Friday, December 31, 2004
Ripples in the mercury
Immutable natural laws are all around us. Believe in it or not, they're still there. Unmovable, sometimes invisible, yet able to to make its presence felt. You cannot break those laws, you can only break yourself against it. Paying the price is inevitable in any situation, whether the buyer is willing or not. That certainly puts things into perspective whenever I do some reflection.
The quarter century mark beckons me next year. It is just as the Bible said, life is fleeting. This year I have learnt a great many things - thanks to God firstly, and my mentors and friends next. His grace has abounded all the more, and is displayed openly through the people whom I come to contact with. Thanks YK n Mel for everything, especially the patience ;) Shorts, Guinness', and Kilkennys rule OK!
Our Gahmen has suspended all NY celebrations, replacing them with prayer sessions. MPs and Ministers all over must heave a sigh of relief as they do not have to put on masks at different occasions, but instead spend some time with their closed and loved ones, reflecting on their honesty, responsibility, trustworthiness, authenticity and love - especially in the wake of the recent tsunami. Since a huge chunk of money is saved in lieu of the cancelled festivities, could the allocated budget be spent on humanitarian efforts instead?
Here's to a fantastic 2005. Hopefully, the Lifebuilder's Creed below by Dale Witherington will be able to spur you on.
Today is the most important day of my life.
Yesterday with its successes and victories, struggles and failures is gone forever.
The past is past.
Done.
Finished.
I cannot relive it. I cannot go back and change it.
But I will learn from it and improve my Today.
Today. This moment. NOW.
It is God’s gift to me and it is all that I have.
Tomorrow with all its joys and sorrows, triumphs and troubles isn’t here yet.
Indeed, tomorrow may never come.
Therefore, I will not worry about tomorrow.
Today is what God has entrusted to me.
It is all that I have. I will do my best in it.
I will demonstrate the best of me in it—my character, giftedness, and abilities—to my family and friends, clients and associates.
I will identify those things that are most important to do Today,
and those things I will do until they are done.
And when this day is done
I will look back with satisfaction at that which I have accomplished.
Then, and only then, will I plan my tomorrow,
Looking to improve upon Today, with God’s help.
Then I shall go to sleep in peace . . . content.
Immutable natural laws are all around us. Believe in it or not, they're still there. Unmovable, sometimes invisible, yet able to to make its presence felt. You cannot break those laws, you can only break yourself against it. Paying the price is inevitable in any situation, whether the buyer is willing or not. That certainly puts things into perspective whenever I do some reflection.
The quarter century mark beckons me next year. It is just as the Bible said, life is fleeting. This year I have learnt a great many things - thanks to God firstly, and my mentors and friends next. His grace has abounded all the more, and is displayed openly through the people whom I come to contact with. Thanks YK n Mel for everything, especially the patience ;) Shorts, Guinness', and Kilkennys rule OK!
Our Gahmen has suspended all NY celebrations, replacing them with prayer sessions. MPs and Ministers all over must heave a sigh of relief as they do not have to put on masks at different occasions, but instead spend some time with their closed and loved ones, reflecting on their honesty, responsibility, trustworthiness, authenticity and love - especially in the wake of the recent tsunami. Since a huge chunk of money is saved in lieu of the cancelled festivities, could the allocated budget be spent on humanitarian efforts instead?
Here's to a fantastic 2005. Hopefully, the Lifebuilder's Creed below by Dale Witherington will be able to spur you on.
Today is the most important day of my life.
Yesterday with its successes and victories, struggles and failures is gone forever.
The past is past.
Done.
Finished.
I cannot relive it. I cannot go back and change it.
But I will learn from it and improve my Today.
Today. This moment. NOW.
It is God’s gift to me and it is all that I have.
Tomorrow with all its joys and sorrows, triumphs and troubles isn’t here yet.
Indeed, tomorrow may never come.
Therefore, I will not worry about tomorrow.
Today is what God has entrusted to me.
It is all that I have. I will do my best in it.
I will demonstrate the best of me in it—my character, giftedness, and abilities—to my family and friends, clients and associates.
I will identify those things that are most important to do Today,
and those things I will do until they are done.
