Whoa, where did the weekend go?

I spent 3 hours of Saturday morning at the gym. The longest time clocked in since... I can't remember. I went for a 45-minutes long RPM, followed by a long, brisk walk at the treadmill for 30mins (wanted to run but I didn't want to overdo it after being such a lardball for so long) and then I went for Body Pump.

Shites! After a few months of not joining a Body Pump class, I had become such a weakling! Last time, carrying the basic 2.5kg plates on both sides (=5kg) wasn't much of a problem. This time, I could really feel the weight. I went on with it anyway, and now every muscle in my body is still in pain after 2 days.

After a short rest, I went to Optimax for a follow up. They told me my eyes had healed well and that my not-so-sharp vision on my right eye was due to my slight astigmatism (which I had all along and the LASIK only fixed my short-sightedness). But it's quite mild and did not really affect my normal vision. Hmm. The optometrist did say the astig could go away and improve with time, so I'm hoping for that. Meanwhile, it's eye drops to keep them bright and healthy (even though they don't feel like they need it anymore).

Saturday night was SY's hen night.
Eight of us checked into the Ascott (wow, beautiful, beautiful place), chilled out, walked over to TGI Fridays for dinner and then back to the apartment for wine, cheese and girly chit-chat (about things that shall remain within the many walls of the apartment, hehe). We took polaroids throughout the night and next morning at breakfast and put together a little scrapbook for her.

It was such a lovely nite out with the girls. And AV did such great job of organising it, with rose petals, candles and chocolates strewn all over the place to boot! Now we're all looking forward to SY & HM's wedding about a month from now.

After we left the Ascott, I picked up my dad, aunt and uncle from the bus station. They went to Singapore to visit my cousin, and boy, did they come back with a boot load of goodies. I sent my ku mah and ku cheong back to Setapak, then dad and I rushed home to give the dog a bath while the sun was still up.

Then it was a mad dash to a gathering at CL's new condo. I barely had time to shower, let alone prepare something for the potluck. So I bought some cream puffs on the way. I was running at least an hour late!

OH. MY. GAWD. The condo was beautiful. The living area, kitchen and master bedroom offered views of a lush forest, the KL skyline and the Twin Towers. It also had a huge balcony with a nice wooden-decked terrace. Very, very nice. It really felt resort-like, in a quieter, greener part of town. The price tag was equally nice too, of course.

YL made a wonderful sheperd's pie, with sliced leek on top. And CL made this fantastic sangria with red wine, ginger beer and bits of cut fruit (I especially love the bits of canned pineapple which absorbed all the wine!). I was quite red and happy in no time. Mmmm.. am still thinking of that leeky sheperd's pie. The satay was great too. And we had lots of cake and dessert.

So we chilled out on the wooden deck. Their two schnauzers scurried around, fighting for our attention. The crickets and cicadas sung their songs. And as the sun went down, silhouttes of raintrees melted into the night. Very relaxing. We all lamented about having to go to work the next day.

But that's always the case on Sunday nights, isn't it?

I was a witness.

I've known Aivonne since I was 13 (high school). And Kenny since I was 17 (tuition). In fact, Kenny was my prom date in 1995 (ok, that's another story). I still remember Aiv's comment about Kenny that night.

Aiv: He looks like a kid-lah.

She would have to swallow her words three years later because the boy blossomed somewhat. And one night she told me,

Aiv: Eh, he's cute-lah.

When she wasn't looking, I kepoh.

WN: Eh, she said you're cute.
Kenny: She DID? (and starts grinning like an idiot)

The next thing I knew they were dating.
And Aiv had to leave for Australia.
And Kenny back to the States.

A few trans-Atlantic trips were made.
A few years of courtship after that.
And now, they are Mr & Mrs Kenny Chin.

2 July 2005
It is a beautiful garden wedding at Ciao's. The rain made the night cool and the guests late. I give Aiv a hug and a fuzzy feeling hits me. Like WOW, she's married. Tears well in my eyes, so I skittle off on the pretext of getting my abandoned wine glass. Sentimental sap.

