in the beginning...

Explanation as to WHY nate has makeup on :S

My good friend Elton had his 30th birthday party the last Saturday, with the theme of karaoke, and the requirement of dressing up as a singer/entertainer - having not a clue until waking up Saturday afternoon, I groggily remembered Deb mentioning something about Green Day being easy, something about just wearing a red tie - so from bed I googled some pics, gave Al a call and end up @ his place within the hour.

Al being an awesome clothing resource (his room is uber cool too), I came away with pretty much everything I needed, seriously - pants, shirt, tie and suspenders :S Credit to Vee and Est for the makeup job (wow it's complicated :S), and voila, whether or not I look anything like Billie Joe Armstrong, I'll leave you to judge :)

Rest of the pics are just a few taken from the night - over 370 were taken, and there are even larger versions (larger than the large ones you get if you click on them). Just lemme know if you want the originals of any of these ;)

there were pics...

and more pics...

and more again...

and then there was more...

almost there...

and some more for fun :P

guess who's online...

Buahahahahaha... al, this photo is revenge for all the make-up boy comments - for those who are wondering "who the heck is make-up boy", stay tuned for my eventual post regarding the w/end :S

But until then, this lovely photo should keep you all vaguely interested (if you click on it, you can get the big version, so we can all put it on our desktop backgrounds!!)... oh, and al's finally gotten a blog :P

Please welcome al to the online journalling community @ Al's Blog

Note: I'll put him up on the right as well, but I'm thinking after ange's encouraging comment, he might be changing locations soon... who knows :S

how to say...

I've been delaying this post for a day or so, because of so much happening, and I wanted to formulate my thoughts before committing them to the 'net wall... or maybe I was just chicken :P And here goes, in short for now, in no particular order:


1. Shared my story

As a social gypsy, I'd been used to being @ the fringes of things, never having to commit much to be able to be a part - and I hated that. I've sought deeper, real and meaningful relationships with people for the longest time.

But there's a group of friends I think I've found, comprised of the most unlikely people, under the most gayest banner (yes, it's really gay Ange! We may as well just out and call ourselves the Village People! But I digress...), almost a place to call home.

So, last night @ coffee (which I forgot to shout you guys!! Next round! I swear it! When Deb's regaling us about her story! :P) I just laid it all down... no vague references or crypticness, I told my story.

Hahaha, and just like in a relationship, when you put yourself out there, I'm half expecting the group to come back and say "sorry, I'm just not attracted to you" :P

In Ange and Mikey, I have my lame banterers - when the three of us combine, we are the official epitome of lame, and I love it :D Deb has somehow realised that the typical good-friend greeting for nate is to beat his left arm senseless (est-style), and Al is our "good-looking and intelligent" add-on!

But even after all the laughs, I loved being able to open up, finally, with a group of people once again, and share my story - and to hear about Mikey's, and to actually really get to know these people.


2. Things to do before turning 30: Get kicked out of home

Well, that's it :) I'm out! Wednesday night when I got home after violating my curfew, there was a note on the table from my dad to start looking for another place to stay.

And so, I did... packed most of my useful belongings in the car, and thanks to Leanne (I bought a wrx; she was infinitely wiser & bought a house), the next day I moved out of home :)

It's neither as wonderful or terrible as it is, one day I'll post about the dysfunctionality of my family, and I'll post more about my out-of-house experiences as I take it day-by-day.


But for now, there - it's all, for the most, finally out of my head and in words :)

"Contention: Your best fashion accessory is..."

You're about to head out, and you're deciding what to wear. The details are just as important as the centre pieces nowadays, which therefore highlight accessories as something that could make or break your night. So what is it??? What is that one thing, that will make your picture complete?

Handbag, wrist bands, necklaces, bracelets, man bags, watches... nope, nope, nope.

See, I reckon, the best accessory one can bring to any occasion, is a friend.

Not just an acquaintance, someone you know of, or even say hello to on Sundays, but a real, person who you hunt down to spend time with, because everything becomes fun with them. And they do and feel the exact same, about you.

I have heaps of acquaintances... being a pastor's son, past church leader etc, is good for that, but significantly fewer friends.

There is nothing that will bring out the true you better, than a true friend, and therefore there is nothing that will make you look ever better.

You'd be smiling genuinely, because wherever you are, you'd really, really be enjoying yourself.

---

I was going to add, maybe also significant other, but after much consideration (about 10secs worth), I decided no - I think more laughs were probably had when before people were significant others... which is a bit odd, huh...

