Not so Yahoo

Yahoo messenger died on all of us sometime on Wednesday afternoon. It's been about 10 hours now and still no signs of life.

To my Yahoo chat buddies, be strong. We'll get through this.

How To Kill A Conversation in Five Minutes

Where: A nice outdoor cafe
When: Some time after dinner
Who: Three guys and a girl
What: Weddings

Guy 2: Do you think it's rude to put a dress code on a wedding invitation?

Girl: I think it's ok, but a colour-theme would be easier for people to follow.

Guy 2: Would look real nice if everyone wore a tux.

Girl: Ya ya!

Guy 3: Tuxedos are expensive la...

Guy 2: Ya but imagine how good everyone would look, all lined up in church in their tuxedos.

Girl: Definitely.

Guy 1: Depends who you invite la...

Guy 2: (still persistent on his tuxedo idea) But would be really nice right? Everyone wearing a tux at the wedding, all dressed up in church. Everyone looking so....

Guy 3: You plan to ever get married meh?

*dead silence*

Girl: Really guys, that's like having fantastic sex and then bringing up your mother.

The Golden Rule

When it comes to relationships, I have a few Golden Rules. One of them was 'Thou shalt not bother with a long-distance relationship'. I was so set on this Rule that I scoffed at the fools who were in such a predicament. I'd go, "Why even bother having a relationship if you're not gonna be in the same place at the same time? Hello...Beats the whole idea of having a companion right?"

And then I got knocked off my high horse faster than you can say, "Send me a postcard, honey."

I didn't realise at that time that all the Golden Rules usually fly out the window the minute you meet Mr-Perfect-For-You. I wasn't sure how things would work out with Haw when we started dating. For the first time in my life, I wasn't planning ahead and instead just enjoying the moment with a guy. And when I found out he was leaving for Canada for a year, I didn't think too much about it because I figured I'll deal with it when the time comes. Besides, I was still set with my Golden Rule, right? Long distance relationship? Pfft, right.

To be fair, Haw wasn't too keen on a long-distance thing neither. He wasn't sure if he wanted to come back after a year and then things would just get messy. So here were two brilliant individuals, both keen on the no-go when it comes to long distance. But as the day for him to leave approached, we went into panic mode. How in the world do you end something that's been going great so far and move to the other end of the world? Do we shake hands and go, "That was fun, thanks buddy" ?

Yeah, this is the part where I fell off my high horse and the Golden Rule went flying out the window.

So here I am. In a long-distance relationship. And I tell ya, it's tough. From having Haw with me for the last 3 years, an average of 6 days a week, 9 hours a day to going cold turkey, it's like losing an arm. But we've adjusted pretty well and getting into the swing of the whole 'in absentia' relationship. It's been 10 months since he left and although it gets easier, I never stop missing him (which of course is a good thing cuz if I did, this whole relationship would be pointless right? anyway...). These days, my idea of a great time is sitting in bed with the laptop, webcam and headset and waiting to see 'Hawding is online' on my messenger. Of course, the 12-hour time difference is annoying but we've gotten really good at setting our schedules to talk. We make it a point to be in touch everyday, be it SMS, a phonecall or by just leaving a note on the messenger.

Most days, it's all good. And whenever we talk, I always feel like he's not that far away. But some days, it hits me really hard. Sometimes when I least expect it. I could be driving past one of the coffee shops we frequent and my heart breaks a little cuz I miss him so much. Weekend afternoons are the worst because that's when we used to spend time together, watching DVDs or him trying to steer me away from Watson's ("I promise I'm just looking, baby...")

I'm not gonna lie to you. Long distance relationships are no walk in the park. But on the bright side, it makes you realise how empty your life can be without your partner by your side and when you finally get back together, you'll be less likely to take him or her for granted. I was worried that we might grow apart over the months but ironically, we've never been closer. I hate being in different time zones and I have to settle for virtual hugs and kisses for now. But I realise that when you find the one person you're willing to break the Golden Rule for, it makes it all worthwhile.

Come back quick, cubby.

Hazards of the Home: Chapter 9

Tip: Don't make sudden moves when reaching for the newspaper or you might be mistaken as an unwilling scratching post.

Flashback.

I met up with an old, old friend the other night. I lost touch with him for a while but I've met up with him twice this year so that's a start (Hi Francis!). Anyway, he's been in New Zealand for quite a while and now he's off to the UK indefinitely. Together with Yo, we had dinner and spent the night chatting about our schooling days and who's who and who's where.

It brought back so many memories. All the way to the time I was 8 years old when my biggest worry was whether or not I was getting the Peaches N Cream Barbie for Christmas (I did, phew). It's amazing how some of us have changed so much while others still have the same haircut from Form 1. It was flashback after flashback. But most of all...

I remembered how much I hated secondary school.

Although it may have been the best time for some people, it's one chapter in my life that I just want to shred into pieces and incinerate into oblivion. I'll spare the details but I look back at my teenage years with such disdain and wish I knew then what I knew now.

But before I damn it all to hell, I guess there are some bright spots in my teenage years. The highlight would be the friends I made along the way who to this day remain the best friends any girl could ask for. And also...

Hmm, actually that's about it. So yeah, secondary school will forever be a sucky memory. How was yours?

Blogger's block

I dunno what's wrong with me these days but I just can't seem to blog. Everytime a topic pops in my head, it slips right out before I can reach the computer.

I'm having blogger's block. Have I outblogged myself? I think i've been writing for work too much that at the end of the day, the last thing I want to do is write some more. I apologise. Bear with my poor ol' blog till I find my blogging muse again.

I'll leave you with a random photo:

My cats, Blanket, Happy and Sabrina - Living life to the fullest on a Saturday afternoon.

Shut down.

She lives! It's been hectic and I have to admit the last thing I want to do when I get home at night is turn on the PC and blog. Mentally, I just shut down the minute I reach home. Work has been so demanding lately and even when I pull extra hours at the office, I still can't finish my load. And I KNOW this isn't a smart thing to do, but I still have freelance commitments, so there goes most of my weekends. What can I say...I need the money more than I need the time to myself.

I went clubbing on Saturday. Something I haven't done for what feels like a gazillion years. So I drank, bopped on the dance floor, drank some more, checked out people who were checking out other people. I watched my guy friends nudge each other at the sight of a cute chick, I observed people getting frisky as they consumed more alcohol. I saw a girl light a cigarette and stare into space the whole night. Another guy in his 40s looked out of his element as he stood in the corner and tried his best to tap his feet to the music (unfortunately feet tapping to music went out in the mid 1920s). Some girl in the washroom was throwing up her dinner (noodles and green leafy vegetables) while her friends tried to keep her tube top in place. I went back to my table, had another drink and danced some more. At 2a.m, I scurried back home to the comfort of my bed, glad I wasn't drunk as a skunk and realising this scene was getting a bit boring. Or maybe I was getting a bit boring. Either way, I heart my bed very much.

Anyway, I'm coming down with the flu and my body is slowing going into 'log off' mode. Hope you peeps are alive and kicking.

"I've always been in love with you
Guess you've always known its true..
You took my love for granted, why oh why,
The show is over, say goodbye."
-Say Goodbye (having a Madonna moment on my MP3 player)

Back. Breathe.

Am back. But off to Sandakan for a day trip. I haven't fallen off the planet. Just tired. Be right back.