2 Years Fly By

I got lazy blogging. Like so many of my other pet projects, I got tired of it, lost interest, and grew bored.

Funny that now when I read about my life from April 2006 onwards, I realise that I might just be still the same person. Everyone likes to think they've grown, matured, evolved. I'm still the same old me.

Except....

My Big Huggable Sweetie proposed last Monday on 12 May 2008, precisely 2 years since the day we went to Zouk and got wasted. 2 years since the night I vomited 1/2 a bottle of Johnny Walker on the floor (missing his bed by inches) and passed out till the next morning....the next morning when we woke up, and decided we wanted to be together even though (in retrospect now) we didn't exactly know each other too well yet.

And I have a beautiful BLING! Pictures of it will come soon enough.

Babe, I love you! Happy 2 years together. And here's to the next 20, 30, 40, 50 years...my promise to you: I'll do my best to be a good wife to you.

Reality Bites

There are certain moments in life where reality nudges you so hard, you can't breathe. I saw this article in The Star on Valentine's Day and I thought, that on a silly RM300-bouquet oh-i-have-to-buy-my-gf-a-gift-or-she'll-kill-me day like this, how fabulous that The Star is featuring this couple on page 3 of the Nation's section:

Blind because of an act of love

KLANG: Between them there are no whispers of sweet nothings, showy kisses of affection or presents on those special occasions.

Love – for Khoo Joo Sian and husband Yap Hing of Taman Kapar here – is about taking turns to sip from the same cup, eating from a single plate and insisting the other take the last piece of vegetable during meals.

Love also means Khoo, 65, holding her husband’s hands tightly and never letting him out of her sight when they are out collecting recyclable items on their rusty bicycle.

For Yap, 64, is blind.

And it was an act of love more than a decade ago that cost him his vision.

He had gone for an operation for cataract on both eyes, with strict instructions from the doctors to rest.

His wife dutifully tucked him in bed and went to work, washing dishes at a restaurant.

“I knew there was no more money in the house. I am her husband, I should be the one putting food on the table,” said Yap.

So he stole out of bed and went to the construction site where he worked as a labourer.

He did not know what happened at the work site but remembered that halfway through carrying some bricks he lost his vision and then collapsed.

The doctors later told him that some veins in his eyes had burst because of the exertion.

Khoo has since become his ray of light.

“He is my husband. It is my responsibility to care for him and to love him, no matter what, said Khoo, who married Yap when they were in their 40s.

They make a living now collecting and selling recyclable items. At around 3pm, they are usually seen walking hand-in-hand to their favourite coffee shop for an afternoon cuppa.

“Life has not been easy but I am never lonely because I have him,” she said.

Yap said couples like them do not know much about lovey-dovey words.

“But I will take care of her until I die because I am her man and she is my woman. Isn’t that enough?” he asked.

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I read this article several times. I can't remember when I didn't cry while reading it.
I cut it out and put it in my wallet so that I can read it every single day to remind myself of the following things:

1. To be contented with my life

I'm so blessed. I have a great family. A fantastic place to live. A job that enables me to sustain the lifestyle I want. The 2 bestest friends a gal could dream of. A wonderful guy who loves me. What more am I lacking? What do I care about stupid Key Result Areas and Core Competencies that I'm measured by during my performance appraisal? Why does my life centre around pleasing my bosses and ensuring that their wish is my command? Crap. My whole year practically centred around scoring more than 70% during my performance appraisal this year so that I could get a 4 month bonus? Get a life, Susan.

2. To STOP coveting the latest Dior saddlebag worth RM12k

It's really to die for. :( But, no. One would be insane to carry a 12k handbag when people like this couple who are barely making it, hell, sipping from the same cup and sharing the same meal in a coffee shop...I'd never forgive myself. Heck, maybe I should sell my Coach bag on Ebay.


3. To ASK myself again and again, what kind of a partner and wife will I be in the future?

Reading the article made me question myself...what kind of a woman am I? What kind of a wife would I be? Would I walk away at the first sign of trouble? Would I brace myself for "better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health till death do us part?" I always say that love is a tad bit overrated. Well, maybe it's because I just don't want to work so hard. Reading this article made me realize, love is and has to be tough. I may not be in this lady's shoes when I'm 65... or I may... who knows? A question to ponder: am I the kind of girl who has it in me to stick around when the going gets tough?


4. To not be such a spoilt little brat.

I should really stop whining about the slightest problems I have and realize that I am really the luckiest gal in the world.

Thank you, old couple. Your article will be in my wallet for many many years to come. :)

Zero Ambition

I met this gal from Drunk before Dawn who is an editor at Harpers Bazaar Malaysia. She’s a lyricist and I think her lyrics are brilliant. It’s been my ultimate dream since like forever, to write for a girly magazine (because of the glossy pages and air-brushed hot models in the adverts). So I asked her what it would take for me to get accepted as a writer for her magazine, so that I can give up my so-not-glamorous auditing profession and wear the latest couture to office everyday.

