Okay, now to go without subtitles.
Lauren VS Chemistry Teacher
I love how he asks her what "B" stands for and she hesitates...
Lauren VS Chemistry Teacher
I love how he asks her what "B" stands for and she hesitates...
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Pray
People in my generation are quite surprised when you tell them that you're praying for them.
I think it's mainly because we don't pray much.
So saying to someone that you prayed for them has quite an impact.
But that's just a thought. Let me get back to praying for you now.
I think it's mainly because we don't pray much.
So saying to someone that you prayed for them has quite an impact.
But that's just a thought. Let me get back to praying for you now.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Lauren Cooper Week Episode #2
Subtitles still on for you poor Singaporeans.
The actress is Catherine Tate and she has her own show, in which she does impersonations of several different characters, much like what Michelle Chia does on the Noose.
Here's her in class about to go on an excursion...
The actress is Catherine Tate and she has her own show, in which she does impersonations of several different characters, much like what Michelle Chia does on the Noose.
Here's her in class about to go on an excursion...
Ambush
Yesterday, Fencing training was cancelled in lieu of a demonstration by the team, so I went for my last Bible Study with my sec 2 and 3 boys before reservist.
I arrived at Matthew's new house and heard screams coming from the second floor.
They did not know I was coming.
I crept into the compound, entered the lift, and loaded my Nerf guns.
The lift door opened, and I sprung the ambush on the boys who were still reloading.
Later on I used Matthew's Vulcan. He loaded a fresh set of batteries and a full belt of 25 darts for me. It's a fully automatic Nerf gun that shoots 3 darts per second and never jams.
Marcus and I took on 4 boys armed to the teeth.
My boys have individually gotten quite proficient with their weapons, but they still lack group tactics. They laid down fire down the long corridor, but were not coordinated in their suppression.
Taking the initiative, I gave a loud war cry and charged into battle, guns a blazing, and took all 4 of them down in a suicide bonzai charge.
Yes I was shot too, but I had shot all 4 of them, and Marcus was still in the game, so my team won.
Then the neighbors came and complained that we were making too much noise, so that ended Nerf Wars in Matthew's house.
Never mind. I'm ready for Urban Ops this reservist.
Imma gonna scream my lungs out in battle there firing blanks and lazers.
I arrived at Matthew's new house and heard screams coming from the second floor.
They did not know I was coming.
I crept into the compound, entered the lift, and loaded my Nerf guns.
The lift door opened, and I sprung the ambush on the boys who were still reloading.
(It probably looked something like this...)
Later on I used Matthew's Vulcan. He loaded a fresh set of batteries and a full belt of 25 darts for me. It's a fully automatic Nerf gun that shoots 3 darts per second and never jams.
(This is the gun. Matthew's was a different colour.)
Marcus and I took on 4 boys armed to the teeth.
My boys have individually gotten quite proficient with their weapons, but they still lack group tactics. They laid down fire down the long corridor, but were not coordinated in their suppression.
Taking the initiative, I gave a loud war cry and charged into battle, guns a blazing, and took all 4 of them down in a suicide bonzai charge.
Yes I was shot too, but I had shot all 4 of them, and Marcus was still in the game, so my team won.
Then the neighbors came and complained that we were making too much noise, so that ended Nerf Wars in Matthew's house.
Never mind. I'm ready for Urban Ops this reservist.
Imma gonna scream my lungs out in battle there firing blanks and lazers.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Lauren Cooper
Here's British humour for you.
I know some of us have trouble with the slang, so I'll start with videos containing subtitles.
It's going to be a Lauren Cooper week this week, so brace yourselves.
I know some of us have trouble with the slang, so I'll start with videos containing subtitles.
It's going to be a Lauren Cooper week this week, so brace yourselves.
This Week's Singles Anonymous Gathering Was Particularly Emo...
Mainly because we had a new member who had recently... well... been given a status that granted him access to the group. He had not been allowed to join us for around 3 years.
His sharing was so heartfelt and raw it brought him to tears and he needed to stop and compose himself before continuing.
My emotional struggles felt so trivial after hearing his that I didn't even want to share.
As we went around the table, everyone's sharing turned quite emo. After the high from Marianne Lee's wedding, some of us were experiencing the swing of the pendulum and felt depressed, realizing how she was happily married off at 24, and the rest of us were still single, not even close to getting attached, and some even getting along in age.
One began sharing about how their colleagues were already married with kids, and I was reminded of another dear friend Charissa, who was happily married at 21 and now has a son. And he continued saying how his mind wonders about how things could have been different for himself and how much he has still not achieved in life.
Sometimes I wonder how long this group will survive. Yeah we're holding to an ideal of encouraging singlehood as a positive thing, but we live in a society that places love as one of the highest goals in life, along with success.
It's so difficult to be single.
His sharing was so heartfelt and raw it brought him to tears and he needed to stop and compose himself before continuing.
My emotional struggles felt so trivial after hearing his that I didn't even want to share.
As we went around the table, everyone's sharing turned quite emo. After the high from Marianne Lee's wedding, some of us were experiencing the swing of the pendulum and felt depressed, realizing how she was happily married off at 24, and the rest of us were still single, not even close to getting attached, and some even getting along in age.
One began sharing about how their colleagues were already married with kids, and I was reminded of another dear friend Charissa, who was happily married at 21 and now has a son. And he continued saying how his mind wonders about how things could have been different for himself and how much he has still not achieved in life.
Sometimes I wonder how long this group will survive. Yeah we're holding to an ideal of encouraging singlehood as a positive thing, but we live in a society that places love as one of the highest goals in life, along with success.
It's so difficult to be single.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Mondays will never be the same...
I am sorry. But it's time to grow up.
Goodbye Manson Mun.
Today I shall post about an adventure that I had at the start of this month.
Like any serious Pokemon trainer, I went to Labrador Park during the weekend.
With me came fellow Pokemaniac Florence who was interested in wild Pokemon photography.
While walking in to the waterfront, there was a sudden rustle in the bushes next to us and we jumped.
Wild Pachirisu appeared!
We scrambled to take out our Pokeballs and cameras to do battle, but this little fella ran away.
In fact, there was another one on the next tree.
Phew, that was close! We nearly had a 2-on-1 battle!
We reached the end of Labrador Park and came to the fence that allowed none to pass through to the Mysterious Jetty and Rocky Beach.
But a great trainer doesn't let anything get in his way.
So Florence and I climbed over the barrier to the Mystery Jetty.
It was not a place we were supposed to be, so we were additionally careful.
Don't try this at home. Hur Hur Hur.
You can hardly even spot Florence in the picture above.
But it was conditions like this that real Pokemon Masters train.
GO BULBASAUR!
Bulbasaur! Use Vine Whip!
After getting Bulbasaur warmed up, we headed to the Rocky Beach.
We had to watch our step; both wild water and rock pokemon abound here.
Wild Krabby appeared!
Go Bulbasaur!
Bulbasaur, be careful of its strong claws!
Ready? Now use tackle!
Critical hit! Wild Krabby fainted!
Bulbasaur gained 136 exp. points!
And thus the day continued with many more battles.
Bulbasaur gained much experience as its grass attacks were super effective against water types like Shellder.
As the day drew to a close we headed back to the fence.
A couple sitting at a bench close by was surprised to see us emerge for beyond the barrier and climb back to the safe side.
Who knows what adventures await us in this Pokémon world?
Join us next on the next episode of Pokémon as we board the S.S. Anne!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Do Holy Water-Soaked Nerf Darts Stun Vampires?
So I organised an overnight event for my church youth (Faith Factor).
I arrived early at Aloha Changi and walked in from the office with Yaoqi.
He had booked the place, and had just collected the chalet key.
Yaoqi: I've been trying to book this very chalet for a long time.
Justin: This one? Why!? It's right behind the abandoned Changi Hospital!
YaoQi: That's right. It's the most haunted one.
Justin: You do realise what kind of cowardly youth we have right?
