A Tribute to June

Been wanting to write a tribute to June,
But wandering words just can't justify (her loveliness).
So singing here I am with my little tune,
Hoping something will come out soon.

OKies... That's just an excuse... :P I'm late in writing this tribute for her on her birthday, but guess late is better than never. :) (I've already written a little something for her on her birthday, but that's private, and if you think I'm going to tell you here, you can wait long long... :P)

Well, I guess the most amazing thing about June is her drive for perfection. She know she's not perfect, but she tries to be as perfect as she can be. The perfect wife, the perfect companion, the perfect partner.

It's not easy to live with someone, and I must say I'm not exactly the nicest man on earth to live with. I know I can be petty and sulky on days, and I can get depressed from time to time, and I think the worst thing about me is I can get really messy if left unchecked. All these she has taken in her stride, and I think it's not a very easy thing to do. For one, June is a very organised and merticulous person - her things are always neat and tidy, mine looks like a couple of tornadoes just ran through them. (Well... I'm trying my best to be neat and tidy now...)

There's a lot of accomodating to do living with one another, a lot of give and take. Some things do not come naturally, but she tries her best. There are really much more things than you can imagine really. For example, June is used to watching TV in the dark, but I can't do that because my eyes will hurt against the constrast, so we light up our hall a little when we watch TV. June walks very much faster than me by default, and she makes a concious effort to slow down, while I make a concious effort to speed up *pant pant*.

I think married life has been really wonderful, and I'm really blessed with a wonderful wife... I really think God pampers me a lot... ;)

Of course both of us are going to work on bringing the marriage up to even higher grounds. For me, I guess this means learning to really accept each other for the person they are, learning to honour and respect each other, learning to appreciate and encourage one another, learning to love and to cherish each other.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Cor 13:4-7, NLT)

Woohoo!

Posted this entry the first moment I got it!

I've gotten a major pay increment of 20%! Now my current pay is quite close to the $3.2K that I've been asking for in my job applications!

Really thank God for the increment. June and I have been struggling with our finances since a long time back, and our polite negotiations with our bosses for increments had been turned down many times. We tried once earlier this year, but to no avail.

Earlier this month, I had a major "argument" with my bosses regarding my pay. (In case any of you are wondering, I wasn't nasty; I was just very strong, firm and truthful. For more details on this, please read the earlier post "Bittersweet Goodbye".) I was thinking, "Well... I'm going anyway... Nothing to lose... No harm telling them we've been shortchanged in our remuneration for quite a long time already... At least after I go, they'll appreciate the remaining staff a little more, and perhaps pay them a little better so the people won't keep slipping away..." (Two of my colleagues left earlier this month, one left for another company, another didn't want to renew his contract.)

Guess what? My bosses decided to up our salaries across the board this morning! Talk about impacting the marketplace! :D There are many smiles in the office today, and the atmosphere isn't gloomy anymore. It feels so much better working in a happy environment, where everyone's morale is high. Really motivates me to work harder. :)

I do not claim sole credit for this increment though. I know many of my colleagues have expressed dissatisfaction with their pay to our bosses for a while too, but I do know that I've had a part to play in this, and I'm really happy that my actions have brought positive benefit to my colleagues, or rather, I'll like to refer to them as my friends and war buddies. :P

To my colleagues who are reading this, you guys are the sole reason I have not yet left. You have made a huge difference in both the lives of June and I. We love you guys!

OKies, time to work! がんばってください! (Gambatte Kudasai!)

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. (Eph 3:20, NLT)

Bittersweet Goodbye

I had wanted to post this a long time ago, but I've been kept occupied by work that I had to clear before my ICT on 26th Jun. This entry is post dated as such, to the date I intended to post the entry. :)

Recently June said my blog's too salty already, so I decided to add two more flavours to this blog. (See title.) :P

I know my colleagues are reading my blog as well, but I think it's time they knew too.

I'm on the verge of leaving, and it's a really bittersweet goodbye.

I've gone for an interview with a relatively large local company on the 8th of June, and during the interview they asked me why I am leaving my present company. I truthfully told them the remuneration isn't competitive (on top of other things). They then commented that their pay is only average, so I though, "Gone... Sure under 3K le..."

At the end of the interview, they asked if my expected salary of 3.2K is what I really wanted. (I prayed about this figure, and I felt the peace of God writing this down though it's a big jump from my current salary.) I told them honestly, yes this is what I want.

To my greatest surprise, they told me in a matter-of-fact fashion that 3.2K is a bit low, they will adjust it accordingly if they take me in. I nearly flipped from my chair!

I'm really glad I went for the interview. It really opened my eys to my true value, and how much I've been underpaid. June and I have been unhappy about our pay for some time already, since we know some 3 or 4 fresh grads making 2.6K to 2.8K as their starting pay! I've got 3 years experience, and I'm earning lower! Atrocious!