Firstly, she told me, I’d probably have to start as an intern and work like a dog.
My daily pay = RM50.

Secondly, she asked me what I loved to write about, i.e. what I knew lots about and was good at expressing.

*blank look*

Then she asked me if I could write about Make-up and Beauty coz her friend was looking for a freelance make-up and beauty editor. I was like… errr… I really doubt it, but I could try.

Hmm. Not good answer.

I kinda realized I didn’t know much about any specific topic in particular to write a decent one page article about anything in life.

Damn.

Puppies for FREE, anyone?

Monday blues.

Time: 10am
Venue: My desk

Yesterday Wei Li and I had a conversation about my defense mechanism in relationships.
He said my resolution for the new year should be “think positive”.

Today, Pauline angel told me that her mom’s friend’s father in law just made advances on his indon maid. He’s 80, btw. His wife refuses to talk to him now. Imagine the indignity of having your 80 year old husband do the dirty on the maid. Sad to say, the maid probably didn’t mind.

I hope he catches a horrid disease and his dick falls off, piece by piece.

Yeah dude, I’m looking forward to thinking in a positive manner… it sure would help.

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Time: 2pm
Venue: My desk
State of mind: Depressed. For no reason.
Attributable Factors: Hormones qua.
Symptoms: Teary-eyed over the smallest things, don’t feel like small talk, want to be alone.
When it’s expected to be over: Period due next week. *fingers crossed*

This is the worst PMS I’ve had in a long time. That is, if it is PMS. I think it is. Weird thing is I’ve been exercising like crazy over the past month. So technically, that’s supposed to help.

I haven’t had lunch with my colleagues since early last week. They must be thinking I’m having a mental breakdown of some sort.

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Time: 3pm
Venue: My Desk

I just found out from Reena that my cell leader and her husband were going out for 2 years before they got married and during those 2 years, they decided to be “holy” and didn’t even hold hands. HUH! Some people have very farnee ideas. I wonder if they even shared drinks during that time.

Anyway, they’ve been married for like… 3 years apparently… and they don’t seem any different from other couples. In fact, I’ve seen more loving and attentive married couples than them. So yeah, conclusion is: Hold away!

13th Jan, Golden Sands Resort 7.30pm

I’ve just got back from a wedding.

And I’m absolutely depressed.

Heck, I’m even crying when I write this.

Because it was the only wedding I’ve ever been to that was so intimate, filled with love, and meaningful, that I’m having a hangover.

Because it challenges all my cynical preconceptions about true love and sacrifice, and I feel shaken. All the staunch views that I’ve had over the past about how bitter relationships can get, how divorces are so rampant you don’t believe in marriage anymore, and how there ain’t no such thing as everlasting love, unending faithfulness, the ultimate commitment….

Damn. I hate it when I feel terribly wrong.

During past weddings, I inwardly rolled my eyes whenever they played the video presentation. The cutting cake ceremony and popping of the champagne bottle made me terribly bored. The speeches made me go “yeah right, lets see how long YOU last” in my mind. This time, I had to wipe the tears away discreetly every time Victor and Amy called each other loving names, danced the tango, thanked their parents… and man, was their video presentation a tear-jerker or what.

And I hate it even more when I think that perhaps it might never happen to me. (Again, the cynic never stops being a cynic.)

Congratulations, Victor and Amy. You’re the only couple on my pedestal right now. Don’t fck up or I’ll be really crushed and probably hang myself.

Secrets to Longevity

I read a back issue of National Geographic yesterday night while doing the Stepper machine in gym. The main article was about living longer and the writer had been on assignment from Italy to Japan to USA to examine small pockets of people from all over the world who seemed to live longer, i.e. reach a 100 years old with very little effort.

My first thought when I read the article was: why would anyone want to live so long? After 70, you’re nothing but nearing zero scrap value and waiting to be written off completely after subtracting depreciation.

Then, I saw this picture of a 103-year old man from Okinawa, Japan, doing a yoga headstand. He looked positively fit, actually he looked only 60 years old. It was really amazing.

And I read about this sweet old Italian lady from Sardinia who was 101 who just bought a new bottle of perfume to wear and giggled to the writer of the article about her perfume being able to attract a new boyfriend. I saw in her picture, a sweet old wrinkled lady with a really wonderful smile and glowing eyes.

The 102-year old lady from California was still growing vegetables in her garden and attending church on her own regularly.

And then I thought, maybe it wasn’t so bad after all. These people seem to be having a whale of a time.

In all 3 locations, several men and women have lived till past a 100 years old and are still going strong.

What’s the secret? Across the globe, these people gave amazingly similar answers:

Always put your family first. Have family meals everyday together.
Eat vegetables and fruits regularly.
Drink plenty of water and green tea, red wine permitted but in moderation
No fast food, period.
No smoking, period.
Belief in God and consistent prayer.
Exercise, exercise, exercise.



So there you have it. The 7 habits of highly aged but still going strong people.

Now, the question is, do I even want to live till a 100?