These days I'm just so thankful (: Thankful for the new job, the challenges of the mind, the study opportunity with Mich, regular as well as extra badminton games so fun with Mich and so challenging with See Boon / Clement, fun hangout with Shawn (and learning about all the cool things he knows), good mentorial boss who shows job-focussed concerns and prompts areas of growth like DDD processing and also takes time out to guide me (even asking for lunch, tho a bit stressful heh), dinner invites twice this week with last bus 820 pm group Boyle and engineers (nice way to round of a 12-h workday, discussing Maslow's theory, CPF, taxation etc lol), good relations with variety of colleagues (even a small chat with Kelvin), and rounding off each work week: God-centred Saturday mornings so enjoyable and enriching (:
Thankful (:
And on another note...
Lord I don't know how I will be going to do an Advance Project half a year from now, and making those presentations to the big bosses and going through those specific interviews in 6 different areas 17 months from now, but I trust that you will lead me through it all.
Dynamic Thinkers like you are confident and independent persons. You radiate enthusiasm and energy. You pursue your objectives actively and energetically. You love nothing better than new challenges. Your are the born leader, competent, energetic and responsible. Dynamic Thinkers have a sharp eye for errors and can criticise without mercy if they see the success of a project endangered. You are completely unconcerned as to whether you alienate anyone in the process. But you are always open to objective arguments; you love discussions, you are very gifted rhetorically and you are good at convincing and enthusing others.
As they are very sociable, Dynamic Thinkers like to have a lot of friends around them, preferably those with whom they can share their interests and discuss all sorts of subjects. You are very direct but never in an underhand or scheming manner. If people can bear being spoken to frankly, they have in you a loyal and unwavering advisor as friend. Everything new and unknown stimulates you and awakens your curiosity. However, rules, routine and traditional things arouse your resistance. If something does not go the way you want it to, you can react rather pigheadedly and obstinately.
Some of history’s most famous military leaders were not just coincidentally Dynamic Thinkers. Leadership is simply in your blood. You are self confident, energetic and determined to reach your goals and if it is up to you, there won’t be any shilly-shallying. You are equally important in your work efficiency and effectiveness. Strategic planning, long term considerations, creative problem solving, and absolutely exact case analyses are some of your strongest points. The quotation “I came, I saw and was victorious” (Caesar) could also be written on your flag. You comprehend even very complex situations quickly and completely, and immediately issue comprehensive instructions on how they must be dealt with.
The extroverted part of your personality provides you with excellent communication capabilities plus a certain charisma, making it easy for you to engage other people in your objectives. With all that, your visions are not limited to the existing and the contemporary, but frequently extend far into the future. For your professional satisfaction you need these objectives like you need air for breathing. You especially enjoy intellectual challenges and don’t care for victories too easily achieved. Since you belong to the extroverted Thinker types, working in a solitary environment is not for you. In order to be happy, you need to be in the company of people, with new excitement and tasks plus a little action. Although this frequently provides for a great output, the human (all too human) needs of your colleagues could easily end up being ignored. As an intuitive Thinker type, you are always focused on the objective of your task and the welfare of the company.
The absence of competency or a challenged intellectual aptitude quickly causes you to get impatient.Frequently, this is the case when people with your type have achieved leadership positions without being aware of it. One of your favorite expressions is probably: “Leave it alone, I’ll take care of that.” Dynamic Thinkers simply shove everybody aside who in their opinion don’t perform and to their surprise find themselves heading the organization.
a book..two years..and three friendships up and down the mountains...
in my reflective mood again..i suddenly realised something which i am not sure if it is really the case, but which seems to be..
the friendships i intentionally built after reading a book...yes i managed to build them up..but now..two years on..they have all crumbled in one way or another..so...is it purely my failure in holding things out? in applying what i read not just in the initial phases of developing the friendships and letting my true self appear? the true self which they would not have become good friends with?
or...is it that i have drawn myself to the sort of friends i am just not meant to be good friends with...
it seems really puzzling...how i could actually develop those friendships so deeply in the first place if they are really not meant to be..just by reading a book..
i am so deeply puzzled because the negative traits in these three friendships that were built up as a result of me reading the book never appeared in any of the other friendships that have developed before or after that...
i love history movies - the realness, getting to know what has happened, and the lessons we could learn from them
really love Thatcher's sharp words. inspiring and thought-provoking, tho i was still left uncertain of what to do with my life, the movie is definitely an encouraging one.
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Margaret Thatcher: Watch your thoughts for they become words. Watch your words for they become actions. Watch your actions for they become... habits. Watch your habits, for they become your character. And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny! What we think we become.
~~
Margaret Thatcher: It used to be about trying to do something. Now it's about trying to be someone.
~~
Margaret Thatcher: We will stand on principle or we will not stand at all.
~~
Margaret Thatcher: A person's life has to mean something.
~~
On Self-Reliance: “What I do think is a man should be encouraged to stand on his own two feet. Yes, we help people. Of course we help people, but for those who can do, they must just get up and do. And if something’s wrong, they shouldn’t just whine about it. They should get in there and do something about it. Change things.”
On Free Enterprise and Jobs: “You are the backbone of our nation. Small firms, like Ludley’s Ice Cream. I passionately believe that it’s the growth of small businesses into large ones that is critical for Britain’s future. And the only way we will produce jobs, real jobs, jobs that sustain.”
On Unpopular Government Spending Cuts: “Gentlemen, if we don’t cut spending we will be bankrupt. Yes, the medicine is harsh, but the patient requires it in order to live. Should we withhold the medicine? No. We are not wrong. We did not seek election and win in order to manage the decline of a great nation.”
“We conservatives,” he says, “Believe in giving people the freedom and opportunity to fulfill their own potential.” (Dad Thatcher)
Canadian Film Festival @ NUS Shaw Foundation House ^^
some quotable quotes i liked from the movie
~~~~~~
Life’s real, it’s made up of little things - minutes, hours, naps, errands, routine. And it has to be enough.—Miriam
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Barney Panofsky: Should I sleep on the sofa?
Miriam: Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You're not sleeping on the sofa, we don't sleep apart. Good night.
~~
Miriam: Really? Well, words matter. Actions matter. They have consequences. If you want people to take you seriously, then act accordingly. Do you understand me, Barney?