Yaoqi: Yup. Tonight's going to be fun.
And I tell you, it was so fun. We Nerfed the night away in the biggest Nerf War we've ever had, with up to 15 people fighting at the same time.
And no, it wasn't scary. The only time someone screamed was when a cricket flew in an Marcus thought it was a cockroach.
I arrived early at Aloha Changi and walked in from the office with Yaoqi.
He had booked the place, and had just collected the chalet key.
Yaoqi: I've been trying to book this very chalet for a long time.
Justin: This one? Why!? It's right behind the abandoned Changi Hospital!
YaoQi: That's right. It's the most haunted one.
Justin: You do realise what kind of cowardly youth we have right?
Yaoqi: Yup. Tonight's going to be fun.
And I tell you, it was so fun. We Nerfed the night away in the biggest Nerf War we've ever had, with up to 15 people fighting at the same time.
And no, it wasn't scary. The only time someone screamed was when a cricket flew in an Marcus thought it was a cockroach.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
My hairstylist said I'm a naughty boy
He actually used a word much stronger than that, and I shall not say it here for fear that I attract the wrong kind of attention to my blog.
I'm still not sure why he'd think that way of me...
I mean, he hardly knows me.
All he knows about me is based on the few conversations that we have when he cuts my hair, and maybe my facebook profile page?
I'm still not sure why he'd think that way of me...
I mean, he hardly knows me.
All he knows about me is based on the few conversations that we have when he cuts my hair, and maybe my facebook profile page?
Oh wait I think I understand it now.
There is something I'd like to do this holiday...
But I need someone who's willing to help me.
I'd like to spend the day without seeing.
I need to feel this.
I'm serious. Anyone willing to guide me for a day?
I'd like to spend the day without seeing.
I need to feel this.
I'm serious. Anyone willing to guide me for a day?
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Another Campaign Over
I've run out of yet another set of tear-a-strip wall posters.
For the past month or so I've been pasting this design all around Singapore.
I just want to make people smile.
The strips of paper below have lines from the song "Just the way you are".
I feel a little sad when I take the effort to do something like this and the next day the whole poster is gone. Maybe we're not ready as a society to accept something so creatively loving and thus get rid of it even before others can appreciate it.
But I was really encouraged by the response to the very last one I put up.
I pasted it at the walkway to Pasir Ris station just after they cleared all the old notices, so it was in a prominent location.
The next day...
All the strips were gone!!!
I was soooooo happy. And I was deeply encouraged that people actually appreciated and responded to my time and effort by playing along.
Maybe it was the Meridians who frequent the walkway.
Either way, I'm back in the business of making people smile!
For the past month or so I've been pasting this design all around Singapore.
I just want to make people smile.
The strips of paper below have lines from the song "Just the way you are".
I feel a little sad when I take the effort to do something like this and the next day the whole poster is gone. Maybe we're not ready as a society to accept something so creatively loving and thus get rid of it even before others can appreciate it.
But I was really encouraged by the response to the very last one I put up.
I pasted it at the walkway to Pasir Ris station just after they cleared all the old notices, so it was in a prominent location.
The next day...
All the strips were gone!!!
I was soooooo happy. And I was deeply encouraged that people actually appreciated and responded to my time and effort by playing along.
Maybe it was the Meridians who frequent the walkway.
Either way, I'm back in the business of making people smile!
How should I reply to this email?
Hi
The world's longest sentence is: (I may sound a little strong here but keep in mind that it is just for the sake of writing the world's longest sentence =D)
I have managed to find the most efficient maze ever which is by causing both the maze creator and the solver to travel the same distance which in this case the solver must touch every point possible in the maze in order that he travels the maximum distance and there would be no dead ends but this is compensated by the need for accuracy and twice the amount of speed that the solver has to draw his line so that overall he suffers a great deal of lack of time and thus if studied carefully you notice that the larger the maze the more efficient it is which in this case is in a shape of a spiral or to be more precise it is a double spiral with the opening of course at the vortex and with this I claim this maze as the most efficient maze because even if other mazes contain dead ends and may confuse the solver there would be no guarantee that the maze creator will win for the solver may at that point in time be in luck and thus find the correct path at first sight although the probability for this to happen is one over one million while the probability for the solver to solve the spiral maze on time is zero and with all this information I turn my focus and change my subject to the Thursday event in which I would like to suggest that as a group we meet somewhere that is familiar to all of us as some of us may not knot how to reach there so maybe we can meet at Changi MRT Station and we head off from there and so can we arrange this and see what time it is possible for all of us to meet and also Matthew suggested that we have bs so remind everyone and with that I turn my focus to move on to another subject but first we shall take a deep breath right now and by now you should have taken the deepest breath you have ever taken in your entire life because we are going to dive to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and swim back up to the surface so here goes and my next subject would be about Thursday again and I know that it is the same as the previous subject but I guess I could just make it a new subject just for the sake of writing the longest sentence in history and so I would like to interrogate about the thing which I think it is spelled as selay or celay or chalay or something like that but I just cannot get it right but who cares and I would like to know what we should bring and in case we are staying overnight do we bring an extra set of clothes and I was wondering whether there would be a toilet there to bathe and I would also like to know whether you would be staying overnight because I would like to know what you are bringing and I look forward to a wonderful night if you are sleeping with me and now my hand is a little pain and I have not been stopping for the last fifteen minutes and I bet the next thing you are going to say is to get a life and you would accidentally put a question mark at the end instead of an exclamation mark like when just now how you typed and you typed so quickly that I have no idea how you typed and you put that simple question mark that in the end made me bring up this topic in the longest sentence I was supposed to type and I guess I had better things to do but I have got a lot more things to say which is worth bringing up in the longest sentence in history and so I shall continue with what I really wanted to say and I guess I should stop beating around the bush like when I write this phrase and when I write that when I write this phrase and whatever and I think I should go back to what I wanted to say and so I think I want to talk more about the very first topic which is about the maze so I would like to know what you think about the spiral kind of maze I have invented and I guess I had better stop talking about the maze and by the way I was wondering whether you would need to go shopping for the barbeque stuff so that I may help you buy some stuff or we go together or something and I think we had better stop here cause I think that if you had read this far I must say congratulations for persevering to read this and I definitely think you be successful in life which now I would say I was just kidding in saying that successful in life nonsense and I really did not mean it and now I really hope that you would not be pissed off with me so would you kindly take some time to reply this sentence so I would like to say thank you very much and I shall sign off this sentence in the count of three so here goes three two one full stop but wait a minute there seems to be a problem and I think the problem is really large because my full stop key on the keyboard is spoilt and so I guess I have got to copy and paste from somewhere else so give me a moment and now I am opening my documents and then the folder called computing problems backup and in that folder there are files called alphabets and numbers and symbols and got it I shall click n the symbols document and I think I made a mistake as I should have double clicked on the document and finally I have opened the file and now my computer is lagging like crazy and now I am highlighting the full stop and pressing Ctrl+C to copy it and just before I paste it here I want to let you know that please reply me sentence that I took a lot of effort to write and that I feel so good to make an achievement which is to write the longest sentence in history that contains no symbols and with that I really like to say one thing because I am now really tired and that something is full stop.
