Dinner with Zanne & Hal at Sisco's in Hobart Harbour 
Flying over the Great Australian Dessert - Somewhere off to the East of Ayers Rock near Alice Springs
On the way home from Sydney, the weather was clear if a little hazy. This picture actually caught the moon off the tip of the winglet of the plane as well.
Karol Wotyla
For 26 years a Pope has reigned while I’ve been drifting in and out and in and out again of the Catholic church. Part of that was my search for meaning and for reasons for being in a church which I felt had lost touch with the world around it. Part of it was that I felt that many members of the church were hypocritical lemmings who spouted one thing and more often than not, did another.
To a large extent those views have not changed. However, in that 26 years “Il Papa” has been both a source of pride and irritation. He, above all recent Popes, had fought for what he believed in. Lent his moral suasion to causes grand and minor. He is credited partly, with good reason, for the fall of the Berlin Wall, the rise of “Solidarnosc,” and the fall of Communism in the now defunct USSR.
He also brought a common touch to the Papacy which was missing from previous regnants. A Pope was expected to write encyclicals and make pronouncements on aspects of church life and that was pretty much that. However, Karol Wotyla opened the windows and allowed fresh air to blow through the halls of the Vatican. Travelling more than any other Pope in history and being seen as a major player on the world stage. At times, being more effective, I feel, than the moribund United Nations.
In the broad sweep that is history, he will be remembered most for this fight against totalitarian regimes and hopefully, for ecumenism.
For me, he had some dark spots on his record.
As it affects me personally, I still believe that his stance on homosexuality was misguided. On the one hand there is the admission that there may be genetic factors involved and that having feelings for those of the same sex are not wrong. Only acting on it was.
That dichotomy is what characterizes the Catholic church of today. When it comes to the frontiers of social questions, I felt that he fudged the issues towards social conservatism.
When all was said and done however, I believe that none can dispute the fact that he was an amazing iconic figure and a testament to what man can aspire to if they set out with a firm faith in what is right.
Sydney, Australia
It's been 2 days since I arrived in what should be Australia's capital.
Bold, brassy, but quite content with herself, Sydney is one of the world's great capitals. Very up to date and very modern it is a city that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's up there with the big boys like London or New York but it doesn't feel as stuffy as the former or as middle aged as the latter.
The city is relatively small but has quite a sprawling suburban expanse. And each suburb has its own little character. For example, Glebe, where we stayed, was a little suburb right opposite the city centre but was a little artsy place. Newtown a little further down is a little gayer and all the shops reflect that. Further up north, Killara, Lindfield seems to be very upper middle class and very quiet and leafy. The phrase "leafy expanses" seem to be tailor made for those suburbs.
Allan and I are house sitting for friends at the moment as they holiday in New Zealand and in all likelihood will stay here until we return from Hobart.
Me? Interesting?
I find it hard to believe when people say that they'd like to feature me in a particular segment of their magazine or newspaper.
My first reaction usually is, "is this a joke?" Hot on the heels of puzzlement.
What have I ever done that I could be considered remotely interesting?
OK, I have my own business. I am happy with life. I could do more and I'd love world peace. (OK, that's my Miss Universe ambitions gone to pot, since I'm a guy and probably too hairy to enter).
But on the whole I don't feel that I'm doing too badly. If I had to mark my scorecard, I'd say I would be average in pretty much every area.
I love people, that's for sure. For the most part, I think I'm likeable. People seem to respond well to me. But interesting enough to write about?
That's always been a mystery to me.
Oh well...my philosophy is that I should just sit back and relax and stop asking so many "why" questions and just enjoy the ride.
Besides if I do get big headed with all the attention, I'm sure my other half, cousins, parents, good friends will be there to puncture it again. I have people who I believe do love me.
I'm lucky that way. :-)
Hello's & Goodbyes
The sweltering heat is not the best atmosphere to say farewell to a good friend.
Admittedly, Allan and I have not been able to spend as much time as we'd like with Chris. But in the time we've spent with him, we've come to be very fond of him. I hesitate to call him a "bloke" because he really isn't. He's just not "blokey" enough. Daniel's a bloke. Chris is...a dear! ;-)
Chris doing his best imitation of the Dalai Lama meditating...with a Magnum in hand
Let's have a look at the evidence. He's very devoted to his Mum and his family. His manner of speaking tends to be in the contradiction rather than in the faked positivity of the standard American (given that he's English, well, half anyway, with that wry, cynical twist on everything he's cultivated, that's quite understandable).
