Saturday, 30-Dec-2006 11:02 AM

Happy Holidays!

Saturday, 25-Nov-2006 11:49 PM

A Decline in Ratings

While talking to my mom on the phone today, I was rummaging around her desk because she wanted me to do a few things for her. Came across this burned cd of photos with my cousin's name on it and out of the blue, started this mini conversation:

"Hey Mom, do you think *** is beautiful?"

"Ummm....well...hm..she can be nice looking at times.."

"Mom! The fact that you took so long trying to answer means you don't think so! That's not nice!"

"Well!"

"Okay, fine then. Who would you say is beauuuutiful?"

"You."

"Mom! Come on! You're saying that because you're my mom and you have to."

"No. See, if I were to compare you to supermodels, who are a 10, I'd rate you 8.5 and *** a 7."

"What?! 8.5!? You're my mom! You're supposed to rate me a 10!"

"What? I'm comparing you to SUPERmodels. Of course you can't rate as high as a supermodel."

Tuesday, 21-Nov-2006 11:49 PM

So my sis and brother in law finally got their gifts from their gift registry delivered. So many gift boxes! And there's a big pile behind that that weren't from the registry. I wonder if people get married for fun just for the gifts. My sister wanted photos AND a video of them opening up the gifts but after holding the video camera up for what seemed like ages while they only opened one gift, I had to go find that tripod. Thank goodness because 24 minutes later, they'd only opened FIVE gifts. It was painful watching them carefully untie the multiple knots in each ribbon so they could keep it. Several of the five gifts were broken! Broken wine glasses etc :(

It's been scorching hot here! To make things worse, I made french onion soup tonight and the bro in law baked a quiche (you know who's the woman in the married couple right there) while my sis was off playing basketball. Hmm....doesn't seem quite right, does it? I had delicious home made mango icecream for dessert while I caught up on the last two weeks of Amazing Race. And now it's midnight already...I hate how the days go by so fast :( It's like I'm not even here.

Friday, 17-Nov-2006 0:39 AM

Farewell drinks

Sent a friend back to the UK on Saturday. I couldn't believe I got all teary at the airport, again. There's just something that pulls at your heart when you watch a friend or relative or loved one walk away. Or you're the one walking away, leaving a group of people behind.

We had some farewell drinks at a nice bar in the city. Live jazz band and gorgeous views of the skyline out on the balcony. Makes me feel like I'm downgrading my way of life by not staying here.

Thursday, 16-Nov-2006 11:57 PM

I went to a friend's wedding nearly two weeks ago. This time in Perth! It was good to catch up with old uni friends. It hasn't been that long since we graduated but so many things have happened to us all. We're all at different places in our lives. Some single and ready to mingle, some in relationships that are going sour, some pondering long distance relationships and some still confused as to what they want to do in life (that's me). Then we have the lovely S - has her whole life planned out. Good job - check, got boyfriend - check, got house - check, got engaged - check, ready for kids - check, get married - check. She looked beautiful and everything would have been perfect but I couldn't stop wondering why she seemed rather sad throughout the whole day. I wish them all the best.

Since it was my first trip to Perth and the sole reason was to attend the wedding, I didn't get to do much sightseeing. We did go straight out to a club after K and I flew in at midnight. It was supposedly a second hens night since we couldn't make the original one. All I remember were lots of red coloured drinks (grenadine, ick) that the DJ bought us and only getting about 3 hours sleep before being woken up by the bride at 7am with "alright, which one of you girls are driving me to my nail appointment because I'm too hungover to get there myself" ....(which is quite funny infact since four of us ended up going. I was told that I should go since I haven't seen Perth before. 'I'm so tired! How am I supposed to see Perth with my eyes closed?!' )

Anyways, what I did see of the city, I really liked. It's a beautiful place and there's water everywhere! Stopped by the beach for a short while. Too cold to swim unfortunately but that didn't stop these kids.

Speaking of kids, these children did freak me out a bit.

Wednesday, 01-Nov-2006 8:45 PM

Halloween?

The only one who came to us dressed up asking for treats!

I know - that's a pretty piss poor costume. I bought a string of pumpkin bells from the craft store and the poor cats have had to endulge me by wearing it for the whole month of October!

Wednesday, 01-Nov-2006 0:00 AM

Wedding in Fiji

I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to attend my cousin's wedding in Fiji a few weeks back. They needed a videographer and my mom said we'd do it. Oh, you didn't know I did wedding videos? That's cause I don't. I can't believe I got suckered into videotaping and furthermore I can't believe any couple would trust me with such a huge task on their big day.