But when I say friend, I DO mean girl AND guy, i.e. for me. I have some awesome friends that are girls, and have an absolute blast with whatever we do!

:D

Surviving only on 2.5hrs of sleep in the last 48hrs, coupled with the drive to and back Phillip Island today, will make this post a short one :P

Just wanted to jump on and say what a blast today was :D

Bunch of us (Darius, Adeline, Mikey and Kaiwin) from ACF went to visit Ange and Deb @ the Gravitate (COC) camp today for a day trip, and it was pretty awesome - the weather sucked, but definitely did not dampen our spirits :P

Old friend Ps Tim Goh (from Life Expedition) took the morning session of teaching, whilst Corey Turner took the night one - was great to catch up with Tim, even if it was for an all too brief moment...

One of the two main points that made my day, was being so readily adopted and accepted by the COC people... they made me feel like I was part of the family, like I'd been there forever, and it was so fun to be a part of something this significant, even if for only a day.

The second point, would be coming away with a sense of unbelievable friendships, that have seemingly come out of nowhere. Managing to get in some awesome time with each of the ACF people I came up with left me, and then coming home @ the end of the day, has left me realising how blessed I am in the number of friends I have, where they are, and the richness they add to my life.

In hindsight I really wish I had taken the digicam up :(

nate

Hugest apologies to the blog squad...

... which, by the by, can we change the name of the 'blog squad'... it just seems so... uncool :P Like it's a meeting of be-spectacled geeks talking about the things they do online... ok, fine, so that's a definition that MIGHT fit ME, but Ange's way too cool for that label...

... and with that huge suck up... I'm sorry I piked!! Deb, Ange, Mikey and "good-looking" Al, my bad, the next round of coffee is on me!

And yes Ange, I lied, it was a girl-related thing ;)

welcoming the d-man to the fold...

... let's all welcome darius to the blogging community! Now linked on the right, let's see how this young padawan fares!!



"welcome to the site of darius k, porno incorporated..."

quickie

take that topic header however you will, either way, hopefully you come away grinning for whatever reason :P

---

Question: Does one only ever truly get over an ex when they find a new significant other?

---

NB: This is question is only applicable AFTER a healthy 'recovery' period (i.e. it does not refer to 'rebounding')

monday night... just before midnight... still alive.

in the hands of GOD :o
well, I actually put in a productive Monday @ work, and given the fact I was going on 4.5hrs sleep, I'm quite pipped @ my effort :D Hehehe, can you tell by the cheesy grin on my face? These are the couches randomly strewn around the new bits of melb central :P

had work, got kb'd by ange (oh, the inhumanity), and here I've been since... still @ the RMIT masters of animation labs...

the w/end in closing...

probably one of the earliest nights I've been home on a w/end night for a month or so now... figure I should make an appearance so as to avoid an 'your-life-is-out-of-control' label from my dad...

but what to say about it?! Brief, brief recap I guess... combined cell (great job est!!), raced to the city to visit ami+friends, talked on msn till 6am, woke up, went into the city @ 4 to watch ami-nation shoot an animation, stopped by Adder's 21st (great job ange on the speech! Love the t-shirt, where do I order mine?! :P), dropped des home and back to RMIT - got back home @ 4:30am... woke up, bought some clothes, picked des up (hmm... the des-chauffeur I am), trundled down to ECC for twilight (night service), had dinner with the crew, extended version (i.e. the regulars, mike and kaiwin, al and des and me PLUS the directors cut with darius and wesloc), sent des home (I'm telling you!!), and here I am...

Not a bad way to end the week...

Finished a flash tutorial (main thing I was working on this week) and conducted a presentation on another project I did - both went relatively well, giving me a cool sense of closure to start my w/end!!

Been meaning to post something about my midnight rendevouz's over the last couple of nights, and given the golden nature I'm closing the working week on, I figure now's a good a time as any :P

Wednesday night I got to catch up with a long lost friend, Tian, and we played tennis to catch up with long lost friends, fitness and co-ordination :P Was good to get out on the court, run around and get into the 'swing' (get it, 'swing'?! That's comedy gold right there...) of things again, and to spend some decent time with a good friend.

After which, in a really round about way, ended up hanging with Ange, Mikey and deb (ange and deb are from coc)!! I didn't notice it until Darren (ange's 'other' husband, who came down later) remarked that it was an unlikely bunch of people to gather...

Which didn't occur to me at all, because the way in which we were interacting was just so... well it just seemed so normal :S Like I'd known these people for years, such was the clickiness of interactivity... and it was really fun! I dunno... maybe it was just a moment that I should file away as a good one and not ponder any deeper about it, but it's been on my mind for the last few days.