He's a funny, witty, giving person of his time and energy. Especially when there's a good argument. He's like a very lovely dog with a bone. I'm reminded of our golden retrievers with a big juicy bone. They just won't let it go. Chris plays the devil's advocate to the hilt. One is never quite certain whether or not he really believes the point he's making but he certainly seems to have fun gnawing at it.
I doubt he's going to enjoy being described as that but there we go! Nothing here is intended as an insult; everything's a tribute. ;-)
Have a nice time in Beijing, dear. And come home in one piece. We're going to miss you.
The Rule of Four
I was absolutely exhausted the next day.
Having been up half the night finishing this book, I recommend to anyone who loves the mystery/mystical genre.
Tom Sullivan and his friend Paul Harris are researching a mysterious renaissance love story called the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili.
Tom and Paul are students at Princeton and the reader enters the story at a point when Tom is no longer researching the book with Paul. Tom actually narrates the entire story as we look on and the book and all the action actually revolves mostly around Paul. The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili or "Struggle for love in a dream" is a romance novel which places Poliphilo the protagonist, in a dream searching for his beloved.
However, while it appears to be romance novel, there is a school of thought that the book actually contains a message of some kind encrypted into it's text. And on that premise, Tom & Paul and all their friends are involved in an adventure which skips back and forth in time but pretty much remains on the Princeton campus where the main action takes place.
Get this book!
Tanjong Jara
BONG!
The ringing gong resonated in the breeze.
We had just left civilisation and entered an entirely more civilised form of existence. One that would normally cost almost RM900 a night.
I'm behind the camera
The only internal combustion engine to be heard was our V6 ticking over gently at idle. Otherwise it was birds, cicadas, and crickets all chirping. Just sufficiently loud enough that it was comforting. It was almost like Disney was "back of stage" managing the entire experience.
Allan in pool
From the time the 4 of us arrived (YL, Mimi, A & myself) we were pampered, fed, watered, pummeled, kneaded, into a relaxed euphoria. It was almost like we hit the ground with laser like focus to relax. We kept our eye trained on our objective and worked at shedding our cares and concerns with all the intensity of prize fighters.
Watching gamelan players
By the time we left, after the spa sessions (which were all included in the price of RM699 each) the incessant feeding at the glorious troughs, the dreamy gamelan floating on the candle lit night breeze, and the enjoyment of the kampung suites, we were well and truly ready to handle whatever the next week threw at us, before we had to focus on our upcoming CNY holiday.
Poolside at night
The Star - article on Homosexuality
The Star has seen fit to "report" on Homosexuality. From the angle of reparative therapy.
Have a read.
It has some laughable assumptions. Some serious omissions. And some very serious consequences. I'm wondering if the Editor even thought about those consequences when she ran the story.
It's actually reparative therapy from a very Christian viewpoint. I don't know whether to laugh or be very annoyed with the articles.
The Phantom of the Opera
Many of my friends, whose opinions matter to me, thought that the Phantom was miscast.
He can't sing they said. He looks like he's some character on the cover of a romance novel another opined.
Having watched a clip and heard a sampling of how the Phantom sang, I went to the movie already predisposed to dislike his singing. And I did. In two short phrases near the beginning and in the middle of the movie.
This throughout a 2 hour movie in which the Phantom sings probably most of the time.
In this they were quite faithful to the stage version. A comparison which is inevitable if you have seen it. The stage version that is.
He sang the part of a monster and sounded the part of a broken man. Which is probably what the producers intended. His style was unashamedly pop rock compared to the sweetness and light of the other 2 leads, Patrick Wilson (swoon) and Emmy Rossum (swoon). See! Equal opportunity swooning.
There were parts which were so Hollywood in your face that I felt that they had betrayed the original intent of the opera. Yes, the opera.
No matter how you slice and dice it, The Phantom of the Opera by Lord Andrew is, well, an opera. It's all sung on stage. There are recitatives. There are arias for the leads specifically written for a voice part or person. The entire sweep of emotion (par for the course for most operas) is there. Love, hate, obsession, murder, violence, human frailty, you name it. It's there. So if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck it probably is a duck.
