Friday, August 31, 2007

Happy Teachers' Day!

Happy Teachers' Day to me!

This year, there'll be a no-show.

I'm about to make a bold move.

It may not come packaged with the glitterati, but I'll be earning more than You for sure. At the end of the day, accolades do little but burst the ego bank.

Being equipped with passion is a blessing.

Take it to a higher level where one is able to reap the harvest from the seeds of passion sown.

The annals of history have spawned Emperors as mere figureheads and pawns in politics.

Sometimes, one doesn't have to be Number One to win.

And yes, that tagline's courtesy of me -

Post-graduate from the School of Hard Knocks.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

This.

The hour hand rests at eleven.

You're tired.

Your keys jingle with a careless lilt.

The One comes running to the door, wraps his arms around You and whispers,

"Let's be happy for the rest of our lives."

And You come to realise that this is Love.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Thus Far.

"So, how's Monday been, Mich?"

"Sleepy, and today's Tuesday."

"Yes, I know. Why would I ask about Tuesday if it isn't over and hence, you can't give me a complete answer?

"It could mean 'thus far' - the hours that have mapped out."

"Well, I don't want to know 'thus far'. I want to know about You."

Drawing parallel thoughts on that, the significance of 'thus far' is dependent on which side of the lawn you're on. Thanks, Kris! =)

Monday, August 27, 2007

Introducing...

Salome II
Self Portrait II
voilier en contre jour
Saint Philibert, Bretagne France
My favourite encapsulated moment-
Baie de Quiberon

Do You like these?
Well, I certainly do! =)

Yes and Amen!




God says Yes, and I know that I'm blessed
Yes, got a heart that's at rest
Yes, and a future that's sealed
Yes, if I'm healed then I'm healed
I'm not afraid of circumstances
Coz I've, I've already found the answers
In Christ all of God's promises are Yes
Yes and Amen!
[ Yes and Amen - Hillsong ]

Dear God,
You know what is #1 on Mich's list.
Yes and Amen!

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Happy 2nd Birthday, Shilin!

The Birthday Girl, Mummy Siew Peng & Daddy Patrick
Keeping ourselves entertained.
Corrinne May's latest cd, Beautiful Seed. She's awesome!
  • Event : Shilin's 2nd Birthday
  • Location : Tung Lok Restaurant - Private function room (think kerching + yummalicious Chinese cuisine)
  • Number of people : 30
  • Cost : Estimated $1200
  • Food : (takes a deep breath) Buddha Jumps Over The Wall, Pigeon Soup (tasted like gluten...next!), Scallops & Celery in XO Sauce, Steamed Prawns, Peking Duck, Jellyfish with Shank, Salmon sashimi, Steamed Tilapia, Fried Garoupa, Roasted Chicken, Mixed Meat, Gong Bao Ji Jin (whatever that means...it's a dish with chicken), Braised Tofu with Carrots, Birthday noodles, Sago with Honeydew, Chocolate ice-cream, etc . Yes, =BURP= !
  • Birthday Cake : 2 kg!
  • Discovery : Patrick changed his car to a spanking new Lexus! Again!
  • Time Spent Munching : 3 h-o-u-r-s !
Waistline of Mich upon departure?
100 inches and counting .......

Saturday, August 25, 2007

What's In A Song?





"A song is a pillow
you can lay your
heart on."

[ Corrinne May ]

Thursday, August 23, 2007

What Is Mich To You?

What is Mich to You?
Is Mich important?

Is Mich someone You look for only when You've nothing else on Your schedule?
Are moments spent with Mich a time-filler till something else comes along?
Do You initiate a meeting with Mich on your own accord?
Do You meet Mich only when she suggests a meet-up of sorts?
Do You wonder if Mich is fine?
Do You look forward to seeing Mich again?
Is Mich on Your mind when You're away?

Do You look for Mich only when You've problems as You know Mich will always try to avail herself to You, whenever she can?
Do You look to Mich for advice, knowing that she will take time to listen to You and analyse situations from an objective point of view?

Do You trust Mich?
Are You wary and guarded against Mich?

Has Mich made You Happy?
Has Mich brought nothing but Misery?
Has Mich impacted Your life in any way?

Dear Friends, as You can see, Mich is in need of some validation over here.

What is Mich to You?
How important is Mich in Your life?

It's Not So Bad.


by Sanja

And it may take some time to
Patch me up inside
But I can't take it
So I run away and hide
And I may find in time that
You were always right

[ Vertical Horizon - Best I Ever Had ]

Hello & Goodbye, Leion!

