Pizza and Beer

Ja and i had pizza and beer for dinner while watching Aussie idol =)
how aussie is that?

"Pain" Ball

Paintballing was heaps fuN! haha. and plenty pain as well. THe guys got shot up really bad though... think they were doing too much of an army thing. I think the lay out of the place was quite open. but the barricades did help give some cover. it was mostly (for me) take cover and shoot when someone sticks their face/hand/leg/gun out to take aim. haha. Will wanna try the outdoor one!! the gun's pretty heavy tho.... haha.

The guys... all tired of being shot at and glad to be out of the arena. =)

The (very few) girls... we had tonnes of fun hey!
More pictures on the Flickr bar to the right!

SFAS team

I must say... we have a great and vibrant Drama team this year. Always full of laughs and a great mix of people to brighten up your dying day. haha =) like everyday is a dying day for us, right mari? That's besides the point. Our warm ups were hilarious yesterday... my gosh!!!

So its this impromptu thing we do with props....
Marcus and i got a towel. haha. Why does it always have to be animals?? i asked.
Anyway, first up we did an impression of a bull fight, with the red cloth? yea and marcus was the bull. hahhaha. den a picnic mat, den he used it as a mini cape (super hero kind). and last as a leash- and i was the dog! =(

i think Jack and Mari did fantastic as well! they got a torchlight... i remember vaguely... The Statue of liberty, a doctor's torch for looking at your throat... ??!

The rest did great as well. haha. The blind date warm up was funny as well.
"You're not posh enough for me" - David Beckham
"We would tee off on our first date" - Tiger Woods
"i like to play with little boys" ???!- Michael Jackson
"sometimes i run, sometimes i hide" - Britney Spears
"Lets go feed the orphans on a mission trip"- Mother Theresa

All these were lines invented on the spot by our brilliant actors and actresses, after given a particular famous person to imitate. = )

Ahaha, anyway rehearsals are a blast! always have fun and always enjoy working with this fantastic team God has blessed us with. =)
23rd September... here we come!

My chocolate!

Went to drama with a huge bag of fruit and nut chocolate.
.
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.
.
.
.
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the monkeys finished it!!! =( *sobs*

i need more fruit and nut chocs.....

Conversation

R: hello!
Me: Hi! Are you headed for class?
R: no... you look unfeminine today...
Me: what?
R: just unfeminine.
Me: you mean tomboyish?
R: no no, unfeminine. Last time i saw you in skirt. You look vastly different.
Me: err... okay.
R: But nice lah.
Me: haha. unfeminine is the same as tomboyish. toot.
R: ok, you cook for me on sunday ok. i come over.
Me: ok! bye!

*****
Isn't unfeminine= tomboyish?

ugh!

okay... Drama later... ciao

Stopping the Paper Chase

All paper is either...

...Information - It has to be read (prioritise)
... Action - Something has to be done, submit to supervisor? Summarised?
...Filed - It has to be labelled and kept.

OR

...Junk! - Everything else... Please re-use as rough paper. (recycle!)

Before keeping paper ask:
1. Will i read it and what will i need it for?
2. Will it matter if i lose it?
3. Do i need to keep all of it? (i.e just keep abstracts and summaries for reference purposes?)

********

Sometimes you go to drastic measures to stop your room/ workplace from overflowing with pieces of information, stacks of papers/notes/books.

Like my above---"stopping the paper chase" notice.

Soldier on!

The cell just left my place after a fun fun time of fellowship! hehe.
If we would have just started on time... we wldn't be ending this late!! But Bijia's my cell leader... does that explain things? haha (jk lah girl, we all have some 'annointing' that gets passed down)
Played bridge after ages of inactivity! It's one game i call my life's most strategic sport! haha.
Good mind game. Abel will disagree with me, cos he has his chess to compare.

Anyway... it's no furniture for 40 hours (eating off the floor, bringing laptop to the floor and typing, no bed- just spread comforter and sleep)... =) 40 hour famine! For alot of us, the fast has started today and will end round about sunday morning! Support us by sponsoring us! =)

Are you ready??

For afters.

I highly recommend Sara Lee's Brownie Cheesecake! =) very yummy and smooth.

Butterfly effect?

Hahaha i like Mike. He makes me smile.

Clock the distance!

Distance: 3.7km
Time: 00:22:13
Ankles are loose. Back hurts. *pouts*
But this is so worth it! =)

Unfailing love

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed.
Yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
Nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you."