---

Lotsa things to look forward to on the w/end though - city shopping in the city with mikey, adeline's 21st and another mission, this time to ecc!! Keep in touch peoples...

FIINNNNNEEEE...

YESSS... I'll admit it Ange, I'm a SUCKER for sunny days AND night skies, but I won't admit to sunsets!! Or sunrises!!

With that admission out of the way, I can now freely revel in my awesome, awesome day... sunny, warm, and a lunch spent with the best company :P No, company as in person, not as in the place of work 8-)

Some random pics from this morning's 'net travels...

Just some things that I had to post about!! How cute is that pink duck?! And the weirdo guy in a cape?! The new iPod nano!! I want one!! And the other pic... hmm... well, simply put, I just thought she was hot :)

How do I like my days? Sunny side up!

It's a strangely odd feeling actually being on top of all the work I'm supposed to be doing :S I'm sure it's a false sense of security that will come to an abrupt halt sometime soon (i.e. when my supervisor comes back), but until then...

---

Question: so what's more interesting to read?

• transcripts about the days events?


• or random thoughts?

---

Ma good buddy Tian McRice just called, looks like an atypical day for nate - overfilled with people bookings :P Tennis with Mr T. after work, coffee with Al after 8 @ glenny (mikey, anyone else, feel free to bump into us, just call me to find out where we are)...

I kinda like a variety of weather... like when I was up @ Perisher, we had blue skies the first day on the slopes, and then h/core no visibility and cold on the last day... and I enjoyed both extremes - dunno, when you're at the snow, you kinda want to feel a bit cold, you know?

But there's something about a sunny spring day that will just get to me... no matter what kinda mood I'm in, I always have to smile when I look out the window, and all I see is blue. There's something about those days that ALWAYS reassures me that things are going to be ok...

when you look in the mirror, what do you see?

i HAVE to brag about this one - i woke up @ 6:45am!! that's definitely an achievement, as 8:30am is considered the earliest considerable time normally for me :D

This was cuz I had to return the loan car to subaru (STI @ docklands) by 8am... had dropped my car off for fixing... and in short, they fixed it, and for cheap!! Go STI!! Dragged every light from there to work... AND they cleaned the car.

I finally decided to name her as well... Michelle! My blue rexy, for however much longer I'll have her, will be hence forth known as Michelle... partially in honour of all the Michelle Branch music I'm stuck on @ the moment, and also because it seems to suit 'her' personality - a real, not particularly/outwardly sexy person, but she's mine :)

What's with the topic title??? Just became really aware of the quality of the guys that I've been hanging around with lately... and some of them are ridiculously good looking, and some of them mega talented. As much as I joke about myself, I've usually maintained a fairly neutral idea of who I was... happy being who I am, and not thinking that I was neither better or worse than everyone.

But tonight, after looking through some photos, I couldn't help but feel a little ordinary - like how could I even compare to these guys?! No, I'm not suicidal over this, just heading to bed a little melancholic... maybe it's the 6:45am start this morning affecting me... I'm telling you, waking up early is simply not healthy...

2nd Chances :)

Have been listening to the Michelle Branch song, "2nd Chances", and whilst the song isn't really about it... I love the connotation of the name... kinda another way of saying 'grace', huh? :D

There's something about the earthy and vibrant tones of an acoustic guitar that will simply get me time and time over... for some reason, when I think of God, that's the instrument that's playing most of the time... if that makes sense @ all :)

Feel a bit lost @ the moment... but not panicky. I can still see where it is I'm aiming for, still see it so clearly, and am still walking towards it, but I guess I feel like I'm in a bit of a wilderness period at the moment.

I'm not panicky, depressed or roller coastering with my emotions, cuz... I guess I almost need a bit of empty time :P

A bit of time out in the desert with nothing, but the elements, my guitar, and my God.

and how could I forget

anthem!! x-factor on Fri night blew me away, there are heaps of talented kids out there - aw, what the heck, they're all mega talented!!

like a blank canvas...

... I've been staring at this blogger screen, blinking cursor seemingly mocking me :) "Come on, I dare you, post an entry", and each time since the last, I'd find myself not being able to commit...

