The Gym Song (ORIGINAL!)

*cheesy grin*

(note: You can share and/or download the song if you like it. Please like it...)

The Gym Song

Wake up, go to the gym
It's time to get yourself moving
No one else can do the right thing for you, but you.

Takes a little will power
Each time, you will get stronger
Keep your eyes set on the prize
and just move, MOVE!

I know that you're tired
everyone around you is too,
but if you just give up today
then what will we all do? So...

Wake up, go to the gym
It's time to get yourself moving
No one else can do the right thing for you, but you.

Day out with Charz & Dorz...

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....






****

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.

****

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..... ;)

****

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


The chaos that IS my Counseling Room every lunch hour. (It doesn't LOOK too chaotic, but trust me - you can't HEAR what it's really like!)



Staff "Field Trip" - on the way to a fab Mexican Buffet.




Enjoying the fantastic food... Mmm....




Teachers at work - Staff Training session. (We work hard and play hard!)



I FINALLY got to see the fountain outside the park near my house in action. :)



Dinner with Charz and Ben (not pictured) at our newly dubbed favourite restaurant!



Fooling around with a guard's cap. SSSssshhhh!!




Cute earrings! :p




My flooded soi - the day I wore my gum boots to school (Friday) and STILL got my feet wet.

Heartprints

As I browsed through my friends' profiles on facebook, I felt a familiar sentimental tug.

Yes, people do come in and out of our lives, but then there are the handful, who, despite making a so-called "exit", still remain in our lives.



The challenge is keeping up with everyone's lives.

As our paths cross, part, and continue to meander along in life... sometimes it feel as if we are more than those physical seas apart.

And then other times it feels as if we are not that far apart after all.

There is a fine balance to be sought.
(pardon this weird blog-entry. My thoughts are coming in drips and drabs and sporadically)
Keeping in touch is important.
Knowing what's going on in each others' lives, keeping conversation going, and yet... having faith that when conversation dries up, well, that the people we care about still care for us.


Lately though, I've been learning the importance of keeping up.
We are human beings after all... and yes, though we might just be able to "pick it up where we left off" whenever we meet up again,
the world is a big place, and the people we care for are many.

Why not drop an email or two, or skype each other now and then?
Rather than take for granted that "we'll meet some day and things'll be just like they were"....

Cuz things do change.
People get older.
Experiences wear us thin.
And those who "stay" in our lives are the ones whom we often really feel care for us.

Alamak... kenna tag again sia.

Seven Facts about Shimona

(Tagged by Melody)

1. Since moving to Thailand, I've lived in THREE apartments. The first place was 5 mins drive from my workplace, shared with 2 Aussie girls; the second was 20mins (give or take, stupid bkk traffic) drive away from my workplace, waaay cheaper, and not shared; and the current third apartment is actually a room in a house which belongs to the church I'm attending (NewSong Bangkok), 3 mins drive from work, 5 seconds away from the church cafe (also in the same house), 5 mins jog to the park, 5 mins walk to the BTS/Mall/MovieTheater, and yes, I live alone... and am LOVIN' it!
   
   
2. I can't seem to run away from music! When I "gave up" my singing career back in 2004, I moved to Thailand to study Theology, and for some reason, ended up changing my major to Psychology and Education, doing a Music minor, and inevitably conducting choirs in school and such. Songwriting ran relatively dry over my college years, but seems to be starting up again - as of late last year. Now I'm back to doing part-time gigs in Bangkok too. Guess when it's in your blood, it's in your blood!
   
   
3. I also just canNOT run away from God! One of the things I was tired of was church... honestly, when I moved to Bangkok last August, I didn't want to get involved with any church activities. I shied away from attending church regularly till Oct or so... and then, NewSong slammed into my life. God shook me out of my silliness, and asked "Who shall I send?" Of course I now reply, "Send me!" :)
   
   
4. I'm beginning to be comfortable with the idea that I might be a bit of a nomad. I have a 5-year plan. That plan is to further my career, live happily and well, and do what I can for those I love around me in Bangkok, and then somewhere towards the latter part of the next 5 years, find another country that I should move to. Of course, this is all subject to where God leads me... if he says be nomadic in Thailand, well, then I might find myself travelling around Thailand. But I'm hoping he has Japan lined up for me... Heh.
   
