Yo' Jesus So Big...

Well, the past week week had it's ups and downs. Free-periods coming about time after time, June Holiday/ Term 3 projects are slowly being revieled, canoeing trainings are kicking into full-gear in lieu of the competition 2 months from now (that's concidered as 'the last 2 minutes' in training terms; if you actually concider compressing all the hours of training left, you'd get 4 days or less) and the mid-year results (*gasp*) are in.

I feel that it's best I gave my parents the rights to be first to see the results in detail, maybe I'll share about the results another time. But for now, I must admit I had a great time today at church! But before that, I should start with what happened in the morning...

Basically, it was my (and Morriel's) test drive on (our) new roller blades! The family woke up early in the morning and had a quick breakfast before leaving for East Coast Park. Once parked, we found a good spot near by the shore in Section C and began putting on our equiptment. I said I wanted to explore by myself, so Daddy decided to rent his own set of skates to take care of Morriel. Uncle Eking also decided to rent a double bike to take Carlo around, leaving Mommy and Grams to look after the stuff while reading their own books.

I went as far out from our spot (somewhere nearby Marina Cove?) to the gardens out at Section F (the tower was real irritating to climb, esspecially while wearing blades) before turning back. Really interesting how many different characters you can see while moving along this stretch. Two youths racing against each other to the finish on their bikes, a young boy waiting beside the path with a dog on the leash, two lovers sitting beside each other alone in their lonely (but lovely) pavilion, while waiting for the catch of the day to pull against their line; The list goes on.

It's facinating what stories one can create just by seeing these small details of life. R. K. Narayan, writer of the novella Malgudi Days, once said that all he needed for his ideas was to 'look out of the window to pick up a character and thereby a story'. I truely agree with him, because I literally see it everyday. No matter what environment you're in, urban or rural, complex or plain, modern or traditional, even colourful or dull, there's always a story to tell: Let alone, a story to observe.

But we're getting too philosophical here. Back to my journey, passing through the 360 Ski Park, the Bedok Jetty, the Seafood Restaraunts, Castle Beach, the BBQ pits, the shore barricades and more, I eventually ended off my journey where I started it, greeting Grams with the words, "Do-we-have-water?" Realising that Mom wasn't there, I turned to see Dad trying to teach her to skate. I went over to try to help her out, seeing her slow (but steady) progress along the flat concrete road.

Also found Carlo playing at the shoreline with Morriel (who was lying on the sand and embracing the waves like something you'd see on Baywatch) with Uncle Eking and Auntie Lala supervising them. Apparently, Morriel fell once while testing her new skates, and did a little drama-mama on the impact, thus she decided to stop.

By around 11.30, we were packing up all the gear back into the car and decided to get lunch at Burger King. Little mis-communications here and there while getting the orders, but we eventually had our meal. After such (as well as a quick change of clothes), we headed for the city, where Dad dropped us all off a Suntec to goto church.

I told Mom that since it was 3rd Service, I'd might as well go into the main hall with my D.G. if it makes things easier for the group, so we split up and I went to the nearby collectables shop and looked around at silly scultures of Vandolf the Grey/White and Davy Jones and Luke Skywalker and King Kong and Venom and Alien and many other movie characters to kill time before meeting up with the R.A.D.I.C.A.Ls deep in the queue.

Been a long time since I met up with these people (missed sessions here and there because of competitons and exams and so on), so I thought catching up would definitely be a good idea. Apparently, Gab, John and Don (heh, interesting names for a trio) were interested in watching Indiana Jones' latest movie on the opening night. Hmm, better start thinking about those birthday plans of mine...

Since Sherrie had the queue ticket this week, she was frantically asking us to lend her items she can use to chope (local term for 'reserving informally') seats for us while we were (close to) the back of the line. We needed 21 seats for our D.G. today since we had friends wanting to join us, so we were really trying to find as much items we had to give her as possible (I gave here 3 Hillsong postcard invitations, my bible and notebook, my tissue packet and my sweater vest). Heavily loaded, she quickly stumbled her way to the front of the queue with all the jackets and bibles and notebooks and took her position with the ticket she had.

Finally, the 2nd service was fully flushed out of the Rock, and the queue was beginning to move. While walking our way to the gates, a friend told me that her sister had a picture taken dring the latest dragonboating competition, and apparently I was captured in it*raises eyebrows*. Others started questioning about how I happened to be there, and I had to explain about the canoeing team and how in ACS(Indep) both canoeing and dragonboating are one CCA.

Another good conversation sparked off had to be extinguished again as we then entered the hallway of gates into the auditorium. We slithered our way to the corner of the auditorium which is ussually packed with the youths of D.A.R.E. and the young adults of ARROW, and eventually found the full stretch of row booked for us. After sorting out who should sit where, we settled down minutes before Pastor Gabriel opened the service with the pre-service announcement.

Now I must admit, when I came into the hall, I was somewhat in a state of condemnation over a few things that happened lately, and was feeling a little doubtful of having a good week ahead. But boy, was today's sermon a GOOD ONE (and relevant, too)!!!

In a short summary (which I find hard since there's so much to say), Pastor Prince was showing how the words of Paul in Hebrews 10 explain to us that condemnation is no longer valid in our lives, since the price(s) to pay was all settled on the cross at Calvary and that we must thus keep our hope - direct translation, the joyful expectation of something good - firm in our hearts, since they will be satisfied. He also pointed to Romans 5:19-20 about how 'where sin abound, grace abounds more' - in direct translation, 'where sin abounds, grace abounds beyond measure, and still more on top of that!'.

