|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| So many thoughts, too little time
So many things to do, too little time
Jia Ching visited from Adelaide ... all the way for my graduation, or so I'd like to think.. :)
Parents and bro came from Msia ... on the same day...
Graduation day was great... photos to come
Jia Ching left... felt sad
I'm too sentimental for my own good
Now leaving for Melb and will be back from Sydney on Christmas day
I feel terribly sad because Aaron will be leaving for Msia on Monday...
We'll only meet again end of Jan
I feel like crying
There is that knob in my throat
Those unswellilng tears at the corner of my eyes...
The heavy heart
We just want more time to be together...
so sad now
What have I gotten myself into...
I wish I could head home too even if just for a week...
Jia Ching is going home from Adelaide tomorrow till early/mid Jan...
I want to too
| | |
| I finished Honours year yesterday!!! hooray!! It's been a tough, long and teary journey but I made it through because the Lord brought me through countless of times... New Hope's current series is 'God of 2nd chances'. I've been given alot more than just a 2nd chance. God promised to nor forsake or leave me and He didn't.
The friends He blessed me with stood by me all the way from KL, Perth and Adelaide. Not to mention those over here in Brisbane too.
Bec, Sarah & I at Cafe 21...
Bec and I had lamb shanks with pesto mash, Sarah had seafood paella.
Then we had brownies for dessert and lots of shopping after (window, that is)
I miss Sarah!
She helped me so much with my thesis, proofreading it and analysed it like hers was done by her supervisors. She even helped me with printing which was so terribly slow... took us about 2 hrs to print 3 copies because I had tonnes of immunofluorescent images in it; binding when the office at IMB closed, we had to run to bldg 76 to get it bind, without her (who worked at 76), I wouldn't have known to go there to get my thesis bound. She also then ran with me to the Biotech office to submit it...
She's now in cold cold wintry Canada... excited about white Christmas.
Bec's gone for a holiday in Melbourne but will be back to graduate with the rest of us.
They were among the handful who understood what I was going through... many thought Honours is just Honours year without realising how much tears shed and the sleepless nights/guilt-filled sleeps we had. Praise the Lord, we finished this journey!
Although I nearly gave up so many times, I finished it! I've learnt how important it is to set my priorities right, to manage my time well, to break large tasks into smaller manageable chunks, to keep fit, to attend lab meetings although it doesn't seem like i'll learn anything but i actually do, to do things in parallel instead of finishing one task before moving onto another, to constantly bug my supervisor and people in the lab, and most important, to TRUST in the LORD nomatter how gloomy everything seems. I believe now that there is a silver lining in every cloud, the right angle of sun ray shining on the cloud will reveal it... and that sun is God.
The ray shining upon the cloud revealed its silver lining.
Aaron and I saw this on our way back from Cleveland.
I've learned that I need to face Him, talk to Him... i used to talk to Him like a crazy woman talking to herself... then that faded when I had an iPod. But my iPod has been helping me worship God too! So i've also learned to balance everything I do, I need to talk to God, i need to worship Him... there is a very fine margin there.
I thought I'll be aimless and mindless for a while... but nope, I have tonnes of things to do starting today.
Saturday 2/12 and Sunday 3/12
- MAJOR house cleaning and mow the lawn
Monday 4/12
-go to the immigration and find out about PR applications
Tuesday 5/12
-go to SSS, start writing my resume
-clear out my freezer space in the lab... (distribute my frozen cells around, give Richa DEP-1 antibodies)
Wednesday 6/12
-get my resume proofread
-do some PR application paperwork
-Send my resumes (hopefully!)
-attend friend's graduation
Thursday 7/12
-Shop for something to wear to graduation
Friday 8/12
-Clean the house again
-attend friend's graduation
Saturday 9/12
-someone very important is arriving from Adelaide in the morning... just for my graduatioN!!! so exciting!
-catch up and do some grocery shopping
-dad arriving at night
Sunday 10/12-12/12
-travel with dad, catch up with special friend
Wednesday 13/12
-Graduation...
