putih tikus

Where have all the white mice gone? A few years ago white mice where everywhere. White was officially the color of mice and even keyboards but these days its very difficult to see them.

Since i'm getting a white dell, i though why not get a white mouse to complement it since my black logitech mouse is now...well, rosak. I've been keeping my eyes peeled for any shop that sells good quality white mouse but haven't found the one i like.

Logitech has these mini mice that are white and other colors but its not the kind of white i'm talking about. I'm yet to go mouse hunting in miri but i feel that if i can't find it in kuching then i won't have much luck in miri.

But then apple has a white mouse, the mighty mouse but i'm not sure if it is supported on windows systems. It would be kind of cool if it works though :P

Let me know if you find a white mouse for me {guchiguchi [at] ymail [dot] com}

{update}
After giving it some thought, and quite simply tired of looking i've decided that the color of my mouse does not matter. I was thinking of the mighty mouse from apple but it looked so fragile and nice, i don't think it can take my daily abuse. So its probably going to be a logitech. I'm not sure which logitech yet but it definitely won't be white :)

{update 2}
I need to be careful with my words. Guess what, today i went to town, determined that i didn't want to spend the day at home, all bored and wondering why in the world i came back early without a computer. And went to boulevard and there it was. A white mouse from logitech. Some more its a wireless mouse and instead of the normal optical mouse i used to have its a laser mouse. They say its suppose to work well on any surface. So i.....got it. Couldn't resist :P


Isn't she beautiful?

I read my gmail thanks to Joshua borrowing me his wife for a while while he attends a pre-marital seminar. And Dell is estimating my Delia will be here on the 28th. Thats the first day of school. I just hope i get it earlier. I don't think i want to keep borrowing people's PERSONAL computer.

~shalom~

what about the new year?

I was talking to someone this afternoon and he said he didn't feel like there's a new year coming and I basically said, and this is how i feel that its not so much of a new year with new beginnings but rather a new year that more of a continuation and I honestly feel this way.

All the things that have happened have for better or worse influenced me and helped make me who I am today. But looking back at everything, i have nothing but thanks to God for allowing me go through them and seeing the outcome of it all.

I took a big risk this year, something uncharacteristic of me. Switching courses and schools and moving from the familiar to the not so familiar. I just thank God that finally i get to study something i'm actually interested in. Not everyone get that privilege and its up to me to make the most of this season as a student to prepare myself the best i can so that when I pass from this stage I can move on to the next stage thats more demanding.

If there's one thing i think i have learned this year it would be what pastor Ryan shared in the camp and that's to give 100% in all we do, both in church and in wherever else we find ourselves. Be it in the office or in a classroom or wherever. I know this but it helps to be reminded for humans need to be reminded more than they need to be instructed :)

Whats for the next year? Well i'm not sure but like i said its a continuation yet its a chance for a new beginning, a fresh start, a new energy, another opportunity to make things better and move on with God. Honestly i want to make every effort to follow hard after God in everything i do so that by this time next year I will cringe when i think of what I wanted to accomplish.

Father i want to begin the year with you and continue it with you. Let me experience you a fresh in this new Year.

~shalom~

test-imony

I have an interesting week ahead. This weekend pastor chris long will be in Miri at the indoor stadium for a weekend event called Amplified 2007. Since i'm part of VCF and the president of VCF is part of EYM of SIB Canada Hill; joanna's church we're part of the Ushers. But unfortunately I can only go for one day because I'll be leaving for Kuching and eventually for Muar for the youth conference.

Leaving on Saturday for the week long event means i'll miss one whole week of lectures. This is something i forsaw but my justification was this: if i don't start with God here then what am I here for? It seemed so easy to say but right now i'm getting to realise the full meaning of those words.

I'll be missing class, a no-no for Curtin. Things happen very fast here and you cannot be caught slacking. I'll also be missing the Amplified concert but i'm not too worried about that one.

I'm not sure who said this but i remember someone said all faith will be tested and i feel this is mine, but i've prayed about it and i feel its the right thing to do.

The past few weeks God has been challenging me to do something out of the ordinary, something that i will look back on and think, thats just not me. I'm reminded of some of the decisions I made in the beginning of this year, one of them is to take chances and be daring and somehow i've forgotten about it but i feel i'm being reminded of this each time i go to church or read some of the books i have.