Barney Panofsky: Yes
Miriam: What am I saying?
Barney Panofsky: Be great in act, as you have in thought
~~
Miriam: We can be friends now, can't we?
Barney Panofsky: No. We can't.
Miriam: I'm here for you if you'll let me. We had a beautiful marriage, but it's over. I want you to be at peace with that.
Barney Panofsky: Have I ever given up when it comes to you?
Miriam: Never.
Barney Panofsky: So what makes you think I would start now?
Yesterday I attended YZ's wedding and today I sat for a 3-hour exam. Two events that could be so simply summarised in one sentence but a entire multiplicity of thoughts that swam through my mind these few days.
Reconsideration of my job, what I am doing with my life with it, what God wants me to get out of it. True service? Helping people? Helping the company? Brushing up my soft skills? Having a not too demanding job such that I can develop/maintain the other aspects of my life - service at church/cell, friendships... ?
Updating my LinkedIn profile made me feel how lowly the job titles of the jobs I have taken up sounds, and it does not bother me but it does make me fear how potential employers may perceive of me.
This step 1 of 5 to get a production and inventory management certification... Is this industry where I really want to stay? I was so upfront even with my manager exhibiting my uncertainty on my desired career path.
I know, I know it's a decision to make, for me to make or for God to show me the way, that is what is critical. Dreams are created and built by oneself, not told by just someone else..
Just watched a very cute video (A Biologist's) St. Patrick's Day Song that an FST classmate doing Masters in Bio posted. and felt some reminiscence of Science. I am fearful of going back, because I think I have forgotten most of my FST knowledge... but...
And about YZ's wedding.. it was really heartwarming to see the photos of each newlywed from childhood to couplehood, the tricks played on the wedding day morning, the support of friends and family, the commitment promise made to the wife in front of everyone...
I don't have the heart to try to make a profit out of people directly. To put my money somewhere - in an established company where it grows and the stock price goes up, or in a property where the value goes up because of market movements - sure. But to sell a service - be it education or whatever that people need and to charge them for it? I realise I can't bring myself to do it.
This is such a great change from 10 years ago.. when I first wanted to be a businesswoman...
haha... well. Right now my work laptop is switched on right beside my personal laptop and I realised something else when I had the freedom to immediately switch to my personal laptop to reply Stan on the rehearsal for the first public workshop - life is so different in the office and not. Maybe one could consider greater focus on accomplishing work tasks in the office instead of being distracted like right now to be blogging instead... Yet, isn't freedom a greatly value quality in life?
recently, i have been very troubled by the issue of my goal in life again.. especially after the finance class conducted by wl, i questioned myself what my goal is in life, which i felt was necessary before i started thinking about setting financial goals.
on the very last night of 2011, i was blessed to have a's mom's good friend uncle s share this: you never know if you will die tmr, yes you can buy insurance to protect your dependants in case you die or require hospitalisation/surgery all of a sudden and avoid financially burdening your family, but as a Christian, should we set financial goals?
both uncle s and a's mom believed that we just have to do our best in everything we do, and God will provide. he had experience of investing in stocks and losing money. if we really want to invest, property is what will definitely go up in the long term.
but besides all these, really just enjoy life.
that night's advice was rather impactful for me.
and so today i shared these with p and she recalled the parable of the talents. this is a really often talked about parable that even i could remember what it is about. 2 servants putting the talents their master gave to them to good use and multiplying them, while the 3rd servant burying the one talent the master gave. the takeaway message was usually that we should multiply what God has given to us. but like p said, at different times when we read bible passages, they may speak to us differently.
The element of money. It is indeed unfortunate that the term “talent” means something very different today from what our Lord meant when He told this parable. The talent was the largest measurement of money in those days. Since a talent was actually a measurement of weight, it did not have a constant value. A talent of gold, for example, would be worth a whole lot more than a talent of bronze. While commentators differ somewhat over the approximate value of a talent in today’s economy, all would agree that it was a large amount of money. Some say that it was the equivalent to 20 years’ wages for a common laborer.275 We must remember, then, that a talent is a measure of money; it is not a reference to abilities. The talents were distributed on the basis of ability, not as the bestowing of ability.
Our Lord’s rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees is often couched in “stewardship” terms. God entrusted Israel, and especially its leaders, with the truth, and they did not use it properly.
The element of work. This is the reason I was critical of the translation of verse 16 (see footnote 1 above). The original text is quite clear here – it is the first servant (and we assume the second, as well) who immediately sets to work with his master’s money. It is not the money that goes to work, as such, but the worker. When the third servant’s excuses are set aside, it becomes evident that this man is lazy – he didn’t do any work. He didn’t even hand the money over to bankers,276 to let them go to work with it.
The element of profit.I have often been puzzled over these words, repeated several times in the New Testament:
“For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him” (Matthew 25:29; see also 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 8:18; 19:26).
How is it that the one “who does not have” has something taken from him? How can you take something away from a person who has nothing? I now see the answer, which appears to be consistent with all of the places where this principle is set forth. The one “who does not have” but yet does “have” (because what he has is taken away) is the one who has his master’s money, but has made no profit from it. The third servant has no profit, no gain, to give his master, so his talent is taken away and given to the one who went to work with his master’s money and made great gains for him.
Conclusion
It has taken a while for the thrust of this parable to come into focus for me. This parable is not primarily about faith, nor is it about being willing to take a risk (this was merely the wicked slave’s excuse). As we conclude, we should focus on what this parable is really about. Let us then consider the primary message in this text. I believe that this parable focuses on four major themes: resources, work, time and profit. If we were to make an equation of this parable, it would probably go like this:
Resources (talents) + Labor (work) + Time = Profit
Let’s begin with the end result – profit. God expects to see a profit. He is not harsh, nor does He require that we do the impossible (make a profit where He has not provided the means). He does not require us to “make bricks” without providing both the clay and the straw.
Just as a businessman expects to make a profit, and rejoices when his employees increase his wealth, so God expects a profit and rejoices in it. He has granted the time and the resources for men to make a profit for the kingdom of heaven, until He returns. The question for us to consider is this: Just how do we measure “spiritual profit”? This is probably a sermon in itself – perhaps even a book. I think we could all agree that the salvation of lost souls is a profit for the kingdom. Thus, evangelism is one form of spiritual profit. We know that God expects us to grow over time, and that He is displeased when we fail to grow:
11 It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God—a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christ’s full stature (Ephesians 4:11-13).