While the nation decked the waterfront & watched the splendid fireworks on display....
The Dubliner Irish Pub

1,2,3, Smile!

Barely a month after getting his soles scruffed on local soil, Leion will be returning to Sydney on 26 August (Sunday). We caught up with him over the weekend & as usual, laughter peppered the evening.

Ting made a random suggestion to view the fireworks at The One's office at Raffles Place. Unfortunately, his access card was not in his possession. =(

The alternative plan, therefore, was to head to The Dubliner Irish Pub, which was annexed to his former workplace at Winsland House. Revelling in the cosy setting with a martini in hand, I enjoyed myself thoroughly with great company!

Goodbye, Leion! See you in October! =)

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Believe It Or Not...

Have a good chuckle over this -

Cousin has returned from Japan for her annual visit. Erstwhile, she has been putting up at Mum's place till she scoots off on a jet plane this Thursday. Cousin's very much a tai-tai back in Japan and scarcely lifts a finger around the home.

As such, Mum was livid to find prawns and fish sprawling in their glorious splendour on the shelf of the freezer. Since Mum's rather anal about hygiene and cleanliness, Cousin had a earful from her. As Mum scaled the octaves with her verbal effusion, Cousin fled the scene hastily with her haversack in tow.

Moments later, Mum was hungry (no doubt a resultant of the amount of energy expended while raving!) and wanted to tuck into her packet of noodles. With brows furrowed, the search proved futile.

Mum gave Cousin a ring on her mobile phone and well, as luck would have it, Cousin promptly found the elusive packet in her haversack!

What a joke!

Sunday, August 19, 2007

For Whom The Bell Tolls.


No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.

For Whom The Bell Tolls by John Donne (1573 -1631)

Believe Me.



Words, in superfluous excess, prance around in my head - its dance, ceaseless. Yet, as the physical self postrates in alignment with each letter staring starkly at my face, scarcely does any literary form come to fruition, save for that which is scripted here.

Why?

Pride, an obtrusive deterrent, quells notions of candid natter. Castigation must not rear its ugly head for it hints of weakness on the receiving end. An impregnable fortress forged, permeable to none.

Impressions grovel and yield to fragments wanting.

Because.

I'm trying.
I really am.

Believe me?

Thursday, August 16, 2007

You Know You Are Loved When...


by Natalie on DeviantArt


The One wraps warmth and says,

"Baby, you're too skinny.
Why don't you stop working and I'll support you?"

When The Weather Matters Not.


" How have you been, Michie? It's been a while and here I was, thinking you were angry at me. I don't know if whoever I mentioned it to has mentioned it in turn to you but if I said anything wrong, I'm sorry. And yes... I HAVE missed you."


It has been a while, R, since October 2006, after which we ceased to be on speaking terms. Despite your repeated attempts, I'd ignored your calls and messages.

I've missed the gibberish with you, having dinner with you at the last minute, sharing nuggets of ourselves over coffee, exchanging witty barbs and trusting you with my Secret(s).

Indeed, I have missed your company & friendship.
I was just too proud to acknowledge it.

Welcome back, Friend. =)

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Maybe.


by renowned female artist Ilona Rankovic

"Maybe".

Superfluous patronage trips over one's tongue and delivers a promise of void. Where attrition afflicts, "Maybe" renders hope, if any. Pertaining to dashes streaked, "Maybe", for its oscillating acuity, wrings a wry repose. In "Maybe" does one forge elan, albeit unsettling. With time, "Maybe" and its phases wane, canvassing a palette plain.


= Maybe =

languid strains beg to be heard
of yonder calling paints a word.

charm asunder, woven fleets
hobbled mien with patience knits

wisps around wrap bold and stark
fumbling for the creased dark

careless, cluttered marzipan
nought to show for races ran

all too often, burdens born
cradled silence sidles Gone.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

dreams.


shutter.
flutter.
by.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Oh Dearie Me.

Happy Mich


Long Hours Mich


Tired Mich


Sick Mich

=.=.=.=.=.=

PSLE Oral begins this Thursday.
Errr...Oh Dear?

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Of Surmounting Interest.

Sleep debt's rolling stone has gathered a massive mound.

My frenetic hours have resulted in friends querying jokingly if I'm human. (Yes, I am, quite unfortunately.)

I really need to stop tilling the land, rest my laurels & start sleeping.

Aye?

Monday, August 06, 2007

Think Twice. Not.

