Teochew Opera
Went to watch teochew opera today. Promised Wing's mum i'd go see, so just went to have a look!

Well, for starters, having 1 fantastic drummer with 5-6 cymbals in an enclosed area is NOT a good idea. Felicia and i almost went deaf!

But well, we took some pictures with the mum... Qi Lang's her name. She's a very well-known Teochew opera singer and boy, was she passionate about her role. The way she played it outshone the other actress playing the same role!

Wow... but i have to admit i didn't know what was going on. And i'd be even more blur if the people from her troupe didn't tell us what was going to happen! I don't know Teochew... hahaha...

But the action was fun to watch. Because the characters really fleshed out their roles... you could tell things from looking at the way they acted. Excellente!

I really thank God I'm healthy man...

Nope, I didn't say the above line. A friend said it. Coz we were on the way home... long bus journey... and somehow he just started listing down the things i can't do because of phobias, and the number of physical infirmities i have... We were amazed at the list. I think it hit at least number 10 of his short pudgy fingers that are as long as my long slim fingers haha.

Well... then he said the title line. Insensitive bloke you might think... yeah, perhaps he was. But that's just the way he is. Anyway, back to the story.

I thought about it... wasn't really offended... thought about it... and realised that God has made us all different so that we can work together as a body to further his work.

And well, if God can be glorified despite all my infirmities, then that's sufficient. I'll still praise God. Even though I've got a phobia of cycling (because everytime i try, i fly off and hurt myself), even though i've got a phobia of swimming (almost drowned), even though i used to have asthma, have clinical depression now and then, have young people's arthritis, really bad pms (the full works), low blood pressure, weak ankles, breathing problems, weak constitution... i still praise God because God made me, and God gave me these conditions for a special reason.

Bible Retreat

It's been quite a few days since I came back from the Bible retreat... and I must say I really learnt a lot from it. Really set me thinking... about the things I thought I understood but never did...

But one thing that hit me was this: that any Christian ministry must be built upon God's Word, with God's Grace as the foundation. It's as simple as that. Thinking back, I see how easy it is for speakers to be unfaithful to the gospel... to use the Bible to justify what they're trying to say...

Well, pray with me that Moriah BP will stay faithful to the gospel and that this Christian ministry will grow...

Had lotsa good talks with the different people too. We talked about our troubles, about our worries and concerns about potentially being in the exco, about bgr-related problems... about struggling to obey God's Word...

Really, I could feel the vertical relationship (by learning God's Word through talks and singing),and the horizontal relationship (by fellowshipping with each other). Put together, a vertical line and horizontal line make a cross.

I really miss it... hearing all the funny songs at night... walking out for supper and seeing the sights of Changi Village... enjoying the nasi lemak... trying to fly a kite... getting itchy itchy itchy rashes from some pesky microscopic bugs... yeah i miss it. But even though this retreat is over, I am confident that we all took something away from the camp... I'm confident we all took away something new we learnt from God's Word... something to challenge us to live a life worthy of the gospel... yes, I'm confident of that.

And... to boot, my confidence lies in the gospel... not people, but a man... a man named Jesus. Not my own works, but his work on the cross... that by his death, and by the gift of it, I'm saved...

Battle of the Ants

Someone in my house was apprently not paying attention in science or home economics or health education class... with what unwashed bowls and plates left in the sink overnight... exposed food lying in plastic bags overnight... This is a copy of the notice I just might put up if I'm crazy enough...

To this household...

There has been a problem with ants recently. Please comply with the following steps to help live a less itchy and ant-free life...

Do not leave any food lying around unattended for more than an hour: the ants will come.

Any plastic bag for trash left by the sink overnight must be tied up.

Do not in any event leave food exposed in the trash overnight.

Do wash all plates and bowls before sleeping. Food particles attract ants.

Find out what things ants like to eat and keep these foodstuffs safely sealed.

Thank you.

