Life is... to live.

I drove a friend to a clinic at Stanford for her prenatal check-up today because her husband is away at a meeting in the city. A sweet lady whom I met once and got to know through an ex-colleague.

We went for lunch together before the appointment and chatted casually about life in USA. I knew from her blog that it hasn't been an easy pregnancy because she had pre-existing health conditions. I had expected her check-up to be long which I didn't mind at all and was all ready to wait with my book till she was done.

What I didn't expect was that after she came out from the doctor's, she told me that she had to do additional tests and might have to stay in the hospital till her delivery in March. I didn't understand fully what the complications are but that her condition might deteriorate very fast and the doctors wanted to err on the side of caution. I drove her to the hospital and offered to wait with her but she told me to go home first because it will be a long wait.

I'm not sure why I feel very down after hearing the news. Once again it hit me how often we take our own health for granted. I push my brain, my heart, my eyes, my back to the point of pain for work, and then to de-stress I load my body with wine, beer, fried/processed food. I never love my health.

I never stop to let myself breathe and enjoy life until now.

Funny how when I look back at the happiest moments of my life, it was when I was living on a budget. There are so many things I can't do when I am living on a budget that I start to take advantage of the free and cheap things I can do. Borrow books from the library, take a walk in the park, call parents/grandparents to talk, cook, exercise... and all these makes me feel that I'm consciously living.

Happiness really, really comes in taking time to live.

 

Third wedding anniversary!

How time flies! Mr. Jang and I have reached the 3-year milestone!

It's going to be a 2-day celebration again, as with all important dates here because of the time zone difference. Today it's just a simple dinner at home with his favourite 嫲嫲鸡粒 (yes he ate that two days in a row and he is still not sick of it for some reason) and I received a pair of gloves as a surprise present! Haha! It's the colourful ones that I saw at Mollie Stone's, and the pair of gloves made this house-elf very happy.

It's gonna be dine-out celebration tomorrow. Can't wait! :)

Burnt veggies which nonetheless taste ok!

My new cleaning gloves.

One of my funny poses... and I just realised I'm in my PJs. Oops.

All things cute!

Found these really cute gloves at Mollie Stone's. Guarantee to glam up your kitchen moments. I definitely want to buy one when I'm heading back home, if they are still in stock!

The cashier also paid us a compliment by asking if we are over 21 years old and old enough to drink when we bought a moscato. Thank you thank you from this 30 something couple.

They come in assorted colours!

Hmmm... swollen eyes cos I seldom wake up early nowadays.

Cutesy Hello Kitty shower cap

My shower cap tore last week, which resulted in me getting my hair ends totally wet in the morning. Made a mental note to get a good one when I go to the supermarket.

Was at Target this evening after dinner and surprise, surprise! After scouting the whole supermarket, the only shower cap I saw was a Hello Kitty one! Not that I mind. But what I failed to realise is that it's really for kids. I managed to stuff my hair into the shower cap at home (here's how it looks... how cute!) but I could feel the blood circulation in my head cutting off.

I'll have to return it or risk suicide by squeezing my brain into this tiny shower cap. Boohoho!

Saved by chocolate

Had a bad bout of cramps this month, an unusual attack as the last time I had it that bad was in junior college, where I puked in the school toilet and Mom had to fetch me home.

 

It must be the amount of coffee I've been drinking here. Caffeine worsens the cramp. That includes green tea too.

 

I used to take chocolate to relieve the pain but have been avoiding it cos it gives me an outbreak almost immediately. But it was so bad and I didn't have Ponstan in the house, so the only thing I did was to fix a a cocoa drink. Surprisingly, it helped a lot... and almost immediate relief too.

 

(Also used the new Starbucks mug to keep it warm. Oh yes, I got sold into the whole Starbucks culture here, coffee and mug and all the Christmas coffee editions and hence the overdose of caffeine!!)

 

Now I shall pray that this week will pass by really quickly so that I can get back to my normal life...

 

New Year's Eve

I called Mr. Jang when I woke up today at 2pm.

"Dear, I've waken up."

Mr. Jang gave me his usual what-you-slept-till-now? reply. He is forever amused at how late I can sleep till when I have the chance. And gosh do I have all the chance in the world now.

"I am going to eat cup noodles now."

Pause. Then I said something which I haven't said for a long time.

"Dear, I am very happy. Thank you for bringing me along to US."

He chuckled at the other end of the line. I imagined him shaking his head.

Sleep does wonders to a woman. Physical, mental, emotional. Really.

I am a happy woman now.