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Amazing doctor.
Monday, Nov 16, 2009 10:27AM / Members only
"The truth is ugly but lies aren't any prettier.And the ones in between are pretty ugly. Yes, i made this up, but I'm not dead yet, so quote me later."Erm yeah that was my facebook status this morning. It sounded like either I had poisoned rhubarb for breakfast or someone stole my hairclip. Honestly, I've had unclassified X files mysteries of missing hairclips since I was 8. Maybe there's a bermuda triangle in my head.Oh what was I going to say again before my creepy cryptic evil twin took over? Heh. OH. I wanted to tell you a positive story that's by the way true as well. See my mother's operating surgeon and doctor is one of the best doctors in this part of the world. My mother has colon cancer and when I heard about his story, I decided it was too good a chance to miss up on it. I bet you raised some eyebrows when I made this absolutist statement about someone being the "best". Which brings me to a cringeworthy point of wanting to be politically correct for the sakes and interests of missives who are hiding in the bushes and waiting to pelt me with pebbles. My mother's operating surgeon is one of the best in this part of the world. Tsk.The man is admirable. Im sure all you Ivy League folks and recipients of post graduate degrees with accolades of praise worthy testimonials from hundreds of professors you've blackmailed are equally amazing. I mean, I have met numerous people who collect degrees as a fashionable hobby. But it's not everyday I meet a doctor who's lauded for having done multiple successful research into new discoveries and potential cures for this sort of cancer that's plaguing millions and robbing lives and happiness. Especially not when the doctor himself was diagnosed with a rarer form of the same disease at age 7. Yes, this dude was told he wouldn't be around to celebrate his 21st much less live to the great fifties in this day. And he IS a celebrated surgeon for intestines.The guy named himself after the ward he had lived in when he was a child. The guy is also a fierce spokesperson for optimism and positivity. His faith is pretty awe inspiring. I mean look if you and I were sick with that rare kind of disease at age 7, would we think decades later we would become presidents and scholarly surgeons? Okay, maybe you would since you are all immaculate and not as frisky as I am. But I'm a humpty dumpty, who got put together again by God.Oh no. Here comes her God theories. Yes yes, it's here again. Wheeeeeeeeeeee.The man's faith in God did not go untested many times and stages in his life. But his experiences with death and hospitals made him more encouraging,patient and more sympathetic to the fears of his patients. Ever wondered why disease stricken people are also known as "patients?" I used to ponder about that. It seemed most unlikely that patients would be the number one advocates of the virtue, "patience" but here we are calling sick people patients all day. Maybe the hardest thing to do is always the most correct thing to do. And I guess our lovely doctor made it through his dark ages relying on the faith and trust that God will see him through.Being a doctor of the same ailment he had suffered is such a typical yet untypical rags to riches story. Except the rags and riches here are not determined by dollars and cents. Not a nickel will save you another breath even if you were an arabian prince. Believing is toughest when the circumstances shake their heads at you. Conceding defeat is ever so much simpler since with zero or minus expectations, no delirious accumulated well of hopes would come crashing down when you don't hope,don't dream don't want.I was like that. Except my cancer was depression. Only God and my long suffering friends and family knew how difficult it was to rise from the ashes. But as you hear it, you have it. Believing and having faith in a turnaround is always possible. This doctor's story is quite unbelievable. He really commands respect and his engaging ways and cheerful disposition is a relief off that sweaty brow of mine. Knowing my dearest mum-ty dumpty, (sorry mum, couldn't resist) is in safe hands and that is God's hands and further more said doctor's hands is such a safe load off the chest.OH it is. Surely now, you forgive me for my unrelenting sarcasm? Oh C'mon. I say "Whirl Peas!" Ok I mean world peace. Have a great week you Oscar the grouches. What is this resentment towards Mondays anyway? It's Monday uh... say Woo Hoo ....!Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother.
Kahlil GibranXOXO -
Fleet Foxes rock.
