Serendipity

The Wedding Prayer

2011-06-24T19:03:00.000+08:00

Create in us a love, O Lord.
An eternal love …
Your love.
A love that forgives
any failure,
spans
any distance,
withstands
any tempest.
Create in us a love, O Lord.
A new love.
A fresh love.
A love with the tenderness
of a lamb,
the grandeur
of a mountain,
the strength
of a lion.
And make us one. Intimately one.
As you made a hundred colors into one sunset,
A thousand cedars into one forest,
and countless stars into one galaxy …
make our two hearts as
one,
Father, forever …
that you may be praised, Father,
forever.

From Shaped by God (original title: On the Anvil)
Copyright (Tyndale House, 1985, 2002) Max Lucado

A game of numbers

2011-04-29T13:08:00.006+08:00

Okay I admit that I'm too lazy to record all my comments throughout this year's AI. But here's a recap of these few weeks. So Naima, Thia, Pia, Paul, and Stefano are out. I don't think it was difficult to tell what's wrong with Naima. With Thia, I think it's because she didn't have enough confidence and she still doesn't know what kind of artist she will be. For Pia, I also think it was quite obvious. Everyone thinks that she can sing, but she doesn't have the x-factor. She was not that likable, she was not that special, and she was too safe and a little old-fashion. With the judges praising her each time, her fans assumed that she was safe and didn't make the effort to keep her around...so, boom she was out! As for Paul, I think he was a consistently good performer, but he stayed in his comfort zone, grew very very slowly and didn't manage to surprise us. At the same time, Haley and Casey were taking chances and risks, and they made us wanting for more. Lastly, for Stefano, time was just running out. He had a few great performance, he grew better, but he didn't manage to catch up with the rest. His last song choice was just wrong for me. And by exposing his flirty side on a performance night, AI spelled the end for Stefano.

For those who stay, I can really see why they stay. Haley has grown tremendously. I'm glad that she has given up trying to be sexy and now she's just flaunting her greatest asset which is her unique jazzy voice. Lauren is still so likable. She's down-to-earth, genuine, beautiful, and she has the voice. She has to keep growing and she needs a confidence boost to stay in the game because she'll have to fight Scotty for voters. Jacob will probably be safe since he has his own pool of fans apart from the others. Right now, he just has to keep learning how to control his voice and be a little more creative with it. James must be on the clouds right at this point. He keeps receiving good comments from everyone. And I hate to admit that he's a combination of David Cook's charm and Adam Lambert's voice - a deadly combination. My only problem is that he's not as original as Cook. Scotty may have a series of great weeks, but he needs to raise his game right now. His competitors are not laying low. Lastly, Casey stays because he's a great entertainer and he has tons of creativity up his sleeve. But it takes more than creativity to win loyal fans that stick to the end. He has to decide which stream to take. Is it going to be rock, jazz, blues, or a mix of all three? Honestly, at this point I am already a little confused about his music. If he's not picking one (or create one), he's bound to be jumping from one pool of voters to another. It needs luck.

Top 11

2011-03-31T23:36:00.003+08:00

Yeap, this week is still top 11 week. So I guess it's valid if I combine this week's & last week's comments? No?

Anyway...

Casey is getting scarier each week. I think this is the problem with him. He's unique, but there are not that many people in his pool of voters. He needs to be likable to pull-off that kind of voice and still gain votes. He needs to choose more enjoyable songs and stops being so indulgent in his own world. I guess that's why he chose a beautiful song tonight and got in touch with his softer side.

Thia is losing herself these last few weeks. Her personality is fading away although she still delivers beautiful vocal. It seems like she's confused and can't really find a way to break through the safe zone in this stage of the competition. She really needs to find who she is as an artist, and she needs to do it quickly because voters will not wait. She has to raise the bar now. She has to be great.

Jacob is still promising. He dives into the heart and soul of the song and hits really high notes. But my problem is that he's too predictable. There's no surprise there, only drama. Having said that, he's quite a solid performer and will do well.

The good thing about Lauren is that she's likable. She has a young and innocent front, she pulls-off some good country vibes, and she's so natural on stage - no gimmick. I think she'll do well if she can master her country vibes and find more beautiful songs that suit her age.