They probably just called it a musical for marketing reasons.
In any case, in context, Gerard Butler's voice was appropriate. It certainly wasn't a joy to listen to. It was painful on 2 occasions but on most times he was able to make you feel his agony. And that's the Phantom. A human being who was treated as a monster and became one.
Christine was divine. When she started to sing I could see why Hans had fallen in love. Raoul...what a voice. Coupled with dashing good looks. It was easy and obviously intentionally casting, to like them both.
Minnie Driver was excellent as La Carlotta.
If you went just to listen to them sing, you're missing the point. While it is a musical, and the music undeniably central to the plot, it is one of those rare ones that makes you think about the people behind the characters.
If you allow it, it will tug at your heartstrings and make it soar as well. Like the duet between Raoul and Christine.
If for one second you start looking at this as a string of arias strung together and the rest as an annoyance, then go watch something else.
All in all an evening well spent.
Stories...
Every soul has a story.
Blogging's been an eyeopener for me. Having just scrolled through an endless list of people who have just updated their blogs, I felt like I did when we saw the Milky Way on a clear night in Fraser's Hill..
There were billions of stars in the sky and all of them came from different points in the universe and had travelled innumerable light years to get to a point where we could see them. It was awe inspiring. It was a point when I felt a unity, a connectedness between everything. Each blade of grass beneath my feet, each breath I took, Allan next to me, the granite walls of the bungalow we lived in all seemed to be, for a split second, woven together like one huge tapestry.
That's how I felt when I looked at that list. The billions of voices and thoughts and ideas existing out there. The points of view and the various truths that people hold dear. All valid. All sacred in their own right. Even those who are immersed in dark pools of misery and despair. Everything works to God's plan.
And I felt an odd measure of peace. Strange neh?
A friend's firsthand account of her time on Boxing Day on a beach in Sri Lanka
The account below is from someone we know. She's a lovely person and while we have not had the opportunity to spend more time with her, she is a friend. She went to school with some of my cousins. This is her story.
________________________________________________________
Hi everyone,
First of all let me wish you a very Happy New Year, and also wishing that none of you and your future generations ever have to experience what I did in Sri Lanka on the morning of Boxing Day 2004. Here is a full account :
Woke up about 8am that morning to head the Morning call to the loo. Stepped back into bed later and heard this crow, crowing away very loudly rite outside the window. I thought that was a bad omen as mum has mentioned before, so still in bed I thought to myself...Hmm.. Flight has been confirmed, passport with me, everything's ok, just need to pack as I was leaving for Colombo that nite to catch the 7am flight the next day. I got up, shoooed the bird away & continued reading "In the mind of Serial Killers" and then heard this woman screaming outside followed by a loud crash of the waves... That went on 3 times before I was actually curious to know what was going on. Opened the door and the water was at eye level. My Cabana/Chalet is on stilts and about 3 meters from the beach separated by a 3 foot wall. The water was above this wall spilling fast onto the surrounding area of my place. I shouted at my friend to grab the backpack with the passports as I thought the full moon had made the ocean wild and to lets get out of there and she said "calm down Pris, its just high tide". Within seconds water was coming in and as she was trying to get the bag and I was for some reason looking into the cupboard trying to see what I should take. Suddenly the cupboard split into half and so did the bed and the whole Chalet started vibrating and water was inside all over. The wooden floor started to pop up one by one and I grabbed my boots, till today I don't know why coz I lost them within the next few seconds. I opened the front door again and the verandah that we had been being bums on for the last week was not there anymore. Instead the ocean moved in closer and was rite in front of us. We couldn't get out and I told my mate, I cant swim, I'm gonna drown and she said jump, and I said but I cant swim and she said just f%$#$%@! jump! And so I did, with her having a strong grip on my collar. As I jumped I looked up and the wave was about 7 feet high. We lost contact almost immediately after I jumped cause according to her, the front wall collapsed on me while she was swept away.