How was my weekend? Ridiculously busy as usual :S I even had to cancel things (dinner with Wes & Gidz, sorry guys!!) on Saturday, it was simply that congested... you think I'm kidding? :P Here goes... wake up @ 11, get to Chaddy @ 12 to see Willy Wonka with Pat, finish @ 3, race back down to wantirna to pick up yen pan for badminton (which ACTUALLY started @ 3), play bads until 5:15, go for dinner with bads crew until 8:15, go home, shower and race into the city (with all this racing, yeah, it IS kinda good to have a car that's not slow...) for Tian's 21st, then come back to Glenny and meet all the ACF Youth Alive people @ Rock Kung!! And then after all that, get home @ 2am, go to sleep @ 3, and get up on Sunday @ 8 for P&W practice?! No wonder I'm still exhausted :S And that's just Saturday...

Tonight?! The w/end?! Is this the end for our dashing hero?!

Tonight! It's the X night!! Anthem X-Factor!! Dunno what to expect (although I do hear that a ridiculously good-looking guy is going to be judging), but it should be a blast :)

Tomorrow!! Meeting up with Patti for Charl's and his choco factory @ chaddy, and then rushing to baddies (dunno, blame Vee for getting that term stuck in my head) @ 3-5 and then back home to get changed and head off to Tian's (aka T. McRice :P) 21st!!

And then somehow get up at the crack of dawn for Sunday's Father's Day service... eep, I shouldn't be wasting this time @ work then! I should be accumulating precious sleep, cuz it doesn't look like I'll be getting my fair share in the next couple of days :S

it's Friday... already!?

Feels like it was only a few days ago when I was last posting before a w/end :S My grip on time is slowly slipping away from me... this is ridiculous though - how is it that we slip into extremes, from having too much time, to having no time @ all... there's a nice in between some where in there, isn't there? :S

Wednesday
Coffee with Al and Mikey was a blast as usual, rapier wits clashing and exchanging blows with lightning quick touches and parries - the conversational scrimmage being simply poetry to observe, if I do say so myself :P

But! We were not alone! We were joined in battle by some random Clayton Church people's, namely Wes and Ange Lim! No, not related they are (maybe they're married?!), but good company nonetheless :P

I do say we rocked the house @ G.Jeans (glenny) that night :D

Thursday
Basically music practice... was fun, cuz we had our once a month meetings, where we discussed most things not musical (i.e. why Victor wants to go to Egypt (something about pyramids, "Moses was here" type inspiration, and why I want to go to Korea (HOT, HOT chicks - I don't care if it's not true, don't spoil my fantasy!)))

and the menu for tonight...

... after getting kb'ed by K Lee (for an excursion SHE initially organised), it's coffee with Al and Mikey @ Glenny!! Should be good from some porous conversation :P

...and it goes on and on my friend! Some people just STARTED singing it, not knowing what it was...

Monday
Work! Farewell dinner for Josh @... Yokohama?! Now that was a forgettable experience :P Not the best place to eat on a budget!! And that's what we were...

And then guitar group!! Was tired as, wasn't sure I'd go, but I did, and it was fun! I always get rewarded at these things... we played Michelle Branch's "2nd Chances", which I've been listening to on repeat for the last couple of days since :P

Tuesday
nate @ the movies!! Inspite of the YA controversy surrounding the movie the "Wedding Crashers", me and Kelli decided to go see it, and I have to say, that's a lot of hoo ha about not much :S I think American Pie was much worse... not to mention the Jessica Simpson music video that preceded it... but it was awesome to see a movie in what feels like the longest time... and a chuckle-worthy one at that too :P

Four score and seven years ago... I once posted a blog :P

Finally get a brief respite with which to update my online musings!! Have been off my feet and inundated with things to do since last Friday, which speaks less about my social life and more of my lack of ability to say 'no' :P

Where to start...

Friday Night
went to cell, played guitar (BADLY) for est and we learnt about the love language, "quality time" - now this is one I've struggled with in the past, and was good to get a bit more info about why I suck so badly @ it :P

Ended up @ home and online talking to miss ami-nation (get it, 'animation'??? :D) until 4am...

Saturday
... which leads into me waking up @ 4pm the following day :D Practiced with the band from five until B's fingers were just masses of bloody flesh (or 7:30pm) - weirdly enough, it didn't feel that long... I think as the song comes together, and you can actually see/hear it working, you get more excited, and the process becomes less laborious?

After which me and Birdz crashed K Lee's movie night with a pizza... uncky Bill challenged me to a ping pong duel, in which I got sent flaming to the score of 21-15... was close, but I sorta fell apart at the end :S

I put on Russell Peters (comedian that does the funniest chinese impressions) while we waited for the movie... and we ended up watching the whole thing and only starting the movie @ 11:30pm :S

It was Phantom of the Opera (the recent movie version), and whilst it was well done, I would have fallen asleep if I'd been watching it by myself - we ended up just laughing and cracking jokes all through it, and before I knew it, it was 2:30am :S Again, I slept @ about 4... seriously... there must be something about that hour for me...

