2012 in retrospective

I can almost smell 2013. Perhaps it'll bring better luck and good news.

2012 was with its ups and downs. I don't feel i have accomplished much. It's just been a year of trying to get by. Perhaps the most emotional moment came when i said bye to my red monstahhh. The sale was one of the hardest thing i ever had to do. But it made sense. 

I grew up, i think. Erik (my better, smarter, awesome other half) relocated to Bandar Seri Bengawan, Brunei. I had to slow down my lifestyle in Singapore, and start spending some time with him over in Brunei. That's what a wife is supposed to do, right? In exchange, i was gifted an M3. I'm still as into cars as i have always been. I guess it doesn't help that i love the finer things in life, nothing like a fine engine... and more clothes, bags and shoes.

I started amassing my love for shoes at an all new level : Louboutins, Jimmy Choos, Prada. I'm still a tyrant in many ways. I've been called the devil, the queen. The name so befitting i can't shake it off. Afterall, the devil wears Prada. Such is the weakness for the finer things in life.

I stuck to my new year's resolution. I got leaner, i don't think i can break the 48kg barrier. Sigh! I did love a whole lot more people who matters, i spend a lot more time with family and friends. It helps with technology advances like whatsapp and other online chat applications. Distances don't seem to mean as much. I made a trip back to HK, spent some time with my old 310 mates. I made a trip back to US, spent some time with my Purdue friends, my 310 buddies, and my family and my huge little Silas.

I started learning back golf. I love the game, i just need more time and practice with it. I can't be tiger woods overnight. I got back on the bicycle a couple of times. I did a few runs this year. I started doing my own indoor bodyweight workout. I could do a lot better, i know.

But you know what, i still live like i'm dying. 

Onwards to 2013.

goodbye my lover, goodbye my friend

The words of James Blunt's Goodbye My Lover plays through my mind.
An excerpt :

Did I disappoint you or let you down?

Should I be feeling guilty or let the judges frown?

'Cause I saw the end before we'd begun,

Yes I saw you were blinded and I knew I had won.

So I took what's mine by eternal right.

Took your soul out into the night.

It may be over but it won't stop there,

I am here for you if you'd only care.

You touched my heart you touched my soul.

You changed my life and all my goals.

And love is blind and that I knew when,

My heart was blinded by you.

I've kissed your lips and held your hand.

Shared your dreams and shared your bed.

I know you well, I know your smell.

I've been addicted to you.

Goodbye my lover. Goodbye my friend.

You have been the one.You have been the one for me

It's been a good five year run. One of ups and downs. One filled with happiness. One filled with joy. One with pain. One with tears. And one of fear. 

Now that i bid you farewell. Be kind to your next lover. 

home in the aaaaaammmmerrrricccaaaa!

In the last two months, i've been travelling a fair bit. I went back to USA for what feels like forever, but it's actually not even a month. From San Francisco, to Orlando, to Atlanta, to Nashville, to Los Angeles, i've gone through weather of 60s fahrenheit to 100s. I thought i was going to freeze under my light cardigan or suffer a heatstroke while walking my dog.

I had one of those holidays, that seemed to be always busy. I spent 4th of july in US. Now that's always the most incredible experience. Seeing fireworks, setting fireworks off, and getting all Amerrrriiicaaaannnaaa about it. I did a run with Robin and her triathlon team out in bay area. I hung out with my best mates ever out in the bay area, over the most awesome food : k-bbq, fine restaurants, pizzas and cakes. The great thing about being home is spending time with old friends, and being called 'ghetto'. I'm not ghetto, i'm the finest friend that's ghettofab. Loads of laughter and joy, just like back in Purdue. Everyone loves a good k-meal as ever. J-town in LA is always rocking as usual. In & out Burger have always rocked. Nashville has been wonderful too, despite the horrendous heatwave it had. My poor dog Silas suffered pretty badly, when i kept bringing him out for walks and jogs around the 'hood. Shared a whole load of happy times with the family... my cuzzzz!

