every day reveals something new...sometimes you choose them...but mostly , they choose you...so live life each heart beat at a time because any moment , everything can change.
" it means that i , like God , do not play with dice and i don't believe in coincidences "
v for vendetta
v for vendetta
it's official . over the span of three days , every single person that i have not seen and / or not talked to for some time have popped up just when they crossed my mind , especially the two i met because the trams were stopped and i had to walk to and from church on sunday .
anyway , despite the lack of blogging activity , i have actually been spending a considerable amount of time online . i have finally transferred my history and i'm moving to a new blog .
there are two reasons for this . first of all , i want to keep the commenting faculty open , not that i am expecting any comments on my entries but for that of the second reason .
i have moved to wordpress because they allow multiple pages on a single site . hence , an outlet for my recent interest in theology / philosophy / theosophy . those who share such interests , or hunger for some are most welcome to indulge themselves .
there is much to do before i have fully customized my new blog , but i chose today / tomorrow to launch it because of the feasts that occur on these days . 27th of august is the feast of saint monica , the mother of saint augustine , patron saint of theology among other things , whose feast is on the 28th of august .
so , please update your links . i have moved to http://disgruntledepiphany.wordpress.com
anyway , despite the lack of blogging activity , i have actually been spending a considerable amount of time online . i have finally transferred my history and i'm moving to a new blog .
there are two reasons for this . first of all , i want to keep the commenting faculty open , not that i am expecting any comments on my entries but for that of the second reason .
i have moved to wordpress because they allow multiple pages on a single site . hence , an outlet for my recent interest in theology / philosophy / theosophy . those who share such interests , or hunger for some are most welcome to indulge themselves .
there is much to do before i have fully customized my new blog , but i chose today / tomorrow to launch it because of the feasts that occur on these days . 27th of august is the feast of saint monica , the mother of saint augustine , patron saint of theology among other things , whose feast is on the 28th of august .
so , please update your links . i have moved to http://disgruntledepiphany.wordpress.com
Labels: daily life
it's about 740 ante meridiem . i just finished editing the photos for maria's graduation...after indulging myself with a generous amount of alcohol i hadn't had in a long time .
the basic editing took a little longer than expected . my vision is increasingly blurred by the second . it's a little weird being in the house using the computer when the actual residents are sleeping in the next room...but sometimes , you just have to do what you have to do .
i planned to sleep after i go to church in a little while...and then i remembered the plans for studley park . this weekend was supposed to be my eye of the storm...a period of rest before the coming week which i foresee to be one heck of a roller coaster ride .
the philosophy remains...take each day one heartbeat at a time . i just hope i have a heartbeat left by the end of the week .
the basic editing took a little longer than expected . my vision is increasingly blurred by the second . it's a little weird being in the house using the computer when the actual residents are sleeping in the next room...but sometimes , you just have to do what you have to do .
i planned to sleep after i go to church in a little while...and then i remembered the plans for studley park . this weekend was supposed to be my eye of the storm...a period of rest before the coming week which i foresee to be one heck of a roller coaster ride .
the philosophy remains...take each day one heartbeat at a time . i just hope i have a heartbeat left by the end of the week .
Labels: daily life
first , this happened :
then this :
" no-one at united will publicly admit it but with two points from three games , they are already so seriously adrift of the league leadership , it could be terminal "" we've got ourselves an uphill battle "
source : espnsoccernet
having a little faith starts to seem increasingly distant
Labels: daily life
" ho - bart , ho - bart ! " he shouts my name at the top of his voice...on church grounds ." that's twice in two days...it's too much , hobart "
" yeah...you're stalking me aren't you , father ? "
" (laughs) get a restraining order on me then "
it's always entertaining when the jesuits visit st. ambrose . they always travel in small throngs and father robin never fails to light up our encounters .
anyway , i met up with a couple of friends for coffee on friday before c.o.s.d.u. actually , come to think about it , none of us had coffee . it's peculiar how 'coffee' has become synonymous with meeting-up-to-talk .
some of the thoughts that came up were so engrossing that i wrote them down on a random monash uni card so i wouldn't forget them . i took that out of my pocket today .
i jotted down three things .
one was the statement that culture is the best definition of law . something to ponder and argue about .
another corner contained the question of charitable practicality . in summary , there was a conversation about how we always procrastinate and say we'll be more responsible with regards to social justice after we've established our careers and are earning enough serious moolah to go around . we never seem to bother taking small steps and then proclaim that we're going to climb the mountain one day .
most of the doodles were about the defense of morality . one of them said that when you're good (morally) , you didn't have to proclaim it with words to prove and defend yourself . i've always been fascinated with this phenomena of inner radiance . father paul newton once explained it with a story of his nephew's visit to see the late pope john paul II . when he was asked what he thought about the late pope , he replied ,
" he's so ugly...but you...you just want to get close to him "
he elaborated that you could see , no offense intended , that the late pope needed plastic surgery in too many ways , but there was something unspoken about him , an aura that radiated attraction . a certain beauty of the inner soul .
i've come to realize that some of us do this better than others . this phenomena . the danger of this is also its illusional potential...but that's a story for another day not too far from now .
anyway , despite our innate understanding for differentiating the good and the bad , sometimes , those who are good do need to defend themselves with words , because there are those who lack an understanding of what those values are and mean . a little something i've been thinking about .
i left the coffee table bidding farewell to a friend of years who will be leaving melbourne for good , another rosary bracelet richer , and just a little wiser...i hope .
anyway , i met up with a couple of friends for coffee on friday before c.o.s.d.u. actually , come to think about it , none of us had coffee . it's peculiar how 'coffee' has become synonymous with meeting-up-to-talk .
some of the thoughts that came up were so engrossing that i wrote them down on a random monash uni card so i wouldn't forget them . i took that out of my pocket today .
i jotted down three things .
one was the statement that culture is the best definition of law . something to ponder and argue about .
another corner contained the question of charitable practicality . in summary , there was a conversation about how we always procrastinate and say we'll be more responsible with regards to social justice after we've established our careers and are earning enough serious moolah to go around . we never seem to bother taking small steps and then proclaim that we're going to climb the mountain one day .
most of the doodles were about the defense of morality . one of them said that when you're good (morally) , you didn't have to proclaim it with words to prove and defend yourself . i've always been fascinated with this phenomena of inner radiance . father paul newton once explained it with a story of his nephew's visit to see the late pope john paul II . when he was asked what he thought about the late pope , he replied ,
" he's so ugly...but you...you just want to get close to him "
he elaborated that you could see , no offense intended , that the late pope needed plastic surgery in too many ways , but there was something unspoken about him , an aura that radiated attraction . a certain beauty of the inner soul .
i've come to realize that some of us do this better than others . this phenomena . the danger of this is also its illusional potential...but that's a story for another day not too far from now .
anyway , despite our innate understanding for differentiating the good and the bad , sometimes , those who are good do need to defend themselves with words , because there are those who lack an understanding of what those values are and mean . a little something i've been thinking about .
i left the coffee table bidding farewell to a friend of years who will be leaving melbourne for good , another rosary bracelet richer , and just a little wiser...i hope .