Sunday
... but THIS time I woke up in time to play badminton (or 'baddies' as Vee puts it) with the YA's... was fun... got smacked in the face with a soccer ball, but was awesome to get some exercise!! Ate @ Star East and then raced home to change/shower...

Got to church @ 4 for practice... which means (since church ends @ 8), I was there for 4hrs!! :'(

BUT...

The band played!! First public performance!! And we've heard some good things about how we did from people, but the thing that I'm ECSTATIC over is... I didn't forget the words!! :o It was just a blast to be out there with the guys and to have it all coming together...

After which they had pancakes for sale for fundraising for the Indian Mission trip, which were really good! And then a bunch of us went to Gloria Jeans for coffee, and when that closed, the TAB...

And then again home @ 1:30, and online until... yeah... 4am... :S

There's a disturbing symmetry about the way I enter and exit the w/end...

random snaps from the last few days...

On Wed, did a Borders run with my good uni friend patti... managed to read a bit of Andrew Gaze's biography (the bit about when he was with the Spurs :D) AND catch up with Eps II and III of Star Wars in comic book form!! Yes, for those who are somewhat in disbelief, I haven't seen eps II or III... shattered I was from eps I, yes? Yes.

After which I met up with Josh, Birdz, Darren, Cheryl, Matt (TB) & Deb @ Rock Kung for some good 'ol congee... the photo of Josh below was from the encounter...

Thursday night I got to see the mistress of animation @ work @ her home... which was fun as, just hanging out with her (and getting random beatings). Then raced off to practice @ church for B's song, and by the end of the night we'd come up with this awesomely cool looking arrangement - seriously, if you're not doing anything Sunday night (or even if you are, cancel it :D), come down and check us out!!

His head is now mounted on my wall...

This photo is (freshly taken, hot off the press with my trusty camera phone) more of an illustration of what can happen if you (stupidly) don't wear any sunscreen when s/boarding - when I look @ myself in the mirror, I feel like I wouldn't be out of place behind a honky tonk piano... I mean, girls dig dark and mysterious, but this is a bit ridiculous - Look at the contrast between the WHITE iPod h/phones, and the BLACK lump of a head :S

Hi, I'm African-American...

so what's nate really like...

Some of the comments that I've been reading on Korea's journal have made me realise that my random blogging may be a little misleading :)

I'm not actually wandering around in desparate search for a partner... and neither am I wandering around that randomly :P

I AM though, excited about life, and scared. Some thing's have opened up for me in terms of direction, and what I feel that God might be leading me to.

Hahaha, I love to joke and discuss intellectually about relationships and all, but for me the dominating thoughts, my passion, have been about where I'm meant to be going, what I want to make of my life.

I'm lucky enough to be in a place where I don't feel the need for a relationship with another girl. Songs like 'angel of mine' give me a hopeful sneak preview of what it'll be like one day, but it's not a number 1,2 or even 3 priority...

Right now, I'm just focussing on preparing myself and heart for those things He's placed in my heart.

angels...

Last night when I was @ geeeeeeetarrr group, we were going through some songs that would be fun to play, and we came across "Angel of Mine" by Monica...

I guess if I had to categorise the song, it would be seen as somewhat bittersweet. A long, long time ago, this single was a present to/from someone that's now gone...

But right now, I don't feel that... right now, it seems like a pretty hopeful song :)

A song describing what it'll be like, when I finally find my girl.

Bleh... I have this one side, where I crack jokes left, right and center, irregardless of the sometimes overwhelming lameness of the content...

but, *sigh*... there's also this other side, that's as soft as a marshmallow... :)

the low down...

... after Hui dropped me off home, I jumped into my precious blue-turbo-charged-4wd baby and caught up with the people @ church - apologies again mikey that I couldn't make it to sofia's with you guys!

Reason was, I'd promised est I'd go to star east with 'em... so I did, ate there, and then we adjorned (est, elt, rog, andy q. & will) where we just cracked ourselves up talking about the issues of singles in churches :P

today I made it into work, got a little tiny bit done... had nandos for lunch, where I bumped into J Chan and BC... then afterwards went to geeeeetttttaaaarrrr @ andy q's... with andy o, vee and me. I wasn't actually expecting much, as I was really buggered, but we ended up have a pretty funny time :D

side note: I sold my exhaust!! Guy came by today, looked @ it and bought it... yay!!

pictures are supposedly worth 1000 words...