I've also been made to see some aspects of my life and attitude I need to change and work on. Yesterday the pastor said alot of things that encouraged me but the one that stood out atleast for me is that we must be willing to let God's word change our lives. He must have full access to the darkest grimmest parts of our lives we're not proud of but thats there regardless. And thats something i've not been actively doing.

Finally i bought a book. For me this is a miracle because i remember the time when my mom would force me to read books. Now I don't need her to tell me anymore. I buy books I'm not sure i'll read anytime soon and its ok because i read in a book this statement: "buy books even though you dont read them" and in fact i saw that same book in the bookstore where i bought this book. Aaaaaaaanyway, I want to leave with this thought, and its not just a thought its the truth. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. He's actively fighting on our behalf even when we dont notice. And sometimes we go through storms and hard times but its encouraging to know that we're not alone. He's the good sheperd and we're not alone in the storms.

There's no testimony without a test.

~shalom~

happy anniversary

Its not what you think. Today marks one year since i've been blogging here. My first post was humble and noble.

This post will serve to lay the foundations of this blog, i'll like to use it to introduce myself. My name is oguchi no i'm not japanese but i am a chrsitian.

The purpose of this blog is to capture and "document" my life as i walk in the light that is Jesus christ himself. It will serve as an avenue to share my joys pains and the sort. Above all it is set up to glorify the one who saved me from death and destruction.

This is one of my offering to the one i call king.

Wow i can't believe i wrote that. Its so deep :P And even though sometimes I go out of line and say things that don't build up. I have learned to be mindful of what i say here because whether you like it or not people are reading. A blog is such a powerful medium to communicate ideas and transmit messages to friends and since its on the internet, to the world.

I have this thing that tells me who visits, from where, and how often they do. So i know everyone who comes here. One thing i dont know is why alot of people are visiting from Kuantan. I dont think i know anyone there. If you're from Kuantan please say hi.

I guess over time, through the mistakes there comes a point where its no longer words on a computer screen, or thoughts on a particular subject, i definitely is not a place to bash people and let out all anger and rage. As time goes on, the true reason and purpose for this blog becomes apperent. And there's a need to be real.

My purpose for this blog is two fold. One is to connect with people in a way i would not usually. The other is to share my life, experiences, the good the bad the ugly but hopefully more of the good and to be an encouragement in what ever way I can. And of course to have a little fun here and there.

I have had other blogs in the past where i just let out everything but I consider them learning experiences. I would not do that here. That will defeat the purpose. Thissheep will over himself as an offering to God. For thats the only acceptable offering i can bring. {See, I thought about the names before i chose them}

Here's to more years :)

~shalom~

cycles

If you are quiet enough or attentive enough you will notice certain lifecycles, things, events that occur through out the day. In this post I will like to share some of the cycles in my life.

The day starts for me after 9, lets call it 10. I turn on my computer if its not already on, right after brushing my teeth and feeling fresh. Go through my mail, and then read the news, check out eurosports and read some tech news that may be of interest. While doing this i recognise the sound of my neighbour's car as they prepare to go out. My other neighbour comes back home with his white toyota corolla, not sure where he goes to but he seems to go there every morning.

At about 11:20 the school bus comes back and horns once to drop off the morning session students living in my street. At this time i get the reminder that i need to go to school and eat. While at school, i usually take my lunch, and then check if i have any mails. If i do, i'll just open it and read it there before coming back home to my computer.

At this time its getting hot so the fan will be on and soon the gas man will be blowing his distinctive horn pattern; three short hunks about 2 seconds aparts. He makes a turn and heads to the next street. My neighbour my the big beautiful house at the end of the street brings back his children from school with his white Harrier, he recently bought a new black Honda CRV, pretty car for his wife, she was using an old also back Honda CRV. I'm not sure what he does for a living because he's almost always at home. Gardening, watering the plants, going out and coming back not shortly after. On rainy days his house alarm goes off and disturbs the peace and quietness of the neighbourhood. But he looks like a nice family man.

