29th of September 2008

29th of Sept is the day. It is the day of 2 major operations that are going to happen for my family. It is going to be the day that the doctors transplant one of my kidneys to my elder brother. It is D-DAY! It really is... The surgeons will operate on me on Monday morning at about 8plus am and about 3hrs later, the operation will begin on my elder brother. I suppose the next 1 week would be quite torturous, emotionally, mentally and of course, physically. Which operation would not involve pain? I am sure all would...

Above all the tough times, anxiety and fear, there is a greater reason to rejoice and look forward to for the operation. Firstly, I am committing everything to God, really everything. Without Him, we are nothing. Dear Lord, I acknowledge that you are in control or everything and in all things, you work for the good of those who love You.

This operation means A LOT and I reiterate... A LOT... to me, my family and I am sure, especially to my elder brother. He has been through a lot and it is not something that I can just say, "I understand." A lot of us are blessed and truly blessed in the area of our health. So much so that a lot of times we just take things for granted. For my elder brother, since he was p2 he has had to deal with the fact that he wasn't as healthy as other kids. He had to watch his diet, he couldn't eat his favourite "char kway teow" everyday, he couldn't do PE like other kids, he couldn't participate in sporting events, he had to take lots of medication, be in and out of hospital frequently, limit his liquid intake (which was 1 small bottle of water a day!), undergo dialysis 3 times a week. However, he has been a very good role model to all of us... He has always been the strong one, depending on the strength of God, cheering us on, striving for his best in whatever he does, serving the Lord. There are few times that he ever complains or resigns to fate. Yet for many of us, we often feel like its the end of the world when something happens or fails.

I am not brave nor am I noble in any way. I am simply doing what is right and doing my utmost to help my dear brother. It is certainly my privillege and I thank God for giving me a healthy body enough to do this deed. I am looking forward to the time where my whole family would be able to go out for meals, where ALL of us can truly enjoy the food, drinks and deserts... have my whole family go on a holiday together, somewhere faraway and simply enjoy. And I long to have my elder brother do physical activities with us, probably we could play tennis together? Swim together? And to see him lead life with more freedom and have a healthier body, I hope and pray for that.

Please pray for us...

Lord, it is all in Your Hands... We will pull through this together... Amen!


The 3 of us... "Terence", Jaron and Aaron
*now known as Caleb :)

-LeB-

End of the Week...

This end of the week has arrived and its 1 day more till I get admitted into hospital. I am rather mentally prepared :) I shall let the pics do most of the "talking" and looking back at the past week, I did quite a number of things :)


Strawberry yoghurt drink and Apple vinegar drink. This was taken probably 2 weeks back? When Minhui and I decided to try out a new place... This japanese cafe at bugis. The food and drinks are good! But we spent a bomb there as well. (An outdated post)


The thin-crusted japanese pizza...


Their signature tofu cheese cake... light and good!


A picture of the sun rise I took with my handphone camera, while on my way to Nanyang Pri. I love my days beginning with the morning sun. It practical brightens up my day and give me that extra boost of energy for a start :) I have been seeing the school kids having their "PE" lessons even when the sun is really scorching hot, but I guess to them, they don't really care. I feel that as we grow older, we simply care too much. Don't even bother to exercise or would not do so when its TOO HOT. What excuses we give. I would like to see it that its a blessing to be able to exercise and I wish I could find a good time to bask in the sun! :) I won't be returning to school for the next 1 and a 1/2 weeks. School has been fun, mixing around with the kids :)


This is a really pleasant and awesome surprise I got on tuesday! 23rd of September '08. Its a gift of appreciation and a card from my keyboard students of 2yrs and 2weeks! Given my Lixian and Zhang Yan! Thanks a lot! It really meant a lot to me :) How time flies... When I first saw the both of them, they were still in POLY! And Echomusic was still at its old location... Well, I hope you have learnt well from me and, pls practice!!! Haha... On the card, they drew the keys of the piano, and sadly, Zhang Yan drew it with 4 black keys!!! Is that what you learn after 2yrs? Hmmph! Wahahah...


