For Real

I've been meaning to blog about this since the beginning of the month, but just never got round to doing it. Recently the pictures were sent to me AND its to publicize an event happening tonight.

A month ago, I got an sms from a friend asking for help cause she was in a desperate situation. Her course final year project was 2days away, and one of the MC's for the event pulled out last minute so she was asking me if i could do it. *Sweat* I thought about it for a while, and told her if she really couldn't find anyone else, i'd do it. What are friends for... ;p
(apparently Chris, yes you, was asked but said no. He would've done a million times better than me)

My fear was that i wouldn't be prepared enough with the necessary info because it is a charity event, against domestic violence, and the whole campaign had been running for a month, with a walk at Youth Park the climax of the whole thing.

I had a crash course on the campaign, ACT for A Change Today, as the NemGrads (New Milleneum Graduates, Public Relations/Persuasion students of the Communication School) briefed me on the objectives, history etc.

Cut a long story short, i did it and i think overall i didn't do too badly considering there was no script and it was kinda last minute.


It started before the sun rose, and i got to use a cool wireless headset.














Of course, there were moments of headache, like when the VIP didn't arrive on time, and no one knew when exactly he'd be arriving. Damn VIP's that come late. I have no respect for them whatsoever.














Unexpected changes and alterations that weren't told to the MC's which left us going, huh?




















But the biggest "perk" of the whole thing i think would be getting to introduce Juwita Suwito on stage. She is the bomb! He voice is really nice, and listening to her makes people like me who think about taking singing lessons realize i should 'Get Real'.

Now i'll briefly have me syiok sendiri moment. She sang one of my FAV songs, Teman Sejati, which was very meaningful to me when i was going through a tough time early last year. I knew all the words, and hearing her sing it live was AMAZING! Well, i was nicely standing watching her, singing along when she comes down from the stage, and walks towards the area where i was standing. "She can't be walking over here..." i thought.

She was.

Walked right up to me.

And passed me the mike! Gah!!!!!!















It was both wonderful and horrible all at the same time!
Here i was, with a local celeb with a power voice, butchering her song...
Kekekeke...

It was just for a few lines, and i know its not THAT big a deal but still- it was a great experience. And i had to restrain myself for telling people in case they thought i was bragging.

During another person's performance, i ran from my MC post to her booth where she was signing CD's. Got to speak to her a little, and she said i reminded her of one of the sisters in the Amazing Race Malaysian team.
















Happy! She's a nice person, seriously For REAL and not pretentious.















Why am i blogging about it now?

She'll be up in Penang tonight, performing with some dude called Liang (who looks super familiar, but i can't place him).
Its a Christian event, held in Trinity Church, opposite Greenlane McDonalds. Time 7.30-10pm





Sure to be good, so come!

Taking the Plunge

To answer the previous ambiguous post: On Sunday the 23rd of March 2008, around 7pm- i got Baptised.
Yup, i took the plunge (literally).
I guess i have to backtrack a lil cause the decision to do it came as a surprise to many, not cause i hadn't thought about it masak-masak, but because i just didn't tell everyone my thoughts.

Ok, here it goes. many years ago, when i was still in my teens, i had asked mom about baptism, and she said she would prefer if i waited till i was 21 before deciding. So i put it off till then, but even once 21 came and went, i left it. Few months ago, i started to seriously think about it again and realized it's time.










Milkmaids unite! Veils personally made courtesy of Auntie Fang!

I'm sure some of you're wondering why i didn't just wait and do it back home. Well, i feel the 3years here have helped me grow spiritually and that the church here has provided an environment where i feel comfortable and welcomed. NOT that Life Chapel hasn't, its just different. Also, the 'burden' or thoughts of doing it here feels right, can't quite explain. Maybe its a good closing to my Uni chapter.

It wasn't pushed on me to do by anyone, i was thinking about it to myself for a long time and when i actually approached my church elder, he already had assumed i was baptised. However, once discovering i wasn't, he did challenge me as to why i wasn't, which i feel very grateful for because no one has ever really challenged me before. Furthermore, he helped me understand what baptism was about. Lemme put it this way, for the longest time, i had this misconception of Baptism, and i had always thought it was a big step where you can only take it once you are a 'serious' Christian and have 'settled' your issues with God.

