~ To Hear and To Be Heard~: Back in the swing of things...

I guess it's been a while since I've written - really written about what's going on in my life.
Maybe cuz there's been so much!

I'll start with the "lighter" stuff before getting deeper.

Last night I played for a charity gig - the August Bangkok Tweetup organized by In Search of Sanuk. It went swimmingly! Admittedly, it was a little challenging - being a one-woman band playing for such a noisy crowd. But I knew they were having a great time and couldn't help the noise level. Hope I didn't come across to pissy asking them to shut up hahahahahahaa... It's just - unless you have been a solo performer, it's really hard to explain how frustrating it can be (and challenging) singing to a crowd that is too busy shouting at each other than listening.
(tho I know there were some avid listeners, and I was very very thankful for that!)

Anyway, 2 weeks before the gig, I came up with an idea - to make a "Fan Card" to give to people at my shows - just to publicize my music. Yes, it's time to get serious about my music - I did say I'm getting serious now!

So I approached my good friend Deanna cuz she does great designs.

Here's the finished creations (modelled by my gals).

Charmaine, Chervie, Deanna.

Fiona and Laura.

Simply Shimona! ;)

You can read her blog post on the process by which Deanna designed my cards. (I chose 3 designs for print, in the end)

It's been a while since I've posted pics up.... so here are some from last night:

Dolled up for the gig, and ready to go!

Mini-MC Reunion!??!

Look at this MC Alumni crowd! It was awesome! (I didn't even get a proper shot with all the MC alumni in.... too bad.)

Serenading the hot night away....

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Work this year is different.
I have a completely different role, new challenges, and a new approach to work: it is not my work - it is God's.

I finally came to the realization that I'm not here simply because this is what I like to do, but because it is what I have been called by God to do.
It's very easy to separate spiritual matters from work... but why... really?
Every minute that I live, I am called to live for God.
What I do at work, and how I do my job is no different.
So now I'm learning to let God teach me what I need to do at work... and also to go to Him for advise. Instead of leaning on my faulty human intellect/emotions.

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Friends/Family/Community

This aspect of my life has been a very interest facet. Well, ok... obviously, it always is - but I've been thinking and praying about it all lot more lately.

The people we interact with - whether it's the family that God chose for us to be born in, or the friends that we make... are put together for a purpose - the purpose of refinement and workign towards spiritual maturity.

One thing I noticed, pre-dominantly in the female friends I have... is that we go through SO much of the same struggles.
Relationships are tough.
Whether they be platonic friendships or more intimate relationships, or familial ones.
We human beings are so prone to muck up everything because of our own selfish desires... and just lose sight of the bigger picture altogether.

Then we have to most important relationship of all - the one that we are so lucky to be able to have - the one with our Creator.

Weighing all the time I spend contemplating my human relationships, how much time do I spend pursuing my relationship with God?

Food for thought..... ;)

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There's so much more... but I've gotten lazy to write. hahahahaha...
So I'm just gonna post some more pics of my activities over the last few weeks.

This is what I look like driving to work every morning. The glasses are to stop the dust from getting in my eyes. Why ELSE would I wear pink glasses??? :p