Saturday, Nov 14, 2009 10:46AM / Members only
I like Fleet Foxes. Some music just gets u like that.There's another band I love, Leader cheetah, they are awesome too.I wonder if it comes with each growing day. Sometimes u look back and wonder who u really were, and the "looking back" stage is ALSO part of it. If I could jump into a time machine and change or edit things, I'd never.It's interesting how life pans out for us. I've always been a piano girl, and I played and wrote how I felt about things. But always painfully shy so I could never imagine myself singing. And I realize it was because I feared judgment. To really let go and to be free was something my teacher taught me. Her first lesson with me wasn't about pitch. I scored fullmarks for pitch in a singing competition once years ago. She didn't ask me to start singing a chain of songs ranging in octaves to examine my skill. All she did was say, girl, Let Go. Don't be afraid.That night she said I had to be honest. When she asked me to turn the lights off to do songwriting, I kindda knew what she was about to do. And I just screamed. I really literally screamed. And screamed. And screamed. And when I was done, I wrote. I realized something. The energy I had pent up within me, the shyness I had was the exact explosiveness she wanted from me.She kept saying, let the poison out.Then the world really started to burst into color. Then it really became possible to be yourself and own yourself. Then it was permissible to dream. And dreams come true.I'm just going to work hard for this record. Thank you Jesus.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brZTvGIzeGg&feature=related
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patience
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 10:38AM / Members only
t gets terribly confusing at times and very trying. I honestly cannot really justify myself as much as I would like to.
Guilty guilty guilty. As charged.
She was/ is sick and extremely volatile, but she has never ever been that easy to get along with anyways. Yet, I fell for it. The inability to be more tolerant, more patient, more understanding, more compassionate, less reactive, less angry, less volatile led me on a path of curt, caustic retorts.
You see, not just am I splitting image of my mother, I resemble her in other areas. It is almost like a leaf out of another cheesy chick flick movie or another greek tragedy. The mother-daughter tirade.
And almost as automatic as always I feel deep remorse, guilt and sorry for having retaliated.
I was devastated when she said I caused her to become ill. Amongst many things which I have been responsible for, and cancer being my specialty, I supposed 9/11 was my fault too as well as the forest fires in California, the problems of global warming or human trafficking. Yeah right, I wish I was THAT important.
But I know deep down those were taboo lines that had been crossed. It would sink deep heavily into my soul every time I thought of my mother suffering, or her being in pain. I would cringe just knowing it was me who might have erected the memory of irritation,hurt or annoyance to some level that had ledl to her stress in turn leading to her writhing in pain. At times like these, I want to take a cold shower and breathe in logic. I have to be calm to deal with problems especially since people who are sick have every right to be grumpy or unhappy.
But every choice not to be too. I just have to try harder.
Close your eyes. Pray. Breathe to the calmness and peace within your soul. No matter how tough it is to swallow your pride, it can be done. Your positivity will cheer her up, not your anger.
I know at the very core, she was elated for the things that I had worked for. I know that no matter what she was always on my side not against me. I know it would really sadden her if I stopped talking to her. I know I have to dig deep to find genuine sincerity to communicate again. I know I need to improve on being an improvement.
I need to be more patient.
"Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake."
-Victor Hugo
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warm tears
Saturday, Oct 10, 2009 10:29AM / Members only
The night is very very long.I'm showing cred to Katy Perry's Hot and Cold by living that experience. The fever comes in waves grasping my neck and bare back before a tingling chill literally sends shivers down my spine. Hot and Cold, Hot and Cold.
What is missing from this equation essentially is the incessant, boisterous nagging from mum. She lies forlorn in her sombre hospital bed as dull as Jack who concedes to "all work and no play". Did you find that sudden interjection of a mini jingle alienating?
" All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy".
