The Story of Us

Katie & Ben previously agreed that it was time to tell their kids about their decision to separate. They decided they wouldn't do it over dinner at Chow Fun's. Now, they're just about to get into the car to go home after picking them up from summer camp.

Katie: I want to go to Chow Fun's.

Ben: I thought we agreed we couldn't really talk at Chow Fun's. Are you saying Chow Fun's because you can't face telling the kids? Because if that's why you're saying Chow Fun's, don't say Chow Fun's.

Katie (in tears, rambling): That's not why I'm saying Chow Fun's. I'm saying Chow Fun's because we're an 'us'. There's a history here, & histories don't happen overnight. In Mesopotamia or Ancient Troy, there are cities built on top of other cities. But I don't want another city, I like this city. I know what kind of mood you're in when you wake up by which eyebrow is higher, and you always know I'm a little quiet in the morning & compensate accordingly. That's a dance you perfect over time. And it's hard, it's much harder than I thought it would be, but there's more good than bad & you don't just give up!

And it's not for the sake of the children, but God they're great kids, aren't they? And we made them, I mean think about that! It's like there were no people there, & then there were people & they grew. And I won't be able to say to some stranger, "Josh has your hands, or remember how Erin threw up at the Lincoln Memorial?"

And I'll try to relax. Let's face it, anybody is going to have traits that get on your nerves. And I know I'm no day at the beach, but I do have a good sense of direction so I can at least find the beach, which isn't a weakness of yours, just a strength of mine.

And God, you're a good friend, & good friends are hard to find. Charlotte said that in Charlotte's Web & I love how you read that to Erin & you take on the voice of Wilbur the Pig with such dedication even when you're bone tired. That speaks volumes about character!

And ultimately, isn't that what it comes down to? What a person is made of? That girl in the pith helmet is still here, 'bee boo bee boo', I didn't even know she existed until you and I'm afraid if you leave I may never see her again, even though I said at times you beat her out of me. Isn't that the paradox? Haven't we hit the essential paradox? Give and take, push and pull, the yin the yang. The best of times, the worst of times! I think Dickens said it best, 'He could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean', but, doesn't really apply here does it?

What I'm trying to say is... I'm saying Chow Fun's because, I love you!

Ben: You hear that kids? Your mum wants to go to Chow Fun's!

Ripping the Band Aid

OK, here is it.

*Deep breath*

Drought

My blog is due for a post, but I've been so busy lately I haven't been able to find the time to write anything half decent. I do have lots of topics I'd like to write about.

I'll put this somewhere on my to-do-list this weekend, so check back then!

25 Random Facts

Facebook has this chain letter-like thing where you post up 25 random facts about yourself & tag 21 friends who have to follow suit. I was tagged, but decided I'd post it here instead.

1. I am terrified of spiders. If you ever try scaring me with one, it's one of those things I'll struggle to forgive you for. I'm not kidding.

2. Despite being very petite, I appreciate good food. You'd be surprised at how much I can eat if I wanted to.

3. I still don't know how to to apply eyeliner & mascara.

4. I secretly don't like the the fact that I look 100% Asian even though I'm not.

5. I don't like water marks on glass. It's one of my pet peeves.

6. My favourite books of the bible are the Psalms, Romans & Hebrews.

7. I've thought about doing a course in medicine, optometry or teaching. But I can't stand blood & I'm afraid I won't cope with the essay writing. I don't excel naturally in languages.

8. I haven't borrowed a book from a library since I was in 7th grade.

9. I have a rather acute sense of smell. I would be the first to know what my mum was cooking as soon as I walked into the house. I also unconsciously associate some smells with good/bad situations.

10. I like how a guy smells after a shower, cologne & aftershave.

11. I am not a touchy-feely person when it comes to hugs. I don't mind people initiating it, but I'd rarely do so even if I'm really happy to see you. Unless you're my best friend or boyfriend, or if I think you need one. Those who know me well can tell when I need one, even if I don't tell them so.

12. I can't blow balloons or bubble gum & I can't whistle or roll my tongue. Pretty useless apart from eating & talking.

13. I'm an emotional person despite me not showing it most of the time. If I appear standoff-ish, it's probably because I'm being self-protective & won't budge without some prodding.

14. I wish I had a bigger & higher nose. Mine is like a button.

15. I hate my hair. I can't do anything with it.

16. I'm attracted to a genuine smile. One that reaches the eyes.

17. I can only sleep in total darkness & don't like waking up by sunlight falling directly on my face.

18. I ate too much of this pink Chinese rice cake when I was in Year 1 that I once threw up after eating it in school because I was so sick of it. Now I can't stand the smell of it & have never eaten it since & probably never will again.

19. I think I take myself too seriously sometimes. Not many people see the other side of me. I wish I could laugh & be silly like I used to & be less protective of myself. I blame it on worries & lost of self-confidence.

20. I love dogs. I can stare at a pet shop window for ages. I've pretended to want to buy one just so I could hold it. True story.

21. I write in only CAPS when writing notes, cards & letters.

22. I used to have nice cursive writing. Then one of my teachers in Singapore forced me to change because she apparently couldn't read it. Now I can't do running writing for anything. My words are dead straight & non-cursive.

23. Since I was a teenager, I've always wanted to have 2 kids by 30. I think I would enjoy being a mum. I'm nowhere close to that.

