Goldfish Eyes

Have you seen such people before? Half or more of the eyeballs protrude from the face. They have shallow eye sockets, a bodily deformity that causes their eyes to resemble those of a goldfish.

Earlier this afternoon, I saw this boy with goldfish eyes. He was about 5 years old and was at the seats waiting for his turn at ICA. He asked his mother if he could play the Gameboy (that freaky gadget that hooks people's souls away >:( ), which he and his sister shared. Naturally, his sister refused.

'Mummy, but you said after she plays, it's my turn,' he said sadly.

His mum then decided that the winner of 3 rounds of scissors-paper-stone would get to play that Gameboy. He won, but under the whining nuisance of the sister, his mum told them to play another 3 rounds so that the boy would lose and his sister would get to continue playing.

He was obviously disappointed and that really struck me.

Is it because of his extraordinary condition that God has compensated him with such a gentle and meek heart? Must it be that humans must be ugly-looking before they have truly beautiful hearts? And is it because of his meekness that people can bully him?

His mother's biased decision stung an old wound of mine. She knew her son was more obedient and loving, so she exploited that to keep his sister contented.

My brother was the most beautiful child in the family, but his slight dyslexia and weaker intellectual development made parenting so frustrating that inappropriate methods of punishment were used on him when patience ran out. Nonetheless, God blessed him with such a heart of humility and meekness that he would always be the one who helped run family errands or be at the losing end in friendships. Because of that, I remember him always having to give in to me and my other siblings, because he would not throw tantrums and could tolerate unfair decisions. Sometimes it still happens now. Maybe that's why he bears grudges and can get antagonistic at times.

Now that I've got past the age of wanting to be victorious all the time, I want to help mend this wound of the family. I don't want to get into petty tiffs. I want to be a blessing and encouragement to him. I regret only doing this after 15 years of biased treatment, but I suppose there is no true remedy for the old wounds except for God's providence and keeping.

Saying Goodbye

How do you do it?

How do you do it to teenagers who have touched you with their innocent precocity, their idealic optimism and altruism that is so lacking in the adult world?

Cockroaches

Yuck, cockroaches are vile. On my way home, I had to avoid stepping on the land mines of cockroaches either
A) squirming in poisoned pain,
B) squirming in half-of-my-abdomen-is-squashed pain, OR
C) paralysed.
This was the result of the periodal fogging of rubbish chutes in the neighbourhood. I'm reminded of the many fascinating and repulsive stories and experiences with these pests. I'll share something close to my heart haha.

My parents are avid roach killers. My dad's the timeless roach hunter. He's been shooting rubber bands at cockroaches with never-failing accuracy since he was a kampong kid. There was once where I was brushing my teeth and there it was, this young, dark roach at the sink. So my dad went into the bathroom with a rubber band...and came out with the dead roach split into two at the abdomen, save the remaining bits that served as a hinge. One of its legs flew onto the bathroom floor and there was this murky green splatter marking where it had been. Yuck.

And there's my mum, the slappy roach hunter. She slaps the bugs with her shoes, so when she gets the sneaky ones, you see her slapping her shoe on the floor everywhere lol. Sometimes, she seals them in Gardenia wrappers and leave them to die in the rubbish chute. Mum doesn't believe in cockroaches being more hardy because they are two-brained since she squashes bugs entirely.

I'm glad to have my dad and mum around because it doesn't really matter that I'm afraid of them. However there was this one inevitable encounter:

This cockroach sneaked into my new sneakers then and I squashed it flat when I wore it to school. There was this tingly sensation in the sole but I never really noticed it till a break from squash playing a week later. The cockroach was partially disintegrated and absolutely dessicated. Some parts clung onto my sock while others were stuck in the seams. It was R-E-V-O-L-T-I-N-G. I almost puked, I had goosebumps and I seriously contemplated the idea of going home footless. I limped on the way home so as to stop squashing the remaining bits. YUCK.