Marcus
The world's longest sentence is: (I may sound a little strong here but keep in mind that it is just for the sake of writing the world's longest sentence =D)
I have managed to find the most efficient maze ever which is by causing both the maze creator and the solver to travel the same distance which in this case the solver must touch every point possible in the maze in order that he travels the maximum distance and there would be no dead ends but this is compensated by the need for accuracy and twice the amount of speed that the solver has to draw his line so that overall he suffers a great deal of lack of time and thus if studied carefully you notice that the larger the maze the more efficient it is which in this case is in a shape of a spiral or to be more precise it is a double spiral with the opening of course at the vortex and with this I claim this maze as the most efficient maze because even if other mazes contain dead ends and may confuse the solver there would be no guarantee that the maze creator will win for the solver may at that point in time be in luck and thus find the correct path at first sight although the probability for this to happen is one over one million while the probability for the solver to solve the spiral maze on time is zero and with all this information I turn my focus and change my subject to the Thursday event in which I would like to suggest that as a group we meet somewhere that is familiar to all of us as some of us may not knot how to reach there so maybe we can meet at Changi MRT Station and we head off from there and so can we arrange this and see what time it is possible for all of us to meet and also Matthew suggested that we have bs so remind everyone and with that I turn my focus to move on to another subject but first we shall take a deep breath right now and by now you should have taken the deepest breath you have ever taken in your entire life because we are going to dive to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean and swim back up to the surface so here goes and my next subject would be about Thursday again and I know that it is the same as the previous subject but I guess I could just make it a new subject just for the sake of writing the longest sentence in history and so I would like to interrogate about the thing which I think it is spelled as selay or celay or chalay or something like that but I just cannot get it right but who cares and I would like to know what we should bring and in case we are staying overnight do we bring an extra set of clothes and I was wondering whether there would be a toilet there to bathe and I would also like to know whether you would be staying overnight because I would like to know what you are bringing and I look forward to a wonderful night if you are sleeping with me and now my hand is a little pain and I have not been stopping for the last fifteen minutes and I bet the next thing you are going to say is to get a life and you would accidentally put a question mark at the end instead of an exclamation mark like when just now how you typed and you typed so quickly that I have no idea how you typed and you put that simple question mark that in the end made me bring up this topic in the longest sentence I was supposed to type and I guess I had better things to do but I have got a lot more things to say which is worth bringing up in the longest sentence in history and so I shall continue with what I really wanted to say and I guess I should stop beating around the bush like when I write this phrase and when I write that when I write this phrase and whatever and I think I should go back to what I wanted to say and so I think I want to talk more about the very first topic which is about the maze so I would like to know what you think about the spiral kind of maze I have invented and I guess I had better stop talking about the maze and by the way I was wondering whether you would need to go shopping for the barbeque stuff so that I may help you buy some stuff or we go together or something and I think we had better stop here cause I think that if you had read this far I must say congratulations for persevering to read this and I definitely think you be successful in life which now I would say I was just kidding in saying that successful in life nonsense and I really did not mean it and now I really hope that you would not be pissed off with me so would you kindly take some time to reply this sentence so I would like to say thank you very much and I shall sign off this sentence in the count of three so here goes three two one full stop but wait a minute there seems to be a problem and I think the problem is really large because my full stop key on the keyboard is spoilt and so I guess I have got to copy and paste from somewhere else so give me a moment and now I am opening my documents and then the folder called computing problems backup and in that folder there are files called alphabets and numbers and symbols and got it I shall click n the symbols document and I think I made a mistake as I should have double clicked on the document and finally I have opened the file and now my computer is lagging like crazy and now I am highlighting the full stop and pressing Ctrl+C to copy it and just before I paste it here I want to let you know that please reply me sentence that I took a lot of effort to write and that I feel so good to make an achievement which is to write the longest sentence in history that contains no symbols and with that I really like to say one thing because I am now really tired and that something is full stop.
Marcus
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Very irritated today
So stressed by the amount of things to do.
I just want to run away and have that long awaited sabbath.
I'll do it tomorrow morning.
Don't talk to me tomorrow morning.
I just want to run away and have that long awaited sabbath.
I'll do it tomorrow morning.
Don't talk to me tomorrow morning.
I still wonder...
In reference to this post.
I returned to the shop less than 3 months later.
Closed and moved out.
Aww...
I know someone who'd be sad.
I returned to the shop less than 3 months later.
Closed and moved out.
Aww...
I know someone who'd be sad.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Beginning of the End
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We've come to it a last.
The end.
You must understand...
I can no longer find any more pictures of Manson Mun.
Oh the horror.
The newer ones are of him older and less cute and baby looking.
Yeah.
He is growing up.
So this shall be my last post of Manson Mun.
It'll end with the beginning.
The very last photo I post on Manson Mun...
Will be the very first photo of him ever taken...
...
Seeya Man.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Same Same but Different
Marianne's life in Africa.
Kimberly's life in Australia.
Singapore meal in Africa.
Singapore meal in Australia.
Same same.
But different.
I love these girls.
Kimberly's life in Australia.
Singapore meal in Africa.
Singapore meal in Australia.
Same same.
But different.
I love these girls.
Lessons and Miracles from Seri Alam
So we just returned from a missions trip to Seri Alam.
There were some amazing lessons I learnt there.
Some of the things I learnt were so extraordinary I consider them miracles.
Here's a list:
Yaoqi forgot to bring his bath towel, but managed to dry himself with my face towel.
Andrew is tone death, but he can whistle in tune.
Ryan was the nosiest kid we had, but Marcus was hiding his talent till now.
I can't kill flies with my hands, but I could do it with a paper roll.
Tate is at grade 2 in piano, but can play half of Yiruma's playlist.
And when he started playing this piece in the home church during one of our breaks, everyone slowed down what they were doing and listened. Those who were in the rooms resting awoke just enough to listen to every single note. Those playing games outside quietened enough to hear.
None of us knew he could play the piano.
And after hearing him play, none of us wanted to play any more.
There were some amazing lessons I learnt there.
Some of the things I learnt were so extraordinary I consider them miracles.
Here's a list:
Yaoqi forgot to bring his bath towel, but managed to dry himself with my face towel.
Andrew is tone death, but he can whistle in tune.
Ryan was the nosiest kid we had, but Marcus was hiding his talent till now.
I can't kill flies with my hands, but I could do it with a paper roll.
Tate is at grade 2 in piano, but can play half of Yiruma's playlist.
And when he started playing this piece in the home church during one of our breaks, everyone slowed down what they were doing and listened. Those who were in the rooms resting awoke just enough to listen to every single note. Those playing games outside quietened enough to hear.
None of us knew he could play the piano.
And after hearing him play, none of us wanted to play any more.
Fathers' Day
I was asked to do a video for Fathers' Day.
If you were in Katong Presbyterian today you would have seen it.
I got kids to say what they appreciate about their fathers and compiled it.
It's a really nice video. I liked how humorous some of the kids were.
But... you only see the good stuff.
I only put in the good stuff.
See I had to opportunity to talk to youths about their fathers...
And I was quite surprised about some of the things they said about their fathers.
In some cases I was actually quite shocked.
I even had to tell them not to say some of these things to the camera.
I had to make a video to celebrate fathers after all.
But I felt these issues needed to be heard at some point in time.
As I think about myself in future, as a husband and father, and how my kids will talk about me, I tremble. The things I'm hearing now will be the things our kids will be saying about us too.
The burden of being a man is so easily pushed aside in this day and age.
I also noticed something else.
I realised how many missing fathers there were in church.
Some kids declined being filmed because their fathers would not be in church on Sunday to see the video being screened.
Others... had lost their fathers earlier on in life.
I was quite affected.
I never realised how rare it was to have a dad who loved me more than I could ever love him.
Dad, I didn't get to say this in the video...
Thank you.
If you were in Katong Presbyterian today you would have seen it.
I got kids to say what they appreciate about their fathers and compiled it.
It's a really nice video. I liked how humorous some of the kids were.
But... you only see the good stuff.
I only put in the good stuff.
See I had to opportunity to talk to youths about their fathers...
And I was quite surprised about some of the things they said about their fathers.
In some cases I was actually quite shocked.
I even had to tell them not to say some of these things to the camera.
I had to make a video to celebrate fathers after all.
But I felt these issues needed to be heard at some point in time.
As I think about myself in future, as a husband and father, and how my kids will talk about me, I tremble. The things I'm hearing now will be the things our kids will be saying about us too.
The burden of being a man is so easily pushed aside in this day and age.
I also noticed something else.
I realised how many missing fathers there were in church.
Some kids declined being filmed because their fathers would not be in church on Sunday to see the video being screened.
Others... had lost their fathers earlier on in life.
