Here I come to save the day! Mighty Mouse is on the waaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry for that cheesy line... but my colleagues call me "mighty mouse" coz I managed to revamp and sort out a whole lot of messy stuff in a month. Something they never dared venture into.

But anyway, yes... sick as I was today, I still had to go to someone's rescue. My dear little Mag was helplessly stuck at Taka. And I had to go bring her home. Alright alright... she wasn't helplessly stuck... but she didn't dare to go home on her own from Taka at night. So... sick mouse had to zip down to Taka, get Mag, and zip home. But in the process... mighty mouse got herself some really scrumptiously light buttery cookies! And yes! They're the ones I've been craving! The shop's called "Cookie man", and I've got a whole tubful. Come find me tmr to get some (if you're lucky enough!).

Went to jt's blog again today, and saw these unbelievably beautiful orange gerberas! You have good taste too babe! Haha... it's so cool that we're good friends, we like the same flower in the same colour, and I haven't been able to find a nice pic of it so far... and she has a really nice one! Love the orange that offsets the calmness of the green.



Anyway, I've liked them since sec sch, because it's so bright and cheery, and can really add colour and life to a plain room. That, and I've always associated orange gerberas with youthfulness and zest. Hahaha... And a sign of friendship and appreciation. Why? Because school was littered with bunches of girls carrying orange gerberas on (a) friendship day aka valentine's day, and (b) after performances when friends showed their appreciation.

So... here goes! Enjoy the picture!

More about another flower that I've come to love lately in a few weeks or months time, once i find a picture that does it justice!

Photoshoots never keep to the schedule...

8.30am Slot for makeup and hair styling. Shot composition changed, so Cherie did hers first
9.00am Did my makeup and hair... My shot didn't get taken yet.
9.30am Everyone came down for the group shot
10am Everyone was just ready to take the group shot
11.45am Group shots over
12 noon I finally get my mug shot for magazines and newspapers taken... And then wait again...
12.45pm The individual shot is finally taken...

So after that, it was lunch, and meeting at 2pm. That was a whole day gone.

And today, my colleagues hit the office, and suan me like mad!
Daryl: Wow, your hair is back to normal again
Eddy: Haha... never perm ah? go and perm and put on contacts la... haha...

These guys are mad i tell u... stark mad... but what to do, there are only two ladies in the specialists' team, so we both get our fair share of suaning.

Anyway, now I've got a craving for these deliciously buttery light cookies from Taka food section... but what do I do? I go and get gastric flu... So no diary products for the next few days, and lotsa rest. *hmmmph* Stuck at home...

Hmmm... just realised that my blog looks kinda blue (not the colour, the mood). Perhaps I should change the layout soon...

Anyway, it's time to blog about a concert I went for last Fri. Here goes!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stepping into the grand old hall, and hearing all the people around me chattering in Korean transported me right into the heart of Korea. We were surrounded by Koreans! The very young... the very old... those in school uniforms... those in working clothes... those in elegant evening gowns... People were even queuing up outside, hoping for extra tickets to the concert, but some were disappointed.

Everyone was there to hear this 21 year old girl, Lee Hee Ah, the four-fingered pianist. Hee Ah was born with just four fingers, and 1 joint for each finger. We didn't know what to expect. After all, how many notes can a pianist with just 4 fingers play? To everyone out there, it just seemed impossible.

And then, there was Hee-Ah (after all the very very very long speeches by some very important people... zzzz). Hee-Ah is diminutive. She has no limbs, only thighs, so she walks on prosthetic feet. The feet are attached to her thigh stumps. Hee-Ah clambered up onto the piano chair, spoke in what little English she knew, arranged her skirt, and began.

The melodies floated through the air, so pure, so accurate, so beautiful. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears! She played Bethoven's Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee, Chopin's Valse No. 10b and Fantasie Impromptu (super challenging song!), and many many more! I saw her fingers FLY over the keyboard... she played the running notes so well!

Best of all, she's such a sweet little girl who is so full of hope and never giving the joy she has. She has Jesus in her heart and she wanted to share Jesus through her playing, to share the hope that she has through her playing (and singing, but her singing can be worked on).

