For the past 2 weeks, been busy developing and executing the bookstore marketing plan. Must say, it’s turned out to be far more challenging and demanding than I initially thought.
Compound that with balancing other challenges at work. Uncertainty lies ahead as organizational changes begin to sink in. New opportunities and expanded responsibilities could result, but apprehension holds me for the moment.
My most important takeaway in the midst of this: sleep shortage demands spiritual sustenance. I see myself and other chugging on with less sleep, yet more speed. Now Houston, we’ve got super men and wonder women in our midst!
With the striking of the bio-clock and the year fast closing, the final straw came in the form a birthday gift of a book catalyzing a re-evaluation on my career.
From Wikipedia: Martin Strel swam the Amazon River, commencing on February 1, 2007, finishing 66 days later on April 7, 2007. If verified this would be another record-breaking distance of 3,274 miles (5,268 km), longer than the width of the Atlantic Ocean. He had escort boats that poured blood into the river to distract meat-eating fish such as piranhas and sharks. Near the end of his swim he encountered a tidal bore about 13 feet (4 meters) high, known as the Pororoca.
Hickory Dickory Dock, The mouse ran up the clock The clock struck noon He's here too soon! Hickory Dickory Dock!
This year I saw one candle too many and ate one cake too much. Meals with family/friend adorned with a song were the flavour this year - no more 21yo big bang celebrations eh? But I'm grateful for friends who remembered and bothered, even the simplest wishes via sms/msn.
With 2 years short of the big three-O, I find myself wondering where I am today and where I'm headed. For now, the future's a blur and right now, the busy-ness without a longer term purpose is starting to gnaw. Not to mention, the lack of sleep...
Spent my actual B-day snapping for colleague, D's wedding. Greatly enjoyable but stressful too. No wonder a photographer can get paid $3000 per hour.
Dear God, may I find my purpose in life, striving to my maximum value, beyond my wildest dreams. And may my burdens be lifted up to you in constant prayer.
Listen to BBC Comedy here: "I walk down Boat Quay and I've never had so many people trying to entice me to have seafood in my entire life!" *cue restaurant touters*
"The government's paid millions of pounds... a campaign to encourage people to smile at tourists... If everyone's smiling at you, it's not necessarily because you're a nice or a good person."
"I go to the Little India market where 'We do gold plating' and I thought about getting me hair done... So it'd stand up and I'd look weird like a James Bond villian or Michael Bolton."
Trawled the Web for used car adverts and this little bugger captured my heart - nearly. My exotic automobile dream burst when dad came in and pointed out all the impracticalities, e.g. hard-to-find spare parts, leaded fuel, and most of all, $$$.
One day perhaps... *Ed strokes picture on monitor*
I love you And i will never leave you Nor forsake you And i love you And i will never leave you
You are my child You are my child When you're down When your heart is broken When no one seems to care Please know that i love you
Cuz you are my child You are my child And i want to wrap my arms around you And i want to wrap my arms around you And say everything,everything will be alright
You are my child You are my child Let me wipe those tears from your eyes Let me wipe those tears from your eyes
Come to me Come to me Come to jesus Come to him Come to jesus Come to him
Last week was surreal, this week felt low. It's funny how one prays for help and then avoids it when it's freely offered...
Recently read Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie, the author's personal account of watching his ex-professor succumb gradually to a generative disease while soaring continually above the tragedies of life.
Teared at the sad ending. For sure, it's reminded me of one important thing in life - family. Although essentially Buddhist in outlook, I do agree with Morrie on at least one thing: "When you learn how to die, you learn how to live."
Just 2 hours ago at the airport, I briefly recounted all the trips in my life. Not many, but certainly all are memorable.
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
It was an inspiring encounter last night with Nick Vujicic, a 25yo Australian born without arms and legs. Even as my mom recovers from her hysterectomy, his life story really assured me that God has a greater purpose for me, my mom, and my family.
Nick's message: Victory is promised even when God doesn't change one's circumstances.
Him and children: I think I was asked by a little boy, "But how do you tie up your shoelaces?" I'd get some kids brave enough to look up my sleeves and asking me where I'm hiding my arms.
His struggle: There were times when I felt depressed and angry because I couldn't change the way I was... I went to Sunday School and learned that God loves us all and that He cares for you... I didn't understand that if God loved me why did He make me like this? Is it because I did something wrong? ...I wanted to end my pain and end my life at a young age...