Labels: daily life
i'm told by the judges , that these were the dishes , respectively , that swung the points the guys' way last night :
the chicken soup that was boiled for five hours...an extension of a recipe i came up with more than a year ago except there was more water , thrice the amount of garilc , less chilli (for the poor sick souls including me) , no lemongrass , and the new additions...mushrooms and maggi seasoning .
a proud brainchild of mine . i called it the hidden treasure (yeah...corny i know) and it actually took longer to make than the chicken . those who were there commented that the treasures were already visible above the bowl . that was just the fruit topping and some fresh passionfruit coulis . beneath that was a layer of mango jello , another layer of fruit , a layer of panna cotta , another layer of fruit , a layer of blended cream cheese usually seen in cheesecakes and the yummiest layer which most didn't dig deep enough to enjoy , the base . those who left early don't know what they missed out on...well...until now of course , if any of you are reading this .
the chicken soup that was boiled for five hours...an extension of a recipe i came up with more than a year ago except there was more water , thrice the amount of garilc , less chilli (for the poor sick souls including me) , no lemongrass , and the new additions...mushrooms and maggi seasoning .
a proud brainchild of mine . i called it the hidden treasure (yeah...corny i know) and it actually took longer to make than the chicken . those who were there commented that the treasures were already visible above the bowl . that was just the fruit topping and some fresh passionfruit coulis . beneath that was a layer of mango jello , another layer of fruit , a layer of panna cotta , another layer of fruit , a layer of blended cream cheese usually seen in cheesecakes and the yummiest layer which most didn't dig deep enough to enjoy , the base . those who left early don't know what they missed out on...well...until now of course , if any of you are reading this .the recipes that need to be written will be done in time...but the problem is that most of the addition of ingredients were purely instinctive and unquantified as of yet .
it felt blissful just sleeping at home after church today...well , except that now i'm here .
Labels: daily life
congratulations (in graduating order i believe) :
ian
jason
ian
for the other photos , wait for them to be uploaded into the c.o.s.d.u. website...or ask them from me...or from the graduates themselves .
after the graduations , i rushed home to cook for the housewarming :
that was the saturday that sent me to my bed on sunday with less than half a voice .
after the graduations , i rushed home to cook for the housewarming :
that was the saturday that sent me to my bed on sunday with less than half a voice .
Labels: daily life
of all the days i jeer at the singaporeans ar , today...today is the day i jeer the hardest . nola...i think it would be edging towards being suicidal to do that...it's like cheering for arsenal when you're in a bar filled with manchester united fans...especially when they are actually playing each other .
anyway , for the singaporeans , wherever you are , enjoy your national day .
for those of you who are deprived (although knowing singaporeans , their kiasu-ness will pave their paths to find whatever they want) , here are the theme songs for the ndp (links courtesy of marcus) :
anyway , for the singaporeans , wherever you are , enjoy your national day .
for those of you who are deprived (although knowing singaporeans , their kiasu-ness will pave their paths to find whatever they want) , here are the theme songs for the ndp (links courtesy of marcus) :
and i found these clips of 'singapore personified' quite hilarious , especially part three (links via tomorrow and mr. miyagi ) :
majulah singapura !
Labels: daily life
i just came from being spoiled with a home-cooked dinner . it's a luxury that hobart doesn't get to enjoy very often in melbourne . i find myself uncannily spilling more information than i would be comfortable sharing with friends...so i decided that i needed to get out of the house . being vulnerable is somewhat fulfilling...but simultaneously uncomfortable too .
august is a month that's very close to my heart . perhaps that's why i'm particularly vulnerable . amongst all the months of the year , i miss home the most in august .
mum turns 55 on friday . later in the month , on the 28th , it will be my parent's 31st year together . of all the times i call mum , she's the most gentle woman during these two occasions . i know i've posted this photo before , but hey , it's the sweetest one i have of them :
august is a month that's very close to my heart . perhaps that's why i'm particularly vulnerable . amongst all the months of the year , i miss home the most in august .
mum turns 55 on friday . later in the month , on the 28th , it will be my parent's 31st year together . of all the times i call mum , she's the most gentle woman during these two occasions . i know i've posted this photo before , but hey , it's the sweetest one i have of them :
i thought i'd be relieved when mum stops calling me three to five times a day . funny things we humans are...i miss her more now .
as someone once said , closeness is the strength of presence during absence .
as someone once said , closeness is the strength of presence during absence .
Labels: daily life
remnants of the man that was , snippets of the man to be
Published Sunday, August 05, 2007 by hobart.
epiph.a.ny , i-'pi-f&-nE , noun
3 a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure b : a revealing scene or moment
i would've taken more photos if not for the internal fogging . i didn't want to risk short circuiting my camera . still , we guys couldn't resist the poses :
i maintain that snowboarding kicks skiing's arse anytime . sure , it's easier to mobilize and navigate on skis (especially on flat land or on sticky snow) , but it's more challenging on the board and we are definitely capable of speeding faster...unless of course , you're a professional on the skis . and if that's not enough , we look way cooler...even when we fall .
the only problem is that most of the time , the only way to break the momentum to prevent crashing into someone else is to land on your ass first .
one of my highlights of the day was going down from the highest chair lift point . the journey to get there took ages and the temperatures frosted my glasses , but it was exhilarating to say the least .
i believe somehow the story of me snowboarding all the way down on one leg has been spreading . the front strap for my right foot was jammed and i couldn't fit my foot in...so yes...i was forced to risk breaking my legs by snowboarding all the way down with only my left foot strapped in...but i did it .
i was moving at such high speeds that when i fell , i probably flew almost the same distance i traveled before , making somersaults along the way . when i eventually made it to the equipment shop to change my board , the guys at the counter were awed :
" you need to take a breather man . you look like a walking snowman "
there was another point later when i was recovering from one of my falls when another skier was around . we were both waiting to go down the slope again .
" you go ahead first . i'm just a beginner "
another comment that made my day . i didn't even bother to tell him that i was one too . all i could think of later was a shower and hitting the bed .
the curse was broken . although i still sleep at abnormal hours , i've been sleeping like a baby .
i woke up without any aches except for that at the coccyx . that's one of the memoirs i shall carry from the trip .
i also wake up introspective today . physically exhausted , but mentally unprecedented . whilst waiting for the bathroom , i managed to read notes from various sources throughout my brief history here . for several weeks now , i've been contemplating my decision , despite the disbelief of many , to leave c.o.s.d.u. , for a multitude of reasons . someone new asked me on friday what my purpose in c.o.s.d.u. was . i gave him an answer that i didn't realize resounded an epiphany within myself .
there was once a man with a lot in him . that man will remain .
there was once a man with a lack in faith . that man...that man has changed .
still , there are many things to ameliorate my situation . step by step .
i maintain that snowboarding kicks skiing's arse anytime . sure , it's easier to mobilize and navigate on skis (especially on flat land or on sticky snow) , but it's more challenging on the board and we are definitely capable of speeding faster...unless of course , you're a professional on the skis . and if that's not enough , we look way cooler...even when we fall .the only problem is that most of the time , the only way to break the momentum to prevent crashing into someone else is to land on your ass first .
one of my highlights of the day was going down from the highest chair lift point . the journey to get there took ages and the temperatures frosted my glasses , but it was exhilarating to say the least .
i believe somehow the story of me snowboarding all the way down on one leg has been spreading . the front strap for my right foot was jammed and i couldn't fit my foot in...so yes...i was forced to risk breaking my legs by snowboarding all the way down with only my left foot strapped in...but i did it .
i was moving at such high speeds that when i fell , i probably flew almost the same distance i traveled before , making somersaults along the way . when i eventually made it to the equipment shop to change my board , the guys at the counter were awed :
" you need to take a breather man . you look like a walking snowman "
there was another point later when i was recovering from one of my falls when another skier was around . we were both waiting to go down the slope again .