Since we're now covered on all sides, sinning can no longer condemn us, and along with that the temptation to sin. But in the same way, if you accept the condemnations of sin, forgetting that Christ paid for everyhing on the cross, then you would also except the many other curses related to guilt. (So rebuke condemnation NOW!)

A good example of these blessing put into practice would be the life of Abraham, and how despite the lies he said which brought kingdoms into famine, he died as one of the wealthiest men of his time. Another example would be in Matthew 1:1-6 (a part of the geneology of Jesus as the promised seed of Abraham), where four women who didn't deserve the honours of being part of God's children were actually mentioned, instead of any of the other women in the timeline who were more likely to be permitted with these blessings. This shows how God can bring about your salvation even from the 'evil' situations of life!

The sermon was made more funny by the way all the youths screamed "Woo!" whenever Pastor mentioned Pastor Dan's (former Youth Pastor's) name, as well as after the announcements when Pastor's latest DVD sermon from last year's Zone concert was being introduced in a video (the later part of the video mentioned that the DVD had dual language in Japanese, and started showing Pastor Prince preaching in dual mode {hilarious}). Shawn then came on stage to perform a solo of the closing song, I Will Run to You, before Pastor Prince came back on stage to tell the church to rise (in Japanese) so he could bless us.

Dismissed with "Syonara! Arigato!" and an honourable bow, I quickly left the hall to meet up with Mom and the others at Carrefoure (is that how you spell it?), thanking God on the way for the new high He's given me to begin my week ahead! But just as I got out of the Rock, I heard Salsa music beking played. Apparently, the Samsung sales event downstairs had a performance of precaution instruments. It was so good, I could feel the Spanish blood I had in me tingling! I squeezed my way through the crowd that was forming alongside the raillings to have a better view of the performance.

"Mom can wait," I told myself. "No one of my type can resist such lively music." Boy, I stayed on till the performance was over, and by then I was literally drunk with the music. A great revalation with complimentary jive: I'm oh so prepared for the week! But giving myself a few seconds to snap out of it, I met up with the family and bought a dozen donuts to take back home to enjoy.

Well, that's about it for now. Until next time, whenever next time is, here's a little spoof for y'all dedicated to those Christains that are feeling spiritually low, or anyone for that matter who just needs someone to hold on to. As a word of encouragement, please don't lie to others (or God for that matter) that you've got no problems, and just Say His Name. (I don't have the technology to extract background music, so here's the original song - Say My Name. Just open this in another tab or something and read the words here along with the song.)

Romans 4:6-8!!! God Bless Y'all!!!

Say My Name by J.C.
(Chorus)
Say My name, say My name
When others imitate you, say "Jesus I love You"
No need to be ashamed
Say My name, say My name
You actin' kinda tired
Leave it to Messiah
Why treat me so strange?


Say My name, say My name
When troubles are around you, I'll be right there for you
Claim victory from My name
Say My name, say My name
You won't take long to find me
One quick call and I'm here
Quickly say My name

Any other day
I would call, you would say
"Jesus bless my day!"
But today it ain't the same
You don't read My Word anymore, by the way
Could it be that you left your whole faith on your Father at bay?


If your faith is low, first of all, let Me say
I am not the one to sit around while you're played
So tell the devil that I'm the Christ that you claim
And he'll return the thangs
That he stole from you yesterday

(Bridge)
I know you say that you're in control of things
Something's going down that's the way it seems
I should know the reason why you're acting strange
And distractions holding you back from me
Don't you know I'll be blessing you
With Deuteronomy 22
Why can't you just tell the truth?
Dont let satan tell you what to do

(Chorus)

What's up with this?
Tell the truth, why you sad
How would you like it if
I told you it's not that bad
Don't try to change it now
Sayin' you've already lost
When 2k years ago, I said "It's finished!" on the cross

It's hard to believe that you'll survive, by yourself
When I just heard the voice
Heard the voice of prayers "help"
Just this question
Why do you feel you gotta lie?
Fellin' caught up in your game
You just need to say my name

(Bridge)
(Chorus)

(Where my angels at) Yeah-yeah-yeah-yea-yeah
(Can you say that? C'mon) Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
(Holy spirit say) Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
(I can't hear ya) Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
(All the angels say) Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah..yeah Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
(Holy spirit say) Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
(Break it down) Ohh ooohh oh ooh ohhhh
(J.C., take it to the bridge c'mon)

(Bridge)
(Chorus until fade)



[Boy, imagine Jesus breakdancing...]

Fizziques...

Oh my goodness.

Exams have begun rolling, and Language Arts and Human Societies were battles poorly fought on Day 1. And now being Day 2, which starts off with Student Council Investiture duty in place/intergration with Chapel, Physics was the deepest drop...

I heard from many that they also found it just as hard, but I'd rather put it aside for now. After the paper, I decided to go over to Zheng Wei's house to practice a little more on Advance Mathermatics. I'll just have to go by faith that things turn around tomorrow...

Anyway, this spoof is dedicated to those who found the paper rather short and tough, and only had 4 Minutes to finish up. (This one would sound a lot more lame 'cause most Madonna songs have very few lyrics these days. Ah, well. Techno...)