Thursday 14/12-15/12
-more travelling
Saturday 16/12
-morning flight to melbourne
I will not be going home this year although dad bought my ticket... we just found out from some bossy singaporeans that I won't be able to enter Australia if I leave on my student visa. They questioned me like I'm dumb. It started like a normal conversation, "are you going back for holiday?", "are you still studying?", "are you applying for PR"... they asked all this... and I answered yes, no and yes. Then the bombardment came, Why are u going back? you cannot come back on ur student visa!! Another then repeated "yea, thats why i was wondering why are u going back!"... for one, I really WANT TO GO HOME after 2 years! secondly, I just finished my honours, i didn't bother to look it up at the immigration till next week. But thank God, we met them anyways... or I would probably have gone home happily to only realise on the way back here that I cannot come back. As painful as it is to swallow this, it would be painful then too.
In need of a rant space:
At the moment, we're in deep shit. He expects us to cook for him, but when we were too busy, he cooked only for himself and sometimes, his gf. He is capable of cooking, why can't he help us out? That's alright. So we just continued to cook for him till his exams finished, hoping he'd help us after that because we still have ours to do. Nope, computer game was his priority, days and nights. Next priority, his gf. People often use the excuse that they're busy with uni work to do housework or cook etc... it's not valid when on holiday! It's not even valid when not on holiday! we are all busy, life is busy, that's the balance we need to juggle with living healthily with good hygienes, which will improve our work!
Initially, he helps out with some of the house chores... then, mr slacker came along and we've been doing everything. Why does he need to be told what to do and when to help? He's this big kid who needs his mum to even remind him to renew his visa. We've been taking care of a child. We need to feed him, clean up after him, make sure things are in order because he is just plain irresponsible! We've found entire bottle of milk left at room temperature for hours countless of times! Some people just never learn to not storm up the stairs or through a wooden house, to leave slippers strewn across the top of the staircase as hazardous material, to leave wet dishes on the bench tops (which never ever dries! because water just accumulates under and seep into the crack between the top layers, not to mention the hard-to-clean watermarks!), to hang dry a wet cloth to prevent it from becoming a cesspool of germs and bacteria on the bench, to wipe the table after eating!, to rid the smell in the toilet after a big business (we bought candles, air fresheners!), to just simply help! We've told him nicely over the few months... it helps shit!
He was going to stay till end of January when my cousin comes over early Feb. God certainly heard me this morning when I said 'i can't wait till he moves' because we set this weekend to clean, he said he has to send his gf somewhere today... and to leave whatever that needs to be done for him... great! how could we leave things behind for him to do.... that's not nice, how do we even judge what tasks to be left for him?... nvm, so in frustration, aaron and I set out to clear and clean the kitchen and living room... These spaces first because Su Hung is arriving tonight and will be sleeping in the living room. Anyway, he came home to find his stuffs (luggage bag, laundry bag, stereo box, fan box) in his room. We arranged it nicely... it fits behind the large space behind his door that he doesn't use. We moved our stuffs into our rooms too, so it wasn't directed at him.
Then, he made a phonecall, and then he told Aaron that he's moving out TOMORROW! Frankly, we don't really care about the day he moves, just that he should be responsible for his words. Now, he has placed a huge financial burden on top the ones we already bear. Aaron discussed with him to possibly pay till end of Dec... although I really think he should pay up till end of Jan because that's the agreement. But Aaron being nice Aaron, told him to just pay till end of Dec with the same reason that he said he'll stay till end of Jan. But no, he refused! I dare not think of my capabilities if i were there! I'm furious now! So is Aaron. Just another one of his irresponsible acts! He's working and his parents send his thousands... my dad sends me hundreds, aaron has to work! It's not that he cannot afford it... and it is rightly his responsibility! Sadly, we only have spoken agreement... friends, why do we need written agreement?!?!
As much as we want to stay friends, it's not getting easier. Now, we have all this cleaning to do... he said he'll help... nope, he's been moving his things into his car over the hour. We'll see...
We do appreciate the help he gave with driving to the markets... and sometimes, to the supermarkets, and sometimes, when we're late to uni or aaron to work. we do appreciate all that, but I guess he expected too much from us, and we from him. I remember the heavy burden I had when Aaron went to Heron Island for a week. I had to take care of another person! I had alot of experiments to catch up on, my PDP to write, and I had to come home and cook for him. A few people knew how I felt those weeks. Then Aaron came back and took the burden upon himself. We've been thinking of telling him that we'll stop sharing groceries for convenience sake, but I guess we don't need to worry about telling him anymore.