" you go ahead first . i'm just a beginner "
another comment that made my day . i didn't even bother to tell him that i was one too . all i could think of later was a shower and hitting the bed .
the curse was broken . although i still sleep at abnormal hours , i've been sleeping like a baby .
i woke up without any aches except for that at the coccyx . that's one of the memoirs i shall carry from the trip .
i also wake up introspective today . physically exhausted , but mentally unprecedented . whilst waiting for the bathroom , i managed to read notes from various sources throughout my brief history here . for several weeks now , i've been contemplating my decision , despite the disbelief of many , to leave c.o.s.d.u. , for a multitude of reasons . someone new asked me on friday what my purpose in c.o.s.d.u. was . i gave him an answer that i didn't realize resounded an epiphany within myself .
there was once a man with a lot in him . that man will remain .
there was once a man with a lack in faith . that man...that man has changed .
still , there are many things to ameliorate my situation . step by step .
Labels: daily life
i only brought my camera after the dinner event...but here's what i got :
Labels: daily life
nine hours of poker . monday ten plus post meridiem to tuesday 740 ante meridiem .
i'm pretty sure i had more full houses , flushes , straights and other seemingly impossible hands in one night than the number of wins accumulated by the others . even four kings graced my hand with its appearance at some point . it climaxed at the point when i was taunting them by layering my wall of chips .
eventually , everyone else was paranoid of every raise and every pair that appeared for fear of the triplets and full houses i held too often . it became too easy to get away with bluffs . they even came up with the golden rule...' never go against hobart when you have only moderately good cards ' because i somehow always have one better or the best hand .
needless to say , every single person was eventually bankrupted when it came to a showdown with me . i picked them off one by one...even until the last chip . there was no rest until everything was officially mine . insert evil laughter .
twenty pieces of five cents , five twenty cent pieces and a gold two dollar coin . four dollars total .
i repeated the feat last night / this morning...but on a table with only three players . i'm told that one of my opponent's msn nick displays something along the lines of ' never play poker with hobart ' .
they say i should spend my nights playing at crown . nahh...i'm not that good...just lucky . it's obviously not the reward that matters , but the company . of course , the paranoia and the winning just happen to be marvelous bonuses .
i'm pretty sure i had more full houses , flushes , straights and other seemingly impossible hands in one night than the number of wins accumulated by the others . even four kings graced my hand with its appearance at some point . it climaxed at the point when i was taunting them by layering my wall of chips .
eventually , everyone else was paranoid of every raise and every pair that appeared for fear of the triplets and full houses i held too often . it became too easy to get away with bluffs . they even came up with the golden rule...' never go against hobart when you have only moderately good cards ' because i somehow always have one better or the best hand .
needless to say , every single person was eventually bankrupted when it came to a showdown with me . i picked them off one by one...even until the last chip . there was no rest until everything was officially mine . insert evil laughter .
twenty pieces of five cents , five twenty cent pieces and a gold two dollar coin . four dollars total .
i repeated the feat last night / this morning...but on a table with only three players . i'm told that one of my opponent's msn nick displays something along the lines of ' never play poker with hobart ' .
they say i should spend my nights playing at crown . nahh...i'm not that good...just lucky . it's obviously not the reward that matters , but the company . of course , the paranoia and the winning just happen to be marvelous bonuses .
Labels: daily life
is having a lot of friends a sign of a better person than feeling connected with a smaller group of friends ? quantity over quality ?
as i look back at the week that has just passed , i smile when i realize the timely appearances of those i have not spoken to for ages . it's as if they had a radar for picking up when i'm not doing too well .
some people are what i call superficial . the kind of people who must keep conversing to maintain comfort and friendships...and it goes both ways . they usually have a lot of friends but are alone in the most significant sense . the lack of inner self moulds them into their surroundings...a mask so you don't realize all that they lack .
i don't believe in friends who share everything because that , to me , is not a sign of closeness . i remembered this week the treasure of those you're comfortable in silence with . they understand that presence matters more .
" it is by silence that the power of God dwells in you , and because of silence that the mysteries of God are known to you "
the Desert Fathers
Labels: daily life
nothing gets a man as down as when an ugly woman says no
Published Saturday, July 28, 2007 by hobart.
after another night of being a card shark and scoring yet again at poker , it was an early rise at what i consider an ungodly time on a saturday at eight ante meridiem for a retreat i was invited to . i was under the impression that we'd be hearing talks about discerning our vocations . it was...that...well mostly .
the first sign that foretell what i was going to experience came from the name they gave the retreat . i only saw it as we entered the hall . ' singles retreat ' it read . insert ominous music .
okay okay....so it was still good . it was just what i needed after such a week , just to get home to God...particularly with the included adoration . let me organize , recollect and share...
this is how father paul newton begun ; close your eyes (obviously , don't take this literally or you won't be able to read the following lines will you ?) . think of something you really want at this moment in time . something concrete .
was it getting to Heaven ?
it's a dismal world when we realize that we are trapped in the stigma of self in our world today . everything we want and need is centered on ourselves...hardly ever on God . everything becomes a matter or relativism . the i'll-do-this-if-i-get-that or something as simple as i'll-go-only-if-that-someone-is-there situation . our demands are poisoned by the need to overcome our own problems , to fulfill our own needs . we start playing God and call our own shots . as he aptly put it , we all need to be purged of ourselves . that isn't to say that our will is less important and is vetoed by His , but that our will is His invitation working together and through us , but...only if we don't put ourselves first .
there were a lot of ideas that were beautifully put forward today . obviously , there isn't a specific answer for how we discern our vocations . i liked the idea that there's a message in all aspects of reality . sometimes , its worth going back to the beginning . mostly , we face a phobia of stepping into a direction of the unknown . the inability to live in the present . the i'd-like-to-know-before-i-say-yes syndrome . and even when you overcome that , there's the ' why ' we're stepping into that direction(s) to consider .
i find it amusing that most of the questions were directed at how we discern that 'right someone' for us and what if that 'right someone' never comes along despite your desires , perhaps due to unforeseen circumstances ?
back to the problem of calling our own shots , we ask for what we want . you know...the perfect man with the perfect body , neither an alpha male nor the snag , or the woman with certain ahem assets to brag about . everything in perfect balance . we forget to include what God wants into the picture .
about the possibility of the extinction of ' the one ' made for us , the first question is obviously whether you're really called for marriage . if you're confident that you are...the universe aligned and revealed signs that you just must get married ( note the sarcasm ) , the question then becomes what kind of God do you believe in ? do you really think he's the meanie who taunts you by setting you off on a path to laugh at your failure to reach its end ? the carrot-dangling God ?
how do you know if you're on the right track with that ' right someone ' ?