Matthew 10:1!!! God bless y'all!!!

Local Student
Scholar
(Both students)
Teacher

I'm outta time and all I got is 4 minutes
I'm outta time and all I got is 4 minutes
I'm outta time and all I got is 4 minutes
I'm outta time and all I got is 4 minutes

I'm outta time and all I got is 4 minutes
I'm outta time and all I got is 4 minutes
I'm outta time and all I got is 4 minutes
I'm outta time and all I got is 4 minutes

Ha ha
Yeah
Ha ha
Write it down, come on

Hey
Uh
Come on
Ma' Scholar

Come on boy
I've been drawing a speed-time graph
For a bouncing ball

Well don't waste time
I need a sign
On how to answer free-fall, ooo

How can somebody read seventeen pages
Then answer it slow
There is no room for both

Well, I can handle that
But it's just sad:
20 more questions to go
(20 questions to go)

(Bridge 1)
If you know it
You already got it
If you thought it
It better be written right
If you see it
It must be real just
Write the word and grades will give you what you want

(Chorus)
Time ain't waiting
We only got 4 minutes to write the word
No hesitating
Grab a pen
Draw the curve
Time ain't waiting
We only got 4 minutes to write the word
No hesitating
We only got 4 minutes, 4 minutes

(Bridge 2)
Keep it up, keep it up, don't be a pri, hey
Inertia, uh
You gotta draw the line, hop
Tick tock tick tock tick tock

That's right, keep it up, keep it up, don't be a pri, hey
Inertia, uh
You gotta draw the line, hop
Tick tock tick tock tick tock

Sometimes I think
What I need
is a force interaction, yeah

And you know how to draw force resultant,
And that it's good, by the way forces move, ooh, hey

The ball that fell is paved with good displacement, yeah

But if I fry from fright
At least I can say I did what I possibly could
Tell me, how bout you?

(Bridge 1)
(Chorus)
(Bridge 2)

Pens down!
Yeah (tick tock tick tock tick tock)
Yeah, uh huh (tick tock tick tock tick tock)
You've only got 4 minutes to write the write

When You Come Home...

Hey y'all!

Sorry about the mega-lag of posts. Was going through some spiritual warfare and had some things to settle in my walk with Christ. But I think I'm better now! Praise the Lord! Now my only worries at the momment would be a) finishing my holliday homework and b) doing the best I can to addapt to the Believers. But hey, with Christ in me ALL THINGS are possible!!!

Man, I've got LOTS to post about, like a couple of funny things God showed me, my times with the Believers, some mishaps at Canoeing, maybe a sad case within the point10ers, AND LOTS MORE!!! But since exams are around the corner (5 weeks is already counted as 'around the corner' at this age...), I can't promise that this blog would opperate properly just yet. In fact, I could predict another Hibernation Period coming soon. Yep, this thing's sure deter-rotating. [For those who don't get the joke, come to the upcoming Believers' musical - 'Thief of Always'! It'll be this Saturday and Sunday (8th and 9th September) at 7.45p.m. and 4.30p.m. respectively! Venue is Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' Secondary School (296 Lorong Ah Soo)'s Concert Hall, for those girl-minded people out there, and for those typical glop-till-you-drop Singaporeans, do come early as dinner WILL be provided! So come on down and get ministered by this touching drama this Sat or Sun (or both!) to watch Tim dance and me act like a waiter in a French Restaraunt! (I smell YouTube!...)]

So anyway, to make up for the missing posts (which I will somehpw try to get posted), here's a picture I drew up for you all:

Haggai 2:5!!! God bless y'all!!! Nite!!!

National Pressure...

Nothing much to report today. Might as well just drag the celebrations of NDP a little longer...

Isaiah 40:27-31! God bless y'all!

A Sneak Preview...

Hey, I was bored-random today, so I decided to make these;

The Flag of the Dan Empire

The Flag of the R.A.T.S. Empire
[also known as The Royal Standard of the Chairman (Dan Empire)]

The Flag of the Henry Park Boys Society (Dan Empire)

The Flag of the Rejects (Dan Empire)

Hey, maybe one of these days, we should propose to Mr. Tay for a Dan Day. Hmm, 2nd October 2007 seems like the right date (2-10-2007). Yet again, who's gonna be willing to march out in the open with these flags/'class'ical instruments/bamboo poles (swords/guns)?

(Filler post.)

Blood and jeansley flesh...

First day as a proper member in Lighthouse. Hmm, went rather average, if you ask me. Let's start from the (end of the) beginning...

Woke up at around 7.45, and was informed by my Mom that she could give Kirby and I a lift to the church on her way to New Creation. I said I already arranged with Kirby to meet me at the bus stop down Petir Road to take a 700 to Bugis, then fell asleep again.

The second time I woke up, I went to wash-up and eat a quick breakfast before going to change/pack up for Lighthouse. My Mom then re-offered her lift proposal to Bras Basah, which is conveniently nearby Bugis. I soon gave in after realising that this would give Kirby and I an extra hour to rest first before we leave, so I tried to SMS Kirby about the new plans.

Soon, it was time to go again, and Mom and I left for the car. I informed her that I still haven't recieved any comfirmation that Kirby recieved my calls/SMSs, so we decided to drive by the bus stop just in case. When we got there, I checked the bus stop (and also the neighbouring one) with no Kirby in sight, and after calling for many contacts to find Kirb's house number, I couldn't find it at all. I knew that Tim had his nuber, but I doubt he'd respond in the middle of the Main Service.

