1521.


It's Ray's birthday today. Last Fri, the CG managed to surprise him and another CG mate Jess ey (at right) with a cake.
copyright/ amadeo

Yesterday, we went for a Jap buffet lunch where we discovered the joys of butterfish sashimi. I am undecided whether to crown it my fave sashimi now and Ray has decided Tuna is now his third fave. Heh.

We meandered around The C u r v e and lingered to read cookbooks and comics after two hours of stuffing ourselves :) And after that, we went back to his place where he had to help his dad move some stuff and we all just chilled around the TV and with newspapers before we went to this place called King Crab.

I'm wishing I took pix but sorry, I didn't. We had butter crab and it was very good crab indeed. The restaurant had three big shoplots - One with the usual tables and all, another with tanks displaying snow crab, abalone, assorted fishies and a giant lobster which looked like it was trying to jump to freedom, and the last shoplot was a kitchen with half glass walls so every one could see them cook.

Good stuff.

We finished it all off by going home and whacking some good Malaysian kampung durian .

It was a good day. Though I would love it if I could drive my baby around, if only just for his birthday. Still :)

Happy birthday, love :)

Any way, on the subject of birthdays and since we just discovered the trove of photos on our cell leader's blog, check out the hilarious utube of what happened at the CG celebration for another CG mate Miche lle and my birthday celebration a few weeks back.




CG group photo. Normally, there are five or six more peeps ard.
copyright/ amadeo



That was from my birthday's celebration.
copyright/ amadeo


And that's us :)
copyright/ amadeo

Carpark... not. The poor folks who hv to commute bwt KL and PJ for work. Jams are weekday daily affairs for them.
copyright/ amadeo

*iWant*
copyright/ amadeo

09:50.

"Lord, help me to do great things
as though they were little,
since I do them in Your power;
and little things as though they were great,
since I do them in Your Name."
- Blaise Pascal

09:47.

I stepped on a lizard just now.

A live, wriggling lizard.

Or at least, the detached tail was wriggling when I right myself after almost slipping after stepping on it.

We stared at the pink-ish little worm-like thing jumping around like crazy. I thought it was a worm. Then Ray said, "Oh, you stepped on a lizard" and. I. went. EWWWWWWWWWWWWW. and rushed to the platform edge and scrapped the mess off my right shoe.

Like Ewwwwwwwww.

I let loose some more Ewws and Aaaaahs in utter total gross-ified horror.

And all these took place right in front of the company's main doors too so when we finally stepped in, I had to blurt out a whimpering, tormented "I stepped on a lizardddd".

She was suitably sympathetic.

As we took the staircase up, I thought there seemed to be something squishy and soft as my right foot stepped down and I let loose two more very tormented "ewwwwww"s.

I had to give another explaination to the curious adminstrative team that greeted us at level 1.

I limped around (too freaked to step down properly in case there is something squishy), set up my laptop then limped to the loo with the intention of scraping any remains (like literally remains) off my shoe then realised I couldn't make myself do it. Heck, it would means some gross things being in the loo's floor. I got out of the loo and placed my shoe over a dustbin but could not do it either. Heck, it would mean the poor souls sitting near there would have to face gross, icky lizzie remains.

Ew.

So I limped downstairs to my boyfriend (Aiyoh, so helplessss!) and asked him to accompany me to go out, then take my shoe and scrap it off. The poor boy took the shoe, turned it around then found that... there wasn't any thing.

I was more relieved any thing, though it might mean my mind played tricks on me (Mind: There's soft squishy lizzie remains on your shoeeeee! Me: Nooooooooooo!).

Ray says the whole company knows I stepped on a lizard.

Where got?

Only those who were here then what.

Hahaha.

Stupid lizard, don't you know you are supposed to stay off the floor?

Grrrrr.

:)
copyright/ amadeo

How We Spent Sunday


Our Sunday's brunch which became lunch. Spicy sausages (the real type like Vic Mkt's), scrambled eggs, grilled tomatoes and shrooms!
copyright/ amadeo

The day started at 9-ish. I swept the apt, washed clothes and showered and got ready. We planned to make the sorbet first so it could freeze as we cook the rest but my love was caught up. So I started to make the Orange Brioche.