Looking at her, I couldn't help but shed some tears. This girl has 4 fingers and no legs. And yet she is so full of joy, so full of hope, and always radiating such happiness. I have 10 fingers, 2 legs, am able-bodied, but I can be so ungrateful... And she's been using her talents to bless others and share her music... have I been using my talents well? I don't know... I'm not sure if I've been a good steward at all...

Hee Ah is really an inspiration. May our good God bless you and continue to keep you, Hee Ah.

"Yes... (but)..."

Ever noticed how many of our sentences are punctuated with yes-buts? And basically, yes-buts mean I'm-not-taking-you-seriously, and that my-point-of-view-is-more-important-and-more-right-than-yours. I remember reading somewhere that this is something that really kills communication, because it brings across the idea that the yes-but speaker is not really interested in hearing or even understanding the other person.

It's been making me think... I used the yes-but yesterday because I had to do something and knew I couldn't do it. So my point of view is that yes, I understand it is urgent and I will do all I can to finish it. (But) The only thing is, I do not have time to finish it by the deadline given, and so can I have an extention? The reply: Yes I know you're very busy but you must do all it takes to finish it, even if it means giving up other things in life like classes and sleep... if you don't do it, then i wonder about your attitude and the motivation behind your attitude.

Oh well.

At least we came to a compromise... I'll do what I can by the deadline given, simply because I'm already burnt and reached break down point yesterday. I'm no superwoman... Maybe some others are and they can cope with all I'm doing, but I can't. Now, I need to learn how to put this across more firmly and not be a doormat.

And if I can find the book I read the yes-but idea from, I'll blog about it. It was a good book and a good reminder of how slipshod we can be in our communication, and thus result in tensions.

Gift-giving has been considered an art, because it requires the gift-giver to know the gift-receiver well, to know the likes, the dislikes, the tastes, the satisfaction gotten from the gift. Good gift-giving has always been a match of the gift to the receiver.

But now, gift-giving has been elevated to a higher platform. Now, it seems as though gifts given must be expensive. The closer the friend, the dearer the gift, nevermind how suitable the gift is, or how money can be made use of more efficiently through the purchase of a cheaper gift of similar quality. And this is regardless of whether one earns an income or not. Should one earn an income, woe be to that person if the gift is less than $20 per share. Ostracision (whether physical or mental) usually follows.

Not only that, it seems as though gifts should only be given at a party. If one is not at the party, forget about giving gifts. The party-thrower doesn't deserve a gift anyway. But if one attends the party, then the gift had better be expensive, at least $20 per share.

All these additions to the social ettiquete handbook are to say the least, irritating. Personally, I do not see why the birthday person should come to expect a big gift. And if you decide to throw a party, aren't you really saying that you want the company of these people? So the gifts come with the territory of parties, but shouldn't the company of people matter more than gifts?

On the same note, spending less on gifts means more money for other things like giving to ministries. A senior in uni ever challenged us before: if we buy one less teh-bing a day, that comes up to 80 cents saved a day, $4 saved a week, and $16 saved a month. And this $16 can go towards supporting our CF staffworker that we employ. I took that challenge, and found that going without some of the little pleasures (like substituting a Starbucks coffee with an 80 cents Food Haven kopi-bing) can really lead to a lot of savings. Similarly, gift giving shouldn't be too extravagant. Why put such a huge burden of giving expensive gifts to each other?

*sigh*

I asked Jun why... why all this equation of friendship to the value of gifts is going on... and she answered me very simply: "Because we are all fallen my dear." How true...

Grace
by Carolyn Hamlin

Lord, as I seek Your guidance for the day,
I find my thoughts unyielding;
Confusion crowds my way.
But then when I bow to You,
The challenges You guide me through;
Your promises are ever new,
I claim them for today.

Your will cannot lead me
Where Your grace will not keep me.
Your hand will protect me.
I rest in Your care.
Your eyes will watch over me,
Your love will forgive me.
And when I am faltering,
I still will find You there.

Boo. No new toy... Didn't have time to get it yesterday...

Anyway, here's a post I typed while on the cab. Why I took a cab to work today? Be prepared to laugh... I. Forgot. My. Laptop. And realised it only when I was off the bus and at the mrt station... So. Dumb. Of. Me. I. Feel. Ultra. Dumb. Went from early to late...

But enough of my whining. Here's the post! (And more whining).

