Sunday, May 31, 2009 ; He whose ways are higher than mine

this is going to be a religious topic.so please stay away if you're irked by the slightest mention.

had sunday school today.played the usual songs my worship team would have played most of the time.our top 10 songs haha.anyway the lesson of the day was on Joshua 7.on the attack of City Ai.but what most struck me was what materialized during the lesson today.of course.i was already at the sorry end because of my ugly attendance sheet in church.havent been attending much except for when i needed to play drums for service.and my teacher(bihui) asked me this question.or a series of questions.

When was your last spiritual "high"? Have you done anything to get to that stage again? and other things about worship.

my answer was the musical we had about 2 years ago.why? it was exactly what bihui said.because a whole group of christians came together for the same purpose.to put up a great performance and let the audience understand the real meaning of christmas.its not just a time to exchange presents.but to remember the birth of jesus christ.of course then again this would not bear any amount of significance for non-christians.but it really was the working together part which brought me to a stage where i felt close to God.but after that when the second question came.i could at best muster a pitiful : "no".she asked me to think about it.

there are many reasons why.but my weak resolve is to blame.waking up late on sundays so i dont attend the 8.30 service.failure to do devotions and prayers.its a far cry from my intense fervour as a young christian.where i even brought my bible to holidays overseas.i could never imagine doing it now.less communications means a less stable relationship.and that holds true wherever.spiritual or secular.it calls for some serious thought on whether im worthy.and again bihui throws me another statement which would be quite true to me.i'll never be prepared if tomorrow were the day of judgment."live each day as though christ would come the next" would be the order of the day.

going on.drumming in service has been feeling like a duty instead of a scarifice.just come and go.what do i think when im playing? the meaning of the lyrics? not really.i do that at home.in the confines of my comfortable room.the goal of worship is to help the congregation experience a bond between god and man.and the best way possible is to do a good job for the songs and praise.plus a moving message.bihui asked me if i could keep it simple as a drummer.which might be the best way sometimes to deliver a song.but from my dual perspectives it was hard.i admitted.perspectives from a christian drummer,and one of any other drummer in another band.their purposes are inherently different.the other drummer would place a premium on technical skill and showmanship to impress the crowd.the christian drummer interprets the song and helps the worship leader to create the mood essential for good worship.again.helping the congregation experience god.bringing songs to a high and low.according to business cycle.

one doesn't have to show off their most crazy skills in their instruments to be a musician of god.what matters is the heart and your motive when you're playing.let me keep this in mind.and keep conflict between the 2 types of drummers to a minimum.plus get more discipline to be a better christian.im listening to my soliloquy.

let's spend tonight on top of the world
we can do anything,we can be anything
i'll meet you tonight on top of the world
as real as it seems, you're only in my dreams

jixian was bored at 7:21 PM

Saturday, May 30, 2009 ; little excursions

just realized ive yet to mention the class dinner which happened after colosseum.anyway while on the train to changi airport everyone was talking so loudly on the train and some stuff irked sandy and she just went to another corner and sat.haha can't help it we're guys.but just put the blame on wei yang and yihan yeah (: anyway we made A HELLISH LOT OF NOISE on the train.luckily it was rather deserted.or else i swear complaints would have been made.camwhoring was awesomeee.

i must have not been to T3 by train for so long that ive forgotten the architectural wonders it withheld from the outside world.the terminal is so nice! with the skybridges and stuff.it was no wonder me and the PP gang(which consisted of charles and sandy) did our PP cheer all the way on the skybridge.you can imagine 3 people chanting Parkway Parade~ along that stretch.haha.the public must have thought we were ultimate weirdos.

dinner was lovely at Fish and Co. where of course i think i made the most uninformed choice of ordering swordfish collar which was supremely gargantuan and i resorted to giving other people second helpings of my food.but they make good fish and chips yeah (: nice drinks too.haha.havent felt so together before.sitting down and just talking about nuances of school and life.a place where we could forget all our troubles (albeit for a shortlived time) and enjoy each others company : DDDDDDDDDDDDD

been on a crazy spending spree recently.and its not because the GSS is on.ive been hanging out with danny for the past three days.eating copious amounts of Subway sandwiches and their cookies.wanted to try berrylite froyo but didn't.it looked so nice.wonder if it compares to frolick.all my money went to unnecessary expenses such as arcade cabinets and expensive taiwan milk teas.but what was really worth it was late night excursions to east coast park.we would cycle for 30mins and get something to eat.then go back.ahh.night life at the beach.utmost relaxing.not to mention the seabreeze.sitting down on the sand and watching others play and the waves crash.as danny put it: perfect if there was a girl (:

parkway parade....parkway parade.tampines can go fly kite.haha.

jixian was bored at 7:45 PM

Thursday, May 28, 2009 ; star arising

colosseum was yesterday and man was it boring for me.okay probably because i wasn't interested in all the races.only the dodgeball and whatnot.but other than that.the cheerleading was fun (: i was trigger happy with sandy's camera and took about 1 million shots of farah and fahima with their bimbotic poses.okay anyway.