12 For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. 13 For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:12-14).
Thus, we can safely conclude that edificationor spiritual growth is also profitable for the kingdom of heaven.
some of the most important points of this book: 1) We often exaggerate in imagining the long- term emotional effects certain events will have on us. 2) Most of us tend to have a basic level of happiness which we revert to eventually. 3) People generally err in imagining what will make them happy. 4) People tend to find ways of rationalizing unhappy outcomes so as to make them more acceptable to themselves. 5) People tend to repeat the same errors in imagining what will make them happy. 6) Events and outcomes which we dread may when they come about turn into new opportunities for happiness. 7) Many of the most productive and creative people are those who are continually unhappy with the world- and thus strive to change it. 8) Happiness is rarely as good as we imagine it to be, and rarely lasts as long as we think it will. The same mistaken expectations apply to unhappiness.
Christmas 2011 (: [im glad i see changes in myself]
yesterday, exactly two years after I first attended Shineforth service, Christmas service, was a good Christmas day. first thing after i woke up, i took the two little presents i had prepared for my family, and went hunting around for how to put them such that they would definitely be seen but not accidentally damaged - like if i were to leave them on the floor outside the bedrooms. thank God soon enough i found the cute pooh letter hanger to be a good tool to hold my gifts and would be well-placed if hung at the main door.
as usual, mom wasn't very observant and it was a dark morning so it was only when she was almost ready to leave for breakfast did she notice it. it was quite hilarious initially - she thought that the letter hanger was left at the door to be thrown away and was wondering who had wanted to throw her new letter hanger away. she took the two items and check the other holes in the letter hanger for more items. i told her that was all. she asked if the cushy head was for my dad and if the wrapped up gift was for her, she was right, that was my initial idea, but i said it was for the family - my subsequent idea after various shopping attempts to get gifts for my bro and sis-in-law failed.
after awhile, she finally came into my room to open the wrapped present - i was back in my room writing last min Christmas notes - and exclaimed in joy that i knew what she wanted. she was just telling me the day before that she really liked the family photo we took and i had asked which one. actually there were very few that we actually had. i had in mind the same photo to develop a couple of weeks ago when i bought the photo frame. mom was literally jumping for joy when she saw it. soon after she broke into tears saying “我感动到哭了。” and gave me a hug
********
i had a light mood at service. also pleasantly surprised that several of them - Ros, Mich, Jo and KY had all prepared Christmas presents. we have sort of grown together spiritually this past year but still not really as much as close friends..which i hope cell will help in.. i miss SJ..didn't really expect it but just several days after she left for San Fran her absence was much felt. even tho it has just been 10 days it feels really long. still, KY, Nette and i had a good lunch at Seoul Yummy, Square 2 and KY and i went shopping [i bought my new office bag!] and caught a good movie! [refer to movie notes lol i shall not repeat myself]
i think many of us don't appreciate how great our moms are. we get too blinded by the little disagreements or arguments we have with them, and take their strengths and what they do for us for granted. Simply because they have been doing those things for us the past years, we don't realise how so much they have sacrificed for us, we don't realise how so much they love us, we don't appreciate all that as much as we should, or as we actually show gratitude for to a stranger who for example just served us for a piece of outfit cos of the money she gets.
I'm impressed that the Town Council cleaners are taught to clear the rubbish for wakes. I was sitting here at my grandma's void deck on my work laptop at 6plus in the morning and the cleaners came by sweeping the floor and one started to near the table of stash of peanuts sweets melon seeds and other essentials like tissue paper etc. My suspicions were arisen but he just fiddled with the bag of trash and then released the pegs by which the bag was attached to the table and took the trash away. A while later I heard two of them clearing the huge black bins.
Your last login as a member was on 10 Jul 2007 at 11:59 PM (Singapore Time).
haha a random post. im doing homework for the finance course weilin has started and logged in to my CPF account to check and this was something from there.
This past week my parents have been away in China so the responsibility of taking care of my grandma has fallen into me and my brother's hands. He's in charge of the mornings (medication and breakfast/lunch), where I am out to work early, and I'm in charge of the nights (medication, dinner and taking out the trash), where he is still not yet home from work late.
There amount of food I have thrown away this week alone:
- a whole packet of ngoh hiang that can feed 4 people that has been in the fridge for 2 days
- 3 thick slices of layered kueh that has been in the fridge for 5 days and out for 2 days
- a third bowl of wanton noodles that has been on the table for the day
- half the portion of homecooked food (serving size already halved) that has been on the table overnight
- and whatever else I can't remember for now.
Last Wed when I reached her place with dinner from my paternal grandma, she was on the floor by her sofa and there were a few sticks of incense at the door, which was open. The wheelchair was near the door. She had fallen. She was wanting to get up on the sofa on her own but her arms were too weak for her to lift herself up. She wanted to called me. Thank God I had turned up just in time. Thank God she hadn't hurt herself.
For the first 5 or 6 days every day when I'm over, my grandma asks where my mom is, and comments that she actually dares to leave me alone at home. Finally on Sunday she gave my mom two missed calls. My mom messaged me while I was in the service saying my grandma probably needs cigarettes and by the time I messaged my bro who called and checked that my grandma has called for fun and I replied my mom, it was about half an hour later and my mom had already returned the call, I would think out of worry that my grandma had fallen again.
She stopped asking where my mom is. She could finally retain and recall the fact that my mom is in China and she started asking if my mom's back.
Every time I would wash up her dishes from the morning or previous night, she would call out in that instructive tone telling me to leave it for her to wash. The sink is above her shoulders when she's seated in her wheelchair.
Today I was very surprised to find a plate of beehoon with a strong sour stench. And even more surprised to find the plate cold. I asked her if my brother just bought it this morning, why is it cold. She said she can't remember. That's another plate of food I have thrown away in just the past week alone.