   
5. I have the cutest dog in the world. No seriously, I do! See:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   But I only get to see her when I'm back in Singapore. :(
   
   
6. I'm learning to push beyond my comfort zone. Having been brought up a typical Singaporean, up till last year, I was not comfortable talking up strangers and having off-hand conversations. But living as an expat in Thailand has really taught me that in order to survive socially (and emotionally), you have to thicken your skin and be friendly to anyone and everyone you meet anywhere. Perhaps some of the Thai friendliness has rubbed off too... I find myself making friends a lot easier now, unafraid (well, at least less afraid) of unfamiliar situations or places. The result? I've gotten to know people from all walks of life, and my own life has been enriched!
   
   
7. @simplyshimona is a recent Twitter convert! I've had a Twitter account for eons, but only in the last few months have I really been using it. I'm finding it increasingly useful. Micro-blogging, publicizing, networking, sourcing info... these are just some of what Twitter is useful for. And especially so in the last few days when, I was able to find out first-hand accounts of what was REALLY going on in Bangkok during the #redshirt riots. I'm now a full advocate and loving Twitter! :)

OK, here is how you play this game:

1. Link to your original tagger and list these rules in your post.
2. Share seven facts about yourself in the post.
3. Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged.
5. Let your tagger know you've completed the meme.

then sit back and enjoy the linky love :)


What?? ONLY 7? Sigh...

1. Lerie
2. Hazel
3. Renee
4. Julie
5. Tina
   
6. RJ
7. Daron

Psyched!

This is where I'll be staying at Phuket during Song Kran:
Pineapple Guesthouse

And The Nomad Strikes Again....!!

Tomorrow I get the keys to my new place.
During the week, I'll be moving (bit by bit) in... and on Sunday next week (22nd), I'll officially have a new address!

Why the move?
Hmmm... lotsa reasons.

1. Nearer to the BTS
2. Nearer to town
3. Nearer to school
4. I'll be living right above my church - and since I'm almost always there...
5. Bigger living space
6. Parquet floors
7. 5 mins walk to movie theater
   
8. 5 mins walk to park (yay! REAL running!!)
9. More privacy
10. I get rooftop access hehe
11. I already know of a few people who live near enough for a neighbourly dinner.
    
12. Best of all - the wardrobe is huge and has DRAWERS! Woot!!

Ok, I am like soooo psyched!
Will try to take pics of my current place vs new place and post them up sometime in the next millenium (yes, that's how busy I am).

Wattup people!
I've been busy, but still miss seeing/hearing from many of you bloggers and regular readers.
Shoutout ya...? :)

Keeping Humble

I learn a lot... a LOT from my kids.

This week, I've learned that humour cures almost any situation.
I'm also learning to give them more credit - to look beyond the outward behaviour and see the inner needs.

Kids try hard.
Yes, they are ego-centric and selfish-absorbed little creatures... but at the same time, they crave our love, attention and approval.
This need for approval drives their behaviour so strongly.
Yet in every child, the way they show this need is different.
Some show it in more endearing ways than others.

But at the end of the day, they all want the same thing:
To be loved.
OK, maybe not just to be loved... but also to be loved in spite of who they are - how they look, how they speak, what they wear, mistakes they make, words they say.



By watching them, I feel greatly humble and sometimes even chastised.

It is indeed a privilege to deal with children everyday.

Album Cover Tag Game

OK, so I did this last night on facebook and figured it's so cool, I should put it on my blog too:




1 - Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random... Read More... Read More”
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations"
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.

5 - Post it to your blog and tag other people. FUN! ;)




ps: I hereby tag you, YES YOU!!!

Been a Busy Bee.....

I've been working on my professional blog a lot lately.
Videos, pictures...

Please drop by, rate, comment, etc.... ;)

"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!"

Last night at bible study, we studied Hebrews 12:14-29.

This morning... I found myself smiling as I remembered something I'd learned from this initially confusing passage.