I was quite affected.
I never realised how rare it was to have a dad who loved me more than I could ever love him.
Dad, I didn't get to say this in the video...
Thank you.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The Big Questions In Life
Google answers anything.
So people ask anything:
I'm intrigued by their intrigue.
I'm also intrigued at what Google can tell me.
Or show me...
So people ask anything:
I'm also intrigued at what Google can tell me.
Or show me...
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Dejá vu
Singapore
India
This is either a case of Deja Vu or just the fact that I'm drawn to similar scenes.
Psychologically speaking, Dejá Vu occurs when objects in a place are in a similar arrangement as objects in a place you've been before.
You get the idea that this place is familiar... but you've never been here before.
But there are instances when I find myself in locations that I have been before only in my dreams.
Well then again, it could just be a case of familiar arrangements...
Or is it?
Monday with Ming Choi
Today I met up with a long lost Malaysian friend.
She was visiting Singapore, so I went out with her and her 2 friends.
She chose an expensive place to eat, so she paid for my breakfast/lunch.
I told them stories all morning about myself.
They wanted to go to Bugis Street and Haji Lane, but I brought them to Bras Basar complex.
I gave them all bus tickets and a toy gun as presents.
They enjoyed my company so much they paid me 1RM.
Interesting how bad I like to make myself sound.
All the above is true, but now let me tell you the context in which it happened.
Today, I met up with a friend I had not seen in 5 years. I met her at Teenstreet in 2006, a christian camp in Malaysia and have been in intermittent contact with her ever since. This is the first time she's coming to Singapore since then, and though I had tried so hard to meet up with her each time I went to Malaysia, this was to finally be the first time we met.
She chose to come on the busiest weekend of my entire holiday, with me emceeing Marianne Lee's wedding and attending their dinner, going for the Lion King musical, and conducting a Fencing Appreciation Course at a secondary school. But I had to meet up with this dear friend, and spent the day with her and her friends.
Meeting her again was extraordinary. We met at an age when we were still not independent, and knew meeting up would be impossible. When I finally saw her at the train station, I gave her a big hug.
Alright let me introduce you to my dear friend Ming Choi!
She chose Wild Honey at Mandrin Gallery for breakfast, and oh my goodness online people say it is the best breakfast in Singapore. I believe it now. If we didn't go early, we would have not gotten a seat. And the food... Wow.
So we began catching up!
Back in 2006 she was starting out law school. Since then, she has graduated, cleared her bar, and is now a corporate lawyer. (Kim, I have some idea what that is... but it probably has more significance to you? Please explain to me! Haha.) Back in 2006 I was about to go to India, and return to study medicine. Well since then... er... I didn't get into medicine, I served in the army, I didn't get into medicine again, I was posted to the guards unit and hunted for Mas Selamat (though now we know she had a higher chance of catching him, living in Malaysia), then applied for medicine a third time, and still did not get in, so went for psychology, but failed to get in as well, and am now studying Sociology, along with film and gender and some psychology.
Yeah, that's why I was talking so much. And her friends Cheryl and Emmerie were great company too.
And mom, I did fight with her over the bill okay! But she took out a card and my cash could not withstand the might of it. I even used your name, but it was in vain. I may be a debater, but she is a corporate lawyer. :P
We went up to the roof of Orchard Central after that (thank you Jeff for the intro) and upon boarding the 3-storey-high escalator on the outside of the building, I found out Ming Choi has a fear of heights. It was a traumatic ride so I spared her the next one- a 4 storey escalator, and took the lift with her instead.
They wanted to visit Bugis street and Haji lane, and we did. But in between, after Dominic (another of her friends) joined us, I took them to the most beautiful shop I've ever been to in my life.
Cat Socrates.
Ming Choi entered it first. The other girls were next door. Ming Choi came running out to drag the other girls into Cat Socrates. They wanted to scream when they entered, if not for the peaceful, tranquil silence that they did not want to disrupt in the store.
Yeah. I sometimes refer to the place as heaven.
I discovered so much in Singapore as we visited so many random places today.
And we had such wonderful random conversations today! About important things of course, like whether Superman or Batman is more of a superhero, and whether Ho-oh or Lugia is the better legendary pokemon in Gold version.
We were split over the legends though.
I sent them back to Chua Chu Kang after, and gave them each a heart folded out of a bus ticket. And I gave them cookies, a replica miniature rifle (they were amazed it could shoot okay!) and a very special piece of origami I passed to Ming Choi. Thety gave me 1RM to fold into a heart and completed it before reaching their station, where I gave each of them a hug goodbye.
It was a long journey home.
And I was thinking to myself, how did I ever end up with such a dear friend?
Back in Teenstreet, we were at the same camp for what, 5 to 7 days?
How did I ever manage to forge a friendship in 5 days that survived 5 years?
I remembered what happened at Teenstreet. It was a most amazing camp, and it felt like what heaven would probably feel like. The company was amazing, the programme cycle was conducive for spiritual growth, and everything we did at the whole camp was a form of worship.
But I knew it could not last. We'd all part and the world outside this camp would never be like this, and soon our hope and enthusiasm will fade. So I set out to do something that lasted.
I wanted to make a true friend.
I knew long distance friendships are not easy to maintain, so these few days together were critical in forming the friendship. And though this was the longest camp I had attended, it was still far too little time. I kept my expectations down- focus on making just one friend, and pray it be a friendship that lasts long after this camp.
And pray I did. Back then my mentor Roy was at the camp as an observer and I shared with him what I hoped to do. We really did pray that I find the right person, and that God's hand would be upon this friendship.
I looked around, weighed each personality with my own, and thought my best bet was Ming Choi. She was the life of a group- She was an absolutely bubbly and extroverted girl who made a group come alive with her laughter and expressiveness.
I chose her because I knew something that most others probably didn't at the time:
It's the ones who have the most people around them who feel the most lonely.
If you're the life of the party, no one would ever think you don't have anyone to talk to. I saw that she always had groups around her, but never a close friend. So yeah, I decided to try to have a heart to heart talk with her.
But there in was the problem-
If she's always in groups, how do I ever catch her alone?
(There was also the concern with coming on too strong and scaring her away, which is not difficult for me to do. :P)
Well, there was an opening. We were both in the service team (as we were older youth) taking care of security, so we needed to guard the dorms during activities to make sure nothing went missing. Duty was done in pairs, but she was doing duty at a different block from me. If I could get us doing duty together, we'd have an hour or two to chat!
Justin the Brave then went to his team leader to ask for a possibility of being paired up with her.
Man... I was insane.
Sigh.
Anyway, I didn't get the change in schedule.
Back to more prayer. Hahaha. I kid you not.
On one of the evenings later on, I finally did get the chance to talk to her. We were at the bottom of a stairwell, where people did walk past, but were few enough for us to have a good chat.
And we spoke about life. We were young. The world was ahead of us all. We had dreams of the future. The next few months, the next few years. It was a HTHT, TTM.
There's something special about talking to someone in the Kingdom of Christ. When you're talking to someone who's greatest desire and purpose in life is the same as yours, it's easy to talk about the big things in life. We're were on the same page, and encouraging each other to press on in our different fields towards the common goal of serving the Lord.
That night was something special. I remember little of what was said exactly, but what I recall most of all was that I had shared my heart, and made a friend that night.
And so the camp came to an end.
My amazing bunk mates and I kept in touch for a while, but soon ran out of topics in common and we drifted apart. But I still kept in contact with Ming Choi. She was rarely online, but when she was I would excitedly talk to her. Her blog was amazing and was one of the few I followed constantly. When I first went to India, I continued to email her my updates and commented on her blog's cbox.
5 years went by in a blink of an eye, but much happened in those 5 years. She headed off to the UK to study, and eventually stopped blogging. She never really appeared online any more, and I slowly stopped using MSN too. We both changed email addresses. I tried sending her a parcel but it got lost in transit. We had lost contact.
Then, seeing mankind in our sad and sorry state, God gave us Facebook.