Now i get to the part where i didn't tell anyone about it except my family. My parents, to my uttermost delight wanted to come up, and really made my day.











The norm is to tell and invite people to come beramai-ramai to witness your baptism, well- i didn't invite anyone. This was a personal preference, and i don't like it when others shove their preferences down my throat. I honestly don't see it as something for others to celebrate. It is a big deal to me and at the same time it's not a big deal. Its a step of obedience 10years overdue, and thats it. You wanna talk about it being a public profession, well there was about 200 people there. Then there's those who think i was in a way obligated to tell them because of our friendship, and that by purposely not i'm going against the whole public profession thing. All i can say is bottom line, we just gotta agree to disagree.

It was a happy day, and i was really glad that it was with two of my friends whom i've journeyed with this past 3years. Knowing them personally, sharing our struggles together and deepening our bond of friendship is a real treasure to me.














Another small joy was that Uncle Pek Bing, who wasn't originally scheduled to do any dunking, did dunk us (after we made a personal request- kekeke). It meant alot to us because he has been a great source of knowledge, guidance and someone whom i really respect and look up to.











So all in all, at the end of the day the thing that stuck in my mind was that God is Good. That thought ran through my head as i was sitting waiting for my turn, when i was watching the others and once it was over and i hugged my parents.











USMers that came.


2 Timothy 3:14-15
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

I have decided

It's happening tomorrow. Everything has been finalized and there's no turning back. Not that i want to turn back.

I was told to wait till i was 21 before making my decision, a request that i respected and had no problem obeying.
My 21st birthday came and went and i didn't give it any thought.

Few months ago, i started to really think about it and it was burdening me for ages. I had my quiet contemplations and musings, debating within me.
It wasn't till i voiced my thoughts to my close friend, that i realized we were struggling through the same issue.
Then we both took the step of informing someone older and wiser, who soon set the wheels in motion to get us ready for what we needed to face.

Its amazing how now it's the eve, i still grapple with some things. Although I've been corrected of my skewed perceptions, the old nagging fear is there.

I'm excited and scared. Happy and upset.

But, i know that it's time.

(Rain) Cloud Nine

"I'm so happy...and i've got this stupid smile on my face all the time, i'll be walking along and i think about him and i'll suddenly just be happy and have a stupid face."

For several weeks now, since my friend first confided in me about her interest for this guy (what else), i knew that she had surely fallen hook, line and sinker for the dude. And although she sillily tried to fake it at first with me, yesterday she sheepishly 'confessed' to me that they are together.

Kwa kwa kwa...

I so knew it was going to happen, and i told her from the start.

From when she first began to mention his name with increasing frequency, to the many calls and sms's i noticed she got, she tried to keep level headed about it. Tried to sound sensible, and assured me that she had no hopes of anything, just take it as it comes, just friends etc. etc.

But, of course, actions speak louder than words. When a person gets in the 'zone' of still having a goofy grin 10minutes after reading an sms, or dives for the phone with hopes that its him/her, you just know.

I'm happy for her. Happy she's happy.
But...

*shrugs*

Exciting Times

I am very pleased with the results of the elections.

This time around it sends a clear message, and it reflects what the people really feel about the nonsense conditions this country has come to. Its funny how during elections people usually tend to forget what had been promised in the past, and the scandals that happened in between. I think this past 4years, the level or ridiculousness is an all time high that its just impossible to forget.
Things that come to mind off the top of my head - Altantuya, failed second link to Singapore, police naked ear-squatting video, Angkasawan (seriously, till now i dont see how spending all that money on that benefited our country), sex scandal, not allowing peaceful protests, religious un-freedom, the way our own Ministers speak and say whatever the heck they like without any shame or responsibility, dan lain-lain lagi!


Yesterday it was all the talk at church, and i'm sure EVERYWHERE else. Besides the fact that tv was so unreliable in reporting the news (kononnya the EC and media supposed to be unbiased yet only reported BN's wins, had to search online and wait forever for the other results to be out.), it was such a happy thing to hear of the Opposition getting more than 1/3 in parliament. Now the government cant simply change things as and when they like.


