Heart of Hospitable Service

 In my lifetime I have seen three examples of how NOT to be hospitable.

The first occurred 11 years ago when I made a booking for afternoon tea in the hotel lounge cafe, hosting two friends. While I may have made such booking without the knowledge of the lounge manager, which is unfortunately a big no-no and a mistake I would come to learn from the hard way and which I have repented and vowed never to repeat ever again in the years since, I was treated very nicely, apart from one girl. She basically scowled at our entry and proceeded to show us a black face when we made our order.

Was this how a future manager, as she was a management trainee back then, supposed to behave? You decide.

The second was during my stint in a resort up north. My hiring manager was outright abusive, racist and egotistical. She vehemently used her own behaviours and actions as a yardstick for measuring the commitment of all that reported to her, accusing people of laziness when they opposed her and does not believe in learning curves and individual flairs. Suffice to say I learned my lesson of how not to behave as a leader-manager from her example.

The third... well, is a betrayal. That this happened at church, where we were supposed to mature as Christlike, is all the more concerning.

I will be the first to admit that him and I, we don't see eye to eye at all. Every time we get together, we always seem to lock horns at some issue or topic. As if this is not enough, he is a full-time staff member and in charge of the hospitality ministry. To my knowledge he lets his temper get in the way of his judgment on more than one occasion. That such behaviour is tolerated in this church deeply disturbs me.

On one such occasion, he had admitted to me that he basically betrayed my confidentiality by revealing a secret that I shared with him in confidence, supposedly for the sake of the ministry I volunteered in. I am not saying that I don't disagree with that, but he could have handled it, and the subsequent fallouts, better as a senior Christian.

Needless to say, I have been stressed by the breach of confidentiality and trust, which in itself took a long time to build. Jesus would have had me let it go, but as a flawed human creature myself, it is taking its time...

Till next time then.

Seventeen Years and Two Months

 It had recently been brought to my attention that my life has been following a fixed timeline.

Wow, talk about time travel vibes. Is it so farfetched to imagine a can of wormy snakes so repugnant and confusing few writers dare to even broach the subject?

Anyways, I digressed again. 

It would appear that landmark events triggered this condition within me. In addition, they have the annoying knack of seemingly reoccurring at fixed intervals of my life. Though they vary in terms of source and magnitude of impact, the timing is uncanny, almost prophetic in nature...

What does seventeen years and two months mean? Do they have a numerological meaning I have yet to decipher? It doesn't even have a poetic ring to the phrase, and yet it still remains unnerving...

With that, I bid thee adieu till next time hohoho

Four Betrayals Under Heaven

 After watching a relatively old Wushu film recently, I have come to realize something about the Chinese language.

Whatever dialect you end up with, whether it is the main Mandarin or Hong Kong Cantonese, Guangdong Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, Fujian, Teochew and the list goes on and on... there are some commonalities.

Such as the propensity for four-word terms.

Whether it is a name for some thing or a title or an action or plan, the Chinese have what we call chen2 yu3 to refer to calling it. (If that makes any sense. ;)

One may call them cliches, or day-to-day phrases, or whatever, but regardless, the Chinese seem to always have some four-worded name for it.

So I have come to call what I just been through, Four Betrayals Under Heaven.

I may neither confirm nor deny I am Chinese but what is undeniable is that the Chinese, all humans really, have a propensity to dramatize.

That's my take on the matter. This note takes extreme prosaic license with the Chinese and the Chinese language(s), AND is not meant to be taken seriously nor offensively, so take it or leave it! LOL

Tadaima~~~

This is a part two of sorts for the previous post.

"I'm back."
"Welcome back..."

If you are not Japanese but watch enough Japanese shows, blessed enough to visit Japan, you may eventually end up hearing "okaeri" (おかえり), often spoken when one returns to one's home. 

Ghosts aside, it is customary for someone inside the house besides the one returning, to greet their return by uttering "tadaima" (ただいま). 

This is poignant for this stage of my life. I am finally back full circle to my stage of development 17 years ago. It has been a vicious journey, an incredible cycle of betrayal and hope, despair and joy, ever in pursuit of ...

But once again I got ahead of myself. 

Will you welcome me? O-kae-ri-nasai? Or will that vicious cycle begin again?

Here I kanpai to the past that brought me here, the future as yet unwritten or unrevealed, and the peace that surrounds the present.

Gouchijou-sama-desu. Arigato-gozaru-yo...

Welcome Back

I was kind of tired when 4pm rolled in. Time to go to church. For the first time in 2.5 years.

Why? Why the tiredness? Why go to church? Why this day? Why such a long time since Dec 2022 when I stopped?

Those are pretty good questions. Suffice to say it's all cos depression and move along.

I had a great time at church almost from the get go. It was like stepping into a new church, with some old stomping grounds and familiar faces. Our choir leader has now become Lead Pastor of the English Church, our worship pastor is now in charge of the Mutiara Damansara church on Fridays, and a lot of friends are married with kids this high!

