Ice Ice Baby...
"All right, STOP! Collaborate and listen...ICE is back with a brand new invention... "
A white boy with a hair-do which might have been the inspiration of the recent Gatsby commercial for hair gel, broke into the rap scene in the early 1990s. It was THE hit in those days; especially with the Ah Bengs and Ah Lians who frequent tea-parties and discos. Back then it was the 'in thing'.
'Ice Ice Baby' was one of the most cheesy rap songs ever. The reason why it is still so easy for one to pick up on even today is no big surprise. It latches itself rather sublimely in your mind so quickly and easily that it puts 'supercalifragilisticaspialidocious' 6 feet under. You could hear individuals rapping away incessantly, albeit one might very well only pick out the opening tune. "Deng deng deng...deng deng deng deng".
Oh, for the mother of cat poo. Maybe that started the slide and was the cause for such anger and violence in rap music these days. Somebody shoot...I meant shut that guy up. Then again...maybe in reality it was the angst of life's experiences in the 'ghettos'. The likes of 2Pac Shakur, P. Diddy, Ice-T, and Coolio emerged from their respective quarters and elevated 'Gangsta Rap'. These are the real 'Boys In Da Hood'.
Now presently there is another certain white boy who has usurped the throne. He is different from that of one named after an ice cream. This guy took over the mantle and named himself after some chocolate despite the rather obvious emphasis on the spelling. It seems like he's doing pretty well. He has the same opening tune to one of his songs too! The same "Deng deng deng deng...deng deng deng deng...", but to a different beat. Hint : 8mile soundtrack; instead of finding yourself, you 'lose yourself'.
Incidentally in the movie he shares the same surname as Bugs Bunny, but calls himself 'Rabbit'. "ZARKOWI!" (a new term of expression I picked up). How do these people come up with names like that?
Anyway, I apologise for such a long introduction in which has absolutely nothing to do with what I have to write about. I want to draw your attention towards the word 'Ice'.
A refreshing welcome on a hot humid day, but a treacherous nemesis on cold wintery months. When temperatures fall to as low as 20 degrees below zero, the paths and roads become draped with sheets of frozen and slippery water - ICE. Practically anything that produces kinetic energy and comes into contact with these surfaces simply just slip and slide. Yes, and I do mean anything.
Now, may I remind you that it is not SNOW I am talking about. Snow is fun! Not ICE.
Twice I emerged from my encounter with 'Ice' unscathed. First time it happened when I was treading carefully towards the Jeep. I had managed to negotiate the icy path successfully. A few seconds was all it took me. Triumphant, I reached out to open the door to the Jeep. Unknowingly, I had let my guard down.
An ambush! 'Ice' had left another apparent patch just right by the door where I had parked the vehicle! Like a scene reminiscent of Home Alone, I was slip sliding and clinging on to the door latch for life! My feet gave way and I literally ran as if on treadmill for at least 5-6 steps.
Had my workout that morning.
It felt like eternity...never did fall though...regained my footing and scrambled into the safety of the Jeep. "HA! You may have got me this time, but you'll never keep a good man down!" Shaking my head to clear my mind of that near-traumatic experience instead of my fist at 'Ice', I started up the Jeep and headed for work.
The next time it happened, 'Ice' did get me down. In fact, 'Ice' did wanted me to stay down. Ooo...EVIL! I stepped out of my apartment, and again was headed for the vehicle. It had snow very lightly the previous night, and the cold temperature froze the wet snow. Again I wasn't paying attention...and I got hit this time not in an ambush but right in the open. The very first step launched one of my foot upwards like a catapult my other foot off the front patio.
Again, never did fall. One hand cluthing my MP3 player, with my bag on my shoulders and my vision spinning, my instinct was to break that fall. And I did. My other free hand had kept my tooshie off the steps. It wasn't embarrassing though, found out that many other ordinary people like me are not popular with 'Ice' too. However, some had suffered a worse fate than me.
Ha! Hey, 'Ice'! Try picking on other people in sunny Singapore for a change. You will still get to see the Ah Bengs and Ah Lians...but I bet you are not man enough to take the heat.