It was a whirlwind trip and I wish I could have seen more of the islands but alas, that wasn't why I was there. Of course it couldn't be a wedding without the last minute preparations, arguments and tears. Drama drama drama...that is undoubtedly my mom's side of the family. Before the wedding, the groom and his groomsmen were off to play and the bridesmaids disappeared on some island cruise for the whole day, leaving the bride-to-be all alone in her hotel suite, making last minute changes to the wedding schedule on her laptop. Her brother forgot his shoes (and wore black sneakers with white laces!) and the music.

We did get to visit one small island and kayak and snorkel etc. It wasn't the best weather but it was still nice. We also took a local bus into the city to get some things for the tea ceremony. It was an extremely bumpy ride but we did get to see all the little towns and local houses on the way. For a moment there I thought I was back in Malaysia (except there were no roadstalls selling durians).

The tea ceremony games was pretty interesting to say the least. I got to wax two love hearts on the best man's leg. I won't even tell you how hard it was to get his hairs out of my nails. That wax sure was sticky.

The bridal party travelled to the chapel in golf carts and I was fortunate enough to have one bring me over to the chapel - initially I was going to run there after filming the bridal party leaving in the carts. I'd even prepared myself by asking one of the groundskeepers for a shortcut.

The chapel service was really nice. The bride walked down the aisle lined by the Fijian choir. Their voices were echoing, the sun was smiling, the bride was teary...it was beautiful.

Then there was me. First time videographer - no seat allocated, standing the entire service with my arm up, dead right arm, dead left arm, sun cooking the back of my legs, sweat dripping down. Nice :)

There was a gorgeous marquee by the water which looked stunning at night with all the little lights. The only drawback was the mosquitos that invited themselves to the wedding. Each table had two cans of repellant supplied by the hotel!

And you know what...they actually did have a professional videographer. But they still wanted my mom and I to film, so they could get everything I suppose. I'm not complaining, really! It's not often one gets to whisk themselves away for an island wedding :) I'd sure like someone to whisk me away to an island right now. I've another wedding to attend in a few days!

Tuesday, 24-Oct-2006 1:36 AM

Italian food and endless conversation.

Last night I caught up with an old high school friend. We were so close once and apart from the random emails we send each other two to three times a year, we had been drifting apart. It was so nice to just go out, eat great food, drink wine and have a girly catch up. It wasn't just about seeing an old friend after all this time, it felt like more to me. I felt all grown up for a moment. Sitting in a swanky restaurant, table for two, chatting away about my new life overseas, our jobs, her engagement and wedding plans (or lack of), our partners and old high school friends. We were trying to squeeze so much into such a short time that I don't remember there being a moment of silence.
I couldn't help thinking that I really am getting older. Catching up on each others lives and all the new things we had experienced when not thaaat long ago, we were going through the same thing at the same time - uni exams, boys, desires to travel, family issues...

From the time we went out last (which is around 2.5 years) until now, her brother had graduated, my brother had gotten married and had TWO kids, my sister got married, I had gotten a cat, worked in Malaysia and moved to the US and she had gotten engaged. And her little brother..the one I used to say I'd marry when he turned 16 because he was just oh so cute...is turning 21. Good lord.

So I wasted a good part of tonight looking through old yearbooks and report cards and looking people up online. I wonder where everybody is and what they're up to.

Monday, 23-Oct-2006 0:39 AM

Post Wedding Update!

My sister's wedding was just beautiful. She had so much packed in that we were keeping our fingers crossed with the schedule but everything worked out perfectly. There was the traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony in the morning, where everyone was all dressed up in traditional attire (even the groom's Scottish parents!) which was great, except when my Uncle was announcing their marriage, he married the groom to my brother by saying the wrong name! Then partway through the tea ceremony, they announced my name instead of my sister's. So the poor guy married us all that day :D

My camera didn't work for some odd reason (the ONLY time it decides not to work!). I only have a few photos before it decided to go haywire on me.

My dad gave an unbelievably great speech. It was the highlight of the night, according to a lot of people. Guests were coming up to him and giving him all sorts of compliments! Didn't help that he was first up and there were 4 more following, me being one of them!

Ahh it was a beautiful night. Just the perfect setting, with fairy lights that danced around a white marquee and flickering candlelight on the table surrounded by a gorgeous display of rose petals and flowers. Superb live band, lots of people dancing and laughing. I felt like I was in a movie.

I was a little sneaky though (note: stealing is bad) and I got to sink my teeth into TWO delicious chocolate cupcakes that night! Mmm =)