BlackOut!

Anyone there?
Halfway through the phone conversation with my buddy, I was faced with a blank silence.
“Hello? Hello?” No reply. Strange. I turned my attention to my laptop which looked exceptionally clear and bright. Exceptionally clear and bright? With the phone set still in my hand, I turned my head from my laptop to the window. The outside world was pitch black. Nothing. Pitch black. It took me a few seconds to notice that my room was only illuminated by my laptop screen. I fumbled around and hung up the phone.

Inside
Some screaming and barking disturbed the still, humid air. The fan in my room was out. Some faint ringing noises started in the distance and it took me a while to figure that it was the lift alarm bell of some faraway block. Someone was trapped.

Moments later, a bright flashlight swept through my room and my dad came in to check if everything was ok. It was. My laptop saved me from being blinded by the dark. Actually, it’s kind of exciting. My buddy called me back to tell me about the black out in her area too. With the networking skills my family have, we realized that the blackout hit areas ranging from Jurong to Bedok.

Excitement of the day
Since my family wasn’t able to do anything in the dark, we spent time buzzing on the phone and getting excited about the major blackout. We took our unused candles and aromatherapy candles out and enjoyed the nice atmosphere in the flickering warm glow. We chatted and it felt good to have family time and family excitement like this once in a while. Well, my dog didn’t like it though. His ears were all down and he was pretty restless.

Outside
Outside, it was all dark and peaceful. The artificial day brought about by electricity was gone. Other then the occasional car zooming past, everything was but silhouettes in the night. It was serene and the silence was cozy and comfortable. The stars which were the only lights were soft and natural.

Dark bath
I didn’t know when the lights were coming back and I couldn’t stand the heat and the sweat. So, I armed myself with a candle and took my bath. It’s feels different to bathe in the dark with moving shadows dancing around. When I was nearly done, I heard shouts of “hooray” and “Goal”. Was there a soccer match going on? Anyway, the lights came back and everything was back to normal. Hai. Boring. The blackout should have lasted longer. We don’t get such excitement everyday you know.

Apologies
Ooops. I forgot about the poor person who was stuck in the lift. Sorry. It must be tough for you. I guess your finger must be quite tired after jamming it against the alarm bell button for one hour. We all heard the shrill cry of the bell and someone called the lift rescuers. Hope you are alright now…

Thought of the day no.1:
I need to do my work now
so I can give what I have
when it is asked of me.

Thought of the day no.2:
My pride is that I am humble.
My pride is too big. My humility is too little.

JT Cuts Queue at Supermarket!

I did it legally ok.
I was at Shop n Save, clutching onto my Betty Crocker's brownie mix when I joined the super long queue at the cashier. Well, if I have to wait, so be it. I'm just in a rush. That's all. Just then, someone tapped me on my back... it was the cashier auntie. I'm not stealing anything. I'm not cutting anyone's queue. I'm not making any noise...
"Xiao mei, you only buying brownie mix one thing izzit?" she asked.
"Yah..." I replied.
"Okie, come, I open counter for you."
More then 40 pairs of eyes turned and stared at me. A few people moved forwards to queue behind me and...
"Excuse me, this counter is not open hor... I'm going off for lunch already," said the cashier auntie to all the homemakers and uncles with cartfuls and basketfuls of groceries. I looked at the people behind. They were... irritated? I stood there feeling stranded. Am I supposed to go to the closed counter to pay up? Yes. The auntie directed me right up to the closed counter... and I paid for my brownie mix. No queue ahead of me and no queue behind me. I was the first and the last.

Reflections
That's quite nice of the cashier auntie. God certainly does put nice people in my way and I'm really thankful and glad to meet such nice ppl. :) God knew I was in a rush eh. :)

You mean JT plays bball?