Isaiah 54:10

Thank you for your unfailing love.
i feel much better now.

Endnote software!

i despise you. argh!

Change

I like this layout! i like it tonnes!
Wadya think?

Allez!

Rock climbing

This will take some time to load. For all you aspiring climbers out there... Fantastic bouldering footage. Very inspiring!

Brand new week

Didn't do much today but sit at the computer and type the whole day away working at the thesis.
Feeling quite drained actually. Think it's all the radiation/eye power looking at the screen.

Never been so contemplative about the future before... lots of issues to consider and oppurtunities before me. Plenty of experiences, skills and things to learn. So many places, such a big world.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart,
but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. "-Pro 19:21

"In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps. "-Pro 16:9

God, your purpose, your will, your way.

Pain!

Feeling incapacitated yet again!
i guess i know why females have a higher threshold of pain compared to men!

save me....

Peanut butter

Arachibutyrophobia is the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth.


uh?

My God is a FINISHER

I was sharing, one of the many reasons why i've started running (races or not) again after 5 years of lapse... is because of the fact that i feel training as an athlete is very similar to our walk with God. I develop endurance, stamina, my body is conditioned and becomes disciplined to finish what i have in mind to complete. Just like my walk with God, i can start good... but what counts is that i end well.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." -Rom 12:1

In the words of a friend of mine who is a triathlete--"Breaking Day is the day the body is the most hard pressed. It goes further, faster and harder. It's rests are shorter. The breathes are harder. It's meant to push the body further till it breaks its physical limit."

It's strange how the human body must break before it gets stronger.
God doesn't depise broken things. Including your body. I gladly break.

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" - Phil 1:6

In one of his posts- he also reminded himself that our God is a finisher--

"Our God finishes. Whatever Jesus sets out to do, He completes. He finishes well. The joy set before Him propels Him to finish well. Our God is not a half-pass-six God, a desserter God, a overtalk-underdeliver God. His yes is yes. His no is no. He who begun a good work in you will complete it. So throw off hinderances daily. Loose yourself from entangling sin. Run with perseverance the race marked out."

Lord, finish well with me.

Run Log

Distance: 4km
Time: 00:24:14

Break time: 00:15:00
We saw Dolphins at the Barrack street Jetty! wooo hooo!

Distance:2km
Time: (WALK)

Distance:2km
Time: 00:10:12

Big heart, Big voice

Lead me on, Holy spirit
Fill my heart, come touch my soul
Lead me on, into your presence
Touch me Lord Jesus i need you.

I can't live without you
I can't walk this road alone
In my heart i need you
Holy One come take my hand.

I remember singing this for one of the worships in cell almost a year back. Really spoke to me and what i desired in my heart to allow Him to take control. Today when Stephanie Truscott sang it again, my spirit lifted. It's amazing how God reminds you through songs and through people, that He remembers you and that He remembers the times in which you came before Him in silence.

=~(

You never notice anything i do for you.
Could you appreciate me a lil' more?

=)

Distance: 3.7km
Time: 00:24:32

Slight drop, it's okay mishi....

Biography

Two days ago i had to submit my Biography to my Supervisor for the Major Project she was getting us honours students roped in for. I had very little to write for my biography, and i don't think the picture of my head made it any more fantastic either. haha. oh well, i figure if you can get an entry on Wikipedia about yourself, it'd look so pro! haha. Here's my Supervisor's Wikipedia page!

Mad Mad Rock.

The climb today was goooood. *whew* i still made a 19. (then again, it might have been an easier 19) =( Sumy's first time at Rockface! woo hoo.... she's really not bad tho! =) poor girl, her arms were sore. we had KFC after... YUM! Need to do ONE pull up per day... i'm telling my body that it's not too much to ask... ;p

Shiatsu Thumb Thongs

You have to admit... these things are pretty cool! i found them at the Body Shop. I know they resemble mini crocs (plus they're the same colour as mine). But its meant as a slip on for your thumbs for massage therapy. ;p cool eh. =)

Some thoughts...

When looking at a political conflict- or a war- it is important to delve into history and not judge the situation by skimming the surface or the newspapers. (if you watch the news or read the papers, its almost certain to be biased- either too pro-US or just plain entertainment)

After the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, Lebanon became home to more than 110,000 Palestinian refugees who had fled from the newly established state of Israel. More Palestinian refugees arrived after the 1967 Arab-Israeli war and Black September. During the early 1970s, difficulties arose over the increase of Palestinian refugees in the south.