Having done all that I could, I asked my Mom to drive past Kirby's house just to check one last time if he's out of the house, which he apparently wasn't, so we then drove ahead without him. Mom dropped me off before the National Library, and I walked the rest of the stretch to PLH (I hope I got the spelling correct).

Once int he building, I went to the library room, which Tim told me (and Kirby) to meet up with him at. While waiting, I went to look around at the variety of books they had. It was more or less Christian journals on one side of a wall, and Christian stories on the other. Another corner had cassets and CDs, and the last corner was, well, the door. Having a seat on one of the roller chairs, I scrolled sideways towards a book titled 'Pursuit for Holiness' and started reading the first few pages.

While reading, I heard the voice of what I thought was an upper-primary boy swearing a lot and saying how much 'I give up on life'. Hearing it over and over again, I decided to see who was muttering all the racket. I lowered the book I was reading, only to be surprized that it wasn't a young boy, but a girl.

I knew it was normal for an older girl to sound like a younger boy, but what shocked me was how she was blunting out all those comments about giving up her life and all, and I almost had the mind to stand up and tell her that "This is a house of God, and I would very much appreciate it if you gave the life God gave you a little more respect."

I mean, by all means share about your problems in life with fellow brothers and sisters of Christ in a Church, but don't so candidly talk about suicide or cursing until it becomes too much a habit that about every conversation involves a sadistic thought. But I saw a bit of the book in my hands that told me not to get too caught up on the situation, so I stayed with the book.

Later, a few people from the same Bible Stuby Class as me came in and was fetching someone from the room, when they saw me and said that Lighthouse was about to start, so I followed behind them and went out of the room. But then I remembered that Tim still wants to meet us here anyway, so I went back inside again.

Preparing myself for the Bible Study, I dug out a pen from my bag and placed it into my pocket, which was around the same time Tim, Zeik and another tall ang-moh ('Western-looking') guy walked in to see if I (originally 'we') were present. I explained to Tim I tried to find Kirby, but he was apparently MIA. He called Kirby's house (finally) and found out that he overslept.

Well, at least that answers a question or two. After being omfirmed that he was going to come next Sunday, we al went up the stairs to the hall up in the roof. On the way up, Tim was explaining to me that the new character was Hudson, and that he wasn't exactly a new character - just that he migrated to the States about 4 years ago and now the only things he remember of this Church was Zeik and Tim.

Well, I guess I wasn't gonna be the only one nervous this morning.

During Worship, we sang a few songs (and half-way through, we sang the welcome song, which was starting to creep me out in the sense that I - being a new kid in the block - was partially in a state of panic after not knowing which hands to shake) and then singing a few more songs and giving the offering. It was followed bya few announcements on Church affairs around the country and then a few verses to remember for the week.

We were then dismissed to our classes, of which I went alone since Tim had to go for a Youth Committee meeting first. When I got to the room, Zeik was beggin me to sit between him and the girls, of which the girls were requesting me not to do in response. I didn't know which was better - sitting beside Zeik with the satisfaction that I saved a life, or watching him suffer from being attacked by smacks and jokes by the girls - but I just decided to stay my ground since I was already comfortable where I was seated.

Soon enough, everyone who needed to be present was present, and we began lessons on how the Bible will help us in life. This went rather well, and time after time we all had a chance to answer the questions. One thing, though, was that I wasn't sure if we were being thought the Book of Laws, or the Gospel of Grace. There's a difference, but they're both in the Bible, and one acts as an introduction to the other, the other being the perfect redemption from the first.

We finished early, and after a closing prayer we were dismissed early as well. Tim and I went out to eat lunch before we would come back for Believers. Tim told me a list of eat-outs around the area we were in and asked what I'd like to eat. So noticing that my legs were still slightly shaking from the fact that I was still shy back there in Believers, I span around and tried to see where I'd end up pointing towards.

"Subway."

We walked down a few junctions and prayed that Tim remembered the way, which was ironically answered with a large sign above our heads reading 'SUBWAY'. We went to the shop and bought our stuff, which I did first because Tim needed to go to the toilet first. I bought an Italian B.M.T. without the meal (opps...), said Grace and ate.

I then had a chat with Tim about the music scores and thigs related tot he sort (Note: When I say 'chat' during a one-to-one situation, always expect large chunks of silences inbetween the conversation.) and he showed me a few scores to look through. Once we were done with our sandwitches, we headed back to PLH, along the way meeting lots of people also from PLH.

Once at the 'music room', we saw it was bare, and so we played around with the piano and practiced a few scores. Time after time, we'd display our best pieces; his being The Phantom of the Opera, and mine being He's a Pirate. He also tried to teach me how to read notes, but it was more or less the same thing everyone tells me. The only problem with me reading notes isthat I'd have to read every secific note from the 'C' or 'Doh', and that's a lot more pain-staking than just playing out of memory or by ear.

Soon, more and more Believers came to the room, and the different ranges were forming their groups; the Sopranos giggling away in their lady-chat manners (something you wouldn't mind watching/listening to at all) and the Basses making active jokes here and there with their flexible heavy voices.