You're Looking Plump
I just have to blog about this. It made me realize that no matter how strong a woman is, she'd probably have fallen prey to the "i'm-too-___" syndrome (fill in the blanks)

Some women think they're too short... some think they're too tall... some think they're not pretty enough... some think they're not toned enough... some think they're not smart enough... some think they're not good enough a daughter/mother/sister/girlfriend/wife. And the list goes on.

Well, had a close brush with it... two friends are convinced I'm getting too plump. I was shocked... flabbergasted... never in my whole life had the word 'plump' been used to describe me.. and suddenly I'm called plump.

It got me thinking... way too much actually. My self-esteem started dipping and all... intelligence factor, size, complexion, beauty... and the list went on. But I really thank God for the wonderful friends who stood by my side... chiding me for thinking such thoughts and patiently helping me sort out my thoughts.

When I was underweight, people said I was skinny. Now that I'm the correct weight, people say I'm plump... Hmmm...

But friends also reminded me where my hope lies... my hope lies in heaven and that's where I must look.

"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."
Psalm 139:14

Just an after-exam de-stresser... exams are over yay!

To: New Shopper-Helper
Shopper Profile: Mouschi

Clothes
1. Mouschi can take a mighty long time to decide what to buy
2. Mouschi's best shopping pals are girls
3. Most common buys: jeans and tops for the petite frame
4. Mouschi is a shopper that needs to see and feel the product. Very wary of products offered online
5. Very fussy shopper. Has been looking for that casual black sling bag and that cardigan for 2 years running and still not found it

Music
1. Loves acapella! Current favourite acapella CD is Once Upon A Time by The Vocal Union
2. Prefers ballads and jazz to rock
3. Song languages are usually English, Mandarin, Cantonese or Universal (instrumental)
4. Super fetish for CDs, especially gospel songs with a contemporary yet not pop nor rock feel... aka The Vocal Union, EMU
5. Demands good pitching first and good voice quality next.

Footwear
1. Shopper demands comfort and versatility
2. Footwear should also not skid during wet weather
3. Details are a plus point for non-school use
4. Footsies usually come from Charles & Keith, U.R.S. and sports shops

This shopper is currently shopping around for:

a casual black bag,

a sweater (as they term it in Singapore) without a hood with a frontal zip and whose material tends away from nylon and surf material

a pair of simple casual sandals for tottering around sch

a waterproof watch (think Swatch-type)

Intructions for the next shopper-helper:
Take note of all of shopper's preferences. I haven't been of much help for the first two items on the wishlist. It's been there for 2 years running. So much for being a shopper-helper. All the best to you. You need it.

Sincerely,
Mouschi's previous shopper-helper
16th April 2004

A Year After LTB
A year after LTB is over, I find two good comm service ideas...

But well, for those who manage to find this entry or are thinking of embarking on any comm service, you might want to consider these two ways.

Only yhing is, these two ideas originated from kids in the U.S. and i don't know if the situation's the same in Singapore.

Children to Children
Foster-care kids lose their parents, home and sometimes even their brothers and sisters when they enter the foster-care system. Parents and home... understandable. Siblings, it's because not every foster-care home wants to care for an entire family of kids!

When these kids are picked up by a social worker, they're given only a trash bag to pack their belongings. Mackenzie Snyder was really sad when she heard this because life without your family or home is sad... and even more sad is that trash bags are for trash, not for kids to carry their belongings in.

She started this program collecting duffel bags for the kids to put their stuff in. She also collected stuffed toys to put inside for kids to hug when they're lonely. A note was also put inside to let the kids know that someone out there loves them and cares for them.

The bags are then distributed to the kids... It's been really successful! Read more about it at www.childrentochildren.org
and be amazed! Oh yes, to see whether it'll work locally, it'll be a good idea to go to the MCDS website and check out if a foster-care system exists in the first place...

Vest a Dog
Started up by another kid who read about the death of a police dog while in the line of duty. She thought that every police dog should be protected just like the police, and started a fund-raiser to raise funds for bulletproof bests for police dogs in her area.

