"I'm just a single voice, what can I do to erase?"

I really wonder sometimes....

1) During The Holocaust in World War II, approximately six million European Jews were systemically murdered as part of a program planned and executed led by Adolf Hitler in Germany. Of those who were killed, approximately 1.5 million were children, and at least 200,000 were mentally or physically disabled.

2) In 1994, rivalry between 2 ethnic groups in Rwanda led to the mass extermination of at least 500,000 Tutsis and thousands of moderate Hutus. It was the largest atrocity during the Rwandan Civil War.

In the wake of the Rwandan Genocide, the United Nations and the international community drew severe criticism for its inaction. Despite international news media coverage of the violence as it unfolded, most countries, including France, Belgium and the United States declined to intervene or speak out against the massacres

3) Current statistics show that 2/3 of the world lives in poverty.

4) Up to 20, 0000 children appear in pornographic images, and there are 100, 000 child pornography websites on the internet.

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

"It's still the same old story
This great divide
Between the want and waste
And all the hunger inside
I heard the news today
Now I'm trying to find my place
I'm just a single voice
What can I do to erase

All this misunderstanding
All this anarchy
Six degrees of separation
Sometimes it's so hard to see
That we are not alone in this
I need to believe" - 'Free' by Corrinne May

Walk with me

It's interesting....the way God speaks to me sometimes.
This probably won't make any sense to you....but I really appreciate how He sends me all these little 'winks' and signposts.

I was rushing to work one day, and it was raining cats and dogs.
At my void deck, I spied a single piece of jigsaw puzzle.
"Hmm....yes God, I get it."

A day later, I was having a family lunch at the Hyatt hotel,
when they started to play Corrinne May's "Stay on the road".
That was really weird because it the one and only Corrinne May song they played,
it was sandwiched in between a couple of cheena pop songs. Bizarre.

A few nights later, I decided to take one of my walks home....
I gazed up at the sky and to my child-like delight,
saw the canvas of night painted with a host of dazzling stars and dinosaur shaped clouds!
I laughed out loud and thanked God for little blessings. :)

"My life in music" quiz

Stumbled upon this on Multiply...and thought it was quite hilarious. Seems like something lame May and I would do to entertain ourselves. hahaa! Try it and post it on your blogs! :)

Rules:
1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to
the question even if it doesn’t make
sense. NO CHEATING!

1. How are you feeling today?
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE- Kathryn Scott

2. Will you get far in life?
I SAID I LOVE YOU- Babyface

3. How do your friends see you?
LUNATIC CALM- Sound of the revolution (Oh man!! hahaha)

4. Will you get married?
CAN SHE EXCUSE MY WRONGS- Sting (Oh crap, I don't want to marry an asshole!)

5. What is your best friend’s theme song?
THE PASSAGE OF THE MARHSES- Lord of the Rings soundtrack (HAHAHA!)

6. What is the story of your life?
SALVATION IS HERE- United Live (*nods approvingly*)

7. What was high school like?
SO HARD- Dixie Chicks (teehee!)

8. How can you get ahead in life?
MY KING- Planet Shakers

9. What is the best thing about your friends?
HOW CAN YOU MEND A BROKEN HEART- Michael Buble (very true...thanks babes for being there!)

10. What is today going to be like?
YOU'VE GOT A WAY- Shania Twain

11. What is in store for the weekend?
LIKE A STAR- Corrinne Bailey Rae

12. What song describes you?
DON'T STAND SO CLOSE TO ME- Sting (Eeks! Seriously, I don't have intimacy issues!!)

13. To describe your grandparents?
KLLING ME SOFTLY- Aka A cappella (Awwww, no lah, i love them!)

14. How is your life going?
GRAVITY- John Mayer Trio (this is depressing)

15. What song will they play at your funeral?
SET ME FREE- Paradise Live (Yeah!)

16. How does the world see you?
MADE OF GOLD- Jonatha Brooke & The Story (haha! some pple are puking on their PCs)

17. Will you have a happy life?
TRAIN WRECK- Sarah McLachlan (Ah yes, just brilliant! haha!)

18. What do your friends really think of you?
MY SALVATION- Shawn McDonald (errrrr...)

19. Do people secretly lust after you?
1963-Rachael Yamagata

20. How can I make myself happy?
ALIAS THEME- JJ Abrams (I LOVE THIS!!!! hahaha!)

21. What should you do with your life?
MORE THAN THIS- Peter Gabriel (yeah man, i'm so trying)

22. Will you ever have children?
THE SUN- Feist

Work Woes

An exchange that took place in the International Plaza elevator:

