Give your all

Jesus went into the synagogue and a man with shriveled hand was there. Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. (Matthew 12:9-10, 13 verse edited)

If someone asks you to stretch out your hand, which of your two arms would you stretch out? I would show off my better hand, hiding the other for fear of any abnormalities or deformities that may be seen. So often we would portray our good self and let the bad side stay indoors. I was totally thrown off when coming to this realisation that this reality of our being is so true.

Vulnerability. Transparency. Intimacy.

Giving our whole self to God is always not an easy task, but He sees us through and through. Sharing it with your girl friends during cell group helps a lot, brings out the best in you, and builds close relationship. Whinging is good for you. People will then know what's bothering you and pray for you.

And with that, I shared with the cell about my passion for this year - how I love music and never get sick of it. I had only started playing keys in the worship team since November and my initial attitude in serving in this ministry was to sit back, relax and watch. I was, after all, a newbie. But because I was technically and classically trained, I can read the scores, know which chords should/shouldn't be played, and it really frustrates me when the music doesn't quite gel together. Somehow the band always pulls itself together on Sunday, which is an awesome miracle. Of course we have to certainly work on our techniques and dynamics and stop outplaying the other instrument.

I guess it's difficult to point out to others "Hey maybe you should play this chord instead of that" or "Can you play softer?" for fear of offending anyone or just being a nosy newbie. Proactive is the word for me this year. Don't hide your gifts or talents. Take an active role. Give encouragement. Let God use you.

Two hours

The gusty wind brought with it mini sand storms that hit you right in the face and body. Tiny brownish particles hang on to you thanks to the sticky lotion you slap on. Not long after, the lazy body had to turn around, chest on the sand with head buried under the arms. Hat as the last protection and beach bag as a barrier against the sand. Yet you can't escape. Those pesky sand still get into your mouth, nostrils and ears.

Have you ever

- felt bad because you unconsciously invited a friend to church assuming that they will know what to expect?

- felt guilty because you subconsiously forgotten to tell your friend that there will be singing/music/jumping around at the meeting?

I picked up my friend and he asked me if there will be singing. "Yes" was my short answer, but I quickly proceeded to add "You expected it, didn't you? We are, after all, going to a church." "No you didn't tell me" was the reply and that made me feel bad all over. To add to my misery, the so-called-talk as I described to that friend of mine turned out to be hard-core-preaching. Ooopps. I really thought it was going to be an evangelistic type youth meeting, which it sorta was because at the end of meeting, there was THE opportunity to receive Christ, where about 30 young people decided to raise the hands in response to the alter call.

The feelings are just mixed up, jumbled around, topsy turvy. Why am I feeling this way? I should be happy that he came, stayed for the whole duration and gave some feedbacks, though not entirely agreeing with the preacher but was happy that the church people are friendly.

"Well then you should join us more often."
"If you ask me again, I might come."
"Good, how about this Sunday for worship?" :)

Quick dear diary

Saturday
11 hour sleep.Chocolates for lunch.Grocery shopping.Missed the heavy storm by a whisker.Dinner while watching Hulk.Ginrami session.2am bedtime.

Sunday
7.30am band call time at church.Rostered for the 8.30am, 10.15am and 6.30pm services.Slipped in a twohour nap in between.KFC for quick dinner.Slept as soon as I hit the bed.

Today
Solid 9.5 hours worth of work.Never felt better on a Monday.Am watching my favourite Desperate Housewives series.

Tomorrow
Playing keys again for a AOG district leaders meeting at night.Looking forward to the experience.

Those were the days

Triple hoorahs for those who got this reunion at Sunway happening after a good long eight years after the end of high school. We did say we will meet up again and have a huge 10-year reunion of some sort - either a ball, a high tea or possibly an extravagant dinner. I guess we just couldn't wait till then!It was interesting to know that all of us who turned up are either single or attached for a good number of years, saved for one who is married and had just become a mother. I think I'll write about singlehood when I get round to it.

It wasn't long before I had to leave the happily talking crowd of excited girls/women to leave for the airport. I am finally home. Yes I call Wolly home now. My brains can barely register that my three-week holiday has finally come and passed. But the break has allowed me to spend quality time with my family and friends. I suppose unique would be one way of describing my time here because I had decided to catch up with people whom I did not meet the last time I was back in 2004. And with my brilliant idea of having an advanced high school reunion (but delegating the job to others), I had saved so much time by meeting all of them in one go. Big pat on me back!

I'm currently watching the Winter Olympics in Torrino on telly. The men's downhill speed skating has already seen four skaters crash and fall. It must be agonising to have a DNF label next to your name. Watching it fills my heart with anxiety everytime a speed skater attempts an incredible 123kmph down the hill. I remember skiing down those icy slopes, don't mention the intermediate ones, even the beginner's slopes gave me heart attacks. I swear it did stop beating a few times everytime I get a tad faster and I'll forcefully attempt to slow myself down, that of which eats up my energy and I get tired easily.

I think I will retire to bed early again tonight, not having fully recover from the holiday blitz. Not even the slightest work mode is switched on. In addition to the lethargic body and juiceless brain, my boss, the best ever, is officially leaving the electrical group and taking up the role as project manager. What will I do without him now? He's been encouraging me heaps in my work, though I haven't done a great deal of work one can call significant. Of course I wish him well, but deep inside I wished he would stay longer. I have not met anyone else who has such good people skills and possesses an extreme wealth of knowledge. Maybe someone better will come along.