The girls (Shih Yee, Chris, Kuin, Eve, Marissa, Laykha and Suzi) are here, giggling, laughing and talking like we used to. Suddenly we are teenagers in turqoise and navy blue uniforms again.

We are still the same people. Yet, so different now.
We don't talk about boys and exams anymore.
But about jobs and who's getting married next.

We don't gush over boy bands (I swear I was never an NKOTB fan), but wedding bands (the bigger the diamond, the better).

That night, I see flashbacks of Aiv playing Princess Jasmine in an Interact Club IU Nite, lip-synching to A Whole New World with our cutie pie president-to-be (that was back in 1992).

And Kenny's I've-never-slow-danced-with-a-girl-before look on his face on the prom dance floor.

I laugh to myself and eat some very nice wedding cake.

Aiv & Kenny, congratulations. Love you both.

Club me over the head. Drag me by the hair.

Many of my friends have started ticking the MARRIED box in application forms. In the next few weeks, more brave ones are set to follow.

Last weekend, the girls went to PD to celebrate Aiv's impending move to Mrs-dom. Apart from having a girly good time (food, booze, reminiscing, self-pampering), we talked about what married life would be like. I never had fairy-tale notions of what marriage is, but our conversations affirmed my belief that it's not a bed of roses (I'd personally like an elegant combination of white roses and white-green orchids or a loud circus of multi-coloured gerberas with stalks of sunflowers thrown in.)

The following conversations are excerpts from stories told by married or soon-to-be married friends. Any similarities (or exaggerations) in situations and characters are fully intended.

Domestic bliss... oh, really?

Wife: Have you cleaned out the pot yet?
Husband: (watching TV) Not yet.

Half hour later.
Wife: It's still in the sink.
Husband: (watching TV) Ya. Ya. Later.

Wife washes pot.
Husband: Hey, I said I'll wash it!

----

Husband: I'm out of underwear.
Wife: Didn't you throw them into the laundry basket?
Husband: Yeah. Where are the clean ones?


It seems most boys need house training. Especially if they've had their mommies / grannies / maids / ah-chi to pick up after them all their lives. So you can't help but to remind them to do certain things (in other words, NAG). Before long, you realise you're becoming more like your mother. No wait, you ARE your mother. Jeepers!

In-Law By Laws

If you live with your in-laws, some responsibilities may automatically be yours. Like making sure he has clean underwear.

Or giving them grandchildren.
"You're not getting any younger you know. You're not still using contraception, are you?"

Some mom-in-laws may even tell their sons that certain duties are to be performed by the wife. Like ironing / cooking / washing / cleaning / making sure there is clean underwear / all of the above.

My girlfriends and I are not averse to the idea of housework. But for roles to be clearly defined, hmmm.... (note: This generally happens with mom-in-laws who are Martha Stewarts in their own right, minus the lawsuit.)

Bundles of joy

From what I've observed with my married friends, they totally take over your lives. Not just for 9 months but for a good 21 years (if you're lucky).

Yes, they may be the cutest things on the planet (simply because they're yours) and a source of immense joy. But you'll wonder if you can bring them up to be useful, God-loving citizens. And look at the state of the world right now... what if they become _________? (fill in the blank with every possible mother's nightmare).

Even if they are the sweetest angels on earth, imagine this.

Gal pal: Hey, we're planning to trek Nepal. Wanna join us?
Baby: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Mom: I'm still breast feeding. Maybe when he's older.

3 years later.
Gal pal: Hey, we're planning to trek Nepal. Wanna join us?
Baby 1: Mommy! Barney! Barney!
Baby 2: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Mom: WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

-------

You're on a romantic holiday and the kids are with your parents.

Wife: This is so romantic.
Husband: I wonder how the kids are doing.
Wife: I'm sure they're fine with mom.
Husband: Ok. Let's go for a romantic dinner.
Wife: I wonder if the kids are eating.

Couple takes first flight home.

-------

Love is amazing.
It makes you do the unspeakable.

Congratulations to the soon-to-be married:
Aiv & Kenny and WaiYee & her Darren.