a particularly busy week. In fact, I've been enjoying my new room, getting used to my new premises, meeting up with and chatting with people, celebrating birthdays, going for teas... Life has been good. Haha. Now that I'm billable, suddenly others have to think a little before assigning work to me. But I expect next week will be unpredictable.
Today was the start of the birthday celebrations=) And yay, I got Zara vouchers! Now to find things to buy... It has been a very mild week... Like the calm before a storm. A lot of time for myself to contemplate, to do the solitary things that I enjoy, to just sit... and mull. But mulling can be detrimental too. Sooner or later the thoughts will start to plague me and I have to get busy again.
Monday, April 10, 2006
I am just going to cut to the chase here. No point being cryptic.
I don't know what's going on, but having the pall of grief hanging over my community was so bad once. Now to have it hit twice in less than 3 months... And I just realised that the first time I had any contact with these 2 people was when we went jogging at the retreat in Sembawang, at the campsite. Now 2 of them are gone.
The deja vu is stifling. JW's "and here we go again" still rings in my head. Both happened on Saturday. Both memorial services were on Sunday. Both funerals would be on Tuesday. Both in Mandai. The spiritual father and spiritual son have reunited so quickly.
And I can't help hearing a voice in my head, and I don't know if it comes from God. This voice asks if I love Him enough to give up my life for His cause. And I cannot say Yes yet. This voice asks if I'm ready to play my part in the great commission, whether or not it involves dying before my time. There's too much to anticipate, too much to look forward to. Just one month ago, my sis woke up with a very bad dream and the very heavy burden to pray for my protection. She told me she sensed danger coming my way. The whole of yesterday, I couldn't help looking around me in church, wondering what would come next. So many have been getting sick. There has been internal strife. Death has already struck. What worse thing could be thrown our way?
We must be doing something wonderful and powerful for the devil to be so afraid that he has to attempt to wage some spiritual battle with us. In fact, I think we are going to emerge much stronger and more united for it. Because we have shared so much grief together. It's really a cement. I never thought our network was really united because we are actually quite a disparate bunch. The various groups are just so different. But grief provides a commonality. And I feel so much more attuned and aware that this is a real war. The spiritual realm is very much amongst us, no matter how oblivious we are to it.
Our bodies expire, but we don't. Our souls will continue to live long and hard. This is just the trial phase, our baby steps. In a sense, if someone were to leave this earth prematurely, maybe it's because God has decided that he's learnt how to walk. I can't help remembering the friends I've known that have passed away young. When I do, I always remember how they were when they were flushed and alive. And laughing. Or sharing good conversation. But these memories will be coloured by my memories of the wake. Of all the crying and the shock. Always I remember that, more than I actually remember their lives.
Rationally, I understand that this life is merely temporary, and we have a whole lifetime after we shed our earthly shell. But I always feel robbed and cheated when someone young slips away. He didn't live his whole life out, I would think. It was cut short. If I were only able to not perceive it as being a life "cut short", but merely the end of that person's life as it was supposed to be, I would be more accepting of death at any age.
I don't know what's going on, but having the pall of grief hanging over my community was so bad once. Now to have it hit twice in less than 3 months... And I just realised that the first time I had any contact with these 2 people was when we went jogging at the retreat in Sembawang, at the campsite. Now 2 of them are gone.
The deja vu is stifling. JW's "and here we go again" still rings in my head. Both happened on Saturday. Both memorial services were on Sunday. Both funerals would be on Tuesday. Both in Mandai. The spiritual father and spiritual son have reunited so quickly.
And I can't help hearing a voice in my head, and I don't know if it comes from God. This voice asks if I love Him enough to give up my life for His cause. And I cannot say Yes yet. This voice asks if I'm ready to play my part in the great commission, whether or not it involves dying before my time. There's too much to anticipate, too much to look forward to. Just one month ago, my sis woke up with a very bad dream and the very heavy burden to pray for my protection. She told me she sensed danger coming my way. The whole of yesterday, I couldn't help looking around me in church, wondering what would come next. So many have been getting sick. There has been internal strife. Death has already struck. What worse thing could be thrown our way?
We must be doing something wonderful and powerful for the devil to be so afraid that he has to attempt to wage some spiritual battle with us. In fact, I think we are going to emerge much stronger and more united for it. Because we have shared so much grief together. It's really a cement. I never thought our network was really united because we are actually quite a disparate bunch. The various groups are just so different. But grief provides a commonality. And I feel so much more attuned and aware that this is a real war. The spiritual realm is very much amongst us, no matter how oblivious we are to it.
Our bodies expire, but we don't. Our souls will continue to live long and hard. This is just the trial phase, our baby steps. In a sense, if someone were to leave this earth prematurely, maybe it's because God has decided that he's learnt how to walk. I can't help remembering the friends I've known that have passed away young. When I do, I always remember how they were when they were flushed and alive. And laughing. Or sharing good conversation. But these memories will be coloured by my memories of the wake. Of all the crying and the shock. Always I remember that, more than I actually remember their lives.
Rationally, I understand that this life is merely temporary, and we have a whole lifetime after we shed our earthly shell. But I always feel robbed and cheated when someone young slips away. He didn't live his whole life out, I would think. It was cut short. If I were only able to not perceive it as being a life "cut short", but merely the end of that person's life as it was supposed to be, I would be more accepting of death at any age.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Love Languages
The Five Love Languages
My primary love language is probablyQuality Time
with a secondary love language being
Physical Touch.
Complete set of results
| Quality Time: | 12 | |
| Physical Touch: | 6 | |
| Words of Affirmation: | 5 | |
| Acts of Service: | 4 | |
| Receiving Gifts: | 3 |
Information
Unhappiness in relationships, according to Dr. Gary Chapman, is often due to the fact that we speak different love languages. Sometimes we don't understand our partner's requirements, or even our own. We all have a "love tank" that needs to be filled in order for us to express love to others, but there are different means by which our tank can be filled, and there are different ways that we can express love to others.Take the quiz
Sunday, April 02, 2006
In Between
There is this world where people talk of champagne brunches and fast cars and chanel bags. The girls are elegant, poised, flawless, polished, nary a hair in place. The guys are smooth, confident, intelligent. Ideas, information, wit, trivia, networking... they all matter.
Then there is this other world where all these things don't matter. And the abovementioned sets you apart. "High maintenance" they call it. "The English one" they say. "The very dressed up one", they label.
Then there is this other world where all these things don't matter. And the abovementioned sets you apart. "High maintenance" they call it. "The English one" they say. "The very dressed up one", they label.
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