Counting down...

Am 12 days away frm catching the Phantom of the Opera... have waited & hoped for many yrs that it'll come by Singapore again & now it has & I've got tickets =D Many yrs ago I was just a young teenager so didn't think much about going to see such grand musicals (no means for 'em & no company) but now, I can afford the tickets & even tho' I had be afraid to check out the ticket prices when they were put on sale (was afraid they'd cost too much for me to afford), I still managed to get myself a seat. I never got to see any of Andrew Llyod Webber's musicals (yet I love his music compositions), which has long been a dream of mine & in 12 days, I'll fulfil that one dream =) Can't wait to hear for myself in the theatre "The Music of the Night", my favourite song frm the musical. Michael Crawford's vocals has no match so far, he's been undoubtedly the best Phantom by far.. wonder how Brad Little would be.

Another extra highlight that I'm saving towards to would be to catch the production of King Lear at the Esplanade in July (aiming for the $120 ticket). One of my favourite actors, Sir Ian McKellen is playing the title role so it'll be a huge honour and sense of satisfaction watching him in action. After all, before being famous to young children as Gandalf in the LOTR & comics fans as Magneto, Sir Ian McKellen was a stage actor with the British Royal Shakespeare Company in London. I had seen him on videos, back when I was studying theatre arts in college & he was totally overwhelming. I was very drawn into his acting, even tho' sometimes he was just siting there and throwing lines. Sir Ian McKellen jsut had this aura about him, that draws you in. As a stage actor, I could feel him more unlike on movies because it's just you watching a movie, after a filming production, with all that editing, where else with stage acting, it was all true & raw, more personal. I am definitely gonna mark that down on my calendar & this is seriously not a chance to be missed. If I could get to even meet him in person, how overwhelming that would be.. LOL

Coming to the end of March

Been getting more stressed as we're slowly moving closer to the mths of preparing my K2 children for their Young Performers' Certificate with Trinity-Guildhall as well as their K2 Graduation. Thankfully, now instead on working with 2 different sets of performances I now need to work on a piece each with the differnt groups and then from there pick out some bits for their graduation. Whew!! Used to be 1 piece of performance for the graduation, where the whole class performs & then another poem piece for each child for the individual assessments.. can u imagine the hell I'll be thru'???

I just found out yesterday that instead of the inital 4 groups of K2 children I thought I'll be working with, I now have 5 because the assessments are done in grps of between 6-12 children & my 1st class has 14 children.. Aiyee!!! I've sent my possible pieces to my senior teachers but I honestly have no faith in what I've chosen... Kinda think it'll be too much for us to handle. So far I've got the ideas vaguely - Pirates, Supernatural, Adventure under the Sea, School Lilfe & Kinights and Dragons, just waiting to hear back. I left a note for my senior collegues saying that I think I'm in serious need of help as I'm a 1st-timer & already having to handle 5 grps just like that.. it's totally unnerving (@_@)

Since Tuesday I've spent about $130 on children's books and activity sets & before that, another $206 on more reference/children's books & puppets!! Since working at JGCL, I've been starting to invest on children's stuff as well as other children-related stuff, some have been for work-aid purpose as well. Heck, I even brought a reference book titled "The Baby Book"... LOL.. working with children & children-related stuff has certainly gotten me moving along the future planning line =p Some of my collegues have said that I'll be at least a little well-prepared... lol... but let's just see what unfolds for me.

Have had the confirmation for our places (my Bear & I) at the Catholic Engagement Encounter for June 8-10, which should be really interesting.. told him there'll will be many things for us to work out thru together & discuss on our own & that he'll have to sit & talk.. He likes to walk away instead.. Men.. blah.. Garry's also started his fulltime job (Finally!) It's been a 2 yr plus wait for him to search for one. That was one of my dad's requirements in my partner.. when the time for the course comes, wonder what I'll be saying to my dad, say I'm off for a camp? A chalet? Guess I'll cross that bridge when I do get to it. Now I just wanna arrange my expensive future investment & then curl up in bed.. I've been worn out superbly since Sunday: back-to-back classes frm 9.30am-3pm, 8.30am-12pm & 2-6pm on Monday, 11.30am-6.30pm on Tuesday, 9am-11am & then 12.30pm-9.30pm on Wednesday & now 8.45am-10.30am & then 1.30pm-6.30pm today.. Yes, I AM DRAINED & TIRED.. even after classes I still had to think of my K2 performance pieces, which has been adding extra stress... I just hope I can hang in there.

Yeah.. it has been a while.. heh heh

Right now am not looking forward to the end of the March Holz.. it was nice getting the time off to recharge & relax & so soon it'll be back to the crazy work schedules.. bleah.. Oh well, it'll just be a charge forth of 10 brand new wks before we hit the June Holz again & it'll be the time of Holiday Programmes once again (gotta remember to fulfill 2 wks Holiday Prog & then 2 wks worth of On-Call) I'm looking forward to the On-Call teaching hrs 'cos tthat means extra wages.. heh heh =p

The new term means more hectic on working the Kindergarten 2 on their performance stuff.. Aiyee!!! Then they also have their Young Performers exam with Trinity Guildhall & IJ Toa Payoh has their Arts Fest, which needs the children to put up a performance too.. Waaahhh!!!! So much to work towards =~( Haiz.. really thrown into a much deeper end of the pool this yr.. bleah

Hopefully, the application for the Engagement Encounter course goes thru with our 1st option of 8th-10th June so we can settle it, once & for all. After tt it's all about seeing how things unfold to see if the big event is to take place. Another big step for my Bear & I to undertake soon would be having to look for our own place.. actually I'e already signed up for an eAlert with the Housing Board to be notified of any upcoming flat sales =p Once we get our place or rather even before that, it'll be lots of work on our financial side to see how we'll pay for our house. Hopefully, we can get to see some houses in the next 2 mths (we were supposed to check out the Housing Board Hub the 1st wk of next mth but he starts his new fulll-time job, so plans have to be rearranged.)

Getting a house of our own is a new huge responsibility, which means a long-term financial committment.. big choice & decision too!! *Gulp* Oh well, that's what it is to grow up.. a huge big step into life.. sometimes u just wonder where time went.. *poff* I wish I was a kid again.. lol.. Well, that aside, I've started my fingers on some decorative artwork for my den.. nice glass deco frm Amos.. it's been really fun doing up some of those cute lil pics but straining on my hand esp doing the lining work =p Once I start work again, I'll have no time to do these decos anymore til the next free time. So before I put away my materials, here are some of my works...

Heh heh.. this is my fave pic.. a lil piggy just like me =D

This one represents my Bear.. heh heh.. he's born in the yr of the Ox =p

These are the lil decos on my window =)

Quote Thought

"Whatever it is that makes a person charming, it needs to remain a mystery.... Once the charmer is aware of a mannerism or characteristic that others find charming, it ceases to be a mannerism and becomes an affectation. And good Lord, there is nothing less charming than affectations!"

~ Reginald Carey Harrison

One Flaw In Women.. sent by a collegue

Women have strengths that amaze men.

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

But they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy,

And laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in.

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

When they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

And cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

A birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

Yet they are strong when they

Think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

Can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

To show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning. They bring joy, hope and love.

They have the compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

Family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

And everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT

THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.