Berno: I've got so much work to do, and not enough time!! *forlorn, stressed up look* I think I've got to ask Henry for an extension.....
Mich: *stares incredulously....then bursts out in laughter*
(Henry is Bernice's fiance...and they're getting married in a month you see)
My dear, you've got it all wrong. You should be asking the bosses' for an extension, not Henry!

Sigh my poor Berno....she's got no time to get married. Haha!

Muffin Day@BMI

Jasmine generously bought a whole box of freshly baked muffins for us....from the famous 'Choc' n Spice' bakery. (The original branch is at Shunfu Mart. I so miss it lah. bleah!) Here's Marcus, looking like the perfect muffin poster boy! hahaha!

Yummy yummy muffins!!!! I love the choc chip one! (middle muffin, last row) It's so yummy that May once wrote a ridiculous poem about them. Teehee! And yeah, I'm supposed to read that poem at her funeral.

Jasmine put up a notice that said "First come, first serve".....so being the kiasu Singaporeans that we are, we came up with this 'choping' system which we wrote on top of the muffin box.
If you can't read from the pic...it says:

* Chocolate muffin= Jaymee :)
* Banana Walnut= Michelle :)
* Cranberry (the red one lah!) = Bernice :)
* (ref pic) = This belongs to Marcus :)

Check out Marcus' drawing at the bottom. So funny lor! He picked out a muffin, but couldn't tell what flavour it was....so he had to draw its location within the box. The rest of us (being evil) were so tempted to swop the position of the muffins. But he overheard our plan. Darn!

Brooke Fraser- "Albertine"

Hymn (by Brooke Fraser)
=====================

If to distant lands I scatter
If I sail to farthest seas
Would you find and firm and gather
'Til I only dwell in Thee

If I flee from greenest pastures
Would you leave to look for me
Forfeit glory to come after
'Til I only dwell in Thee

If my heart has one ambition
If my soul one goal to seek
This my solitary vision
'Til I only dwell in Thee


"Now that I have seen, I am responsible"- Brooke Fraser, 'Albertine' (a song about a Rwandan orphan, Albertine, whose parents were brutally murdered in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide)


These are snippets from Brooke Fraser's latest album....which you can't even find here in Singapore. This baby was flown over from Sydney! :) It's been put on repeat mode on my iPod. You can really hear how her sound and song-writing has matured over the years. The best part about her is how her faith and compassion shines through. Her songs are stirring, poetic, inspiring, challenging....and full of social conscience, which is so lacking in today's music scene.


I've uploaded some tracks on my multiply website: http://www.jazzymoo.multiply.com/music

If you like what you hear, do yourself a big favour and check out her lyrics at http://www.brookefraser.com/lyrics/home.do
You can't fully appreciate Brooke Fraser until you closely examine her amazing lyrics.

[Steph: This one is for you lah! You're so stressing me out with your demands for music, blog posts etc. haha! I'm actually super tired from work....so I had to take time out to do this for you. You better appreciate it lor. haha!]

"Shadow Feet"

A new song by Brooke Fraser, the songbird from New Zealand.....this song of hers has been on repeat mode on my iPod. It's helped me to retain some semblance of sanity during this tiring and difficult week. I love how her lyrics reflect the influence of C.S Lewis, one of her favourite writers. She writes very maturely and poetically....beautiful metaphors and motifs interweaved in her songs. :)

Watch the awesome video of "Shadow Feet" here!
http://www.brookefraser.com/musicbox/home.do

And yes, I must acknowledge the one who enthusiastically introduced me to Brooke in the first place. Ahem, yes Glenn, I know you're reading this.....so here goes: Yes, Brooke rocks ALL THE TIME! *rolls eyes* haha!