We should have made a roster when he moved in... but he was okie those few couple of weeks! so we thought it'll be alright. How wrong of us. Oh well.... not a problem anymore..... though we still need to clean the hse, our rooms, the blinds, the fans, the windows, the garden, mow the lawn, by tomorrow because Monday to Friday are fully scheduled for paperwork and office visiting.
We just prayed. We always have housemate problems. We probably are terrible housemates. What is wrong with wanting a clean living space? I think the problem is that, the burden was put upon two instead of being carried by three. We're already very 'chin chai' ok! The last major house cleaning was during the mooncake festival in September, which Aaron did most of the cleaning when I had to take lots of microscope images for my lab talk on the next day... so I thought he'll help Aaron... he did with a little here and there, then sat down and played with his computer game. Aaron and I have been cleaning bits and pieces of the house e.g. toilet, sinks, shower, kitchen, vacuum and mop the floors ever since September. The worst bit is that he just sits there and watches tv or play his computer game... then he'll come and ask "need help?". Duh! You're an adult, don't just sit and wait for us to ask, which isn't very nice too!
Ironically, things always break when we live with others. My cake pans scratched and rusted, shower door dislocated, toaster stop toasting, floors scratched even though we warned and stucked sticky cushions under the legs of the metal chairs he found, Aaron's Tefal pan scratched with the scourer, ice cube trays broke, glasses, mugs, plates and bowls broke...endless list that i don't bother to remember. All happened within the 2.5 yrs we lived with others. How I yearn for those times in Altitude, where there were only me and Aaron and our functional items and problem-free lives. Now, we can only hope he'll finally come to his senses and help with t he rent... or hope that I'll get a job soon, even that can only start in January.
| | |
| Aaron and I went for a short break... volunteering at the TurtleFest at MBRS (Moreton Bay Research Centre) at North Stradbroke. It was fantastic!
Friday 24th November 2006
Arranged for car pool with Charlotte earlier. We got ready and waited for her at about 8am. Amy & Jasper were in the car. Drove to Cleveland... and missed the Stradbroke Flyer by a couple of minutes... thanks to the cricket game at the Gabba... oh well!... at least we didn't get lost like Leila did when she knew there was a game and she took the next turn to 'getting lost'. We had 1 1/2 hrs to spend... needing cash, Charlotte, Aaron & I went ATM hunting. Turned around a couple of times and finally got to a mall where we thought an ATM would be easy to spot. nope, so we headed to the chemist and got ourselves sunscreen with cash-outs. Aaron found the ATM close by later on.
Drove back to the jetty, and our gorgeous car-spot was waiting for us patiently. We thought we would have lost it the minute we drove off. =) Had a get-to-know-each-other thang over coffee before the boat arrived at 10.30am. Hopped on, and arrived at One Mile Jetty at about 11am. Walked for about 5 minutes to MBRS with Aaron leading the way.
Reported to KathyTownsend, had an induction, dropped our bags in our rooms, head off to work with our teams. I was with the turtle-nest fellows, Aaron, Amy & Jasper wanted so badly to join the Collection Team.... because they'll get to snorkel and collect specimens for the open day. Me, without the confidence, and much of an ability to swim in the ocean, declined.
As usual, there were some rude, arrogant snobs among the nice, sweet and pleasant people in a group. I particularly disliked this one Brazillian girl and her two couple friends. She was so rude. Since we arrived late at the station, everyone else who arrived at 9.30am started work and knew what to do in their teams. She was loud and bossy when I arrived, so I assumed that she's the leader. I greeted everyone, approached her and asked if there is anything I can do. She looked at me like I'm an alien, and replied a stern 'NO'. I was taken a back. Ignored her and helped the rest prepare the turtle nest using ping pong balls. Holly came along later, and that's when I realised she was the leader. Okie, I was also quite terrified of her, because she was the go-go-go person... rushing here and there each time. But she turned out to be a very sweet and friendly person with cool dreadlocks and such fit & tan body. We weren't too busy actually, there were many volunteers, many teams getting alot done by about 4pm.