Firstly, we who know Him...., the King who deals all justice and will wipe the slate clean, know that we have the promise of something far greater than anything we can fathom:

"28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29for our "God is a consuming fire."

And to makes sense of that in my everyday life, I remembered us talking about how God warns us not to give up our birthright (the blessings to inherit the Kingdom) for any paltry thing (to Him) that we might think is SO important right NOW.

In the passage, this warning gives comparison to Esau giving up his birthright for a meager meal!

"16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son. 17Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind, though he sought the blessing with tears."

To us who read Esau's story today... we easily see how foolish he was. We scoff and think that we're not that dumb(!!). Hahaha...

But truly... in God's eyes, the many things on this earth that seem so important, are really unimportant and small!



To me, this passage tells me to focus on God's promise of His Kingdom rather than to get bogged down by the bitterness that life has dealt me - losing my brother and marriage, the fear of losing my parents, being alone.

We are called to His service... not only that, we are called to joyful service.
And why wouldn't we be joyful if we know we will inherit The Kingdom?
As someone once said - "Patience is the art of hoping."

Something Smells... No, Looks Fishy...

I'm beginning to see things as if I were a fish in a bowl.

A few days ago, I bought 2 (pretty cheap) vintage film cameras.
One of which is a Fisheye.

Ever since then, I've been clicking practically non-stop.
The world around me remains the same, but somehow I perceive it differently.






Mind you, these are (obviously) not my pics...
I've just finished my first role of film.
You'll (and I'll) just have to wait to see what that roll looks like the good 'ole takes-a-few-days-to-develop way.
Oh, and I've to find a way to transfer my film pics to jpeg or something....



More on my other camera, the actionsampler prolly next week....

Have a good weekend everyone! :)

Since You've Been Gone...

Sorry for the lack of updates people.
Was busy when my parents were here... and then I just haven't really been in the mood to blog since they left.

Back to school tomorrow... am also meeting up with ex-secondary school friends on Friday night.
2 of the guys are coming to Bangkok, so Chai (who lives just outside fo Bangkok - ex classmate also) and I are going to pick them up and catch up.
It'll be the first time in like 12 years since I've seen most of my Sec school classmates!


Last few days... basically been lazing around, hanging out with the neighbourly bunch.
Dustin, Switz and (newest friend) Colt.
Taught them to play chua dai di (The Big Two)... it was a lotta fun playing cards with these guys. Hope for more fun times.

Today am meeting up with Lerie, heading to the gym after, and then bible study after.

Hopefully I can get to sleep early tonight.
So sad - 6am morning again tomorrow.
Sigh.


Will post pics and more soon.... when I'm more blog-moody. Ha.

Why Blogging is Sometimes Better...

Over the few years that I've kept a blog, I often find myself trying to explain to people - why put everything out there for all to see?

Hmmm... it's hard to explain.
There are really quite a lot of reasons to do so.

• Air your opinion
• and hope someone is listening
• Share experiences
• Get my thoughts out
• Show off (!!!)
• Keep in touch
• Be cool

hahahahaa...

well, now that I have quite a long blogroll of pretty close friends who update their blogs pretty often too, I've found a new reason to continue blogging (and to read others' blogs):

Find out what lies beneath the surface.


Oftentimes, people somehow feel more "free" to tell what they think through blogs.
Haven't you noticed?

But in person, we often "shell-up"... and I like this kind of intimacy that reading my friends' blogs brings. That I can get to know... really get to know someone I've known mostly on the surface.
I read about friends' struggles,
their everyday thoughts,
the occasional (or more often) triumphs,
their ideas on life,
how they see the world around us.
and for those in different countries - what the rest of the world is like.


And I often hope that they will return me this curiosity - to want to get to know my inner thoughts better... to understand who Shimona is a little more than just the image of who I present to the world.


So I guess.... though face-to-face interaction is usually what we seek, blogging, and sharing our intimate journeys in life, can be a great form of communication and getting to know someone.


Ya? ;)

Who's Gonna Love Me?