I was underwater and I couldn't come up for air coz the cupboard, the bed and roof of the chalet was rite above me. I was trying to move the debris over my head desperately and I could feel at the same time my lungs were about to burst.. Finally I had to take a breath...of water, I did, and I was still trying to remove the debris. The water was like 7 feet high. After breathing in water like 4 times, I heard this voice that said "Don't fight it Pris, 10 seconds tops, and it'll all over". So I stopped wrestling underwater and started to sink down while still breathing in water. At this point, few things flashed past me and it certainly wasn't life like what everybody says ..."Oh, This is how it happens in CSI"... ok, and then, "... my mate will take my body home and my parents will deal with it bravely.." I could see my palms open wide, then the feeling of the fear of dying hit me and then the knowledge that I am gonna die enveloped me and towards the end I felt very calm...all this in like 10 seconds. My eyes was closed because suddenly I opened them and thought to myself, "but this is not how I am supposed to die". I have always believed that terrorism will catch up with me sometime during my travels especially after I missed the Bali bombing. Rite then a huge and heavy wave landed next to me forcing me and everything around me to be thrown up. Suddenly I was trying to stay afloat and my legs couldn't feel the ground. Turned around and saw this 10-12ft wave charging, all I could do was wait for it to hit me and when it did I was slammed against a coconut tree. I wrapped my legs and arms around it and looked at the ocean and there was another wave coming...even higher. That wave ripped me off the tree and dunked and dragged me underneath again.. When I surfaced next, I had just grazed another coconut tree with my finger tips. I remember saying 'Nooo.." and then I saw this nylon rope that locals use to tie to trees to dry their laundry. I grabbed it and hung onto it while my body was still in a superman position. Tried to stand and could not feel the ground so went down and kicked the ground to come up and there comes another bigger wave. At this point I was pleading with God "...no more.." and just as soon as it all happened, it ended. The suction of the water back to the ocean actually forced me to stand up and very quickly I fell to my knees, gasping, panting and frantically tying the rope around me so that I don't get sucked out...I was standing at the tip of a railway track. My mate was near the caretakers house and she lost her bottom half of her PJ's.
Noticed then, that I was topless, shorts and underwear, were down to my ankles, and the destruction was total carnage. Unreal!!! Locals were clinging onto each other, parts of buildings and trees. Horns were blaring and car lites were blinking, women were screaming, men were yelling and running trying to get the tourists out. The ocean dried up almost immediately. I saw corals and reef that I never saw in the last week and then like a snake, water started to trickle in back, looking up, you can see the ocean filling up and the waves generating again....and then all hell breaks loose, everybody is scrambling for higher ground. The locals were excellent, their main concern was getting the tourist out of there. My mate and I were determined to find that backpack that contained our passports, plain tickets, wallet with various currency in it. After wading in shit water (for real), knee deep salt water and not knowing whats at the bottom, stepping on possibly live wires, concrete walls, glass pieces, chunks of wood and more concrete, we tried and tried to look for our bag for 4 hours. By this time everybody knew that 2 very shocked Malaysian women, were desperately looking for this infamous black backpack. And suddenly out of nowhere, comes along this local..."Excuse me, Madame, is this your bag..?" I was like, no way, you found it!!!. It was washed into another village bout 2-3 kms away, still padlocked and everything intact. It was the day of miracles and everything that could go right, went right for us. We're still trying to come to terms why it didn't for about 150,000 other ppl. I had cuts and bruises on my head stomach, leg, feet, arm, back and all my stud earrings were ripped off my ears but ears were intact, my rings all gone. I lost everything cept for my passport, wallet, plane tix and believ it not, I found my Ray-Bans... unscratched and intact under some
concrete rubble. I came home in borrowed clothes and an ugly pair of slippers..I still have it as remembrance.
So, that's what happened, I still hear and see the ocean, the 7 roaring waves that whacked the shit out of me and am starting to accept it slowly. My family and friends have been remarkable, constantly being there for me and I havent really had time by myself cept when I am hvaing a shower or driving. My HR in the office have just offered me counselling services. For
me, I think I just need to head to the ocean soonest and to face it again. I did that when I was still in Sri Lanka right after the incident and I refused to be afraid of the ocean as I love the beach too much. Cant let me retirement plans go haywire now can I..
Have a splendid 2005 folks.... Luv ya
So much to write about and yet...
So much to write about and yet...