==================================================================
"Shadow Feet" (by Brooke Fraser)
-----------------------------------------------
Walking, stumbling
On these shadow feet
Toward home, a land that I've never seen
I am changing
Less and less asleep
Made of different stuff than when I began

And I have sensed it all along
Now fast approaching is the day

CHORUS
When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
When the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
When time and space are through
I'll be found in you

There's distraction
Buzzing in my head
Saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
But I've heard rumours of true reality
Whispers of a well-lit way


Bridge
You make all things new

Prata and star jumps

I've always been a bit jittery about crossing roads. My classmates from PL and AJC would know for sure, cos I used to hold their hands and/or scream "we're gonna die" each time we crossed the road. I think I've gotten better now that I'm older....it's been reduced to just soft panicky squeaks now.

Still, last night seemed like a flashback to JC days. I was hanging out with May and Rie as usual...it's part of our Fri nite routine. We were crossing the road to get to the Prata House at Thomson Road (which I'm so missing btw). So yeah, the panicky squeaks came out again....n then this exchange took place.

May: "I'm NOT holding your hand."
Mich: *frowns*
May: "I'm going to do star jumps on the road! Teehee!"
Mich: *glares* "Why do you have to be so annoying???"

What the crap right? I mean of all things.... STAR JUMPS?!?!? But yeah she's right...it's the most obnoxious thing to do in that situation.

The Spaces Between Heartbeats and Breaths....

"My songs are like intimate conversations between dear friends, and they reflect the fears, hopes, joys and ideals that we hold dearly in our hearts. I'd like to think that my songs are like tears or smiles that tip-toe in the spaces between heartbeats and in between breaths." - Corrinne May

What a beautiful description coming from Corrinne right?? *swoon* I'm so in love....(Erm, if one could ever be in love with another girl without being lesbian. haha!)

Anyway, Corrinne May is coming back for a concert on the 3rd August, Friday!!!!!!
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: NUS UCC Concert hall
Tix: $49, $39. On Sale in June via Sistic. (grab your tix on the first day of sale pls....based on past experience, they sell out SUPER FAST.)

I'm so excited about hearing her again!! I'm sure this time round, she'll feature a lot more songs from her new album, "Beautiful Seed". And from the sneak previews we've had from earlier concerts, I'm sure it's gonna be absolutely beautiful. :) Mich is soooo pumped right now.
Good thing Marcus was in the office just now to share the crazy excitement with me! haha! Yes, we are such die-hard fans....we will go for every single Corrinne May concert, and buy every single album, and we even sang her songs together in my vocal studio . haha!

p/s: Steph..I'm so sorry you can't be here to join us!

Wilson: The Willing Victim

Upon seeing Priscilla's beautifully plastered locker last night...Wilson lamented on how he never got 'sabo-ed' during his birthday. So since he was feeling all sad and left out, we decided to whack his locker today (although it's not his birthday). We really don't need to be asked twice when it comes to sabo-ing. :)

Since Wilson's and Priscilla's lockers are side by side...that corner of the office is really starting to look like some graffiti wall. haha!

Wilson....looking mighty pleased at the end result.

It's a bit small, but below the notice it says "Ask and you will be given- Matt 7:7" and "Psss...you asked for it!"

This is the funniest part....check out the packet of wafers (his favourite snack)!!
It's stapled so tightly that it's gonna be freaking hard for Wilson to get to it. Looks like a packet that you only break into for emergencies. haha!

Priscilla's birthday: Pocky, flowers and Spiderman!

Today was another day of fun and mischief as we celebrated Priscilla's (my trainee vocal coach) birthday in true BMI tradition! *cue: SABO!!!*

12 midnite (the night before): Mich msges Victor, Pris's bf, as part of 'research' for the prank.

1.30pm: After lunch, we all joined forces to plot out and execute the prank.....above is a pic of Berno preparing the notice to stick on Pris's locker.....You'll get to see the glorious end result as you scroll down.

3.30pm: The boss enters the office and is greeted by a series of super chirpy hellos. He immediately goes "Ok, what's going on?" So sharp man. haha! We proceed to prep the boss on his all important role in the scheme....