Today she was still in the very same clothes she had been wearing since last Monday. My mom has specifically reminded me by sms when she was already in China to get my grandma to change. I asked her to on Thu. She said she'll do it "tomorrow". Again Friday she didn't. It was late by the time I was back so I didn't instead. Sat, her sister was there. Sunday I told her again. Again she said "tomorrow". I said she has been lying to me! It has already been a few days and yet she still hadn't changed! I tried to give her the clothes but she still refused.
Today, I tried again. More persuasions. She just refused.
There's this very bad looking wound half a palm size at the back of her right leg below the calves. She blames it on the wheelchair every time we're over. I don't know how it has gotten to that stage of such a huge raw patch. It doesn't seem to be getting better. The first time I saw it a few weeks back I was shocked my mom hasn't brought her to the doctor's. She had refused. After several tries my mom finally managed to get her out. The doctor's verdict was that it was okay. It still looks freaky to me. The first time I saw it it made my heart tight that her feet were in such state. Swollen. Multiple wound marks here and there. I thought of the times when I went shopping for shoes and found the feet of others prettier than mine to look nice in any shoe. I looked at my grandma's feet and I didn't dare compare with mine.
The first few days, I was so exhausted coming back from full days of course and getting food for my grandma then coming home to do work/homework. It was emotionally draining too. The next few days I kind of got emotionally stronger from the exhaustion at night even with coming back later after cells. Towards the last few days it seemed completely alright. Though if there were a choice I still wouldn't want to have this daily responsibility over the long term.
I don't know how my mom has taken care of my grandma every day these past years. The tolerance, the patience, the perseverance. Regardless of the hurtful things my grandma used to say to my mom some times. How she "took her money away", when my mom has been paying for her flat, her medical bills, her cigarettes. ($10 a day for 10 years is $36500 on cigarettes alone.) How my mom didn't want to give her a thousand bucks or two. (She doesn't go out on her own at all.)
Millions of twentysomethings have “day jobs” while they’re getting college degrees or engaging in other creative pursuits. It’s one thing to wait tables at night and go on auditions during the day, but it’s another thing to work a full-time job doing something you’re completely uninterested in. Even though you may feel that these jobs have nothing to teach you, they can actually impart vital lessons in how to self-motivate, how to develop and maintain a positive attitude, and how to develop skills you may not have training for. Who knows—you may even discover interests or aptitudes you hadn’t considered yet. What’s more, these positions can provide valuable perspective for later positions. When you’ve had the wrong job, you’re more likely to appreciate and treasure the right job when it comes along.
There are a fortunate few who have never had a job that required them to get dirty, to listen to a complaining customer, or to do menial, messy work. Who would disagree that the world would be a cleaner, happier, more understanding place if everyone were forced to wait tables for a year? The experience of having a wide variety of jobs isn’t just about learning to work a cash register or an espresso machine—it’s about learning to be a kind, compassionate person who can show empathy and restraint. In other words, someone who straightens piles of shirts as she browses clothing stores, and someone who always gives the barista a friendly smile. Because she knows how it feels.
Disillusioned? i wanted to title this disillusioned. but i wasn't sure what it meant.
i really don't know what to do with my life. weilin said - set goals. set goals and you know know what you want and what to strive towards. i feel so lost with all my inadequacies. extreme inadequacies. i know rely on Him and He will make our paths right. head knowledge. heart knowledge. i think i miss GDIC. so soon i feel i'm already slipping away.
just even such a crappy friend i was. low EQ? yea you were so right. i prayed for Your help. but i sucked. yes i did. even after all these while i still sucked.
and i realise i don't know the difference between not caring enough about issues at hand and submitting my concerns to You.
haha this odb entry came quite timely. when my dear friend was so frustrated about being stuck in the traffic..
Have you ever been stuck in an airport? For 24 hours? In a city where you can’t speak the language? Four thousand miles from home?
It happened to a friend recently, and we can learn from his response. While most of us would find such an inconvenience intolerable, my friend John saw God’s hand in his delay. As he waited out his forced stay, he looked for opportunities to connect with fellow passengers. He “happened” to find some fellow Christians from India—and in talking to them he heard about a ministry they were involved with. In fact, because John’s interests matched his new friends’ ministry, they invited him to India to participate in a short-term project.
How often do we experience delays, changes of plans, and redirections and treat them as intrusions? It could be that God is detouring us so we can do something different or new for Him. Consider Paul’s trip to Philippi in Acts 16. He had gone to Macedonia because of a God-directed vision (vv.9-10). How could he know that he would end up in prison there? But even that trip to jail was God-led, because He used Paul to bring salvation to a jailer and his family (vv.25-34).
God can use inconveniences in our lives if we look at them as divine appointments.
“Disappointment—His appointment,”
Change one letter, then I see
That the thwarting of my purpose
Is God’s better choice for me. —Young
Thank you for how you've blessed our GDIC class so much. For Abigail finally getting a job offer today, and such a good post at Lions Befrienders. For Ros' parents' reconciliation last week. For Sj gaining profile with her big boss at work. For Ky's promotion. For my faith in You.
A college football coach in the Bronx (New York) built his team around good character qualities. Instead of displaying their names on the back of their jerseys, the Maritime College players displayed words like family, respect, accountability, and character.Before each game, coach Clayton Kendrick-Holmes reminded his team to play by those principles on the field.
The apostle Peter had his own list of Christian qualities (2 Peter 1:5-7) that he encouraged believers to add to their life of faith:
Virtue. Fulfilling God’s design for a life with moral excellence.
Knowledge. Studying God’s Word to gain wisdom to combat falsehood.
Self-control. Revering God so much that we choose godly behavior.
Perseverance. Having a hopeful attitude even in difficulties because we’re confident in God’s character.
Godliness. Honoring the Lord in every relationship in life.
Brotherly kindness. Displaying a warmhearted affection for fellow believers.
Love. Sacrificing for the good of others.
Let’s develop these qualities in increasing measure and integrate them into every part of our life.