A friend has invited us to the launch of his new album. Allan and I will be attending tonight.
We're in the throes, I think, of planning another trip to Oz.
Planning for Chinese New Year and our gift boxes for that time.
And the usual daily rush.
Blessings!
It's the last day of the year.
While 2004 hobbles on it's last legs, 2005 is having a very difficult birth.
The scenes on TV of death and destruction rip at any feeling being's heart and it would be so easy to give in to that burden of sadness brought on by the devastation.
But the lesson that has been reinforced in me is to remember the blessings that have been given to us. The blessing of a loved one by my side. The blessing of waking up in a comfortable bed in a comfortable house with my health. The blessing of having a loving family (this includes my extended family and in laws). The blessing of being able to enjoy my work.
This New Year's Eve, I will raise a glass in memory of those who suffered at the hands of the Tsunami and say a prayer for their families. Do spare a moment and pray for their quick recovery from this terrible terrible incident.
Allan and I have been doing some research about aid and how it's distributed and the result, is that we've decided to donate money instead of donating in kind. The thing is, most aid agencies who are experienced at this sort of thing usually find it difficult logistically to get the aid to the places that most need it. So as a measure of practicality, we decided to donate cash.
If you're interested in that option, have a look at CARE. It's an organisation that not only provides relief but also stays on to try and rebuild the community. And they have a secure online option to donate if you so wish.
Tonight, in celebration of all the blessings I've received present and future, in the company of my friends and loved ones, I am going to raise a glass to all, envelop them in my arms and say "I love you."
A Blessed New Year to all!
Quiz from blogthings.com
|
Your Dominant Intelligence is Interpersonal Intelligence |
 You shine in your ability to realate to and understand others. Good at seeing others' points of view, you get how people think and feel. You have an uncanny ability to sense true feelings, intentions, and motivations. A natural born leader, you are great at teaching and mediating conflict. You would make a good counselor, salesperson, politician, or business person. |
Front Page of Life & Times, New Straits Times
Just Heavenly's Front Page in NST
My Gosh! Front page. Never happened to us before. It was such a privilege and an honour. Allan and I have been so blessed ever since we started this business. The new friends we've made, the support we've been given by friends and family and the growth of the business itself.
Thank you all and we'll endeavour to continue designing dreams and serving pleasure! ;-)
Tragedy Strikes! Hope Endures!
Has anyone physically sat around and counted up to 1,000,000?
I mean, we all understand the number as a concept but have we actually experienced the sheer vastness of the number?
That's the number of people displaced as a result of this Natural Disaster not to mention the 12,000 or so who died. These were people like you and me who were sitting around, probably enjoying their time with family and friends when all of a sudden a wall of water comes crashing on them like so much concrete and either crushed them or just stole their lives away.
Each of their stories are now lost. Each of the little sparks that lit their family and friend's lives have been extinguished. Their shared experiences have become inaccessible to us except through vicarious means. All this in the blink of an eye.
Allan came to bed last night on the verge of tears. He summed it up with "it's so sad to see." We said a short prayer for all those who suffered and asked God to shine hope in their lives. Wish we could do more.
Some hopeful stories;
A friend's Uncle and Aunt were driving in Phuket when they saw the wave coming in. They turned round and sped off and missed the wave by a few minutes. The same friend's brother in law was on Koh Phi Phi off Phuket and they had just left on the boat for the mainland when they saw the wave crashing into the island. They did not know where to go. Somehow, they made it back to Phuket in one piece.
When it's not your time, God is not going to ask you to return home, no matter what danger you might be in.
On the other hand, I pray and hope that all the people who suffered through this will experience a quick healing and recovery.
We Wish You A Merry X'mas
The Malay Mail reported today that the brother of the groom who left the bride at the "altar" as it were said that "he was under a spell."
How about personal responsibility? How about having the two young 'uns talk things out? Or better yet, have the families work it out? How about the groom saying I'm sorry? How about the Mother stop blaming fate? Yup, that was the other thing that was reported. Poor fate! Get's blamed for everything. When do we take responsibility? Many Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, all like to go ahead and leave it to God.
Surely there's a balance though. We still need to do our best don't we? We still need to act in an upright manner don't we? Why didn't the groom go talk to the girl privately before this unpleasantness occured? It is possible that he tried and the girl didn't listen because she WANTED to be married?