When he came, we (mostly him) started on the Lemon Sorbet (sorry, no pix). And then, it was time to attack an Aussie brekkie, I mean, all-day brekkie as the brioche dough proves away. We ate brekkie, lunch, I mean at about 130, I reckon. And I got to put roll the dough and put the brioche into the oven at about 3. 15 minutes after that, we had fresh brioches to makan. With magarine spread over like u wld do a scone, it was... good :D

We lazed around and stir the sorbet at appropriate moments. By 445, we were off to Ray's house where we watched a bit of TV then went out to the pasar malam with his folks. It's a ritual of sorts now, a routine that I like. I'd grab some veggies and fruits for the week and I'm quite enchanted with freshly squeezed sugarcane juice with no added sugar at all (phwoar). Then, we would all go for dinner together. This Sunday evening, dinner was steamboat at a place near to his place. And then, back to his place where we had the sorbet :) All in all, it was a very good weekend.


Orange-scented brioches :) My first attempt at working with bread and dough. It actually turned out pretty good, though I shld had added more orange zest.
copyright/ amadeo

15:34

"I went down to the sacred store
Where I’d heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn’t play."

- American Pie, Vincent McLean

The Graying of the Record Store

13:56

One of the best lines in a movie review I've read for a while. From NYT on Pirates Of The Carribean: Dead Man's Chest.

"And there are other memorable bits and pieces, visual highlights of a movie with no particular interest in coherence, economy or feeling. Ms. Knightley is, once again, a vision of imperial British pluckiness, with an intriguing dash of romantic recklessness that surfaces toward the end. Mr. Bloom, as is his custom, leaps about, trying to overcome his incurable blandness, and is upstaged by special effects, musical cues, octopus tentacles and pieces of wood. Naomie Harris turns up for a few scenes of hammy voodoo, and Mackenzie Crook and David Bailie contribute some proletarian slapstick."

LOL.

And go watch Pirates, it's worth it :)

Among my many choice gems of witty, inspired, undeniably Depp-ed quotes was that scene in the trailer where Elizabeth and Jack (sorry, Captain Jack) were talking about doing what's right.

Elizabeth: “There will come a moment when you have the chance to do the right thing”
Captain Jack Sparrow: “I love those moments. I like to wave at them as they pass by"

Hahaha.

Oooh, and the "dichotomy between good and evil" bit was totally priceless.

And the parrot's (tiny spoilers ahead) "Don't eat me. No. Don't eat me" was a wonderful give away to the next scenes. Ooh, ooh, and I love Jack's make up gibberish in those next scenes - They were gibberish 'nuff and yet you could deduce what he was saying, just adding suffixes to words.

References to the first movie were funny and great (pooch with keys, hehe) though I wish the monkey die already.

I love the insane mastery of whismical idiocy.

:)

And I would love May 2007 to get here! Spiderman 3 and Pirates 3. Like gollygee whatchamacallitwhiz I want.

Yes, I had a great weekend, starting from Fri night.

Will get photos up soon :)

heavens hush
donkeys bray
children cried
mockers jeered

the road to perdition
the road to life
who would had thought
from such blood springs such life

totality
enormity
a love so big
my soul feels cut

my disbelief
my shame
oh to face the One
who called me by name

walking on
chin kept high
weariness begone!
i try my life

at the foot of the tree
i face it all
fulity of ambitions
starkness of salvation

i learn grace
i learn hope
i learn faith
i learn paradoxes

of weakness and strength
of poverty and wealth
of a battle won yet fighting still
of my dual citizenship

words fail me and yet i try
lest i forget the lessons to learn
for every tear from me you keep
for how i stand strong even when i'm weak

Jesus
My everything

12:05.

"So whatever it takes, I'll be one who live in the fresh newness of life of those who are alive from the dead. Whatever the cost. Whatever it takes I will be one. Whatever it takes"
- Lyrics from The Kry's Cassie's Song, words lifted from the journal of the teenage martyr from the Columbium shooting

Daily Recharge
Mal Fletcher

You're No Accident!