Speaking of those kids in particular, I knew their parents from choir days, back in 2011, and I bumped into them looking for friends to sit with, cos my friends had to go to the children and prams corner. So I politely asked if I could join them when all of a sudden  - pastor walked past.

Now it's been a long hiatus and I've never mentioned my relationship with pastor before. With his authority as a Founding Pastor I approached him once before I made my decision to get baptized, about getting parents' blessing for the baptism. He tried his best to remember my name, but I can swear out of five thousand people he can remember names for, he always forgot mine. But good news is he remembers me.

Naturally I was happy to see him, so I greeted him and chatted with him, all the time guiding him into the building's main auditorium where he already has a seat (they all sit in the front most row). We parted ways and left me hoping we can catch up soon.

Pastor is the reason I'm in DUMC. Still. I left when working in the hotel got too tiring for almost any other activity, even church. After almost two years, pastor showed up out of absolutely nowhere in the lobby of the hotel I worked in. Shocked, I asked them bluntly, "What are you doing here??" Maybe that might have sounded rude to some people but in my defense out of sheer shock and admittedly a little guilt, I just blurted them out seeing the pastor at my workspace. 

And then, AND THEN, I found out the serendipitous plan that God had for me.

You see, back in the day, there was an unwritten custom in the Banqueting department of said hotel that, whichever assistant banquet operations manager and supervisor attend the food tasting event, they will also attend to the main event. Makes sense? Cos they already have a relationship, like it or not, with the client(s) and/or event organizers. With me so far? This will make sense down the road, bear with me.

So, a few months leading to this meeting with the pastor, I was placed in charge of my very first food tasting, for a Chinese wedding dinner. I was humbled when they called for a blessing prayer before dinner, so I casually mentioned midway through the tasting that I used to attend church. 

I never asked what church they went to. If had, this story would have gone much differently.

Fast forward to meeting the pastor. I brought him and his wife to the hotel lobby lounge as they had arrived early for lunch. Bear in mind this was during the fasting month so the buffet restaurant was closed, but then I found out just for today it was open and fully booked for this post-wedding reception. So I tended to them while they waited for other guests to arrive, organizing some warm water to them, all while the lobby lounge staff wondered what or who I was fussing over.

It was then when I realized that the food tasting clients was the married couple he had just presided over.

Coincidence? I think not!

Why then would I not know? What was I doing in the lobby when I met pastor? Well, that is a sad backstory. You see, back then the food director had this brilliant idea of generating more profit for the hotel, which is by selling festive goodies seven to eight months of the year. Our country being as it is is one of the countries with the most public holidays, period. So there I was minding my business assisting the management of this little festive desk in the lobby, pulled out of ordinary banquet operations when...

Fast forward to the evening. The main event is underway. I just finished my shift packing up the festive desk. I went to the backlane of the event space where this VIP wedding dinner event was taking place. Why VIP? cos the bride's parents had titles. When I found out I shook my head. They had it the wrong way round. This is a Christian wedding dinner, the VIP is the pastor who came there right after evening church celebration. (VVIP was of course the Holy Spirit and God.)

Later still I realized, my whole cell group was there having dinner, at the other end of the event space. And the future senior pastor, unknowing of his destiny then, was also present...

Long story short, it was a comeback. Again. I sincerely hope it will forever be the longest I strayed. I never want to go through that again.

The Aged Parchment

My name is Lincoln. Funny, I know, for a kid in this country to be named after a president of another, more powerful country. You can call me Link, but then you would probably think of some console game character, and that will throw even more confusion and hilarity into the mix.

But I digress. Forgive me, time is short. In fact, time is the problem here.

And time is the reason why you are reading this story.

You will have many questions – you probably already have loads by this point – but I promise, all will be explained.

No, that is wrong. I pray to God I can.

It all began … oh, I don’t know, umpteen years before. The event has become legend, but ask anyone and they will tell you that it started, as these kinds of stories normally do, with a medical centre and a mad scientist. A biological project released something, a new strain of virus that literally changed one from the core. The first of them were simply called the Infected, but the name was short-lived as they quickly spread and consumed mankind, in a single night.

Not much was remembered about the mad scientist, about his origins. His laboratory was subsequently lost over time, but I was given this piece from salvaged history – a transcribed excerpt of his project’s recordings – a small remnant of the truth.

“Project Tyke – Day 1667. This is Dr H--- recording observations of tests for the latest chimaera. I say chimaera, because it has become apparent in recent attempts, that successful aberrations were only possible by involving more than two specimens to create unexpected synergies in the results. 

“We have long since abandoned base principles of morality, fringing on legal and even natural laws to achieve our goal. As we approach the five-year mark of this project, it has become imperative that we attempt what has never been attempted, in order to find a cure to ---. We can no longer afford failure; each new batch must work better than the previous. History will forget, even forgive, our so-called atrocities, so long as the product succeeds.

“We are fortunate our sponsors had approved direct-to-human trials – foregoing such unnecessary precautions had singularly expedited our progress.

