I remember when Jian and I first started dating, I'd feel very stingy...stingy over time - not wanting to spend an extra  minute at work, but wanting (desperately, at times) to spending that time with him instead. That feeling grew less strong over the course of the 2+ years that we were dating, especially when we were both caught up with the wedding preps and all our time spent together was in the name of THE WEDDING.

So I thought that once we were married, perhaps that feeling would pop up even less - since I could now, literally, stare at him the whole night if I wanted to. But I find that the case is really quite the opposite. 

Perhaps it's just cos I'm going HOME. 

I've been wanting to blog many times now, but everytime, I sit down at the computer, I realise that I dun quite know where to begin.... Events over the last month plus have completely overwhelmed me. Not in a bad way. But I think I'm still trying to surface to ride the wave.

I love being married to Jian but life's been so different since I said "I do" and the lil mundane things still make me wonder how I came to be a wifey. Things like fiddling with the ring on my finger and realising that it's now a simple band without a rock on top; waking up in the middle of the night and realising that there's someone beside me; trying to decide in the morning whether barley or chrysanthemum should be the drink of the day; going into the shower and finding the shampoo bottle cap open (again!)...the list goes on.

I think Jian's adjusting much better and quicker to the changes than I am and he's really been making every effort to ease the transition for me which makes me wanna pat myself on the back for having married him. *grin*

Now if only there was something I could take to turn me from swinging (undomesticated) single girl to a Super Wifey...

It's less than a month to THE DAY and I'm a grumpus today. Suddenly things seem not quite how I wanted it to be or had in mind initially and the bridezilla in me goes *RAWWRRR*

Maybe it's just cos I woke up exhausted this morning.

Ok, taking a step back, I know that I took a very practical approach to this whole wedding thing. I refused to get suck into the whole "once in a lifetime" nonsense which would result in us being bled dry by all the wedding vendors. That attitude shaped a few decisions which would actually rear its snippy head every now and then and bit me in the butt, making me feel, well.....how I feel now.

But I know that I'd probably regret it even more if I'd let myself get sucked into it cos more often than not, my take to the whole wedding is that it's only ONE DAY in my life and whatever that is worn or used on that day, is gonna see the light of day for only a few hours at most so I'd rather go with something that I'm happy (and not necessarily ecstatic ) with and spend the money saved on our honeymoon and/or our apartment.

Da sista says I'm being totally unromantic about it...even if she can see the logic of it all.

...

Ok, time to snap out of this and focus on the important thing - that I'm getting a groom for my wedding that I wouldn't swop for anything! =)

We've been faffing about for awhile as to whether we should get vaccinations done for our Argentina trip especially since none of the vaccinations were compulsory but only recommended. It wasn't a biggie for Jian, but for needle-phobic me, it was a mental thing...

So even after having a few months to mentally prep myself for it, I could still feel my heart go "bi-ding, bo-ding" in double quick time when the nurse told us that it'll be 4 jabs for us to get all the recommended vaccinations. But the nurse who administered the jabs was amazing at her job and it was over before I knew it.  

It felt a bit embarassing to have the nurse talk to me like I was a lil girl - oh, we're done! you're such a brave girl! do you want a gummi? - but it did make me feel better....and of cos, I did feel like less of a kid when Jian went "can I have a gummi too?"  =p

...a week makes!

After 2 years of holding out, we've finally succumbed last Saturday and got ourselves a new addition to our "family - a black Honda Jazz named Herbie. =)

AND

After much searching and despairing and searching and despairing, we've finally find ourselves a rental place this week to start our lives together.

All this does mean that our bank account has taken/will be taking a huge beating, but at least we I can stop stressing out over where we'll be staying...

Pictures later! =)

May 2009: Sundown 10km chip time - 01:06:08
July 2009: Shape 10km chip time - 01:05:17

Ok, I know it's jus a difference of a minute and it's not substantial, but I'm still pretty pleased with the timing cos I didn't manage to get many runs in since Sundown and the Shape run was done in the morning instead of on a flat route at night as in Sundown.

But still...guess I really need to put more work in if I wanna break the 60min barrier.

Not many people get the chance to stop on the ECP right in front of the flyer, so I should take the opportunity to admire the view and take some photos. So I was told by the EMAS guys who kept me company when I had some engine trouble while on the ECP. =)

I guess they were trying to distract me from my anxiety, but really, I couldn't give a hoot about the view cos I just wanted to get off the expressway and get home!

I was driving home from Kallang on Saturday night when the car computer started flashing warning signs that my engine was overheated and I should "drive moderately" to allow the engine to cool. I was worried cos I was on the ECP and taking my foot completely off the accelerator didn't seem to count for moderate driving. I filtered to the extreme left lane and turned on my hazard lights. Then the car computer started flashing red and said that the engine was overheated and should be stopped IMMEDIATELY. That's when I freaked out.

"Oh God, please please please don't let the engine stall on me...and where the heck is the road shoulder on the ECP?!?!"

It could have been my overactive imagination then, but I got even more freaked out when I thought I smelt something burning. Thank God a small side shoulder came up on the ECP and I filtered into it even as a car honked furiously at me from behind - honestly, did he think I was slowing down to a stop on an expressway with my hazard lights flashing for fun?!?!

Made the SOS call to Dad and got out of the car to wait for help. It was a NERVY wait. The side shoulder wasn't much and the whole bridge (especially the railings) seemed to rattle every time a heavy vehicle sped past and I just kept praying that the tow truck would arrive soon and that nobody would lose control and hit me and/or the car. Very nervy.

So I think it was understandable when I hollered down the phone in disbelief when the Performance Motors call operator informed me that their tow truck would reach me in 45 mins to an hour. =S

Thank God the EMAS tow truck arrived about 15 minutes later and the guys were really nice and friendly. I think they probably knew how anxious I was cos they kept reassuring me that I was quite safe with them around cos they had blocked off a bit of the extreme left lane with the tow truck and safety cones and that the Performance Motors tow truck would arrive soon.

I'm grateful enough that I've actually taken the effort to fill up the EMAS service rating and feedback form to commend the team that waited with me on the ECP.

So that's two firsts.