I'm such a loser.
Nobody wants to be my friend.
I can't do anything right.
Why can't I be like her/him?


Admit it... Haven't you thought something like this at some point or other?

As any human being, I've dwelt on these kind of self-deprecating thoughts from time to time.
Today as I walked the passageway towards my Little Box, I caught myself just in the nick of time.
What am I thinking?
Do I really believe this?
I sure feel like I believe it.... but that can't be true!


Now, after some food and a good sit down... (and a firm SOS prayer)
I'm beginning to see the light again.



Feelings are just that eh?
Feelings.

We have a right to feel them.
But it doesn't mean we need to necessarily dwell on them or even believe them.


****

My parents arrive on Thursday!
YAY!!!

****

It's getting warmer in Bangkok.
So why the heck are (some) people still wearing jackets/sweaters/scarves????
Eh....

"Thank you for teaching me"

Since I left Singapore before the Teachers' Day celebrations last year, this is my first time celebrating Teachers' Day as a teacher!

It was a small affair at my school.
We didn't get a holiday, and there were no big celebrations.
Just 20 mins, in the morning before classes started, dedicated to Teachers' Day.


Our kids lined up in front of us, and presented their teachers with flower garlands (Thai style).

Here's how the garlands look like:


Love Flowers



Jasmine



Roses








They're made of jasmine, roses, and some kind of flower apparently called love flower (I think).
The jasmine is SO fragrant!
Love it!


After receiving the garland from a representative from our class, the student would say something like "thank you for teaching me", and bow his/her head.
Following the Thai teachers' examples, I "blessed" the child by touching his/her head and saying something nice.


After the initial celebrations, I took 5 minutes of some class time to get the whole class to come one by one to give hugs... just cuz hugs are great like that - both parties benefit! That way I also got to "bless" them individually.


I also started thinking about all the teachers that have taught me in the past.
Wish I could say a big thank you to them.
Now that I'm a teacher too... I really appreciate all that they did for me.
So.... in case any of my teachers happen by my blog....
THANK YOU FOR TEACHING ME!






Overall, this has been a good week - just how I ordered it! ;)

Something Out Of Nothing

"Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
~Heb 11:16b~


Faith.
Such a difficult concept to grasp.


I've been struggling with the whole "this world is not my home, I'm just a passing through" concept.
It's difficult - maintaining a passion for life whilst knowing that as a Christian, as a child of God, my real home is the city of God.... I'm homesick for heaven alright!


I've blogged about feeling like an alien in Thailand and even growing up in Singapore... and it was a result of an ongoing undercurrent of feeling sad that I know I cannot be truly happy here on earth - that happiness is to be hoped for and to look forward to a better life.
I feel like it's a sort of justification when I'm miserable, and a reason to expect disappointment in this life - like the disappointments I have been dealt with in the last few years (especially)...



But at NewSong Bible study today, in the middle of Hebrews 11, swimming around in a sea of ideas and concepts and questions and confusion... arose this thought:

"If I feel like an alien on earth, that I don't belong, that I'm missing out...
it's not something to moan and groan about.
Instead, it is something that I should rejoice about
because feeling alien means that I truly belong to God and God's city.
That I long to be in God's presence... that I am not satisfied with whatever this life has to offer!
And even more powerful - dwelling on that relationship with God - the impact on my life that I belong to Him.

WOW.

I belong to Him.
I long for Him.
I want to know his presence.
I am homesick for His Home!"

Hebrews 11:1 --> "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
God tells us that faith is knowing that we can expect God to make something out of nothing.
And He proves it by showing us a very big Something that he has already made out of nothing (in verse 3):
"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what is visible."
First of all, we see God demonstrating his power - by his command, the UNIVERSE was made.
(Feeling small yet??)
Not only that, but he made the entire known universe out of NOTHING.

So... if faith is believing in God's ability to make something out of nothing... then there sure is going to be a BIG something at the end of this life on earth. ;)




Thanks be to Him!

Mom's Roasted Chicken - Take 1

Having set up my new mini-kitchenette (yes, it's THAT small, it needs double emphasis), I tested my new microwave's grill/cook function.