obviously , there are many answers to look for...but the part that captured me the most today was that you know when it brings you closer to God...not in the go-to-church-together-with-that-whoever way or the pray-to-God-for-what-you-want-for-you-and-whoever way but praying for what He wants . then there's the element of growing together in faith . perhaps not in the let's-debate-each-other-on-religious-topics-nerd way , but at least the confidence that both are discerning each other actively and prayerfully with God . not the can't-i-believe-enough-for-the-two-of-us? syndrome .
what if it's interfaith ? i don't know...but i do know that everything usually falls apart when either or both parties realize that they're being drawn further from their beliefs...even when they're atheists . i'm not implying that these will never work...i have personally seen and experienced firsthand the miracle of my mum catalysing the conversion of the whole of my nuclear family into catholics .
i know i sort of jumped away from the part about discernment earlier , but that's because i found the relevance of the fact that we're almost never capable of saying that ' i have discerned ' . what we usually mean is that ' i have thought long and hard about my choices ' . we are always , always , always discerning or rather , we should be . every moment , anything can change . we are but pilgrims seeking direction...and direction can change .
oh...i almost forgot . i ended the day with an a cappella concert at chapel off chapel . the organizer , eric , has been raving about them since he first saw them . they proved to be fantastic to say the least . they sang one of my favorites...and then some . two encores at that . and to cap it all off , some of their songs were absolutely hilarious . hysterical laughter hilarious .
yep...nothing gets a man as down as when an ugly woman says no .
the first sign that foretell what i was going to experience came from the name they gave the retreat . i only saw it as we entered the hall . ' singles retreat ' it read . insert ominous music .
okay okay....so it was still good . it was just what i needed after such a week , just to get home to God...particularly with the included adoration . let me organize , recollect and share...
this is how father paul newton begun ; close your eyes (obviously , don't take this literally or you won't be able to read the following lines will you ?) . think of something you really want at this moment in time . something concrete .
was it getting to Heaven ?
it's a dismal world when we realize that we are trapped in the stigma of self in our world today . everything we want and need is centered on ourselves...hardly ever on God . everything becomes a matter or relativism . the i'll-do-this-if-i-get-that or something as simple as i'll-go-only-if-that-someone-is-there situation . our demands are poisoned by the need to overcome our own problems , to fulfill our own needs . we start playing God and call our own shots . as he aptly put it , we all need to be purged of ourselves . that isn't to say that our will is less important and is vetoed by His , but that our will is His invitation working together and through us , but...only if we don't put ourselves first .
there were a lot of ideas that were beautifully put forward today . obviously , there isn't a specific answer for how we discern our vocations . i liked the idea that there's a message in all aspects of reality . sometimes , its worth going back to the beginning . mostly , we face a phobia of stepping into a direction of the unknown . the inability to live in the present . the i'd-like-to-know-before-i-say-yes syndrome . and even when you overcome that , there's the ' why ' we're stepping into that direction(s) to consider .
i find it amusing that most of the questions were directed at how we discern that 'right someone' for us and what if that 'right someone' never comes along despite your desires , perhaps due to unforeseen circumstances ?
back to the problem of calling our own shots , we ask for what we want . you know...the perfect man with the perfect body , neither an alpha male nor the snag , or the woman with certain ahem assets to brag about . everything in perfect balance . we forget to include what God wants into the picture .
about the possibility of the extinction of ' the one ' made for us , the first question is obviously whether you're really called for marriage . if you're confident that you are...the universe aligned and revealed signs that you just must get married ( note the sarcasm ) , the question then becomes what kind of God do you believe in ? do you really think he's the meanie who taunts you by setting you off on a path to laugh at your failure to reach its end ? the carrot-dangling God ?
how do you know if you're on the right track with that ' right someone ' ?
obviously , there are many answers to look for...but the part that captured me the most today was that you know when it brings you closer to God...not in the go-to-church-together-with-that-whoever way or the pray-to-God-for-what-you-want-for-you-and-whoever way but praying for what He wants . then there's the element of growing together in faith . perhaps not in the let's-debate-each-other-on-religious-topics-nerd way , but at least the confidence that both are discerning each other actively and prayerfully with God . not the can't-i-believe-enough-for-the-two-of-us? syndrome .
what if it's interfaith ? i don't know...but i do know that everything usually falls apart when either or both parties realize that they're being drawn further from their beliefs...even when they're atheists . i'm not implying that these will never work...i have personally seen and experienced firsthand the miracle of my mum catalysing the conversion of the whole of my nuclear family into catholics .
i know i sort of jumped away from the part about discernment earlier , but that's because i found the relevance of the fact that we're almost never capable of saying that ' i have discerned ' . what we usually mean is that ' i have thought long and hard about my choices ' . we are always , always , always discerning or rather , we should be . every moment , anything can change . we are but pilgrims seeking direction...and direction can change .
oh...i almost forgot . i ended the day with an a cappella concert at chapel off chapel . the organizer , eric , has been raving about them since he first saw them . they proved to be fantastic to say the least . they sang one of my favorites...and then some . two encores at that . and to cap it all off , some of their songs were absolutely hilarious . hysterical laughter hilarious .
yep...nothing gets a man as down as when an ugly woman says no .
Labels: daily life
i haven't blogged for some time . there's been a lot on my mind lately . to be honest , i did type some entries...but they'll remain as drafts as they rightfully should be , only for the appreciation of no other eyes but mine alone . so i'm selfish...bite me .
i once said that i've always been blessed and cursed with more hours than most because of my inability to sleep like 'normal' people . this has been more evident for the past week or so . i find myself needing to keep myself busy so there isn't time for other thoughts to slip in . my feet carry me far before i have exhausted myself whereby i collapse on my bed and submit to the torture of thoughts .
i've had more nightmares the past few days than i have in my lifetime...i've woken up with more splitting headaches than i have in my lifetime .
i have also watched more movies than i normally do...which is...a lot . today , there aren't any discount tickets . monday and tuesday have come and gone . yet , i needed to watch something .
i always try to avoid the question when people ask me to review movies...mostly because we all have different tastes . however , the trailer for the movie i just caught captivated me on monday night .
it's one of those rare moments where you find yourself telling yourself that you have to watch it . it's similar to when you find an outfit you like or anything along those lines , even someone that suits you . you can't explain it . you just have to trust yourself .
the plot's not something fantastic to rave about (then again , so are most love themed stories) , but its beauty...unbelievable . it's not fancy visual effects that i'm talking about...it's the feeling it left lingering within me...but most of all , it's because i finally found a movie that actually understands me...even if it's just a part of me . it's like how they say that sometimes books put your thoughts into words when you can't . it identifies...you identify .
i once said that i've always been blessed and cursed with more hours than most because of my inability to sleep like 'normal' people . this has been more evident for the past week or so . i find myself needing to keep myself busy so there isn't time for other thoughts to slip in . my feet carry me far before i have exhausted myself whereby i collapse on my bed and submit to the torture of thoughts .
i've had more nightmares the past few days than i have in my lifetime...i've woken up with more splitting headaches than i have in my lifetime .
i have also watched more movies than i normally do...which is...a lot . today , there aren't any discount tickets . monday and tuesday have come and gone . yet , i needed to watch something .
i always try to avoid the question when people ask me to review movies...mostly because we all have different tastes . however , the trailer for the movie i just caught captivated me on monday night .
it's one of those rare moments where you find yourself telling yourself that you have to watch it . it's similar to when you find an outfit you like or anything along those lines , even someone that suits you . you can't explain it . you just have to trust yourself .
the plot's not something fantastic to rave about (then again , so are most love themed stories) , but its beauty...unbelievable . it's not fancy visual effects that i'm talking about...it's the feeling it left lingering within me...but most of all , it's because i finally found a movie that actually understands me...even if it's just a part of me . it's like how they say that sometimes books put your thoughts into words when you can't . it identifies...you identify .
