Matrix Robbery

I forgot how hilarious this was!
Make sure your sound is loud enough :)

YA Camp 08 - Love God, Love Others

About a month before the camp, the RCT and the mentors were cracking our heads over the name of the camp. After plenty of weird, lame and simply CMI suggestions, we decided to just go with YA Camp 08. Then our t-shirt was made and frankly speaking, why on earth didn't we think of "Love God, Love Others"??

Anyways, the camp was quite fun. I'm glad the participants had fun. I'm sad that a few ppl couldn't make it.

Day 1
We had a slow start to Day 1 because of the late check-in time. But things picked up when we started playing the games.

And I found out that I am sua-gu queen!!
We were playing this game in our group: All of us will put our hands flat on the ground and go around saying sth that we have not done before. Others who have done that particular thing before will have to fold one finger in. After the first round, I realised that I was the only person who did not have any fingers folded in! In the end when somebody finally had all 10 fingers folded in, I only had 2 fingers folded! So that's how I became sua-gu queen.

We had a talk after that by Daniel Teh and it was quite.... entertaining? Haha. I can't believe all of us sat on the floor for more than 2 hours. I think I have not sat on the floor for so long since primary school.

Then we played Clu-do! Isaac got killed again!





Day 2
The Ubin day that I did not take part in. I know I should go learn how to cycle so that I won't miss out on these outings anymore. But I'm just so lazy! One of the groups had a great time wading in the mud while I was taking a nap and watching TV. Hahaha.

Talk that night was by Stanley.

Then we took a looong walk to the Changi Boardwalk and we did WUTS! It was fun! We really should do it again soon.
We also played campfire-y things like the Friendship Dance and Father Abraham. I can't believe the younger ones do not know the Friendship Dance! -_-

And then we did this mutual encouraging where we sat in 2 circles - inner and outer and rotated so that we can speak to different people, encouraging or simply getting to know each other. It was really really good. I think we all benefited from it. :)



I still don't know why, but I was still quite high after we got back to the chalet and all the other girls except Krystal had gone to sleep. But we decided to go to slp in e end. And found out that we didn't have space on the mattress(es) for us! So we forced Amos and Sam to give up their rooms to us. Wahahaha! OK, I did feel guilty then. I did! But... no choice right. =P

For God so Loved the World

Watched twice, cried twice.

Blast From the Past

Looking back on 2008

Every year as I do this, I read through my blog entries for that year and remember the things that I went through. This entry is going to be real long, so prep yourselves!

I started the year with an entry on 2007 and moving into 2008. I remember feeling really apprehensive about working under a new boss in a new department with a new job scope. I actually enjoyed work. I had interest in what I was doing and my colleagues were great. My boss was really nice. Although I was working from 9am-11pm or even later almost everyday for 2 weeks, I didn't mind. I think I was running on adrenaline then. Then ADEX and Boat Asia came and went. And everything went downhill. After the crazy rush period ended, I let myself go totally. I started doing other things in the office, everything except work. I procrastinated and procrastinated until the very very last minute. I have no idea why I could not get myself to change and be hardworking once more. 

Then everybody in the team left. Ariel, Amy, Korice, Keisha. 

So by August, I was planning to quit and continue my studies. I think it made matters worse because I was going to work everyday with my last day in mind. After much agony on my and my boss's part, November finally came. I tendered on Nov 14, and started planning my handover and the leave I must clear. 

I will miss Michele, Zann and Cynthia. I will miss ADEX and BA. I will miss the convenience of working in Suntec. I will miss the monthly income! I will miss the bomb shelter we call an office.

Right, moving on.

My 2nd entry for 2008 was a short passage written by George Carlin. I have no idea who he is, but I like what he wrote. 

Often I wonder what my friends/family live for. What is their purpose in this life? Do they even have one? As a Christian, my life is supposed to be for God. Sometimes I forget it, sometimes I remember and thank Him from my heart that He is my life. But other times, like now, I wonder what exactly am I here for? We read about how this world is just a passing land to us and that eternity is waiting for us. If that is the case, I would really like to go to eternity ASAP. I'm quite sick of this world, frankly speaking.