 “Today’s test subjects are more of the feeble, and ailing. How I --- them --- they are the perfect specimens for this project. The new strain combines --- and --- projections indicate an initial burst of energy and loss of sentience, but as the body stabilizes post-treatment the subject will possess --- greater than before. Better still, a single dose is sufficient to produce permanent, irreversible effect.

“This is it. Today marks a brand-new chapter – no, a brand-new saga of history for humanity. Today marks the end of---“

I had hoped the doctor was not as mad as he had been made up to have been. But, if anything, this excerpt proved his ruthless abandon of morals, of reason – everything that defined us as human. The Infected were not the first of their kind – Dr H was.

Or, as he has since been known, Lord Tyke.

In five years, a wretched society grew from the midst of the mad doctor’s creation. The Infected had taken to call themselves Superhumans, a new race of homo sapiens that is superior in every biological way. They were, in fact, stronger and faster with enhanced senses and reflexes – everything mankind needs to advance to greater heights, apart from compassion and empathy. 

Lord Tyke had us believe that emotion is the true hindrance to man’s development; his virus evolved mankind’s pursuit of perfection into an intolerance for inability, incapability, and error. He sought to create his new world by ridding it of those unaffected by his virus. Outcast, rejected and betrayed by those closest to them, they were left to the mercy of the Watchers – or rather, their lack thereof, the hunters of the inferior. The Imperfects, they came to be labelled, a name that was meant to ridicule and ostracise.

It was a name that the Imperfects came to embrace, a symbol of their humanity, their sacrifice of perfection for something greater. Though – they, too, grew into a faction of society equal in standing to the Superhumans, if not in power nor numbers. For the road was paved by Rowen, the beacon of hope.

I would not have believed this legend, this girl or the event that turned the tide for the redemption of humanity, if I had not met her in person. Rowen was the most unassuming girl you could imagine, but perhaps that was her secret. You would not have expected her to orchestrate a resistance, even a rebellion to save the souls of mankind, but she did. No-one would remember what she looked like or where she had gone to, but no-one could ever forget her words either.

“Something is missing in this in this society. In the pursuit of perfection, we have lost the essence that made us human - humanity. The Watchers are watching. Society thinks that we are the virus. Yes, we are a threat to this society. We will cripple this addiction to perfection, and preserve humanity.

“Stand strong. Choose compassion.”

Stand strong, choose compassion. It was those words that tore the veil for me, and for so many Superhumans.

Yes, dear reader. I too am one of the involved. And so was Rowen. 

And Marcus. Poor Marcus.

Ah, now I have gone too far. We must recap the turning point. The inexplicable, impossible turning point past what was thought to be the point of no return.

Lord Tyke himself undid his own creation. He discovered and invaded the main hideout of the Imperfects, cornering Rowen and challenging them to a battle of supremacy. 

I was there that fateful night, counted among the Imperfects, hidden among the corralled by Rowen’s ingenious trick. And so was Marcus.

We were imprisoned in groups, in cells, in the very same medical centre that birthed the Superhumans. The Watchers became our wardens, and tortured us, taunted us with our own mistakes and shortcomings. 

But the Watchers, Lord Tyke, Superhumans – they did what we thought was impossible that night. Not noticing us, they locked us Superhumans up with the Imperfects. We who sided with them in this war to turn the tide.

They made a mistake.

In that darkness, four words become whispers of hope. In those cells, that hope was born from a feeling, the ability to put another above oneself. In groups, that hope grew those four words into a battle cry. 

Stand strong. Choose compassion.

We helped one another. It was really as simple as that. Superhumans and Imperfects, working together to stand strong against the Watchers. Most extraordinarily, the Imperfects offered the Watchers compassion, turning them towards the same hope that saved us.

And now, all those years later, humanity struggles to reclaim what made us human. Slowly, we learn to coexist, as if peoples of two nations on the only land left to man.

A few, however, were lost that night. Rowen disappeared, but she left behind a message of faith. Faith in the Imperfects, in the great work that had been laid before us by that turning point. No-one has since seen or heard of her, even though she promised she was simply carrying on the good work on her own, in other infected parts of the world.

Lord Tyke was not brought to justice; he, too, vanished without a trace. Looking back, I could not be sure of what we would do, had we did. Would we string him up (or worse) for crimes against humanity? Would we have simply let him go? Or would we, could we even, convince him to our side?

After all those umpteen years, I still do not know.

Then there was Marcus. Poor Marcus. There was no good way of saying it – the nastiest of fate befell him that night, a fate that we will only discover when it will be too late.

No, I did not make a mistake there. Something has happened – will happen, but has not. It is beginning, and it has ended – but not, I think, for you, dear reader. 

I know, it is confusing for me too. I write this story only because I was handed a tattered and half-burned remnant of the original, an aged parchment – but clearly, containing the words you have just read, in my own handwriting.

Can you guess?

There are other markers, prophecies that only just recently was brought into light. Missing planes. Wild games. Children acting like men, and men acting like children. It is as though someone suddenly decided it was time for us to know.

But we didn’t, though. Didn’t know. Still don’t. Uncertainty is always there, distracting us, keeping us away from absolute truth. Doubt is the evil poison that blinds the mind. 