Ironically, talking to some people, they were surprisingly 'narrow' minded and kept saying things without realizing what they were saying. One person actually said - Aiyoh, now they don't have 2/3 majority they cant easily pass laws and stuff. I replied saying do you know how many times the constitution has been amended over the past 50 years just like that, *snaps finger* and you think its good if it carries on?


Another thing i kept hearing over and over - Aiyoh, what if we have to wear tudungs.

-_-

I dunno about all, but firstly i feel those that are eligible but didn't vote or even register, don't have any right to make noise. You had your chance to do something but didn't, so shut up. Seriously.


Secondly, i am amazed that they fail to see how slowly, inch by inch things have been heading that way anyway, when we're not even under the ruling of the Islamic party. I recall there was some hoo-ha last year or 2years ago, something about a memo sent out that police women were to be tudungified (?). Not to mention the high profile cases up in court. And the low profile cases that we hear along the grape vine. I think its selected prejudice. As soon as you hear the 3 letters of P.A.S, all negative things immediately come to mind and suddenly BN's not so bad la without thinking of whats really been happening. You think they don't have a religious agenda...?


Thirdly, it seems so petty. No, I'm not saying the idea of being forced to wear a tudung is something petty, but of all issues to bring up and be most worried about, is dressing. Kinda funny.


And I'm thinking, lets say la- would you be okay with wearing a tudung if rape cases went down. I'm not saying it's related, I'm just posing comparisons and my thoughts. Trying to think beyond the narrow scope that most people tend to automatically see. How much of a burden would sacrificing a thing like dressing be, if it meant a positive improvement in something else. Eg. Would you give up eating chicken if it meant no more snatch theft...gettit? If wearing a tudung meant no more "massage parlors" would i be okay with it? No more victims of drunk driving or domestic violence, because alcohol was banned? A smoke free society- no more clouds of smoke stinking up your hair during mamak sessions. I'm not at all in agreement of imposing or forcing anything on anyone, but i sometimes wonder aren't some things that 'seem' to be so dreadful, actually good. (and i don't mean the tudung)


Exciting times, and i have hope for this country.
I think if people automatically shut down and go "haiyah, under non-BN sure not good la" then you are not even giving chance for change, and any change will be viewed negatively. Many things have benefited society as a result of the opposition bringing up issues that otherwise would've been swept under the carpet.


I still have my dreams that Malaysia Boleh.
That we can, as a country, get back on he right track.

Investments

Last week i had asked my friend- What's the point in investing in something that gives you zero returns?
She replied there's no point.
I had gotten sick of doing things that i knew were 0.00% appreciated.

Last night i had dinner with Uncle Roger, he was talking about his daughters and suddenly he said:
"Love is an investment of no returns."

*Speechless at Uncle Roger's unexpected profound words of wahness and how its timely related to what i've been going through*

Mulling over it. I know its nothing uncommon but every now and then these things pop up at times like this, just when i was saying one thing- another thing smacks me in the face.

Kan-cheong-ness

Gosh

Its such a loooong night, and alas, i've got to go to sleep.
For the past 4hours i've been glued to the tv and computer screen, waiting for updates. I finally can't take it anymore and know for my own good i must sleep or wont wake up in the morning.

Crapz. i wanna witness the news as it happens.

Nevermind. I'll get the results in the morning i guess.

C'mon now! Deny them two-thirds!

Undi !

I just arrived home 20mins ago.

It was a long journey due to heavy rain just after the Ipoh area, really slowed us down but better safe than sorry, so i was glad that Chris slowed down considerably.

I'm back for two things, to do with people that make promises - firstly to VOTE and secondly to attend Adrene's wedding.. Politicians that have been making promises to the rakyat, and a couple making promises to God and each other.

1. VOTE ! Yeah man, i'm of age and very excited for tomorrow. I hope that i can vote for change, for a better future for Malaysia.

2. 4 weddings in 3 months. But it'll be fun cause Adrene's been someone i've known for years and so it'll be a joy to be part of her big day.

But as we came off the Damansara Toll, 'home' didn't look or feel familiar. Sigh.