Read me if you can

Alright I really hope you could figure this out, Abi. I am crossing my fingers.

So, did you like the surprise (wink)?

Birthday redo

On my birthday, I went out for dinner with my buddies who fetched me up at the apartment. In one car, there was my male chauvinist friend who got engaged recently. Yes, he is back! Tagging along was a girl friend and myself. We were to meet another friend at Mid Valley Megamall that night.

Since it was my birthday, I got to choose where we were eating out. I decided to dine at the Little Penang Café. It was also a favorite place for Abi and me, especially during our university years.

The food tasted remarkably good even after nine years! And dinner was alright despite some loud-phone-conversation interruptions. Anyway, I did not let that ruin my excitement because it was the night when everything was supposed to be about me, right guys?

However due to the inevitable incident, last night, I went out again with them for yet another birthday dinner. This time, it took place at a Secret Recipe outlet. And it was more relaxed and fun compared to the night before.

My friends decided to redo my birthday celebration. I did not even know if there is such a thing (confused). Well, I enjoyed it anyway! We shared curry laksa, gourmet pie and meatball spaghetti. And you should look at us go, because we sure can eat!

My friends ordered a sliced cake of the month for dessert. And I did not see a candle coming with the cake (aawww). You guys are so sweet. And just so you know, I wished something good for the three of us. You guys will thank me later.

Is birthday great or what? Not only I got to pick my celebration venues, I also did not have to pay for anything. Thank you, gorgeous people. I had real grown up fun!

Happy birthday, ol' gal!

I must admit, I was a bit nervous waking up this morning. It was the day, finally. The day I turned the big three zero. My dad was the first to call and asked my age. Real funny, dad.

Man, I am already half his age! And in the next years, I will be more than that. Life has its mathematical way of teasing us, has it not?

Both my dad and step mom wished me happy birthday right before I went out for work and my spirit was high already. Abi, let us just visit them before fasting month and steal makcik’s Raya cookie samples (yummy) back to KL!

Of course Abi had sent me birthday message when I was sleeping last night. There were wishes from colleagues, too. I am always amazed by people who actually stay up to make sure their SMS is sent exactly after 12 midnight. What an effort! Truth be told, timing aside, I already know you people love me!

Anyhow, my so-called birthday get-together at the office was a peaceful one. It was held in a room booked for a rehearsal of a conference we are holding next week. And that is my destined coincidence. God loves me too, there is no denying that!

I knew my colleagues were all busy this time around. However, 15 people made an appearance. We enjoyed Secret Recipe’s hazel cheesecake complimentary of the coolest husband in the whole wide world! It was creamy and nutty and some people had more than a slice, you know who you are (wink). Besides the dessert, I prepared spaghetti with cheese and herbs, chips, chocolate, sweets and drinks. The usual. And Abi, please have some cake (kiss).

Yeah, I like to joke about my life like that. Most people I know are so confident and witty. That is why I hang out with them a lot. Only some people I meet are too bitter with no sense of humor, which is why I choose to avoid them. I mean, why so serious? Nobody gets out alive from this short life.

I could not sulk at those who did not make it (to the party, not in life). Because their well wishes kept pouring in my email inbox so they were more than enough to make my day (grin). Well, from the bottom of my young heart I thank you all so much. You guys were the best. Air kiss on both your cheeks!

Hey life, think you got on my nerves? Not yet, babe. Today, I scored three and sorry man, you zero.

Woo hoo! Try again, like, next decade?

p/s: This birthday though, I wish not (I pledge to be different, tongue) to be:

* the bigger man; even you and I both are on the wrong sides of an argument, I will not apologize first. No, not anymore.

* the human glue; so if you guys are not in talking term, suit yourselves. Leave me out of your selfish feud. Do not call me to complain about each other, again.

* the superwoman; because I never want to be anybody’s hero. Never before, never ever. I am tired of saving others with their so-called problems. They just forget to call when they are doing fine.

Pre-birthday

Abi is arriving in KL about at 10 tonight. I know Aeroline serves dinner on board so I will have to eat on my own. Therefore, I told him that I am making dinner plan with the girls from the office.

We are going to one of my favorite eating places, the Palma Café. A colleague has been craving for a chili pasta. She would go on and on and on about how delicious the dish is for so long now. I never tried that one before so I might just order that. Hmm. Darn, girl!

I am looking forward to dinner and doing you know, girl talk. For me, any activity outside the office is just as good. And hanging out with people who could relate to you is even better! Furthermore, this way I could kill some time while waiting for Abi.Speaking of which, later tonight, my husband and I will be checking-in into Eastin Hotel. Actually the room is booked earlier courtesy of my brother-in-law. It is his pre-birthday gift for me. Cool, huh?

So Abi and I will be spending two nights at the hotel, free of charge. I just cannot wait. We are going to sleep in, laze in and do absolutely nothing. Oh maybe we will need to order room service for that matter. I know it is going to be great (grin).