24. I can truly be myself around my best friend. We have a very special friendship though we're on opposite sides of the globe. I trust her with everything because I know she wouldn't judge me & she would always protect me. I know she feels the same. I had to mention at least one point about her. :)

25. I used to suck my thumb as a kid & had a pillow I wouldn't let go of. My parents had to lie to me that my pillow got lost so I would let it go. I was in denial for a while.

Mystery Shopper

Lately, someone has been going through a lot of my blog posts from the last 3 years. It's just got me curious.

And for such dedication as to browse 99 pages at one go, it's worth a mention.

Verbal Blank

There have been a few new developments recently. But just gathering my thoughts & how to put that all into words.

Can you tell I've been having trouble doing that lately?

What's in a Name?

I just realised that my blog should technically be named 'Blossoming Bud'.
But it somehow lacks the same ring to it.

These are a Few of My Favourite Things

• An unnoticed act of kindness that makes someone's day just a little bit better
• When you gently grab my hand when I don't expect it
• Well-performed musical productions, to which I can bop along to
• Playing with puppies
• How a woman's head is made to fit so nicely onto a guy's shoulder
• A warm & cosy fireplace in winter
• The way you make me blush when I catch you looking at me
• A hot water bottle in bed
• Brunch in a cafe near a park on a sunny day
• A kiss on the forehead before a goodbye
• Reading & people-watching under a tree
• The sense of satisfaction when someone likes what I bake/cook

20 Questions

After reading a friends blog & saw a post on an 'interview', I thought I'd post one I did a little while back too. Just a snippet into my mind. ;P

What is your biggest turn off?

Arrogance.

Do you like thunderstorms?

I like them when I'm indoors, cuddled up in a blanket with a hot drink & with people to cuddle next to. And you can see the rain & hear it on the window.

If you were one of the seven dwarfs, who would you be?

Bashful. *blush*

What is the name of your truest friend???

Samrita Narwal. My Bonito!

Favorite hot drink?

Chai latte.

How much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?

A woodchuck would chuck how much wood a woodchuck could chuck wood.

Who do you count on when feeling down?

God's faithfulness.

What attracts you most?

Genuineness, kindness & a smile.

Close your eyes for a moment, who pops into your head?

Apart from God, I'm not saying anything. :)

Describe your perfect Sunday morning?

Seeing people I love, cooking brunch together & going for a walk in the sun.

What makes you cry?

Confusion or a heated argument.

If you were an animal in the wild, what would you be?

A deer. Free & gentle.

Who was your hero as a child?

My dad.

What 3 words would your best friend use to describe you?

Confused, quietly cheeky & confused. Did I mention confused???

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully serving in a family church & having a family of my own.

Opera, Musical, Concert, Play, Performance, or Other?

Musicals.

Your favorite Disney Films?

Lion King, Beauty & the Beast & The Emperor's New Groove.

Juice and crackers or milk and cookies?

Definitely milk & cookies.

Favorite fruit?

Mangoes.

Define yourself in 3 words...

Conservative, sensitive, homely.

Kill the spider or let it out?

SCREAM... go into panic mode & get someone to catch it & take it far, far away.

What is your favorate Pj Fabric?

Flannies. I know, it's unsexy.

Where do you want to travel next?

Canada or France.

What is your favorite food?

Cheesecake. Japanese food. Or my mum's cooking.

What is your favorite place?

Home sweet home.

If you could have one super human power what would you choose?

Bring Jesus back now... but then I would be God...

Favorite body part?

My eyes.

How tall are you?

Hmm.. sensitive question... moving on...

Do you like bananas?

Yup! Banana bread, banana cake, banana smoothie...

Welcome!

I don't think I should have stayed up so late putting this together. I'm on a midnight flight tonight back to Sydney & I'm not going to get much sleep as it is. But I was having fun playing around with the html code for the template so I could personalise it. The IT nerd in me wouldn't let me rest.

But anyways, here it is!

I might go back to bed for a quick nap...

In View of Privacy...

... I'm still deciding whether to have my blog as invite-only or to just not have an archive so people can't trace my history.

Either way, if you're one of my regular blog readers, let me know... just in case I switch back to invite-only.

Hope this doesn't offend anyone.

P.S.: Does anyone know how to remove the link for "Older Posts" at the bottom of my blog???

One day later: Woohoo! I figured it out on my own. =D

Mindless Time-Wasting

So I had absolutely nothing to do when I woke up, so I decided to take a few web quizzes just to amuse myself. Haha... you know you're bored when you resort to stuff like this. :)

These are my results for a personality test I took. What do you think of the accuracy?

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have medium extroversion. You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party. Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences. But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have high conscientiousness. Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life. Most things in your life are organized and planned well. But you borderline on being a total perfectionist. Agreeableness: You have high agreeableness. You are easy to get along with, and you value harmony highly. Helpful and generous, you are willing to compromise with almost anyone. You give people the benefit of the doubt and don't mind giving someone a second chance. Neuroticism: You have medium neuroticism. You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic. Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy. Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is low. You're a pretty conservative person, and you favor what's socially acceptable. You think that change for novelty's sake is a very bad idea. While some may see this as boring, many see you as dependable and wise.

The Five Factor Personality Test