Kathy was impressed with the number of volunteers this year and how quick things were done. We had free meals and free accommodation for the night. It was great! I love the sea and there was the sea all the time. My team went to the mud-flats to collect for specimens at 3.30pm. I didn't really enjoy it in the beginning... we were to look for specimens children can touch e.g. sea cucumbers, starfish, sea hair, sea anenome, shells but all I could see around me were oyster shells and ALOT of polychaetes... green squirmy thin polychaetes. Taryn being a B.MarineSc(Hons) managed to collect hermit crabs, sea cucumbers, shrimps, cockles... i only managed to find ONE cockle... these are large cockles though, not the tiny weeny ones we eat. Others found blue blubber jelly fish, egg mass, anenome etc... Shona, Taryn2, Andrew and I got hooked on finding worms... all for the sake of Shona =) she's doing a PhD on polychaetes... yes, the same green one I winced at. We were going after the peanut worm and tube worm... we were on our knees, digging at the mud while someone held onto the peanut worm's pharynx or the tube worm's tube. We were like 4 inquisitive kids... side-tracked from finding specimens for the aquarium to specimens for under the microscope. We probably killed quite a handful of peanut worms when they struggle against us holding onto their pharynx till it snapped. The tubes of tube worms we were holding onto while digging around it broke too.. so we never got our worms... oh well! Back to the station for work and food, showered, watched a movie and slept.
 Hermit Crab  Wobbygongs  Sea anenome & snail egg mass I want to have a sea anenome as a pet... i love their suction pads.. they stick to you when you touch them... how sweet right? it's their way of expressing their love.  Amy, Jasper & Aaron at the touch tank.
Saturday 25th November 2006
Started early with breakfast at 7am. Open day starts at 10am, so we had about 2 hours to pick up the last minute pieces here and there. I was helping with the Marine Quiz marking... and Aaron was at the Touch Tank happily. Our shifts were from 10 to 12.30pm. Then we rushed to the Video Conferencing link with the station at Townsville at 1pm... hung around the exhibits, went to the Reptile show and helped out here and there. It was great! We had chalk drawing, art & crafts for kids, Touch Tank, Reptile show, Lectures, merchandise etc... it was huge... apparently, about 1000 people came during those 6 hours of open day. Amazing, huh?
At 3.30pm, it was time to disassemble, pack and move things back to the way they were. I wasn't of too much here in the latter because I didn't know how things were arranged before I arrived the day before. So I went downstairs and helped wash the aquariums, while other return the animals to the sea. Aaron helped return the sand to the shore. We were done by 4pm. Had a meeting to thank everyone... and to annouce raffle winners... extra showbags were raffled too... Aaron got a mug and I got a showbag. Many rushed off to catch the ferry back to mainland... but Aaron & I were staying the night to explore the island and joint eh OysterFest on Sunday.. so we paid at the office, Andrea was a great help! Walked around Dunwich... found out where the bakery and sports club are, visited the cemetery... took some photos at the jetty, went back to the station, grabbed a jumper and headed back to the jetty... and the Little Ships Club for dinner. John, Edith Gardiner and Ian were there. So we joined them. It turned out that Edith knows David Hume... she works in PA researching on osteoblasts. John works in QUT as research administrator/developer? Ian does something... I couldn't hear him. Conversations were helpful... lots of advices from them about job searching etc. =)
Went back to the station... it was weird, because it was so quiet compared to the night before. We filled in the answers for the 'Activities Book' kids get from the showbags.. laughed like crazy kids (ok, this is aaron & me now)... showered and went to bed.
