Alpha-Beta-Gamma-Delta-
Epsilon-Zeta-Eta-Theta-
Iota-Kappa-Lambda-Mu-Nu-Xsi-
Omikron-Pi-Rho-Sigma-Tau-
Upsilon-Phi-Chi-Psi-Omega

Greek phonology is driving me mad.

{/10:20 AM}

me

I find that I'm really just living my life looking forward to weekend after weekend. It's like I'm zombie-walking through the weekdays, doing nothing but mind-numbing work while anticipating the coming Saturday and Sunday.

9 more months to ORD.

At least there are still driving lessons, choir practices, and Greek alphabets to look forward to.

Timo is now President of the NJChorale. No surprises there. Congratulations! Maybe with a male President we can finally attract more female singers!

Speaking of which, girls still needed for Cantab. Come on! If not, our poor Tenors will be forced to sing alto!

Checklist:
1) Clothes for general use.
2) Sweater for Verona trip.
3) Greek-English Lexicon.
4) Fiction book for the annoyingly long flight to come.
5) iPod or similiar. I think I'll borrow from someone, though, due to severe lack of resources. Any kind souls around?
6) Eric Whitacre scores (still waiting for them to arrive).
7) Eat more.
8) Read more.
9) Sleep more.
10) Watch "Ultraviolet".
11) Go blading/cycling/skating.
12) Go KBox.
13) Practice easier piano pieces instead of forever trying for impossible ones.
14) Finish Lost Season 2 (thanks Benghee!).
15) Buy/Download Grey's Anatomy Season 1 + 2.
16) Re-Read Song of Ice and Fire.
17) Know the choir kids better.
18) Meet old classmates.
19) Meet old choir friends.
20) Meet God.

I think more than half the list have no hopes of materialising. More like a wishlist, eh. Heh.

Work a-calling.

{/10:37 AM}

me

Zoo's fun!

I should be happy. A random, half-joking idea becomes reality. How often does that happen?

Most of the animals were just plain lazy, just sitting on their asses instead of walking around and strutting their stuff. Must be the afternoon heat.

Weather wasn't that bad. It threatened to rain constantly, but except for a light drizzle here and there, the weather was actually rather cooling.

So, uhh.. Bird park next? Haha..

Drama in the office again. I can't believe how bitchy a bunch of NSFs can be. Man, some people just need to grow up. Can't say much unless I want the SAF to come after me for blogging sensitive, work related materials.

Just realised we don't have original scores for "I Sing You Sing" and "Pasigin". Like that how to conduct? I still don't like "I Sing You Sing". It's such a childish song. I don't really like "El Hambo" as well. And "Janger". Hmm. Guess I prefer the serious stuff more.

Really hoping that when everyone comes back for practice they'll have learnt their parts properly. I don't really want to throw people out for not knowing their parts, especially because they are all my seniors. >_<

Oh, I've been trying to teach myself Koine Greek. I don't really have any aptitude for languages. I can't even remember the 24 letters in order yet. Guess I won't be reading the LXX or doing any NT exergesis anytime soon.

3 weeks more to Verona. Maybe I should be learning Italian instead.

{/9:10 AM}

me

When friendship fades and fizzles out, who's fault is it?

Is it a case whereby both parties still want to hang on to the friendship, but neither willing to take the initiative?

Or is it the sadder case of one party deciding that the friendship is not worth the time anymore, and drifts away?

It is one thing to lose hi-and-bye friends. Indeed they can hardly be called friends at all. It is an entirely different thing to realise that someone whom you thought you knew suddenly seems strange; someone whom you've shared so many things with suddenly seems cold and distant; someone whom you thought you had so many things in common with suddenly seems so different.

I've known many friends over the years, but not a single one can I point to and confidently say that I know the person inside out. Nor do anyone know me perfectly. Is it impossible to have a friendship that is totally sincere, honest, open, loving and selfless? When will I have a taste of that? Perhaps, in Heaven.

While having driving lesson yesterday I listened to the radio host starting a discussion with the question, "How long did you wait before saying to your partner 'I love you'?". Or, "How long did you wait before your partner said to you 'I love you'?".

I think good things are always worth waiting, and in some cases, suffering for. I'm glad I've never said 'I love you' (in the romantic sense) to anyone, because I want to really mean it when that happens.

How wonderful it is, for Jesus to have waited more than 2000 years for me to love Him.

And it's not too late, isn't it. Good things are never too late; they are merely waiting for the right moment.

And when the moment comes, when you meet the real Friend, the real Lover, you'll know that the wait has been worth it.

{/10:19 AM}

me

Workshops are always fun.

Some guy who's first name rhymes with "curry".

I like what he did with "Lay A Garland". It fitted with what I had in mind for the song. I never liked how AiHooi did it, always asking us to "move" and not be draggy, and missing out the finer details that makes the whole delivery more subtle and elegant. I liked his slow, "lean back" approach, and the more dramatic flair towards dynamics changes.

I liked his El Hambo too. I always hoped for a more fun and silly approach to the song. I think the clapping needs changing; it looks too boring right now, and doesn't fit with our crazy delivery anymore.

I didn't like his As Vesta Was, though. Probably because I don't know much about 15th century english pieces. Didn't really feel right to me. Liked AiHooi's version better.

I wished he had done some warm ups with us though. It's always interesting, the kind of warm ups these conductors come up with.

Think I'm getting excited for Verona already! =D

{/2:44 PM}

me

Thanks Wenlin!

Another week has passed. Nothing much happened. It was just like any other week.

Saturday's choir practice with the Verona group was rather nice. Ai Hooi is starting to drill us, so we are making some progress, finally. Liked the intensity of the practice. My ears were getting blocked so it was rather irritating. We paid the remainder of the cost for the trip. I am now officially $2240 poorer. =(

I have decided to just sing and keep my comments to myself unless asked, and I am trying my very best to accomplish that. It's not easy, though.

Suddenly it seems extremely likely that the alumni will be presenting itself at Cantab 06 after all. The plan is for a 3-song item. The numbers I reported to Ai Hooi are 10 sops, 8 altos, 7 tenors, and 5 basses. Rather optimistic, but we'll see if Timo can continue pulling rabbits out of his hat. =)

Mondays are for wishing you have done more productive things during the weekend. >_<

{/3:39 PM}

me

I typed a long and angry post.

I deleted it.

And replaced it with this:

"My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever." - Psalm 73:26

{/10:49 AM}

me