Lost In Translation

A lot has happened in the past week and I've been finding it hard to find the words to describe it. But I think I've resolved to just leaving it as it is and not dwell too much on the recent events where possible. Changes have occurred, and even though I know for a fact (in faith) that it's for the better, sometimes I feel as if I just don't want to get better.
If you know what I mean.

To all of you who have been there for us, I thank you.
You still are. And I'm amazed.

Firstly, an apology for a lack of updates.
A lot has happened in the past week, and time to rest (in peace) has been scarce (nevermind if you didn't get that). But surprisingly, the week has been good to me; as stretching as it may be. Have been able to catch up with people I haven't caught up with in ages, and some new faces as well.

But just so to let you know what's been happening, my week has been pretty much somewhat like this:

Erwin sprained an ankle playing football. We waited for 5 hours till midnight at the hospital so he could be treated.

Steph moved out of her apartment. We spent three days just moving stuff into my place (as a temporary store) and her new place.

Mel and I got our 15 minutes of fame on The Age's Epicure.
Okay, so maybe just Mel. Iris says I look better in blur.

Hung out with Ant, Iris, and Lois in the city one day. We ventured through small lanes for food and the weather was a perfect sun with cool breeze.

Ant and I proceeded to check out the Pixar Exhibit at Fed Square that same day.

I attended my first session at Kingdom Purpose, the new course in church on Tuesday. I am excited for more (yes, I did say excited).

Celebrated a dear friend's 21st by taking care of a drunk.

Spent a day driving traveling the Great Ocean Road, stopping at Lorne and The 12 Apostles today with my Urban Life+.

~

The busyness has been helpful to keep my mind off things. But as a dear friend was just telling me, the 'busyness' is just an outlet for distraction and could potentially be unhealthy. I've met a lot of people addicted to busyness. It doesn't prevail to much. I still need my time to rest. And not just in sleep.

I'm just glad Sunday's here. I'll start breathing again now.

i wish i could be more like rachel; who reminds us all that the world is beautiful. live in the simple pleasures. there is goodness.

i wish i could be more like iris; whose presence is infectious. in just two minutes of meeting her you'd think she was your best friend.

i wish i could be more like ant; whose creativity feels sometimes like an elephant in a pickle jar. potential is endless. and a man of action too, not just words.

i wish i could be more like sharene; who can't live a day without revelation. she's everyone's tai kar jie - the sister i never had. the teacher, the friend.

i wish i could be more like erwin; who can't stop smiling. at everything. at everyone. as someone said, like christmas.

i wish i could be more like the jyg; who know what family is more than most. who live in communion. and celebrate each other like no other.

i see jesus in these people. they carry his attributes; whatever they may call it.
they carry his image.
i wonder what do i reflect when i walk down the streets. when i sit in class. when i go out at night. when i take a photo. when i watch a movie.

i wonder if i carry beauty like these people do.

I ought to be doing homework. And a whole lot of other 'responsibility' things. But I can't help but feel a little lethargic at the moment. Restless. I get this about once a week now. It happened on Wednesday last week. Now it's happening on Thursday. Next week, I'll probably feel this way on Friday night. No, I'm just talking nonsense. I'm procrastinating.

I have been struggling to stay at home to rest these days. There'll be an itch. A need to get out, meet people and do stuff. It's difficult, especially when uni is getting busier. People are getting busier. And I ought to save money too. Money is hard to come by these days. Actually not really. But I'm procrastinating from applying for jobs too. I have my 'jobs' folder open at the moment but I'm not doing anything about it. No good. Charmian is likely to jump on board on her second. Steph is jumping on board to something new as well. And what am I doing? I'm about to cut my finger nails.

Okay, okay. I admit. I'm dramatising a little. It's really not all that bad. But like I said earlier, I get such nights about once a week now. And it really feels a little crappy when my heart feels like it's racing a hundred k's an hour and all I'm doing is sitting in front of my laptop facebooking. Okay. The secret is out. I caved in to peer pressure and endless persuasions. I have whored myself to an online society. It's evil, I tell you. It kills your time. And by the time you've managed to detach yourself from its fictitious tentacles, you would've probably missed two meals and a bath. I know I did.
It's like a drug.

Anyways, last night was good, though. Steph and Erwin swung by in the evening, played a bit of wii, watched a movie, and had dinner. Not in that order though.
We made dumplings.
A lot of dumplings.

We easily finished 40 dumplings last night, plus chicken soup and noodles. I have another 20 dumplings in my freezer.

It was heaps of fun. Making dumplings is easier than I thought. Though I don't foresee myself making any in the near future (I'm so fat from dumplings now), I can now proudly say I know how to make 'em, and am able to reproduce them anytime.

Okay, I think it's high time I got back to work. Tax Law is beckoning alongside job applications.
Hooray to the realities of life: Tattslotto gets you nowhere.

~

p/s: I really, really, really, really, really, really, really can't wait for this. The movie for all movie lovers.

I know, I know. I've been absent in the blogging world.
It's funny how I've been trying to avoid being busy all week, and yet, more and more assignments and activities start to pop up from nowhere. But despite all that, I have to admit that I am thoroughly enjoying myself amidst all this.