Sunday, August 05, 2007

Dear God, Mich Is Back. =)

* Festival of Praise *
3 August 2007
Friday


After attending the first night of the Festival of Praise at the Indoor Stadium, I'm finally aligned with God again. Ting & I broke down periodically as both of us shared wrecked embellishments of similar strains - that of loss, abandonment and frustration.

Delirious started off with a bang and struck gold with the textures of Majesty (Here I Am) and Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?.

Thereafter, Don Moen took over. Despite repeated attempts to maintain my composure, the pickets came crashing down after a string of sonic masterpieces by the frontrunner of modern Christian worship.


[ Still ]
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with You above the storm
Father, You are King over the flood
I will be still and know You are God

[ I Offer My Life ]
All that I am
All that I have
I lay them down before You, O Lord
All my regrets
All my acclaims
The joy and the pain
I'm making them Yours
Lord, I offer my life to You
Everything I've been through
Use it for Your glory
Lord, I offer my days to You
Lifting my praise to You
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord, I offer You my life

Ingestation of poignance came in the form of this song:

[ He Never Sleeps ]
When You've prayed every prayer that you know how to pray.
Just remember the Lord will hear and answer is on its way.
Our God is able.
He is mighty.
He is faithful.

And He never sleeps
He never slumbers.
He never tires of hearing our prayer.
When we are weak
He becomes stronger.
So rest in His love and cast all of your cares on Him.

Do you feel that the Lord has forgotten your need?
Just remember that God is always working in ways you cannot see.
Our God is able.
He is mighty.
He is faithful.

After a parched period of apathy coupled with resentment over certain issues, tonight was that of spiritual reconciliation with God.

Memories gnawed with each Don Moen melody. The cameras panned to his nifty fingers,thereby steering my mind towards that which weighed heavy on my heart up till then.

Empowered by Pastor Phil Pringle who hails from Christian City Church in Australia, everyone hung onto every word of his poignant sermon infused with humour. Thanks to the articulate and blessed annointing of Pastor Phil Pringle, his words remain etched in my mind - to be a Happy Christian.

Dear God, Mich is back.
And, she is finally Happy. =)

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Just Desserts, Please. No, Not That Which Is Sweet.

The Christian : 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [Romans 12: 19-21]

The Buddhist : Everyone has these same elements in their lives, the seen and unseen, karma and free will.

The Atheist : What goes around, comes around.

=.=.=.=.=.=.=

Whichever school of theology you ascribe to, there's just no escaping the fact that you reap what you sow.

Pensive, I mull over the irony of how events have unfolded.

When MF first arrived, she evoked ire amongst many. Sympathetic to her hapless plight, I listened to her grouses and taught her the ropes while cheering her up with treats and such. Little did I know that would be appreciated in the form of deceit, lies, backstabbing, rumours and the wheedling of my closest friend at work away to consolidate her position as this said friend was the HOD. Refusing to indulge in playground politics, I did little to stop her.

MF appeared to be on a roll.

She crafted a clique of carefully-chosen friends, one of whom had been a close church friend but have since been shut out of my life due to MF's presence. MF was boastful, constantly commenting aloud on wielding favour from the Uppers and had a knack of polishing the aforementioned parties' boots. Critical analysis sessions had her scoffing condescendingly that she "only knew how to teach the best pupils". "Stupid pupils", in her words, "had little patience met by her" Many were aghast at MF's blatant lack of tact but mapped out a weak smile for fear of being ousted. Stepping on MF's toes meant elimination as the spike in subsequent resignations illustrated. After all, she had been inducted into the board of key personnel and was capable of sabotage, as exhibited . On a personal level, she was loud, brash and selfish. Once, she snatched a colleague's umbrella from his hands as he was about to leave to fetch his pregnant wife. Adding insult to injury, MF scuttled away in the rain gleefully, leaving him gaping incredulously and us bearing witness to that incident. Miss Drama Queen thought nothing of bursting into tears at work, swaying and feigning a bout of fainting spells (I kid you not) to warrant a convinced audience.

That was then.

Currently, MF has been relegated to teaching a class of weak pupils. Her name is conspicuously missing from the board of key personnel. As for her dubious proclamation of being heir apparent to the position of Mathematics HOD, it is but a figment of imagination on her part with the shuffling of positions recently. Meanwhile, as her circle of friends is peppered with figures of positions and titles, she's apparently left out in the cold for now.

I am vindicated that the tides have turned.

God is fair after all.