This song popped up in my playlist just as I got back from the dentist. Don’t we have that moment sometimes? When you come back from something or are feeling something and then a song pops up and describes EXACTLY how you are feeling? Coincident much? I don’t know… Suppose a statistician would come up with the probability of that happening; I’m sure it would be small. But it happens.
Anyway, I visited Strathfield Dental Clinic today; wasn’t thinking much besides the fact that my friend, Claire’s a dentist there and I wanted to get rid of my annoying wisdom tooth for a while now. The girlfriend just had hers removed last week and besides the healing process, I figure the whole thing was do-able. 
I did check it when I went back sometime last year but the dentist then (a family friend) advised me not to go through with surgery because I was flying back to Sydney/Singapore in a few days time. She just advised that the area be kept clean, which I have and lately that gap has gotten tighter and tighter making cleaning harder than it used to be.
OK, so this is what I thought of wisdom tooth removal before today. Those who have gone before me have said “I removed my wisdom tooth last week and I swelled up and bruised a little bit” and “I bit on the gauze to stop the bleeding” or words to that effect. Nobody told me that wisdom teeth can grow so near to nerves that that’s the primary reason they refer you to an oral surgeon. A normal tooth extraction is cheap but its when you get ‘upgraded’ to an oral surgeon that that’s where the costs start to soar. Cutting around bone (your teeth are attached to your jaw bones) and ‘making room’ so that they don’t severe your nerve. This nerve which usually runs down your jawline affects your lips and gum area. So another friendly dentist at Strathfield Dental Centre today told me you could lose feeling of your lips and then can’t feel an ulcer. The ulcer then turns into something serious and your gums start to go, etc etc. He was direct of course, as all doctors are, and I balked slightly, just slightly, enough to let him know, “OK, it’s time for you to say something positive”; he picked that up of course and said, “Oh, it only happens to one in a hundred thousand people” and we proceeded to change the subject.
So back to the thing, after having my X-Ray done (which lasted for 15 seconds); I could see my the x-ray of my oral orifice on an LCD screen IMMEDIATELY; I pity recent graduates of radiography; maybe you should’ve just taken a Photoshop course or design course ha! *slight balk* But anyway, I’m sure radiography goes deeper than this. 
So I’ve got all four wisdom teeth and my top ones are looking OK. My bottom two ones are the problematic ones, my right one is vertically impacting and my left one hasn’t erupted yet being blocked by the maxillae next to it. Anyway, so I was focusing on my vertically impacting tooth because to me that’s obviously the ‘odd one out’ in my dento-gram but its almost touching a nerve and the dentists doesn’t seem to keen on removing it. They asked me if it was sore or anything and I just said I have a tight feeling in my teeth and they advised me to remove the top tooth instead so it won’t be pushing down on my impacting tooth. And it’s an easy job apparently. The left side is an easy job also and having that removed will probably free up my teeth a little bit.
So, the point of this blog is a lot of people going for professional help seem to know what the problem is with themselves/family/friends but post-consultation will have an outcome that might just be completely different to what they expect; especially with health and surgery-related options. The body is a complicated thing and what we think we know may not necessarily outweigh the risks in doing what you think is right. Obviously, with years these professionals have seen what their actions (and the actions of others) have come up with and I guess that’s why people tend to want second or third opinions. Professionals are trained to believe in themselves and drawing from their education and experience come up with a solution for their patients. Obviously this ‘cloud’ of experience following said professional will always be different.
I guess Claire was right when she told me last week that no one knows what to tell you until you get that x-ray done. Now its all clear and my options clear to me; I would need to weigh this out and think it over; my priorities have been changed. But then again, obviously if money (AUD4000 for oral surgeon!) and time (recovery period) were no problem, I would get what I wanted. But that’s life isn’t it? A constant triangular shaped battle of what we really want versus time versus money.
Thoughts? Comments?
God bless!
So today 3 (three.com.au) won.
I have stuck with Optus for so many years mainly because we had the Optus 20 minute free call time. It used to be from 8pm-8am I believe then 8pm-12am. Sok Leng and I have had many “timed” conversations where we would hang up after 20 minutes and chat again. I do that with a few other friends too but as the years passed and we’ve gone from ultra-free uni students who love to chat to busy young adults carving out our niche in the world, long conversations seem a distant past.
But I haven’t really had any problems with Optus. There was this phase where they kept calling me offering a new plan months before my previous plan ended but they just went shy on offering me the then new iPhone. That’s where I got irritated; anyone could have seen through that ploy. Lock you in for 24 months just before the darling of smartphones would be released and earn twice your money once you cannot resist the temptation to ACQUIRE the iPhone, OUTRIGHT or on a hefty plan change fee.
