Joining the Dots....

I Muse, I Write, I Sing...

It's a great thing when you can marry your passions with your art. That's what I've been feeling all week. Like God is showing me how He's joining the dots together. :)

I feel it when I'm anchoring an editorial meeting for the Missions Newsletter, and brainstorming ideas for the publicity of food/clothing drives...when I'm doing research at the Esplanade library on documentary authorship....when I'm cracking my brains to write a meaningful article on child sponsorship.....when I'm thinking of ideas to inspire a choir to grow in passion and Godly authority. I'm blessed to be able to release my creativity into a meaningful cause, and to be in a position of influence.

What's not so great? Dealing with the reality that not everyone is as passionate or ready to run with the things that I care immensely about. Well actually, its more of dealing with my own impatience and my dislike of structure and timelines. But of course, I can't have everything as I want it to be. I'm learning that everyone is on their own journey as well. I just wish they'd get there faster. haha!

On a totally unrelated note....I don't understand why technology is breaking down on me all at once. Recently my fossil watch died on me....and then my handphone started to act up. I got both replaced, and NOW....my external hdd is getting dangerously temparemental (and I have to back-up the back-up! argh!), my hairdryer fried and died (literally), and the worst is this.....Went, my trusty iPod, needs to be sent for repair for unresponsive buttons. :(

I'm really not rich enough for this...

Boo Fwen @ RiverLife

Look who popped by for a surprise visit today!! Danny, my Boo Fwen! :) I was focussed intently on my comp screen when I heard someone tap on the glass window pane beside me. I think I must have dropped my jaw for at least 10 secs when I saw Danny. haha! Turns out he met Andrea for lunch nearby. Think they both had a good laugh at my shocked reaction.

It was a really pleasant surprise and a very fruitful time too! We actually pulled together a wedding gig for next week in like 10 mins! This guy ah...always rope me in for last min gig. haha!

Behind the Scenes with an Author....

I read Kem Meyer's blog quite frequently for ideas as she's the Communications Director of Granger Community Church. And today, she had a funny little post with what she calls her "little worthless insight on what happens on her writing days."

This excerpt sounds uncannily like my work days at home (but my mum prefers to call it "wasting electricity at home.")

============================================================
Vocabulary I make up words when I'm locked in a room by myself.

• Isolativity: Combination of lonely isolation and productivity. The up and downside of writing.
• Manuscrap: Combination of manuscript and crap. Potential outcome without productive days and an outsider's perspective of my work

Exercise. I'm failing miserably. It looks like this:

• • Walk from my desk to the coffee pot, and return.
  • Walk from my desk to the bathroom and return.
  • Walk from my desk to the chocolate stash and return.
    
  
  

Obama Fever

I joined in the post-election fun and got myself Obamicized on Paste Magazine!

Vote for Michelle as the President of the "Most Siao On" Society. haha! I shall get Ricky Weeren to conduct the invocation, afterall, he IS the President of the "Act Holy" Society. haha! Dawnie you can sing with Arun the Guru at my Inauguration ok? haha! Abi you can read some really random poem.

"The time has come....for change, for a new era of responsibility!"

Repose

1) Yesterday was quite a nerve-wrecking day as I conducted the choir for the very first time in my entire life. I screwed up the Thur rehearsal big time, and I got so super emo and discouraged from that experience. BUT God really pulled me through the actual services, and they went pretty well. Phew! So in the end, I'm glad I got pushed to the edge.....I experienced first-hand how God could use me in spite of my inadequacies. And I've grown so much from it.

I'm amazed by how much the choir has improved over the last few months, and seeing the sea of radiant, worshipful faces before me really moved my heart. God was worshipped that day! :) It was really good to connect deeper with different members of the choir too.

2) After running on adrenalin the whole of Sun, I crashed out and woke up at 9.30am (guess the retreat in Malacca screwed with my nocturnal ways).

3) I went to trade-in my temperamental W660i phone, for the Sony Ericsson C905 kick-ass camera phone (8mp baby!). It was on special offer, and I thought $398 was a pretty gd price for a new handphone AND point-and-shoot camera. Dawnie is happy cos I won't have to rely on her camera anymore (which is also 8mp). They actually sell tripods for this phone model! Amazing.

4) I headed to "Toast" cafe at a secluded corner of Taka, to enjoy a chix casear sandwich, mocha, and to read my Keith Green book. It felt REALLY good to have that pocket of space to be still. I was trying not to cry while reading the book in the cafe. haha!

5) I moved on to Borders to source for books on screen-writing, documentary filming, and to redeem a $10 voucher. I used it on Chris Tomlin's "Live at Austin Music Hall" album, which is absolutely fabulous. Only Chris can SOUND cute on his albums. haha!

6) I got a really hilarious phone call from Dawnie which made me laugh out loud in the middle of Orchard Road.

7) When I got home, I tried to get acquainted with my new phone. After an initial frustrating phase, I think we're both getting along better now. Still, Muffin you can help me look out for that bf we talked about. Remember he must:
- be able to help me with techy stuff
- be able to pour drinks for me without spilling
- be able to sing/play an instrument, or better still lead worship
- be willing to travel to Australia with me frequently
- accept and hopefully agree that Joel is always #1
- Oh...and must like dogs! haha!