And when this day is done
I will look back with satisfaction at that which I have accomplished.
Then, and only then, will I plan my tomorrow,
Looking to improve upon Today, with God’s help.
Then I shall go to sleep in peace . . . content.
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Grond!
Weather's been freaking hot. In fact, the past couple months have seen dry, parched land screaming for water. Pesky, Orc Shaman of the Ghetto's arrival up north last weekend heralded a day's worth of rain. Let's see if I can bring along the opposite to KL this weekend :P
Did anyone take note of the sky on Tuesday morning? It was exceptionally clear, and there were tons of stars dotted across. The Big Dipper, Orion the Hunter, Whir the DemiGod, the whole shebang of constellations made their appearance. It was quite a feeling, the Siberian wind beating against my face, with quaint glow-in-the-dark fungus dotted along the pathway. I love the quietness that morning hikes afford me. You can still hear the sounds of a waking city though. The toll of the bells at the Indian temple off Gottlieb Road, the muezzin's call to prayer, Mat Motors who're calling in sick a few hours later on their Government sponsored motorbike...er...study loans.
The Fellowship of the Quake will be reunited this weekend along Jalan Bukit Bintang, save for the companionship of Overall FunnyMan Foogles and the dauntless Spaceman Spiff. A night of merry making is bound to ensue! :) Am so looking forward to it.
Apparently you need 2 black mana to cast a Pesky.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Namus Maximus
VERMEULEN VINCENTIUS JANUARIUS HENRICUS WILHELMUS MARIA. OK you guys can start breathing now :P That's the longest name for a client that I've seen so far while working here. Any takers that he was born in January?
Met up with Gerald & Audrie on Friday, Sat, and Sunday. It was pretty hectic, I guess main events like these (PPV ones somore :P) do not run by the clockwork! Always leave 30 minutes' grace in each activity...it is a learning experience for everyone to smoothen out the rough edges come next week! :) Food was good, bride looked stunning in her crimson cheongsam, and the groom was sweating buckets underneath 2 layers of cotton. I think its more a sympton of WoW withdrawal than nervousness of the occasion itself ;) I also discovered on Saturday night that hairpins are magical contraptions.
Julius has grown up differently, more of a free spirit while Justin Goh is still the quiet thinker. Justin Mah, on the other hand, has been visiting the gym quite frequently. Darn my skinny genes! :P Lots of photos taken, good food, drinks all round. Loneliness is a sober heart, but where drinks abound, there your friends are :P
Am so looking forward to this Saturday. Old friends back together again. Damn, is that a lonely tear dripping down from my eye?
VERMEULEN VINCENTIUS JANUARIUS HENRICUS WILHELMUS MARIA. OK you guys can start breathing now :P That's the longest name for a client that I've seen so far while working here. Any takers that he was born in January?
Met up with Gerald & Audrie on Friday, Sat, and Sunday. It was pretty hectic, I guess main events like these (PPV ones somore :P) do not run by the clockwork! Always leave 30 minutes' grace in each activity...it is a learning experience for everyone to smoothen out the rough edges come next week! :) Food was good, bride looked stunning in her crimson cheongsam, and the groom was sweating buckets underneath 2 layers of cotton. I think its more a sympton of WoW withdrawal than nervousness of the occasion itself ;) I also discovered on Saturday night that hairpins are magical contraptions.
Julius has grown up differently, more of a free spirit while Justin Goh is still the quiet thinker. Justin Mah, on the other hand, has been visiting the gym quite frequently. Darn my skinny genes! :P Lots of photos taken, good food, drinks all round. Loneliness is a sober heart, but where drinks abound, there your friends are :P
Am so looking forward to this Saturday. Old friends back together again. Damn, is that a lonely tear dripping down from my eye?
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Black Suede Shoes
w00t! It's Gerald's big day this Sat and the next as well. All decked out in his gloomy...eh, groomy splendour. Woman by the side. Beaming faces and smiles. Oh yes, most importantly, the endless stream of Martell Cordon Bleus. Ahhh...weddings. Wine, women, and song! A woman once drove me to drink and I never had the courtesy to thank her for it.