The iPhone was released and the calls immediately ceased. My plan was laid to rest last month. I thought it would just continue and be the same way; if it were that way; 3 wouldn’t have won me over as a new customer today.
Last month, my plan ended and subsequently, without my knowledge, Optus silently charged ALL my international SMSes, excluding them from my “plan”. Which was automatically reverted back to a “no-nonsense” plan but with the same name! I knew that my plan was ending but chose to ignore it thinking it will just be the same plan. But no, I was charged for ALL my international SMSes; which is obviously a lot being in a long distance relationship.
That was the last straw; Optus is infamous for confusing bills, workarounds and confusing plan names and “opt-out/opt-in” options instead of being defaults. So six years of loyalty to Optus has evaporated. My friend also commented few weeks back when he switched to Vodafone that loyalty to Optus didn’t mean a thing to them. The silent majority would be like what I would have been if this international SMS drama didn’t happen.
They would be happy with their plan and only change when drama happens. The noisy minority which I think Optus thinks has the “I will change my plan when I want to change my plan” mentality and “no one can stop me from doing that” is precisely that, the noisy minority. If only Optus would have awarded, acknowledged or even better REWARD our loyalty; I don’t think we would have gone the paths that we did. The iPhone plan is so much cheaper with either Vodafone or 3 (with 3 being cheaper) and Optus is seriously lagging behind this. Even its website feels so 2001.
Anyway, another thing is that both Vodafone and 3 shop assistants I visited today was more than happy to help me. Obviously, I spent more time with the guy at 3 but I remember the last time I went to Optus. They were too preoccupied to even care. But that’s the thing I guess, Vodafone just looks better in red and 3 is just young, hip and clean. To me Optus is infamously expensive, trying too hard to be perceived as “leaders” and yet use RACOONS and OSTRICHES in their ad campaigns? Confusion much?
Just look at Vodafone and Three. Do you see animals peeping out of their shop fronts? NO! They pass on their savings on to their customers!
Anyway, it’s been a good 6 years with Optus. Oh yeah, forgot to mention also that their 3G has been stuffing up these past few months. It will drop out and then I would have to revert it back to 2G for a signal. I think that was also one of the main reasons I wanted to change. And deep down, I just feel Optus isn’t “cool” anymore. Their ad campaigns don’t work for me, their colours are boring and obviously their prices are too high.
I guess that’s the rundown of why I’ve chosen to switch providers. It might not be a big deal but I think a lot of people share some of the same sentiments as myself; if not all.
It’s time to buck up and target consumers where they are right now; everyone’s still trying to save and stretch their dollar; nothing in that sense has changed. And when people do want to spend more money; animals in ads don’t give the impression that you are serious. And with the fading away of the 20 minute Optus Yes time, Optus has nothing else to offer.
Hopefully everyone learns from this… Here’s to a good experience with 3 in the coming years…
God bless!
Filed under: Movies
Finally caught the Transformers 2 movie! Oh gosh!
I admit to liking it and understanding how a cult-following can be gotten from it but for me, it’s nothing really great. Sure there are parts when you go oh my goodness this is awesome but you come away from the movie with nothing much.
But is that a definition of a good movie? Something which you enjoy for two hours and then reality drops on you like a heavy anvil in a Looney Tunes cartoon.
Anyway, a more in-depth review here. Let me know what YOU think…
Debatemovies.com | Transformers Revenge Of The Fallen
God bless!
Filed under: Movies
Caught The Ugly Truth couple a weeks back and just only got to writing up the review.
Short one but if you are thinking on whether to watch it or not the review might help.
Blog soon!
God bless!
This is something that I want to put on writing for a very long time, since Hillsong Conference 2009 actually…
So I was volunteering in Kids as usual and got to talking to one of the parents as she was dropping off her kid which was in my group.
I don’t know what on Earth we were talking about (which is like 90% of my conversations lol). What I do remember is as follows (P for the parent ):
P: You know what I got healed of cancer myself. I’ll show you the doctor’s letter too and everything but I didn’t bring my bible today.
So I was like yeah of course, with two kids and the tight schedule of Conference, who carries a big Bible around.
P: Oh you know what?! I did bring it!
She then proceeds to taking out an envelop from the Bible bag and handed me the letter.
I read the letter.
It was an official letter alright with medical letterheads and everything and it began with, “Dear Mrs. X, Unfortunately you have been diagnosed with cancer of the oesaphagus.”
It went on to explain the reasons that came to the conclusion and how it will spread and what medications are available for it and all the medical stuff.