And for some reason it always ends up in my attention. Loose scraps of paper, news of coincidences – or not? – that drastically influenced the course of events today. Seemingly forgotten audio and visual – stories of hope that reminded us of our worth. Like clues to a puzzle, I have a sensational feeling that I will not be able to see the whole picture until I have them all. Until then, I must act on faith.

Stand strong. Choose compassion.

The thirteenth hour has begun its toll.

Everything is about to change.

I'm Back...

 Being a high functioning [censored] is not easy. The seasons are as unpredictable as in Game of Thrones, and I was told that if the triggers were discovered it would earn a Nobel Prize in Medicine, imagine that!

But all that is in the past now. A new season has begun, a season of highs, and I am fully ready this time to grasp every opportunity that comes my way and more!

Welcome back, Food for Thought! It's been 14 years since my last post, let's hope the next interval is not as long!

The VESSEL

I've got a LOT to write about since my last post, but now I want to get today off my chest first because it's the freshest. (!)

This story began at the inception of DUMC Punctuation Ministry's newest initiative and main focus for the year 2011, the Academy for Performing Arts known henceforth as the VESSEL. Courses to be held in the evenings and/or weekends cover the various aspects of the performing arts scene, namely singing, acting and dancing. Applicants had to audition in song, act and dance for admission which was limited to only 15 for this year.
The day for me was quite hectic. I had to shuffle to and fro from my family and DC, cos' it's my grandmother's birthday when we celebrate with a longevity-noodle breakfast and a birthday luncheon, and then I was serving in the choir in church, all the while doing some last-minute preparation for the auditions later. It was gratifying, to say the least, to have Cathy and Amy, the other two MadWorlders serving in worship this weekend, encouraging me and advised me on my singing. Thanks to you both, as well as to Angie, Melissa and my own cell for your support and prayers!

So, in the early afternoon of this hallowed second Day of the Lord, around 20 budding thespians gathered at Concourse 2 of the Dream Centre awaited their entry into Hall 2 at 2.00pm.
And from MadWorld, no less than FOUR turned up: Rebekah, Sammie, Amanda and myself! "All around me are familiar faces", and it was great to know that the Vessel's inaugural batch of students will have a touch of MadWorld influence,  as it can be certain that some if not all of us will be admitted!


Before the actual auditioning process, we were treated to introductions by Pastor Mike Ngui, who as the pastor in charge will be overseeing the spiritual aspect of this Christian theatre, developing the maturity of VESSEL's students, as well as Mdm Chow Hung Lan, head of Punctuation and Principal of the academy. After, the auditions well and truly began, where the auditioned are required to interpret a monologue given beforehand, and then perform it again based on the given direction, followed by singing on the far side of the room "for vocal projection", and finally a short interview by Hung Lan.
During the four hours that followed, we saw friends going in and out, discussing MadWorld and the pros and cons of going first or last during one-on-one auditions. Amanda had to sing a different song because her worship song was too simple; Rebekah had to deal with her flu and so it wasn't her best, but she was using her callback song from MadWorld and Sammie said her projection was excellent (way to go!); Sammie nearly croaked but held it back towards the end of her song, but found it quite hard to do the second monologue interpretation; I had trouble with my first interpretation but was fine after that, but I sang out of habit (that is to say, almost the same with my many practices since Amy's coaching that morning) so I didn't know how THAT one went. It was a really long wait overall. The plus side is the side dishes: Daryll, Gabriel, Mei Yern, Shaun, Melvin, Zara, and Reuben from MadWorld all came and went! Their presence alone lifted our spirits for the unnerving tests, and many gave more besides.


After four hours of waiting till our nerves nearly broke, the last applicant finally finished her audition, and it was time for the dance test, where all of us joined in at once. It consisted of warm-ups, some ballet movements and a jazz (ballroom dance) routine. To be quite honest, I don't know how he would remember which of us he will admit. For that matter, I don't even know what criteria they were using to screen us...
This reminded me so much of MadWorld! I kept looking at Amanda to gauge her reactions to the exercises that I believe are all too familiar to her! Besides which, I finally appreciate what my sister is or will be doing in her ballet classes, and the jazz just threw me back to my boarding school days when I took beginners' ballroom dancing classes at RM10 per class! It was quite similar to the samba and rock n' roll steps that I learned, and I would be all the more enthusiastic if he would just ... slow down! LOL Honestly, my old instructor William took it quite slow for us, which is just nice and made learning the dance so much more enjoyable. But the "after-effects" are exactly the same: on my way home I kept rehearsing the moves, in the carpark on my way to the lift, and even in the shower (okay, too much info!), much like what I would have done back in school!


The auditions officially ended with a prayer led by Hung Lan, who informed us that the "results" will be out by the end of this week (ending on the 16th), and for the successful applicants a team-building exercise will be held sometime on the 23rd or 30th of this same month.
Briefly? Phew! One whole week of waiting! I don't think I can stand it! All fingers and toes crossed and praying for the best!