Stefano's choice of song was totally wrong last week. This week he appeared much better with much better song. I think the song was a perfect fit and he did it justice. It was a suave, enjoyable and such a 'good looking' performance. Ladies would love it!

I just can't pinpoint my problem with Haley. She has good voice, good control, and good pitch. But I just can't get myself to like her. Anyway, she had a good performance this week, very well prepared and a lot more lively.

When Casey gets scarier, Scotty gets more charming each week. He grows so much in such a short time and still retains his color. Great job, Scotty!

Pia is a bunch of high notes and strong dramatical voice. Unfortunately, I don't see her performance as something that I can enjoy. For me, she was too bland in the personality department and she needs to relax a bit. Show a warm and fun side of you, darling, please.

Paul is still my pick for the best voice. The husky tone and quirky style are just too enchanting. And of course, he looks awesome with guitar. He is a voice to reckon with!

Now I know why I can't root for Naima since the beginning. It's her music! I can still enjoy country and rock, but definitely not this kind of heavy reggae.

James, for me, is a package of good look, personality, voice, and showmanship. But, just like Jacob, it's getting too predictable. He needs to build up our expectation and delivers beyond and above. I'm worried that he doesn't show any growth each week, just being good without being better will cost him some votes. No more indulgence, James, surprise us!

So, who are leaving next? It's not that easy to guess anymore.

I'm not surprised with the bottom 3

2011-03-18T10:04:00.007+08:00

I managed to see the performances on TV last night. Streaming from the web and watching on TV have really different effect, so pardon me if last week's comments do not make sense. This time, I'm going to bear it all.

Here's my say about last night.

1. I'm sorry to say that Naima did terrible. She has the tone, she has the potential, but she's just running round and round and couldn't find herself. Don't even mention about the pitch. The judges said it all.

2. There's something about Paul's voice that charms me every time. I just love his voice. Period. No matter how awkwardly quirky his moves were, I could still very much enjoy what he offers. I hope he stays a long long time.

3. I disagree with the judges on Thia and her 'Colors of the Wind'. It was not the perfect pitch, but it was simple, sweet, and beautiful. She didn't overdo it. She made it her own. She told a story throughout the song and made it believable. She was in her element! And her smile... ah, even a woman can melt seeing such a beauty. At such a young age, I think she has tons of potentials that will make her a great artist.

4. James did a good rendition of 'I'll be There for You', but I don't think it was original. He did well, but not as well as Jon Bon Jovi. I couldn't help it, with him copying the voice you tend to compare it to the original. And it wasn't up to par. But, I'd say it's enough for this stage of the competition.

5. Again, I didn't like Haley's performance. I didn't particularly like what she offers. She's been trying to play it sexy, but I think it would work better for her if she delivered more soulful renditions and focus on her voice instead of her moves. The point is, she got it but didn't know it.

6. Stefano has finally come out of his shell! Yes! The wild card performance (which I loved) had repeated its glory on last night's stage. I love it. It wasn't flawless, but it was enough to mesmerize me. Good job!

7. Pia is probably my pick for the most overrated contestant this year. Yes, I know she has the voice, but I think she tends to overdo it. She stretched the high notes, screeched, screamed, and it was just painful for me sometimes. She should tone down one notch and work on the soul of the songs, make the songs believable instead of focusing only on hitting high notes, and I would probably like her better that way. And last night's arrangement on 'Where do Broken Hearts Go?' didn't work for me.

8. From what I saw, Scotty got confidence boost. Perhaps from last week's performance. Perhaps from the results. I couldn't tell. But I can say that he was confident, he owned the stage, it was a perfect song choice, it was inspiring, and it gave me a little tiny bit of goosebumps. Way to go, Scotty!

9. I wouldn't judge Karen on the voice this time. This is my blog so I have the liberty to comment on her... outfits! What was she thinking? It made sense at the first hit on the big stage when she sang 'Hero'. But last night's 'Love will Lead You Back' was so old-skool that it murdered my last hint of interest on her.

10. Casey was psycho! In a good way. Although I got a feeling of a highschool-teenage-garage band coming out of his performance, I couldn't really throw him down because it was quite good. But I wouldn't say it was his best.

11. Lauren is likable. She's young and current, and her song choices have been good. Her rendition of 'I'm the Only One' could be her break into the next rounds because it confirms her niche and who she is as an artist. She reminds me of Allison Iraheta from Season 8. So just like her, she needs some pimping-up from the judges and more exposure on her personality.