Tim asked Shaun (or is it Shawn? Oh, for those who don't know, this guy is the, well, recognised Embassador of the Basses? Yeah, I'll put it that way) to comfirm that I'm a Bass as well, and after saying, "Hi." he was truely certain, later singing to the tune of Drunken Sailor as Tim was playing it on the piano.

Soon enough, practice started, and we sat in our ranges. Shaun was sharing his scores with me, so that he could help me pitch with them. But after singing a few rounds, he noticed that I always sung one octave lower than the required notes. Asking me to sing a few notes higher, I ended up having nothing coming out literally. I was declared out of range, which isn't a bad thing 'cause I can just try to expand my range day by day, but being a Bass 4 means I'm just as good as an opera singer.

Looking through the score, I saw that there was no note within my reach until two songs from then, so I patiently waited during the other two songs. And even on that particular song, the part of it within my range is at the back fo the score, so I'm more or less useless at this point.

So this is why I never sing along to the music I play. The reason why I don't speak that confidently when at casual with new people. The reason why no one actually finds me singing at randomly appropriate timings like Hao Qing or Kenneth or Marcus Chua. I'm just too low to sing a modern pop song. WHat scares me now is that if my octave really is that low, I'm right now only useful for Opera, Honkeytonk and 50's Souls. Which creeps me out imagining how I'd look like performing them respectively.

Soon, it was time for dancing lessons. Was told not to share too much, so I'll try to keep it simple. I didn't have a role in the upcoming musical the Believers were setting up, so I went to the back of the class to watch, which for a few seconds made me feel like Mumble from the movie Happy Feet. I then watched as the rest of the guys were figuring out ways to blend the dance steps together wit the music, which in the end they found out how.

We then had a little 'derief' on what would be covered next week and the events to come for the group. We closed in player, and were dismissed, shortly told to come back to celebrate the birthday of one of the seniors. Ice-cream cake never felt so hard, but the cookies-and-cream flavour worked well enough.

I went off with Tim to Bugis MRT Station and had a small conversation about PLH/Believers/School affairs before leaving our separate ways (of the Green East-West Line). I took a train to Somerset and was about to get a 700 home when my parents called to say that the family was going to eat out at Orchard for dinner, so I took a bus to Borders and went to Isetan's Food Republic to help get a table for them.

When we all met up, we bought some stuff to eat (ghah! Their Fried Kway Teow is spicy!) and had supper at the Toast Box, later dropping by some digital product shops to look atround. (I thought I heard my Dad saying he intends to buy a Play Station 3. Oh no - I don't know how to play...)The ladies then went down to buy a watch, and we all left for the car in Dad's office to go home.

On the drive back, while Morriel was playing some of Choppy's Japanese Pop songs, I was telling the rest of the car about my day with the Believers. They then each also shared their encounters with their own choir lives - Mom had traumatising momments with the nuns at her old school and their methods in ensureing the right pitch, while Choppy had faint memories of Mr. Chew back in Nanyang and also of her solo which she performed live on a National Day about a decade ago.

After the drive, we went back home to empty out and relax for the week ahead. Well, to sumarise what I felt about PLH today, I was slightly alarmed on how much we touched on the Laws in the Bible. We now live in the New Testament, and as such we should be following the Grace, not the Law, of Christ. Wasn't that the reason why he died on the cross in the first place? To pay the price we all owed the Law so we could all be worthy to enter God's precense, and through so we could recieve His eternal love?

But that was just one day. I'll come again next week and see if the same thing happens. But for now, I'm still satisfied that I've not only found brothers and sisters to worship God with, but also that I've found another method of praising His name and spreading the Good News!

Well, that's about it. God bless y'all, and g'dnite!!!

The Violin family...

Let's try to make this post shorter this time. How 'bout making spoofs again? Hmm, I think I've got something. See if you know which song I'm spoofing...

Story of my life
'fore I met the Light
What will this avoiding be
Sorrow, leave my soul
Cause I need to join
Prefectorial company

Duty now more sian
Since I must speak enough
For morning call to make it through
I sat around with Tim
Because I'm Assemblin'
And to him my voice can't be true

and I know that he knows I'm Bass 3 too
and it kills him inside
to know that Prefect camp's gonna have one more try
I can see him sighing

I don't wanna loose Hist anymore
I don't wanna be the reason why
Every classmate walked out the door
I see Kavita teaching more in pride
I don't mind Ms. Yeo saying more,
"I don't wanna take away earth's life
I don't wanna be...a murderer"

Zeng Rong fell off his chair
As I'm trying to stare
At eco-mindmaps we all made
Mr. Tan gave a freak
He teared reluctantly
as he stared at my workbook's fate

They said he spent too long
Just lagging mathy terms
A lie they didn't have to tell
Because we all know
that art was 10 to go
and we know it very well

cause I know Art 'cher saw I took control
of the colours inside
to know that Justin's happy to splash other guys
I can't see him trying

I don't mind to do this feedback form
I don't mind to be promoted guy
Once I've done, I walk out the door
I see Mr. Ang very 'morse inside
We don't wanna hurt him anymore
I just wanna 'take away' this lunch
I don't wanna break...embargo list

Prata
Fried stuff
I might as well take a bun and put it through my head
Get it over with

I think I might puke this
Even more (even more)

I had never done the talk before
I had never shared my reason why
Me before I walked towards the Door
And how I died but Christ made me alive
But it still just hurts him not to know
When to go and make anew his life
Conversation with...a sufferer (a sufferer)

No no no no
Yeah eah eah...