Reflections:

For me it was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time! There were some things that I was proud and glad of, less that I was not, and at the end of the audition I find myself just enjoying learning the dance steps so much I didn't feel like an audition for me. I am just yearning for more dance lessons so much that I am desperately wanting to be accepted into the academy now!


But above the drama coaching (which would be a refreshing first for me in a LONG time), the vocal training (that I REALLY need), and even the dance lessons, my main inspiration for joining the VESSEL is the spiritual aspect of it. I am most eager (yea, even ecstatically excited!) for the accountability programme that Punctuation offers, complementing the artistic training. The spiritual input and guidance from church pastors and leaders in the course of grooming our performing skills would not only bolster our course of study and training in Christian theatre, but also a wonderful and God-breathed addition to the spiritual goals I set for this year! Hence my reason for trying out for the VESSEL, as nervous as I was: I want to develop my interest in the performing arts and use whatever I have in this area in the service of our Lord, to give back at least a little something for all that He has done for me, and will do in times to come!

Testing, Testing

It's amazing how personalities emerge and flourish during the exam period. I'm having fun looking at people studying, and teaching others... Although the latter is getting a little annoying. [*wink*]

For me it is an ultimate chance to relax. The papers are not as tough as I had originally expected, but there are those stiff-necked lecturers who are determined to give us hell. Okay, not really, I just forgot to study a few areas.

But still, it's been nice. The maximum hours I spent on any subject are five. In total. I spent more time watching episodes than class notes.

I've been engaged with a group of friends lately, studying - mostly. There are some multitasking on the computer, some who get distracted easily, some who won't stop talking under the pretext of teaching others (I'm just being unfair here, don't mind me, it humours me), and some who just finds any excuse to avoid studying last minute.
I think I'm the last one. I'm putting off studying English... but what the heck right? I already aced the subject without even trying.


In other areas, a party is soon in order. Plans are set and will be in motion in a few hours. The only drawback for me is my great-uncle passing away. I'm being skewered for hosting a party at the condo while the wake is still going on. All vestiges of guilt are being washed away by how unforgiving my parents were at my so-called insensitivity. It's not like I can help it - how can I tell forty people it's off when everyone's paid and geared to come?

And then there's my new writing project. A collection of letters from one guy to another, long distance relationship. A direct result of reading too many romance manga. My first letter's done, sounds solid enough to get the ball going. Gonna find some time to write at least one every day.


Testing, testing,
it drives everyone a-running,
little tempers start to sting,
some will be psychologist-hunting.


Testing, testing,
it gets everyone howling,
fun and games are in the bin,
start playing and you'll get "what are you doing?!"


Testing, testing,
everyone wants an ending,
and even when that is nearing,
the lecturers won't stop pestering!


Ciao.

The Story So Far...

I. Can't. Believe. It's. Been. So. Long, Since. I. Wrote. Anything.

Jeez, seriously, it's been almost half a year. One whole Semester.
That's right, I'm nearing the end of my first semester doing Culinary Arts.
In fact, I'm in the middle of exams. How pathetic. But the truth is, our lecturer gave us a lot of tips so I hope that was enough.

I'm really excited as the year draws to a close. I haven't got back to my real self yet, but I feel it's getting there. In fact, I dare say there's been quite a few changes, and I really look forward to the last month of the year and the year ahead.