And finally,

12. Jacob sang 'Alone'. No surprise there, and it was definitely not my favorite song. He gave 110% as usual, but pitch wise, it was not 110%. Just like Pia, I think he has to work on the flow of the song. He did too many climaxes and too much screaming. He should start learning when to tone it down and work the way up. But overall, good job.

As I've said, I'm not surprised with the bottom 3 this time. America got it right!

Oh my...

2011-03-15T22:13:00.004+08:00

I've finally done watching American Idol top 13! It was a serious effort on my part as I fell asleep a few times in the middle of some performances.

Anyway, let's get to the point here.

1. Casey, Paul and Scotty did neat job. I was glad that they're keeping up their originality and the uniqueness in their voices. Charming performances.

2. Lauren, James and Pia also did good job, but I couldn't find any unique touch in their vocals. You can find many singers that are just like them in previous seasons. So, they gotta do better.

3. Stefano showed nice techniques, but I hate the arrangement of the song. Awkward.

4. Karen, Haley and Ashton did a fair job, but they didn't come out that special or memorable. I'd say wow if they were singing in a bar, but not on American Idol's stage.

5. Jacob and Thia fell almost to the bottom of my list this time because of poor pitch. Both performances were messy and all over the place. I didn't like the arrangement of the songs either. Jacob needs to cool down and take control. Thia needs to handle her nerves.

6. Naima. Again, not my cup of tea. The whole performance was just too corny. She looked like she was trying too hard to show her personality, but it only made me confused.

In the end, Ashton was out and I cross my fingers that this show won't keep going at this rate, else I have to get some coffee before it starts each week.

I can't keep up and I can't back down...

2011-03-14T09:57:00.002+08:00

That's why I look forward to the lazy afternoons when I can just sit around and write again. I've been doing such a bad job keeping up this blog. *sigh...

Girl power?

2011-03-04T23:35:00.009+08:00

I literally fell asleep watching the girls. Oh, shame on who...

Anyway, I watched the performances on Rickey. So here goes.

1. Thia Megia; wise song choice & arrangement, perfect pitch, excellent!

2. Lauren Alaina; very fresh and current, enjoyable and fun performance

3. Lauren Turner; amazing control, good song choice, and she definitely has artistry

4. Karen Rodriguez; very smart move by singing part of the song in Spanish, she made it her own

5. Pia Toscano; good upto the middle, but the scream at the end is just a scream to me

6. Kendra Chantelle; strong voice, but girl it's a little boring, personality please

7. Haley Reinhart; good control and pitch, but I hate the way she moved around, awkward

8. Julie Zorrilla; a fair job, but the song didn't fit her voice, too bad

9. Rachel Zevita; good effort in terms of showmanship, but the vocal was not up to par

10. Naima Adedapo; good voice, but the performance was just average for me, not my cup of tea

11. Ashton Jones; good voice, strong and all, but she didn't come out as a memorable singer

12. Ta-Tynisa Wilson; girl it's a totally wrong song choice and it was off-pitch all over

First leg of Top 24

2011-03-03T01:06:00.004+08:00

Based on tonight's performances, here's my list in the order of greatness!

1. Jacob Lusk; he gave 101%, strong voice, the song fitted like a glove

2. Paul McDonald; fresh & current, unique, owned the stage, a good dose of Rod Stewart

3. Casey Abrams; original, creative, mysterious, bold

4. James Durbin; he pushed hard & he can deliver, well-prepared and enjoyable

5. Clint Jun Gamboa; good song choice, good voice, neat performance

6. Scotty McCreary; down-to-earth, simple, charming performance

7. Brett Loewenstern; smooth delivery but not that memorable, and failed the sexy test

8. Tim Halperin; another smooth delivery but wrong song choice, no spark, can do better

9. Stefano Langone; awkward start, slightly off-pitch, song choice showed no originality

10. Jovany Barreto; good voice but no personality, terribly boring

11. Robbie Rosen; off-pitch, weird arrangement, sounded too nervous

12. Jordan Dorsey; terribly off-pitch, messy performance, completely wrong song choice

Can't wait for the girls' performances. After 2 seasons being dominated by the male counterpart, isn't it time for a female star to win this one?

