Played ball for the first time in a month but was felt quite defeated by the sun just beating me down on my pale skin, guess that's the consequence of working in a windowless box of a office. But going to start try and get fit again but very hard to find motivation to do anything at home but go out or sleep haha

Went to John Hems place for his housewarming, his new place is an ideal place to chill out with enough nooks and crannies to have an awesome bbq, played big screen Halo2 and watch bad canto rock vcds. Maybe next time we can film our own little episode of Sonic Edge Cribs hahaha

Haha a bit lazy to write but had a tiring but fun weekend. Worship seminar, preparations for Jodee's party and Jodee's birthday party!

Haha seriously she is a little star in the making, everytime she smiles the whole room melts to her cuteness
Anyway some pics


a very rushed banner we did... wished we had more time..


an awesome birthday cake.... all edible !


I want this wrapping paper!


Spongebobs for everyone!




"All this for me? yay..."


"Who you're gonna call?"


"it's my birthday, we're gonna party like it's my birthday.."


"Hey dad.. need some help with the candle yo"


And the rest....


Crystal, the other birthday girl for the day.... is not happy apparantly and shows it


Sonic Edge Cell aka workaholics-R-us (actually we were looking at guitar pics)


"So.... pretty happening party huh?"


"Peace man!..."

So it's 4am and I'm up working on stencils for Jodee's 1st birthday party. No I'm not pulling an all nighter, had a nap from 9pm that extended until 3am because my phone alarm was on silent -__-;; Anyway good that I finally caught on some sleep, I don't think I've had 8 hours straight since I started working in August.

Had lunch with John Chiong and Esmond today, at first when John asked to have lunch I kinda went on alert mode wondering what I did wrong this time haha ...... but it turned out to be just hanging out... guess I need to learn relax and chill sometimes.

This saturday is gone for me from 630am til late, with meetings and work sessions... hopefully will get some time to rest on Sunday.

Will be going up to Malaysia on the 2nd to the 6th for a quick holiday... should be fun

Finally caught Corpse Bride today after a lot of delays but was quite severely disappointed. I know that it would be quite unfair to compare it with Nightmare Before Christmas but I think Tim Burton is either hating his fans or has thought of a genius way to sell more Nightmare reissue DVDs. The whole movie was basically NBC without the magic that sparked my imagination. People will come out of the movie praising Johnny Depp and how cute Scraps the dead dog is but very few will find Corpse Bride memorable.

On the other hand I'm listening to my 2005 album of the year, Vheissu by Thrice. This is a very funny CD because most people will dismiss it the first time they hear it, the signature metal core sound is not interlaced with soft bell samples, ambient strings and surprisingly delicate falsetto vocal parts. I listened through it the first time and got a funny feeling in my gut. On the third playback, I realised it was the same feeling I got when I listen to U2 The Joshua Tree, I am by no means a trained ear but I have never heard such a huge leap in maturity in a band before. This album is amazing in that it is those few ones that you grow to like not because it is music with a message but because it is a message delievered through music. I found myself rewinding to catch lines in the lyrics rather than a riff or a drum fill. This is one cd that will be relevant and memorable to me for years.

Was glad to have a day off today, after a short SF meeting went to Queenstown library to catch up on some... erm reading. The couches there are impossibly comfortable and I was soon napping to Jimmy Eat World's Clarity in my ears and Dilbert: "Save the Whales" in my hands...

Was a bit lazy to post photos from the birthday dinner last night so here they are







Actually thought that it's quite funny how when we see a guy and a girl together we assume that they are a couple or at least dating.
After the birthday dinner went to hang out with Suelynn to catch up and connected with Shawna and Rachel who happened to be in town. But on the way to Spenilli's Suelynn and I bumped into one of her dance collective friends (who is Miss Singapore, India representative....whatever that means) and her guy friend. The exchange was something like this;

Suelynn: Oh hi !
Dance friend: Suelynn! How's it going?
Immediately her friend shot a funny look at my direction and I could hear the alarms ringing:
Dance friend thought (probably)OH MY GOSH WHAT IS MY 32 YEAR OLD FRIEND A PASTOR'S WIFE DOING OUT ON FRIDAY NIGHT ALONE WITH ANOTHER GUY???
I think at this point I glanced at Suelynn and grinned, she grinned back and I just grinned and stared at Dance friend and her guy friend, almost daring them to verbalise what they were thinking.
Suelynn (nodding at Guy friend): Your date ah?
Dance friend: what? ... Oh no no, just meeting up some other friends...
More looks at my direction. It was almost a Mexican standoff for the first one to ask or reveal who I was
Suelynn: oh this is my cousin Shawn
Dance friend: (almost instantaneously pointing to her guy friend); And this is my friend
Introductions made, handshakes and see you laters. I couldn't stop laughing while we walking from Meridian to Heirin....

A big happy birthday to my grandma who turned 80 yesterday haha
I chipped in for a hangbag for her with Suelynn and Glenn, in the car she tried to give us the bag saying "I already have a lot of bags" in Madarin. While Suelynn was trying to coax her to keep it, I just commented that "haha women are supposed to have a lot of handbags". My grandma then laughed and was contented. Despite the fact that I don't really know her very well, my grandma is always the one who has herbal tea or soup ready for me whenever I visit so yea... much respect and love.

I went for a jog this morning after realising I have in my hands for the first time in about 2 months a completely free sunday morning. And after waiting for the rain to stop , ran for about 20 minutes before the rain started again.
I think when I'm moving alone I can start to process a lot of the things that are on my mind, maybe that's why I seem to space out a lot.
Had a good time at ACM last night just hanging out with people and listening to acoustic gigs, I think that's what everyone needs sometime, playing our tunes and poetry to friends without the pressure of "show".

Autumn Shower is such a happy folky song, i found myself smiling and singing along.

The sermon at youth service was about resurrecting dreams that God has given us
"do not be afraid
I am your shield
your very great reward" Genesis 15

Sometimes I wonder I am still relevant to the people in my past anymore.

Back to
the pace I go

Before You Lord
all I can say
I am not worthy

When You pick me up
all I can do
is to follow You

I surrender to Your matchless love
I go under Your mighty wings

Your love has won me over