Fingers crossed!

Love is in the air

An elderly couple got married at McDonalds.
Another couple tied the knot at Las Vegas.
Others secured their future in parks.

If you ask me, I wouldn't like to get married on St Valentine's Day. The date is way too common. An extra special day to celebrate love is always nice.

First Day Back at Work

Mind struggling to find momentum.
Eyes teary and droopy.
Body tired and seemingly lost.

It's hard to find rhythm after a long break. Work was a real struggle today.

Caught on camera

I admit. I tortured a poor roach last week while at my grandma's place. Well the dog almost had it in its paws but I was far quicker. Grabbing a fly swat that was sitting so conveniently on the coffee table, I slapped it on the floor, trapping that awful pest. Gleefully, I watched the tiny explosions erupting as I pressed the magic button. The video was close to four minutes long, yet the roach did not die.

Someone needs to invent a cockroach swat.

~itadakimasu~

Sunday arvo: Sarawak laksa.
Sunday night: Eight-course seafood dinner.
Monday night: Big plate of mee hoon Siam and huge serving of Chendol.
Tuesday arvo: Big plate of nasi lemak and a glass of cin cau.

Tuesday evening: Diarrhoea.
Wednesday all day: Fever.

Suspected cause: Overdose of 'santan' (Malay for coconut milk).

I guess I can't help it. My three week holiday is about to end, and I can't help but let gluttony take over for these last couple of days...to wreck havoc in my tummy by stuffing loads of Malaysian all-time-favourite dishes into that poor acidic container we call stomach.

I'm almost there. Satisfaction awaits those who seek and eat!

Ring ring

Was yakking on the phone on Saturday morning when my conversation was abruptly disconnected. I checked all possible connections to and from the phone to see if there were any loose wires. We have had trouble before with just a mere loose connection somewhere.

The phone company came today to fix it, the problem being a loose connection in the socket which we didn't bother to look. I am an electrical engineer. Should I be expected to know these things? Or should I have devoted a little extra time to troubleshoot the problem?

Nah I couldn't be bothered. Hee.

....

Hurt was all she felt. Silence. Refusal to give in. Insistence is a bad thing. You'll hurt others. Big deal small deal. Big fuss no fuss. Uncertainty. Split sounds good. Not afraid.

Shopping At Last

Made an eventual trip to a certain place today knowing full well that the streets of KL would be almost empty. It was after all a public holiday for KLsiders in lieu of the Federal Territory Day. Driving around this usually packed city was extremely satisfying. No traffic jams, no long queues, no frustrations, no time wasting.

Our destination: Petaling Street.

Yes the street of la la goodies, cheap imitation products, and good quality road side food stalls. I keep wondering how these people are allowed to continue operating when there's a huge sign in Malay saying "Dilarang Menjual Barang Cetak Rompak" which means "Selling of Imitation Products Prohibited". How come there are no police raids here? What's so special about this street? I guess it does attract a lot of tourists. Nearby there's this really nice tea shop named Purple Cane. Upon entering the shop, we were served Tie Kuan Yin tea in the traditional tiny tea cups. All around us were quality tea pots of all types, shapes and sizes, and graded tea leaves imported from China. Maybe when I'm old and retired, I'll start collecting all these pretty tea pots and cups.

Next stop was Sungai Wang Plaza, another famous shopping complex for such cheap goods and one you must not come shopping alone. I hear there are many unemployed people loitering around this plaza, especially the stairways, so take the lift whereever possible. We also conquered Lot 10 and BB Plaza.

A fruitful trip it was, me picking up a pair of sandals and shoes at bargain prices. Yey!

Woof!

CNY celebrations are somewhat quieter this year. With grandma's passing just over a year ago, no one in this side of dad's family prepares home-cooked reunion dinners anymore. A simple reunion dinner at a nearby restaurant wrapped up our chinese new year's eve dinner.

Time has passed incredibly fast this week. It's already mid week and the fourth day of the new year. I had just returned from our yearly pilgrimage to Ipoh of which I had so conveniently missed in the last three years. Gone were the days where I enjoyed going there, arguing who has the right to ride the bicycle, hearing the sounds of mahjong tiles, and playing cards with my cousins, with starting bets as low as twenty cents. We were young, innocent and playful. We could speak gibberish and do kids' talk then, but now my cousins and I have nothing much to talk about. Language separates us from even the simplest of conversations. The only sentences that came out from my mouth were 'Gong Hey Fatt Choi' and that was the end of it. I must admit my Cantonese-speaking abilities have seriously gone down the drains and being embarassed of wrong pronounciations, I'd rather be quiet.

At least grandma (mum's side) has not lost touch with food, and she religiously cooks up ten-course meals with ease, both for lunches and dinners. She's one hell of an amazing woman, I tell ya. We get heavy meals every time we are here. Even morning breakfasts are not spared, with dimsums and ipoh hor funs on the list. Yum. But I must say that the Hong Kong style dimsums in Australia are far better in quality and taste.

Oh yah, my dog bit me yesterday. He's not like any other dogs that love to play catch with you and return the stick at your feet, hinting that you should throw it again. No no, this dog catches and keeps the ball to itself, his habit of which I was well aware of but stupidly tried to snatch his paper ball away. Thankfully my punishment was just a small puncture wound on my left hand. No bleeding whatsoever, just a deep hole.

What a great way to start the year of the dog, huh?