Just as the body grows in strength With exercise each day, Our spirit grows in godliness By living life God’s way. —D. De Haan
The difference between having prayed and having not; having a voice
I was reaching the point of helplessness having to release dozens of SOPLs by today yet getting errors since yesterday for the access query I had to run.. It took at least an hour to run (previous weeks after waiting that long the report is generated) and in the end I was met with an error! Asked my mentor and he still had problems from before and the other new colleague faced the same error after waiting more than an hour. Finally today, after getting the error again even after shortening the time period for which the report is to run for, it struck me to pray... and amazingly, God answered my prayer with immediate effectiveness! The colleague whom I had previously helped a few times came by to ask the other new colleague to do some stuff and I got the chance to ask her if she could run the report. She immediately offered to run it for me she managed to print it out in less than a min! I was so amazed. Eventually, I got the working access query file from her and managed to generate the report successfully too within a few seconds! I was even more amazed by how God responded so promptly to my prayer (:
In the afternoon there was the usual department meeting but without our manager who was on leave (oh a side story I was rather amused yesterday when it suddenly hit me that she was supposed to be on leave for the whole week yet she was in the office for the whole day). The longest-staying staff was very vocal to my mentor (who was chairing the meeting) about fighting for our team such that we needn't do additional manual work which could be automated, instead of accepting IT saying that it can't be done. And the 2nd longest-staying staff was commenting this is like the General Elections and she's a Taiwanese, fighting for rights, unlike Singaporeans who would just go "yes, yes". Pleasing indeed to have experienced staff who have the voice and authority (from seniority) to push for certain things (:
Conventional wisdom questions how much can be accomplished with little. We tend to believe that a lot more can be done if we have large financial resources, talented manpower, and innovative ideas. But these things don’t matter to God. Consider just a couple of examples:
In Judges 3:31, a relatively unknown man named Shamgar delivered Israel from the Philistines single-handedly. How? He won a great victory by killing 600 Philistines with nothing more than an oxgoad (a stick sharpened on one end to drive slow-moving animals).
In Exodus, when God asked Moses to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, Moses was afraid the people wouldn’t listen to him or follow him. So God said, “What is that in your hand?” (4:2). Moses replied, “A rod.” God went on to use that rod in Moses’ hand to convince the people to follow him, to turn the Nile River into blood, to bring great plagues on Egypt, to part the Red Sea, and to perform miracles in the wilderness.
Moses’ rod and Shamgar’s oxgoad, when dedicated to God, became mighty tools. This helps us see that God can use what little we have, when surrendered to Him, to do great things. God is not looking for people with great abilities, but for those who are dedicated to following and obeying Him.
If you use what little you may have To serve the Lord with all your heart You will find that He can do great things When you begin to do your part. —Sper
Next time a friend suggests meeting for lunch, dinner or drinks, counter with an active invitation. How about joining you for a yoga class or a quick walk around the lake? Instead of spending time on the phone or emailing back and forth, suggest that you catch up on the latest news over a leisurely bike ride, or bond by trying an athletic pursuit, like indoor climbing, that neither of you has ever tried.
Before you satisfy cravings, drink a tall glass of pure water. Quite often we misinterpret our body’s signal for thirst as a signal of hunger.
Salty Foods
Cravings for salty foods like popcorn or chips often indicate stress hormone fluctuations in the body. Getting on top of the stress in your life is step one. The adrenal glands help your body cope with stress and, in our fast-paced, hectic lives, tend to become worn out, especially from stress-hormone production. Try meditation, breathing exercises, or other stress management techniques. Research at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City showed that people who take a break to breathe deeply or meditate before reaching for salty snacks reduced their stress hormones by 25 percent and cut the bingeing in half.
If your adrenal glands are worn out, you can also support them with a high-quality B-complex vitamin, with extra pantothenic acid (that’s vitamin B-5) and vitamin C. Eating more leafy greens helps to supply your body with minerals that support the adrenal glands, especially potassium.
Snacky If you often feel snacky, sometimes for sweets, sometimes for salty foods, it can mean you’re not eating a well-balanced diet and may be missing a variety of nutrients. Get started with weeks one and two of the life force diet right away, cutting out the junk and adding more delicious, healthful foods. Also, add a good multivitamin and mineral to your day.
Take a Relaxation Break To prevent the buildup of stress, spend at least 5 to 10 minutes in shavasana (corpse pose) daily. Lie on your back with your legs and arms a comfortable distance from your torso, close your eyes, and let your muscles melt into the floor. Then let the lungs do their job. If they want to take a deep breath, let them! Diaphragmatic breathing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which counters the body’s fight-or-flight response to stress and puts us in rest-and-digest mode instead. Bring your attention to the sensation of the breath flowing in and out of your nostrils, and notice how the exhalation is slightly warm and the inhalation is moderately cool. If your mind wanders, gently bring your focus back to the breath. When thoughts arise, let them go. This practice balances the nervous system and fosters a relaxed, clear state of mind.
Manage Your Mind Analyze Your Stress. Separate the things in your life that you find stressful into two categories: things you can do something about, and things you can’t. If you can do something about it, then do it! If there’s nothing you can do, then accept it and move on.
Monitor Your Negative Thinking Stress is often the result of fears that are based in your imagination. Observe this tendency, and replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. Just changing your attitude can alleviate a lot of stress.
Emotional Release Crying is an excellent stress reliever, especially if you have bottled up sadness and grief. Let your unresolved emotions roll down your cheeks and out of your life. Laughter is good medicine, too. Even if you are angry or depressed, just say ha ha hee hoo hoo. Soon, real laughter will come…and with it, joyful tension release.
If you want to be someone who truly “rises up,” make it your ambition to humbly love and serve God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.
mmm today's odb is very appropriate in light of me having just started work...
“Lacks ambition.” That is not a phrase you want to see on your performance review. When it comes to work, employees who lack ambition seldom rise to the top of an organization. Without a strong desire to achieve something, nothing is accomplished. Ambition, however, has a dark side. It often has more to do with elevating self than with accomplishing something noble for others.
This was the case with many of the kings of Israel, including the first one. Saul started out with humility, but he gradually came to consider his position as something that belonged to him. He forgot that he had a special assignment from God to lead His chosen people in a way that would show other nations the way to God. When God relieved him of duty, Saul’s only concern was for himself (1 Sam. 15:30).
In a world where ambition often compels people to do whatever it takes to rise to positions of power over others, God calls His people to a new way of living. We are to do nothing out of selfish ambition (Phil. 2:3) and to lay aside the weight of sin that ensnares us (Heb. 12:1).
If you want to be someone who truly “rises up,” make it your ambition to humbly love and serve God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).
Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things:
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings. —Merrill
Ambition is short-sighted if our focus is not on God.
Whether we realize it or not, the vast majority of us are following the same road. What troubles me is that a great percentage of people are average and don’t live fulfilling nor interesting lives. Where is the road that you’re on leading you?
Have the people that followed the road before you acheived a great deal of success? Are their lives full of happiness, fulfillment, and excitement. Or do they spend the majority of their time complaining, watching television, and waiting to die.
Just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t mean it’s right. It doesn’t mean it’s wrong necessarily, but we must realize what following the norm is going to mean. For a lot of us, that means a mountain of financial debt and life full of fear and worry. How to Access The Road You’re On
1. Look At Your Boss
What is your boss like? Is he/she a miserable wretch who doesn’t get any fulfillment from his career or life? If you were in his position, what would your life be like? That’s where your career is headed. You’ll end up in his position or a similar one down the road. Is it worth the effort to get where he/she is?
2. Look at Your Friends
What are you friends accomplishing if anything? Are they happy? The people you surround yourself with day in and day out will have a big impact on where your life goes. Don’t abandon them, but also don’t let them detour your dreams.
3. Look At Yourself
Are you growing each day, or are you stagnant? Is your bank account growing, or are you spending too much. If you’re going backwards financially and mentally (growing more depressed), you’re probably on the wrong path.
What habits are you developing? Are you constantly thinking negatively? The actions you continually do will become ingrained habits. And habits are difficult to break.
How To Get Off The Road You’re On
1. Save Money.
Stop spending right now. Look for areas to cut back on all expenditures. Take the bus to work. Pack your lunch. You’ve heard all this before, start doing it! Once you’ve got a cushion in your savings account, then you can take on the world. 2. For The Younger Ones Out There, Don’t Buy A House Or Car In The First Place.
You’re jeopardizing your freedom. What happens if you decide a year from now that you want to see the world? You’ll never go because of a car or house payment that needs attention.
3. Screw The Trends, Be Yourself
Nice clothes and things communicate wealth and status. However, it also costs a ton to keep up with what’s hot. If you can shun the new without complaining people will respect you.
Let me give you an example:
I have a friend who didn’t get a cell phone until he was in his 20’s while most had their first phone at age 13 or 14. But my friend never complained and never expressed the desire for a cell phone.
Did anyone care? Well it was hard to get ahold of him sometimes, but overall people still loved him and respected him. They thought he was a badass non-conformist.
Stand up for yourself and people, especially women, will listen.
4. Know Your End Goal
Have a vision of what you want your life to be like and work towards it. If you don’t have an end goal in my mind then where you are now is where you’re going to be 5, 10, 15 or 20 years from now. A solid vision will motivate you and give purpose to your life.
5. Live Uncomfortably
Do something that scares you everyday. One little thing that makes your heart beat a little faster and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your life becomes interesting.
If you want to live an interesting life and be an interesting person, you have to live an interesting life. Read that again, it’s stupidly simple.
The problem is no one is going to make your life interesting. That’s up to you.
Give some thought to what makes you most excited about life. Target your energies to learning more about whatever that might be. Dig right in and decide to develop some skill around your passion. The more deeply you dive into something, the more knowledgeable and interesting you will be.
Try doing crazy stuff. Not bad crazy, or things that will get you into trouble, but good crazy, like sledding down a hill in a trash can lid in the middle of august.
Don't worry too much about getting into trouble. As long as you conduct yourself wisely, you are better off taking some calculated risks in life. You're only young once......do it before you run out of time.
Remember-only you make your life more interesting. Instead of complaining, do something about it.
The relentless ticking of the clock reminds us that our time on earth is limited. Despite the joys and pains of life, time always marches on. For the believer, our time on earth is an opportunity for gaining wisdom. The psalmist writes, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12).
One way of numbering our days is to ask ourselves these kinds of questions: How can I become more like Christ? Am I reading the Word regularly? Am I devoting time to prayer? Am I meeting together with other believers? The way we answer these questions is an indicator of the progress we’re making in gaining wisdom and becoming more like Christ.
No matter the phase of life—childhood, youth, middle age, or our senior years—life always affords us opportunities to grow in faith and wisdom. Numbering our days is the wise response to life’s inevitable progress.
Anyways.. I was thinking about tithing and giving donations and doing volunteer work.. the first has already been on my mind for several weeks, the last more in the recent week cos my current tuition assignment is going to be over and i think i want to switch to doing it for volunteer work or maybe doing other volunteer work instead.
“Never look for justice, but never cease to give it; and never allow anything you meet with to sour your relationship to men through Jesus Christ.”
a very appropriate ODB entry for me..
If we insist on fair treatment for ourselves, we can become angry and frustrated. But when we embrace the Bible’s wisdom, we will seek the welfare of others. Proverbs calls us “to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity” (1:2-3). Oswald Chambers said of our personal dealings with others, “Never look for justice, but never cease to give it; and never allow anything you meet with to sour your relationship to men through Jesus Christ.”
When we experience unfairness, it is our privilege and responsibility as followers of Christ to respond with honesty and integrity, doing what is right, just, and fair.
How others handle justice May not be up to me; But when I react to others, I must show integrity. —Branon
Have Read
'04 year-end holidays (highest number of books read in a long time)
-The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (gd read)
-Princess Diaries: Third Time Lucky by Meg Cabot (fun read)
-Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (must read - inspirational)
-Slab Rat by Ted Heller (full of office politics and R21 stuff - not for kids)
-The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (makes u want to finish it)
-A walk to remember by Nicholas Sparks (simple but meaningful)
-The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark (can identify with)
-The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (romantic love story with too much R21 stuff)
-Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks (even more R21. ugh)
-The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery
-Unstrung Heroes by Franz Lidz (autobiography about his four uncles and father)
-The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks
-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (very unique POV of an autistic boy)
-The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux (love the breadth of the plot, one of my favourites)
-Wild Orchids by Jude Deveraux (alternating between two first persons' view - unique, but don't like e plot)
-Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder (philosophy tb in a story; gets abit dry though plot saved)
-forgot what i read...-
-Working Wonders by Jenny Colgan (story of an urban planner)
-Angels and Demons by Dan Brown (impressive intelligence with bits of great humour)
-Just between Us by Cathy Kelly (thickest bk i've ever read-600+pg, too long for me but not bad)
ha, started a few bks but didn't enjoy them enough to read more.