Labels: daily life
...half the people on the streets and those around you are s(n)uffering from a cold .
Labels: daily life
i once read about the difference between jealousy and envy . according to the author , jealousy is mere insecurity possibly built on the foundation of admiration coupled with the longing for an object or quality you don't possess . envy is when that turns into resentment and you let it consume you .
yesterday , i heard a philosophy that makes the world go round . it's the fact that we're sad when goodness seems to become hard . so much so that when people recognize values and qualities that seem impossible for us to fathom or achieve , we start to resent and undermine them to convince ourselves that we're better off without . some even feel the need to threaten and mock to pull those we ourselves label as 'high and mighty' against their will to stoop to our level .
i realize that such a philosophy applies in too many things . writing something like this exposes the author to many traps but the beauty of this is that the content itself is sufficient as self-defense . yesterday , i heard a philosophy that makes the world go round . it's the fact that we're sad when goodness seems to become hard . so much so that when people recognize values and qualities that seem impossible for us to fathom or achieve , we start to resent and undermine them to convince ourselves that we're better off without . some even feel the need to threaten and mock to pull those we ourselves label as 'high and mighty' against their will to stoop to our level .
Labels: daily life
i enjoy moments when people put ideas into perspective in ways you'd never even think about . here's a thought that got stuck in my head since i heard it earlier :
"co-dependence is when each has a wing and they can only achieve flight when their wings are united together as a set . love is when both have a full set of wings but choose to use them only when they're together"
Labels: daily life
" so...what did you graduate from ? "
" oh...i got a bachelors in biomedical science "
" oh...i got a bachelors in biomedical science "
then the face . it's an expression i can't yet put my finger on . confusion , shock with a hint of awe and an awkward moment of silence .
" oohhh....you're in the right place "
i've been getting it all week .
then the conversation steers into a reference list of bio-ethicists :
" oh...have you heard of (insert name) ? he's very good (i don't mean to be sexist , but strangely enough , it's never been a 'she' yet )"
i find it very amusing that my degree is automatically associated with a bio-ethicist . perhaps i shall write down all those names and schedule a week where i'll visit all of of them .
" oh...hi...how are you doing ? my name's hobart (insert hand shake)
someone told me about you . you know , i'm kind of busy...it's my wife's third abortion this saturday . rubbers , the pill...we've done it all...the darn contraceptions just aren't working . what a bitch . amidst all that , work is really piling up...i have to tell the smiths that their baby has cystic fibrosis and they should really get rid of it . i mean there's no point to keeping it right ? i mean...it's still a fetus , not an embryo yet right ? it's not like you'll go to hell or something . who wants to raise a sick kid anyway ? that's just the fourth abortion i've advocated this week...i'm shooting for lucky number seven . such is the life of a genetic counselor . then there's those bastards that keep complaining about my research on embryonic stem cells . what's their problem ? we're trying to save lives here .
on top of all that , there's grandma's euthanasia to consider . if it were up to me , i'd say just end the misery already .
anyway...so my priest says to me that i should see you for some advice . i don't really know why... "
someone told me about you . you know , i'm kind of busy...it's my wife's third abortion this saturday . rubbers , the pill...we've done it all...the darn contraceptions just aren't working . what a bitch . amidst all that , work is really piling up...i have to tell the smiths that their baby has cystic fibrosis and they should really get rid of it . i mean there's no point to keeping it right ? i mean...it's still a fetus , not an embryo yet right ? it's not like you'll go to hell or something . who wants to raise a sick kid anyway ? that's just the fourth abortion i've advocated this week...i'm shooting for lucky number seven . such is the life of a genetic counselor . then there's those bastards that keep complaining about my research on embryonic stem cells . what's their problem ? we're trying to save lives here .
on top of all that , there's grandma's euthanasia to consider . if it were up to me , i'd say just end the misery already .
anyway...so my priest says to me that i should see you for some advice . i don't really know why... "
hmm...that should pale their faces somewhat .
p.s. hmm...touch wood , touch wood , touch wood .
p.s. hmm...touch wood , touch wood , touch wood .
Labels: daily life
pronunciation: "mer-&-'nAd, ma-r&-
function: noun
etymology: french, from mariner to pickle, marinate, probably from italian marinare
: a savory usually acidic sauce in which meat, fish, or a vegetable is soaked to enrich its flavor or to tenderize it
merriam webster
function: noun
etymology: french, from mariner to pickle, marinate, probably from italian marinare
: a savory usually acidic sauce in which meat, fish, or a vegetable is soaked to enrich its flavor or to tenderize it
merriam webster
Labels: quotes and books
i really did spend most of yesterday at home , except for the hour or so i was at church . what was i doing ? well...i finished thirteen episodes or grey's anatomy . you do the math .
back to the subject on catching up on grey's , it's been a little slow tonight . i replayed season two , episodes five and six , twice...for some reason , they touch me . it's not everyday you find something that brings up emotional cues close to tears . i suppose sometimes i do underestimate the power of words .
in between all this , i've been trying to go through the videos from the roadtrips and the music i imported . just over 2500 songs . perhaps i should just enjoy the moment and not sift into the details .
like jon said , " i see i got so much music , i just happy only "
anyway , i decided , perhaps foolishly after discovering that i had to return home in the rain , to go out today instead of being an introvert . it's been a long time since i've caught a movie...and i've been wanting to catch this one :
eighteen directors (no i did not make a typing error...eighteen) talk about love with many different short stories . it may sound messy , but it was really...i don't know...i can't find the right word to describe it...but i'd watch it a second round if i had the chance . there were plenty of hilarious segments . so much so i would have splurted water everywhere if i was drinking any . i'm glad my neighbor didn't . unfortunately , i can't find the hilarious ones on youtube , but here's one that i'd say had the most significant effect on me :
eighteen directors (no i did not make a typing error...eighteen) talk about love with many different short stories . it may sound messy , but it was really...i don't know...i can't find the right word to describe it...but i'd watch it a second round if i had the chance . there were plenty of hilarious segments . so much so i would have splurted water everywhere if i was drinking any . i'm glad my neighbor didn't . unfortunately , i can't find the hilarious ones on youtube , but here's one that i'd say had the most significant effect on me :back to the subject on catching up on grey's , it's been a little slow tonight . i replayed season two , episodes five and six , twice...for some reason , they touch me . it's not everyday you find something that brings up emotional cues close to tears . i suppose sometimes i do underestimate the power of words .
in between all this , i've been trying to go through the videos from the roadtrips and the music i imported . just over 2500 songs . perhaps i should just enjoy the moment and not sift into the details .
like jon said , " i see i got so much music , i just happy only "
Labels: daily life
remember when i said that everything felt wrong yesterday ? i hesitated to call mum last night .
things haven't exactly been all sweet and strawberry between us...and i was right to hesitate... trouble on the home front .
anyway , it's amazing how much two bunches of broccoli can do sometimes . long story short , i'm back in mum's good books . i guess every mum has their buttons .
things haven't exactly been all sweet and strawberry between us...and i was right to hesitate... trouble on the home front .
anyway , it's amazing how much two bunches of broccoli can do sometimes . long story short , i'm back in mum's good books . i guess every mum has their buttons .