Answer Key: Unfaithful

Where'd They Go...

Freeish day today. Very freeish.

Starts with the drive with my Mom to school, of which we couldn't listen to Paster Prince sermons since she left the CDs behind in the house. So we resorted to the radio, where on Class 95 the song 'Fame' was playing. Rather cheesy intro, but the main tune/instrumentals were interesting (A little note: I don't just listen to the vocals in a song - my mind can end up dividing the song into different instruments, and song appreciation is thus made extremely flexible.)

Then in school, things, like I said, were freeish.

Maths was mostly free-period, until Mr. Tan came into class towards the ending of his period, of which he used to brief us that there was going to be a project for us to do during the holidays. It was another group project which involved us presenting on a certain question using about any form of media, whether games, books, powerpoint, acting and so on. He used the typical 'loop' system to divide us into groups, and also assigned a leader for each group.

Apparently, I was assigned (as the majority of the class would classify) 'the worst group I could ever get'. Basically, I was the leader of a gathering that included Kirby, Matt, Raam and WYang, me being the leader. One by one, some people in the class were telling me that they pitied my misfortune, and I told them back that it was all for the Glory of God. Matt then asked if that was the only thing I could say.

Well, God did say that He uses the very things that look useless in this world to perform His miracles and shame people who think that they're superior in life because of their own deeds (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). Even I've seen how these verses work out. What makes this project any different?

After Mr. Tan made us tikam-tikam ('lucky-draw') our questions, he left the class with final instructions and went his way. I had Question 5, which I'll find out what it is once I get back home and search LMS.

While keeping our Maths stuff, I overheard Tim, Jai and some others talking behind me about the groups that we all recieved and how unfortunate some of them were to recieve so-and-so members because of so-and-so traits. But they all agreed on one thing - I was truely unfortunate. Joining them in their discussion, I watched as they marked down each of my members on how much work they'd contribute, or more like how much work they'd NOT contribute.

I then asked if I needed to push them hard through labour for projects like this, mimed out a whip and 'slashed' the edge of Jai's table. Tim responded that it would surely be necesary, 'although Juun Kit would love to be whipped by you.' Feeling that that sounded rather weird, I quickly 'dropped' the whip and wiped my hands on my shirt.

Language Arts B = Free Period (I took part of this time to photocopy my Report Card for Mr. See. Had a nice chat with the photocopying uncle about taxes in school fees! The rest was spent on watching PotC:Dead Man's Chest with Raam on his PC.)

Computer Science = Deleted

Oh, yah. ComSci was taken over today by a talk on Comic Drawing. We were told to bring our tablets to give our shots on the stuff (Tablet features are rather 'perfect' for comic drawing), but I had a flat battery so I had to miss out on all the fun. How sad.)

Then after the talk, we had Recess. Went down, bought the ussual two tao sar baos and sailed through the SAC until I found a nice colonial place to settle at, which today was apparently with the main mixed group of HPPS and a few ACPS. Toj was asking me why I always buy baos for Recess, and I was about to give him the lengthy explaination as follows:

"Well, I've discovered that baos are very convenient to bring around the place, so if I can't find anyone to sit with I could just keep walking around the SAC until I'm done and leave. Then it's also very suitable for time, since the servings are rather palm-sized and easy to predict on. After meals, I can also just dispose of the paperbag into any rubbish bin in my way to the exit(s) instead of having to walk all the way to the specific shop I bought my meal from and returning the cutlery before being able to make my leave. The bao shop is also next to the Oasis stall, so if that also acts as a reminder for me to estimate if I need to buy any drink(s) to refresh myself before moving on to eating with others. And lastly, Mr. See had already imposed a full Competition-Season Embargo, so I can't eat intensely oily stuff like the pratas you're eating, and also explains why I can't celebrate on Fried Food Day anymore. Besides, this is only gonna last for this term - Last term, my most frequent food item in this SAC would be the Doughnut, followed by the Chicken Burger, so I'm always changing my food preferences on a termly basis so I won't get too dull on anything here. Bon appetite."

But I wanted to spare him from the animosity, so I simply told him:

'Bao is the new Doughnut."

Then more and more people were joining the table, and the conversations were getting interesting, so I tried to eat slowly so I could stay longer. But my baos were slowly but surely fading away from my bag, so once they were finished, I decided to go and buy one last lotus bao and return just to extend my time.

So I left, bought the bao and went back to the table to catch the guys laughing about something, which Tim later insisted was 'not meant for Ben or you.' Stood at the edge of the table, and tried tosee where everyone was in any present conversation. But just then, I realised that the topic was now about computer games. And they were talking about the recent crazes which the class, even Jai and Ben, had had the pleasure in playing.

Something I couldn't relate to.

