Sunday

After holing up at home for the past 2 days, I finally decided to drag my sorry insomniac self out of bed to have brunch with Bee's parents today.

Our yumcha session at one of my favourite Chinese restaurants in KL, Li Yen at The Ritz-Carlton, was pleasant. Although, I must say, the dim sum wasn't as good as I remembered it to be.

Has there been a drop in standards, or was it just due to my lack of sleep and aching body? *Shrugs*

On the way home, Bee and I detoured for a little impromptu shopping trip.

Impromptu, but fruitful.

In less than an hour, I managed to snap up not one, but two gorgeous jade bangles!

One of a lustrous dark green and the size is a perfect fit for my wrist, and the other one of a much lighter translucent green which is slightly loose on me.

I couldn't choose between the two, so I decided to get both of them after I was offered a hefty discount.

Bee called them my "cheap thrills" when he saw me playing with them in the car like a kid with her lollies.

Well, but of course.

His mum was just telling us earlier on today that she might need an extra safety deposit box at the bank for her jewellery collection. A third one, that is.

I'm sure these bangles are cheap as chips compared to the content of those safety deposit boxes, but hey, at least I don't have to live in the constant fear of breaking or cracking something while wearing a small car on my wrist.

I'm sure Mr. Big-Shot won't find it as amusing when he has to start funding my very own safety deposit box.

But for now, I'm having two giant fat-laden pork dumplings for dinner, so I'm happy with my "cheap thrills".

For now.

*Smiles*

Groggy

After yet another rough night of sleep (or the lack of it), I woke up today feeling and looking worse for wear.

With aching muscle, a groggy head and photo-sensitivity, I feel like a walking zombie.

The worst thing is, I have a long list of errands to run before Bee and I leave for Melbourne next Saturday.

But as soon as I look at myself in the mirror, I just couldn't bothered getting changed to go out. I looked like a sorry train wreck. And feel like one too!

So I guess I'm just gonna stay in for another day and take it easy.

Bee's been a rock in trying to take care of me and make me as comfortable as possible.

I haven't had much of an appetite due to lack of sleep, so Bee's been buying all sort of different takeaways to try to spark my interest in eating. As we speak, I have a mini buffet in my fridge, consisting of almost every type of food I might like.

And when I can't sleep at night, he's been trying to make me feel better by taking me out for drives or getting me my favourite supper, maggie mee goreng and teh tarik ais.

I feel bad that we are spending the last days of our holidays rotting at home because of me, but I'm really grateful of how understanding and attentive he's been. I couldn't have asked for a better husband!

Thank you, baby, I really do appreciate it. Muacks!

Off to watch another episode of Brothers & Sisters. Nothing soothes a spinning heart like warm heartfelt family dramas.

Ta!

Insomnia

I woke up this morning with a stiff shoulder and severe muscle pain.

Every single strand of muscle on my body was aching, it hurts to even lift my arms. All I wanted to do is to curl up in bed and stay here.

I'm not sure if these debilitating symptoms were due to the body massage I got yesterday, or the rough night of sleep I had.

Or the stupid "banana boat" exercise Bee forced me to do last night, supposedly to help me to sleep better.

You see, I didn't bring enough Stilnox tablets with me on this trip, so I'm trying to go without whenever possible to conserve the limited stock.

So far, it's not working out so well. To say the least.

I spent the entire night tossing and turning in bed, but still unable to get a wink of sleep! My body (and mind) simply lacks the ability to relax and fall asleep on its own.

That's the thing with insomnia, the harder you try to sleep, the more awake you become. It's really one of the worst feelings in the world.

Here's hoping that it gets better with practice.

For now, I think I'm gonna go make myself a cup of hot tea and lay low for the rest of the day to nurse my sore muscles and groggy head.

Later.

Thanksgiving

I left Swan City at the break of dawn on a rainy morning, and arrived in KL on a bright sunny day.

Bee picked me up from the airport, and we were supposed to quickly drop the luggages at home before going out for breakfast.

But as usual, we got lazy as soon as we laid ourselves down on the bed and decided to take a nap instead.

And an usual, we slept past the alarm clock and I nearly missed my facial appointment with Leonard Drake!

Nearly, I said. My skin was in desperate need of some TLC, and I was determined to get to that appointment even if it means skipping lunch.

The facial was alright, though nothing to shout about. :|

To be honest, I'm getting rather bored with Leonard Drake and Aster Spring. Their service hasn't been consistent, or in my opinion, it's even been going downhill a little in the past few years. So if anyone has recommendations of a good skin care center in Klang Valley, please leave a comment or email me privately. :)

Watched Unstoppable with Bee after my facial because it was the only decent movie that was showing besides Harry Potter.

By the time we were seated, I was so hungry that I practically spent the first 30 minutes of the movie stuffing my face silly with chicken nuggets and washing them down with Coke. I was never a fan of chicken nuggets but surprisingly, these were actually quite tasty. Or perhaps I was just starving after not eating for the whole day. :p

The movie turned out to be rather enjoyable, despite being a little slow at the start. Well, at least my husband didn't fall asleep halfway through, as he does with most movies, so I guess that's a good sign.