I want to find the joy in loving Him, in Him again. I want to submerge myself in Him and get to know Him all over again. I want to feel what I feel when I'm singing praises to Him even while I am walking on the streets.

Which brings me to my next subject. '08 was a low for me spiritually. During the first 4 mths of the year, I was so bogged down by work that I had no time at all to think about God and church. I did what was expected of me and that was all. After the busy period ended, I expected myself to insert more time and priority into church, but I didn't. My personal relationship did not improve as well. Then I resigned and got caught up in extreme busy-ness. Even YA Camp didn't really help. 

I really liked the YA Camp. Putting a bunch of people together for 3D2N in one place usually works. Things could have been better, like higher attendance. BUT, I'm not gonna complain to God after He has shown us His grace. I'll talk more about it in another entry. 

Last year was a year of 21st birthdays for all 1987 babies. I don't know about you but I enjoyed myself with the many gatherings and meetings-up with old friends, especially my Pri sch friends. I really miss them lots and the crazy things we did in the sch. Basically, I miss school! 

One highlight this year was the iMac my sis and I bought together with a 50% donation from my mum :D I really like the HUGE screen and its vibrancy and the little space it takes up. Since I've downloaded the Mac versions of several applications, I shan't complain about it. However, I miss playing my Shockwave games and having a shared folder on my MSN.

We formed RCT - Radical Core Team late last year. I think we're progressing so much more over the past 3 months than we did in the two years under me. I seriously hope and pray that we will really make YA alive again. Being the president of YA really drained me in the sense that I got so discouraged that I didn't feel like doing anything. 

I'm really happy though, that YA has gotten bigger. Thank God for Larry, Shu Ying, Claris and Amos Tan :)

I have always disliked how some churches aim to have maybe 5000 or 8000 members in their church by a certain deadline. I mean, so now these people are statistics? I thought we are to bring people to the Lord because we love them and we want them to be saved!

I really don't know if it is me or if I'm just a control-freak, but I just don't like how things are discussed between 2 or maybe 3 persons, then the decision is just announced or actioned upon without letting the rest of the team know in advance. Maybe it is because copying the relevant persons in an email has been so ingrained in me, but I don't understand why an email cannot be sent to inform the rest of the team what is happening. 

Anyhow the year is over. It's time to move on. 

Next year, I would like to........

Learn to play an instrument

Spend at least 30% more time with God and on God

Reach Cynthia's target

Busy as a Bee

I feel that I have gotten busier since I became jobless officially. But I think it's just the season and should be extremely grateful that I am jobless because I really do not think I can finish everything while holding a job. 

I have TONS of things to accomplish before the end of this year. Christmas cards and gifts, camp booklet, printing camp tee, the many potluck gatherings, translating sth for my mum, designing invite cards for my previous company. DIE!

Next!

Today was my last day in TMX. It turned out extremely differently from what I had imagined ever since I tendered all due to a management decision.

Yesterday we found out that two of our colleagues will not receive a confirmation after their probation and were asked to leave. Another was offered a contract job instead of a confirmation and so she has decided to leave. 

So the atmosphere in the office was really sad. Jestin was really emotional and all. 

I didn't feel sad at all. Not over my departure, nor over my colleagues' departure. 

I know the reason for the latter. I am leaving after all. It really wouldn't make a huge difference and I do understand why these 3 ppl were let go.

But as to why I wasn't sad over my departure... I reasoned that I would have been sad if I had resigned maybe 6 or 7 months ago. I must admit that I was more attached to the previous team and I was enjoying my work then. Now, even though the idea of not having to wake up early anymore for work starting from tomorrow is still kinda surreal, I totally love this sense of relief of not having to worry about work, or fret over the tasks I have to accomplish the next day.

I must reach the target to work at Boat Asia 09! 

2nd Family Trip

I'm going to TAIWAN!! :)

There has been a flood of ppl going to Taiwan this year. At least within my circle of friends. 