4.30pm: Priscilla arrives at the office for an important "meeting with the director." She is running a little late, and the counterstaff sternly chase her into the director's office. Jasmine says urgently and gravely, "Quick, the boss is waiting for you!"....so that Pris has no chance to put down her bag and view her locker.

The boss sits Priscilla down in front of a laptop, and starts to play the Spiderman 3 trailer. They watch it in silence for 3 mins. Pris is puzzled, but kind of expects him to launch into a deep discussion on themes and lessons learnt from the film.

*trailer ends*
Boss: So....have you watched Spiderman 3 yet?
Pris: Er yes I have....
Boss: So how do you find it?
Pris: Er...yeah, I like it. It's quite good.
Boss: Do you know who the REAL Spiderman is??
Pris: eh no....
Boss: You DUNNO AH? I'm the REAL Spiderman!
Pris: ?!??!?! *thinks: has the boss gone mental??*
Boss: Ok, now I want you to go out and tell everyone. *flings open the door*
Pris: *stands up in shock* Huh? Tell everyone what?
Boss: That I'm Spiderman lah!
Pris: Er really ah?
Boss: Yah, go tell them! Everyone, Priscilla has something to tell you guys!
Everyone: *trying our best not to die from laughter* Yes, tell us what?
Pris: That he's Spiderman! *bewildered*
Everyone: *buay tahan liao...burst into uncontrollable laughter*

After that whole fiasco, we presented her with her birthday cake....

She is led to her locker for the final part of the surprise....

It's a bit small I know...but the notice says: "You've...been....pocked!!" And below the mess of tape and flowers, is a whole row of Choc Pocky (Pris loves them....tip-off from her bf).

Here's Pris preparing to open her locker....which is stuffed to the brim with....

Brightly coloured balloons with little notes written inside!!

We made Pris sit on ALL the balloons to burst them and get the notes inside.

Pris reading her notes/"vouchers" which allow her to redeem:
1) A song from Wilson
2) A free drink from Dorcas
3) $10 from Jo
4) Free Bouquet from Victor (he wasn't informed beforehand though. haha!) etc.

Emotional Luggage

"You learn to put your emotional luggage where it will do some good, instead of using it to shit on other people, or blow up aeroplanes." -Margaret Drabble

Runaway Heart

As I was laying upon my bed, I found myself struggling to fall asleep
My thoughts were running in a million directions
My heart was restless...and it felt like there was a series of knots within.
"Why can't I sleep Lord?" I cried out in frustration.

First came silence,
then the Voice came ever so clearly,
"you can't just bury your disappointments
and keep on running through life.
They'll just catch up with you."

The answer pierced through...
I have a runaway heart.

I could only crumble and cry before the One
who sees through me,
who arrests my heart with tenderness,
who delivers me from the weight of my sin,
who holds me in everlasting arms.


"You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine."
- Exodus 19:3-5

Helloooo Garageband!!

Yes, Michelle has just discovered the wonders of music recording with Mac's Garageband!!!! *excited* :) Jet, who taught me how to use it, has said that I can quote him on this: "Press record, and go nuts! And kiss free time goodbye!!! " Wooohoooo!!!

STEPH: Go check my multiply website. I've uploaded loads of music for you. You're so demanding you know!! haha!

Crazy

(by MercyMe)

The challenge...is to really live out what we sing. That's a tough one.

==================================================================
Chorus:
I have not been called to the wisdom of this world..
But to a God who's calling out to me..
And even though the world may think
I'm losing touch with reality
It would be crazy
To choose this world over eternity

And as I live this daily life
I trust you for everything
And I will only take a step
When I feel You leading me
Isn't that crazy

Call me crazy
You can call me crazy
Call me crazy

Wise-sayings

Today me n Bernice went to buy dinner, and we were crossing the road when this car came zooming by. I grabbed her hand and yelled "oh, don't die my friend!'

To which she replied in a very calm, zen manner:
"The road is very wide. I am very small my friend."

And when I recounted the incident to Jet, he said this :
"you still had time to form a sentence. I'll just grab and go, 'dude!'"