True Love Truth #5

2011-01-25T22:58:00.000+08:00

You don't just give the best,
you must also accept the worst.

New boy toy

2011-01-20T19:44:00.009+08:00

I got my Panasonic DMC-G1!!! Hurray! Well actually it was about two days ago! And it was a bargain I must say. So, yeay! I'm pretty excited.

How about sharing some of the shots here? The first one is a shot at my wedding invitation. I wanted to show the details of the frame, so I blurred the text. Isn't the color gorgeous?

The second one here is the back of the invitation card. Well, in case you didn't notice before... it can be opened! Take the card out and you can slip in your own photo... and voila! A photo frame!

If you want to see the rest of the shots, jump here and take a look at the latest albums I posted.

xoxo,

Linda

Solve Spooler SubSystem App Error

2011-01-17T00:38:00.003+08:00

I had this problem with my printer yesterday and as always, I tried to fix it on my own. First, I google it. I landed at Microsoft support site, installed a couple of applications to fix the problem, but didn't get anything solved. Boo Microsoft!

Anyway to make the story short, after a couple of searches and a prayer away I managed to fix it. Here to ensure that I do not forget the 'magic' steps in case the same problem smacks me (or you) on the face again.

Step 1 (optional)

Some websites suggested a system scan because the culprit may be a virus/trojan. But I didn't have any bug, so proceed to #2.

Step 2

Go to "Start", "Run", type in "net stop spooler" and hit enter.

Step 3

One site instructed me to find the printer's temp directories & delete all files with .shd and .spl extensions. But, here's the shortcut, do a file search! I found 1 file with .shd and 1 file with .spl. Delete them. Done.

Step 4

If you feel that it's risky to "delete all registry keys that contain information about printer's job queue", then skip this step like I did. Well, truth is I had no idea how to find such registry key, let alone fix it and risk the future of my pc. So, my advice is to skip it. Don't risk it. As long as you don't have print jobs stuck in the queue, this step is really unnecessary.

Step 5

Start spooler service again. Run "net start spooler" and hit enter. If your printer is missing, go to Control Panel > Printers & Faxes to add it to your system.

Step 6

Restart your pc.

Step 7

Test your printer! Mine's working now!

And there you have it. Another IT problem solved.

True Love Truth #4

2011-01-08T19:44:00.001+08:00

There are 2 questions not to be separated.
1. Is he the best for me?
2. Am I the best for him?

The Not-so-fairy Tale (edited)

2010-12-30T16:36:00.000+08:00

I edited this piece today... the 1st version was filled with errors I'm truly ashamed of!!! Well, I hope that this time there's not that many :D By the way, the story was also updated. The ending was supposedly something happy... something like... he made it to the door or he found her finally. But, I decided to keep it open-ending to relate to more damsels, dainty or not-so-dainty... *grin.

The Not-so-fairy Tale (edited)

A dainty damsel locked herself in the tower. She went out once in a while, to answer when the Great King called; to slay dragons and to save minions - for dragons exist to devour, people like us, people like her.

The first lad came knocking at her door. A very young guy with great spirit and sense of humor. But someone said, "I don't think she's there." He waited and waited, till he couldn't wait another minute. Time and distance brought him away, or perhaps he never meant to stay.

The second one stood outside. Sheepish and shy, no ride nor stride. He didn't dare to knock harder, thinking that she wouldn't bother. He walked away without words to say. Nothing was left of him, nothing was worth remembering.

The third one knew his strategy, as he decided to approach her door and set her free. He observed and said all the right things, to have her come out saying, "Come on in". Yes, into the tower she let him in. But he wasn't ready to stay. In a blink of an eye he went his way.

The fourth one said hello like a friend, but it was not exactly what he meant. Casual, caring, and warm. She opened the door when he came, but he was mistaken as merely... a friend.

The fifth one was there to save the day. Charming, handsome, and all ready to win some. He knew the trick and there he was, making his way without a fuss. Until someone said, "This is not going well." So she opened her door again, only to let him leave in vain.

One of the five returned from his journey, came to find her among the many. To pick up pieces left behind, start anew with forever in mind. But what seemed like it was meant to be was never made for eternity. In the end, it just withered away like yesterday.