Nope, JT doesn't exactly play bball. Not properly anyway. More like mad scramble for ball and shoot-a-miss. Nevertheless, sitting in the hot sun for about 9 hours for each of the two days as scorekeeper and timekeeper for about 40 games of 3-on-3 bball has sparked off a little interest in JT to play bball. Hope to play on Monday during exercise time. (Haha, yesh, at JT's work place, there's such a thing called exercise time every Monday) And, some of the other girls have also started to like bball too. Yeah, so I've playing partners (and since we are all beginners, there's no domination by power players and no intimidation by pro bballers! haha) Strange enough, I've taken a small liking for sports (yah, whoa. Maybe I've been exercise-deprived over the past year)

Well, if you happen to see me, I'd be coffee black. Again. Sunburnt.
*please don't let my lips crack and peel again...*

Interesting people I met.My fellow scorekeepers, timers and referees. One of them is 1.86m and he took quite some time to accept the fact that this small thing called JT,who looks more like a blur 16-yr old, is actually a few years older than him. My referee was shocked initially to hear that I'm older than her. (She's pretty cool... has that sporty and steady aura about her.) My other timer is an attractive twelve-year old girl... who caught the eye of a not-so-cute bball player. haha. My other referee is super powerful... if he blows the whistle, it's recognized internationally... and I'm pretty thankful for all the ppl for putting up with me (Yeah, I don't even play bball much, and I'm scorekeeper... haha.) All in all, it's good, fun exposure. Interesting first time... Enjoyable too.

Anyway, friends, anyone wants to play bball or badminton? :)

Of Cute Guys and me

Went to IMM today with two of my buddies. You can make a guess who. Anyway, there was this mini concert thingie where fans of this cute guy can get their posters autographed. This guy is called Wilbur Pan WeiBo. He's the third guy whom I'd pass off as quite cute (after Bo Yuan Chong-- the jap guy in some Jap teen serial and Benny Chan Ho Man)Talk about high standards. Haha. I guess I could be like one of those screamy fans if I wanted to... but I wasn't. So I stood in the crowd as an observer.

First of all, I was impressed by the Emcee... DJ Ma Li. She's powerful at talking. Really. Effortlessly and comfortably going on and on about Wilbur and this other guy to the not-easily-excitable Singaporean audience. Then, as the arrival of Wilbur Pan and this other guy (sorry, forgot his name coz he looks less cute to me haha) was announced, the crowd started sQueezing forward. I followed at a comfortable distance behind with my buddies and noticed 2 interesting couples. Both boyfriends were trying to carry their girlfriends to help them see Pan WeiBo and friend better... Fruitless attempt. They guys need to work out more. Flashes of lights went off. If you're a star, migraine is not your best friend. Those flashing cameras will trigger off SERIOUS migraine.

At the back, 2 reporters ( I think they are reporters) took chairs from somewhere and climbed on top for a good camera shot. What a lucrative business chair-rental will be for such occasions!

Well, can't help but be impressed by the ease with with Wilbur and his friend performed. They looked so calm and steady... and they waved and smiled and melted their fans from the 1st floor of IMM to those looking down from the 3rd floor. Wilbur's friend was wearing some pink mickey mouse t-shirt. Well, it looked good on him. Guess stars look good in almost anything. Imagine some regular guy walking along the road in pink Mickey Mouse T shirt... Effect? erm. I'm sure you all have your own opinions...

Next, fans of any star listen up! I know just the way to get yourself noticed by your idol! Bring along a young and cutsey kid (brother sister cousin ...), and your idol will give u an extra handshake and smile at you and the little kid with those heart-warming smiles. Plus, there'll be a little handshake for the kid and a little pinch on those chubby kiddo cheeks too. Ten years later, the kiddo can say, hey, Wilbur Pan pinched me on the cheek as a sign of affection when I was three you know... *kidding*

Now, all stars listen up! If you want to melt your fans' hearts, look them in the eye, give a little wave and say hello. Then, give a firm, warm handshake and flash them your beautiful pearlies with the warmest sunshiney smile. If you can, ask them for their name. And tada, you're more then irresistable.

With the slightest nod, wave and smile from Wilbur and friend, I saw this group of girls going crazy. Literally. They were so excited that they kept jumping up and down, face flushed, hands clutched at their chest. They can't stop screaming of course, from the third floor. Whoa.