'06
-Life of Pi by Yann Martel (novel based on true story; a lot to learn from the book - animals, religions,
survival, appreciation of simplicity; marvelous descriptions of both the tangible and the intangible,
such that I could feel their realness; bits of very enjoyable humour; a must read)
-The Complete Analects of Confucius, Volume 1 - Asiapac Comic Series (some good teachings.
didn't read everything though)
-The Parable of the Pipeline by Burke Hedges (lent to me by Shujun; like she said, its a short version
of Rich Dad Poor Dad - good financial tips)
-The Alchemist by Paul Coelho (simple story with deep meaning)
-Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results
(hai, doesn't seem to be working for me - cos im not applying..)
-haven't been updating from Jun'06 to Jul'07-
'07
-Take a Chance by Sarah Webb (very interesting twist towards the end)
'08
-A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer (very saddening. made me realise how significant family is in how a child behaves)
-Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite by Paul Arden (refreshing book with many pics)
-The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Rui Zafon (amazing how people can think of so much plot to pack into one book, wld b a gd tv series)
-The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (the story is interesting but i think the ending cld hv been better written)
-This Book Will Save Your Life by A.M. Homes (a bit thought-provoking on relationships but i didnt like e abrupt ending)
-Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner (gd knowledge but partly qte repetitive)
-For One More Day by Mitch Albom
-The C Words by Mark Mason (made me keep wanting to read on. light & funny)
'09
-Return to Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux (another good read from Deveraux)
-The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (gosh such vivid descriptions! very well written book. i liked d theme of friendship and the realness of the story)
'10
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (a must-read!! i love the expressed thoughts of the protagonist, esp those about friendships, and the writing style - it seems like she's telling me her story specifically to me)
How to Save Your Own Life by Michael Gates Gill (an inspiring read, for emotional liberation and greater joy in life)
Reading
on hold
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
Waiting for chance to get hold of
The Little White Car by Danuta de Rhodes
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
Le Scaphandre Et Le Papillon or The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
My Left Foot by Christy Brown
Gotai Fumanzoku or An Unsatisfactory Body (Translated into English as No One's Perfect) by Hirotada Otatake
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Other Recommended Readings by Marc
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin – Few books have had as significant an impact on the way society views the natural world and the genesis of humankind.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell – Gladwell looks at how a small idea, or product concept, can spread like a virus and spark global sociological changes. Specifically, he analyzes “the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable.”
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – This is a tale that lingers on the topic of attaining and maintaining a disciplined heart as it relates to one’s emotional and moral life. Dickens states that we must learn to go against “the first mistaken impulse of the undisciplined heart.”
Lolita – This is the kind of book that blows your mind wide open to conflicting feelings of life, love and corruption… and at times makes you deeply question your own perceptions of each. The story is as devious as it is beautiful.
Getting Things Done by David Allen – The quintessential guide to organizing your life and getting things done. Nuff said.
How To Cook Everything by Mark Bittman – 900 pages of simple instructions on how to cook everything you could ever dream of eating. Pretty much the greatest cookbook ever written. Get through a few recipes each week, and you’ll be a master chef by the time you’re 30.
Honeymoon with My Brother by Franz Wisner – Franz Wisner had it all… a great job and a beautiful fiancée. Life was good. But then his fiancée dumped him days before their wedding, and his boss basically fired him. So he dragged his younger brother to Costa Rica for his already-scheduled honeymoon and they never turned back… around the world they went for two full years. This is a fun, heartfelt adventure story about life, relationships, and self discovery.
Self-note: Tip for my future business =D
give employees reasonably high pay to keep them- otherwise they are unlikely to stay loyal.
treat employees not according to how well they treat me but how conscientious they are at work
(of course, musn't expect them to only do work throughout the entire working hours -
give some breathing space too, we are humans, not machines) Movies watched(listing started on 6jan08)
in cinema from VCD/DVD
1Sep07: "Hairspray" w TK, GH & SH
14Sep07: "Ratatouille" w mom & extended family
28Dec07: "The Pianist" w Jus & Pam (heartbreaking but good lessons; i recommend!)
2Jan08: "I Am Legend" w Sherm (scary! but good acting; thought provoking; i recommend!)
5-6Jan08: "A Good Year" alone (excellent show! i like the acting; funny; good lessons; touches my heart; i recommend!)
11Jan08: "Le Grand Chef" w WLing, JT & Irene (good! funny, very touching, :) nice; watch if like humour+meaning+food)
7Feb08 (CNY 初一): "Ah Long Pte Ltd" w parents (pretty hilarious - but u gotta understand dialects, some teary parts. wells typical of jack neo movies but with diff content)
11Mar08: "The Leap Year" w Sherm (so sweet! :) and apart from couple relationship it touches the theme of mother-daughter and best friends too)
6Jun08: "P.S. I Love You" w Sherm (don't know if its coz we watched it on laptop, coz it didn't impress me as much as it did for him in cinema)
8Jun08: "The Forbidden Kingdom" w Lisa, Karen & Sandy (ums..guess i'm really not into kungfu)
8Jun08: "What Happens in Vegas" w Lisa, Karen & Sandy (simple,relaxing show)
7Jul08: "我和狗狗的10个约定" w Sherm, his ma & sisters (very simple,touching but actually not my type of show)
10Jul08: "Before Sunrise" w Sherm (hmm maybe watchg on laptop really affects appreciatn of movies..)
30Sep08: "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" w Sherm (i didn't like it as much as i thought i wld when i saw the ads)
31Dec08: "Yes Man" w Mom (inspiring and funny)
11Feb08: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" w Mom (not as impressive as i thought it wld be)
1Jul09: "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" w Yumei, YY & Matt (the best thing was the soundtrack. heh.)