What it boils down to was that the groom was scared and frightened and didn't know what to say so in a fit of desperation he decides to send her an SMS instead. The fear is understandable.The fact that he did not stand up to his own fear is not. If we allow fear to rule us, we are, in a word, lost. Everything we do will be predicated on what other people think of us, and what we can do so other people won't be pissed off.
How do you live your best life at that point?
The Phil Choir Rocks!
After 11 performances and the usual bitching and sniping that goes on in the Phil, the choir wrapped up what was probably their most eventful X'mas season. 11 Performances! That would have put seasoned performers in KL through the mill, let alone a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs.
The choir deserved to be congratulated.
Colin was a good conductor who pulled the choir together and taught the members how to focus. The choir was willing to listen and learn. A very good combination. Bar some hiccups, I thought that everyone had fun including myself.
2 years ago I did not sing for Christmas...at all. And I felt empty. This year I've been busier than ever (not as busy as Allan) but was having fun juggling work and singing. Allan has been understanding of the fact that I feel that this is my way of serving Him. I am so very very blessed! Praise God! ;-)
Allan and I also put the tree up at home. We decided that this year's theme would be Baubles. So we've basically hung the tree with all manner of round balls. Gold, silver, red, antique, you name it. We (Mum, Dad, Allan and myself) stood round the tree (in unconcious tribute to the wiccans/druids/pagans) held hands and Dad switched on the lights.
X'mas has not felt so Christmassy in a many years.
First Weekend of Performances
The 1st weekend of performances is over! Hallelujah! Aaaaa-mmennnnn!
Tiring but ultimately satisfying. Colin is supportive as a conductor and the choir responds well to him. I feel the men seem to be shouting too much and a rough sound is developing in the Bass section. That coarse edge when you yell too much. However, the overall balance is decent, despite the fact that we had to contend with a sound guy who was late for our 1st 3 performances out of our 5 this weekend. Hmmm!
Perhaps it's time to have a word with him. Really congenial guy and means very well. AND I know he takes the Phil seriously. But punctuality is also about respecting other people. And if you're late, it seems to indicate that you don't care about people and you don't care about wasting other peoples' time. Something I will have to think about and see how I can communicate to him without walls going up, whether directly or indirectly.
I had an interesting chat with Aariye tonight. Crux of it was about freedom of speech in all it's guises.
My opinion has for a very long time been that I have no quarrels with the notion. It's the consequences of taking the notion to an extreme that I have a problem with. People bandy the phrase "freedom of speech" (especially in America) to the point that it's become this religion, this end in itself. As far as I'm concerned, the only end for me is to live in harmony with my fellow people. My community. I'm a filthy tempered fellow but happily enough I'm finding more balance every day. Thanks to my other half.
So, the challenge is, how do you find a way to get your message accross without it being still born. That's what all this "communication"/blogging/talking/speechifying is all about isn't it? If this is the end itself, then it seems sterile.
We live in a community of mostly like minded people. I'm an optimist. I believe that people are generally good and when it comes down to it, if you can speak their lingo (and I don't mean a foreign tongue) people will generally want to do what you want to do. In my 40 years, I've found people are reasonable. Only thing is that, the way I think and speak, may not be how someone else thinks and speaks. So how do I find a way to communicate what I think to another person without that person erecting a wall to my message? The onus is on me surely.
Furthermore, if you, for example, cause offence to someone, the first thing they will do is erect a brick wall 100 m high and it'll be a very tedious job tearing it down so you can communicate to them again. And for what? Just so you can have the satisfaction of saying what you want to say? Why not just try rephrasing it? Sit down with them specifically and tell them...nicely. If it's not as well received as you'd like it, move on. They don't have to agree with you. And it's not necessarily personal if they don't agree with you...unless YOU make it so.
So you can still have your freedom of speech but the consequences are that you get to pass your message on and still have a decent relationship (and that's what it's all about) with the other guy. No PERSON (for you "womyn" out there) is an island after all. But THAT is a whole other story.
This Is The Moment from the musical Jeckyl and Hyde
Song: This Is The Moment Lyrics
This is the moment!
This is the day,
When I send all my doubts and demons
On their way!
