Casino Royale

Hmm, certainly been a while since I last blogged. Kinda busy, trying to multi-task things here and there. Things like talentime, chalet, checking out amps to get for the club (to be paid for by school, thanks to Caroline), and more. Like what I mentioned in my last post, will be glad for the end of the month, cos talentime will be over by then, and I can do what I came to Sim to do, hit the books and get my degree. Though recently, have been having some thoughts about my course. Seems that some of my seniors cannot get a job in the IS field. Which kinda scares me, even though I already have a job offer lined up already when I graduate (Sean and co). I have to think ahead, whether or not I can work at Sean's for the rest of my career, will depend on the environment it's in in the future. Can only pray and ask God to lead.

Chalet came and went, though a bit too fast for my liking. Had a talentime rehearsal in the afternoon before the chalet, so I was late. Needed to drop my baby off at home and grab my skates and stuff before heading over to downtown east. Thank God the rehearsal ended early due to unforeseen circumstances encountered by the committee. Oh well, some things on my mind regarding how it's organised, but I guess I'll air them after it's over. Thank God as well that we can get an amp later to use for the talentime, else Serris be like fish swimming without fins, to draw an analogy. Anyway, chalet was fun. Slept a bit, even though I didn't want to, and missed getting up for sunrise. Escape theme park was next for those who stayed overnight. Since it's celebrating its 6th anniversary, admission was 6 bucks per pax, kinda cheap. Have not been there before, so decided to try some of its rides. And discovered I can't really take too much of it, especially the rainbow. Made me nauseous in my stomach for the rest of the day. Go kart was fun as well, though the queue was very long and there were some people in front of us, who, to put it bluntly, arrogant and trying to play punk, with one guy trying to cut queue as well. Such people can make my blood boil at times. Guess I need more patience and should just ignore them. Some shots from the event:

Breakfast at mac

The black and white side of me

Missed most of these when I got there

Bird's eye view of the action

What's a bbq without some marshmallows?

Christmas is coming soon. Still remembered last year's. Went to Ichiban Boshi with the cell members to celebrate Christmas, and ended up with rashes due to the mackerel I think. This year, Colin is planning something at his place. Hope it'll be a good one. Have to start shopping for gifts soon. Gonna be a tight Christmas for me, since I'm no longer at Epson, but I'll just see what I can do.

Watched Casino Royale earlier in the evening, and it's fantastic. Lots of cool gadgets and nice action. Though I'll still prefer Pierce Brosnan in the 007 seat. Oh well, been a while since I last watched a Bond movie, though I have like the last 3 movies in the series at home. Just been too busy with other stuff to catch up with the movies I have at home for now. More movies coming up that I wanna watch. Happy Feet, Open Season, The Nativity Story, Deck The Halls, Eragon. Anyone wanna go watch these? Drop me a call yeah? :p

"My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:20-23

The Guardian

"So others may live", that's the US Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer's motto. Something that struck me. Yes, I finally went to watch The Guardian, albeit alone. But nonetheless, it's a good movie. Touching at the end, as well. Definitely will want to get this on dvd once it hits the stores, code 1 of course (nothing else for me). The Lakehouse as well, maybe around Christmas. Hmm, Christmas is coming once again, and it's time to get busy with the shopping and preparations for Christmas events. Lots of things to do right now, seems like my list of things to do just hit 10, of which half are on-going (9 if you exclude my social life :p). Looks like I better dig out my organiser; been keeping tabs of things in my head, which can make me muddled at times. Oh well. Will be glad for the end of the month, cos 3 things then can be struck off the list. Which leaves me more time to do other things, like study harder. Considering that I have like, 3 weekdays without lessons (2 if I count guitar on monday), I better make the full use of them. Better get a regular sleep pattern down as well; it's kinda eccentric for the last few weeks. Those who know me will understand this point :p Ok, enough rambling.

Thanks to those who were supportive of Serris. We somehow managed to get into the finals of the talentime. So have to decide whether to choose another song, or stick with the medley we did for the audition. Not the easiest song to play, especially since I don't use a pick. Still have the mark on my thumb from the audition and the practices.

Today was the first time I had class in the afternoon and then duty in the evening in church. Been a long day. Was late for duty as class ended at 5+. I guess this will carry on till February, when the class ends and preparations for mocks and exams commerce. Have to pray that somehow I will be able to get to church by around 6. Today was cutting it a bit too fine, as I got to church just about half an hour before service started. And sound today wasn't really that great, hiccups here and there. Hope it'll be better later in the morning. Supposed to go roller-blading as well, then dinner with family to celebrate Esther's and my birthdays. Kinda belated, as all our schedules kept clashing. Happens when the ladies in the house are working shifts, and my own schedule as well.

Watched a video recently about God's purpose for our lives. I guess we all have to seek out God for His purpose for our lives, cos if we go on our own way, somehow God will bring us back to His purpose and plan. For God has a plan for each of our lives, that's declared in Jeremiah 29:11. Have to hold on to this promise for my life. Wait upon Him and let Him build me up.

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Psalm 5:3

Oh boy...

Went to see my specialist for my gout again last monday. And he's not really pleased with the blood test results from the previous week. Seems that my uric acid levels went up, as did my creatinine levels. Which means my kidneys aren't really performing fantastically. He reasoned that that could be the cause of my gout, as the uric acid can't be washed away from my body naturally. Not very good, but not very severe either. So he sent me to see a renal specialist (and doubled my dosage of medication, which I stopped taking a couple of months ago, by faith), which I did this past monday. Which resulted in more blood tests (ouch!), more urine samples to do, and one 24 hour urine test to perform. Which is gonna be very cumbersome for me. Won't be able to get out of my place the entire day cos of it. Have to do the test one week, at the latest, before I see my specialist again, which will be on the 28th later this month. One ultrasound of my kidneys as well. Those who are reading this, please keep me in prayer. Will need it.

Watched like 3 movies last week. The Prestige, World Trade Center, and The Departed. All of which are nice, especially The Prestige. Wanted to catch Scoop as well, but I guess the run is already over by now. The Guardian, as well. Interested in this as I feel it might somehow mirror my character (ISFJ = Guardian personality). Well, maybe not on the same level as in the show. But I guess, if it calls for it, I will lay down my life to protect the people around me, as well as for those I love. Just like how Christ came down to earth to sacrifice Himself for our sins, so that we may come to the Father and spend eternity with Him. I guess, I have a sacrifical heart as well.

Auditions for the talentime are coming tomorrow (or rather, later today), after a delay of a week. Seems like there's some issues between the committee and student care in school. Oh well. Just hope to do our best and get in the finals. Thanks for all the support so far from the members in the club.

Kinda feeling tired these days. Maybe cos I'm torn between like 6 things in my life. Burnout is gonna be inevitable one of these days, at the rate I'm going. Only can pray to God for His strength, His peace, and His love and joy to be upon me. I'll need a lot of it in the coming months, as I continue to work through the responsibilities that are currently in my life. Still nursing a bit of a heavy heart, from the past months, but working on it and it's been better, to say the least. Prayer, what I need now. God's love and His purpose for me, I seek.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immearsurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21