14Aug09: "GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra" w Joyce (it was awesome! best action movie i've ever watched)
17Aug09: "Food, Inc." w SYL & RuiQ (learnt some stuff abt the American food industry but it was a bit boring and not worth the $10)
22Sep09: "The Time Traveller's Wife" w WB, VanD, WLing, CHL, Irene, VanQ, Mf, Pg (i liked it. having read the book really helps w udsg)
21Nov09: "Gokusen" w Mf, Eva, Tony, Sarah (funny inspirational movie)
24Dec09: "十月围城" w Tony, WLing, VanQ (action action and a bit funny? tony criticised the plot. my fav scene was the running n jumping through the crowd along the five-foot ways w/o cuts)
30Dec09: "Sherlock Holmes" w Irene, Tony, Sweetee (my favourite genre of books made into a movie - what else can be more cool? acting effects humour excitement suspense all in)
12Jan10: "Avatar 3D" w Mom (didn't appreciate the digital effects which everyone wowed about. content etc was so-so. cathay's 3D glasses were too heavy for me)
8Feb10: "The Truman Show" w Ky n sis n Yuhshin (a must-watch. very thought-provoking, funny. reminder to be spontaneous and create your life the way you want, instead of falling into a typical routine
14Feb10: "New York, I Love You" w Mom (I loved it! a good couple movie with meaningful pointers to keep it going. but i think some stories could be more developed)
16Feb10: rewatched "The Pianist" (still find it good, tho i still feel first viewings are the best)
17Feb10: "Valentine's Day" w CHL n WB (laughed throughout - a feel-good movie; liked the fact that the various stories binded tog so well with the little surprises here and there, vs NY ILU in which each story was separate)
20Feb10: "赤壁二" w Addy, Karen, Sharon, SJ (should have watched the first one first cos i ended up not knowing who's who and what's happening and had to keep asking :/ and couldn't pay attn.. if not i think it should be a pretty good movie..)
4Mar10: "Alice in Wonderland 3D" w Mf (i found the 3D effects of this @ CCK Shaw SO much better than Avatar @ The Cathay =/ and the movie was much more enjoyable too! - cheered a sad me up :)) favourite quote - the Mad Hatter: “You used to be much muchier before. ... You have lost your muchness.”)
18Mar10: "Nodame Cantabile" w Irene, Mf (i thoroughly enjoyed some of the orchestra pieces - SO impressive! the expressions of the actors were really amusing :D)
23Apr10: "Ice Kacang Puppy Love" w Mom (funny, touching and meaningful - about love between friends and family. i cried 3 tissues! cos some touching parts i could really understand the feelings of the characters involved)
Inception
Letters to God (very simple Christian movie)
22Nov10: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" w Ame, Irene (they loved it. pretty good, i guess the main problem i had was that im not familiar with HP :X)
13Dec10: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" w Sj (not bad, could follow the story unlike HP. like the meaningful teachings, too long - in a post)
2Mar11: "The King's Speech" w Ame (hilarious, inspirational, tho it doesn't impress me that much to understand why it's the Oscar winner)
Mar11: "10 Things I Hate About You" very funny. silly sweet high school romance. just right for having breaks in between doing homework
23May11: "Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides" w Wb Yl Ame Pg (pretty good - scenery, freakish parts, fighting scenes, dressing, humour, bits of Christianity like when the Spanish said "only God gives life")
6Jun11: "Xmen First Class" w Wb Ame Pg (i was very keen on watching it and it was really good! intellectual, makes sense, cool action, some humour)
9Jun11: "Legally Blonde 2" w Irene (seems like some dumb blonde movie but kind of meaningful too - speaking up for yourself and what you stand for)
17Jun11: "Something Borrowed" w Sandy Lisa (quite funny, somewhat meaningful wrt friendships. they didn't like the lack of sense for one part tho)
16Jul11: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" w Irene, Sweetee, Kw (not bad. i didn't understand some parts again but the humour and effects were pretty good)
Aug11 "Horrible Bosses" w Ma (she fell asleep! gosh. the movie was very crude i must say but there was the humour)
25Oct11: "The Three Musketeers" w H (i would rate it 3.5 for humour/intellectual language and 4 for action. it's by the same producer or director as Sherlock! but a bit less awesome albeit a good chill out movie)
5Nov11: "Real Steel" w Hl (action packed but not too hardcore for me. i liked that there was the father and son element and how the father eventually softened his heart and especially the part when charlie was having trouble telling max sth and max was so understanding saying "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me." touching and demonstrates true fighting spirit)
12Dec11: "50/50" w L (adopting her words - a heavy topic put across in a lighthearted way, but not taking away d meaning. most of it was rather hollywood-ish trashiness but there were a couple of punch lines "u can't change ur parents, but u can change d way u respond to them.")
25Dec11: "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" w KY (ultimate action packed! super tense almost throughout the movie, and interesting Tom Cruise made it such that not everything happened smoothly - he would jump and misland and get all sorts of injuries..it's really the courage to jump without hesitation even though you are not sure you'll be alive after that. KY loved d movie and said she would watch it again!)
3Jan12: "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" w KY (i love mystery (: and the witty sarcastic dialogues. good level of excitement with the action. didn't understand some parts as usual. i like Holmes and Watson they depict such a true pair of buddies ;D)
23Jan12: "You are the Apple of My Eye" w mom (now i understand why guys like this movie so much - the anxiety of chasing after a girl and the acts schoolboys do to get the girl's attention and hopefully affection. the initial fluttering and the subsequent quarrelling)
22Mar12: "The Iron Lady" w KY (really love Thatcher's sharp words. inspiring and thought-provoking, tho i was still left uncertain of what to do with my life, the movie is definitely an encouraging one)
29Mar12: "Barney's Version" w SJ (a funny movie of a screwed up life of a man who had 3 wives, smoked and drank but very heartwarming at the same time, the relationships with the dad and the 3th wife - quotable quotes!)
27Apr12: "The Hunger Games" w Mom
4May12" "Avengers" w MF n PS (funny, action-packed)
7Jul12: "The Amazing Spiderman"
21Jul12: "The Dark Knight Rises" (fantastic depth, loved the twists)
20Aug12: "ParaNorman" w Mom (simple funny animated movie, heartwarming support)
Performances watched (listing started on 25Apr10)
20Jan10: Patrick Marber's Closer by outoftheBLUE, NUS Science w Pam (
13Mar10: The Rain Came Down Like Pearls the Night I Died... The New Musical - Sing & Tell by Mark Chan w Addy & Jy
21Mar10: Quintessence by NUSCO w CHL