Every endeavor,
I have made - ever -
Is coming into play,
Is here and now - today!
This is the moment,
This is the time,
When the momentum and the moment
Are in rhyme!
Give me this moment -
This precious chance -
I'll gather up my past
And make some sense at last!
This is the moment,
When all I've done -
All the dreaming,
Scheming and screaming,
Become one!
This is the day -
See it sparkle and shine,
When all I've lived for
Becomes mine!
For all these years,
I've faced the world alone,
And now the time has come
To prove to them
I've made it on my own!
This is the moment -
My final test -
Destiny beckoned,
I never reckoned,
Second Best!
I won't look down,
I must not fall!
This is the moment,
The sweetest moment of them all!
This is the moment!
Damn all the odds!
This day, or never,
I'll sit forever
With the gods!
When I look back,
I will always recall,
Moment for moment,
This was the moment,
The greatest moment
Of them all!
Matt, Matt, Matt...
Matthew McConaughey's career must be in something of slump.
Matt, Matt, Matt...
Stetson Cologne?
Running A Society
It's going to be a challenge to be on the Phil committee this year.
After working with a group of strong minded people in WP for 3 years I've come to see that everything's a balancing act. That's not to say you give in and compromise principles when you're pushed against a wall but how do you balance varying opinions so that eventually what the leadership feels is correct to do, is done?
I hope to contribute some of my experience and talents to the process but I'm under no delusions that I will be able to go as far as I'd like with this. Since everything is voluntary in a society like the Phil, egos need to be massaged, irrelevant opinions need to be listened to and above all an attitude of "let's work it out" needs to be maintained at all times.
People generally do have valid anxieties and concerns. Listening to them and listening to those concerns is going to be job 1. I'm going to have learn to really LISTEN to what people are trying to say instead of what they are actually saying because most people tell you of their worry/fear/anxiety instead of what's causing it. I've found that when you can understand the root cause, you can then begin to address that in any number of ways without giving up your objective.
The Phil is 50 in 4 years. How can I contribute to its growth and expansion?
Post Holiday Blues
Had a wonderful 5 days up in Cameron Highlands.
It was just absolutely lovely to enjoy some cool weather, wake up feeling cold in the morning and just spend your days hiking, cooking, playing mahjong and loving your loved ones. :-)
Oh yes, hiking...
Actually, climbed up - in parts on all fours - one of the higher peaks of the Tahan Range called Jasar Mountain. All 1,700m of it.
OK, so it's sentimental but it was a much needed "stop and smell the roses" moment.
The Bungalow was gorgeous, set in about 2 acres of lands and beautiful landscaped gardens full of Cymbidium orchids, snap dragons, Goldenrods, Chrysanthemums, Calla Lillies, you name it. There was a snap to the air and it brought back a spring to your step.
In a way, I'm glad we're back. It leaves me looking forward to the next time we go.
Selamat Deepa Raya
To all my Hindu and Muslim friends, Happy Deepavali or Happy Diwali and Selamat Hari Raya!
Phil Christmas Choir
Colin Kirton is conducting our Christmas Phil Choir.
I am impressed.
For a drama guy who’s conducting the choir, he’s very good. OK, one can get picky about his conducting and say that he doesn’t really know how to flap his arms like a real conductor but since I’m also a part time singer, I can’t complain with his results.
As much as he has to get used to us, we have to get used to him. In terms of how we sound, we actually sound very good. As good as I’ve ever heard the Phil sound. And the best part is, he’s actually getting people to drop their scores. Once you do that, you’ve pretty much pushed the choir to a point where they can then FEEL the music and adding dynamics then becomes a lot easier.
The other part of his conducting which I thoroughly enjoy is the fact that he is sooooooo organized. He’s working with a part time choir and I think kudos to him for being able to pull it together in such a short time. 4 rehearsals and we’re dropping music.
That’s amazing!
Bravo to Colin.
The Phil
Had fun at the Phil AGM last night.
However, I don't think people generally know what they want to do.
Maybe I'm reading too much into Catherine's resignation as Chairman during the Philharmonic Society of Selangor's AGM on Sat night.
She sounded frustrated and worn.
I think she's done a marvelous job but really, the Chairman's job in running an organisation like the Phil is perhaps tougher than running a large corporation.