... so here's a 4k word essay :P

Trip end...

Well, so much for blogging and taking heaps of photos… I never found myself sitting with my ibook and the motivation to type…

I’m sitting here @ the moment in the back of Hui’s car, as we cover the final leg of the return journey.

“How was it? How was the trip?” you might ask… and at this point in time, I have no conclusive answer :S

The good parts? Picking up snowboarding relatively quickly, being able to drive for all the fun, twisty bits. Meeting the awesomely nice strangers up there… every chair lift ride was a new story, talking to people from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane all the way to Koreans :P

For whatever time I figure out I had, I have to admit that it was at least good for what it was – I at least feel like I didn’t waste that time. On the same note though, I’m kinda glad to be coming back too. There’s just so much of life that I want to get back into :P

Don’t get me wrong… I think given the right combination of factors (i.e. if I had more time to spare), I would definitely have no qualms about staying longer – esp to investigate some of the pubs up there!! But at this point in time… there’s just so much I want to figure out first :P

So this is me, back in Melbourne (just passing through Nunawading now) and signing back on :D

counting the ways...

What I love, is the inconspicous way God surrounds me with awesome friends. It wasn't that long ago where I felt like I had none.

But Sunday night, when I hung out with the crew @ COC (yeah, we rock! :D), Saturday night when I debated theology in China Bar with the boys (everything from escatology to salvation doctrine :S), and Saturday, where I grew so much with my elder 'siblings'... has all made me realise, that I have some awesome brothers and sisters nearby :D

I love realising how blessed I am... and to top it off, it's actually a good day today as well :D

"if you are reading this blog it means that I have been unable to return..."

*ominous clouds rolling*... hahahaha, no, these will be my last couple of posts before I head to the snowfields of NSW :) The small convoy heads down tomorrow (Wed) morning, and is scheduled to return Sunday night... will be bringing my iBook up, and will be journalling and taking photos, so expect a flurry of posts when I return, buahahahah (note: that's 'Bua', not 'Bo')...

but now, to recap the events of yesterday...

As some had found out, it was indeed my bday yesterday :P I've hit the quarter century, and I'm not out yet!

I actually love being this old... well, maybe because I don't feel old @ all :P It's weird, but because of certain recent events, I actually feel like life is just starting for me...

As for the day itself, it was a real good one :D Had sms's, calls and e-mails coming through @ various hours of the way wee morn, so that all throughout the day I felt blessed :)

My supervisor bought a cake, and we had an impromptu afternoon tea, and then I had dinner with my family @ Limor's... all in, a fine day :D

WOW

Tonight we were @ Clayton church (me, Al, Mikey and Caiwin), and it was an awesome service - here are some random pics I took, one being Dechoko sucking on a foreign object which I presume he found on the floor, another of me and a pet rat that one of the Clayton members had brought to church, and the other of the 'crew' (Al, Mikey and Caiwin) :P

Funny thing was, I asked the girl if I could take a photo OF the rat (named Cooper, by the way, and actually quite cute (and fat, but I usually find fat things quite cute)), and she thought I meant WITH, and proceeded to place Cooper on my shoulder :S Have to admit, he was pretty well behaved...

Was fun to visit Clayton, love the people there, and Dan's an awesome preacher. Also quite amusing to walk in with three guys that are extremely good looking... was just funny as :D I'm lucky I'm not older and desparately seeking, cuz they were the wrong guys to be with if I was :P

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... what a weekend :D

Friday was a complete blur, working flat out all day, being the last one to leave the office (*sniff*), racing home, eating, racing to cell, leading worship, going home and talking on msn till 3 in the morning...

And then waking up wayyyyy too early @ 7:30am :'( Went to the Surrender Conference (featuring Jackie Pullinger) which went from 9:45am-10:30pm, and in short, and without exaggeration, it has changed my life.

My plans for it, my dreams and hopes... the conference challenged me, stretched me and yet it also released me. It confirmed for me so many things that had been swirling in my head for the last couple of weeks and months...

... and now there's this plan, that's been so neatly formed in my head, and so amazingly confirmed by Jackie herself, that everytime I think about it, it just seems too perfect a fit, that there just seems to be no way I can mis-interpret this, like no way @ all.

AND if I was even having any second thoughts about this matter at all, the message that Dan Lian gave at Clayton Church Sunday night (www.gravitate.com.au) just sealed it, a talk entitled "Kill the cow and burn the plough".