Only because my mother is always working. Her meticulousness in managing the affairs of the household is unrivaled. Dull is but an illusion, no, delusion from the actual core. My mother is dullest because she is also unable to stop making things spic and span or taking neatness and tidiness to the pinnacle. And that is why I am influenced. With a genocide and holocaust of all germs and dust in sight, who would not be swayed? I would be kidding if I grew up without a care for hygiene. When I lived out on my own overseas, I noticed the indoctrinating effects creeping up on me. I noticed myself cringing when I saw dust collecting on surfaces, hair conquering the floor or dirt culminating in areas between surfaces. It's no surprise that I react in this manner though, because I stand proudly etched to that fact:
" I am my mother's daughter."
I will have you know that mothers are rare, exquisite treasures who love you with arms folded neatly across chests, undiscerning scowls decorating their faces, pursed lips and terse countenances. Usually the frowns become wider when a child such as thee or me decides to review the popularly favored themes of "Indifference" or take the idea of "obliviousness" to heightened levels.
Of course we all know as mature, intellectual thinking people that being just a little obtuse is human nature. Being resistant to persistent nagging and consistent obsessive compulsion and just a little less amorous in face of asia's unrelentless humidity and temperature is but perfectly logical. Yes, how did I even implicate a whole continent's tropical heat into this? I deserve a medal for my insurmountable excuses.Ha.
I really should be more tolerant, more patient, more understanding, more amiable, more trusting, more friendly, saccharine sweeter,more polite,more selfless,more respectful,less quirky,less tongue-in-cheek, less judgmental,less mental,less vengeful, less angry and altogether more filial. I should really stop being annoying me, actually.
But the point is this woman has efficiently put up with my volatility all these years. Of course sometimes with violent opposition and less desire to withstand the constant teenage rebel within me. But who can forget the hugs at the airport, the teary goodbyes as the realization dawns upon her that peace would be irrevocably restored in the house when yours truly was gone.
I learnt during the growing endearing years that some people will never understand you, but those who do understand even your tears.
And these are the people you know love you with their hearts and not their minds. Do you love a person because the person is perfect? I think logically we all want to love an easier to love target. Who doesn't want a more manageable child, a less quick tempered wife, a more doting husband, a more modest boss, a more selfless best friend, a less indolent domestic helper? That's called calculated love with risks attached. I love you instinctively more IF you can be more of these things.....Bring on, the pre nups.
Regardless most people cannot help it, neither you nor me either. Because it really gets sufferable when a person falls to a distasteful level of lovability. I know I find it difficult to love me sometimes, well most times, hence why would anyone even courageously attempt? And yet my mother told me that despite her wronging me in my growing years when she did, in spite of the unfortunate unfairness when she did bestow, she did love me very much. I remembered I quipped and asked her if loving me with difficulty meant she could make it up later (which was now and the future) by being sooooooooooo nice to me. And she laughed and said
" Am I not doing that already now?"
Yes you are mummy. That's why you'll live to a 100 and more. You have no idea mum, but every tear I shed when it gets difficult to have faith in people, in friends and relationships, I automatically want to crawl back to you. Sometimes I start accusing God for being mean but always I eat my words again when He blesses me with a windfall of genuine friends, faith givers and amazing opportunities. And you mum, for raising me and teaching me these values of being good to people at all times. I know I have more room for improvement, much more than five football fields and state of the art olympic sized auditoriums but I assure you that your words were/are never strewn aside with indifference even when I do show THAT face.
Please get well soon because I've had my dream come true. Now let me thank you every second for it.
"One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters". ~George Herbert
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Oh yeah.