03 July 2006

Isaiah 49:1-2 '… Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name. He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.' (NIV)

You are not an accident of birth. God doesn't have accidents! The fact that you are here at all is the result of divine providence, God's hand guiding history. The fact that you are called to be a Christian and set apart for God's great plan, proves again that he is very deliberate with you. Now that you're living for him, the Lord wants to declare, even to people that come from afar, that he formed you and set you apart. God gave you a name before you were born. That means that he was involved in shaping your nature and your destiny, your calling, before you were born. He's fitted you with the nature you need to fulfil the purpose he has for your life. You were born for the work he has you doing now and the work you will grow into over time. There's nothing accidental about your life at all. There is purpose in your existence. Even when it seems that nothing much is happening for you, there's a purpose in it. There are times when he will hide you in the shadow of his hand. He will put you his quiver, like a sharpened arrow awaiting its appointed task and time. Yet even then, when you're itching to go and wondering why God is working so slowly, you can remember that he's keeping you close to himself. You're not in some storeroom somewhere, momentarily forgotten while God attends to more important matters, or helps more important people. No, you're in his quiver; you're on his person and carried by him at all times.

Prayer: 'Father, I know that you have a very deliberate purpose for my future. Shape the nature that you've given me into something that really hits the mark for you. And help me to remember that, even in the slow times, you don't forget me.'

20:49.

In Singapore, my hair smells like Dove conditioner.

That's 'cause my huge bottle of Pantene went to Malaysia with me and the half full tube of Dove stayed here.

When the wind blew, slightly cool and soft and gentle, and sent my hair moving as I walked along that lane from the bus stop to my block, I smelled the fragrance and thought about how I probably shouldn't have spent so much on Body Shop and like-category stuff. Oops.

I have been in Singapore for about a day now.

I noticed it the last time I was back - Somehow, my home register in my consciousness in a way akin to that time when I stepped back home from Melbourne. There's a certain smell in the air, pretty pleasant, I think mixed with shower gel smell for some reasons, a certain feel to the rooms, and oh, my lovely lovely bolster so soft and cuddly.

Oops.

Bak Chor Mee, mee kiat, extra chili, extra vinegar, please.

Mmm.

I drummed for service this morning. At 630, my hp alarm went off and so did my Dad - He got up and came to my room and called me to wake up, just the way he does regularly.

Church is the same but bigger. Bigger crowd with more faces I do not recognise.

Drumming was very very enjoyable with a freedom in the Spirit, close-your-eyes-and-sing-out-loud moments and chit chat afterwards with some aunties, uncles and the young women.

Two aunties - one almost 70 and another in her 40s - were learning line dance together when most people left. The older one was the teacher. "You got to shake your hips," she said.

I was chatting with a new comer, a young China girl, just few days old in Singapore and hoping to find a job in advertising and graphic design which she took a degree for.

I found myself a bit worried for her. Working overseas ain't that easy and ain't that hard but knowing English well helps here.

I'm supposed to be working from home this week, doing design work, and I'd also be making a trip to the Sg office. Not sure when though so I would have to call them tomw and check.

One of my aunties is having a chalet tonight at Changi Aloha. It started yest alrdy. I'd prob be going tomw, am undecided whether I want to stay a night or not. It would be good to see the aunties again though. I wish R a y is with me so we can revisit Changi together. We spent Valentine's there. It's a pretty lovely place, colonial bungalows next to the sea and all.

Still, my love will be coming on Sat so that's cool :)

I plan to take some time out, chill, relax, don't-do-any-thing-except-think-journal-pray-worship stretches this week. Also, I am looking forward to meeting my amigos around town.

Spent this afternoon with church friends at Plaza Sing. They bought me Anderson's ice cream after I refused cake. Hah. Walked around after that, hit my two usual shops. Was pretty amusing walking around and just being "girl", I think.

My brother just showed me this whole prelude to some super 3D war game he's playing. When I sat down at his bed end and looked at his flat screen monitor, it felt very familiar and quite sweet I guess. I think I like knowing he can have someone in the house who he can show such techy stuff to. My parents are not techy.

It has been a good day. Nearly fell asleep a few times on the MRT ride back... nothing changed, hah, sunday afternoons and sleepy me.

Sidenote: I love being able to use 11mbsp unlimited wireless any where in the house.

Over and out.

Updates later :)

And *huggs* for my baby.