Thought i'd give the New Blogger customized layout templates a try; mainly just to have the useful "Labels" widget.

But first I had to select a preset template from the list; for widgets to work. So i chose the one that resembled my previous layout the best. Then I tried to tweak the chosen preset-template to look like my previous one but to no avail. The html that i copied and pasted into Dreamweaver just wouldn't display the design in Dreamweaver. I see only lines >.< Eventually I only edited the simple stuff like some colour and sizes.

Hope this current layout reads well on your screens~
P.S: Anyone knows how to make the Labels-widget html work with the old Blogger template?

Bugle call

The first week's almost gone...
At the start, the Commanding Officer welcomed the troops back to the battlefield.
Amidst the excitement expressed by fellow comrades, I was feeling rather neutral to it all. I just made myself comfortable in my front-row seat. The C.O. conducted the campaign-briefing with an air of confidence; promising a tough, demanding fight to expect ahead.

Eye-balling the gestures of the C.O. and the 2nd-in-Command, I felt an unspoken sense of concern for subtler issues. Nothing to do with blue-force casualties or our unit's depleting war-chest. Perhaps what I felt was the temptation of fear. The fear that makes a soldier rooted to the trench-line; when the realisation of being formed-up for a (suicidal) charge sets in.
I dismissed the thought. There was no turning back now anyway.

What my hardened-spirit needs most and sorely misses is courage.
A boldness which led me to transfer out of the "safety" of my previous posting.
That firm resolution that here, was where, there was much more for me.
Guts; worthy of & fitting for my final tour of duty.

Reality never sets in safely the way you expect. Its whistles from afar, incresingly deafening before shrapnel and energy-waves scatter your battle-formation. It demands you re-group, re-supp and press-on toward your objective.

Perhaps the C.O. wasn't casting a condesending eye like my cynical-side guessed. Perhaps I was being spared the C.O.'s disappointed look-in-the-eye. A consolation for morale's sake. An offer of withdrawal in the knowledge of imminent disaster. Maybe the unit wonders if I am fighting for a lost cause too. I beg to differ.

The enemy's not won. The battle's just begun.
By faith, I prepare to embrace this war; transcending weariness, even mortality.
This war, I surrender only to One.

Brown Rice Special

Here's what I worked with that serves 2persons:

• 1 cup * brown rice
  
• 6 circular slices * pineapple
• 7cm * fat sausage
• 2 * eggs
  

Artistic process:

1. Cook brown rice in pot
   with (+/-) 2 * cups H2O.
   Bring to boil in (+/-)15min and leave to simmer off the stove.
2. Slice sausage and dice pineapple slices. Pre-heat pan or wok.
3. Neglect pineapple slices temporarily.
   Distribute sausage slices on pan and stir-fry evenly till crisp(or
   according to personal preference of done-ness) Remove from pan.
   
4. Scramble eggs in pan.
   Remove and set aside.
5. Scoop brown rice from pot to pan(if large enough) or wok
   Stir fry for a while in medium-heat (not till rice gets dryer/browner)
   Toss in pineapples to the fry; distributing evenly over the rice.
   Continue to stir-fry just long enough for pineapple warm-up to and to mingle amongst rice.
   
6. Add sausage and egg.
   Stir the whole-lot till well-mixed.
7. Serve before guests start fighting over appetizer-scraps.

Some tips to enhance your artistic-experience:

• Have paper-towels or tissue handy at all times; unless you prefer extra "seasoning" in your masterpiece
• Stir-fry with flair by varying your skillet stir-strokes. Broad strokes reveal the chef's confidence whilst short quick ones signify his/her fine attention to detail.
• Wow your guests even more by tossing the whole stir-fry lot in the air with a flick of the pan-handling wrist, simultaneously executing a pirouette, and finally catching the art-work back safely in pan.
• In case of emergency, have the pizza-man's telephone number handy.
  Michelangelo's anyone?
  

On Love

drafted 10Nov'06; completed today:
******
I planned to wake up early yesterday morning because I wanted
to make a fluffly scrambled egg(think Mac's Big Breakfast-type) for me n bro's breakfast.
I call it a Jedi-Fluffy-Egg or J.F.E.

When the alarm went off, there was a gentle stirring in my subconscious.
After about 5mins, I thought I heard my subconscious-self saying, "It's time to go!"
And out of Dreamland I went. And immediately after that I was climbing out of bed
ambling to the kitchen eyes half-open.

Good thing I remembered to use the smaller pan for the egg.
Easier to control, heats up just enough to cook a moist n' fluffly egg over a small flame.

Later I thought to myself, "why is it I can't wake up early to do my own work but I can do so when it's something for someone else"

Love is purposeful.
Love takes initiative.

******

Been thinking about whether this rather personal issue is really affecting me.
It's a problem that's been on the top of my head for quite a while. Literally!
Yep, recent friends, you may not have noticed much.
But long-time loved-ones & ChiChing-bros have spoken about my receding hair-line
and diminishing-scalp. Not so much to the extent of discussing who will donate scalp-tissue n' pool together moolah for my hair-transplants though. :-p

There was a time when I told Jo that I had some hairy issues to deal with.
When I said it was about my falling hair, she queried me innocently about
whether I'd ever shave my head.
I said, "Why not?" I agreed with her that:
When it looks like it's irredeemable, I'll go under the knife.
Not to restore, but to remove it all heh.
She then said, "Recalling the time I saw your Dad at the parade,
I already knew that I had to accept the possibility of you balding.."
Me: *>.<*inner-tear*
Jo: "but..how u feel also matters.."
Me: "I will make a decision before my tub of Gatsby wax runs out."

Love is understanding.
Love is acceptance.
*Jo's probably relieved that I didn't suggest wearing a toupe or wig. Haha >.<

******

"5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross! " Philippians 2:5-8(niv)

Love is giving.
Love humbles itself.
Love is unconditional sacrifice.

13"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends" John15:13(nkjv)

Resolutions for 2007

Here art thine for the year so far:

1. Develop a personal friendship with Jesus.
2. Develop Courage for Christ!
3. Be on-time, if not, early for lessons & appointments
4. Plan ahead; schedule my time well; including clear & tangible goals in hard-copy
   

Anyone who has read this is liable to be held responsible for helping me keep these resolutions!
*grin* =P

december drifts past

(backdated.again!)
The last month came & went fast.
But in the company of friends and family, my tired being within was refreshed.

Some hits & misses:
Not finding time to do any painting like I had hoped to do so at the start of the holidays! ;<
Jo's birthday which was celebrated with her beloved LibraryGang at VivoCity ^.^
Journal layout for COOS Leaders' Advance - which I am glad abt; considering time & budget :P
(p.s: i seek the understanding of all whose photos have been used there-in without prior seeking of your permission)
Christmas eve chill-out with dear ChiChing Brotherhood at Villa Bali =)
Christmas Day lunch organised by COOS + Charlotte's Web with the Cell. XD

Not forgetting also,
a labour of love; for a lovely union: KW+PK's wedding emblem + invitation card
Misc media included email-invites & giftcards too.
The fruit of the design-process; throughout which the couple had enthusiastically participated in, was quite exhilarating for me to behold. This was the first church-wedding I've ever attended & I feel blessed to have played a supporting role to the newly-wed couple.
I believe the joy of the Lord was filling the spirits of many others who witnessed the holy matrimony on the first morning of the new year.

The only boo-boo was a miscommunication with the printers that resulted in additional printing costs incurred >.<
***
Something funny the groom said as he handed an envelope to me one day,
"Ah, here's the design you did for the event to invite yourself to." *chuckle*
***