= FAVOURITE WORD =
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
[NIV]
New phase. More changes.
What would the future bring?
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Fun With Vanessa
jOyZ blogged at 7:28 PM
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Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Weeks 3 And 4
Week 3 came and went. I didn't even realise. And now it's already the middle of the fourth week of school. It's incredibly eerie how the hours, minutes and seconds tick by so quickly.
So little time. So much to accomplish.
I haven't the time to blog as regularly these days. When I have the time, I don't have the energy. I'd rather sleep or lock myself in a daze as I listen to my mp3 files.
Still, I'm glad that I'm making time to meet up with my girl friends. I had a whale of a time with them on Saturday night and 3 of us stayed over at Mel's place. It was 4 am by the time we zonked out. We'd been screeching our lungs out prior for about 5 hours at the KTV lounge. Haha. It's been a while since I last sang. I finally found a KTV-singing partner in Mel! I thought we did Tell Him by Celine Dion and Barbara Streisand pretty okay for our first time. Great harmonisation! We sounded really good together. (;
This coming weekend, it's another croaking session with Vanessa. She's returned from Beijing for a short while after quitting her job there. I missed her so much! We met for dinner last night at Holland Village and talked and talked and talked. She has perfect eyesight now, by the way. I'm so inspired by her to undergo LASIK (acronym for Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis - what a mouthful) for a perfect vision now! But, of course, I need to accummulate a substantial amount of vitamin M first.
I can't wait for the weekend to arrive. =)
jOyZ blogged at 10:49 PM
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Sunday, January 13, 2008
Week 2 Of School Over In A Flash
When work gets one busy, all one sees is a blur.
Time certainly zipped by at lightning speed this week. Why, it was only the first day of school barely 2 weeks ago!
Come to think of it, I have yet to update the calendar on my blog. It's still reflecting the 2007 events of my life. Haha. OK, actually, I'm thinking of changing my blog skin? But I don't have the time and energy to do this.
Anyway, despite the hectic pace at work, I managed my week somehow and even had some time for relaxation - a lengthy dinner with my girl friends and watching the musical Beauty World at the Esplanade with Marilyn and some of the Choir pupils.
I met my girl friends for dinner at The Bungalow on Thursday night. It was my second time there. I must say it's really a great place to chill - especially when the breeze is just nice. Pretty cool, literally. Heh. I was stuffing myself silly with food that night. I drank their mushroom soup (absolutely sedap!), wiped the entire plate clean of the spicy garlic prawn spaghetti (though the sauce was rather diluted and wasn't exactly spicy nor garlicky), popped plenty of the butter-herbed mini-potatoes (oh-so-cute!), snitched on Mel's salad, Gina's cheesy escargots (I ate the cheese only actually) and gobbled down a couple of pieces of spicy wings. I didn't manage to satisfy my craving for wedges though. ;(
We talked a lot that night despite being exhausted. For some reason, we just didn't want to go home and catch up on our snooze. We left a little before midnight and I drove Gina home while Joce and Mel shared a cab home.
It's pool, dinner and KTV next Saturday before we bunk over at Mel's place - that is, if it's convenient for her. We'll probably all go for service together on Sunday. So, yes, I can't wait for Week 3 to be over in a flash! Ha!
The second relaxation of the week wasn't bad at all. After the MTP for Secondary 1 yesterday afternoon, Marilyn and I had an early dinner at the Subway in Marina Square. Some of the Choir pupils joined us a while later. At 8 pm, we were all seated at the Esplanade Theatre waiting for Beauty World to commence.
The musical was pretty entertaining on the whole, though I felt the ending was a bit of an anti-climax. I guess I was expecting a bit more because the cast, though relatively new, was professionally trained. I thought Irene Ang's Cantonese-chattering character, Wan Choo, stole the limelight. There were also several comical moments. I was particularly tickled by the glitter-pink-coated dancers who flitted in and out of the stage whenever Frankie starting bawling for his I-I-I-Ivy, and the four 'cheena' dancers who floated into the scene, where Ivy and Ah Hock were on the roof top, with their bizarre costumes (traditional Chinese tops with huge puffy Victorian skirts).
Somehow, I feel the third run (a TV musical production for the President's Star Charity in 1998) was a lot more entertaining. Despite Sharon Au's mediocre (or lack of) singing prowess, I thought she brought out Lulu's character rather well. I remember laughing and experiencing some other emotions a lot more than this latest run at the Esplanade.
Still, I did enjoy the musical last night. The cast gave their best and I applauded them long and hard when they came out for their bows.
Finally, here's a picture of those of us who went to watch the musical.
jOyZ blogged at 11:50 AM
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Tuesday, January 08, 2008
A Tribute To Marilyn
It was a rather tearful time at Choir yesterday. I'd asked the Exco team to organise a thank-you party for the people who were involved in the December concert last year. At the same time, it was an opportunity to welcome Cherlyn to Choir. Above all, it was a farewell party for Marilyn, who has been transferred to Guides, in view of the school's direction. I wanted to thank her for all the time and effort that she had invested in Choir and this little party was the best way to do it.
When I first knew about the transfer, I must admit I was terribly upset. To be completely honest, I was angry. It felt like a slap in the face. I remember coming home that day, and ranting on and on about the whole thing in my blog. I never published the post. In fact, I deleted it right after I finished blogging. I understood perfectly the reason for the transfer. Even so, I took quite a while to calm down and to force myself to be positive about the whole thing.
