Gratitude amidst stress and -itis-es...

A busy weekend. And it will be an equally busy week ahead.

I was stressed out. I am still restless and uneasy because I've still got many unsettled businesses. And I'm coming down with a host of -itis-es, from gastritis, dermatitis, allergic rhinitis (hopefully it's an allergy and not a flu bug I caught), mouth ulcers and morning coughs. (I would say fat-itis too, but that's just out of context and pushing things a bit too far.) Gastritis has improved dramatically with probiotics ~ but it is lingering and a great nuisance. The pain and indigestion aren't too crippling now compared to Saturday's ~ but they are still very distracting.

A season of deaths ~ and I will be playing the piano for a wake service tomorrow. I hope that my nose won't be running by then. A pianist with a dripping nose is not too pretty or encouraging a sight for the yet living. (I guess, the watering of the eyes is still permissible at a wake service.)

On a more interesting (and a less whiny) note, I'm back to the Soprano section of the choir (this time in The Messengers) after Alto-ing for a long time in other choirs/vocal appearances.

I don't know why the choir conductor (a.k.a. my voice teacher) feels that I am better off as a Soprano when my voice isn't that high-pitched. Anyway... while a change is good, the first session was certainly a very exhausting workout for me - even while I am not one of the 1st sops. (Thank God!) I am not used to exerting so much effort while singing, haha. (We did a lot of 3-4 bars holds today. I am more than knackered.) Well, it's time I whipped those lazy muscles into shape. The performance is supposed to be in October ~ so I have 3 months to get used to my new position. I am treasuring the opportunity to serve and learn.

3 other good things to thank God for even while I whine:

1. Ben bought a new HP printer to replace the dinosaur of an Epson printer which I've been holding on to since my med school days. *Sentimental* ~ We have finally decided that it is a need, rather than a want. Printer ink is now pretty accessible wherever - and so, no more visits to One-Stop/Mid-lands mall just to buy printer ink. (There is only one shop that sells the particular kind which my dinosaur needs to fulfill its life purpose ~ and the shop owner often neglects to order new stock. You cannot imagine how relieved I am not to have to harass him to order new stock just for me anymore.) Also, no more attempting to resurrect the dinosaur whenever it has cardiac arrests or blacks out after vomiting ink.

Dear dinosaur, 

You can finally rest in peace. Thank you for having been so faithful to hold up till now - despite your host of ailments. Thank you for being patient with me when I was not so patient. (I'm sorry I scolded you when you failed to perform. Please do not take my sharp words to heart.) Thank you for accompanying me through my years in medical school... I remember how hard you worked to keep up with my examinations, deadlines as well as each time I was in a pickle and needed emergency rescue. I worked you to the bone, I did. Thank you for accompanying me through my days as a full-time staff at Trinity, ministry, as well as most of my seminary years. The words that you put to paper have not been in vain. They have indeed accomplished great purposes ~ particularly, enabling me to make my lecturers happy. You were a God-send. Goodbye to you, my trusted friend.....

Gratefully,
Grace

2. Led Bible-study on Saturday evening at CG ~ and it went well, despite my feeling under-prepared prior. I was so relieved! Thankful that those notes I made went a long way in facilitating the discussion. Also, the young adults in my CG were so nice and responsive.

3. Amazing fellowship with the CG people on Saturday night (post Bible Study) and my accidental discovery of Roti Bom Telur... which is really the bomb! A fusion of sweet, salty, savoury and spicy (assuming that you eat it with curry), it whetted my appetite for another serving right after. Very intriguing, not to mention oh-so-delicious. I don't think that I'll ever go back to plain Roti Telur after tasting Roti Bom Telur. I could happily grow fat on Roti Bom Telur. I think. But well, one woman's meat may be her man's poison. Ben thought it was weird and unappealing. Please do try it and tell me what you think!