 The Quiz station  Quiz station.. i like those helium filled green turtles.  Shark pups in the jar... and a croc doing his quiz... his mum said it was part of a croc suit for pirate day. Reminds me of my brother's kangaroo suit mum made for his open day.  The touch tank... one of the crowd-iest place where kids & even the adults were fascinated.  Hugo the turtle... we were too busy at our own stations to bother... therefore, this is the best photo we have of him. He's quite adorable, really.  Chalk drawing for the kids & the adults.. Taryn2's one of our volunteers  At the end of the day  Room-13 mates... with Amy & Jasper   naturale  close to the jetty  one of my many favourite trees... the Flame of the Forest... or Api-api, which gave KK its name during the Jesselton time.   That's our room up there...  At One Mile Jetty
Sunday 26th November 2006
Got up early today... the sun rises at about 4am... so by the time it's 8am, I feel so guilty for sleeping so long as if it's already mid-day. So we got ready, and headed to the jetty to catch the bus to Point Lookout. It was gorgeous! Totally different from the other side of the island. At Dunwich, I thought MBRS was the hand-somest building on the island. But no... at Point Lookout, it was an established tourist area. Aaron & I explored it a little... Walked the Gorge Walk, went to the Main beach, sun tanned, had a splashing dip from tiger-waves.. before heading back to one mile jetty at 2pm. Point Lookout was spectacular. It reminded me so much of our trip in south WA, the Gorge, London Bridge, Blowholes etc... just that Point Lookout was little like Bondi too! with the surfers, tourists, backpackers, apartments etc.
We went straight to the Oyster Fest at Little Ships Club when we arrived at the jetty... bought 18 half shells for a whooping $13! Ain't that cheap??? A man (Stan?) came along and asked to sit at our table... and we talked. He's from Tassie, owns a yacht and sailed all the way to Sunshine Coast and Straddie. He brought his friend from Sunshine Coast who then came and talked to us... he used to own a backpackers at Point Lookout about 15 years ago, then he moved to Sunshine? he wants to buy a 34 or so foot yacht... amazing stuffs!
 Sat on the ants trail... stupid stupid 
We had to rush back to the station to grab our bags... so glad we packed up before we left in the morning. Rushed back to the jetty. We didn't miss the 3.30pm ferry, but it was packed... with crowds from Brisbane coming for the Oyster Fest. I really don't like Asians who push their way through! This couple did just that. It humiliates me because I'm a * asian too! I have black hair and olive skin just like those idiots! Oh well... the next ferry was due in 10 mins anyway, special timetable for today... usually, it comes every hour. But I was prepared to wait when we were rushing because we're taking a break.... i hate rushing when we're on holiday... reminds me alot about our north WA trip. torturous. missed out on so many things there... we'll have to go back someday and take it in slowly.
God's hands were obvious!
1) the boat trip Aaron & Jasper so badly wanted to go on the first day, came back at 9pm! The team leader misread the tide. Amy and I were so glad we were late and so these boys didn't get to go on the boat, or we'd be worried sick.
2) Dinner with John & Edith... Aaron & I were going to have dinner at 5pm the first time we got to the jetty on Saturday... but decided, that we'll walk around to the bakery while it's still bright and come back later. If we had dinner at 5pm, we wouldn't have spoken to John & Edith and I wouldn't have got my job-searching advices. Although those advices have me on edge since then... i'm worried now and I need to decide if i am going on a holiday with dad to sydney and melbourne plus head home... or stay and search for a job.
3) The ferry was packed at 3.30pm... it wouldn't have been comfortable if we got in... and met Martin, who does research on melanin-like compounds in MBRS. He was waiting for the next ferry as well. We met him at his lab during the open day... so we chatted etc etc...
Supposed to have a sleep-over with the girls tonight and go to Movieworld tomorrow before Sarah heads off to Canada for a year on Friday. It didn't work out for a number of reasons:
1) Optus has bad reception on the island, so we coudln't keep in touch till I got back...
2) Although we had it planned out on Thursday, things happen... Erin broke her wrist during soccer & will be having x-rays tomorrow, so no sleep-over & movieworld for her. Bec is leaving for Melbourne with her mum on Tuesday, so she needs to pack although she was coming tonight initially. Sarah missed the last bus from Toowoomba, so home she'll be.