I know God loves to repeat important things so we might understand... but WOW - I'm freaked out and psyched, and I LOVE being there, I want to take that next step.

wanna be like mike... or nate...

no, not my dad (well I do), but this is in respects to mikey and his photo taking antics! Just checked out his blog (will put the link up on the side soon!), which is awesome as, everyone go have a click and a read :D Esp the plethora of photos he has!! Top stuff...

so this is me, taking a photo of myself, my mess, and my fantastic basketball beanbag! I love it... it has been one of my life long dreams (along with having an original NBA Jam arcade machine) to have one of those, and if by some random chance I got married one day, I will DEFINITELY take it with me...



... and on that same note, was actually feeling a little down before - had come back from music practice, and it wasn't quite what I wanted it to be... a place where I could find my God, and practice worshipping (not just singing (but that's important too!!)) Him... but it was more admin tonight, and i guess it did need to happen, time and place for all, right...

so here I was taking random photos with my phone, trying to figure out which one to post... and this one stuck out - see, my photos range from an exceedingly seedy grin (I dunno, my mouth is just weird), to my eyes being so firmly shut (I have this amazing talent for being caught on film with my eyes shut, it simply has to be experienced to be believed)...

but this photo, I look at it, and think, 'hey'... this guy looks hopeful... he looks like he's got a fun future... and you know what... it's weird, but it raised my spirits :P I began to believe it, I looked at the photo again, and grinned... "yeah! the guy looks like a total ass, but heck, he looks like his life is mega fun" :D

Boy... he looks blessed, doesn't he :)




... I mean... a basktball beanbag!! Need I say more!!

as the pot stands...

Have a bit of a mixed pot of emotions when it comes to relationships right now...

Probably a bit of melancholy and a hint of resignedness might describe it best, whereby I maintain only the faint hope for a happy future, and decide to play out life as more of primary concern. See what happens along the way, yada, yada that sort of thing :) I've been blessed with good friends and a life that allows me to be as busy/social as I've got time, the silver lining in the clouds... I guess...

Finally finished watching The Girl Next Door, a romantic comedy involving a girl that has a background in porn - no, not as bad as it sounds, it really is mostly a romantic comedy :)

Funnily enough, the thing that I took away most from the movie, is that freedom in which the two of them could be together, the freedom in which they could experience each other's care for one another - without worry for how stupid they might appear, and integrated into and apart of each other's lives. Not sure how realistic it is to aspire to, but it's something that looks like awesome fun... and maybe how a relationship should be orientated?

From the inside out, the heart to the outside, rather than the outside in, where circumstances dictate feelings.

I dunno... I guess... I want my next relationship, to be an awesomely fun one, to put it shortly... well... if there IS a next :S

something about wednesdays :)

what can I say about today... worked like crazy to get prototype up to scratch, still needs work :S At least it's keeping me entertained during the days I guess :P

Had scored some free tix to what Village called a "mystery movie" night - interestingly enough they were quite stringent on recording devices, even had hand held metal detectors :S

Movie ended up being Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang, which doesn't even have an official site up yet :S Starring Val Kilmer and Robert Downy Jnr (who were both actually pretty good in it), the movie though was really slow and dull :( Plot wasn't clever or particularly strong either... still, the cinemas @ Rivoli are a nice place to be, and it WAS free after all :)

Had dinner @ a nearby Cafe, made a little cheaper with an Entertainment Book coupon, and that was pretty much the night...

saturday…

after sleeping @ 4am Friday night, I woke up @ 9:30am, spent 10-1 helping some friends to write a song, had lunch with them 1-2, went home for 15mins, played badminton from 3-5, went out for dinner, stayed out @ glenny until 10pm, came home and played poker with some friends from 11pm-5am… *phew*, that’s a mouthful…

hehehe... awesome thing about dinner is that Sean (Susan's fiance) was working, and gave us coupons for 2 for 1 short stacks and 2 for 1 ice cream sodeas... worked out to be 5.90 EACH for dinner... how CHEAP is that... and then afterwards when me and Yen Pan went to Intencity to play games some guy was nice enough to leave $20 of credit for us in the Initial D machine!!

Was an aussie dude, young, and We'd watched him beat thoroughly every chinese-triad looking guy that had challenged him, and that was heaps!! And then, when we went to get on the machine next to him, he got up and told us to jump on his, 'cause he still had credits left! How nice is that?!

Hehehe... oh, and then after almost dying (went all the way down to having no chips at all), in the five hours it took to finish the game, I went on to win Poker :D

yet another must-have item!