And, on Wednesday I had my first studio recording!!! Oh boy... Its been my dream of all time! To go into the studio to record my own voice! And I finally did! Thanks Simon and Minhui for making this little-deam-of-mine come true! Although, I think I sound really bad :( Still, it was a good experience :) Minhui says my voice is suitable to sing for an insurance jingle... it gives people hope! wahhaha...


In the studio... Echo's studio :)


Producer-mentor Mr. Simon :)


On thursday, we went to Hanabi @ Odeon Towers to celebrate WendyMAMA's birthday! Once again, happy birthday to you! You've been such a joy and blessing to have as a MAMA! :) I've learnt to much from you... Thanks for everything! I'm wishing you all the best in ALL your endeavours... 'cause you have... TOO MANY! From singing, to violin, to percussion, to song-writing, to emceeing, to hairstyling, baking, make-up, burger making! and many many more... You should be called the WONDER MAMA... Haha...


Wendy 2nd pic :)


Group pic! Once again, I'm the only single there :) 3 couples and me...


In an attempt to look serious... We failed!


And this is how we look like... succeeding!


Final group pic :)

-LeB-

updates of a busy? life...

Life has been super duper busy of late. Sadly... I feel I can't even find the time to rest. I guess a big part of it is because I'm working EVERYDAY. Work drains me out quite a little. And I haven't really had the time for myself... I have not touched my piano and cello for days, and I am upset :( I miss them...

On a lighter note, I manage to gather the remaining evofus to meet up for a dinner on Monday. A simple dinner and desert coupled with great companionship was a blast! :) Lots of laughter, seeing familiar faces and new face, deep sharing and updates. And through all these, we're reminded once again of how much we cherish this friendship. This friendship of 5yrs and growing stronger and stronger. Thank you everyone who are a part of evofus. Jiarong, Jasmine, Shuan, Wanping (you are missed!), Kelvin, Aloysius and now, Keng Chuan :) I really thank God for all my friends!


@ Haagen Daz (Thank you all for caring and the blessings! :) )

Love ya all!

-LeB-

a music-fied weekend...

this weekend was totally busy! i had to prepare for WTC's gig, which meant listening to new songs, transcribing chords and rehearsing... first time working with Ruby, playing for Danick and Max was in company. On top of that were my usual lessons that I had to teach. Played for Solid Rock on Sunday morning. feeling so "music-fied!"

on friday night I went to Joanna Dong's recital. coolz! she had a 3-piece band playing for her, and that was ENOUGH... mei shuem on piano, brandon wong on bass and "flats" on the drums. all of them were very very good :) so nice! and Jo Dong released her EP and i got a copy of it! i adore her voice.

i managed to meet up with Sun Quan after many failed attempts... the last time we met, he was still single. and now, he's attached! congrats bro! it was a very good catch up and the bond never fails to be stronger :) to Sun Quan: school's busy, but, take care my bro! its the process and EXPERIENCE... haha!

today also marks the start of my 1 month break from playing the keyboard at church. and my "last" performance at WTC before i take a "vacation". Performing has always been fun and its becoming better :) thanks to my Echo family for giving me thus many opportunities...

this time next week I would probably be in the hospital already. thinking about it, i don't think i would be able to sleep the night before the operation. its still kinda scary! haha... for those who did not know... my operation date has been confirmed. its next Monday, 29th of Sept. the operation will be at NUH. come and visit me if you're free! although i would probably be in my most "un-glam" state. above all these, i certainly pray that everything and all goes well! that my brother and I would be safe and the operation would be an ULTIMATE successful! God bless us!!!

signing off...

-LeB-

Mad TV - Black Woman Interview

Wahahah! This is hilarious!!! It was so bad that it was torturing to be controlling my laughter while watching it in school. This goes out to everyone who needs a burst of laughter!!! :) Woohoo~!~! Love MADtv!