So to recap...
1. Been serving in the church choir and have been a backstage crew for the church productions. (I really like our nickname - the Men in Black, MIB. Heh.)
2. Written a few installments for my short story series... although it has recently been stalled for one edition because I was fairly busy with assignments. Yeah, didn't know you have to write that much for a Culinary Arts course.
3. Even been to a few vacations. It seems we go every couple of months. Frankly, it's a bit tiring, but a welcome break to a routine that is growing increasingly dreary.
4. Took charge of the food served in our campus youth gatherings. It's been fun, not as much experience as working in a hotel or restaurant but a good way to practice, since it's not as stressful.
5. Been doing daily devotions. It's called journaling, something my church started last year. It's really a good way to read the Bible and letting God talk to me through the Word.

~~~~~

Honestly, I did find it strange staring at my blog with nothing to write. If I were a manga character, my head would be hung, my hair covering my face so you can hardly see my eyes... In fact, I would look so depressed you can't see my entire face, just a whole section of vertical lines. Some artists might even draw spooky ghostly vapours to signify bad depression vibes.
Well, that's just to give you an idea.

Why I haven't been blogging? Well, at first it's because of the job I took up in June, but as the months progress it's been the college classes, then the assignments ... and recently a whole database of TV series I downloaded.

And why now? ... I guess it's because I feel like it. I've been doing a lot of that lately - if something is not compulsory, as in completely voluntary, I'll only do it when I feel like it. It's a welcome change from the rigidness of boarding life routine that I missed so much in recent times.

So before I sign off (as I really need to do some last minute studying - my next paper's in 75 minutes!), here's to hoping I'll return here and make that 50th post milestone.

All the best, to you and to me!

Going On / Stopping Still

Life goes on - a cliche that seems to be used at every possible occurrence, even for the most mundane of things. People like to use it after an event of enormous proportions with possible life-changing side-effects. Whatever that affects you, may have little to no effect to others, and thus life that encompasses all that is in the world goes on like before, like the never ending currents of time.

But for an event that makes everything pause, another cliche is used - as though life, or time, stopped still. Events on this scale may have comparably huge proportions, but affects everyone and makes them stop and consider what has happened, and what life is and would be here on in. Questions will be asked: How did it happened? How could it have happened? What will we do, what will life be, after this happened? Can the world ever be the same?

Which would you rather prefer, life going on or stopping still, when you do something extraordinary? Would you prefer that everyone move on regardless of what you're doing or what happens to you, or would you prefer the whole world, or at least the world you know, to stop and turn their attention to you?

More importantly, what would your choice say about you?

Certainly, the former choice can only point to your selflessness, and perhaps to your humility, that you acknowledge the fact that in the grand scheme of things, you represent but a tiny detail. That would be the general perception, but are you thinking that there are perhaps other possibility? Could it be that you are hopelessly altruistic, that in action and even in death you still think of others before of yourself? Or could it be that you are shameful of your existence, and you would prefer that everyone just turn their eyes away for you? For that matter, could you be suicidal? (Mind you, this is just a thought.)

What about the latter choice? Would you agree that in choosing for life stopping still for you, you are to some degree attention-seeking? Could you be suffering from attention-deficit disorder, the dreaded ADD? Certainly, if you want everyone's attention, it could only mean that you think the world revolves around you. The general perception must be that you are selfish. But are we, if we take this option? Perhaps we are just admitting to, and even accepting, our natural human instinct. The proof is in an innocent child, who desires, and deserves, our every drop of attention. A child seeks the approval in the things he do, and must demand that the world stood still for him.

Of course, you can't expect to choose one and stick to it your whole life. No one is that rigid. The question is, which would you more likely choose more? Then again, you can't expect this to be the absolute truth. Perhaps you have something to add?

Jewel of a Friend

Reflecting on our first times together,
As fleeting images roll past the windows,
Can I have been so blessed with
Heaven's companion, so gentle and beautiful?
Endless days separate our meetings,
Longing marks these "miss you" nights.

Time is not our friend,
As times spent together
Never lasts more than a few hours.

Hence, I treasure what times we had
Until we meet again;
Await I will for that smile
You reserve for friends only.

You are the jewel of a friend; I can search for an
Eternity, but never will I find one that can compare to you.

Update

I think I should have time for a short update. At the time of writing I have 13 minutes before the restaurant opens for the night shift...

Been actively serving as associate cook and did a stint of waiting this afternoon. My cooking still needs work in the areas I've been allowed to cook for the customers i.e. Chicken Milano, Spaghetti Aglio Olio, but they are minor flaws and can be easily remedied with a few more attempts.

I'm not swamped by work, seriously. I've got plenty of time to rest in between tasks and shifts, like now. Got time to read up on Egypt's New Kingdom, to get some info for my short stories series, and tinkered a little with Scroll II. Although, Anubis is taking its time to form, I'm a little stuck at describing Osiris' cenotaph.

Back to the restaurant, so far I've been exposed to a variety of Nonya cooking, as well as the aforementioned recipes, Spaghetti Carbonara, Oxtail Soup, Lamb Chops and the like. Outside the menu, my mentor has generously given me a look at Swedish meatballs and lemon cheesecake - the latter which will be tested at a birthday party the restaurant is hosting for the boss' son, at which I am expected to attend and cook for.

These few days I've been in a text chat with a girl I met at camp. It's been fun, I got to know her better, and at a glance you might even think I'm rather attracted to her. She does appeal to me, we do have quite a few things in common, but it's only been two weeks, and so it's very hard to say. We only met once after the camp, and that was with a big group of other people who went to the camp. I'd like to have an outing together, but she said she's uncomfortable with the offer. I did say I'd invite a few other people, a bigger group so to speak, and we can even shop around for stuff for a poolside-cum-housewarming party that seems to be on everyone's mind.
