i'm really moving

and so i am moving out on thursday - have to take a day off from work. I was actually supposed to move out nov 27th (which is today) and wanted to ask for an extension, but couldn't get what i wanted coz i was too late. Anyway..

We managed to secure the place my aunt was aiming at and really wanted!

Ok, i will start packing tomorrow after work. I really had no time today.

let our speech be gracious, seasoned with salt

at this moment, my speech is playing on my mind. I think i've been like a "loose cannon ball" lately or actually, possibly my whole life (especially with my family I suppose, where I can let loose speech that expresses anger, annoyance or just totally meaningless speech which shows no care in the world - maybe this is okay for relaxation and laughing purposes). Maybe I can describe it as opinionated self-directed speech.

Anyway, something happened a few days ago which set my anger bells on. And I was talking to my lawyer-to-be friend about it. Have you ever watched legal tv shows of badgering lawyers who can make a witness cry? I really felt that and i was getting even angrier, practically matching his raised voice over the phone. But anger only was for that period. He was trying to shoot me down that i was in the wrong in his badgering tone (i know he doesn't mean it), but my arrogant self didn't want to accept it because I honestly didn't know it was wrong.

I was explaining my annoyance of something with someone today and again, i was kinda raising my voice to express it, as if it is such a huge problem. I still feel bad about talking like that, need to say sorry soon, even though I kinda know that my friend kinda knows how i'm like and not just this one aspect.

In terms of when i'm happy (especially giggling mood), i start using words that can be described as funny-rude. And as i think of something i just said today, i think i could have used another better word.

This is a great verse to always remind ourselves:
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that is may give grace to those who hear." Ephesians 4:29

"Lovely Complex"

I love this anime - it's my favourite!! =)

welll...it is the only anime i've ever really watched.

yes, i know, i don't look like the person who even watches anime and you are absolutely right. Never watched any of my brothers' downloaded anime or i wouldn't bother watching when my sister and brothers had it on on Astro (cable tv in malaysia). Thought they were boring - actually, i still do sort of. Never understood their fascination (or anyone else) for anime, and even things like computer games - thank goodness no one in my immediate family finds computer games fascinating.

Haven't finished watching it - 3 more episodes (24 in total and only 1 season). Been watching it bit by bit at my friend's place.

It's a very touching, funny story of a group of high school kids. The main characters are Otani (a very short boy 156 cm) and Koizumi (a very tall girl 172 cm) who are similar and have similar interests and are always fighting and arguing in the beginning but enjoy each other's company. Love story between both of them, basically. The way they interact is JUST SO FUNNNY....and also so touching. My friend can still cry after having watched it a few times.....

Kim Phuc

Today was my day off Sunday School, so took the opportunity to go visit Argyle's church as I had promised I would. Got my aunt to come along as well. It's an off-shoot of the church my current church was under, so the style is pretty much the same. But it's a family church whereas my church is a student church, and being a family church, the service was over in just over an hour...The sermon was very succint and to the point, easy to relate to but still faithfully taken out of a passage in context.

The pastor brought up this photo:



A famous photo of Kim Phúc from the Vietnam War which won the Pulitzer prize. The picture taken in 1972, shows her at about age nine running naked on the street after being severely burned on her back by a bomb attack.

"In 1996, she gave a speech at the United States Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day. During the speech she said that we cannot change the past but can work for a peaceful future. After the speech, Reverend John Plummer, a Vietnam War Veteran, talked to some of his old friends and got them to ask Kim if she would like to meet him, for he stated that he was the one who ordered the bombing. She accepted and they met briefly and Kim forgave Plummer. " (Wikipedia)

Ethan Bortnick

Check out this awesome Jay Leno interview !!

6-year old piano genius - he's so cute and funny especially when he talks about his distaste for rock music, ie. Aerosmith. His ability to comprehend questions and answer them and his confidence in front of the camera is amazing.

His website: http://www.ethansmusicsite.com/

Cause to worry though about child "exploitation"...

what a dramatic day

it started from around lunch time. .didn't think it'd turn out like this!

Today I kinda felt like I'm going to move soon even though I haven't started any form of packing except collect a few boxes. My aunt had a more dramatic day because she was told she had to move out TOMORROW by 5 pm. After being given an extension till the 22nd (when she was given notice to move out by the 16th), they told her today that she had to move out tomorrow. Details aside, the real estate agent she has to deal with aren't that nice. And i'm not the only one who thinks so.

We went to see a couple of places after work, and we'll put in our application for one. The place we were aiming at, the current tenants aren't allowing it to be opened for inspection till they move out on the 21st, so basically, we still haven't confirmed a place yet.

But it's okay...my aunt was surprisingly calm throughout, even on the phone as she was telling me stuff. She's amazing but yes, what's the point of getting stressed anyway?

There are so so so many people looking for a place to rent now...it's crazzzzzyyyyy.....whyyyy, it's just the middle of november!!! last saturday, we went to see this unit on the 1st floor open for inspection, and there was a long long line down the stairs and out the front door.

I've got a whole heap of her stuff now at my place. I suddenly feel the burden of packing, especially taking into account the amount of crap i have. It looks okay but when the packing actually starts, it's going to seem like the boxes never enddd...

definitely not fun to move...but i am kinda looking forward to living in a new place with my aunt.

moving again sooon!

yes, that's right, i'm going to type out my letter to give notice to the real estate agent by tonight and email it out. I'm going to move in with my aunt just to Randwick (which is the next suburb). Been looking at a few places from the outside and inside and the key thing in our search was location. Next, not a crappy old place and not too expensive. We're aiming at this place which is still being occupied by current tenants. There's probably going to be an inspection of the unit this Saturday and my aunt told me to get ready some documents...we have to get that place! Coz she has to move out of her current place in 2 weeks.

Anyway, been living by myself for a year and close to 2 months now and it's been okay. Friends ask me, so do u feel lonely? And my answer is no...except early this year when i was not feeling too good. But just for a little while. But generally..if there's no friends, then i guess of course, one'll get lonely! It's like someone saying Sydney (or whatever place it is ) is so boring. There's nothing to do.

So many people to think about and so many things to do, so there's no time to dwell on loneliness. Friends to meet, new friends to make, family to see...
But anyway, no judging. Different people are different. Adaptation levels, attachment to the past or old good friends...many many factors.

So, back to topic.

I am moving soon! still doesn't feel like it coz i haven't done any packing at all except collect a box!

Anyway it'll be nice to live with someone again. A new step, not to step into blindly but being aware of changes to come, and working on other-person centredness.

another year

It's been one year already since my grandfather passed away (nov 2) and exactly one year when i first flew back to malaysia.

I remember that early morning and what I was doing then, and the days around that time. It's weird how much has changed since then. I wasn't sure what to expect at the start of the 25th year of my life but I had a small hope of things to be. But unfortunately, it didn't turn out the way I was thinking, not even a little. An initial terrible desire kindled into flames and stepped into without thinking but ending in a black mass of extreme disappointment.

It's not cancer, not about the fact that someone died. Everyone has their own personal depressive times. But I think God was really gracious in allowing such things to happen to me, like He had to take drastic action to pull me out of a fake paradise I stepped into according to my own limited foresight.

It hurt but this year has been full of new challenges and learnings. In church today, we were asked to think of a life-changing event. I would say this was a life-changing event for me.

Looking forward to this next year of my life :)