The last paragraph went something like this, “Please prepare your family for the future as your husband will not have a wife in six months time and your children without their mother. Yours sincerely, Dr. X.”
I’ve never read a “Death Note” before and in my hands was one that sounds just like one if they do exist. I track backed to the date of the letter and it was March 2008. Simple mathematics put her 9 months “due”. And there she was standing right in front of me. As real as the computer screen you are reading this from and as real as the mouse you are clicking.
I was like “Wow!” You hear of miracles from like Africa and India and even China but I’ve never met someone I know personally who has been healed from a “death sentence”. She was like, “As soon as I got the news I rallied my church and we prayed and prayed and believed for healing.”
Through various visions and dreams she’s got confirmation after confirmation of her healing and she told me herself she’s never felt better in her life… 9 months past her “due date”…
Truly amazing what faith in a very real God can do I guess. But beyond that faith is a supernatural God with supernatural reasonings that we will never ever know. It’s amazing how things just ‘work’ sometimes… Truly amazing…
God bless!
P.S. On another note, apparently my grandfather is healed of nose cancer but I cannot verify this and all though; my uncle told me in an SMS. But if he really did get healed of a CONFIRMED case of cancer than PRAISE GOD! Sometimes people think Christians are humans living life “wishfully thinking” that “god” is in their midst but truth be knownst, some Christians are the most thorough and detailed and skeptical people I know… Me included…
Filed under: Movies
Yeow!
My DebateMovies.com website has been neglected this past TWO MONTHS cause I have been pursuing other interests… Gah!
Started my photography business but already its own website is left dead… Yikes! Anyone has an idea on how to update a website easily? Gah!
Anyway, life goes on. There are some bad things and good things going on in my life but I choose to focus on the good things cause only good and healthy things grow. Prune those bad things! Ah well… Here’s to a more suitable time when I can blog about MIRACLES… Yes, miracles! And more recently a friend who’s coming to know Jesus… A friend! Can you imagine? haha
Anyway, link to my Revolutionary Road review HERE!
God bless!
Filed under: Video
Will blog about something pretty significant things which I have had the honour to hear these past few weeks soon. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, follow me on Twitter? [top left corner of this very page!]
God bless!
So OK, two things I’ve learnt in the 5pm service tonight. Worship is way too loud and if you want to tell me your name, the least you could do is make sure I can hear you.
No, just joking!
OK, so Robert Barriger preached up a storm tonight as part of the ‘6 Hot Weekends’ leading to Conference. Biju Thampy preached last Sunday, complete with a bad back which he just had surgery on this past Friday. The thing about these two men is that they are the true blue harvesters. They have their hands to the soil and toil and are out in the world saving people. Biju in the slums of Mumbai and Robert in Lima, Peru. They are changing the world by feeding the poor, channeling resources to them and saving under privileged human beings from the evil grasp of other human beings. Saving girls from prostitution seem to be a recurring theme in poor places; its easy to sell a girls’ rights, dignity and body for a couple of cents. What you are selling is her soul, her sanity, her self-respect, her health. I cannot even start to imagine what these girls go through!
Robert and Biju are fine examples of what the church should look like. We are to fight for the voiceless and hold high the honour and right of every single human being on Earth; regardless of race, religion and social background. This is how inclusiveness looks like in John 3:16… For God so loved the WORLD…
But anyway, two things I’ve learnt today.
1. Jesus is not the Jesus in the Bible anymore.
When Jesus was on Earth, He came as a baby in the manger, performed miracles, walked on water, got betrayed and was brutally nailed and punished on the cross. But He resurrected and in Revelation (which is not a book about the end times but rather a revelation of the NOW Jesus Christ) is portrayed as the Lion of Judah, no more the sacrificial Lamb of God. He is portrayed with fire in His eyes, glowing and with a double edged sword in His hand. The nails on the Cross are gone, His scars are healed; glorified even. This is the Jesus of today; this moment; until the day He comes. He seats on the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. This hero, this superhero, this God.
2. There is a ‘behind the scenes’ in our everyday life.
I invite you to take a look at Revelation 12. This is indeed what happened ‘behind the scenes’ of Jesus’ birth. There is a very real spiritual war going on in our everyday lives. The more the Devil can distract our minds from it, the better it is for him. We pray less, we get disillusioned and out of focus and stray away from the paths that will strengthen angels and in the process might weaken them. The less humans are aware of the spiritual realm the better it is. That’s why a lot of people want to say they are atheist. As long as the Devil can make you believe there is no spiritual realm, he has succeeded. He does not necessarily need people to believe he exists.