By this time the mail men will be going from house to house on their bikes distributing mails and my neighbour's dog will always back in his usual 1-2-1 pattern, woof, woof-woof, woof. He's usually a quiet dog though i dont think he like mail men delivering 'bad news' as some people call it.

Because i love music, at this time, approaching mid afternoon and early evening, i will be listening to some of my nicely compiled playlists while reading a book or something. With the fan still on, and the book on my hand there's a slight possibility that i will fall asleep but just for a while max 30 mins.

Soon the van guy that sells bread, cola and other stuff you can eat will be coming down the street with his unique bicycle horn and his usual 3 hunk pattern while looking out for potential customers. I've been buying from him for three years now, right when i was staying on pleasant courts. He's a nice guy too. But i not buy from him every evening. He comes round about 7 in the evening.

At this time i would be at my computer again, usually mike comes online and we talk for a while, since heroes and smallville are over i dont get to watch anything so at this time i would try and see whats on ppstream. Ususally there's nothing that interest me in english so i would probably go out to see lanre or stanley if they're home but lately they have been studying too much so wont be home until late.

My day winds up with a few sms-es and and sleepy eye. :)

~shalom~

american idol robot

I dont watch american idol alot but today i decided to sit down and see whats going on. They're down to three, the perky sanjaya is out and the women seems more likely to win another one.

On this show they got some help from barry gibb one of the beegees and although i like most of the Beegees songs i like the way blake took dancing with his beatbox thing going.



Update
I spelt robot wrongly :-P
~shalom~

super free, bored... oh and ah bored!

On monday Inti opens its doors for a brand new semester. Lines will form around the payment counter and students will complain about the amount of money they're paying to Mr William Tan. Introductions will be made, lectures will resume and one cycle of education will continue but not for me, I'll be home. Not because i'm tired of school and want nothing of it, but because i'm done with school at least for now and my holiday will truely start.

Given that i would be out of any compulsory educational engagement for quite some time, i'm starting to feel bored and lazy and every other feeling you feel when you're on holidays. Its been unofficially two weeks and i have till september before University intakes open and the journey continues.

I need to engage myself in some meaningful activity or like my mom used to say, i'll forget how to spell my own name. Any ideas? I'm open to ideas.

On the other hand, i now have time to do alot of things i wanted to do like playing around with the way this blog looks and trying out a few software i wanted to.

In other unrelated news, whats the deal with spiderman 3. I heard its very difficult to get tickets with people booking days in advance. Do we need more cinemas?

~shalom~

why

My curiousity machine is working overtime. Well i'm curious to know why people blog? Why do you have a blog?

I've been blogging since 2004. I used blogger before and went to other platforms now i'm back to blogger. My earlier blogs were outlets of frustration and misguided emotions but things have changed and now i'm on a different path in life.

I know some people will read this so if you dont mind sharing with me why you blog i'll really appreciate it. I'll let you know my reason afterwards.

~shalom~

the u factor

We all know that mourning may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning. And one song says morning is not something that has an am next to it, morning is when you WAKE UP! ...joy is here wake up!

But i just noticed that the difference between mourning and morning is u. We decide whether to be renewed by the transforming of our minds, whether to live by faith and not by sight. Whether to get offended by what someone said even though it hurts or to forgive and move on. There are a thousand and one things that could go wrong on our days but most times there's at least one thing to be thankful for, like a new episode of heroes :D

~shalom~

demands on our lives

I needed to make alot of calls yesterday and didnt have enough credit on my digi to make them and my battery was running low so i switched to my celcom line. Fortunately i have a relaod card i've not used lying in my wallet so i stayed with the line for the later parts of saturday and sunday until about 10pm, only to check back and meet a bombardment of messages.

Most of them from people who want something, lab exercises, information and so on, and i literally live my life like this, ever since i can remember i've been on call for anyone and everyone. Its not that i can't say no, i enjoy being a help but it can be very tiring at the end of the day. But the incredible thing is that God gives us strength to do his will. And thats the joy in all these things, its not about being popular or anything, just the sheer priviledge of serving is something to be cherished and be thankful for.

So i guess this is another thank You to God for putting me in a place of service where i can get worn out yet being refilled and refreshed in the process.