Most of all, I felt for Marilyn. I know how much she enjoyed being with Choir. The kids simply loved her. (They still do!) Ai Ming was right. Kids know it when adults genuinely care for them. She also commented that we made a great team too because we had "the same wavelength". We wanted to see the same things happening in our Choir and the pupils. We were always staying back late together for every Choir practice. Whenever we could, we would watch the Choir practise their singing - even when Ai Ming was around - either taking turns to watch or even watching them together. And after being chased out of the school compound for being the last CCA group to finish up, we would share a cab ride for her to get to the MRT station because we were just too exhausted to take the bus.
I remember having a long meeting on Choir with her after lunch at Ikea's cafe one afternoon. In between serious discussions, we also had a great time sharing about many things, talking about our personal experiences with our pupils and Choir, and laughing over jokes. I'm just sorry that our makan and KTV plans never quite materialised.
God must love Marilyn very much because she is such a blessing to many - her pupils, her colleagues, her GB and many others. =) So I thank God for placing her in our lives. She has been a very strong support to me and an inspiration to the Choir pupils.
Although I won't be working directly with her anymore for Choir, we're still colleagues in the same school. There is always a chance that we might get to work together. ;)
Meanwhile, I pray that she will have an enriching time in Guides and continue to work wonders with the Lord's anointing in her life.
jOyZ blogged at 7:28 PM
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Saturday, January 05, 2008
The First Week of 2008
"Happy 1st Weekend!" was Zhen'ai's online message to me about an hour ago.
Happy 1st Weekend to you too.
Honestly, though, my 1st weekend of the year was far from happy. It started out well enough actually. This morning, there was the CCA Open House for the Secondary 1 pupils. Even though there were several hiccoughs for Choir, I thought we had quite a bit of fun too. (Gosh, I just realised I'd forgotten to take photographs! ARGH! One less item for the school magazine this year. =\...)
Work hasn't been exactly unpleasant this week, but it was DEFINITELY hectic. There were so many things to deal with that I've been sleeping at 2 am every 'night' since school started. It's kind of miraculous that I still enjoyed work despite the lack of sleep. Nonetheless, it has been stressful.
Something had to give, of course, and it took place at home. I had an explosive quarrel with my brother this afternoon. I won't say who was to be blamed. On hind sight, I felt we had been very highly strung at work. He's also a teacher, by the way.
I did get to watch a movie VCD (see picture on the right) before I collapsed into bed for a really long nap. I didn't realise I was THAT exhausted. It was an almost-4-hour nap. xO
Mel asked me if I was interested to watch a Korean movie tonight and, for the first time ever, I said 'no' - to a Korean movie. Hahaha. Yes, like I said, I was THAT exhausted.
Still, I must not neglect setting my 2008 resolutions. In fact, I'd been reflecting and thinking about them since Christmas. I'd wanted to blog them down on New Year's Day, but I was too busy preparing for the reopening of school. I never found the time and energy to - until now.
Let me see. I'd only managed to fulfil 2 resolutions (out of the 3 I set) for 2007. Come to think of it, only 1.5. Haha. Allow me to explain the ".5". It's from my resolution to lose weight and be healthy. I did lose weight - 4 kg in fact. However, by the time the year ended, I gained everything back! It was partly because of my year-end trip to Japan. The weather was cold and I ate very well. Too well, in fact. LOL.
So, for 2008, my first resolution is to lose 1 kg per month. That should be more achievable? But of course, that would mean 12 kg lost by the end of 2008, which sounds rather impossible. In any case, I hope to lose 6 kg by June and I'll decide thereafter if it's still feasible to lose 1 kg every month. Haha!
My second resolution is to keep my tables at work and at home as clean as possible. I'm getting extremely irritated with my cluttered tables and absolutely detest the thought of having to live with this atrociousness for the rest of my life! It's high time I do something about it. I'm giving myself one year to develop the habit of keeping my tables neat and clean, which means I probably have to clean and organise them regularly - once a week at least. *glances at my table* It's already starting to clutter by the way. And I only cleaned it 4 days ago. xO
I have a 3rd resolution, but I'm still thinking of how I should deal with this issue. It's something not very achievable in a year. So, I'm still thinking of how I should break it down into something more attainable annually. I will KIV of this.
That's it. Just 2 resolutions for 2008. Ever since 2006, I've decided not to go beyond 3 resolutions. Less ambitious? Lowering standards? Far from it. I think I've come to understand myself a lot more and, having coming to terms about certain things about myself, I know what works for me. At my age, I'd better be. Haha! Of course, there are still more to discover. After all, there are still many things I know not of and many new experiences I have yet to undergo.
Once again, Happy 1st Weekend, people. =)
jOyZ blogged at 7:59 PM
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Most of all, I felt for Marilyn. I know how much she enjoyed being with Choir. The kids simply loved her. (They still do!) Ai Ming was right. Kids know it when adults genuinely care for them. She also commented that we made a great team too because we had "the same wavelength". We wanted to see the same things happening in our Choir and the pupils. We were always staying back late together for every Choir practice. Whenever we could, we would watch the Choir practise their singing - even when Ai Ming was around - either taking turns to watch or even watching them together. And after being chased out of the school compound for being the last CCA group to finish up, we would share a cab ride for her to get to the MRT station because we were just too exhausted to take the bus.
I did get to watch a movie VCD (see picture on the right) before I collapsed into bed for a really long nap. I didn't realise I was THAT exhausted. It was an almost-4-hour nap. xO