We concluded the night with a Taiwanese fusion dinner and a very sweet pep talk from Bee about thanksgiving.

He's right. Humans often take things for granted and forgot to count our blessings in life. Instead of appreciating things that we have, we so easily stop being grateful and focus on things we don't have.

"So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible. So often we are depressed by what remains to be done and forget to be thankful for all that has been done." ~ Marian Wright Edelman

God knows it's a form of art I have mastered!

But hopefully, I can start to change that.

Hopefully, I can learn that I (or things) don't always have be perfect and I can stop being so harsh on myself. Or everyone else, for that matter.

Hopefully, I can start to learn to let go.

One step at a time.

And I'm thankful I have someone who is willing to walk this path hand in hand with me, and ready to catch me if I fall.

I'm thankful that I have you, baby.

Homesick

I'm leaving Swan City tomorrow morning to KL, then back to Melbourne next weekend.

And I'm already starting to feel homesick.

It just doesn't get any easier, no matter how many times you've had to do it.

Leaving your family.

Regardless how much practice I've had over the years, it still tugs tightly at my heart strings each and every time.

As the matter of fact, I'm starting to believe that the older you are, the harder it becomes.

Because we know better now.

Because we've noticed that our parents are getting older too.

And we are drifting further and further away from our childhood.

From being a child.

From being carefree.

Because we realise that time doesn't wait for anybody.

And nothing is forever.

Congested

I was supposed to catch up with Sam over afternoon tea today, but I bailed on her last minute 'cause I'm not feeling all that great.

I'm feeling slightly under the weather, extremely lethargic and very phlegmy in the chest.

But the thing that is bugging me the most is my horrible skin condition at the moment.

My skin has been very congested since I got back to Malaysia, but I haven't had time to go get myself a facial while in KL. And over the past few days, it started breaking out like nobody's business!

With a face full of zits and bumps, I'm currently looking like a teenager going through puberty!

And as we all know, we feel what we look like.

(Okay, and the other way round too.)

So yes, I'm feeling rather crappy and, um, yuck.

I feel grossed out just by thinking about all the gunk that's clogging up my pores and building up on my skin, but I probably won't be getting that much-needed facial till I'm back in KL next week.

So I guess I'll be laying low this weekend and try to get some rest. Hopefully both my flu and skin settle down soon. :(

Off I go to take an afternoon nap and start dreaming about having a deep pore cleansing facial. *Sighs*

Melancholy

Allan, the older of my 2 younger brothers, took my parents and I out for dinner last night.

It was my official welcome-home dinner.

Food at the much-overrated seafood restaurant, overpriced.

Love and company of family, priceless.

Being out on town, the little town that I grew up in, made me feel a little melancholy towards the old days.

Of how far and how long I've been away, and how little time I spend with my family.

Of how fast we are all growing up, and how much our parents have aged each time we see them.

Of how time flies.

And it makes me a little sad.

More than a little.

Little

At the age of 30, where else would you be spoiled like a little princess who doesn't have to lift a finger?

At home.

At your parents' home.

Where there is a jar of double-boiled soup waiting for you on the table every morning before you even wake up.

Where your personal chef, aka your mum, would prepare your favourite food everyday, though she's never much of a cook. Haha.

Where your dad takes the time to make you a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice every day, no matter how busy he is.

Where your brother volunteers as your private chauffeur to drive you wherever you want to go, and brings home all kinds of snacks to cheer you up.

Where you feel completely entitled and worthy of all the love and pampering you are showered with.

No strings attached. No hidden agendas. Just family.

Where I will always be taken care of like a little girl.

Where I can be a 5-year old all over again.

At home.

Missing

I woke up this morning feeling slightly lost.

A little weird, and a little unsure.

Then I realised that it was the first morning in a long time that I did not wake up next to my Bee.

So even as I'm surrounded by the love and attention of my family, I'm missing the missing piece of the puzzle.

The piece that has, undeniably, become my other half.

Home

MAS personnel: Madam, would you like a window or aisle seat?

Passenger: Window, please.

MAS personnel: Alright, here is your boarding pass.

Passenger later arrived on the plane, only to realise that an aisle seat has been allocated.

Is that the kind of customer service efficiency we would like to represent us Malaysians?

*Shrugs*

Just my two cents worth.

A bumpy plane ride and an over-salted serve of nasi lemak later, I was home.

Home in Swan City.

And I was glad.

Serenity

Serenity Prayers

God, grant us the...
Serenity to accept things we cannot change,
Courage to change the things we can, and the
Wisdom to know the difference
Patience for the things that take time
Appreciation for all that we have, and
Tolerance for those with different struggles
Freedom to live beyond the limitations of our past ways, the
Ability to feel your love for us and our love for each other, and the
Strength to get up and try again even when we feel it is hopeless.

In Jesus' name we pray
Amen.