And the rest was history.
It's true.
When you meet up with an old friend, you pick up right where you left off.
Today I'm in awe at what God has done.
I tried my best to make things work, and they didn't.
I tried to get the same duty with her but didn't.
But when I prayed, God did the extraordinary.
I just found the card with her name on it in my prayer box.
Been praying for her since then, every time I had a haircut.
I don't know why. It's a habit for me to pray for her and Adora when my hair is cut.
Wow. Looking at my prayer requests...
I hardly knew how to pray for her. But still did.
And in June 2009, I prayed to hear from her again and I did.
In June 2011 I prayed for us to be able to meet again, and we just did.
Dear Lord, thank you for helping me find friends who love you the way I do.
And thank you for helping me keep them even when I can't.
I love you. Amen.
Well Ming Choi, till I see you again, FB.
She was visiting Singapore, so I went out with her and her 2 friends.
She chose an expensive place to eat, so she paid for my breakfast/lunch.
I told them stories all morning about myself.
They wanted to go to Bugis Street and Haji Lane, but I brought them to Bras Basar complex.
I gave them all bus tickets and a toy gun as presents.
They enjoyed my company so much they paid me 1RM.
Interesting how bad I like to make myself sound.
All the above is true, but now let me tell you the context in which it happened.
Today, I met up with a friend I had not seen in 5 years. I met her at Teenstreet in 2006, a christian camp in Malaysia and have been in intermittent contact with her ever since. This is the first time she's coming to Singapore since then, and though I had tried so hard to meet up with her each time I went to Malaysia, this was to finally be the first time we met.
She chose to come on the busiest weekend of my entire holiday, with me emceeing Marianne Lee's wedding and attending their dinner, going for the Lion King musical, and conducting a Fencing Appreciation Course at a secondary school. But I had to meet up with this dear friend, and spent the day with her and her friends.
Meeting her again was extraordinary. We met at an age when we were still not independent, and knew meeting up would be impossible. When I finally saw her at the train station, I gave her a big hug.
Alright let me introduce you to my dear friend Ming Choi!
She chose Wild Honey at Mandrin Gallery for breakfast, and oh my goodness online people say it is the best breakfast in Singapore. I believe it now. If we didn't go early, we would have not gotten a seat. And the food... Wow.
So we began catching up!
Back in 2006 she was starting out law school. Since then, she has graduated, cleared her bar, and is now a corporate lawyer. (Kim, I have some idea what that is... but it probably has more significance to you? Please explain to me! Haha.) Back in 2006 I was about to go to India, and return to study medicine. Well since then... er... I didn't get into medicine, I served in the army, I didn't get into medicine again, I was posted to the guards unit and hunted for Mas Selamat (though now we know she had a higher chance of catching him, living in Malaysia), then applied for medicine a third time, and still did not get in, so went for psychology, but failed to get in as well, and am now studying Sociology, along with film and gender and some psychology.
Yeah, that's why I was talking so much. And her friends Cheryl and Emmerie were great company too.
And mom, I did fight with her over the bill okay! But she took out a card and my cash could not withstand the might of it. I even used your name, but it was in vain. I may be a debater, but she is a corporate lawyer. :P
We went up to the roof of Orchard Central after that (thank you Jeff for the intro) and upon boarding the 3-storey-high escalator on the outside of the building, I found out Ming Choi has a fear of heights. It was a traumatic ride so I spared her the next one- a 4 storey escalator, and took the lift with her instead.
They wanted to visit Bugis street and Haji lane, and we did. But in between, after Dominic (another of her friends) joined us, I took them to the most beautiful shop I've ever been to in my life.
Cat Socrates.
Ming Choi entered it first. The other girls were next door. Ming Choi came running out to drag the other girls into Cat Socrates. They wanted to scream when they entered, if not for the peaceful, tranquil silence that they did not want to disrupt in the store.
Yeah. I sometimes refer to the place as heaven.
I discovered so much in Singapore as we visited so many random places today.
Wild Ho-oh appeared!
And we had such wonderful random conversations today! About important things of course, like whether Superman or Batman is more of a superhero, and whether Ho-oh or Lugia is the better legendary pokemon in Gold version.
We were split over the legends though.
I sent them back to Chua Chu Kang after, and gave them each a heart folded out of a bus ticket. And I gave them cookies, a replica miniature rifle (they were amazed it could shoot okay!) and a very special piece of origami I passed to Ming Choi. Thety gave me 1RM to fold into a heart and completed it before reaching their station, where I gave each of them a hug goodbye.
It was a long journey home.
And I was thinking to myself, how did I ever end up with such a dear friend?
Back in Teenstreet, we were at the same camp for what, 5 to 7 days?
How did I ever manage to forge a friendship in 5 days that survived 5 years?
I remembered what happened at Teenstreet. It was a most amazing camp, and it felt like what heaven would probably feel like. The company was amazing, the programme cycle was conducive for spiritual growth, and everything we did at the whole camp was a form of worship.
But I knew it could not last. We'd all part and the world outside this camp would never be like this, and soon our hope and enthusiasm will fade. So I set out to do something that lasted.
I wanted to make a true friend.
I knew long distance friendships are not easy to maintain, so these few days together were critical in forming the friendship. And though this was the longest camp I had attended, it was still far too little time. I kept my expectations down- focus on making just one friend, and pray it be a friendship that lasts long after this camp.
And pray I did. Back then my mentor Roy was at the camp as an observer and I shared with him what I hoped to do. We really did pray that I find the right person, and that God's hand would be upon this friendship.
I looked around, weighed each personality with my own, and thought my best bet was Ming Choi. She was the life of a group- She was an absolutely bubbly and extroverted girl who made a group come alive with her laughter and expressiveness.
I chose her because I knew something that most others probably didn't at the time:
It's the ones who have the most people around them who feel the most lonely.
If you're the life of the party, no one would ever think you don't have anyone to talk to. I saw that she always had groups around her, but never a close friend. So yeah, I decided to try to have a heart to heart talk with her.
But there in was the problem-
If she's always in groups, how do I ever catch her alone?
(There was also the concern with coming on too strong and scaring her away, which is not difficult for me to do. :P)
Well, there was an opening. We were both in the service team (as we were older youth) taking care of security, so we needed to guard the dorms during activities to make sure nothing went missing. Duty was done in pairs, but she was doing duty at a different block from me. If I could get us doing duty together, we'd have an hour or two to chat!
Justin the Brave then went to his team leader to ask for a possibility of being paired up with her.
Man... I was insane.
Sigh.
Anyway, I didn't get the change in schedule.
Back to more prayer. Hahaha. I kid you not.
On one of the evenings later on, I finally did get the chance to talk to her. We were at the bottom of a stairwell, where people did walk past, but were few enough for us to have a good chat.
And we spoke about life. We were young. The world was ahead of us all. We had dreams of the future. The next few months, the next few years. It was a HTHT, TTM.
There's something special about talking to someone in the Kingdom of Christ. When you're talking to someone who's greatest desire and purpose in life is the same as yours, it's easy to talk about the big things in life. We're were on the same page, and encouraging each other to press on in our different fields towards the common goal of serving the Lord.
That night was something special. I remember little of what was said exactly, but what I recall most of all was that I had shared my heart, and made a friend that night.
And so the camp came to an end.
My amazing bunk mates and I kept in touch for a while, but soon ran out of topics in common and we drifted apart. But I still kept in contact with Ming Choi. She was rarely online, but when she was I would excitedly talk to her. Her blog was amazing and was one of the few I followed constantly. When I first went to India, I continued to email her my updates and commented on her blog's cbox.
5 years went by in a blink of an eye, but much happened in those 5 years. She headed off to the UK to study, and eventually stopped blogging. She never really appeared online any more, and I slowly stopped using MSN too. We both changed email addresses. I tried sending her a parcel but it got lost in transit. We had lost contact.
Then, seeing mankind in our sad and sorry state, God gave us Facebook.