Watching these people made me go a bit dizzy. So that's all for the day.
JT the observer signs off.
*Did I mention that I gasped when I saw my friends going ga ga over Wilbur and Friend? But they only did it for about 10 sec in zest lah.*

PS: Pls pardon my deteriorating grammer n tenses. Yeah, you can edit and correct them anytime. Tag. :p

JT and the Three Kind-hearted Ladies

Kindred spirit aboard bus 67
Aboard bus 67, I was half-asleep, leaning against the window of the bus with my hair falling all over my face. I was too tired to care about my image and my hair blocked out the sun anyway. It was warm despite the air-conditioning but I was thankful that I had a seat. Sometime later, an elderly lady settled down into the seat beside me. She was one of those regular aunties with short tight curls, plastic bags which hung at her elbows and a wallet tucked under her arm. In my daze, I remembered that the auntie switched to another seat nearby and said, "Xiaomei ah, ni3 zuo4 na4 bian1 hen3 ri4 leh, zuo4 guo4 lai2 mei2 you3 na4 me ri4." In other words, she wanted me to take her previous seat so that I would not be in the sun. Well, I was not affected by the sun but I was quite touched by her concern for me. She chose to move to another seat despite her bags of groceries and all. So touched.

Kindred spirit II aboard bus 67
Aboard bus 67 again, I was trying to keep my balance as I fiddled around with my shoulder bag and my laptop bag. It was fairly crowded and I tried as best as I could not to have my bulky bags bump into anyone. Well, I accidentally bumped into one of the aunties behind me. She tapped my shoulder and I prepared myself for a nasty remark. I turned around to see this smiling auntie with a greying pony-tail. She stood up from her seat and she said, "Xiaomei, zuo4 xia4 lai2 lah, wo3 yao4 xia4 bus liao. Deng3 yi4 xia4 hen3 duo2 ren2 yao4 zuo4 liao." In other words, she's giving up her seat to me! I smiled and thanked her... so touched!

Kindred spirit aboard bus 157
Aboard bus 157, I stood facing an auntie who was seated beside a young lady. I couldn't help but overhear what they were talking about. The auntie with short grey hair was talking about her eyes. Cateracts, I think. The young lady was very concerned and patient with the auntie. ( I guess very few young people are like that. They spoke in dialect and the young lady was really nice and gentle.) Anyway, the young lady alighted a few stops after I boarded the bus, and the auntie smiled at me and said, " Ni3 yao4 zuo4 ma1?" I smiled,declined politely and shifted to the back of the bus. I don't really need to sit today... still, I was touched.

JT's thoughts
No stranger has ever given up their seat for me before... until I met these three ladies. Not even when I'm carrying a gigantic camping bag or a loadful of books. On those three occasions, I was still managing... but I was shown kindess. I find it quite ironic that all these old ladies should be so willing to give their seats for others and care for other passengers. Recently, with all the campaigns about giving up seats to the elderly and needy... I, the young and energetic one, am offered the seat instead. oh. Maybe they thought I'm a kid. Hmmm. Never mind.

Anyway, I'm always reminded of these caring aunties when I see those young working professionals rushing for seats on board the train at Jurong East, Raffles and City Hall MRT... and I can't help but smile to myself. These caring aunties have a heart for others .(what has happened to the young professional workers and they young people of my generation?) Let's give these aunties a toast and a warm round of applause!

Quote of the day no.1:
No fact is self-interpreting.

Quote of the day no.2:
Majority does not decide what is right,
Majority recognizes what is right.

Quote of the day no.3:
The woman is not an after-thought of God,
She is an after-act of God.

Quote of the day no.4:
My idea of God is too small;
My idea of Self is too big.

Of Good, Evil and God
Student: Good exists and so does Evil. And if Evil is the opposite of Good, and Evil is finite, then Good is finite too. If God is Good, and Good is finite, then God is finite.
Mr LT: Are you sure that Evil exists as the opposite of Good?
(Mr LT pauses)
Mr LT: Let me put it this way, this room is too well-lit or too bright. I want to make this room darker. How do I do it?
Student: Switch off the lights...
Mr LT: Do you switch on darkness? No... there is no darkness that exists independently on its own.
Student: And so...
Mr LT: Darkness is an Absence of light. Similarly, Evil does not exist apart from Good. Evil is an absence of Good.
Student: If God is infinite, and Evil is the absence of Good... then...
(Student has more to think about now)

JT's concluding remarks:
Evil exists as the absence of Good.
Good does not exist as the absence of Evil because Good pre-exists.

Blown away? Have something to say? Tag!

Quote of the day no.1:
Conformity to God is not uniformity.

Quote of the day no.2:
Reason cannot come from non-reason.