Hey bro, thank you so much for the thoughtful present. I will try to snap a few pictures. If I ever get up from the comfortable bed that is (tongue)! And kindly have a fun but safe trip to Gunung Tahan. I am telling you, your brother sure envies you for that.

Here are some of the photos, as promised.

Eating out

Last Thursday, I went out with a friend who was getting engaged over the weekend. He and a girl friend fetched me at my apartment after seven in the evening. We took him out for his last meal as a single male.

The three of us headed to Chili’s Grill and Bar at Mid Valley where we dined as if there is not going to be another outing like this. Well, we girls were not taking chances on this one. Because if even a male chauvinist pig (and proud of it) like him decided to get married, he could (I repeat, could) submit to his fiancée’s command to not hang out with us anymore. Who knows, right? So if it was our last night together, we had to be prepared. Weep.

Anyway, I had been craving for nachos for quite some time now. So I ordered just that and enjoyed to the last piece. Apart from that we also had chicken tenders and drummets, fries, sandwiches, spring rolls and veggies. Oh Abi, kindly do not hate me (kiss) for eating so much sin food. Without you. At least the celery sticks were healthy. Tee hee.

It was a relaxing night out, though. It felt like I had not seen these guys for weeks! We had a lot to catch up on especially about our respective lives. And about future nation building and the world’s problem. As if! No, we talked about other people instead. Wink. We are human being, we do that.

Abi called in the middle of dinner. He actually wished our celebrated friend, “There goes your freedom.” Yeah I guess so, too. Your time is up, dude. Anyway, congratulations! I hope for only the finest things on your engagement and wedding days. And may we always stay the good bunch sharing drinks and gossips. Hear, hear.

We left Chili’s when it was getting late. And realized that tomorrow was still working day. And remembered that my girl friend and I needed to pack up stuffs for our trip to Singapore after work. Uhuh, we were driving down to see my husband on Friday evening.

Hey roomie, here we come!

Shopaholic rules!

My cheapskate skill has gone up another level. I had proved to myself that I could get the cheapest price in getting to the airport. However, you can only attempt this act if you have extra 2.5 hours in hand before your flight check-in time. Because I did. Actually, I already took the whole afternoon off from work which was why I could try doing this.

It all happened last Friday. I boarded the KTM Komuter train from Serdang to Nilai for RM3.90. next, I caught the Airport Liner bus from Nilai straight to LCCT for RM3.50. The total amount was just RM7.40! Instead of always having to pay more than RM50 for a cab, I now had more than enough cash to spend on a drink, sandwich and even a magazine to accompany my journey. In which I did and enjoyed (wink).

And the bus driver could not be more than helpful. Maybe because he could sense that I was a first timer. But then again who could resist helping an adorable girl donned in a cute UNIQLO t-shirt and comfortable pair of trade-in Crocs™ (yes, you can do that only in Singapore) who also appeared a bit lost. Although, I do have the talent of wearing the damsel in distress look on my face but it only means that I really, really could use some help at that moment.

Anyhow I believe I had succeeded. I cheated the whole taxi-meter or taxi-driver-quotes-ridiculous-price-you-have-no-choice-but-to-pay system. However, should anybody have better bargain than this one, kindly share with me. Oh by the way, having your friend or family send you to the airport for free does not count. That is downright cheating in broad daylight!

The next morning, Abi and I did grocery shopping as we planned to eat in, hang in and sleep in for the whole day. Ah the beauty of an off day. For those who work on weekends, my heart goes out to you (frown).

On Sunday though, Abi and I went out to have breakfast at my favorite shop in Tampines. We shared fried koay teow and mee hoon with ugly looking sambal squid. The taste was good considering we have not discovered any breakfast shop better than this one, yet.

Then, it was shopping time! Hey the Great Singapore Sale is still on so I guess what the heck. Besides, my husband had been complaining about having nothing to wear whenever we needed to go out in KL. Gee, I thought only girls have such issues.

Anyway, not wanting him to feel as if there is not enough to wear (read: sarcasm), I had offered to buy him a number of clothes. At Tampines Mall, he tried on brown and blue COTTON ON t-shirts. Actually I did not care about the colors he chose but they must cling to the right places to show off certain muscled parts. And I am telling you they did just that. Sold!

Next, we moved on to Tampines1 where another favorite shop of mine is located. I could go nuts browsing through in UNIQLO! It is the first outlet to open on the island so its fans have been flocking as early as a bird, in and out of the shop, like endlessly. I felt like trying everything on but that day was about Abi and I must be supportive (tongue).

So before lunch time, my husband had picked out five t-shirts altogether for himself. Who is the shopaholic now, huh? Whereas I just bought one ¾ sleeve t-shirt. The total damage for purchasing six items? Only SGD52.60! I think I know what you are all thinking about the amount spent. Exactly.