Cockroaches are absolutely disgusting. They live in dumps, eat in dumps, and smell like dumps. They pretend to be dead in the corner even when they're being discovered. They don't have teamwork, neither do they fight to gain terrority. Even ants are much better- they are so diligent and patriotic to their own colony- though I sealed their new colonies under the staff room tiles with BluTack. The ants kept returning and tried to remove the BluTack for the rest of the day.

The moral is, I DETEST COCKROACHES. >:(

I hope the dead bugs stuck or lying around get cleaned up tomorrow. I don't want to step on them first thing in the morning!

Blabber

I have too many thoughts in mind, so many that I can't seem to pick one to blog on.

So, I'll just share some real stupid stuff.

At home, just a few minutes ago...

Esther: (Holds a pencil and a KFC Chicky Club notepad) Jiejie, how do you spell TORNADO?
Me: T-O-R-N-A-D-O
(A while later...)
Esther: (clips the Chicky Club paper written with TORNADO onto her nose) Look! Tornado!

Don't get it? So do I. I laughed cos it was SO tangential.

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In the HR on Thursday night...

Joey: Daph, you're eating an apple?
Me: (munches on a crunchy South African Fuji) Yeah. No apple, no shit.

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In the AVA room during Social Studies period...

(A dubious size 11 shoe was being passed around the class.)
Me: XXX, pass me that shoe. (takes the shoe) Who's behind this?
Some students: YYY!
Me: (Glares) See me after school.
(I brought the shoe to the teacher's table.
I chuckled to myself: TEE HEE! I'M CONFISCATING YOUR SHOE. LET'S SEE HOW YOU STAY HALF-SHOELESS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.)
Before the period ended, this sneaky YYY sneaked the shoe back.
Dang. What a letdown.

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At my tuition kid's house...

Me: So you shall do the MCQs on this chapter.
Kid: Okay.
( A few moments later...)
Kid: (Sings a tad off-key, while writing) Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...
(He stops, and starts again) Happy birthday..
(Changes song) I see your truuuue colours shining throuuuugh...

I was greatly amused by the subconscious off-key singing of random songs.

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In the classroom...

Some adorable little boys: Miss Tan, hello! We are your fans!
Me: (Amused) Yeah ok...Can you please turn the volume up? The classroom is very warm today.

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Pardon me for my self-entertainment, haha.

AEWF 2007

Hi all,

I've graduated, yes, but I'm singing in the ACJC Alumni Choir. Both college and alumni choirs will be giving a concert at the end of the month. And, AEWF is not another innovative name to replace a four-letter vulgarity. Here are the details.

Event: An Evening With Friends 2007
Date/Day: May 28, 2007, Monday
Time: 1930h
Venue: The Esplanade Concert Hall
Ticket Prices: $27, $21 (SOLD OUT), $17 (SOLD OUT)

Ha, that leaves you with the only option of buying $27 tickets. We'll be singing a diverse repertoire, with works from Asia and the Western countries, sung in eg, syllables for onomatopoeia, Latin, French, Swedish and English.

Why should you come? I've thought of a few reasons.

1. To support your friends - your presence shows your appreciation of his musical talent and pursuits

2. For aesthetic appreciation - you love music, you sing in a choir or is fascinated by the God-given human voice and the wonders it can make

3. Your friend keeps hounding you to reply his text message - you have to give in because his fervent concern about your decision to go or not

4. Your friends are going - instead of doing the usual things of movie-watching and pigging out at Fish and Co, why not hang out together at such a classy place called the Esplanade?

5. Because you have been checking out daph-daphne.blogspot.com and you felt touched by the author's compelling recounts and reflections on her life of music, you decided that yes! you have to meet this person and the best way to do so is...to go for the concert.

Please order tickets from me if you'd like to come. You don't have my number? How can you not have it? (Gasps in desperation and shock) Fine. Drop me a mail at osthmus@hotmail.com. Haha, I'll get back to you asap.

Goodnight!

Update

It's been a pretty long time since I've posted. If you are bored or would like something random and light-hearted, don't hesitate to go to

http://www.toothpastefordinner.com

It's one of my links actually :)

So many things have happened lately. Last Saturday was the CTSS Carnival. We didn't manage to hit our target but I'm sure the practising of entrepreneurship skills and bonding with students and colleagues alike helped make up for it. :) We need to raise funds to provide our many needy students with more than what is currently provided, and for our renovation of the original campus at Clementi Central.