The sixth lad arrived late, or rather too early. The vacant room still stored memories of her last adversary. It had caused her a battle wound no one could cure. So he chose not to wait, left the heart of it unsaid.

People come and people go. So she began thinking, she started pondering. Are all the men out there the same? They would try, but they don't give it all. They would knock, but they can't answer the call. They would stand, but they'd refuse to fight; don't even mention the word sacrifice. Was she not worth the fight, was she not worth the while?

Oh... that doesn't matter, to her I whispered. All is good. All is well. All is perfect in its time. You need not a brawny knight, nor a prince on a white horse ride, to define who you are and who you aren't.

And the fingers of time kept turning and the past kept fading. The scar remained, but not the pain. No longer was she expecting for a knight to come knocking. But there he came, the seventh one back then. Hoping he could be the last, worked too hard but scared he was. "Will I ever make it? Will she ever accept it?" he asked. Until the wind blew the chance away to a place too far from today.

Yet this time around, the ground was all too familiar. The set wasn't all that peculiar. She kept her calm, kept her smile glowing. Happy to be inside the tower waiting. Always prepared when the Great King call her, in those times of need, those finest hours. To slay dragons and to save minions (for dragons exist to devour people like her). Surely as the sun will rise, a help will arrive. A knight will come to fight alongside. He'll come knocking at her door again. This time, incessantly. This time, to stay. This time, for eternity. This time, won't fail.

(Love fails not.)

Faith or Just Imagination?

2010-12-06T13:18:00.002+08:00

Both can make you do all the impossible things, but just imagination alone will not get you far.

Imagination is blind to reality.
Faith is not. It finds new way to see things differently.

Imagination distorts your view.
Faith adjusts it and lets you see beyond the problem.

Imagination ignores difficulty.
Faith turns difficulty into opportunity.

Imagination comes out from frustration.
Faith is born to patience.

Imagination is passive.
Faith is active. It acts according to its belief.

Imagination is wishful.
Faith is hopeful. It ignites new strength.

Imagination follows your own will.
Faith follows God's. It never strays from His words.

Imagination does not depend on anyone.
Faith trusts God even when it's not possible.

Less traveled, less taken, the narrow road...

2010-12-06T11:55:00.001+08:00

Test your work, accomplishments, and your priorities. If you think they will burn into ashes in fire, so they will in the day of your calamity (and perhaps even before that). And thus, so undeserving they are to pursue at the expense of your relationship with God, your family, faithful friends, and the Kingdom.

Mat 6:33 speaks about what's eternal. Set your priorities right.

True Love Truth #3

2010-12-01T14:35:00.000+08:00

In a selfish world, you expect a partner to take-in your anger, your complaints, your grief, and all other emotional trash. But your true love would rather come home with just the story and the lessons to learn, leaving the trash outside the door to throw away.

About 'That' Reunion

2010-12-01T11:49:00.014+08:00

And so they've come back as 5-piece, in the original line-up, at the top of their game, making more bucks and gaining more fans than ever before. Well, enough said on the success. But there has got to be something that we can learn out of it. How about a few life lessons?

1. Teamwork

No man is an island. When you got people around you that work, work with them. There's no such thing as a perfect team. You just have to learn to get along and know that it takes time. Pulling yourself away is not a solution.

2. Communication

More brains are better than one and more talents make more money, but you have to place them together into one heart, one goal, in one harmony. Communicate!

3. Acceptance

There is no perfect equation for equality in a team. Someone somewhere will surely stick out above the rest. And some may lack behind. If you want to keep moving forward, trash your envy. Or as Jason said, you just have to accept each other.

4. Love!

Never be ashamed to put into practice the eight letters, three words, one meaning, "I love you". Don't wait until everything's over.

5. Humility

Never entertain your own pride. Let it be the pride of the team, or none at all.

6. Perseverance

It may be tough, but it is never too late to get up again. Take a break, but do not stop.

And last but not least,

7. Forgiveness

Yes, the liberating forgiveness! No, I'm not talking about freeing your enemy from the punishment they deserve. I'm talking about the liberation of your own soul. By holding on to the grudge, you are actually carrying the punishment that is meant for the guilty. And by the time it reaches them, you may already be destroyed. So, forgive now and be free.

I didn't realise that it would come up to 7 lessons! Oh well... I hope that I note that down well enough.