Labels: daily life
" you know...you keep taking everything on faith...how do you know what's real and what's not ? "
i 'woke up' lethargic this morning . my shower last night was cut short when our water supply was restricted . brushing my teeth this morning was still a problem . my mp3 player broke down . i was missing my left ear plug . i had to run to catch the tram . no mood for socializing . everything felt wrong .
it's one of those days where you know that there are storms brewing out there around you and you can't do anything about it even though they may affect you , directly or indirectly . so much so that it's safer for you to be at home just to avoid the outside world because it seems to be against you...you just need to retreat and perhaps just for one day treat yourself to a holiday . just let the world revolve like it doesn't need you because it hurts to focus on anything else . no need to hide any discomforts or insecurities . no need to put on a brave face for the world to see .
more often than not , when my instincts tell me that such days are happening , i'm right . i don't even need to know . perhaps i don't want to . sometimes , as much as such days hurt without you knowing the exact reason why they hurt , choosing to ignore the situation feels like a better temporary solution . i can hardly type anymore .
it's one of those days where you know that there are storms brewing out there around you and you can't do anything about it even though they may affect you , directly or indirectly . so much so that it's safer for you to be at home just to avoid the outside world because it seems to be against you...you just need to retreat and perhaps just for one day treat yourself to a holiday . just let the world revolve like it doesn't need you because it hurts to focus on anything else . no need to hide any discomforts or insecurities . no need to put on a brave face for the world to see .
more often than not , when my instincts tell me that such days are happening , i'm right . i don't even need to know . perhaps i don't want to . sometimes , as much as such days hurt without you knowing the exact reason why they hurt , choosing to ignore the situation feels like a better temporary solution . i can hardly type anymore .
" you just do "
Labels: daily life
i realize my sunday mornings have become a routine when the pretty pharmacist prepares my sunday saver ticket for me as she sees me enter the door , and serves me first despite the line-in-wait , just to get rid of me .
Labels: daily life
i meant to type about this some time ago but it kind of slipped my mind .some time ago , isabel brought a dozen assorted krispy kremes to serve as snacks for the exam labourers in the house .
" i see krispy kremes ! "
" yeahh , you want some ? "
" erm... " (glances through selection)
" nolar..it's okay...i only like the filled ones "
" why ? "
" yeahh , you want some ? "
" erm... " (glances through selection)
" nolar..it's okay...i only like the filled ones "
" why ? "
i thought about it for awhile and then explained somewhere along the lines that i found it intriguing for the best parts of the filled donuts to be hidden . even though i'd obviously know what's inside and what to expect when i chose it , there's still the excitement from anticipating the bite into the gorgeous filling . that's why i'm partial to filled donuts over those with obvious sprinkles or boastful glazes . as the old philosophy says , it's what's on the inside that really matters , not the outside .
then came jon's reply . he analyzed that my donut philosophy also applied to my process of chasing skirts . i paused for a moment...it never even occurred to me in that way . i don't know where he got that from , but i think it's a compliment...so it's all good .
oh and by the way , jon openly admits that his favourite donut is the one with sprinkles .
then came jon's reply . he analyzed that my donut philosophy also applied to my process of chasing skirts . i paused for a moment...it never even occurred to me in that way . i don't know where he got that from , but i think it's a compliment...so it's all good .
oh and by the way , jon openly admits that his favourite donut is the one with sprinkles .
Labels: daily life
"empath is a term coming into common usage to refer to a person feeling expanded sensitivity or clairsentience"
wikipedia
i have always been intrigued by stories of those with amazing minds , but particularly in empaths ; those who are able to pick up emotion and sense their surroundings .
i realized quite some time ago that they actually show good shows on sunday afternoon tv , particularly the older ones like apollo thirteen . i happened to catch phenomenon last sunday (again) .
those with brilliant minds ; fictional or not ; like russell crowe in a beautiful mind , john travolta in phenomenon , matt damon in good will hunting , or kim peek , the real-life savant who inspired rain man , all have things in common beside their intellectual gifts .
they all have their share of being tortured souls , having no one capable of fully understanding them . the truth is...they were alone in the most significant sense . most unfortunate of all , they never fail to gain fear from some people . it is a sad fact that a majority of people are afraid of what and who they do not understand . perhaps it is has become a perennial instinct for survival...but they fail to grasp the consequences of such fear .
imagine a cat-and-mouse chase between an intellectual and an empath . i believe that it will be impossible to decide which one of them will earn the last laugh . in fact , it may even prove difficult at times simply to decide which one of them is the prey or predator .
but...if there was ever the existence of someone who is both (which i am confident there is...some where in this vast universe) , or imagine , if the two characters were the same person , wouldn't that be something to be afraid of ? unpredictability ? as they say , with every capacity of being good , there is the capacity for evil . for someone to be morally disinclined , you must first be ontologically good . lillies that fester smell far worse than weeds . corruptio optimi pessima ; the corruption of the best things are the worst things .
such is the life of people who know more things than what is accepted as the norm nowadays , especially when they always know things they aren't supposed to know .
i realized quite some time ago that they actually show good shows on sunday afternoon tv , particularly the older ones like apollo thirteen . i happened to catch phenomenon last sunday (again) .
those with brilliant minds ; fictional or not ; like russell crowe in a beautiful mind , john travolta in phenomenon , matt damon in good will hunting , or kim peek , the real-life savant who inspired rain man , all have things in common beside their intellectual gifts .
they all have their share of being tortured souls , having no one capable of fully understanding them . the truth is...they were alone in the most significant sense . most unfortunate of all , they never fail to gain fear from some people . it is a sad fact that a majority of people are afraid of what and who they do not understand . perhaps it is has become a perennial instinct for survival...but they fail to grasp the consequences of such fear .
imagine a cat-and-mouse chase between an intellectual and an empath . i believe that it will be impossible to decide which one of them will earn the last laugh . in fact , it may even prove difficult at times simply to decide which one of them is the prey or predator .
but...if there was ever the existence of someone who is both (which i am confident there is...some where in this vast universe) , or imagine , if the two characters were the same person , wouldn't that be something to be afraid of ? unpredictability ? as they say , with every capacity of being good , there is the capacity for evil . for someone to be morally disinclined , you must first be ontologically good . lillies that fester smell far worse than weeds . corruptio optimi pessima ; the corruption of the best things are the worst things .
such is the life of people who know more things than what is accepted as the norm nowadays , especially when they always know things they aren't supposed to know .
Labels: daily life
when you least expect it , colours may appear and brighten up an otherwise dreary day :
and then...just when you thought you had enough , you realize it's a two-for-one deal :
it's hard work (for nature) producing beauties like these , and the thrill may only last for a mere five minutes before they disappear into thin air...but then you're left with a smile and a lingering feeling you cherish .on a photographic note , i'm still stuck with my 70-300 and i know i should really clean my camera .