But before all that, I woke up early on Sunday morning and headed up to visit the Camberwell Market. Earlier in the weekend, I fell in love with this pair of reading glasses a friend had (and bought for $5 at the market!), and decided I needed to head down to the Market to find another pair just like it if possible.

The market was cool. It was literally packed with old junk everywhere. An old man was even selling a 1970's Kodak Brownie camera for only $10 (which thinking back, I think should have bought it)! The thing is a classic!!
Unfortunately, only half of the market was explored as it suddenly started pouring.
But it's okay.
I'm going again this week.

Later at church, Ant arrived with a present.

He made a few of them and distributed among friends. That's right, folks. Made. The box, too.
Pure genius, I say.

But anyway, the real action came in on Monday, with my first day at work.
Yep, you heard me right. Yours truly is now finally employed.
While it may not be some nice office-y, suited up job, it is definitely good for now, as at least I have some spare cash flowing in - however little it may be. I am now only doing 6 hours a week, and it has proven to be quite the load already with my current schedule with all else. Uni, for one, is getting busier too. This week alone, I've had 2 assessments due which I've only completed and gotten rid of today. More is to come. Planet Uni is getting more fun too, as we approach our upcoming event on the 21st of September - something not to be missed.

I haven't had much time to rest except today, upon submitting my Tax Law essay in the afternoon. Since Monday, I've been booked from hour to hour with uni, work, and church. But like i said before, I'm thoroughly enjoying myself. With church especially. I think I finally know what my passion is. It has been a question eluding me for the longest of time. But I think I have an idea of what it is now. How do I contain it in words and compose it, I've yet to figure out. But at moments like these, I just knew it.

Because it was simply. just. perfect.

Tonight's my rest night. I've just finished watching The Bourne Ultimatum.
It is the best of the series, and I love the series. It's proof that action-packed flicks don't have to be plotless but can be clever too.

~

I might take a quiet cruise out to nowhere later.
Tonight, I'll rest.

Smiles. Self-made pizza. Camera flashes. TV. Friends. Sun-dried tomatoes.

We said goodbye to our visiting babysitter tonight. My very first Canadian friend.

(she's usually taller than that and i'm usually better looking too)

~

I have a new photoblog now. Blogger isn't cool for a photoblog, so I've converted to pixyblog.
The link is on this page's sidebar, still labeled as 'f-ed'.

Have a great weekend, everybody.

church. tee's. coffees. work. movies. homework. bills. uni. audio streams. joy. moving. driving. yeses. no's. sadness. bible. music. heater. cafe. calendar. birthdays. graduations. hello's. goodbyes. banks. flights. what is. kettle. cookies. safeway. vicmart. camberwell. 9am. 3am. make-up. hairspray. free food. holy spirit. shoes. sprays. catch-ups. assignments. photos. ink.

I give it all to You.

The days have been getting hotter. Too hot too soon, in my opinion.
I was sweating today. I can't imagine what it's gonna be like in summer this year round. I don't like summer. Correction: I think I hate summer. I really can't stand the heat. What more I'm not going back to Malaysia this time round too. God have mercy on me.

I have still been pretty busy. The schedules are slowly clearing up as the tee's have been mostly sprayed and distributed already. As most of you would know by now PlanetUNI is coming up with a massive event in just about 4 weeks, simply called What Is. A lotta exciting things coming right up. I'll blog more about that later though (just make sure you look out for us on the streets these coming Saturdays...).

In the mean time, I just thought I'd provide proof to the world that I'm still alive.

Hi.

Work has been good. I think the boss is quite happy with my performance so far, and has asked if I wanted to work more hours. I'm quite sceptical about it, seeing my current schedule. So I've decided to put that on hold for the mean time. I realise that I've actually failed to mention previously that I'm actually working at a cafe now. No, I don't wait, and no I don't make coffee. I'm basically the guy behind the glass frame who picks which pasta you want for your lunch to have here or takeaway and occasionally, I make sandwiches for you too. It's good fun. I'm 20% more skillful in the kitchen now. For example, I know how to wrap serviettes with cutlery now. Oooooh.

And today, I've just spent 7 hours in a row applying for summer internships in 10 different firms in Melbourne. I missed out by one, as it was passed the deadline. And I really couldn't take it anymore. I've never crapped so much for 7 hours in a row all my life. But it's okay. I have faith. I hope I get a good job (although the idea of a suit and a tie in summer is seriously closely compared to to dying unsaved at the moment).
I'm so lost in this area...

Earlier today, FedEx (I think) rocked up in uni with heaps of tiny Malaysian flags. Apparently they were rallying Malaysian students in uni to take a photo to be published in a newspaper back in Malaysia about (patriotic?) students abroad, as we approach our 50th National Day this 30th August.

It was interesting to see so many Malaysians gathered around South Lawn cheering with our mini Jalur Gemilang's. But still, I walked away immediately when they started singing the national anthem. Not that I'm ashamed to be Malaysian or anything. I just thought that was pretty embarrassing...

Anyway, it's close to 2am now, and I have a morning class tomorrow.
I should go to bed.

I wish my schedule had more blanks in it.