~shalom~

being different

Source
~shalom~

meeting the parents

I never really watched the movie but i did something i have been planning on doing for a while now, and thats to visit eilyn's house. I've never been invited before but chinese new year is the best time to do these things so i went today.

Good clothes give me confidence. So wore something comfortable and confident, called a taxi and stan, and we headed off. Mom and dad were washing so we just went inside and sat down, waiting for the go signal before we started devouring all the 'food' in front of us.

I just love the square beef thing, dunno what its called but i could eat those forever. And of course there was some home-made pastries, and all the usual.

I was expecting someone to come and tell me, you keep off my daughter or else, and then show me a knife or something. Blame it on my crazy imagination. Movies are evil, they mess with your mind which is why the reality was somewhat disappointing.

Mom and dad just asked me some generic questions, what are you studying, how long do you have? What next after that? You come from Nigeria? That one is a classic, i cant count how many times i've been asked that. Apperently some people dont know Africa is a continent like Asia or Europe, they think its a country. Well AFRICA is NOT a COUNTRY, and Nigeria is a country in Africa just like Indonesia is a country in Asia. I'm sure alot of people know that and i'm just being insensitive.

So anyway dad {her dad} took us back, we got off at inti and that was how it ended. I never expected that. I expected some hostility and disagreement but i guess no one can make straight what God as made crooked and vice versa.

This year i wanted to take more risks and make mistakes and like i said in my new year post this is the year of responsibility and its starting to happen. I just pray i would meet up to the trust people have in me because quite frankly i'm nothing.

~shalom~

cny 2007

CNY 2007 is looking up, so far i think its going to be specially memorable this year granted some of my friends are no more here, moving on with their lives and probably most significant is my visit to eilyn's home.

I dont know what to expect even after she's told me what to expect i still am quite nervous. I know its the right thing to do and i've been wanting to do this for some time now but CNY seems to be the perfect time for me, i think. Pray for me...please :)

Someone called me an Introvert and even though she's correct; i tend to keep things to myself and hardly share with anyone but i've been thinking about it since then and basically my dilemma is this; introvert is what i am, i can't change that {or can i? should i?}. My biggest concern is when it gets in the way of reaching out and being used by God to touch someone's life. If its a hinderance than i might have to re-think if i want to continue like this or change.

But then in changing, what do i become? More like someone i'm not familiar with or have bits of myself with a different approach to things. Its just tricky for me i think. Yet have i really changed from who I used to be?

My sister called me saying she can't believe i could go on stage and act a drama, and true i wouldnt do that under normal circumstances, and my family know that more than anyone else but i dont know if its growing up or God changing things in me but i find i can do that {i mean act abit la}.

So if anyone is reading this i'll like to ask is my personality a hinderance to you? Be honest. :)

draw me near

Just a quick update. School is going on quite ok, i still need to submit my school applications as soon as i can before i call my father. I dont want to sound like i'm not planning or anything, that wouldnt do.

Having tests all this week, the last one should be over by tomorrow, thats going to be interesting but i'm quite confident la. My first test wasnt too bad although i'm yet to see the result, i think i did well despite some mistakes i only noticed when i thought about the questions again a few days ago. The thing with programming and the different languages is the syntax is changing and you must adapt to it. But i enjoy it, its like playing chess. I haven't started anything on my project yet, still dragging my feet.

Chinese New Year is almost here. I'm not sure but i might be visiting a few houses this year, lets hope all goes well. This might well me my last CNY in kuching, by God's grace before the end of the year i'll be somewhere else. Where? I'm sure yet. It all depends on the response response i get from the schools i'm applying to, but by God's grace i wont have to leave Sarawak.

A lot of people leaving this year, i guess its the sending out year :) its kind of sad but thats life, people come and go and the only permanent thing is the love of God for our lives, He is the lover of our soul.

Finally, a song;

Lord I come to You
Let my heart be changed, renewed
Flowing from the grace
That I found in You.

And Lord I've come to know
The weaknesses I see in me
Will be stripped away
By the power of Your love.

Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side.

And as I wait
I'll rise up like the eagle
And I will soar with You
Your Spirit leads me on
In the power of Your love.

Lord unveil my eyes
Let me see You face to face
The knowledge of Your love
As You live in me.