So I stood back and watched as they used terms I wasn't really familiar with.
Mig
Company (a.k.a. anyone else in the SAC)

Need not look at me
Just your Tablet PC
I won't seen the gaming me yet
Give me time I'll have to forget the rest

I got more in me
But not MvCC
I can't Forestmoon with my friends
But despite who I am

Remember my name
Lame
I'm gonna leave forever
I am not learning to try
Sigh
I feel alone altogether
People won't see me FarCry

Lame
I'm goin' before eleven
Fright up the class with a name
Lame
I'm gotta have endeavour
Need not remember my name

You lamer
You lamer
You lamer
You lamer
You lamer
You lamer
You lamer
You lamer

Tried to play the fight
But I don't know the right
You can shoot me: call me a flop
In a game, I'd stake all I've got to 'live'

Ever I'd be tough
Too much is not enough
Press the controler till it breaks
Ooh I know it is fakes

Lame
I'm gonna leave forever
I am not learning to try
Sigh
I feel alone altogether
People won't see me FarCry
Lame
I'm goin' before eleven
Fright up the class with a name
Lame
I've gotta have endeavour
Need not remember my name

(Slowly backs away from Table and SAC)

You lamer
You lamer
You lamer
You lamer
You lamer
You lamer
You lamer
You lamer

Once done with my bao, I quickly left the table and made my way to the classroom. Well, obviously I wouldn't be so emo as to really believe in the edited song as stated earlier, but the dissapointment that I have one disability theme which I can't use with the rest of the guys who I presently know dawns in time after time.

And it's those momments where I remind myself that there are other things besides computer gaming which I can communicate with others, which is proven by the fact that I'm highly regarded in the class as an exampliary gentleman. And besides, God's always there beside me, and at one stage or another He went through what I am going through now while He was made into a man. So I'm never actually... 'alone'.
(Bursts into classroom)

FAME!!!
I've got'da joy forever
I'm gonna learn how to fly
High
I may not be like a gamer
But they will see me alive
Fame
I'm gonna live with my Saviour
Give it a try without shame
Fame
I'm gonna strive forever
Baby remember my name

Remember
Remember
Remember
Remember
Remember
Remember
Remember
Remember

Remember my name
Raem!!!

Besides, I'm not THAT unknoledgeable about comm games. I play Rise of Nations, and I've got prior knowledge on GTA. That's good enough to satisfy the doubts.

Anyway, when I came back to the classroom, I found Mdm Kavita at the front of the class announcing to us that there was more homework to be added onto us through the holidays. For her case, we had to read up on the remaining abstracts in the Pink Booklet and do the questions provided in pointform onto flashcards so we could revise for the Oral Presentation which we're doing for exams next Term, just that she used a whole lot more sentences to convey this message than I just did. LA'B' was to be checked on LMS.

After her long and far-dragged announcement, she left the room, leaving behind a greatly distressed class screaming at the top of their voices behind closed doors that they hated the idea of a school break being taken advantage of by, well, homework.

I have to admit, being able to complete everything (P Sci Show-and-Tell, ISO Surveying and Compiling of Results, History Documentary Filming, Life Science Gene Therapy Research, Maths Holiday Assignment/Question Product Presentation, Language Arts 'A' Flashcards, Language Arts 'B' Written Assignments) in four quick weeks would be an adventure indeed. But personally speaking, I don't feel that much effected by the extra load.

The many things I'd want to do in my spare time wouldn't be enough to occupy four weeks, so Canoeing trainings/competitions and projects are somewhat a way to occupy the remaining space, even if it means killing a bit of time from the stuff I want to do in the first place. And besides, some of the projects are actually quite fun, so I'm not going to complain about those. The tough ones add a chalendge to the theme, so there's good twist to the whole relaxation period.

But nevertheless, I doubt my class would fully agree with me. They've all got different lifestyles altogether, and no two of them are identical, so I'll just stand back until the senario of someone actiually asks how I actually can smile at a crisis like this, of which I'd reply with the ussual, "Because God gave me the love and peace to go through this, and I know very well He'd never give me anything too much for me to handle." (a.k.a. "By the Grace of God!")

The class then went up to the lab for P Sci Practical, which we were remarked as late despite our explaination that Mdm Kavita held us back all because of her suppose-to-be-short announcement. We then continued practicing the use of pipettes and something-else-which-measures-accurate-volumes. Rather fun, and at least now I understood how the things work. But soon, we were dismissed from the cheap thrills of chemistry an left for a second Recess.

Which lasted through the rest of the day since there was no Chinese'B'/Chinese or ePOD. So during this time, I also helped Jaira photocopy his result slip since I was also on the way to the photocopying room (I realised that I also needed to give a copy of my results to Josh Renee (Is that how you spell it?)). He didn't have change with him, so he paid me with a guitar puck. I accepted the offer since after all the guitar in my house seems rather lonely and plucking with a puck seems easier than with your nails.

After school, I met the rest of the Canoers at he bus bay for Dragonboating again, this time I forgot to bring tow distinct gear for such - my 2l water bottle and my Dragonboating seat. And in the hot weather the day could provide, the water bottle seemed more precious. No one's allowed to share water bottles onboard, mind you. But as much as my uncertainty of my survival in the middle of a hot seawater bay without fresh water, I had to go for the thing anyway with only my God to trust that I'd not faint of dehydration.

And shockingly enough, I actually survived! Many rounds of sprints at Kallang in normal weather conditions and I actually didn't get headaches! Praise the Lord almighty!

After training, I joined the main bulk to go to Kallang MRT station and had a couple of trains to Orchard Road, where I did some research on the History project at Borders for a few minutes before meeting up with my Dad. In my opinion, General Percival looks, erm generally geeky. High waistline, high socks, crossed legs when standing. If JKit really wants this role, I guess he'll have to endure the looks. And Yamashita is actually chubby, nothing like Tim. I gues I really have to plan out the cast further now...