All-in-all, I'd like to get to know her better, face-to-face. Need to work harder...

Employed

Now I can proudly say that I am no longer an unemployed person! My days for the coming month right up till Orientation Day in my new college will be filled up with learning from the chef at a restaurant near my parents' company.

I have just finished my first shift, 9.30am to 3.00pm and I can say that it was good. I discovered some useful tips for a few pasta sauces as well as seen some local cuisine in the making. Fortunately my job does not include any cleaning of the restaurant, but just some cooking preparations i.e. chopping up onions and carrots.

Sure I have to give up some of my usual past-time activities; I can't watch movies during the day when so few people are around the house; I can't enjoy a book without caring about the time; I can't supervise anything going on in the house, especially now when we still have stuff being moved in; and I certainly can't cook for myself anymore. But it is all for a good cause for which I most certainly do not mind sacrificing a few menial hobbies.

On a minor note before signing off, I have internet access again! Now I can come in between shifts to the office to go online, so I won't be too bored at home or at work.

Alright, I'm running out of thoughts to write, so sayonara.

Stammer

"Not good. That is not good." ~ Yuri, 2012

The good news is, I've completely moved into my new home, which is by far the best place I've stayed in.

The bad news is, the internet connection won't be resurrected until next month. July.

There is a silver lining though. Mom decided to leave the network hardware in the old house, so if I should ever need free WiFi I just have to go there myself. I'll lose my night surfing hours, and I can't go there everyday, much as I like to, but still, it's better than nothing.

Have few to report here actually. I'm reading some interesting books, and most recently something about Ancient Egypt's New Kingdom era. Of course, this will be most helpful in my Chronicles of the Soulless, since it is primarily on Egyptian pantheon of gods and goddesses, and to a certain extent, Egyptian life.

And I'm not going to be lounging around any longer! Got my eyes set on a clubhouse restaurant in a Eco park near my parent's company. I'm going to be there for lunch and at the same time ask the boss if he'll accept me as an intern. We've previously talked about it and he seems okay with it, so I'll just have to confirm with him.

I'm starting to do regular devotion again. The reading guide goes through Psalms twice a year, so I'll have to wait till July to restart. I want to finish Proverbs and Psalms this year, and the rest of the Bible next year, God willing.

And speaking of God, thank the Lord above that my parents consented to my baptism! They seemed to accept the fact that it's my life to run now, and I have been trying to tell them of some stuff about Christianity. I haven't had the opportunity to bring them to church, on the account that my sister has swimming classes right before the Sunday service. But if all goes well, I'll be getting baptized during October, publicly too. Not sure how to think about that...

One last thing. The Edventure Camp Echo is today... And I feel like screaming. I've been "nominated" to speak about the camp, and I have absolutely no idea how to do it! I basically know what to speak about, but I need to get my speech prepared, else I'll be beating around a really big bush.

So that's it for now. I really don't have the time for a more insightful, thought provoking post.
Maybe next time.

Back. Finally.

Due to complications in the internet connection in my home I have been unable to create any new posts for almost two weeks. The frustration was unimaginably suffocating, but at the very least it returned at my hour of most need.

Alas, I fear that this may not last. I shall be moving soon to a new condo unit down the road and only God knows when the network can be reinstated at the new house.

What happened during my absence in cyberspace?

I attended my cousin's wedding - again. It seems that this time around we got to see the morning wedding reception, which includes the customary take-the-bride-to-the-groom's-house ritual and tea ceremonies, as well as a village wedding dinner in the evening. It was quite an experience, and it is beginning to eat at my oath to wait for God's choice or remain single for life...

Then there's packing. Loads of it. I managed to pack away all the books and clothes, then unpacked them just today! My room looks fabulous, and I only have a box or two of stuff left to move in. These of course includes stuff I'd like to have around just a little longer.

I went to camp! It feels good to join a camp where you know only a handful of people. Got to know many outstanding guys and girls, but I can't say especially who... I was sort of thrust into the role of team leader, and it's been great leading a bunch of daring, capable people, all of whom are older than me. To tell the whole experience here would not do it justice, so maybe I'll dedicate an entry to it another time.

That's it, really, I could go on about the camp, but I'm afraid I'm running out of time tonight, so I'll just end it here. For Beta!

It's Official

For a few weeks now, I have (hesitantly) declared that I will be starting a Diploma in Culinary Arts programme in KDU College come July this year. I am glad to say that my enrolment has been approved, and it's now official: for better or worse, I'm going to be a Cul. Arts student.

And what, some people might ask, are the career options for a vocational course? There are opportunities for me to advance my studies in European Culinary Management in IMI Switzerland. After the degree, I can also enrol for an MBA at the same place. Yes, I'll be able to go to Europe again!

After that, it really depends on God. If He so aptly chooses to arrange some job offers for me, I guess I'll take it up for a while. After that I want to return home to open a restaurant, or help some family members manage theirs until I can learn enough about Asian Cuisine. Or maybe I'll travel to various places in Asia to pick up some of the local cuisine.

That said, a more common question I often have to endure is: Are my parents okay with this? Honestly, they claim they are. After all, an ace student taking up a vocational course? That is definitely unheard of, or at least rarely so. One says she's glad I'm doing something with my life, the other says I have to face the consequences of the choice I made. How more negative can one sound?

Either way, what's done has been done now. There is really no turning back, and zero option of anything else. It's going to be a narrow track until two years from now, and no chance of stopping.
... Sounds like a race. And in a way it's true, except that it's not a return-to-start circuit.