"Utter nonchalance.

I think I have been too pampered… Usually when I hail a cab, I hop on to face a cab driver who has more philosophies of the world than I do! Not that I have a lot… But I deviate. These taxi drivers are very welcoming, they know the streets well, know the routes and genuinely want to help me get to my destination in the shortest time possible. Along the way, we would chat as well! So I’d find out things like what their children are facing in school… which campus superstar contestant they support or think will win and why… how hard work is and how atrociously expensive the ERP can be…

Well, I had a change today. This change made me consciously remember that an action need not necessarily lead to a reaction. I can choose my action. (Yay! Something to share about at the next 7 Habits training session!). So anyway, this particular cab driver, when he asked me which way I wanted to go by, and I answered the quickest way, shrugged his shoulders and wouldn’t acknowledge if CTE is the fastest way or not. Then he said “go by CTE then exit Havelock”, and when I suggested that he take the Outram exit if the Havelock exit has too many cars. His reply shocked me… first, he couldn’t understand what I was saying… apparently my pronunciation is too “atas” for him and he thinks he’s right but I’m actually right… the word in contention is “Outram”. I pronounced it as “oo-trem”. He pronounced it as “out-tram”. Oh well… It wasn’t the pronunciation that irked me. It was the way he said it that threatened to make my blood temperature rise…

Then what did he go on to do? That’s right… he shrugged his shoulders and said “you see for yourself”. At that moment, the thought that came into my mind and kept me sane was: he may have had some bad experiences with other customers before. But that does not give an excuse for such utter nonchalance. This is just one guy who wants to earn my money. I’m going to make sure that I get back every single cent that is due to me. Grrr. And yes, I’m typing this on the cab right at the moment… will post it up once I get to an internet connection and have time to do so."

I'm gonna get a new toy tomorrow!!! Gonna sign up for classes too, to learn how to make the best use of my new toy. Unfortunately, the model I'm getting is black. Boring black and not yummy silver like its predecessor... but hey, apparently it's got this dust detecting thingy and dust-cleansing function.... Ooooo... can't wait to get my hands on it! Will post a pic of it once it's safely in my hands!

Some people are just so brilliant, they totally redefine the term brilliant. These are actual answers to actual assignments, tests and exams.

It's nice to listen to music while doing work. Real music with real instruments, not the type that is made when people do business in the toilet. Thanks Ernie for putting all those music in so we can listen to real music when using the Bloomberg! Yes, our Bloomberg is just right next to the toilet... Can hear everything that goes on in there. Heh...

Anyway, I've been playing 'Camomile Blend' by Emi Lee, and it's so nice and soothing... I love the simple vocals and simple arrangements. Ok, some of the songs are a bit weird like Home on the Range. But it did bring back memories of us hollering the song and playing it on the recorder in primary school. That was a long time ago. Two of my favourite songs are "Father By Thy Hand" and "First of May". I like the first one for its words.

take us father by thy hand,
and lead us to the fair land
where joy shall not pass away

from danger keep us free
and our comforter be
lest we stray from the narrow way

so journeying on and on
and you're all we lean upon
for God he never shall fail

take us father by thy hand
and lead us to the fair land
that waits just beyond the vale

As for the second song, it's the tune that I love. It was sung by the Bee Gees! I love the chorus part, especially the tune for the first and third lines. Can't make much sense out of the lyrics though... Don't understand the story. talks about a love that will never die, but then there's something about crying come first of May, and time has passed us by and someone else has moved in from far away. So is this supposed to be a sad song? I'm confused... Anyway, here're the lyrics for you to read and decide for yourself!

When I was small, and christmas trees were tall,
We used to love while others used to play.
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by,
Some one else moved in from far away.

Now we are tall, and christmas trees are small,
And you don't ask the time of day.
But you and i, our love will never die,
But guess well cry come first of may.

The apple tree that grew for you and me,
I watched the apples falling one by one.
And I recall the moment of them all,
The day I kissed your cheek and you were mine.

Now we are tall, and christmas trees are small,
And you don't ask the time of day.
But you and i, our love will never die,
But guess well cry come first of may.

When I was small, and christmas trees were tall,
Do do do do do do do do do...
Dont ask me why, but time has passed us by,
Some one else moved in from far away.