27 days of leave from work

I’m on leave till next year! That’s exactly 27 days before I officially start work again on 4th Jan 2010.  For now, I can wind down and enjoy… life.

It’s been 6 hours into the 1st day of my leave and I’m already wondering if every day for the next 26 days is going to be this boring. So far, I’ve practiced the piano for 2 hours, watched Oprah, read half of “The Little Prince” and I’m checking my work email while I type this entry. I need to pack my room… it’s a mess.  (spaghetti thought)

I had wonderful plans for this break from work. I said that I would read (check), practice the piano (check), bake, rot. I feel like I’ve slept for >12 hours and am wondering about the house in a state of blur. Perhaps what The Little Prince said is true…. I need to be precoccupied with something other than myself.

I plan to go to Church every night this week to help wash the dishes that are used during Youth Conference. YC is special to me… it’s the place where I learnt about Christ and had the opportunity to discover truths from the Bible. By helping to wash the dishes, it will free up time for campers to do what is important – respond to God’s word and discuss the lessons that they’ve learnt with the camp leaders. It’s been my joy washing dishes for the past two nights. 

27 days of free time. 27 opportunities to care for others.

In the face of adversity

“Bad is never good until worse happens” Danish Proverb

“Smooth seas do not make skillful soldiers” African Proverb

“It’s not easy taking my problems one at a time when they refuse to get in line” Ashleigh Brilliant

“May you get what you wish for” Old Chinese Curse…. eeeks!

“If the wind will not serve, take to the oars” Latin Proverb

All quotes from  The Quote Garden

Fuzzy Drinks!

MY: Hey, what are you drinking?

SM: Fuzzy drink… wanna try?

MY: Fuzzy drink? You mean fizzy drinks? *Laugh*

SM: Ya… I mean fizzy drink… *Blush*

MY: So does your throat feel ticklish? Ah-hahahahaha

3 days on…

Along the corridor…. MY: Hi fuzzy drink!

In front of her table, through some files…. MY: Fuzzy! (expressed in a “BOO!” way)

Randomly as part of some conversation….MY: Does your throat tickle?

I’m annoying. Bless her big heart… SM just laughs every time…. I know the joke is stale already….

Work 101: Learning to let go

There is a calm in the storm. I know that I have tried my best. My absolute best. The kind of “best” where I have put aside any hint of embarrassment and fought for my brand, where I’ve asked many times and not given up, where at the last minute things changed for the better and where, I can’t think of a better plan.
Passion. Determination. Creativity. Hope.
And sometimes, these qualities are not enough. And if my best isn’t enough, then it’s not meant to be. I accept it.

Gummy

Gumps has cancer. 

My poor dog. I cannot begin to imagine the suffering that she’ll go through.

Random thoughts from today

• SM’s looking really good with very womanly curves… this baby is good for her! 
• Last minute work is really expensive
• I need to buy more yoghurt
• AL should really consider going into full-time editorial service
• The adrenalin that keeps me going through the day doesn’t seem to go away even while driving back from work
• Reading God’s word at Prayer Meeting brought me much needed stillness
• I’m not a loud person
• There is someone who KEEPS making the most RIDICULOUS requestS! Arghhhh!!!!
• No more talk pillows and blankets please
• I like New Living Translation
• Buy more hand cream
• Hope M gets a job soon
• Will try not to say “S*^T” at work tomorrow… even though I know I’ll be stressed.
• Bones are aching

I’m feeling lonely this weekend.

Loneliness is a terrible feeling. I’m probably going to sound wimpy and emotional in this blog. If you’re not in the mood to read a soppy entry, I’m going to leave three lines blank so you can switch tabs quickly.

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Back to loneliness. I’ve tried to analyse why I’m feeling this way. It can’t just be because A isn’t in Singapore. I don’t think I’m thaaat clingy. I think it’s a sudden realisation that half of my best buds are out of town! Ade is in HK. L is in China. K is in Switzerland. SG is either busy preparing for wedding or travelling. Sigh. You guys are so successful. I’m happy for you. But I miss you all!!!

Loneliness. I’m sure the feeling will go away. This sad feeling has perfectly coincided with that time of the month. But while I’m feeling emo, just know that even if we don’t talk as much as we used to, you’re all dearly missed.

You’re not alone

Dear C

My heart ached as I listened to you share about your worries, hurt and troubles. The things that you’re going through are tough and I can’t say that I’ve been there before. I asked you how you’re handling your problems and you told me that you can’t sleep, you have no one to turn to and you have no peace. One day, I hope I can tell you more about God and how He cares for you. 

God can give you the wisdom that you need to understand what you’re going through at the moment. As He gives you the wisdom both to understand and to deal with your problems, there often comes peace. Its a special peace that arises because you know that no matter what happens, God is with you every step of the way… and He’s not going to let your life spiral out of control… even though for now it seems that way.

I hope that one day you’ll try to pray when your troubled heart can’t sleep and when no one else in the world can lend you a listening ear because its too late or too inconvenient. You’re not alone. Even in the wee hours of the morning, God will hear if you will try speaking to Him.

You’re not alone. I am praying for you, C.

Elle-Dee-Arrh

Today is the first full day without A. The first full day into the next phase of our relationship. Welcome to LDR… 30,000 krisflyer miles or 1596km to be exact. I miss you already!

An Oak Tree

Tonight, I had the rare experience of observing the power of hypnosis. I watched An Oak Tree which “is a story of loss and suggestion told by two actors, one of whom has never seen or read the play before they walk on stage”.  The second actor has NEVER seen or read the play and there is a different second actor every night.

Tonight, the second actor was played by Loong Seng Onn. He seemed to be quiet and slightly nervous (as you might expect) before the act began. However, under the power of hypnosis, Seng Onn was convincing as the many characters he played in the hour long story. In an instant, he was a grieving father with tears in his eyes, or a shy woman, or a naked man with shit on his legs, or basking in the warmth of the sun, and then back to being a grieving father.

It was a two-man show. All the audience saw were black walls, 8 plastic chairs, a piano seat and a mixer/mike stand. Of course, on such a bare stage, many scenes were left to our imagination. I must admit that when Seng Onn read the portion of the script describing the beach and how the warmth of the sand relaxes our muscles, I felt very relaxed. I wasn’t hypnotised… but it gave me an idea of the control that hypnosis could have on a person.

The power of suggestion. ”Three, two, one….. sleep” Goodnight, my friends!