Thursday, Oct 1, 2009 9:24AM / Members only
I've been brought up by my mother in the typical extra-- traditional asian environment. Except she added one more clause. That I've to be sincerely nice to every single person. When people wrong you, she says, be extra nice. I remember when I was a child and and was given a new pencil case by one of them grown up aunties or uncles, and I was twirling my new rainbow colored pencil box merrily, one of the other kids came over and snatched it. She would not return it to me and also yanked my strawberry hairclip from my hair. This enraged me, my entire 6 year old body sprung with a sudden bout of vivacious energy and I ran and shook her. All hell broke loose.And when the parents came, her mother and my mother stood sheepishly facing each other. My mother roughly took me by my sleeve and delivered the mother of all slaps on my face. Then came the "series". Slap, slap,slap." Ma, she snatched my pencil case! She yanked my hair clip, she hit me first!"Slap, slap slap. When I got home, I was still screaming, angry tears pouring down my face. You see, I'm THAT kind of a kid who had no closure until I undersood "why" I was being treated that way. As promised Mum took the cane with her cold, silent demeanor and rained the strokes on me.As years went by however, her indoctrination worked. Maybe it was indoctrination, or I grew tired of resisting. A hundred other similar incidents taught me one thing. If I went against my mother's laws, I was dead meat. In her line of judgment, her justice prevailed as long as she deemed fitting within the parameters of that school of thought she came from. The school of thought that encourages you to beat the living daylights of your own even, to always apologize first. To be the bigger person, and to give way. Even when others were blatant scumsBecause that is the right way.I wish I could say my brother was equally affected but he wasn't. The reason was simple. I clamored and screamed, fought for reasons. WHY Ma, but why must I say sorry first? Why, when she kicked my face. Why ma, why did I have to give my watch to that boy? And perhaps my brother did as told, got into less scrapes than I did or challenged authority less.You know I could write a book about "Caning behavior." Because for the life of me, I never shut up even as I got flogged. Even as one flimsy cane splits after multiple usage and Mum would replenish A FEW and tie them in a neat, pretty bundle for my special treatment. My cousins can testify to this. Ah cousins. Even with cousins, I would not be spared. In every little spat, yours truly got my mother's wrath so bad even our domestic help at that point used to plead ceaselessly with Ma to please let me off. At one point, no, a few points, our domestic help came and covered my body as I refused to apologize and got the brunt of Ma's discipline.As the years rolled by however. The indoctrination indeed proved to be valiantly successful. I convinced myself that the only way I could survive was being that "bigger" person. It worked to a certain extent, not too well at times because the "natural" me would still feel upset inside and there would be a need to justify myself or retaliate. But soon, even I brainwashed myself into thinking, the only way I could ever be a good person was to be nice. Be nice even if I felt like absolute garbage inside. Be nice even if the other person is not nice. Be nice, because that way I'm doing what Jesus would want me to, and I'm following my mother's rules. Be nice because that way the world will love me. Be nice because that way your friends will never leave you. Be nice and your sweetheart will love you forever. Be nice because if you're not nice, something bad will happen to you, your family or whatever little treasures you had. Be nice because you don't have a choice. At all. And if you're faking it, God will inflict His great justice upon your sad sad sad soul and you'd rot for eternity. Be nice, you artistic fool because if you're not nice, then you will have no friends, nothing and be a sad pathetic loser forever.And then I met this girl that went the extreme other way and my world became wrecked with chaos after our friendship fell apart. The girl I loved more than my own sister threw the whole God-my mother's justice system-my own belief system- into such confusion, I retreated my sad pathetic being into a part depressed, part autistic world." Duncha know L, you keep your friends close and your enemies closer? You think you're nice, but you're so nice sure, until it's fake. Either that or you're stupid as hell."She was right in a way. I was both. I was kidding myself, brainwashing myself thinking I had to earn my worth into the world. I stopped wondering about what fairness was. If my mother inculcated the fairest justice system in the house, it was that "you beat your own brood" thing. But lines get blurry between my brother and me. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure the asian mentality on that one. Oh yipee yay. Here's a GIRL who tries to understand those rules, live by them, thinks she successfully got them down, and then gets confused all over again at home when the brother gets into the picture.So you see, I have so many seedy, beady words on my blogs. So much sentiment, so much emotion, so much to express. You'll never find the typical blogger thing going on here. No narcissistic cute as hell poses, no pouty lips nor widened bambi eyes, nada. You want those, go look under photos. In my written things, they are an amalgamation of me, the Platyus and Thisbe. These guys are my alter egoes, the caricature of my other "me"s. In a world of creativity freedom is power. Because you don't have to be apologetic anymore. Or no. Essentially you could act phony and try to win people with sugar icing written. But always, someone smarter will outwit you, expose you and shred you to tatters if they find the ample opportunity. That is why really, by being frank, I put myself out there. But it's also a plus because it's really what makes me me.These positivity blogs I write are always filled with a slight ironic twist. I love to share what turned a cynical,hurt unhappy person around to become something that can rejoice and grow each day to deal with situations. If I wrote all the positive blogs in the world, and stopped becoming upset, annoyed and irritated still, then I'd bag the biggest liar or pretender of all time. Because as people you live with a world of many other people and events still occur everyday. The day you received your key on why you need to be positive in spite of negativity raging in your face, you sort of receive an armor, a shield and a bullet vest around you. You definitely still can get hurt, still can hurt others but because of this "positive" rule, you know it's a process, not an answer.Transformation takes a steady pace of a lifetime. So, while you live with your previous flawed judgment on life, you also have hope now that things can get better and become the best it can ever be. But because life is life, the next time there is a downward spiral, you know what to do.I guess the definition of "nice" became increasingly clear to me as I grew up. It's not always an outward graciousness in being giving or being that suffering person. Because you can often do those and feel that you've done a right thing and still go to bed wondering why you feel slighted, hurt or insulted when you've "done the right thing". That is the point when you start thinking, gee, I forgot that I have to be nice to another person.Me. Yes me. I've to be nice to me. Because I'm going to have to love me since I'm stuck with me forever. And since whoever met me and love/loved me later will still not outnumber the years I spent with me since kingdom come, I think I'm pretty important enough to be nice to now.So, it isn't that Ma was wrong in her methods. It was unfortunate because she never explained and I had to figure it out. It isn't that God is such a calculative God because He did love Ma too and those kids that snatched my hairclips and stuff. I don't need to earn love or friends by trying to be nice. Or be a long suffering victimized schmuck just to play the sad victim.Oh. That's because I'm now confident of something. I'm awesome. I'm nice. That's a bit hard to really say as if I'm doing my modesty a disservice but I'm not saying am I? I'm just uh...typing. :)You should say it to yourself too.Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.
Thomas Paine - More entries >
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Ee Hoon Khooposted on Wednesday, Nov 18, 2009 1:35AM [Report]My simple English is okay... anything beyond... will be a tough battle. Oftentime, I would unconsciously make alot of spelling mistakes and grammar errors and I honestly struggled with being grammatically correct for the shortest sentences. I feel that there are lots of improvement for my language capacity, especially English. I guess one of the greatest shortcoming of being a Singaporean (I honestly think, is a social norm) is we are very lack of certain social capacity especially in the way we express our thoughts and how much we understand about the true condition of society and life in general. You can ask a Singaporean how far it is to go from one place to another and I can tell you most people will never tell you how many Kilometer that is away from where we stand. We can't assume weights and we can't tell the distant and we can't talk about politics or the weather and environment in an attractive linguistic manner. There are exveption I'm sure but I am not one of them. So I guess I always have high expectation of myself, just because I'm better off then the aunty at the market doesn't make me GOOD in my language, like you, most certainly. -
JasonChauposted on Wednesday, Nov 18, 2009 1:07AM [Report]Well we have......me and my family! ^^ We're trying out the zapper at the moment and a few other things including ozone steaming. We have a mobile sauna box we got from Mongkok (a place called Green Refreshment at Pioneer Centre, 750 Nathan Road), which coupled with the ozone steriliser we are using twice weekly. Not only can it help keep us stay healthy by allowing us to absorb more oxygen into our bodies, but it even helps us to lose weight!! ^^
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Joe Fiorelloposted on Monday, Nov 16, 2009 1:33PM [Report]Cool. ; ) I'll let you know if I come across anything else like that song. -
Ee Hoon Khooposted on Monday, Nov 16, 2009 11:47AM [Report]I 'm nicer here, I was not so nice then...haha. -
Ee Hoon Khooposted on Monday, Nov 16, 2009 11:30AM [Report]She told me her project but I was telling her to work things out very carefully, as I could see that her plan is pretty shaky. I was like pouring old water over her... But I'm very willing to help, just my usual ways of not promising and giving false hopes. I hope she understand. She should, she knows my style. -
Ee Hoon Khooposted on Sunday, Nov 15, 2009 8:41AM [Report]Its Didalina. From Germany under the Dida range of stuff toys. They have a website. Stationery also. -
Laura Keeposted on Sunday, Nov 8, 2009 11:15PM [Report]hi Lydia, i chanced upon ur page here & am inspired by your story, as well as ur thought-provoking entries. I'm from Singapore, planning to move to Taiwan next year to pursue the dream...