Then we have Syria stepping in and sent 40,000 troops into Lebanon to prevent the Maronite militias from being overrun by Palestinian Ezzat forces. Together the Syrians and Maronites pushed the Palestinians out of Beirut and into southern Lebanon.

Basically you have different actors participating in the Lebanese civil war, in order to fight a war on someone else's land. The Shiites are concentrated South of Beirut and Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist organization in Lebanon comprising a militia, a political party, and an extensive program of social development- the latter i feel is not emphasized enough. Hezbollah provides many social services in Lebanon. According to CNN: "Hezbollah does everything that a government should do, from collecting the garbage to running hospitals and repairing schools."

Hezbollah, as any other resistance movement or shall i use the term "Freedom fighters" cannot be exactly directly equated to a terrorist organisation. (If they were, anyone who sponsors terrorist networks or supports it indirectly- like Syria, Iran, Israel, USA- are all considered terrorist organisations)

Hezbollah was formed to combat the Israeli occupation following the 1982 invasion of Lebanon and opposes the Israeli state. It was officially founded on the 16th of February, 1985. Hezbollah is one of the two main organizations representing the Shia community, Lebanon's largest religious bloc, but the only militant one. It is also a recognised political party in Lebanon, where it participates in government.

There is a wide disagreement about what Hezbollah should be defined as. Throughout most of the Arab and Muslim worlds, Hezbollah is highly regarded as a legitimate resistance movement. In the Western world; Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Israel list Hezbollah (in full or part) as a terrorist organization. Other countries and leaders have denounced Hezbollah or their actions, although may not necessarily list it officially as a terrorist group.

There is a deep enmity between Hezbollah and Israel. One of the reasons for the founding of Hezbollah was resistance against the occupation of Lebanon by Israel (1978-2000), which extended to a desire for the elimination of “the Zionist entity”.

The ceasefire of the Israel-Hezbollah conflict was declared yesterday (14th August).
Both sides have suffered immense casualties and both governments have targetted civilian populated areas with missiles which both sides seem to have an endless supply of.

I guess what we must be concerned about, is not so much of who's right and who's wrong... because it'll go on forever. I think it's crucial to consider the failure of the UN security council in stepping in to issue a ceasefire in the early stages of the war. It is also obvious that the US had not told Israel to step back in its bombings- in this post 9-11 where the Bush Administration has become extreme in handling issues of related to the "War on Terror".

Is it not disturbing that the world is sitting back and watching the 1967 six-day war which is ten times worse repeat itself on their tvs?

Mr weather is not happy

Yikes.

Looks like another rainy day at work!!

*sobs*

Impressive

After all the griping and sweat, tears and blood.... Just one word from your supervisor is enough to make you wanna do it all over again... it's worthwhile;)

Next chapter... here i come.

I am definitely hitting the climbing gym this week. Hook or by crook. I am dragging my butt there. No, my body is not going to be very happy with me. But either way, it isn't... so i really need to climb. ;p  

Sumy is making chicken curry in our kitchen now. A piece of home!! *drools* we're eating it with prata and all. And its Tiramisu for dessert!!!! *slurp*  

Bought a bunch of Iris' last week at Subi. They're dying now, all shrivelled up. I like the purple and the yellow. So cheery!  

Connectivity

It's way cool when you can get wireless internet on your balcony, sip a cuppa coffee and do work under the rare, but glorious sun on a supposed winter's day.

Making sense?

The Thesis

Pain is temporary; if i quit, it lasts forever.

-Lance Armstrong

Our God Reigns

I first heard this song sung live by Martin Smith and the Delirious? team- at the hillsongs conference this year. I was just as amazed by the significance of the lyrics as by Martin Smith's captivating voice. (He has nice eyes too)

Our God Reigns

40 million babies lost to Gods great orphanage,
It’s a modern day genocide and a modern day disgrace
If this is a human right then why aren’t we free?
The only freedom we have is in a man nailed to a tree.

100 million faces, staring at the sky,
Wondering if this HIV will ever pass us by.
The devil stole the rain and hope trickles down the plug,
But still my Chinese take away could pay for someone’s drugs.