Shopping it is tomorrow... without $$$... sad case
In conclusion, the 3 day break was great until we got back to Taringa. back to reality. back to messed up, smelly house. I was planning to clean it when we get back before the girls come over. But now, I don't think so... maybe another day
. It's frustrating. How can one person use 5 plates, 7 bowls, 5 glasses, 1 mug in 3 days. By taking clean, dry plates from the cupboard, that is. Since we don't towel-dry our dishes, why not just take what's needed from the dish-drainer instead of accumulating more each day? I don't really care about using items from the cupboard, as long as the dishdrainer and the area beside it is cleared occasionally! I feel like a maid. 'feel'... is bad! shall not have a heart..
| | |
| I want to go to Koorong!!!! anybody wants to go with me? there are so many things that I want to get.... I want some Max Lucado books.... some CDs (Joel Engle, the new Jars of Clay and Mercyme albums and Nicole Mullen too!!).... some christmas cards and gifts... hmmm..
I wanted so terribly to go to the OCF farewell beach party today... but I really must continue my write-up. I still have this much to write:
1) discussion
2) conclusion
3) abstract
4) fix my results section
5) appendices <--- gotta arrange all of them accordingly... uh oh!
6) format the entire document.... <--- this alone can take up to a day! sigh
but at least, I can close my Introduction, methods & materials, acknowledgement sections... <--- the easier sections... haii!
anyway, I'm sure everyone had fun getting wet and sun-burnt... eating... chatting... oh!!! I love the beach, the sand, the ocean, the sun....
I've been getting numerous encounters of hayfever these several weeks... but thank God for pharmaceuticals.... Clarinase works really well.... $12 for a pack of 6 tabs at uni pharm is expensive.... but only one is needed every 12 hours... and it works... <---that's what matters.... hayfever-combat!
okie... i should really be writing up.... for those who just won't believe me when I told them I'm fat! here's proof...
*okie... looking at the photos... i changed my mind about posting them... 
But i did think of posting these instead... 
we moved the coffee table into my room so that Aaron could study alongside me while I write up.... sorta like keeping an eye on each other... just that, I can't stop yapping sometimes...
Aaron (came rushing into my room): hey, did you see the green frog?? I saw it hopped in here...
Me: no.... *thinking that he was just kidding
About half an hour later...
Aaron leaning over me as I show him something on the screen: LOOK!!!! *finger pointing to my left
Me: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! *slaps chest.... *laser eyes staring at Aaron...
 
taken when we were leaving to de-stress in the city... the first blooms of frangipanies in our garden...
Aaron made a chocolate fudge cake for my birthday.... and gave it to me when everyone left... so that it's ALL MINE.... mwahahahaha! just kidding... it was all mine, technically... i couldn't resist... i had it for breakfast everyday till it ran out... not out, ran as in finish!...
okie... while uploading those photos... i've decided, I'll just post up a photo of my big fat self... enjoy!
there I am among those gorgeous blooms of frangipanies... ours seem so slow to grow compared to all those fully bloomed bouquets of it along swann road... why?? I did add fertilizers when we moved in in July.... bloom bloom, my babies... please bloom before I leave!
i am so fat!! aaron used to deny that... then awhile later, he'll just remain silent... now, he says 'yes, u are'.... and smile sheepishly.  I'm eating my birthday cake from last week.. the lemon cake Chris bought from Cheesecake Shop....and Aaron saw me eating the icing... and said "aiya, so much icing, don't eat the icing, ok?" ... but i love icing! he's starting to watch what I eat now... i am so fat!!!!!!!! I finally went to the gym yesterday after many weeks of hibernation (aka paying empty gym fees)... and my performance proven deteriorated (as if it was great before...  )... I really have to do something about this before my graduation comes along... I DON'T WANT TO GO ON STAGE LOOKING LIKE A RHINO!!!!
| | |
| okie.... I should really be doing my thesis... at least I'm in the library...
yes... ain't my due date 15th Nov? I shouldn't be here today... I should be jumping, shouting, screaming with joy the agony is over! smack back to reality, i'm sitting in a library chair among the studious...
Guess what.... God set His amazing grace upon me... again... I don't deserve it but He answered our prayers. Aaron and I pray ALOT... really ALOT, like every few hours, for a couple of times during exam times and times such as this... we didn't pray that I'll get an extension..again... but we prayed that we'll get through it with His strength, His grace and peace...
I was getting really fidgety and anxious on Tuesday morning... because I still have SO MUCH to do and it's all due on Wed... but then my supervisor called... and I checked my email... there it was, an email from the secretary of the biotech office apologizing for a mistake she made in sending the previous reminder email that my seminar talk will be on the 15th... hmmm.... so my new thesis due date is the 22nd, and my seminar presentation will be on the 1st Dec...