I want one! It's a Pac Man hat!! Arggghhhh :D

Only Hope

There's a song that's inside of my soul
It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again
I'm awake in the infinite cold
But You sing to me over and over and over again

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands
and pray to be only Yours
I pray to be only Yours
I know now you're my only hope

Sing to me the song of the stars
Of Your galaxy dancing and laughing
and laughing again
When it feels like my dreams are so far
Sing to me of the plans that You have for me over again

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I know now you're my only hope

I give You my destiny
I'm giving You all of me
I want Your symphony
Singing in all that I am
At the top of my lungs I'm giving it back

So I lay my head back down
And I lift my hands and pray
To be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I pray to be only yours
I know now you're my only hope

the heart

I asked a girl out last night, and when she said no and gave me the reason that she felt that she wouldn't be able to commit to me, I then argued about why she could for the next 1.5 hours :S

I woke up this morning realising just how stupid that was... I was expecting to debate someone into a relationship?!

---

Watched "A Walk to Remember" last Friday night, and I have to embarressingly admit that I got quite teary eyed :$

Movies that draw you in, and just emerse you in fear, excitement... in the case... the heart... I have profound respect for.

I came out of the movie, not so much wanting to meet a perfect girl, but wanting to be someone's perfect guy - to be in a relationship, where I could be free, to give and love her with all that I am.

survey says...

*phew*, after delaying posts to keep the w/end details @ the top of my blog, I've got a lot of randomness to get out my head :P

Starting with the results of a recent e-mail questionaire that got sent around :D

---

Subject: Re: Getting to know you...

So quiet @ work... why are offices so quiet... we need to start issuing
clacky keyboards to everyone. In an effort to stay awake:

1. WHAT IS YOUR FULL NAME? Nathan Yew Kane Leung

2. WHAT COLOUR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING? Blue 3/4 Pants

3. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Blessed be Your Name - Matt Redman

4. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? ALSO Ferry's kon-loh-mee (yesterday's
lunch & dinner, haven't had brekky yet)

5. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE? Gray

6. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? No idea about specifics, but it's been
absolutely pelting down sporadically :S

7. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Well, Dad just sms'd from...
*actually reading msg this time*... a boat, on the way back to HK from
China...

8. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX? Hair. I know, it's
weird...

9. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT YOU THIS? Yah, heaps of people of sent
this one around... I'm sure there's someone in there I like... :P

10. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? Sleepy

11. FAVOURITE DRINK(S)? Anything new and interesting

12. FAVOURITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK? At the moment, Butterscotch Shnapps...

13. FAVOURITE SPORTS? Basketball, followed by everything else... yes, I'd
even be up for lawn bowls if we went to play (have taken lessons before too,

so watch out)...

14. WHO/WHAT INSPIRES YOU? People I know, living out there out there on the
edge

15. FAVORITE MOVIE? Batman Begins / Spirited Away

16. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Yup

17. SIBLINGS? Two sisters too many

18. FAVOURITE MONTH? February

19. FAVOURITE FOOD? Most things mushroomy

20. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? War of the Worlds (or as Roger put it, "World of

the Worlds"...)

21. FAVOURITE DAY? Dunno... at the moment they're all blurring into each
other...

22. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT? Unfortunately, no

23. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer!

24. HUGS OR KISSES? Time and place for both :) Don't make me choose... :P

25. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS?

- That's right, like I'm REALLY going to answer "ONE NIGHT STANDS", and then

send it out to everyone...

26. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Choco...

27. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO WRITE BACK? Dunno... are there any friends
out there...?

28. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Well, pretty much everyone who's
responded already :P

29. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? The people I forgot to forward this
too...

30. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? H.Potter: The Half-Blood Prince

31. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? Saw animation short films in the city...

32. FAVOURITE SMELLS? Strange huh... shampooed hair for me too...

33. NIGHT IN OR NIGHT OUT? Night out :D

34. BUTTERED, PLAIN, OR SALTED POPCORN?

- SLATHERED with ze butter...

35. FAVOURITE CAR? Ferrari F430

36. FAVOURITE FLOWER? A rose is good

37. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR KEY RING? Tree... I have tree keys...

38. CAN YOU JUGGLE? Sure... if juggling is the simultaneous dropping of
multiple objects... otherwise, no.

39. RED OR WHITE WINE? Red

40. WHAT DID YOU DO FOR YOUR LAST BIRTHDAY? That was way too long ago for me

to remember... I have trouble remembering what I did last week...

42. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE
MORNING?

- "Hmm... it's 10am... should I call in sick... I think I feel
sick...*sigh*, no, I have work that needs to be done, and I don't feel
sick... *rolls out of bed, crashes to the floor*..."

43. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? August 15