Labels: daily life
i was gently woken up today when jon received a phone call about the loose gunman . what worried me was how unfazed i was upon receiving the news . then again , there was nothing to really worry about . all i had scheduled was a trip to the bank which i just returned from .
i just realized how desensitized i've become to such news . it's like the time i took the v-line train anyway shortly after the kerang disaster .
i guess you could say that i'm not really tempting fate because the chances of the tragedies happening to me were slim , but the point is , i'm worried that i'm not even the least bit worried and all i have to offer is an "oh okay" response . numb like zach braff in 'garden state' . perhaps that's a good thing to a certain extent . i don't know .
anyway , i'm going to make myself another cup of coffee...it somehow feels like it's going to be a long day . perhaps it's the anticipation setting in . the count is down to hours and minutes .
i just realized how desensitized i've become to such news . it's like the time i took the v-line train anyway shortly after the kerang disaster .
i guess you could say that i'm not really tempting fate because the chances of the tragedies happening to me were slim , but the point is , i'm worried that i'm not even the least bit worried and all i have to offer is an "oh okay" response . numb like zach braff in 'garden state' . perhaps that's a good thing to a certain extent . i don't know .
anyway , i'm going to make myself another cup of coffee...it somehow feels like it's going to be a long day . perhaps it's the anticipation setting in . the count is down to hours and minutes .
Labels: daily life
" pop didn't need to waste a lot of words with us . he was a quiet man , and his shyness grew more pronounced with his deafness . many of the words he used were his own trademark nonsense , like ' ruby jeegy jeeg ' which he'd chant endlessly while he walked some baby to sleep...
pop didn't need to express himself in order to give himself . because after all , it wasn't about him . it was always all about you . whoever you happened to be at the moment . and you knew ; you were his favorite , whether you were his favorite son or daughter , his favorite son-in-law or daughter-in-law , his favorite niece or nephew or grandchild . you were the one who mattered...
i remember one of pop's rare philosophical moments , when he was pacing with mary agnes , who had long since fallen asleep . he said he believed there was a ' silent language of love ' that passed between adults and children . we didn't need to speak out loud , and they didn't need to learn our expressions .
that little phrase , the ' silent language of love ' , said it all for me . that's the language my father spoke all the time . he spoke it with my mother as he put icing on hundreds of cookies she'd baked . it's the language that drew my niece michelle automatically to cuddle with pop on the couch , even when she was a college student visiting along with her friends .
pop could use words very effectively...but the silent language of love is the language he used most fluently and most often . "
it's not father's day here in australia...but today's father's day back home .
as my dad is going into his sixties , the stroke he had years ago has only contributed to his growing deafness and volatile temper . he knows we know . we hardly talk , for fear of pressuring him into associating ideas with words which we know , judging from his expressions , is a difficult task at times . that , however , never stopped him from speaking his silent language of love .
if there was ever a valuable lesson i learned from him , it was definitely that . words are important...but at many a time , actions precede them , especially when they let you know that only you matter , for the simple reason that sometimes , if you don't search deep enough , the grace of words belittles the moments and whys of love .
for that , i will always know dad's love , and of course , His , even in silence , for me .
as for me , i know i'll spend the rest of my life straining to hear that silent langauge and striving to speak it as they do .
pop didn't need to express himself in order to give himself . because after all , it wasn't about him . it was always all about you . whoever you happened to be at the moment . and you knew ; you were his favorite , whether you were his favorite son or daughter , his favorite son-in-law or daughter-in-law , his favorite niece or nephew or grandchild . you were the one who mattered...
i remember one of pop's rare philosophical moments , when he was pacing with mary agnes , who had long since fallen asleep . he said he believed there was a ' silent language of love ' that passed between adults and children . we didn't need to speak out loud , and they didn't need to learn our expressions .
that little phrase , the ' silent language of love ' , said it all for me . that's the language my father spoke all the time . he spoke it with my mother as he put icing on hundreds of cookies she'd baked . it's the language that drew my niece michelle automatically to cuddle with pop on the couch , even when she was a college student visiting along with her friends .
pop could use words very effectively...but the silent language of love is the language he used most fluently and most often . "
mike aquilina
it's not father's day here in australia...but today's father's day back home .
as my dad is going into his sixties , the stroke he had years ago has only contributed to his growing deafness and volatile temper . he knows we know . we hardly talk , for fear of pressuring him into associating ideas with words which we know , judging from his expressions , is a difficult task at times . that , however , never stopped him from speaking his silent language of love .
if there was ever a valuable lesson i learned from him , it was definitely that . words are important...but at many a time , actions precede them , especially when they let you know that only you matter , for the simple reason that sometimes , if you don't search deep enough , the grace of words belittles the moments and whys of love .
for that , i will always know dad's love , and of course , His , even in silence , for me .
as for me , i know i'll spend the rest of my life straining to hear that silent langauge and striving to speak it as they do .
Labels: daily life
yesterday marked the longest amount of time i've spent yet in one single session praying in the layde chapel . how long ? long enough to pray the rosary...all fifteen decades...twice .
before that , i had an important appointment to make . i did it for the first time yesterday...you know the one where it hurts in the beginning...and then you feel wonderful after despite a little aching here and there ? no...not 'that' , this :
before that , i had an important appointment to make . i did it for the first time yesterday...you know the one where it hurts in the beginning...and then you feel wonderful after despite a little aching here and there ? no...not 'that' , this :
those who've done it before will recognize the aftermath on my arm . i was half a litre of blood lighter when i made my way to church . it felt good stoning in bed for the rest of the day later .
Labels: daily life
ever since i've been in melbourne , i don't recall ever experiencing such a dense fog in the city like yesterdays . the photos above were taken at around 5 p.m. the fog was already there when i woke up on friday and it lasted till this morning . since i was up late , it produced pretty eerie photos for the night / morning too :
Labels: daily life
after every show , they always leave a reminder for the audience . it's the one that says something along the lines of ' any similarities to actual persons , living or dead , or to actual events are purely coincidental ' . i'm sure you're all familiar with that clause on fiction .
when i blog an entry that is within quotation marks , it means i'm sourcing from somewhere , usually a movie or a book , and not typing from my personal experience . i carefully discern the material i choose to blog about...so i'd gladly appreciate selective desensitization to certain things i type here . i'm certain i don't have to point out which entry(ies) this entry is directed to . so please exercise caution in the intepretation and spreading of works displayed on this blog . don't make me hunt heads...i do hail from a hometown where the aboriginals specialize in that area .
when i blog an entry that is within quotation marks , it means i'm sourcing from somewhere , usually a movie or a book , and not typing from my personal experience . i carefully discern the material i choose to blog about...so i'd gladly appreciate selective desensitization to certain things i type here . i'm certain i don't have to point out which entry(ies) this entry is directed to . so please exercise caution in the intepretation and spreading of works displayed on this blog . don't make me hunt heads...i do hail from a hometown where the aboriginals specialize in that area .