Once met up with both parents, we went back home and I finally had a good place to rest my head (and bottom) for the day. *sigh* The relaxing feeling of it all. Well, leave me to my relaxing, and God bless y'all...

Does that answer your question?...

Today was suppose to be Scouts Day. It was suppose to be their day to celebrate for themselves and for the rest of the school, population to salute them in their honours. But apparenly, Ben fainted hal-way through the Scout's Day speech, and a group of Scouts had to stretcher him out off the Parade Square. Selfless at a day of your own. But that's not the point.

Ben fainted. The sub-line between a coma and sleep. I don't really know much of the details as I was at the other end of the class row when the thing happened, but as I've heard, he left Toj tramuatized and a whole class missing him, so I guess this then answers his Miggy-inspired question: What would happen if I die in the presence of my love ones?

Fainting is a good way to start off the results with. But seriously speaking, I pray he's okay. Wonder what caused him to faint. But as I've noticed, many people were concerned about Ben, esspecially the Henry Park Boys. They really showed the most enthusiasm in this area and were truly concerned about their un-contious friend. But before I get too emotional/inaccurate, I should leave this for a while and wait for the second half of the experiment: what happens when Ben returns back.

And another thing about today: Tim was restraining his 'beast' form coming out again. Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde, just that in a rather more controlled form. I assumed that he was sparked off by how Kirby made a teacher conficate Tim's thumbdrive. And she was an IT teacher, so you never know where she may peak into the thingy. And with Tim's 'private' stuff inside, I doubted he'd forgive Kirby within less than 12 hours. During recess, Tim's silence was as creepy as ever. Coming from a full-time stoner like me, that's really something. When I went down to recess to practice the piano with Tutor Shil again, I saw him standing there, next to the pillar. I didn't dare ask him to come over, as I never knew where his boundaries were being laid so far, and if he could attack Junn Kit what makes me any different?

When I got back, some of the guys in the class were asking me about how I felt Tim's 'containment process' was going. I said that he was giving the same stare he'd ussually give when he's angry. The same kind I saw him do when we were informed of the banning of games in our tablets. The same that was used when I once commented on his surname. The one that he used the morning after his declaration of grounding during the December Holidays. But before I could add in the other details, I noticed that Tim was actually in the storage compartments, and I immediately stopped, appologising as I walked off to attend to someone else's call. He really looked like as if he was trying to prevent himself from turning into the Hulk, and even when he started smiling again at the later parts of the day, I felt like keeping my distance for the moment.

There's also another side on what I felt about today in general, but if I wrote it down I might be 'misunderstood'. So if the future Raemiguel wants to know what happened on this day, just go to the Tablet PC you used to work with during your days in ACS(I) and search for a Word Doccument by the name of 'Just that one voice'.

So that I don't waste a post, I'll spend it on another track from the musical my imagination keeps bugging me with. Please forgive me if you think the song is too corny to look at. This song is in dedication to the Keymasters out there. If I ever offend anyone, please feel free to comment in my cBox and I'll do what I can to edit it towards our needs. Enjoy.

Lock It up by the Keymaster and Company (Sung in the tune of Wind It Up by Gwen Stefani, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3ycR4JQeRw)

The Parade Square we must all be gathered, lad-od-lad-od-lad-he-hoo! Quickly before Mr Dave Tay finds us, lad-od-lad-od-low!

Lock it up
Lock it up, uh, uh, uh, uh
Yodellay, yodallay, yodal-low

(Yeah)
This is the key that helps us lock up
When the voice comes on, the boys all line up
And the boys all look, but no, they can't move
And this is the reason why our neck aches improve

They like the way we stand, they like the way we froze
They like that way that bee is going 'cross my nose
They like the way my pants, it compliments my crest (They're crazy, right?)
They like the way we react every time we say the pledge

Every time the bass plays, realize it's in Malay
Let the beat lock you up, and don't stop till your time is up
Get in line now

Lock it up, uh, uh, uh, uh
Lock it up, uh, uh, uh, uh
Yodellay, yodallay, yodal-low

You've got to let Chapel get under your skin
You've got to open up, and let 'Nouncements in
But see, once they get in, cheesy jokes begins
And then you find out, why all the boys stare

They're trying to bite our style
Trying to study our approach
They like the way we do it, so original
I guess that they are slow, so they should leave the stage
The stillness makes us mad, and makes us go ra...

Every time Ms. Tan fans, realize it's like her name
Let the beat lock you up, and don't stop till your time is up
Get in line now

Uh, uh, uh, lock it up, uh, uh, uh, uh(Ya'll ready)

Lock it up, uh, uh, uh, uh
Lock it up, uh, uh, uh, uh
Yodellay, yodallay, yodal-low

Uh huh, one more moment
Uh huh, come on guys, just keep endurin'
Uh huh, you know my key does the unlockin'
Hell yeah, and you know they're watchin'

Stand it guys, stand it, stand it guys
Stand it guys, stand it, stand it guys
To the font, not the side,
To the back, but don'tcha dare hide

I'm goin' now, it's my hour
To unlock our class door
I know you want the key and stuff
But do you know how to lock it up?
(Come on)

Lock it up, uh, uh, uh, uh
Lock it up, uh, uh, uh, uh
Yodellay, yodallay, yodal-low, hey!