IM GONNA HAVE MY FIRST RECORDING SESSION AND THAT MADE MY DAYYYYYYYYY.at singapore poly yes! but the song's six minutes long and i don't know if i can play it exactly like the score.practice practice! what a day it will be. *looks forward indefinitely*

jixian was bored at 9:07 AM

Friday, May 22, 2009 ; i've committed screening

jixian was bored at 9:23 PM

Monday, May 18, 2009 ; shoot

since sherman's rambling on and on about his new Canon 500D with its nice lenses.perhaps its time for me to get my own camera soon.and he keeps telling me to get a SLR,but where can i even get so much money.if i could afford an IXUS it would be cool.and what's with all the photography jargon? i don't understand most of it.perhaps i need to take some lessons first.right this was rather pointless.CAMERA FOR MEEEEEEEEEE.

jixian was bored at 12:04 AM

Sunday, May 17, 2009 ; age

been practicing on my bass recently.decided to spend my time on less noisy instruments.well.since i still have no formal lessons on bass playing.i guess my technique is still pretty unpolished.but.chris has promised me a place to get more practice (: jamming haha.so its drummer for one band and bassist the next.pretty interesting yeah?

so.since i already have sara bareille's love song,the village people's macho man,sade's smooth operator and paul gilbert's bultaco saturno under my belt,its time for more challenging stuff.wonder if my fingers would be fast enough.this week marks the end of all science practical assesments for me.yes.that feeling is so liberating.i echo what mr.gohel said during the lecture.from wednesday onwards.anything called spa will be related to something relaxing and therapeutic.how correct.

been thinking how ive been acting in school.i must have ignored some people i shouldnt have.but why? its this insidious psychological barrier thats affecting me.ugh.i need to get over it.and get to the answer soon.please someone help me.

meanwhile,listening to george lynch's songs are exceptionally relaxing and mood building.his mixture of major and minor scales and focus on tritone chords (courtesy of wikipedia) really agree with my ears.ahh.blissful to hear them everyday.yesterday's class dinner was quite successful i'd say.turnout was great given the previous failed attempts.had awesome spicy mos cheeseburger at parkway and i didn't expect so much green chilli in the burger.burned my tongue :/ but afterwards was fun in the arcade as danny and i practiced on our favourite battle gear 4.i still cant get the drifting right but its fun yea.followed by pool and i honestly was just finding my way in the dark there.having good and bad shots all the way.but nevertheless.cheers to a good class dinner.

and i must remember to do my physics.or else im dead.goodbye (:

jixian was bored at 4:40 PM

Thursday, May 14, 2009 ; swing swing swing from the tangles of...

just attended the VJ choir concert today and it was simply amazing :)))))))
the first few pieces were so beautiful,pianissimo parts still had that power in them which didnt disappear fully,and the way it reverberated through the esplanade theater.haha.you can kill for that.interestingly i was more engrossed in the classical pieces than the contemporary ones.especially Ave Maria.it reminded me of a classic game called Hitman : Blood Money.symphonic,yet subtle.anyway met up with deborah and congratulated her on the concert.she was so nice singing sop.

after all the time ive put into band,it set me thinking about whether i have really changed my direction towards schoolwork now.people have been excelling and i think i really havent put my best into doing things.still living in the "there's still tomorrow" world i guess.bad bad.need to start the turnaround.

well.now.challenges are coming to me.i have to tend to a drums crash course in church for little children (oooo.so cute) and older people,whoever wants to learn during saturdays.which also happens to be my jamming day for an external band im going to be signed on.yes! i look forward to my first public performance so much.when that time comes you faithful readers should come and support me (:

anyway the larger font's for people who might complain that it was too small for your eyes.and also partly to fill up the space.toodles.

jixian was bored at 11:28 PM

Monday, May 11, 2009 ; 1 ton = 1000 kg

AHH I GOT 4 GP ESSAYS TO DO.I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.GAH.

jixian was bored at 11:46 AM

Saturday, May 9, 2009 ; void?

there comes a time where everyone will have reached their end of the journey.so after that.one may find it pretty empty when there's no higher star to reach for.SYF is over.but alas.as any other MJCSB band member might lament : "we're going to miss band so much".after school,doing our warmups.sectionals and just the alot of noise which percussion makes just to get everyone out.yes we got a gold for syf.but somehow that doesn't cement the gap.especially the friendships that we made during the course of this beautiful sojourn,fully.

yesterday was farewell.and as weng puts it as succinctly as he could.it was bittersweet.bitter for the above reasons.but sweet as we see another process of growing and passing down to the next generation of bandsmembers who would do only better and better.amidst all the tears shed yesterday of goodbyes and well wishes.i realized the tenacity of our band.it will be something memorable.as someone who did not ever hail from a band background(except my first 2 years in pri.school).band was definitely a choice well made.one that would stay with me for ages.

thanks to huiling and ying zhi for preparing our farewell gifts.though i'd say mine was most surprising.shocking.earth-shattering.unexpected.unprecedented.whatever.the list goes on.i have never encountered such scheming,conniving,nefarious plotting to arrive at such a preposterous gift.but in the end.an apt phrase.

Say NO spare tyre.Say YES to true love.

haha.yes.thanks very much for the encouragement.both of you.see you soon percussion (:

jixian was bored at 10:19 AM

Monday, May 4, 2009 ; Dainty childhood

jixian was bored at 12:17 AM

Sunday, May 3, 2009 ; who knows?

there's a pain that sleeps inside.
it sleeps with just one eye.
and awakens.
the moment that you leave.
though i try to look away.
the pain it still remains.
only leaving.
when you're next to me.

jixian was bored at 5:27 PM