Happy Chinese New Year!! The year of the Rooster...
This happened a couple of months ago...
The ONLY chinese fella in town, who incidentally, was mistaken on live television to be a citizen of Korea, Indonesia, China, Japan...and almost anywhere else in Asia except Singapore. Thanks ar...Singapore so small hor...some of the orang putihs (literally white people) or ang mors even think that Singapore is a part of China.
I find myself staring back at big sotong eyes trying to make sense of my feeble attempts at telling them that Singapore is an island country just off the tip of Malaysia. How to explain when Singapore is just a dot on the map? Oh, I forgot..."Remember Michael Fay?" That they remember. Micahel Fay is a Pittsburghese. Now they know OF Singapore. Next step, show them WHERE Singapore is.
"I'm sorry dude. No offense. Forgive me, but I do not have the slightest inkling of an idea of where Singapore is. I was in Vietnam during the war though." Awww...wasn't that sweet? Such polite and sincere people. I couldn't stand by and watch them sink under the weight of ignorance could I? Needless to say, I had to do something about this! I pointed out where Singapore is on the map and 'oohs' and 'ahhs' echoed throughout the ministry room. Revelation!
My ching-chong Chinaman looks also earned me the nickname of The Chinese Terrorist at the station. Haha! How can anyone not love these guys huh? They are so hilarious!
Hey, I can be hilarious too...right? I'm so used to speaking proper english here that I feel so tempetd to start spouting Singlish and bring confusion and chaos to the whole-wye-wer! Cannot tahan. Ha! Hmmm...you think they would be impressed by my deluge of Singlish?
Maybe...haha. I can imagine how my daily conversations might have been...
"Good morning! Eh, eat breakfast oreddy or not? I got doh-nuts. Just buy wan, still hawk (hot) form oven. If you hungry, dun pai-seh hor."
"Wah piang eh, today the weather a bit the cold hor? I think temperature today agak agak is -10degC. Not anyhow gasak, but I think so lar...it's abourrit lar hor? Nehmine, lucky early early before I left my flat I got bring jacket."
"Eh, director, how ar my camela shot? Can or not? Steady not? Donch worry, u wan wat shot I can give you, I tzai chiu (steady hand) wan."
"Eh, I tell you ready oreddy how many times I not from China. You all cannot make it leh. Lidat tell u, u oso liak boh giu. I am from Sing-Gah-Pore. It is a country, and oso have a Gahmen wan hor."
"Eh, I think your tie-yar (Tyre) pomjek leh. If you kena stuck in the snow then up the lorry. Cannot go in front, oso cannot gostan, sure die, cannot go home. Must pump first."
"OH! 5 o'clock liao. Eh, what? Everybody cabut, balik kampung orredy. Wah, they all sibeh tan jiak leh."
"Eh, u wan me to make commercial, can...chicken feed...but I dowan to be care-lair-fair hor."
I could just go on and on...ha. Personally, if laughter is the best medicine, then Singlish is the best dose.
Just for laughs, since it's the year of the Rooster...think people will stop talking 'cock'?
Go Ahead, Make My Day
Doing something nice doesn't have to cost a thing. What may be a trivial act to you could mean a great deal to someone else.
I had just returned to the apartment from the Sunday morning service at Riverside Community Church (RCC). I had parted company with Sis Ellie and Jessica. They each had their own engagements respectively; one with friends, the other with family.
Left alone for the rest of the day with no lunch and nothing good on TV, I decided to take Matt's jeep out and have a burger for lunch at King's Family Restautant, and then pay 6 bucks for "A Million Dollar Baby".
I screamed along in the 4X4 headed for my destination which was about 20 minutes away. Well, the muffler was noisy and the wind was perforating in under the canvas hooded top. I had to scream to be heard. Fortunately I was alone.
The sun was out while winter had snugly set itself in; roads were empty as snow filled and piled up alongside; water flowed and dripped only to be frozen by the winter chill into large armour piercing stakes of icicles suspended menacingly but firmly along the edges of cliffs. These could be fired as missiles just by the mere size of them. Impractical though, as at most you'll get hit in the eyes by water droplets as these projectiles race across the atmosphere melting along the way.