Before signing off, I feel obliged to report my goings-on today. I had just supervised and assisted in the moving of several furnitures to the new house. Everything seems to have gone in order, one minor hiccup aside.The new place looks great - just a few more items to clear up before the scheduled clean-up in a week's time.

Alas, I have forgotten of a few items that need be cleared up with the contractor! Three, to be exact. Mom's going to be really mad, I hope I can still fix it tomorrow by going over and seeing him.

That's it really. Now all that's left for today is a surprise dinner occasion tonight. I'm supposed to pick my sister up from her tuition (early - again). So, here I am, signing off.

Reading

I've never gone this far in blogs before. I must confess that I have tried as many as three times to blog regularly - two of those times ended up deleted entirely; one of those times - this blog - has been left to rot for a little more than a year before it is revived. Hence, it is my great joy to declare that this is the 25th post of regular blogging!

Insanity aside, what I really wanted to write about here is my reading. I have taken up the task to fill my hours by going on the Internet reading manga, watching movies, writing my stories and reading books. It is then no wonder that my reading pace has dramatically slowed in recent times.

I used to marvel my reading speed, that I'd finish at the most two books in one week. Of course, those were books that I was really into then, the sort that the book-stores categorize as children's books. Anthony Horowitz, Garth Nix and Eoin Colfer are some of them. I do occasionally stray towards more promising best-sellers (Dan Brown should ring a bell) but these have, in my opinion, have few literary value to them.

Lately I've bought Kate Mosse's first two books, as well as Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist and Khaled Hosseini's celebrated books. I've only finished one of them and reading another, but I am doing so in hopes of prying myself from going backwards in my reading. I've read so few classics, both contemporary and old, that people would surely marvel at how my writing could ever reach such a level.

Then again, my writing isn't quite the bomb really, to use the contemporary colloquialism...

Anyway, I thought I should include a short note of my schedule, at least for today. I do actually have a couple of errands to run: I have to go down to the framework shop two collect the last two art-pieces for the new condo, as well as drop my application for the Diploma in Culinary Arts at KDU college. Before that, I'm hoping to go for a swim to get my aquatic stamina back, and maybe bake a fresh batch of Danish butter cookies for the extended family.

All's well will hopefully end well.

Procrastination

I originally learned of this word from an acquaintance from Penang, who is now really no more than a memory. Who knew that this would gradually become an annoying trait of mine.

By definition, it means to put off or delay the completion of a certain task. The layman might associate this word with laziness, but in actual fact there is little in common between the two words. A procrastinator normally would finish his work in the end, albeit often unsatisfactorily, but a lazy person just couldn't bother finishing his.

I wasn't always like this. In fact, I considered procrastination one of my cardinal sins and would never do that to important tasks. In other words, the only reason why some of my work was done at the last minute was because I had simply forgotten about it. Shamefully, that was the truth.

Presently, it is a different case. Some people might give any excuse conceivable under the sky to put off doing something. Not everyone may relate to that, but sometimes it is because they simply don't want to let it be done. Perhaps doing that certain task has consumed most of their time and energy, and they worry that they would not have meaning in their lives any more after it is completed.

And perhaps, that is the case for me. I'd usually deny this, but a part of me has gotten used to relaxing without a care in the world, which used to be a rarity for me. In order to shy away from the stress of life and living I would retreat to fiction - usually movies and books - for simple, temporary distraction. In the beginning, it was simply a distraction; unfortunately it quickly grew into an addiction.

However, there are two sides to every coin. I have acknowledged this flaw, and recently have begun to grow restless from all the cooping up I have resorted to. While this is a good thing, I need to be constantly vigilant against relapses and weakness, and in order to cure myself of this addiction I might have to turn to the extreme...

Enough said about such a depressing matter. I actually wanted to write about my writing project. I haven't written anything about the Lady ever since Johor, and I was supposed to do it alongside the Chronicles. And I have writer's block in the middle of Scroll II, so I'm really trying to kick back and think of a way out and continue the story. Alas, that might actually involve editing what I've written so far...

*Sigh. Writer out.

Chronicles of the Soulless

I guess I'm going to be using this blog to catalogue my writing process, and also to advertise my story. (On that note, I haven't posted a recipe in a very long time...)

I have just completed Scroll I of the Soulless series of short stories, entitled Osiris. It introduces two of the main characters in the series, as well as the events kick-starting the introduction and involvement of the beings I call the Soulless.

No doubt the people reading this story will connect the Soulless with Osiris the Egyptian Lord of the Underworld, that they are, perhaps, the same. How that will be told remains to be written, as well as read, but I can assure my readers that more Ancient Egyptian mythical gods will be featured during the entirety of the series.

In some sense I am following Rick Riordan's footsteps in creating a story that revolves around mythical deities but set in the present day and age. Indeed, Riordan has given hints that a new series based on Egyptian gods will be released soon. Some may be tempted to say that I stole the idea from him. I wish to clarify that this is completely untrue. The actual truth is that I have written Osiris as long as five years ago, and now wish to expand the story to include more gods and myths of Ancient Egypt. So if anyone wants to say who copied who, I dare say that since I wrote this first, Riordan copied me. ;p

On a lighter note, I will send Osiris to be published in the June issue of Opinionated Monthly. Any rights to republish the Soulless series is hereafter reserved by OM. I will of course also reserve the right to publish it here, but that will depend on me alone. Having said that, I know I promised to publish The Maze here too, but since The Opinionated Ones blog has already published it on the Internet, there's no need to copy it here.

Author out.