Yesterday night, my sister and I made a very instant decision to go to Taiwan with my relatives. Maybe not instant, my sister mulled over her decision for quite sometime before we went ahead with booking the air tickets. 

I'm going to have to forgo buying a few things like my Warehouse bag, my phone/iPod... BUT, it should be worth it because I have been looking forward to going overseas since long ago. Hopefully I can get sponsors... Hahaha.

Before I Leave

Yes Corrin, before I leave. 

I tendered my resignation the Friday before last. I can't wait for my last day to come. 

There are many things happening in the office that I have not told anybody. Nor will I ever. You just don't talk about things you do wrong.

But I guess this way, it is so much easier for everybody. 

And, through this incident, I experienced the amazing grace of the ever-faithful God once again. I had absolutely no right to turn to Him after what I did, but He still helped me through :)

I guess... it's His way of telling me that He is always faithful even when we are unfaithful.

Lunar Got Me

Something has been in my office's air since 1 Nov. A few of my colleagues have been down with flu ever since our company outing. But I didn't catch anything despite having the sick birds sitting just next to me.

However, when I was in Lunar Bar last Saturday night I started sneezing. By the time we left the place, I was having a sore throat, which didn't bother me much as my friends also had sore throats from shouting to be heard over the extremely loud music in the bar.

Then I went karaoke on Sunday afternoon with my sister and cousins. At 5pm I took a 2 songs long nap. I was so lethargic and I was lugging around my huge bag filled with 3 days of clothings and church paraphernalia.

When I reached home that night I felt like I was emanating heat.

So I finally got my wish. 

我还在寻找 一个依靠 一个拥抱
谁替我祈祷 替我烦恼

TMX Day Out

My first and last TMX outing I think.


We have had Girl Night Outs before this: we went to Kbox, Mind Cafe or dinner. But as the name suggests, those were limited to the girls which frankly speaking, includes almost everybody in the office except for Herman at one point of time.


The turnout for this official TMX outing was great. Everybody came with their other half and kids in tow. There was lots of food including Jestin's prata, Cyn's non-halal beehoon and Viv's chix wings.



We had originally intended to go to Sentosa for a picnic and I was so looking forward to the sun and the vball, but it had to rain heavily up till around 10am. Thankfully Zann managed to book the function room at Nerdy's condo.



I had plenty fun regardless, playing Taboo, Dai Dee, and Phase 10.


I think half the fun in this outing was planning it. Hopefully I'll get a chance to go to Sentosa with them at least once before I leave.



And hopefully we will have another Mind Cafe or Kbox outing before I leave.

The Brain Wiring Test

Total score if you are a woman: 230 points


Most males will score between 0-180 point and most females 150-300.

Brains which are 'wired' for mainly masculine thinking usually score below 150. The closer to 0 they are, the more masculine they are, and the higher their testosterone level is likely to be.
These people demonstrate strong logical, analytical and verbal skills and tend to be disciplined and well-organised. The closer to 0 they score, the better they are at projecting costs and planning outcomes for statistical data, with their emotions hardly influencing them at all.
Scores in the minus range are high masculine scores. These scores show that large amounts of testosterone were present in the early stages of the fostal development.

The lower the score for a woman, the more likely she will be to have lesbian tendencies. Brains that are wired for mainly feminine thinking will score higher than 180. The higher the number, the more feminine the brain is, and the more likely the person is to demonstrate significant creative artistic and musical talents. They will make more of their decisions on intuition or gut feelings, and are good at recognising problems using minimal data. They are also good at solving problems using creativity and insight.

The higher is the score above 180 for a man, the greater the chance he will be gay.
Males who score below 0 and women who score above 300 have brains that are wired so oppositely that the only thing they are likely to have in common is that they live on the same planet!

The overlap
Scores between 150-180 show compatibility of thought for both sexes, or a foot in both sexaul camps.

These people do not show a bias for either male or female thinking and usually demonstrate a flexibility in thinking that can be a significant advantage to any group who are going through a problem-solving process.