I sat there... speechless, huge-eyed... not too sure to jump for joy or to cry because I will only finish on the 1st DECEMBER.... DECEMBER, man!! I was supposed to finish on the 1st November with the rest of my peers...
Then I realised, this is the 3rd chance God has given me to really do my best to finish what I started this year... so with joy, I accept it... though I wondered, what would my lab colleagues think when I tell them, errmm... my talk is not on the 15th, don't go there (to support me) because I wouldn't be speaking.. hmmm...
Oh well... So here I am, this time round... trying my best not to disappoint Him again... trying my best to do my best in what I've been set out to do...
God is great, isn't He.... but let's not test His patience...
Sunday was my 24th birthday... yes, i'm old now.... though I was in a depressing mood... God showed His love through a bunch of people who barged into my room singing 'Happy Birthday' with a cake bearing a '2' candle for me to blow out... yes, I'm glad the candle was a '2' not '2 and 4'... *hah!* I was really embarrased because I was in pyjamas... sleeping, when Aaron came in to say Happy Birthday, I ignored him and continued sleeping... then he went out and brought a whole bunch of friends in within a minute... *blush blush blush* *cameras snapping away* I was without my glasses too... so I couldn't really see who was there initially but I could see Annie's figure right in front of me snapping away with her cool camera... ahhh!!! i was really embarrased... mind u, it's not humiliating because these are all friends... just embarrased... just blushingly embarrased that i was in one of my worst state of looks... *hair like lion's mane*
Thank you heapz heapz heapz to all who came, those who sms-ed, those who called, those who sent cards and pressies...
Dockside Comedy Bar gave me two free tickets to go for one show on the 10th.... so Aaron and I went without the few that we invited... those without exams of course... but they all couldn't make it either... oh well! It wasn't as good as the first time I went there in Sept... but WTH... it was free! we just had to pay for cab and food... so it was alright...
Mum gave me $$$... heh!! lots of it... superb, although i did have to ask for it *bleah! Aaron bought me a UQ sweatshirt that I wanted... because I'm graduating... and the two beloved Jo's (Joanna & Jody) brought me greeting balloons... I've always loved these balloons... but it's not something you buy for yourself... so it was really pleasant...  and Jody later sent something she knew I'd love.... BodyShop Apple Shimmerz!! I love it!!! I love you! Thank you dearie... mwah mwah! *i hope kev doesn't hit me in the face* and thank you for chatting with me when noone would...
Bang bang bang!.... I love you!!! thank you for being so encouraging, so loving and supporting in my times of need... even across the 4363 Kms between us... thank God for phones and free minutes.. thank you for believing in me when I don't. thank you for telling me that i'd be a successful woman one day! *dreamy. I miss you, buddy! I would really like to come to Perth again! to see you, to visit the places I didn't get to previously and yes, to visit the amazing church you're attending.
Jia Ching.... thank you!!! thank you for helping me with my 'car rentals'... thank you for your friendship, thank you for everything you've done for me.... my chauffer in high school and pre-u! i'm looking forward to meeting you in december!! thank you for coming all the way just for my graduation! *grin*
Eu-eu-eunice!!! You've been a great friend... coming over just to accompany me and make sure I'm doing my work... calling constantly when I was down to keep me on track... thank you!!! love you, girl!
I've learnt again... that it is times like these when you know whom you can call a friend and count on that person to be there for you... Jia Ching told me that.... sometimes, I just need someone to listen to me.... and a friend who would listen to you is hard to find, and to find a friend who would listen and not judge you after what you've said is even harder to find.
God is amazing! God is love! God is Almighty! I love Him!!! not just in the good times... but i've been shown grace.... how could I not love Him in times of trials, when I need Him most... though I stupidly for a moment (ok, a day or so) thought that God hates me because everything was so gloom... and things that I love, wanted to do, wish to have was being blessed upon someone else... it was really ironic... that should be another blog post... BECAUSE I should really be writing my thesis now...
love to all!
ciaoz~
| | |
|