Man! Do I love driving!
I pulled into the lot, clambered out of my warm shell, shuddered at the sudden change in temperature, and heaved a warm breath of vapour into the air. FUN! Warm vapour spewed from my nostrils for the brief moments that followed, rendering my imagination into a firebreathing Dragon as I trudged along the next few steps in the cold headed towards the restaurant entrance.
"Table for one, non smoking please. Thank You"
"Ok, I'll enjoy my Classic King Burger like I always did and then I'll go see me "Million Dollar Baby". I'll make sure I pay 6 buckaroos instead of 8.50."
That was the plan. I was led to an empty seat. The waiter set the table right, and I was about to sit my precious bottom down when I heard a voice speak. "I'm sorry, I'm already seated here. I just left for the restroom."
God? Nah! It was an elderly white-haired man dressed in a smart black suit with an American flag shaped lapel pin secured to the upper left side of his coat pocket. "However, you are most welcome to sit with me and join me for lunch. I certainly don't mind if you don't."
"Sure!" was my instant reply. Actually, it took me about 3 seconds. Not that instantaneously instant. My eyes widened, my lips curled into a warm smile and my mind went "Wow, how nice! Why not?". All within that 3 second span.
John Myers was his name. And his game? You'll find out soon enough.
A really nice conversation ensued and lasted the course of my burger and Mr. Myers's 'usual'. I had my hot pot of tea, and he had his cups of coffee. We learned so much about each other. We both prayed, and we both spoke values into each other, quoting scriptures and affirming each other. I told him my history of how I ended up here in Oakmont, and my vision for the future. He told me how he got here; about his family and children, and how he spends time as a retiree.
"Make sure you mention John Myers to Pastor Bill (Bill Ellis, my pastor in RCC). He's a really neat guy. He'll remember me." That was how we ended our conversation. "It was really a blessing to have had lunch with you. I thoroughly enjoyed your company. I'll be praying for you, and your family's salvation. You have an honourable vision, and you have my prayers." That was before we parted ways.
I said my goodbyes and gave him my heartfelt grattitude. I could tell from his last sentences that as much as I was touched by an angel, John Myers was equally blessed as well.
I found out later from Pastor Bill that John Myers is actually a retired Presbyterian Pastor.
God knew that I was searching, and I needed prayers. All through January, God changed my life by sending Pastor Bill Ellis, Ron Hembree (President of CTVN), Norma Bixler (72 yrs old, and founder of CTVN), Tim Burgan (VP of CTVN), Steve Totin (head of Prisions Ministry in CTVN), and many others in CTVN my way to guide me, speak values into my life, pray and to encourage me. All of whom hardly knew me, let alone know of my desires and vision.
And God arranged for Mr. Myers and I to meet on one particular day when I felt alone.
God spoke to me the only way He knew I would respond to His calling in my life best - through Godly counsel speaking the eternal promises of His word.
A lunch with a stranger. I never thought it would happen. Too Hollywood you think? Maybe. That was what I thought. But now, I am inspired to do the same. Inviting someone who happens to be having lunch alone at the next table to sit with me. Who knows what that person might have gone through prior to lunch time. Who knows, maybe that person needed to feel valued and appreciated just to get through the rest of the day?
As surely as Jesus is with us in our lives, He is with us in every single aspect of our lives, even deciding to choose to eat a meal with a stranger.
Does doing something nice have to cost a thing? Speaking Godly values into the lives of others most certainly don't. Praying for others most certainly don't.
Hold the door just a second longer for another to enter. Wave for the person ahead of you to go before you. Smile and say "How ya DOH'ng?" with people who serve you, the people work with you, and your friends. Life is stressful enough; a little kindness goes a long way towards easing things up.
I doubt any of those would be going out of one's way to render service. But to me, my lunch with a stranger, it was. I felt God's love for me. Bless others with God's love too. "As in water face reflects face, So a man's heart reveals the man" Pro 27:19.
I saw my "Million Dollar Baby" that afternoon.