But this is a futile war, the Devil wages it so that he can bring as many people down as possible. Wreak as much havoc on the creation of God as much as possible; hurt people, destroy lives, incinerate hopes and dreams. But his time is short and he is in fury (Revelation 12:12).
A lot of times we get so caught up in church and life and connect group and Bible study and serving and all good ‘Christian’ things that we forgot that there’s always a ‘behind the scenes’ happening. I don’t think that we are meant to see what goes on in the ’studio’ this side of the television but just to choose what we watch and what we do very very carefully.
I am again reminded tonight that how we live the dot of our lives determine our line of ETERNITY…
Your life –> .
Eternity–> _________________________________________________ Forever & ever & ever
God bless!
I was thinking about my mom tonight; not least due to the fact that she was sitting right in front me during our ramen dinner in Crowes Nest.
She’s not a CEO of a multinational company.
She’s not a business owner.
She doesn’t even own her own car or house (Well, she does but that doesn’t really fit into this entry; so for all intents and purposes, she doesn’t own anything substantial).
She’s not a go-getter; she’s definitely not a career woman.
Her relationships with her friends are not awesome, nor are they great. In fact, they are dismal, distant, indifferent. Sometimes even bordering negative (e.g. I do not want to hang out with my so-called friends).
She does not have a hobby nor is she passionate about anything in particular.
She cooks well, but nothing a person with a few extra cookbooks cannot outdo.
She’s not getting prettier with age. Her hair is a nice brown and cropped neat and short though. Definitely a chic and modern look to it.
She’s got style for one, and a pretty tall figure (for a lady of Asian persuasion).
She knows her brands but swing by a few Ksubi or Sass & Bide or Camilla Marc and she can only manage to exude a blank look.
But one thing she’s got that I think by far sets her apart from other women her age. She’s got my sister and me. I will never ever forget how she sacrificed her youth, her career, her passions and her hobbies for us. To pick us up diligently from school every day. To cook for us, to clean for us. She even learnt driving for our sake! How does one FEEL like picking up her children every day? Definitely her own feelings are buried so deep down that she lets responsibility boil up and her feelings decrease.
Friends? Don’t even think about it. My children come first. I have to make sure they succeed, be the person I could never be. A better life, a life which they can choose and contribute to society…
Everytime I go out with my mom I think of all these things…
Now both my sister and I are ‘grown-up’ we feel things and we can voice our opinions but sometimes, we cannot. I cannot. I think of all the things my mother has sacrificed for me and I can’t help but buy her dinner or buy her that dress she longingly looks at in the shops. Sure she nags and she brings up stuff that annoys me but wasn’t I annoying when I wasn’t at the designate spot at the corner of school where she was supposed to pick me up? Wasn’t I annoying when I was sick; bed-ridden, had to be cared for? Was I annoying then? And what did she do?
She didn’t raise her voice, she didn’t complain, she didn’t said no. All she did was look into my eyes with compassion and say, “It’s OK, Son… Mom’s here for you…”
I hope this has opened your eyes to the way we treat those most important to ourselves.
God bless!
Yeow!
Caught these two movies (“Angels and Demons” and “Night At The Museum 2“) with the girlfriend in Singapore and of course I’ll do two things at once. Enjoy the time AND review the movie
I wrote the review standing up on the MRT too! But that was when I was alone though; FACE time trumps PHONE time ANYTIME! Some people annoyingly do not follow this rule but ah-ah-ah, I’m on a no complaint campaign for myself. Everytime I sense that I’m on a complaint rampage I remind myself complaining is actually negativity. And negativity is NOT good!!! Like attracts like. Negativity attracts negativity so… Positivity attracts positivity! And guess what successful people are? Yup, anything BUT negative!
Anyway, I’ll blog about stuff soon… My hard disk’s still in the shop and I’m still deciding whether to go ahead with the AUD500 repair or not. It has my pictures from my holiday last month.
Hmmm… between Twitter, Facebook, DebateMovies.com and this blog, (and an up and coming website); I think this blog will slowly grow extinct. Ah ah ah! (Get behind me negative thought) Maybe I’ll lock this blog with a password or something… Cause most of my overseas friends are on Facebook anyway and the purpose of this blog WAS to service them. But with Facebook, this has been INSTANT. And a lot of things I think about these days are DOING things and not neccessarily THINKING things you know what I mean?
If I think about, I’ll just do it and the results will speak for itself.
But I guess there’s always time for thinking and reflecting and RECORDING my life. My sweet twenty-somethings… Haha!
I guess I’m rethinking the purpose of this blog for the time being. Maybe it’s meant for EXACTLY like rants like this… haha!
Till our next meeting!
God bless!