-LeB-

its break time!

currently having my break and i'm watching madtv! hahaha! its hilarious! never fails to crack me up. just that, i can't laugh out loud here... WAHAHHA!

-LeB-

Hiromi Uehara - The Tom and Jerry Show

There can only be one HIROMI. Goodness! Her technique, tone, phrasing and whole performance... Its amazing. I love this piece too :)

-LeB-

school has started...

Starting this week, SIM classes would have begun. However, I am not attending any of the classes. I think it really means I have quit school. No wonder isn't it? But thinking about it, it really is a decision that I never thought would be made. So from this moment on, I am but a mere 'A' Level Holder. Not even a dip.

And so what's next? I really do not know or rather I don't have the confidence to say that it will definitely be an exciting future for me. Rather, I will continue to pursue my dreams and more importantly, let God govern my future. Without Him, all is lost...

Although I am no longer in school, but again, I am still in school. Just that its a primary school. Wahaha... Today is a rather relaxing day with my first 4 periods free and lesson back-to-back after that. I am enjoying the interaction with the kids. :)

-LeB-

Acapella...

I suddenly remembered that there's actually a thing called "acapella" and how I used to love it. A sudden urge to do acapella stuff... Amazing harmonies...

-LeB-

Phew... Results are out! Yeah!!!

Praise the Lord~!~! I got back my piano exam results! And I passed!!! U-weet :) No merit, no distinction though, just a pass... :) 3 marks short to merit... Still, I am very glad with the results... After playing badly, sight-reading like I was improvising, having my ears stucked and pissing the examiner off; what other result can I expect?? Haha... At least I can move on, didn't waste the money away and get back some confidence?? Thank God :)

However, right now and coming ahead there probably is going to be another even more MAJOR exam. It would be the Berklee auditions. I have been thinking quite a lot about it and beginning to feel the stress. Instead of being laid-back, this time round I really need to buck up! Its do or die... I surfed the net and found out that their acceptance rate is 34%. Emm... I guess its not going to be that easy. Still, I'll give it a shot.

Oh God... Please give me WONDER HANDS to play the piano, SUPER SENSITIVE EARS and a SUPERB MUSICAL SENSE... ah!!!

thank God for all the blessings :)

-LeB-

Monday Blues~!~!

Its been some time since I've got Monday Blues... :( However, last night I felt rather blue-y... 'Cause... ... I have to report back to my army camp for reservice! And that isn't the best news to have... Good thing is... I managed to defer my reservice! Phew! Close-shave. I spent my Monday morning "deferring". My application almost didn't go thru, but finally, they relented and approved it. Thank God!

It just didn't feel good to be going back to my army camp. I had to dig out my uniform, find my badges, prepare for other stuff... etc. Also, the culture in there is so different from what I face everyday. It doesn't help that I was the only one going back, none of my friends were called back. And when I went back, I thought about the times spent in there. I thought its... AMAZING. How did I survive those days? Haha... But there were memories too... The crazy happenings and stupid things we do back then... And till now, I still keep in contact with a couple of army friends and I am glad for them. :)

Life is rather different now. Its just been 1yr 6 months but it feels like life has changed pretty much, or rather, very much... I just thank God for what I went through in army and that He has always been watching over me. Thank you, God...

-LeB-

SIM results~!~!~!

2008's April and May were 2 gruelling months for me. I remember mugging all I could for my SIM exams. Spending a bomb at cafes and macs to eat and study. I was very lonely then also... Haha... 'cause I studied better alone. And now... The results are out!!! So exciting!!! I've been wanting to know how I fared!!!

The conclusion... ... ... ...

I PASSED all my modules!!! Yeah! ALL my modules! Despite expecting to fail a couple of modules. I cleared them all :) Heez!!! Kinda happy... Thank God for the results also. Although the results do not mean much now. Still, its better to know that I'm leaving after clearing all my Yr 1 modules.

Looking forward and committing everything to God. The future lies in His Hands...

-LeB-

a dream...

i think i do really want to go to BERKLEE...

-LeB-