And the rest was history.
It's true.
When you meet up with an old friend, you pick up right where you left off.
Today I'm in awe at what God has done.
I tried my best to make things work, and they didn't.
I tried to get the same duty with her but didn't.
But when I prayed, God did the extraordinary.
I just found the card with her name on it in my prayer box.
Been praying for her since then, every time I had a haircut.
I don't know why. It's a habit for me to pray for her and Adora when my hair is cut.
Wow. Looking at my prayer requests...
I hardly knew how to pray for her. But still did.
And in June 2009, I prayed to hear from her again and I did.
In June 2011 I prayed for us to be able to meet again, and we just did.
Dear Lord, thank you for helping me find friends who love you the way I do.
And thank you for helping me keep them even when I can't.
I love you. Amen.
Well Ming Choi, till I see you again, FB.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Bad news
Manson Mun is growing up.
Soon he'll hit puberty...
Then marriable age...
And I'll be single the rest of my life coz girls will keep themselves for him.
Soon he'll hit puberty...
Then marriable age...
And I'll be single the rest of my life coz girls will keep themselves for him.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
I Got Emotional...
At least 5 times today.
Twice of these times I was moved to tears.
Twice of these times I was moved to tears.
The culmination of Marianne and Samuel's wedding along with The Lion King musical at Marina Bay Sands made this day one of the most emotional days I've been through.
Seeing Marianne Lee all dolled up walking down the isle, listening to her and Sam exchange vows, hearing Simba cry as he loses his father, feeling Nala's pain as she leaves the doomed pride in a desperate search for hope, and finally witnessing "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" sung live and in it's full visual spectacle were all just too much awesomeness for someone to handle in a single day.
I also saw Joanne Peh live in person, but by then I had already experienced so much awesomeness that I could only say meh.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
There was a heated discussion at Singles Anonymous...
...regarding a suggestion to let members of the opposite sex join the group.
Here's how it went:
Anonymous Single #1: Of course we should let ladies in. We're a group meant to help singles cope with their circumstances, and women form half the number of singles out there- maybe even more if statistics are true about there always there being more women than men.
Anonymous Single #2: And even more so if it's true that women are more prone to emotional insecurities than men.
*a few nods all around*
Anonymous Group Coordinator: Yes I see your point guys, but I'm afraid that such an action will undermine the very nature and purpose of the group. This group is for us singles to cope with the difficulty of being single in a society that says you need love to live: the group itself is not the solution to the problem.
Anonymous Single #1: What do you mean? If this group does not help solve the problem, what are we doing here? Alcoholics Anonymous helps people solve a problem of alcohol abuse. We're helping people solve a problem of being single.
Anonymous Single #3: Is being single really a problem like society makes us out to be? Come on, look at us- there really is nothing wrong with us! But we're seen as abnormal just because we're happy and single in a society that thinks the two can never be together.
Anonymous Group Coordinator: Here's my concern. What we have here is a good group that is comfortable with each other and we can openly share our struggles. But bringing in ladies would change the dynamics of the group. When we hear a brother's struggles here, we empathize with him and encourage him. But what would happen if a lady comes and shares how lonely she feels every night when she returns home alone? We'd empathize, because some of us also do feel the same way quite often as we have shared, but then we'll think we can help her solve the problem and ask her out for a date.
Anonymous Single #3: And then we'll lose 2 members of the group at one time when they get together.
*murmuring and concerned looks all around*
Anonymous Group Coordinator: I'm not saying getting attached is bad, in the same way being single should not be bad, it's a choice for us to make. But let's not make this group a dating agency. We're trying to resist the societal pressure to feel different just because we choose not to get attached at this point of time in our lives. The goal of this group is not to get us all attached.
(That was the last meeting that we saw Anonymous Single #1. Some jokingly said that they saw him attending a SDU event.)
Here's how it went:
Anonymous Single #1: Of course we should let ladies in. We're a group meant to help singles cope with their circumstances, and women form half the number of singles out there- maybe even more if statistics are true about there always there being more women than men.
Anonymous Single #2: And even more so if it's true that women are more prone to emotional insecurities than men.
*a few nods all around*
Anonymous Group Coordinator: Yes I see your point guys, but I'm afraid that such an action will undermine the very nature and purpose of the group. This group is for us singles to cope with the difficulty of being single in a society that says you need love to live: the group itself is not the solution to the problem.
Anonymous Single #1: What do you mean? If this group does not help solve the problem, what are we doing here? Alcoholics Anonymous helps people solve a problem of alcohol abuse. We're helping people solve a problem of being single.
Anonymous Single #3: Is being single really a problem like society makes us out to be? Come on, look at us- there really is nothing wrong with us! But we're seen as abnormal just because we're happy and single in a society that thinks the two can never be together.
Anonymous Group Coordinator: Here's my concern. What we have here is a good group that is comfortable with each other and we can openly share our struggles. But bringing in ladies would change the dynamics of the group. When we hear a brother's struggles here, we empathize with him and encourage him. But what would happen if a lady comes and shares how lonely she feels every night when she returns home alone? We'd empathize, because some of us also do feel the same way quite often as we have shared, but then we'll think we can help her solve the problem and ask her out for a date.
Anonymous Single #3: And then we'll lose 2 members of the group at one time when they get together.
*murmuring and concerned looks all around*
Anonymous Group Coordinator: I'm not saying getting attached is bad, in the same way being single should not be bad, it's a choice for us to make. But let's not make this group a dating agency. We're trying to resist the societal pressure to feel different just because we choose not to get attached at this point of time in our lives. The goal of this group is not to get us all attached.
(That was the last meeting that we saw Anonymous Single #1. Some jokingly said that they saw him attending a SDU event.)
Friday, June 10, 2011
Call Me Boy
The girl trying to get me to be a charity donor said I looked 16.
But maybe it's because she really wanted my donation.
The man at the western food stall called me boy.
But maybe it's because I was wearing a school T-Shirt.
Or he really wanted my money.
One of my seniors from fencing said I was quite comfortable with the younger teens.
Maybe it was coz I teach boys at that level at Sunday School.
Or I really am just a little boy inside.
You see, today we went to Ang Mo Kio Secondary to conduct a fencing course.
The smallest boy in the NPCC group looked like Le-en, and picked up the moves quickly from me.
He was so cute lah. And his name is Justin also.
But when he fenced my jaw dropped.
He fences like me. Timid.
Hahahahahaha.
The moment they start fencing, you know a person's personality.
But maybe it's because she really wanted my donation.
The man at the western food stall called me boy.
But maybe it's because I was wearing a school T-Shirt.
Or he really wanted my money.
One of my seniors from fencing said I was quite comfortable with the younger teens.
Maybe it was coz I teach boys at that level at Sunday School.
Or I really am just a little boy inside.
You see, today we went to Ang Mo Kio Secondary to conduct a fencing course.
The smallest boy in the NPCC group looked like Le-en, and picked up the moves quickly from me.
He was so cute lah. And his name is Justin also.
But when he fenced my jaw dropped.
He fences like me. Timid.
Hahahahahaha.
The moment they start fencing, you know a person's personality.
Film Making
This is adapted from Royston Tan's movie 15- without the violence, blood and gore.
"The essence of storytelling requires no special effects or complex computer graphics. All it needs is a basic thought and an open mind. Here, we've simply put together a piece with the help of an everyday tool: computer folders. And as a first, it tells a short story most of us are familiar with; the chaotic life of youth gangs on the fringe of Singapore society."
Let us film-makers all be creative, low-budget story-tellers.
The Funeral Singer
As of tonight, I can add "Funeral Singer" to my resumé.
It was quite a big crowd at the funeral of one of our church member's mother.
I sang, with Shaun on the piano; I could not ask for more.
It was quite an experience for me, not so much singing, but being at a funeral again.
During the eulogy, I began to think of my own funeral.
And I wondered what people would say.
Would the people who I helped in secret come forward to share?