Now that it's all settled. Time to get back to reality.
And lose that in&out burger loaded goodness i pile onto myself.

say what?

Through the months, i've been trying to get back to some sort of form. My body fat content is disappointing, a gf pointed out at my belly fat. I'm just belly happy with my life, and the way it's going horizontal, i think i hit an all time low.

So with news of Army Half being cancelled, and then Army Half coming back on the running calendar, I signed up. With full intent of shutting Yongfeng up, #likeaboss, after all he had one full year of bragging rights for being faster than me last year. I've heard it a millionth times : all by just a mere 20 seconds. So this year, i better try to make a good run for it. I have a month to train. I know it's only June, but i have a lot of traveling coming up. And a little pet project which is on the way. I'll elaborate at the next post.

The shit i hear all the time includes

• "time to buy 4D, you're swimming"
• "taitai... what the?!?"
• "eh let's do xyz?', with me replying "i'm doing xyz already", and then ....
• "if you are doing this, why aren't we doing a triathlon"

Ahhhh, well... events clashes with my schedule. my travel. my nail. my hair.

More of a tai tai, less of a triathlete

Well, the first quarter of the year has gone. Time flies. I cut my hair to my triathlon days (circa 2007-2009) : short with bangs. Less well received, cos i'm fair and a lil less insane, and a tad bit more feminine.

Have i started out on my new year's resolutions? I tried. I can't quite understand where the time has disappeared to. These days, i'm more of a tai tai, far less from a triathlete.

I spent more time in golf, much more so than any other sports. Golf began in 2007, cos in my world everything's worth a shot. The ugly tan lines i now sport are almost as damaging as those of a triathlon, except i can't cover up. Thankfully these days ankle socks with heels are acceptable, for fashion. I did go cycle once, with Team HAS. Team HAS is inspiring, very inspiring, they are a bunch of hand cyclist who do triathlons. I've returned a couple of times to Monday Swim Groups. I've been doing my own runs, for now. I think i have a goal in mind : run the 21km races.

I did travel a fair bit in the last three months : Japan and Hong Kong. Both always just as fun and refreshing. I can't wait to spend more time snowboarding, or to hangout with friends in Hong Kong.

Now.... i'm in Bandar Seri Bangawan, Brunei. I'm doing what i call "my first week serving out God's word : Wives, submit to your husband". This is the first week i'm spending time alone with the husband with no disturbance, no distractions. O.. except these three lil cuties, which has me smiling all day.

Happy Easter Weekend, y'all. 

Remember it's Holy Week, be kind, and forgive & forget.

2012 Resolutions

I had one of the rarest New Year ever. I didn't spend it drunk, i was completely sober. I spent time with family and different groups of friends, had a lot of food, lots of coffee, and lots of laughter.

I suffered a mild heart seizure (very mild!) but that shook me awake. I do get chest pains now and then, but this was weird. A few friends asked if i was getting heartburn, since the feeling of a heart burn and a seizure are similar. I was pretty sure it wasn't a heartburn. That 30-seconds episode on 1st January 2012 shaped my resolutions.

For 2012,

1. i will try to be even more leaner than i am now. And fitter. Yea, i lost weight by end of 2011, but got to keep the pounds off yo!
2. I resolve to declutter. Ahhhh Yes, more decluttering. Try to keep things simple, when my life is really just like a TVB drama. I love drama & action so much i'm addicted. The only way to more calmness is to declutter. Like in 2011, the papers had said Truth hurts, and it still does... DECLUTTER
3. I will give more love to people who matter. These days, i walk with optimism in hand, and letting go a lot more. Around Christmas of 2011, a friend said to me that i'm very forgiving, something i felt shocked about. I felt touched by his words, but he may be right. I've learnt to let go of people's mistakes and what they do. We're all friends. What's a little conflict or misgiving?
4. quoting Kris Allen's song "live like we're dying", that's exactly what i'll do. When you choose to follow such a mantra, you would live and let live. A Facebook status i read recently wrote the words "never regret anything that makes you smile". I love that, don't you?

2012 is the year of change. I'm ready....