Does sitting by a nice cozy fire, with a cup of hot tea/chocolate, and a book you can read for hours even when your eyes grow red and dry and you look sort of scary sitting there with your insomniac appearance? Then you fit this category perfectly! You love the power of the written word and it's eloquence; and you may like to read/write poetry or novels. You contribute to the smart people of today's society, however you can probably be overly-critical of works.
If an influenza pandemic appears, we could expect the following-
Given the high level of global traffic, the pandemic virus may spread rapidly, leaving little or no time to prepare.
Vaccines, antiviral agents and antibiotics to treat secondary infections will be in short supply and will be unequally distributed. It will take several months before any vaccine becomes available.
Medical facilities will be overwhelmed.
Widespread illness may result in sudden and potentially significant shortages of personnel to provide essential community services.
...epidemiological models from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA project that today a pandemic is likely to result in 2 to 7.4 million deaths globally.
Was awoken at 5.35am by my brother and soon we were plodding towards Esplanade Drive to kickoff a 12km run - courtesy of the Army Half Marathon aka Singapore Bay Run. Other than the inefficient bag management (we queued for an hour or so, and a poor Caucasian lost his bag), it was generally well-organized, considering the immense number of runners.
No idea what my timing was (cue: runners gasp in disbelief) simply because I hadn't a watch and we just aimed to complete it. Besides it's great just to have running company.
As I was blogging and searching for additional info, I chanced upon SGRunners, a running enthusiasts' club. Apparently, there've been lesser known runs happening, like the World Harmony Run (25km) and the Ultra Marathon Challenge (as many loops of 10km as possible in 7 hours).
Gotta keep running! :)
Caught 881 by Royston Tan with family in evening. Though my Hokkien is really quite lacking, was entertained by the tacky but imaginative OTT costumes, Hokkien numbers belting out one after another about life and hardships, and clever weaving of familiar pugilistic elements and supernatural beliefs.
Read interview: Well, I grew up in a kampung environment in Lorong Chuan, Serangoon Gardens, where everything is very grassroots. Back then, everyone knew your name. I chase that feeling constantly by talking to everyone and anyone. Taxi drivers, students, prostitutes – it doesn’t matter. They all have a story to tell.
Other facts I discovered from my parents and the net: - The actresses like Liu Ling Ling were real-life getai celebrities during their heyday. - The movie's promotional roadshow, done on a truck, was disrupted by an unidentified assailant pelting eggs from a motorcycle. One conspiracy theory says it was a publicity stunt.
Directed by Jay Chou. Written by Jay Chou. Starring Jay Chou. I chuckled as I was reminded of the depicted director-writer-producer-actor in Mr. Bean's Holiday.
The Secret was surprisingly not bad, with pretty cinematography and an endearing plot (and super star). And yes, it makes me want to fall in love - real hard. It's high time I shook off this lackadaisicalness (as well as words with 17 letters & more). All in God's timing, I comfort myself...
Well, if you play the piano and you ever need a pick-up line, play the piano with only one hand for your girl to see. 'nuff said
Read WHO: The noise problems of the past are incomparable with those plaguing modern society: the roar of aircraft, the thunder of heavily laden lorries and the thumps and whines of industry provide a noisy background to our lives. But such noise can be not only annoying but also damaging to the health, and is increasing with economic development.
Read Fast Company's Working With the Enemy: Adam Werbach, a reinvented environmentalist, who
"woke up the morning of December 9, 2004, with the hangover of his life. The previous night, he had stood at a wooden lectern at San Francisco's Commonwealth Club to tell a packed room of 250 people, including the leaders of environmentalism's most influential organizations, that their movement was dead... he announced with the tone of someone reading last rites: "I am done calling myself an environmentalist."
Foolhardy courage? But for sure, I'm impressed by his conviction.
It's either a hint from above or it's written on my face - single & available. You know when 2 previous cellgroup leaders ask you point blank about it.
Getting attached/hitched is indeed a desire but the action plan is lacking... In any case, to paraphrase Joyce Meyer's key message, when you discover it's not all about you, God will certainly be at work about you.
Caught Kan Lume's The Art of Flirting on TV. I only paid half attention to it, but now I wonder what it takes for two people to come together and stay together.
I read this book by Elie Wiesel. Not only did it make me tear, it made me ask, why allow such horror?
An excerpt, though not the most emotive one:
There was no longer any joy in his eyes. He no longer sang. He no longer talked to me of God or the cabbala, but only of what he had seen. People refused not only to believe his stories, but even to listen to him.