Would everyone finally know all the things I've been doing in the background, and all the sacrifices I've made for people in all my life?
As I watched the whole service run, I was faced with the uncomfortable truth.
A funeral is really not a service for the deceased person.
It's actually a ceremony that helps the rest who are left behind move on.
No one really shares much at a funeral except maybe the family.
So...
I'll never be recognized for my efforts on this earth.
I guess it was a good reminder.
This world is not my home.
No, really, it's not.
And I'm not fighting for a reward on this earth.
It was quite a big crowd at the funeral of one of our church member's mother.
I sang, with Shaun on the piano; I could not ask for more.
It was quite an experience for me, not so much singing, but being at a funeral again.
During the eulogy, I began to think of my own funeral.
And I wondered what people would say.
Would the people who I helped in secret come forward to share?
Would everyone finally know all the things I've been doing in the background, and all the sacrifices I've made for people in all my life?
As I watched the whole service run, I was faced with the uncomfortable truth.
A funeral is really not a service for the deceased person.
It's actually a ceremony that helps the rest who are left behind move on.
No one really shares much at a funeral except maybe the family.
So...
I'll never be recognized for my efforts on this earth.
I guess it was a good reminder.
This world is not my home.
No, really, it's not.
And I'm not fighting for a reward on this earth.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Things I Do For Marianne Lee
In the car with Huiqi, Dawn and Yaoqi.
I had to make a phonecall.
Ring-ring.
*Hello, this is Browhaus village, can I help you?*
Hi my name's Justin and I'd like to book an appointment.
*Alright, what appointment would you like to book?*
The car was silent. Everyone was listening. Oh dear.
I tried to say eyebrow threading as softly as I could into the phone.
But it was still loud enough to be heard by Yaoqi who then responded in an exaggerated way.
"Eyebrow threading!?!"
I arrived at Holland Village early for the appointment.
As I was walking around to pass the time, a girl trying to get people to sign up as charity donors approached me.
*Hi sir, my name is --- , how may I address you?*
Justin.
*Ah Justin, where are you headed to now, dressed like this?*
Oh no. I imagined how she would respond the moment I told her the truth...
"Eyebrow threading!?!"
I imagined the awkward silence that would follow.
...
But I'm not one to lie or be rude.
So I replied:
Oh I'm going to... Get my hair done.
I had to make a phonecall.
Ring-ring.
*Hello, this is Browhaus village, can I help you?*
Hi my name's Justin and I'd like to book an appointment.
*Alright, what appointment would you like to book?*
The car was silent. Everyone was listening. Oh dear.
I tried to say eyebrow threading as softly as I could into the phone.
But it was still loud enough to be heard by Yaoqi who then responded in an exaggerated way.
"Eyebrow threading!?!"
I arrived at Holland Village early for the appointment.
As I was walking around to pass the time, a girl trying to get people to sign up as charity donors approached me.
*Hi sir, my name is --- , how may I address you?*
Justin.
*Ah Justin, where are you headed to now, dressed like this?*
Oh no. I imagined how she would respond the moment I told her the truth...
"Eyebrow threading!?!"
I imagined the awkward silence that would follow.
...
But I'm not one to lie or be rude.
So I replied:
Oh I'm going to... Get my hair done.
Justin Bieber
He's taking over the internet.
And out of no where this kid beat her flat.
But that's what happens when you try to beat a kid.
This ruins the chances of my fulfilling my dream of one day being the first hit when people search "Justin" on Google.
He beat Charlie biting his brother's finger. That really hurt.
Lady Gaga took a long time to beat Charlie at number one.
And out of no where this kid beat her flat.
But that's what happens when you try to beat a kid.
But really, how did Justin Bieber attract so much attention online?
Every other random search that I do turns up his name.
We Acted As 3 Year Olds
So that our church youth could practice their "childrens' activity" sessions on us before we actually go on a mission trip that would involve working with young kids.
After the rehearsal was over, the youths asked us leaders questions about the programme. When I replied, one of my youths asked me to stop acting like a 3 year old already.
But I wasn't acting.
Then again, I guess sometimes there really is little difference between me behaving as a 3 year old and me behaving as a Bible study group leader.
(But that helps me keep the sec 2 and 3 boyz attention!)
In other news...
I was as happy as a little boy
When I bought myself a brand new toy.
Yesterday I had a picnic with my gender studies group.
Let's just call them the powerpuff girls.
They all brought food. I brought kites and toys.
I sneaked the Pokeball into one of the girl's bags over dinner.
Here's the ensuing conversation:
Blossom: Eh! How come this is in my bag?
Professor Utonium: Hey! Isn't that a Pokéball?
Buttercup: You have a pokéball!? So do I!!! (takes out pokéball)
Blossom: What!?! This is not m...
Buttercup: Eh what pokémon is inside yours? (takes and opens her pokéball) It's Chansey!
Professor Utonium: Eh I like Chansey!!!
Quite a fun dinner I must say.
By the way, in the above conversation I'm not the Professor.
After the rehearsal was over, the youths asked us leaders questions about the programme. When I replied, one of my youths asked me to stop acting like a 3 year old already.
But I wasn't acting.
Then again, I guess sometimes there really is little difference between me behaving as a 3 year old and me behaving as a Bible study group leader.
(But that helps me keep the sec 2 and 3 boyz attention!)
In other news...
I was as happy as a little boy
When I bought myself a brand new toy.
Yesterday I had a picnic with my gender studies group.
Let's just call them the powerpuff girls.
They all brought food. I brought kites and toys.
I sneaked the Pokeball into one of the girl's bags over dinner.
Here's the ensuing conversation:
Blossom: Eh! How come this is in my bag?
Professor Utonium: Hey! Isn't that a Pokéball?
Buttercup: You have a pokéball!? So do I!!! (takes out pokéball)
Blossom: What!?! This is not m...
Buttercup: Eh what pokémon is inside yours? (takes and opens her pokéball) It's Chansey!
Professor Utonium: Eh I like Chansey!!!
Quite a fun dinner I must say.
By the way, in the above conversation I'm not the Professor.
I'll always be a kid.
Part of me always will.
That part's called my soul.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
More Teenage Dreams
I think she's pretty, (even) without any video on.
She's really good.
(You can just scroll down or close your eyes if Sunny's tilting head distracts you.)
She's really good.
(You can just scroll down or close your eyes if Sunny's tilting head distracts you.)
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
So a bat flew in to the Marriott hotel...
And the staff came a rushing down.
Quite exciting seeing how the bat, trapped in the huge lobby, flew around non-stop.
And how the staff tried to catch it with a pole and a plastic bag.
I wished I had brought my nerf gun.
Let's hunt some vampires.
Quite exciting seeing how the bat, trapped in the huge lobby, flew around non-stop.
And how the staff tried to catch it with a pole and a plastic bag.
I wished I had brought my nerf gun.
Let's hunt some vampires.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
My Boyz
I take the sec 2 and 3 boys for bible study every week.
We meet at someone's house on one weekday evening each week.
But this week, since it was the holidays, I took them out for a day.
Away from their xboxes and computers, they would see the world.
It was a Wednesday, and here is the account:
Before I left the house, mom asked me where I was going and with whom I was going. I told her I was taking my boys to the fish farm in pasir ris to do some kampong fishing. As I listed out the names of he boys I was taking, I realised that I had not asked Josiah along.
*Facepalm*
He has not been coming for quite a while and thus I forgot to ask him along. Bleargh.
-
Getting on the bus, I noticed the clouds, and so I prayed for the weather.
I was going to downtown east to buy a gun toy I wanted from a capsule machine.
When I alighted, Josiah was at the bus stop going home from school.
"What kind of God is this?!?" I later smsed my mom.
I invited him along, but he had things on later.
Nonetheless, I know what days he can join us for the next outing.
-
I got to downtown east as it began to drizzle.
I wanted to pray that God hold the rain, but I stopped.
What was important was not the rain.
God is not a God who listens to my commands.
I needed to pray in his will.