Well, I'm glad I did my part! I spent a lot of money, over twice of my budget, at the carnival to guzzle on cotton candy, ice cream, sushi, sodas and their family of JUNK FOOD. Maybe that's why I've been having a greater appetite for junk food, resulting in (weight gain..shhh!) Haha. Now, I have to force myself to stop pigging out. Drink water and eat apples when I have cravings for junk food >> this always works! ;) I went for the first haunted house EVER in my life. It was an underground passage in the stage of the old hall. Though it wasn't exactly, Reks, my students and I decided to scream our money's worth. It was hilarious! We ended up making high-pitched sounds. I screamed till my diaphragm cramped painfully. Poor fake ghosts - there was no ventilation in the haunted house at all and they had to stay there for hours!

I'm elated that for once most of my work is done. I was surprised to know that I only had about 20 more scripts to mark! Well, that is, before the English mid-years ends tomorrow. Together with next week's Social Studies examination, I'd have hundreds of papers piling up on my pig-sty table. God grant me the wisdom and strength to accomplish this feat!

I just came back from a scholarship interview. I doubt I'll get the scholarship because my choice course wouldn't allow me to. Moreover, I found myself beating around the bush with a confused and exhausted mind. The panel appeared skeptical or dissatisfied with my answers too. It's not easy to get the government's money after all, haha. I'm glad I tried. Whether I get the scholarship or not, I'd still enjoy a win-win situation. No scholarship - no bond, no immense pressure to meet expectations, I get to study what I love (Sociology!). Yes scholarship - reduced financial burden, higher pay, pressure and motivation to excel. Thank God :)

Before I get myself wasted and lost amidst the growing piles of examination scripts, let me end off with a light note.

During an after-school self-study session, I find my students reading the New Paper.

Miss Tan: (Arms folded) What are you doing? (gives a what-are-you-doing expression) Aren't you supposed to study?

Funny student: (in Singlish accent) Yah! We got study. We read the soccer news to upgrade our vulgarities.

Vulgarities! He meant 'vocabulary'. LOL!

Till next time. God bless! :D

The Mark of Christ

'From henceforth let no man trouble me:

for I bear in my body

the marks of the Lord Jesus."

Galatians 6:17

I've found new meaning in this verse. The pretext of v17 talks about Paul's conviction to Christ. He was a controversial figure preaching a gospel deemed highly controversial then. The religious leaders found it absurd and unacceptable that one could be saved simply by believing, not by mechanically following laws passed down from Moses' time, eg: circumcision. Paul ends off this epistle with a resolute statement that he bears the mark of Jesus Christ.

The mark of the cross encompasses two areas of understanding, the first of which is enslavery. Slaves in the past had to bear the mark of their masters either by tattooing or by scarring using a hot iron template. (You know, like how the Japanese used those red hot sticks to torture people?) So the slaves were bonded to their masters for life.

Paul saw his conviction to spreading the gospel despite numerous times of brushing shoulders with Death partly due to obligation. Christ freed him from being enslaved by sin and the world, and Paul saw Christ as His Benefactor. It was his responsibility to live for Christ because Christ has given him eternal life.

Also, the mark of the cross implies undying passion. Staunch members also bore the ensigns of their organisations. Paul loved Christ because Christ loves him and died for him. It was imperative to let others know of this love and eternal salvation too.

Similarly for us, it is an obligation and a passion to bear the mark of Christ.

I was caught off-guard when Pastor Tang asked in the sermon, 'Why do you wear a cross? Don't you know the cross is a symbol of utmost shame and humiliation?' I wear one around my neck, but do I see it as a reminder of Jesus' debasing cruxificion, or just a silver accessory to decorate an otherwise plain neckline? I was thinking that if I were to live in the old Grecian society, I'd be laughed at by others for openly exhibiting a ridiculous cross on my neck.

Let me be a Christian who lives the Word and prove true to the cross I bear - on my neck and throughout my stay on Earth.