They have the predisposition to make friends with both men and women.

Dreamy Idealist (DI)

Dreamy Idealists are very cautious and therefore often appear shy and reserved to others. They share their rich emotional life and their passionate convictions with very few people. But one would be very much mistaken to judge them to be cool and reserved. They have a pronounced inner system of values and clear, honourable principles for which they are willing to sacrifice a great deal. Joan of Arc or Sir Galahad would have been good examples of this personality type. Dreamy Idealists are always at great pains to improve the world. They can be very considerate towards others and do a lot to support them and stand up for them. They are interested in their fellow beings, attentive and generous towards them. Once their enthusiasm for an issue or person is aroused, they can become tireless fighters.

For Dreamy Idealists, practical things are not really so important. They only busy themselves with mundane everyday demands when absolutely necessary. They tend to live according to the motto “the genius controls the chaos” - which is normally the case so that they often have a very successful academic career. They are less interested in details; they prefer to look at something as a whole. This means that they still have a good overview even when things start to become hectic. However, as a result, it can occasionally happen that Dreamy Idealists overlook something important. As they are very peace-loving, they tend not to openly show their dissatisfaction or annoyance but to bottle it up. Assertiveness is not one of their strong points; they hate conflicts and competition. Dreamy Idealists prefer to motivate others with their amicable and enthusiastic nature. Whoever has them as superior will never have to complain about not being given enough praise.

As at work, Dreamy Idealists are helpful and loyal friends and partners, persons of integrity. Obligations are absolutely sacred to them. The feelings of others are important to them and they love making other people happy. They are satisfied with just a small circle of friends; their need for social contact is not very marked as they also need a lot of time to themselves. Superfluous small talk is not their thing. If one wishes to be friends with them or have a relationship with them, one would have to share their world of thought and be willing to participate in profound discussions. If you manage that you will be rewarded with an exceptionally intensive, rich partnership. Due to their high demands on themselves and others, this personality type tends however to sometimes overload the relationship with romantic and idealistic ideas to such an extent that the partner feels overtaxed or inferior. Dreamy Idealists do not fall in love head over heels but when they do fall in love they want this to be a great, eternal love.


*Accurate sometimes. I never thought I'd describe myself as dreamy though...

For yours, please go to http://www.ipersonic.com/test.html

Frustrated with myself

I now totally understand why kids misbehave to attract attention. And I'm just so frustrated with myself for having thoughts like that! It's so stupid.

I also cannot stand myself because of something else. I just feel so lousy and useless when it comes to YA. Even after 2 years, I still feel that I have not learnt anything, nor made any improvements, and worse, made any impact on YA. I would love to blame it on work and thus the lack of time, but I cannot escape the fact that it is just me. The lack of 'burden' for this ministry, my laziness, my forgetfulness, and most importantly, my relationship with God. I do believe that He can make use of us when we think we are not, but I seriously do not see it happening to me. 

Then again, it may be because I have been too self-centered. 

The Motorshow was a disappointment. SO glad I did not pay to get in. Many of the luxury and big brands weren't there. 

Today was Korice's last day in TMX. I'm going to miss her.. After so many comings and goings in the company, I'm sort of immune to all of it already. Since I joined SIM in 2007, I have seen at least 13 ppl leave the company, some for a better job, others for reasons too complicated to tell. It's going to be my turn soon. I wonder what I will feel then. 

A contradiction

I just did a personality test on facebook. It was FULL of contradictions. :/

And I think I like belong to the erm, minority group?

Openness - 51%

This trait refers to the extent to which you prefer novelty versus convention. Approximately 5.5% of respondents have a lower openness raw percentage than yours. From the way you answered the questions, you seem to describe yourself as someone who is down-to-earth and prefers things to be simple and straightforwards. You might say that it just makes life easier if things don't change unnecessarily, that the arts are of no practical use to you, and that you think tradition is more important than others do.