The flaw in evolution:
student: Man is not created by God on the seventh day. Man came from evolution and the big bang.
Mr LT: Are you asking me a reasonable question?
Student: Of course.
Mr LT: Are you asking me a reasonable question with a reasonable mind?
Student: Yes.
Mr LT: Where did your reason come from?
Student: From my parents of course.
Mr LT: Where did your parents' reason come from?
Student: From my grandparents.
Mr LT: And your grandparents' reason?
Student: From my great grandparents...
Mr LT: And so your reason goes all the way back..
Student: yes...
Mr LT: You are reasonable because your parents are reasonable, because your grandparents are reasonable... and so on. Reason comes from reason. If Man came from the big bang and from evolution, which is random, where did your reason come from?
Student: ...

JT's concluding remarks upon conversing with Mr LT:
Reason cannot be random and unreasonable. For us to be reasonable, our ancestors have to come from reason, and the first reason must pre-exist all of us. The first reason exists absolutely on its own and this first reason is God.
*Hey fellow brothers and sisters in christ, it is true isn't it? We have a reasonable God.
Sideline: hmmm... JT thinks about the song 'We are the reason'.
Hey friends, does this provoke any remarks? Tag!

counter reads: 191

Quote of the day:
The characteristics you dislike most in other people is probably the characteristic you dislike in yourself.

Loner
No man is an island. It's tough to work alone. When no one shares your goals, when no one understands where you are heading, you work alone. Like a piece of hot coal out of the pitt, you slowly cool out alone.

But remember, the One who makes oxygen knows. You are not isolated or struggling to warm up the surroundings in vain. If you remember the One who gives freely, you know that if you ask and trust, He will fan the world into flames.

counter reads: 174

Quotes of the day no.1:
People who expire intellectually die not of murder but of suicide.

Quote of the day no. 2:
Discipline invovles regularity that is pursued.

Quote of the day no. 3:
When you're in it, you don't see it.

Quote of the day no. 4:
God never fixed me up so that I cannot sin;
He fixed me up so that I cannot sin and enjoy it.
-- quoted by Dr Fernando from someone else...

Oxymoron of the day:
Young people try to be different and individualistic so as to fit into a group.

A lesson that I've to be taught over and over again:
Be neat. Put your things back in its place after use.
(I've more quotes of the days collected from wonderful and convicted speakers... but I've misplaced it... again.)

To change or not to change
Back to my phone again. I'm seriously considering changing my lousy plan. So, I did a little research on ze M1, Singtel and Starhub websites. Conclusion? I liked M1 website best coz it's most user-friendly. My next conclusion about which plan to use? None. I'm looking for a really really cheap and good deal, which means less than $25 including caller ID. So far, all plans cost at least $29.But, looking at my average bill so far, I can get a much better deal if I apply for a new plan that costs just as much. Erm, on the other hand, I'm trying to cut cost, which means a smaller no. should be seen on the dreaded sheet of paper every month... which means that I should go for a cheaper plan. But, if I use a cheaper plan, I'd end up paying just as much after the promotion period. And if I try to scrimp and save on my talk time and sms (which means I'd not be replying ur smses with much suppression and regret), my bill can be around $20 (which is good).

After thinking and thinking about it, I think podlite or pod18 sounds good. Most of the time, I use my phone during peak hours. So, having longer off-peak time is not that necessary... so Podlite will be the emerging champion amongst all the plans!

Now, to get the stamp for parental approval.

But wait, I could exchange plans (and hopefully retain my number) with my mum who has 360free sms-es, 100min talk time... and she doesn't really sms. That plan's good enough for me already...
Things for JT's market research:
1) If that 100min is off-peak, peak or all time.
2) If my own 50min is peak, off-peak or all time.
3) The amount of time my mum uses for peak and off peak and how much it will cost if she's using my plan.
4) The amount that I'll spend if I'm using my mum's plan.
5) Overall cost benefit analysis... and decide if plan-exchange or podlite is the ultimate champion.

*Results of the match will be out soon...*

counter reads: 156

ArGh. PraNk CaLLs!

Yesterday, some prankster called my hp like three or four times at different times of the day and kept silent on the other end... WASTE my Money on Picking up those rubbish private number calls. ArGh. The good thing is... it stopped at 3 or 4 calls after my friend answered the call for me. Enough of this please. *Another reason to be rid of my phone*