Lord renew my mind
As Your will unfolds in my eyes
In living every day
by the power of Your love.

This song made some sense to me a few weeks ago, of course the lyrics are powerful, and i know what it means but i got a personal understanding of it and i find that to be rather profound. I won't try to analyse each line of this beautiful song but i just want to point out something here.

Hold me close
Let Your love surround me
Bring me near
Draw me to Your side

What i see here at states we can be in, i was very encouraged when this was revealed to me. We cry out hold me close because he's near, and we're near but what about times when we are afar off? We ask him to draw us to his side, bring us near to him again. It doesnt matter where we're at, he's hands are always open wide to receive his children. ...Whoever comes to me, i will not cast away... thats an absolute promise, but we must come.

~shalom~

firsts

A lot of firsts are going on in my life at the moment. Last friday was the first time i ever went to a gym, philip has been pushing me to do more sports, i play scrabble! i said but he meant outdoor sports and i know fully well what he was talking about.

Its not like i dont like sports, its just that i prefer watching professionals play on tv. I'm not good at any of the sports but the way i see it, its just to have fun. Obviously some people take things too far and get too serious as if its a life or death thing, thats where i back off. But it was fun, my whole body was sore a few days after that but its all good.

I even played volleyball, which is hugely fun. Its all down to teamwork and well since i'm new to the game, i'm not so familiar with the rules and roles we lost the game last friday. Again fun is the operative {key} word here.

Today i cooked for myself. Man i didnt know how pleasant the process of preparing food can be. Let me explain what i cooked so you can laugh. I cooked oat, fried eggs and ate it with bread from my favorite cake house, mita. It was lovely, i enjoyed eating all that food and cleaning up afterwards.

There's something about my life thats changing, i find that i worry too much these days and at the same time i'm trying out things i was either scared to do or plain lazy or uninterested in before. Its kind of adventurous. And as you can see from the times i make these posts, i've not been sleeping as early as i should.

All is not well back home, my father was in the hospital for some days, my sister is sick also, having breathing problems, my brother is getting angry for no reason and when i ask he says i dont want to talk about it. Is that adolescence kicking in or should i worry? My mom is over working herself as usual again. Sometimes i just wish i can be there to help out and support them but i cant, the best i can do is pray for them. I miss my home sigh.

Will be taking IELTS this saturday, I've been going through some sample questions and they are not hard at the same time they are not so easy so i guess i'll be studying for that all this week.

Just one last thing before i go. I was asked to help out with the lcd and stuff which means i'll be there on saturdays during practice and one thing i observed and it just blessed me is to see the work behind the service, how the practice sessions go on and changes are made and the final "settings", if you will are agreed on and done. And then the people come in and the music flows and lives are touched, some on their knees, some crying some just praying, God here i am, I am yours, others just enjoying the time of worship. Its really incredible, it really blessed my heart to see that. God bless you :)

~shalom~

holiday

So i've been on holidays for a while now, lets see ah this is the 6th day and its getting quite, cross that very boring really willing to do anything at the moment so if you need help cleaning or eating here just let me know i'm serious

Can't wait for december, lots of things happening; planetshakers conference, travel, christmas :D I love christmas. This will be my third? Yeah third one.

So many people going back to Nigeria, some for good, some for the holidays. Man they're making me miss home so bad. The best i can get to my family is the occasional phone call, almost weekly now.

Please pray for eilyn there is a serious medical situation at their hospital, they're all under observation at the moment and she's quite scared.

~shalom~

exams exams

Next week: Exams, 31st and 2nd
This week: Study hard, hari raya {oh my}

Temptations. Honestly i'm not studying as hard as i should. Maybe i'm over confident and thats bad.

Well joshua is in kuching, so is li ern while mark, connie and yin fern {please forgive me if its spelt wrong} are leaving this week. Man what a week! God desires for his son to rise up in each one of us and thats something we must desire too, and what ever it takes, we must pay the price for the rewards are so great.

I have learnt, and even though i've heard this before, not to come to God's present with my motives, agenda, but to submit myself to his will and allow him do his work in me. Never to come without an expectation. Of course the presence of God is everywhere which means... Figure it out.

Ok la its almost 9, i need to get some studying done before i fail, hehe.

~shalom~