Labels: daily life
they say that to better know someone , all you have to do is to ask them about their concept of eden . from there , many things will be revealed...assuming that they're telling the truth of course .
i have gotten accustomed to the fact that people are telling me that i currently live in eternity...particularly from those still struggling with exam stress . for a multitude of reasons , both good and bad , i do...i guess .
i finally truly understand einstein's implications when he said that time is relative . it's funny how most people assume my day to day routine to consist of well...nothing . just because you're studying for exams , time seems to always run short and fear seems to always find its way , creeping from little dark unexpected hidden corners . as for me , i always like to believe that i am the embodiment of timelessness . hence , some wonder why i have so much time to do so many things...or nothing .
unbeknownst to most , i have spent most of my time reading on a variety of subjects in between organizational errands and laundry . i'd wager that most of you don't even know i have a library membership here in melbourne...for more than a year now actually...picking up where i left off from my saga of library visits when i was younger . for example , i now know , by heart , the morse code for most of the alphabet . how is that ever going to be useful ? to be honest , i don't know...and to be frank , i don't care . i have been blessed with an abundance of time...so what better way to fill it than feed myself silly with knowledge ? yes...i do realize that i have just unwittingly proclaimed myself as a nerd slash freak...at least i'm a nerd slash freak who knows more stuff than you poor victims of the limited education system .
in other news , my bosom buddy and i have blossomed into an incurable love affair . i'm talking about my guitar , you cheeks . i can safely claim that the library of songs i can play off the top of my head has expanded generously .
my head's also bursting with recipes i've been waiting to try...i'm just waiting for the proper opportunities to do so . i know i know...i can already hear the mass of you volunteering to be my guinea pigs...but sorry , my cooking is off limits for now . you'll have to wait until i get them right . noel , if you're reading this...and for all those studentonnabuget fans , rest assured , i'll introduce my worthy reappearance soon enough .
in the meantime , i'm in bliss praying for those with exams and eagerly anticipating the end of it so i can finally cure my prefer-not-to-be-alone syndrome . the count is six . six more days (for most of you that is) and i'll be celebrating harder than all of you will be .
sorry if the mention reminded all of you of the lack of time you have to revise and if the worry catalysed some panic . so you better get back to studying no ? insert evil and conceited laughter .
i have gotten accustomed to the fact that people are telling me that i currently live in eternity...particularly from those still struggling with exam stress . for a multitude of reasons , both good and bad , i do...i guess .
i finally truly understand einstein's implications when he said that time is relative . it's funny how most people assume my day to day routine to consist of well...nothing . just because you're studying for exams , time seems to always run short and fear seems to always find its way , creeping from little dark unexpected hidden corners . as for me , i always like to believe that i am the embodiment of timelessness . hence , some wonder why i have so much time to do so many things...or nothing .
unbeknownst to most , i have spent most of my time reading on a variety of subjects in between organizational errands and laundry . i'd wager that most of you don't even know i have a library membership here in melbourne...for more than a year now actually...picking up where i left off from my saga of library visits when i was younger . for example , i now know , by heart , the morse code for most of the alphabet . how is that ever going to be useful ? to be honest , i don't know...and to be frank , i don't care . i have been blessed with an abundance of time...so what better way to fill it than feed myself silly with knowledge ? yes...i do realize that i have just unwittingly proclaimed myself as a nerd slash freak...at least i'm a nerd slash freak who knows more stuff than you poor victims of the limited education system .
in other news , my bosom buddy and i have blossomed into an incurable love affair . i'm talking about my guitar , you cheeks . i can safely claim that the library of songs i can play off the top of my head has expanded generously .
my head's also bursting with recipes i've been waiting to try...i'm just waiting for the proper opportunities to do so . i know i know...i can already hear the mass of you volunteering to be my guinea pigs...but sorry , my cooking is off limits for now . you'll have to wait until i get them right . noel , if you're reading this...and for all those studentonnabuget fans , rest assured , i'll introduce my worthy reappearance soon enough .
in the meantime , i'm in bliss praying for those with exams and eagerly anticipating the end of it so i can finally cure my prefer-not-to-be-alone syndrome . the count is six . six more days (for most of you that is) and i'll be celebrating harder than all of you will be .
sorry if the mention reminded all of you of the lack of time you have to revise and if the worry catalysed some panic . so you better get back to studying no ? insert evil and conceited laughter .
Labels: daily life
for a multitude of reasons , this post has been removed . if you want to read what was formerly here , please look for works by mike aquilina . title of the book has been omitted to prevent any further unhealthy speculations .
Labels: quotes and books
although i'm currently isolated from the scientific world , i still have concerns over the future of it...and i have been waiting for a day like this .
Labels: daily life
there's a song that's currently on constant repeat at home . i wake up to it and hear it before i go to sleep...in fact , i haven't been able to stop myself from listening to it ever since i first heard it . it isn't as much the lyrics (although they're quite nice) than it is the guitar...this is how i want to play :
anyway , they asked me to upload some photos from the sorrento trip last week . unfortunately , i only joined them after doing some photography for the all saint's parish website . during that time , my 18-55 jammed , so all the photos i took at sorrento were taken with my 70-300 (or as they all fondly call it , 'whoa...mega zoom' or 'paparazzi lenses') . so...all i have is some scenery with dirty lenses...
some poser shots...
okay...they didn't pose for that last one...i just happened to be there whilst they were contemplating the world .
and then , they insisted that i be in a picture too...so i positioned jian sheng and obliged...i'm going to get so much shit for such a poser shot (they call it the 'lion king shot') :
for everything else , i'm waiting for photos from nicole's camera .
Labels: daily life
instrument baptized by rain
heralding moment's end of slience
arisen , awoken , alert remain
revealing fog of reverence?
heralding moment's end of slience
arisen , awoken , alert remain
revealing fog of reverence?
" this short song was created near the end of the album-writing process . the dual-meaning of the word 'wake' seemed an appropriate introduction to the record "
linkin park , minutes to midnight
Labels: daily life
smile
Labels: daily life
" i wash the sands off my tired feet ,
my body rests my soul to speak "
my body rests my soul to speak "
awhile ago , i received an enthusiastic phone call inquiring my participation for a sunday day trip to mornington...well , specifically , dromana . i was on the verge of declining until they decided to change the destination to mine truly , sorrento .
it's been months since i've been there and it's comforting to know that i still know the place like the back of my hand . i believe there's an audience anticipating a story boasting about the time i had with the rest . sorry to disappoint...there's too many stories to tell . i didn't even sleep last night and it's beginning to take a toll on me despite trying to catch up with that on the way back . for now , all i can offer is a silent smile when you ask me how the trip was...but perhaps i'll share the little stories if you'll ask .
it's been months since i've been there and it's comforting to know that i still know the place like the back of my hand . i believe there's an audience anticipating a story boasting about the time i had with the rest . sorry to disappoint...there's too many stories to tell . i didn't even sleep last night and it's beginning to take a toll on me despite trying to catch up with that on the way back . for now , all i can offer is a silent smile when you ask me how the trip was...but perhaps i'll share the little stories if you'll ask .
Labels: daily life
Stuff about me
- You can call me hobart
- Now currently suffering in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- My profile
- some claim i'm intellectually gifted . i say...i simply know a little bit about everything . some claim i'm an excellent chef . i say...i just love to play with my food . some claim i've got a knack for photography . i say...i just carry my camera with me 24/7 and enjoy taking pictures . everyone claims i claim things that they've never claimed before . i say...erm...oklor .