So based on these, I've engaged both my bosses in a rather "heated" discussion. In short, I had told them the market rate for fresh grads is now 2.7-2.9K (as reported in the newspapers), and I did tell them truthfully about how much the other company was offering me, and how I would go once they confirmed me. They then promised me they'll look into this matter.

Well, I don't think they would match up to the 3.2K I expected, but at least when I go they'll appreciate the remaining staff a bit more, and hopefully raise their pay as well.

So I guess it's goodbye from me, it's been such a great ride with you all! :)

Sigh... I had the same bittersweet feeling during our company outing on Vesak Day. I really had so much fun with the shopping and karaoke at JB. (Our M'sian friend became our tour guide for one day. :P) But at the end of it, I was feeling a bit sian, knowing this could be the last time we went out like that.

June cheered me up saying we still can go out together even after I leave, but I couldn't help feeling a bit sad. Well, all good things have to come to an end, and when it's time to go, I'll make a graceful exit. :)

Pass the Salt Please...

Think many of you have wondered why the number of posts these couple of days have exceeded my total number of posts for the past year.

Well, the truth is, my emotions are on a roller coaster ride lately, and writing makes me feel better. Just want to put my thoughts down so it doesn't keep churning away in my mind. Actually, this wasn't the initial cause, but it's soon becoming the primary cause.

I started writing this series of blog entries because my vocal teacher said my singing was bland. No feeling, no emotion, no packing, no decorations, just raw voice.

That set me wondering, what happened to my emotions?

I used to scrap through auditions for public performances by the way my songs felt. My singing techniques weren't good then, and I don't think I sounded very well, but I could sing until I nearly cry. I really could feel the song, and I think the audience could catch it too.

So what happened to the flavor? Why did it become so bland?

After careful thought, I've come to realize that throughout the years, I've shrugged off too many hurts, instead of dealing with them. I thought I was cool, but these hurts have seared my emotion, and made me a bitter cripple.

Throughout the years I've tried to decipher the meaning behind harsh words. I took "You cannot make it leh!" to mean "I think you could do better in this area.", "You very slow leh, hurry up!" to mean "We're late. Maybe we could walk faster?" etc. I tried to take the negative words out, and seek the intentions of the speaker.

Lately, it's been increasingly difficult for me to do this. I don't know if my patience is running low, stress is high, or I just simply couldn't pretend that it doesn't hurt anymore. Words do hurt.

So here I am, writing about my emotions. I was hoping that by identifying my emotions, and writing them down, I would bring myself to realize that I'm only human and I have emotions, and I have an ability and a right to feel. When I'm hurt, I can say it hurts, and not shrug it off.

What Pst Kong said is right. You can't shut down a certain faculty of your emotions, and leave the rest on. It just doesn't work.

So pass the salt here please. I'm tired of being bland.

Let the weak say, "I am strong." (Joel 3:10b, NKJV)

We're 5!

On the 23rd of May this year, June and I celebrated our fifth anniversary! It's been five good years since we've started dating, and it's been an incredible journey. Thank you dear dear for such wonderful times together. :)

Our relationship had it's ups and downs. The honeymoon period, the period of stagnation, the period of trials, the period of questions, the period of preparations, marriage etc. We been through so much together that I'm glad we both arrived at the same new starting point all over again. I know she's glad too. :)

Now, I'm looking forward to life with much anticipation. I know life will bring on a new set of challenges, but I know hand in hand we can conquer anything. June, Jinhong and Jesus!


This picture was taken on our anniversary, back at our home, after a nice cosy (warm) dinner at Ichiban Boshi, Great World City.

June was on her second day of MC on that day actually. She had a bad throat infection the day before, and the doctor gave her a 2 day MC. :(

I dropped by for a surprise visit during lunch hour on the first day of her MC, and bought her a bouquet of flowers (the ones you see in the picture). It cheered her up quite a bit, and cheered me up too. (I really missed her very much.) We shared a nice bowl of porridge and then I went back to work.

She took really good care of me the week when I was sick, and now it's time for me to take good care of her!

Walking in the Light

This is an update to the earlier post, in case anyone of you got worried. :P

Both of us have apologized to each other and things have gone back to normal. :)

Looking back, it strange how we tend to do silly things when we get angry. It felt good to lose your temper, but after a while, it just seems irrational and insignificant. No wonder God's Word says "Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires."

This is very much like sinning. It brings short term pleasure but long term pain. We really need to guard our hearts to stop ourselves from doing stupid things.

I'm glad there's peace now. Thank God for peace. :)

Well, in my earlier post I had a picture of Darth Vader, so now that I'm back in the Light, here's a picture of Jedi...

TADA!


Haha... I did this a very very very long time back when I had nothing better to do. I hope my brothers don't kill me for this.

PS: See how much Jinyi has grown. Yesh, the guy with the purple lightsabre is him. :P

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:16, NKJV)