Our God reigns, Our God reigns,
Forever your kingdom reigns.

The west has found a gun and it’s loaded with ‘unsure’
Nip and tuck if you have the bucks in a race to find a cure.
Psalm one hundred and thirty nine is the conscience to our selfish crime,
God didn’t screw up when he made you,
He’s a father who loves to parade you.

Yes he reigns, yes you reign, yes you reign,
For there is only one true God,
But we’ve lost the reins on this world,
Forgive us all, forgive us please,
As we fight for this broken world on our knees.

-Delirious? 2005, Album: The Mission Bell

I think Compassion's vision and motto "Change the world, One Child at a time" is very appropriate for teachers and anyone in the education sector. We have that power and influence to touch and change lives... use it for His glory.

Here i am

Free

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

Live it.

Give thanks

Presentation went well!
Glory to God!

Really behind schedule for the thesis. ; (
i need to grit my teeth and pull through!
so much to read, even worse-- to EDIT the gibberish i've been typing so far.

Annoying cough won't go away!!
grrr.

ooh yes... Happy National Day-- to all the Singaporeans out there!!
we here @ Aussie land are celebrating with you too!

Always loved

I have never stopped believing in you.
Sometimes you feel restricted, pushed into the corner and alone.
But you're not alone.
Friends can be with you for a season, but blood is always thicker than water.
I hope you realise that, but its never too late.
We're always here for you, and we always want the best for you.
You're always loved no matter what you decide or what you do.
Remember that.

Time

I wish i had more than 24 hours in a day.
I wish.

Alive!

Stumbled upon an sms my mom and dad sent me this Easter.
Really encouraged me and lifted my spirit.

"Good Morning and Happy Easter! He had no servant, but they called Him Master.
No Degree, but they called Him Teacher.
No Medicines, but they called Him Healer.
No army, but Kings feared Him.
He won no military battles, but He conquered the world.
He commited no crime, but they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, but is ALIVE today.
He is humble, but will always be exalted.
His name is Jesus. He is our Hope and Glory!
-Love, Mom and Dad."

Broken

i bought Cough syrup for Ja's dry cough....

But whilst capping it i broke it. ;(

such a clutz.

spent the rest of the time wiping up the mess.
Don't want a sticky kitchen floor!

S.L.O.W @ Work

ARGH!
word count is moving like a snail???!!
i need to finish my seminar presentation.. grr.
Been staring at the flickering cursor.
And also distracted by all the interesting stuff that came up when i googled "Muslims in Europe". Really captivating, and educational as well.


I need to focus!!!
C'mon Mishi. C'mon.

something nice i took in the Caversham Wildlife park.  

Take a Walk

When i opened my eyes at 730am this morning, i was expecting to go back to bed. But God had a different plan. i distinctly heard "Come take a walk with me".
You cannot imagine the amount of excuses i gave him.
"But i slept at 230am God!"
"Drama really tired me out, i have so much to do."
"i have so many readings and a presentation to prepare, i need the sleep"
"i'm sick" (this was really lame, since i really felt better instantly)

Flopping around, i decided... okay, if i don't go now He might not ask me anymore. And that thought was scary. so i got up. Made tea in my Sigg thermal flask, and trodged down to matilda bay. Cloudy day, bit of wind... (i had a scarf, yay).

Sat down.
"Yes?" (waiting...)
"Nothing much my child. just wanted to take a walk with you.
You have no idea how much i love you."

And that was all i heard.
I just broke down at the jetty. Amazed. simply astounded.
Whoever said the creator of the heavens and the earth isn't personal?

See for yourself.

Take a walk. ; )

You have no idea how much He loves you. Wow.

Mirrors can think, whilst i reflect.

Twas another long day again.... not totally exhausted. just the feeling that sick people get when they're supposed to rest. i don't suppose you know what i meant.
Anyhow, there's this annoying seminar presentation i want to get out of the way- which is only going to happen next week. and meanwhile i have tonnes of readings to do for that.

All of which have absolutely nothing to do with the thesis. *ugh*

I thank God for a very good and strong relationship i have with my supervisor.
Yes, she's travelling again next week to give a talk over in one of the eastern states.
Catch is, she shld be gone and back within 24 hours. haha. which is really tiring i'll bet.
Which is why she said she wanted a massage from me.. ;p haha.

If i've learnt to love You a lil' more

and know You a lil' better,

the day has not been wasted.