Her efforts have paid off. All of the law enforcement dogs within San Diego County have been provided with bulletproof vests! Stephanie Taylor started off this initiative, and it's shown that kids can make a difference in their communities too! Read more about it at www.dogvest.com


As an ending note, Mackenzie Snyder was 9 years when she wrote the article, and Stephanie Taylor, 11. It's amazing how these children have the vision to dream big and the tenacity and perserverence to reach for their dream

Your Energy is Blue. You are a creative thinker
with an active imagination. Artistic and
talented, you want to reach the stars and bring
them down to form. You are trustworthy, honest
and reliable. Others feel comfortable in your
presence as you project a non-threatening,
serene energy.

You would do well in any of the helping
professions, as an artist, singer, diplomat,
orater, or clergy member.


What color is your energy?
brought to you by Quizilla

Sijori

Spent the last few days on the mostly sunny island of Sentosa in a suite room. The room is BIG!!!!!!!! Got two nice big beds so my family didn't have to squeeze...

Well, the last time i was there, there was a massive blackout which lasted quite long. Good thing there wasn't any blackout this time... hahaha

It was a really wonderful time... going to the beach and collecting so many shells... it was crazy! Plus walking from Siloso beach to the cable car station and back to the hotel room. Then after some rest, down to the musical fountain. I think that was the most walking we've ever done in the last few years as a family!

Fun... but photos are still in the camera. Tried snapping some shots of the musical fountain. Let's see if my hands are steady enough!

And yes, I chose to spend time with my dad instead of going for the Good Friday service...i think this is more Christ-centred in light of the circumstances and facts!

Help a Charity. Win a Prize
I think the charities are confused. Organizations that are non-profit are offering PRIZES to people to donate. Herein lies the irony of your donation: while you donate to help some needy person out there, you are at the same time helping to increase an affluent-enough-to-donate person's wealth.

I always thought charities held fund-raisers to help the needy. Even if they employ marketing tactics to raise funds, so be it. But... to offer prizes? And team up with an insurance company?

That sounds to me like a profit-making organization trying to get more sales. Imagine: retailer offering customers the chance to win a car if they purchase goods from their shop... Now imagine this: a charity offering customers the chance to win a phone or $8888 (or at least that's what the ads seem to say) if people donate to their charity...

The similarities are so obvious I wonder if the monies that the charity received are put to good use: really used to help the needy or just to raise their profile.

And if the $8,888 is not true, then it's misrep. What type, I don't know... it's just not innocent misrep.

Well, all I have to say is this... I'll more gladly donate to other charities raising funds on the street than to this particular charity. And oh yes... perhaps I should stop my monthly donation which pledges an amount to help a kidney dialysis patient buy some syringes or something... After all, they've got resources enough for 5 years down the road, so I might as well help others. I think they've got way too much for a charity, at the expense of other charities...

New Feature - Hugs
I've got a new feature on my blog! Found this on another person's blog... and I thought it was pretty fun and cool!

So... if u do drop by and think I'm in need of a hug, just click on the link! As the experts say, people who get hugs last longer... hahaha.... as in they live longer.

Bottomline

Mouschi's Balance Sheet
As of 5th April 2004

Item

(Feeling and looking absolutely sick this week)

(Informed last min about IE presentatio grading)

Pulled through the presentation

Bought 5 presents in part or whole

(Aching arms because of the shopping

Got a ride home so no freight charges for presents

(Career choice seminar not too relevant)

(More people asking me to consider courtship)

(Many wondering why I'm not singing in quartet)

(The Dear Old Moriah Syndrome's hitting)

Bottom line: Though discouraged and though the minuses outweigh the pluses... I've still got hope because my hope lies in Christ. It doesn't lessen the sorrows and tears... but it does put them in perspective.

No Meatballs...
I can't believe it! I actually went to Ikea and shopped and didn't stop to eat my favourite swedish meatballs.

Ok, so I was in a rush... had a dozen birthday presents to buy on a shoestring budget!

Well, Ikea's a good place... settled 1 full present... well, almost. Just need to get sweets.

Gotta go shop for somemore stuff like CDs and waterbottles...

And know what? A seafood pasta at Ikea costs about $4 less than a similar pasta with less seafood and more sauce at Hans...