Conscientiousness - 40%

This trait refers to the extent to which you prefer an organised, or a flexible, approach in life. Approximately 11.5% of respondents have a lower conscientiousness raw percentage than yours. From the way you answered the questions, you seem to describe yourself as someone who is impulsive and whimsical, and fine with it! From your responses it appears that you would say that sometimes decisions need to be made quickly, and that you make them quicker than most! You would say you are zany, colourful, and just generally great fun to be with... as long as someone isn't relying on you to get some work done.

Extraversion - 31%

This trait refers to the extent to which you enjoy company, and seek excitement and stimulation. Approximately 5.5% of respondents have a lower extraversion raw percentage than yours. From the way you answered the questions, you seem to describe yourself as someone who is quiet and somewhat withdrawn. Your answers describe you as someone who doesn't need lots of other people around to have fun, and can sometimes find that people are tiring.

Agreeableness - 51%

This trait refers to the way you express your opinions and manage relationships. Approximately 21% of respondents have a lower agreeableness raw percentage than yours. From the way you answered the questions, you seem to describe yourself as someone who people can find difficult to get along with when you first meet, as you can be suspicious of their motives. Your responses suggest that over time though people warm to you, and you to them, although that doesn't stop you telling them "how it is".

Neuroticism - 41%

This trait refers to the way you cope with, and respond to, life's demands. Approximately 46% of respondents have a lower neuroticism raw percentage than yours. From the way you answered the questions, you seem to describe yourself as someone who is generally calm. Based on your responses, you come across as someone who can feel emotional or stressed out by some experiences, however your feelings tend to be warranted by the situation.

Then..

Jungian Typology Estimate

ISTJ

Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging

ISTJs thrive on organisation. They keep their lives and environments well-regulated. They bring painstaking attention to detail in their work and will not rest until satisfied with a job well done. ISTJs are faithful, logical, organized, sensible, and earnest traditionalists. They earn success by thoroughness and dependability. Shutting out distractions, they take a practical, logical approach to their endeavors. Realistic and responsible, they work steadily toward their goals. They enjoy creating order in both their professional and personal lives. ISTJs are persons of thoughts and (sometimes) emotions. They prefer dealing with the present and factual, using various options to make decisions.

Happys

I'm feeling quite happy now. I just found out that the iPod touch is going about $100 cheaper! Yay!

I lost my wallet 2 Sundays ago. :( 

But, surprisingly, I did not feel really sad. Just sort of irritated with the person who took my wallet and DID NOT bother sending back my IC, and with having to take the trouble to go down to ICA to make my IC.

Just signed up for Facebook. Kinda stuck on it now, it being a novelty and all that. 

Confused

I'm in a serious state of confusion now.

I'm going crazy trying to figure out the direction to go in for my further studies. AAAHHHH!!!!

Fishes in the Sea

My office has a water feature with a few fishes living in it. Those fishes are the most timid fishes I have ever seen. They "fee-eew" off to hide when they see somebody looking at them. Once I decided to feed them. I purposely waited silently after pouring the food in to see if they will come out for the food. So after a while, I saw them shooting out of their hiding place one by one to grab the food, then shooting back to the hiding place immediately like some kind of covert op.

 

God's grace

I have something that I must share!!

It is now 12.33 AM Friday morning. I'm on leave today cos I'm going to KL with my relatives for the weekend. I wanted to send out an work email at about 11.40PM from home. But when I logged in, I saw an email from a magazine chasing for an ad! *horror* I'm at home, my laptop is in the office, my thumbdrive is new meaning I don't have the working file for the ad with me, AND my com is new so I don't have the software I need in my com! How bad can this get? Plus, the ad is for an August/September issue. It is already 8 August. 

Anyhow, I replied to the email, while scrambling to download the necessary softwares and find the raw visual for the ad so that I can do the ad. 

Then, the lady replied and told me to send her the ad by next Tuesday. I really have nothing to say. His grace is really, astounding. I was even contemplating getting my father to drive me to the office when he comes back from work later so that I can use the laptop I left there. 

Time and time again He just renders me helpless and shows me that He is aware of everything around me and wakes me up from my apathy. :)