Hope that things btwn u & ur mum improve. Keep loving her. She loves you. -
Michael Chanposted on Thursday, Oct 22, 2009 12:22AM [Report]Hi Lydia,
Thanx for your lovely comment! Im glad you like these pictures! :) Cheers,
Michael -
Eric Sanchez Tanposted on Sunday, Sep 27, 2009 8:30PM [Report]Hi Lydia,
I had a thought about the taiwan show and I'm afraid I'm not yet ready to submit materials. Recently the band has changed drummers and we are still looking to gel. Rather than just give you stuff, we much rather hold back.
Sorry to have lead you on but do keep in touch. We should be in better shape after we do more gigs by year end.
Thanks again. -
Eric Sanchez Tanposted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 9:51AM [Report]oh one more thing Lydia, do you have an email address that I can send the song files on to? -
Eric Sanchez Tanposted on Wednesday, Sep 23, 2009 7:51AM [Report]Cool stuff Lydia, will give you a sample of about 2 songs of my EP (work in progress) over the weekend? -
Eric Sanchez Tanposted on Tuesday, Sep 22, 2009 11:36PM [Report]Hi Lydia, saw your posting about bands for the Taiwanese TV show. My band, a blues trio will be interested in performing.
Would the show be interesting in having us? And what is the process for applying? -
elle75posted on Wednesday, Sep 9, 2009 5:18AM [Report]I'm doing great, trying to practice your positive exercise and apply a few things I learn from your blogs here and there (^_^) I'm not doing such a good job with it but trying is the first important steps right. Thanks Lydia. I hope whatever that keep you busy is good change. -
Chen Tian Wen posted on Wednesday, Sep 9, 2009 12:06AM [Report]Yup. it was me...
ai ya.. no luck lah...haha..
let me know if u back in town again..
enjoy 同志 - More comments >
My Music
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- Lydia took her baby steps into music after being on stage as a church pianist when she was 14...Lydia took her baby steps into music after being on stage as a church pianist when she was 14. Her interest in the arts became apparent after she started dabbling with poetry and prose early in the mornings on her way to school. She would soon involve herself in hosting for her junior college events,being an active debater and naturally extending her theatrics to the stage as an actress. She also became a key figure in her university's theatrical programs and activities and graduated with a degree in Theatre studies and English Literature.
Born in Singapore,Lydia decided to involve herself with the local theatre scene. A chance encounter where she took the role of Hermia from a modern twist of A Midsummer Night's Dream (42nd Action Theatre's Festival) led to a talent scout spotting her for tv and screen. At the same time Lydia's passion for creating and composing music led her to become a student of Jodi Sellards from Los Angeles where the latter developed Lydia's penchant for singing rock ballards. Lydia has had the fortune to work with Tian Deseta,from Lointersounds and produced a few tracks of which u can locate at www.blazebeats.com.Lydia was/is also schooled in musical theatre under Wu Kun,a famed Beijing Opera teacher for two years.
Currently,Lydia lives in Taiwan and is working on her album and writing the instrumental music for independent films in Singapore as well. This lass has a love relationship with performing and will be in Tw/La/Singapore wherever the tide and passion take her. - Occupation: Composer , Singer , Actor
- Gender: Female
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