The next few days are going to be rather busy, with Christmas moods and all. Presents to buy, turkeys to eat, Glenfiddichs to drink. There's a magical feeling to the month of December. Of course, in the midst of all the revelry, let us pause for a moment and remember those who are less fortunate than us. The people in Sudan, the Iraqis, the Saudis, the US soldiers who were conned into serving more than the appointed 1 year term in Iraq. Our politicians, the general maggot populace...so many things to think and pray for. Basically the whole world-lah!
Anyways.
Another year will soon go by like shit being flushed. *Whooosh*. Just like that. And a renewed chance to start all over again. Ahhh, being a melancholic. Restarting old dreams and wishes are invigorating, to say the least.
One thing's for sure though - after 9 months of exercise and nary a sight of a 6-pack, I've decided to ditch it. Either I'm doing it wrong or have been consuming the wrong stuff. Bah! I'll aim for "general improvement in overall well-being" instead of a cast-iron 6-pack that could even stop The Thing® in his tracks.
w00t! It's Gerald's big day this Sat and the next as well. All decked out in his gloomy...eh, groomy splendour. Woman by the side. Beaming faces and smiles. Oh yes, most importantly, the endless stream of Martell Cordon Bleus. Ahhh...weddings. Wine, women, and song! A woman once drove me to drink and I never had the courtesy to thank her for it.
The next few days are going to be rather busy, with Christmas moods and all. Presents to buy, turkeys to eat, Glenfiddichs to drink. There's a magical feeling to the month of December. Of course, in the midst of all the revelry, let us pause for a moment and remember those who are less fortunate than us. The people in Sudan, the Iraqis, the Saudis, the US soldiers who were conned into serving more than the appointed 1 year term in Iraq. Our politicians, the general maggot populace...so many things to think and pray for. Basically the whole world-lah!
Anyways.
Another year will soon go by like shit being flushed. *Whooosh*. Just like that. And a renewed chance to start all over again. Ahhh, being a melancholic. Restarting old dreams and wishes are invigorating, to say the least.
One thing's for sure though - after 9 months of exercise and nary a sight of a 6-pack, I've decided to ditch it. Either I'm doing it wrong or have been consuming the wrong stuff. Bah! I'll aim for "general improvement in overall well-being" instead of a cast-iron 6-pack that could even stop The Thing® in his tracks.
Friday, December 03, 2004
What doing you?
Strange and surreal. What is today's lesson? It is the heart of a person that motivates a decision. The human heart. Almost like the tongue, where both blessings and curses come out from.
It is very obvious that man is not subject to predestination over which he has no control. Fate, Karma, or "whatever", "whenever", is but an escape mechanism. "It was fate," they would say, shrug their shoulders and move on. Not so! Man decides, every second, every minute, every day, every hour, whom he will believe, whom he will follow, whom he will obey. His heart is the wellspring of his life and his desires. Guard not one's heart with the right values, and everything else comes tumbling down.
How deceitful a man's heart is. How much do I really want things, and how far am I willing to go for it? Whot will pull me through the hard times, but God? What will make me stand in the face of onrushing trials and tribulations, but principles? All great men and women of history have them. Nearly a quarter of a century old now. Time to stop playing the part of the fool.
Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a DESTINY.
Scary, but true.
Strange and surreal. What is today's lesson? It is the heart of a person that motivates a decision. The human heart. Almost like the tongue, where both blessings and curses come out from.
It is very obvious that man is not subject to predestination over which he has no control. Fate, Karma, or "whatever", "whenever", is but an escape mechanism. "It was fate," they would say, shrug their shoulders and move on. Not so! Man decides, every second, every minute, every day, every hour, whom he will believe, whom he will follow, whom he will obey. His heart is the wellspring of his life and his desires. Guard not one's heart with the right values, and everything else comes tumbling down.
How deceitful a man's heart is. How much do I really want things, and how far am I willing to go for it? Whot will pull me through the hard times, but God? What will make me stand in the face of onrushing trials and tribulations, but principles? All great men and women of history have them. Nearly a quarter of a century old now. Time to stop playing the part of the fool.
Sow a thought, reap an action.
Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a DESTINY.
Scary, but true.
