Solitaire- Beckon

Wisdom teeth extractions (and painkillers, and antibiotics which I must must remember to finish) this morning, so have been confined at home. Surprisingly, it wasn't/isn't particularly painful- topical anaesthetic gel applied to gums, then this metal hypodermic syringe that injected directly into the semi-numb gums, and then half of my jaw (and lip and tongue) were numb for over 4 hours.

During the surgery all I felt was the throbbing/vibration of the dental drill and a dull sensation when the tooth was extracted by the roots. Non-impacted wisdom teeth were yanked out directly after anaesthetic applied, impacted wisdom teeth had to be sectioned, and the gum/bone around it cut, and each portion removed separately, and the hole had to be stitched up.

Follow-up: I haven't been consuming my painkillers regularly... hope I'm not the next reservoir of drug-resistant "super"-bacteria. Like when I eat lunch/dinner outside and forget to bring my pills with me. Or when I misplace my pills and only discover them in the back pocket of my jeans the next day.

Malaysia- Stayed with relatives in ampang, KL. I tried to contact an ex-classmate- he's in KL studying A levels, will take the UCLES exams in may/june this year (as does Malaysia).
Spent my time with my relatives in the ampang area (and a hectic night with 3 juvenile cousins- aged 5,7,9 respectively. Fortunately, the next night they went off for tuition.) Aunty also drove down to Putrajaya- the new government centre off KL- grand architecture, giant mosques. Pavilions, parks, most of the gov. HQ stuff moved down there already.
I wanted to see the Paya Indah wetlands and the hippos there, go cycling, horseriding, trekking, nature-viewing but it was too late in the afternoon to take the tram and all that.
Then my cousin brought me down to ampang point- bought lotsa movie vcds. Also found things like spirited away and "the colour of paradise" (an iranian film- i'm obssessed with them). Wanted to buy Asoka ($20 ringgit in a legal CD store) but it was in hindi with malay subtitles.

Went to KLCC and walked around on my own... saw shops, got a spiffy RM$30 haircut from DnT Salon, read harry potter in Kinokuniya.
My aunty's maid helped me dye my hair... it was a tube of ruby red dye (Schwarzkopf brand if you want to know), supposed to turn it brown, but ... it's orange. I like orange, but .... Do tell me how it is if you see me around.

I've been plowing through the sci-fi/fantasy books my brother passed to me. Ursula Le Guin's The eye of the heron and The word for world is forest, futuristic sci-fi stories of oppression, prejudice and class injustice I finished on the plane; went on to Gateway, currently on Terry Pratchett.

A long time ago, Joel mentioned to me Reaper Man was the best; it was the first Discworld I read, and it is certainly much better than the rest i've read (all borrowed from the National library). Never thought I'd say this of Pratchett, but the climax was so touching. Moving pictures and Soul Music lose their whimsical humour and edge at chapter 3. Considering obtaining the computer adventure game. Love corny computer adventure games (=

Also halfway through Naipaul's A House for Mr Biswas. Find it suitably boring, the only interesting parts are the scandalous bits where characters do outrageous things (after the 5th time, Mr Biswas' insulting Tulsi House members isn't considered outrageous). No wonder he recommended people read his books no more than 30 pages at time. Also Dorothy Sayer's Peter Wimsey novels from my brother, among them, Have his carcase. She's one of the few detective novellists who can pull off a hat-trick with Bolsheviks, blood disorders, royalty, English countryside, car mechanics and animal husbandry (= successfully.

Also read 3 Babylon 5 books: Book 1, Book 2 and Book 3 of the Technomage series (Invoking Darkness and Summoning Light being the last two). Suitably gripping, but the whole Shadow enslavement theme of "greatest joy is the ecstasy of victory" a bit overplayed. Characterisation a bit weak for the more minor characters, more concentration on major characters. A little too many deus ex machina even for sci-fi.

I've been up to a lot- now I'm attending SERVE programme (my brother used to insist it was acronymic but I can't think of any 5-word string to fit). It's a mission training programme to prepare young people for service in mission fields and in church missionaries. It's aimed at students who are in between things, e.g. post-O-level students and post-A-level students who have a few months to spare before going back to school. People from anglican churches- Saint John's Saint Margaret's (with the most participants =p), Church of our Saviour (or Coos as they prefer; it's in Queenstown, very near), All Saints' Church (near East Coast), Church of the Ascension (just next to Saint Andrew's Junior School in Potong Pasir), St. John's Chapel (part of the St. Margaret's Secondary School compound along Adam Road).

I pledge allegiance to the lamb (Ray Boltz) (Key: G or A. Original: A flat, which would be a problem for most. D or E major would do too. )

Will update with chords when I get around to it (how should I format the text to display the chords above the lyrics?). Meanwhile u can ask me for chords if u want.

Pastor Fu-Man said the latter has been the unofficial SERVE song for the past few years. "I will tell the world" was borne out of a mission trip to Africa, and the music video features the locality.

CHORUS:
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb
With all my strength
With all I am
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

I have heard how Christians long ago
Were brought before a tyrant’s throne
They were told that he would spare their lives
If they would renounce the name of Christ
But one by one they chose to die
The Son of God they would not deny
Like a great angelic choir sings
I can almost hear their voices ring

CHORUS

Now the years have come and the years have gone
And the cause of Jesus still goes on
Now our time has come to count the cost
To reject this world, to embrace the Cross
And one by one let us live our lives
For the One who died to give us life
Till the trumpet sounds on the final day
Let us proudly stand and boldly say

CHORUS

To the Lamb of God who bore my pain
Who took my place who wore my shame
I will seek to honor His commands
I pledge allegiance to the Lamb

CHORUS (repeat)

I will tell the world

I have a heart
I have a voice
I have a testimony
I am a follower of Christ
He is the one and only
Way to heaven
I am so glad I met Him
I want everyone to know

CHORUS:
I will tell the world
He is returning
I have touched the fire
I feel it burning
Until everyone on earth has heard
I will tell the world

I have a dream
I have a goal
I have a destination
His call is burning in my soul
It is an obligation
I will cherish
Oh, may it never perish
Father, make my voice Your own

CHORUS

To any nation
To any land
On this world below
Holy Spirit
Here I am
Send me I will go

CHORUS (repeat)