To a large extent, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. If you try to push forward, there are those who will say "but that's not inclusive and not what the Phil is about." If you DON'T move forward, you have the problem that the young ones just lose interest and don't come back.
It was summed up in what someone said about an old hand not being picked for the Christmas choir. It was mentioned that the committee was not being inclusive and that it was not the way things were done. Someone intimately involved with the Phil replied that they left it to the conductor in charge of the Phil for Christmas to choose as they are trying to upgrade the choir.
I also accepted nomination for a seat on the committee. I was voted in. I felt that after saying so much in an email to the egroups, I should at the very least contribute some measure of my time to improve matters. Put my money where my mouth is so to speak.
All I know is that trying to please people should never be an aim or a goal. You can only do your best. Do what is right and people will eventually see that it was the right thing to do.
As the World Turns
The title of this popular daytime soap is, I feel, extremely apropo for these few days after the most divisive US election in recent history.
George Bush has been making all the right noises. But then again, he made all the right noises immediately after the last election too. The one in which the American people didn't even vote for him. The one which to my mind makes a mockery of the democracy they say they espouse. Come on, in which modern democracy do you have an elected leader who LOSES the popular vote?
Anyway, that's ancient history.
The Democrats are predictably glum but I feel that this was a blessing in disguise for them. They need to field someone like Bill Clinton again. Not just a great thinker but also a great communicator. Pundit's are already talk about Hilary Rodham Clinton running in 2008. If they can sell her to the Bible Belt and the midwestern states, they would have achieved something.
I've always wondered whether they have their elections so close to each other just to keep the economy going. They spent $4 Billion on this last one. At least in terms of what was declared.
Osama Bin Laden got what he wanted. An excuse (that's Bush if you didn't know) to continue his attacks on "The Great Satan."
And through all this, the world continues to turn.
Isn't life grand? :-)
The most important election ever?
It's amazing.
The amount of world attention the United States is receiving for it's election of it's next President.
Vilified, bruised, battered but pretending that nothing bothers him, a seeming garden gnome of a man in the form of George Bush still has victory within his grasp in one of the most venomous elections the United States has ever seen.
If the world were to vote, John Kerry would be a shoe in. Pity the world's not voting. I cannot say enough about how hateful this present US President is. He's myopic, self-righteous, bumbling, and has made ignorance a virtue. On the other hand he is everything a majority of Americans like; folksy, seems down to earth, doesn't use big words, and seems like a guy you could have a cup of coffee with.
No matter what we all think however, the world will continue to turn no matter who is in the White House.
The Da Vinci Code
Wow! This book has been keeping me up these last few nights.
It's extremely fast paced and some chapters are as short as 3/4s of a page.
In essence, this book revolves around a mysterious murder with messages being left behind by the victim in the final moments of the victim's life. The entire book takes off from there.
I wouldn't say that the book uses very elegant language and the author certainly is didactic and obvious in parts. Dialogue between the protagonist and his book editor referencing the bestselling book of all time gets the witty retort about Harry Potter. As if that is not enough, the protagonist replies "I'm referring to the Bible."
The scope is huge and takes in 1000 years of history in ts 400 to 500 pages.
Not being well read enough to comment on the accuracy of the facts, I suspect that the author was a little loose with the truth when he said “All descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents,and secret rituals in this novel are accurate.” Not to say he lied, but with Jesus and the Bible and historical accuracy often playing second fiddle to faith based reporting and writing, I suspect that he chose versions of the truth to add drama to the novel.
If you can start from that premise, The Da Vinci Code is an excellent read. Fast paced, entertaining, and a great book to pick up bits of trivia. For example, did you know that Leonardo Da Vinci was homosexual? And that his rendition of the Last Supper actually has a woman (speculated to be Mary Magdalene) on his right? And symbolism and religious imagery of the time being what it was, I've since discovered (by doing some internet research of my own)that this was the Maestro's way of thumbing his nose at the Catholic Church.
Having said that, much of the speculation of the Catholic Church suppressing the "sacred feminine" (remember this phrase;it get's used a LOT in the book) I take to be true.
Anyway, my socio-political leanings aside, pick up the book and read it. You won't regret it.