8) All in all, it was a pretty fruitful day. It feels surprisingly good to be able to rest on Mon (my new off day) after being bz in church on Suns. :)

Girls' Nite Out

Had a lovely reunion with the gals-Berno, Erica and Abi, at Sizzler's Suntec last nite. I really missed hanging out with them and it's always great fun with this crazy and super random bunch. Haha! I'm learning that normal pple are NOT random, we are actually the weird ones! But we're just so used to each other's randomness. Anyway, it's so great to be totally at ease with this bunch.

Abi being super animated as usual. And what's that in front of us? A rack of pork ribs. Eeee! (It was Erica's)

Berno enjoying her veggies and garlic mooshrooms

I was holding my plate and hanging around the ice-cream bar, in a slightly dubious fashion. Just before I was about to do the deed, Abi saw me, read my mind, and yelled from across the bar, "NO!! You are NOT putting rainbow sprinkles on your fruits!" HAHA! It was freaking hilarious. She knows my weird tendency to mix and experiment with diff food types (e.g wafers in Tom Yam soup/ Pandan cake with grass jelly) Anyway...I DID IT! And the peaches tasted great with the rainbow sprinkles! Very weird meh? At least they're both sweet.

Berno actually got a whole cup of sprinkles and choc chips for me. Awww! :) And Erica said I looked like a happy kid sprinkling them on my ice-cream. haha! If you haven't realized by now, rainbow sprinkles are one of my fav food groups! :) They look so cheerful.

Garlic Mushroom Ice-cream cone?? Hmmm....don't worry, Abi didn't actually eat it like that.

Oh yes, Erica said we were all supposed to turn up in long skirts for this dinner. Why? Cos she had a new skirt, and wanted an excuse to wear it. (Note to self: The recent windy weather can make wearing long skirts a pretty precarious affair) Abi is hiding behind, cos she thought Erica was joking and turned up in...

SHORTS!!! haha! Berno looks like she's going to attend a wedding! heh!

And Steph, Abi's younger sis, came down to join us at the end. :) We're all going to watch "The Soloist" in Feb! A muso movie starring Robert Downey Jr and Jamie Foxx. Its based on a true story abt a journalist who discovers a former classical music prodigy, playing his violin on the streets of L.A. As the journalist helps the homeless man find his way back, a unique, life-changing friendship is forged. The trailer looks awesome, and I think the movie will be pretty good cos its directed by Joe Wright, who also directed "Pride & Prejudice" and "Atonement." Yayness! :)

"Heal Over"

These days I find myself being drawn back to this song by KT Tunstall that Erica introduced to me. Guess it resonates deeply with how I've been feeling of late. And its hard for most people to understand....although I know a few rare souls ard me do. I find some comfort in that. Sigh.

Anyway, this arrangement of the song with lush strings captured my attention. (It's got the Brooke Fraser, "Give Me Jesus" vibe.) Not sure of the pseudo-rock transition it goes into mid-way of the song though. If you want the full acoustic (read more intimate) version of the song, you can let me know, and I'll email you.

Heal Over (by KT Tunstall)
==========================
It isn't very difficult to see why
You are the way you are
Doesn't take a genius to realise
That sometimes life is hard
It's gonna take time
But you'll just have to wait
You're gonna be fine
But in the meantime

Chorus:
Come over here lady
Let me wipe your tears away
Come a little nearer baby
Coz you'll heal over
Heal over
Heal over someday

And I don't wanna hear you tell yourself
That these feelings are in the past
You know it doesn't mean they're off the shelf
Because pain's built to last
Everybody sails alone
But we can travel side by side
Even if you fail
You know that no one really minds
Come over here lady

Don't hold on but don't let go
I know it's so hard
You've got to try to trust yourself
I know it's so hard, so hard

Restless

"What if I leave? What if I leave?"- Rachael Yamagata

Home

I just got back from a staff retreat in Malacca, and a challenging choir/band rehearsal which took place immediately after I got back to S'pore.

1) I'm incredibly glad to be home.

2) Eating pig's ears (with visible hair) in satay steamboat thingy does NOT rock. Throw in cockles, pig's intestines and other questionable food items, and you get a pretty evil stew. :(

3) Starbucks is always a winner wherever you travel.

4) I'm very happy with my new stash of cheap shoes. (S$16 a pair)

5) Talking to a fellow colleague about her 5 years of study in California is triggering my wanderlust again. So it's not just me who is sensing that S'pore's lifestyle and landscape can sometimes be bad for the soul. On a related note, I hear Jason is having a wonderful time in Melbourne so far, and am glad for him.

6) I'm amused by my fwens who sms me random song lyrics, and expect me to continue the song from wherever they left off.

7) I got my Jason Mraz concert tix, and am set to go! :) *Live high, live mighty, live righteously!*

8) I'm so tired. I'm going to crash out.

"Let me dream for you...."

This song, "I believe in you," by Bethany Dillon really touched my heart. I especially love the words of the chorus. You can take a take a listen to it here. (ignore the cheesy video. I couldn't find a video of Bethany performing it live)

I Believe In You (by Bethany Dillon)
=====================================
When there's nothing to believe in, I belive in you
Forget the past and let my hand in yours be the proof
Though the strong could be my company, you're the one I choose
So remember, I believe in you

I know it feels like every eye is watching you
Waiting for you to fall, expecting you to lose
But I see victory, so all you have to do
Is remember, I believe in you

Chorus:
I believe, even when I see you crying
I believe, let me dream for you
When nothing comes from trying
Remember, I believe in you

There will come a day when love will lift you out of here
There will come a day when love will bring the truth
There will come a day when love will free you from your fear
And you'll remember, I believe in you