Made a nice dinner for four... almost exactly how mummy does it - rice, roasted chicken, roasted pumpkin and carrots, and baked beans. :)

I haven't quite got the hang of using the oven yet... the chicken browned too much without cooking enough inside, so was not as tender as I'd have liked it.
Will work on the temperature settings next time... it's a tad difficult when the microwave only lets you select in Watts and not degrees celsius/farenheit. Sheesh....

So ok, pictures.
I really should have taken more pics, but am saving my camera battery cuz I left the charger in Sg, so have to wait till my folks bring it when they come for CNY.... until then, pics will be taken sparingly. (Although I definitely need to take some pics for school - am working on a monthly class newsletter now)


Ok, ok.... without further ado... I give you:

The setup - Li'l Box Cafe A La Shizz!








The guests/customers/patrons/test subjects/patrons....








The food.








The food from a different angle.

Does it look good?
It will be much better next time round! ;)

Investing in the Future

Seeing my two grandmas lately, and even my parents and aunties and uncles who are getting older, has gotten me thinking about old age.

We can't deny certain facts in our lives - we are born, we live, we die.
Some die young, some grow old and die.
Some people, when old, lose control over many things - their physical body, their mental state... it's just a matter of time.

Or is it?


Many of the sicknesses and troubles of old age can probably be attributed to lack of foresight/planning/control in youth.

Let's face it - the great problem of the young is that the young tend to live like there's no tomorrow.
In other words, the young do not usually think,"Oh, if I continue to party every night and sleep late, I will be incurring a huge sleep debt and which might one day lead to Parkinson's when I am old."

Ha.

No, I've been through that blatant blindness, and have passed the stage where I can do something without thinking twice about the consequences.

One of my favourite quotes from this movie called Closer is:
"She has the moronic beauty of youth"
I think it's just so aptly described,
Youth have a kind of beauty that will never be revived - it is a moronic beauty, a kind of beauty that is entirely disrespectful of the reality of life that we live in.
Because at that age, we can still afford to take everything for granted.


Well, here are several articles I came across about how what we do and what we eat affects what kind of old person we will become:
Blood Sugar Linked to Good Brain Health
Brain Malnourishment Triggers Alzhiemer's
REM Sleep Disorder Linked to Parkinson's



So... at the start of this new year, why not start planning:
What kind of old age will you be investing in?

KAWAIIIIIII!!!!!!

Watched this movie - Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea - today with Luann, Joelle, Victor, Dillon, and Chun How... it (the movie) was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE!!!
ACK!

If you haven't seen it and are a fan of anime and/or cute things, I strongly advise you to watch it.
Entirely heartwarming and very very very (dare I be this repetitive?) CUTE! :p



I've put the song from the soundtrack on the imeem player on the left - press PLAY to listen.

And here's the trailer:


LOVED IT!
Watashi wa suki desu ne!

****


In other news... I pierced my ears (again) !!!

A few years ago, I had 2 pairs of ear holes... somewhere along the way, I let 1 side "seal up" cuz of some infection or maybe I just forgot to put earrings into the hole and it just closed up... so I had 1 and a half pairs of ear hole for a while.
Then it just got too troublesome... so I let the other 1 close up.

I'd been thinking about getting that 2nd pair pierced again.... so today, with the encouragement and moral support (and a few sadistic jibes from Victor) of my friends, I mustered up the courage to do it!

Nice way to start the new year huh?
I figured now that I'm picking up my fascination for earrings again, I might as well enjoy it. hahaha...

Joelle took a video of the piercing.. which I MIGHT put up later on. Heh.

****

After the movie, we all walked a short distance to the nearby hawker center for some food... and guess what I found?
An old childhood favourite - a kind of pancake (not unlike the ones sold in Thailand) something that Reu and I used to LOVE eating for breakfast on Sunday mornings and during school holidays... our favourites were the cheese-filled ones and corn-filled ones. I think I might have liked them more than Reu, but it sure was a trip down memory lane... we used to kinda fight over who would have more. Of course mummy was always fair and bought us the same number each.


Memories like that are just nice to have and savour. :)