True Love Truth #2

2010-11-28T03:33:00.003+08:00

Other men search the whole world to find the one,
but true love would search only one to find his whole world.

Resolutions

2010-11-28T03:30:00.001+08:00

Giving: less judgment, more compliment.
Taking: less credit, more counsel.
Keeping: less anxiety, more serenity.
Making: less request, more praise.

True Love Truth #1

2010-11-25T13:51:00.001+08:00

To find your true love, you need faith, not fate.

Love was in the air...

2010-10-27T11:40:00.002+08:00

We started our journey together with a few priorities in mind. One is God - fulfilling His plan, His vision, and His calling in our lives. Second is family - ensuring that both sides of our family are happy with us being together, with our choices and our plans. Third is the church - asking permission, support, and blessing from our spiritual leaders. And last but not least is our circle of friends - making sure that everyone is blessed by our relationship and is happy for us.

These four aspects are the white picket fences that keep us secure through the changing seasons. They help us see each other objectively. They help us assess and adapt to each other's characters and personalities. They nurture and help us grow. And I can safely say that they're the one that plays a key role in taking us from "Hi!" to "I do". Not us. Not our own sweat and tears.

At the bottom line, we're glad that we set the right priorities. We've chosen the right A-team that always hold up a light for us, that strengthen our faith and help us trust in each other. We know that this is a force to reckon with. Even the sky, the rain, and the thunderstorm made way for us.

So now you know why love was abundant in the air, all throughout our wedding day. Thanks to you.

In a Relationship with...

2010-05-23T00:17:00.000+08:00

Long ago, it was about the good feelings.
If it looks good and sounds good, take it.
Enjoy as much as you can,
before one day, it falls apart.

A little later, it was about anxiously waiting
for the right person to come along
on a white horse with a shining armor,
knocking on the door, calling through your window.

Until finally, it was about right or wrong.
'Was he the one, or was he not?'
A careful thought, and a whole lot of thinking.
Trying as hard not to fall so easily.

But it was only one that made it apparent
that it's more than just about finding
the right person, the destined one.
And never about fixing the wrong.

It was in his effort, getting to know me.
In going the distance, against all odds.
In his patience, trying to understand.
In his gentleness, I find peace.

It was in his honest words, I found truth.
In his humility, there lies his praise.
In learning together, no matter how hard.
In time and in distance, we find strength.

And no longer it is once upon a time.
No longer a fairy tale nor a bedtime story.
It is now a conviction, by grace.
A testimony of what will be an unfailing love.

May 2010
For a year of love and grace

American Idol 2010

2010-05-12T22:30:00.003+08:00

And this year's pick is....

LEE DEWYZE.

Of course you would've guessed that already. Hehe. Wasn't it so predictable of me?

A year away

2010-05-06T18:48:00.000+08:00

That was the day, I said,
"I'm gonna be brave.
I'm gonna be strong,
I'm gonna survive."
And you gave me a hand.

We danced. We twirled.
And you probably saw
a trace of fear in my eyes,
worrying that somehow,
this heart would lie again.

But we kept dancing.
Your steps began to feel familiar.
And I was no longer
the unpredictable one,
you read me like an opened book.

Perhaps a little while after
that we started losing grip,
taking things for granted.
Too busy keeping count
and reaching higher.

We were exhausted
entertaining the crowd.
We never get to reach deeper,
into the heart of all these.
We were worn out.

And one day we'll be gone,
we'll fade away in time.
If no one let us stop to rest,
if no one let us find ourselves,
today.

We'll get there

2010-04-04T00:15:00.001+08:00

When I'm silent,
that only means I'm waiting
till I calm myself down,
not wanting to hurt you
in my anger.

When I look upset,
that means I can't hide my feelings
from you any longer,
as you've come in too deep
into my life, a part of me.

When I don't agree,
that doesn't mean I won't follow;
I just want you to hear
and know that I care
to make it right.

When I delay,
that doesn't mean I doubt you;
I just want us to grow
and enjoy the journey,
the gift of time.

A sigh doesn't mean disappointment;
a tear doesn't mean sadness;
a trembling voice doesn't mean fear;
a hurdle doesn't mean it's impossible.

So, start these small steps with me.
(I just need you to trust me...)
And I'll go all the way with you.
(Only you, no one else will do)