So I prayed for us to have fun, to bond, and for me to draw them close to each other and to God in whatever way I could. That much on my part. As for the weather, I let God decide what's best.
-
I found the machine and put in coins to turn out my toy. There were 6 models of guns in the machine, but only 3 I wanted.
I turned out 7 capsules.
6 were not the ones I wanted. Bleargh.
Okay lah one of the 6 was nice, but what do I do with the other 5?
-
As I left downtown east, it poured cats and dogs.
I prayed the same, that whatever the weather, we have fun.
And I knew that the clouds were not clouds of persistent rain.
-
On the bus there was a guy who boarded in the most interesting fashion.
He jumped onto the bus just as the doors closed, and closed his umbrella at the same time, revealing his cowboy hat that was covering his eyes. He stood at the entrance of the bus, in full sight of all the passengers, for a few seconds of pure awesomeness.
Then I took off my hat and took my place in the bus.
-
To white sands for lunch with Samuel.
Miscommunication. He thought it was next week.
Rested on the top floor till the boys arrived at Pasir ris MRT.
By then, the rain had subsided and stopped.
Amen to an early downpour!
-
There were 5 who came.
Thus solved my toy gun problem.
Gave them each one.
-
We arrived at the fish farm and after feeding small fish, I took them to see the largest freshwater fish in the world. The Gar Fish.
I bought the chicken pieces to feed the fish, but was worried that the grey skies would make it difficult to see the giant fishes.
The pond that was fenced up to the edge, with danger signs posted all over.
We leaned in closer, but could see nothing in the dark waters.
Suddenly the fish splashed and we all screamed and jumped.
It was right next to me at the edge of the pond and even I was caught by surprise.
These fish are longer than me!
The boys had an amazing time feeding the fish with meat chunks.
What a sight they were to behold.
-
Then we went kampong fishing.
These little boys may be fast at Halo and Star Wars, but they are hopeless at catching fish.
An older Indian tourist couple, curious about what we were doing, and came over to talk to us.
I was nice to them though we had a fishing time limit and stopped to explain things to them.
I like Indians, especially if they are living in India.
-
I then took my boys to the fish farms further in.
Drizzle, but we are men. We soldier on.
Ryan downed two cans of Milo.
Never seen that before.
And thus we came to the fighting fish farm.
Really beautiful stuff.
We returned to the kampong fishing farm to collect our fishes on the way out.
We were famished by the long day of activity.
The Indian couple who saw us offered us potato chips.
I declined like a true Chinese.
She scooped out a huge handful and put it in my hand like a true Indian.
I love Indians, especially if they are still living in India.
-
Off to McDonalds 3 bus stops away, and we walked the distance like true men.
Ryan downed two cups of milo once there.
Never seen that before.
-
It was not easy doing Bible study here at McDonalds.
Everything distracted the boys.
There was a TV just outside.
Jamie from our youth group also happened to be eating at the same Mac.
Marylin, Glorianne's sister also happened to walk past.
-
It was a fun day, and I enjoyed it very much.
Memories with these guys that I'm sure they will treasure too.
It's so different seeing them out of the classroom.
Learn so much more about them in just one afternoon.
Conversation of the day:
Kenneth: Did you go fly kite recently?
Justin: Well... I was actually going to fly kites yesterday, but it rained.
Kenneth: Were you sad?
I thought he was asking if I was sad that it rained.
Then I realised what he was really asking-
Was I going to fly kite because I was emo?
He smiled a cheeky smile. I laughed.
We meet at someone's house on one weekday evening each week.
But this week, since it was the holidays, I took them out for a day.
Away from their xboxes and computers, they would see the world.
It was a Wednesday, and here is the account:
Before I left the house, mom asked me where I was going and with whom I was going. I told her I was taking my boys to the fish farm in pasir ris to do some kampong fishing. As I listed out the names of he boys I was taking, I realised that I had not asked Josiah along.
*Facepalm*
He has not been coming for quite a while and thus I forgot to ask him along. Bleargh.
-
Getting on the bus, I noticed the clouds, and so I prayed for the weather.
I was going to downtown east to buy a gun toy I wanted from a capsule machine.
When I alighted, Josiah was at the bus stop going home from school.
"What kind of God is this?!?" I later smsed my mom.
I invited him along, but he had things on later.
Nonetheless, I know what days he can join us for the next outing.
-
I got to downtown east as it began to drizzle.
I wanted to pray that God hold the rain, but I stopped.
What was important was not the rain.
God is not a God who listens to my commands.
I needed to pray in his will.
So I prayed for us to have fun, to bond, and for me to draw them close to each other and to God in whatever way I could. That much on my part. As for the weather, I let God decide what's best.
-
I found the machine and put in coins to turn out my toy. There were 6 models of guns in the machine, but only 3 I wanted.
I turned out 7 capsules.
6 were not the ones I wanted. Bleargh.
Okay lah one of the 6 was nice, but what do I do with the other 5?
-
As I left downtown east, it poured cats and dogs.
I prayed the same, that whatever the weather, we have fun.
And I knew that the clouds were not clouds of persistent rain.
-
On the bus there was a guy who boarded in the most interesting fashion.
He jumped onto the bus just as the doors closed, and closed his umbrella at the same time, revealing his cowboy hat that was covering his eyes. He stood at the entrance of the bus, in full sight of all the passengers, for a few seconds of pure awesomeness.
Then I took off my hat and took my place in the bus.
-
To white sands for lunch with Samuel.
Miscommunication. He thought it was next week.
Rested on the top floor till the boys arrived at Pasir ris MRT.
By then, the rain had subsided and stopped.
Amen to an early downpour!
-
There were 5 who came.
Thus solved my toy gun problem.
Gave them each one.
-
We arrived at the fish farm and after feeding small fish, I took them to see the largest freshwater fish in the world. The Gar Fish.
I bought the chicken pieces to feed the fish, but was worried that the grey skies would make it difficult to see the giant fishes.
The pond that was fenced up to the edge, with danger signs posted all over.
We leaned in closer, but could see nothing in the dark waters.
Suddenly the fish splashed and we all screamed and jumped.
It was right next to me at the edge of the pond and even I was caught by surprise.
These fish are longer than me!
The boys had an amazing time feeding the fish with meat chunks.
What a sight they were to behold.
-
Then we went kampong fishing.
These little boys may be fast at Halo and Star Wars, but they are hopeless at catching fish.
An older Indian tourist couple, curious about what we were doing, and came over to talk to us.
I was nice to them though we had a fishing time limit and stopped to explain things to them.
I like Indians, especially if they are living in India.
-
I then took my boys to the fish farms further in.
Drizzle, but we are men. We soldier on.
Ryan downed two cans of Milo.
Never seen that before.
And thus we came to the fighting fish farm.
Really beautiful stuff.
We returned to the kampong fishing farm to collect our fishes on the way out.
We were famished by the long day of activity.
The Indian couple who saw us offered us potato chips.
I declined like a true Chinese.
She scooped out a huge handful and put it in my hand like a true Indian.
I love Indians, especially if they are still living in India.
-
Off to McDonalds 3 bus stops away, and we walked the distance like true men.
Ryan downed two cups of milo once there.
Never seen that before.
-
It was not easy doing Bible study here at McDonalds.
Everything distracted the boys.
There was a TV just outside.
Jamie from our youth group also happened to be eating at the same Mac.
Marylin, Glorianne's sister also happened to walk past.
-
It was a fun day, and I enjoyed it very much.
Memories with these guys that I'm sure they will treasure too.
It's so different seeing them out of the classroom.
Learn so much more about them in just one afternoon.
Like how most of them are camera shy.
Conversation of the day:
Kenneth: Did you go fly kite recently?
Justin: Well... I was actually going to fly kites yesterday, but it rained.
Kenneth: Were you sad?
I thought he was asking if I was sad that it rained.
Then I realised what he was really asking-
Was I going to fly kite because I was emo?
He smiled a cheeky smile. I laughed.
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