I sincerely believe that God is good all the time, and I recognize that there are forces of good and evil constantly at work.
In the end, I choose faith - in Him who's ever faithful.
National Day 1969: Parade at the historical grounds of the Padang
My planned virgin visit to the Treetop Walk was thwarted by the merciless downpour this morning. An itchy throat and runny nose certainly didn't help.
Work's been droning on, yet fulfillment eludes me. I spent the day reflecting and work-life balance came to mind - more accurately, the need for effective time management. Does fulfillment come from achieving the objectives one originally charted out, i.e. sticking it through? Or does it come through activities one enjoys? What about keeping friendships alive, as featured in today's papers?
Other emotions followed.
Seeing the PM deliver his message and then reports of country leaders attending celebrations around the island triggered a sense of nationalism - also akin to communistic propaganda and shows of military might.
A familiar sense of childhood excitement followed as fighter jets scrambled off the screen to the skies outside our flats - as they invariably did every year.
A strange sense of foreboding arose within as images of war-fighting equipment flickered by - may they never be put to actual use. Then dinner interrupted - our family's favourite claypot rice in AMK - so we never got round to watching the fireworks.
Soon the bed will beckon and the daily/weekly routine continues
Four months more of the year remain. Carpe diem! admonishes from within.
those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isa. 40:31)
Giving of time but not enough mind oft results in frustration.
Argh.
Saviour King By Hillsong United
And now the weak say I have strength By the spirit of power that raised Christ from the dead And now the poor stand and confess That my portion is you and I'm more than blessed...
I love you Lord, I worship you Hope which was lost, now stands renewed I give my life to honor this The love of Christ, the savior king...
Did the Mizuno Wave Run today. The 10km run itself was a cool but muddy affair, owing to the early morning downpour. Pity because runners were more intent on avoiding puddles than enjoying the peaceful serenity at Bedok reservoir. Race management was disappointingly lacking (see readworthy takes by other bloggers: ShaunChng.com & Conflake).
Had a satisfying run nonetheless, though fitness level has dipped significantly (woe is me as insidious IPPT draws near). About 8,000 runners showed up - an encouraging sign that running figures in many S'poreans' lifestyles, i.e. I am not alone :)
The older bro instinct in me kept me looking out for my little bro. Was impressed that he kept a constant pace all the way - congrats, friend!
Midway, a song sprang up within:
I'm coming back to the heart of worship And it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it When it's all about You, It's all about You, Jesus
I'll bring You more than a song, More than a song You're looking into my heart, Into my heart
I have completed a monument more lasting than bronze and far higher than that royal pile of Pyramids, which the gnawing rain and furious north wind cannot destroy, nor the chain of countless years and the flight of time. My end won't be complete, and a great part of me will evade the death-god: I'll prosper on, fresh with future praise. As long as the priest with the silent virgin climbs the Capitoline hill, high and low - where raging Aufidus thunders, where Daunus rules over a farming people poor of water - I will be proclaimed to have been the first to adapt Aeolic songs into Italian measures. Melpomene, accept the proud honor you have earned and crown my head with Delphic laurel.
Ever had one of 'em days when you enter the office and almost immediately get called for an urgent meeting and then you're caught unprepared at another meeting and the day just passes as you pore over something that seemed much simpler before you started and by the time the sun's set way earlier and so you leave the office with an annoying headache and the world just feels like it's too much to bear and you just wish you could disappear somewhere and shirk everything aside?
Went shopping for da rock with J, advised by experienced M who's already planning for the wedding shebangs. Carat, cut, clarity, colour... and cost - overwhelming at first, but it's not difficult to understand.
Mind you though, da rock's just 1 of many considerations in settling down. You haven't even broached the ultimate plan for scoring that "Yes" and the whole suite of wedding obligations.
It certainly is a coming of age; M's other half commented, now I feel like I'm no longer a kid and I've to act like an adult now. And once things are set in motion, there's no stopping it.
So there, my buddies are a few steps ahead already. If I continue plodding along, I'll find myself watching movies on my own a year from now.
Comedy by Ben Willbond and Justin Edwards about Colin and Kenneth, two science teachers at a sixth form college that specialises in drama.
When the Head of Science dies of a heart attack, his replacement is determined to revitalise the department. Colin and Kenneth must deal with their new boss and the constant harassment by Danny Woods, the pretentious drama teacher who cannot resist goading them.
