Before Taking off

Gosh, how do I even write this post. I'm in full relaxation mode, and I don't know how to switch it off to think to write this. I spent the past four days in Las Vegas. The trip was booked a month ago.  To be completely honest, I was (super duper) looking forward to this trip. Even if it was only four days. Even if it's only Las Vegas (somewhere I've been to three times already). Even if the timing of it seemed so wrong.

Yet, in the end... it was so right.

Before telling you all about the trip, I should explain the last post. Life throws its curveballs at you and you take each one as a lesson learned. As I'm growing older and growing to learn that life is much grander than the safe haven that my parents have created for me within the walls of our home, I've gotten to see some of the bad and uglies of this world. As everyone does. It's what we do with it that's important.

I wanted to leave my trials and tribulations out of this blog, but there can't be ups without the downs, so... why not? Y'see, before this blog, there was another. Three years ago, my mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's. The last post to that blog talked about how I took the news. It wasn't good. And no matter how I wished I could be as strong as some people I know, I wasn't. It wasn't the Parkinson's, but my mother accepting Parkinson's. Through the past three years, I've struggled with being there for her and being me. So many things I've done and choices I've made revolved around it. There is so much I could say, but I will leave it at the fact that it hasn't been easy. This blog is about Christmases in a cup. And y'know what I've come to realize? The darkest and saddest moments in life... are the ones that open your eyes and heart to what's beautiful.

Last week, one of my closest friend's grandmother who was suffering with dementia went missing. The people in my world used their best efforts in search for her. We posted up "missing" posters. We prayed for her safe return. We hoped for the day she was reunited with her family. Fortunately, just days before I left,  we found her. Unfortunately, she  had already passed. Today, within an hour of getting off the plane, I changed into my black attire and attended her viewing. I was with the family. In grief. In happiness (in the celebration of life).

Life throws its curveballs at you and you take each one as a lesson learned. Even through grief, there is room for happiness. Even in the ugly, there is beauty. Even when all seems lost, there is still hope. The uglies... it is all a part of life. Everyone gets them. These are mine. This is to explain my last vague post. This is also to explain that although I post all of life's fine and dandy things, we all have struggles. In no way is this meant to be a downer.

In between life's curveballs and a funeral, there was a trip. The past five trips I've been on ( in the past three years), have all been for a reason of celebrating a special event in honour of a friend. I had a blast in all of them. The next trip I had in mind, I wanted to bring my parents somewhere. But before that, I wanted to slip in a getaway just for me.  Giving myself some real time off. And luckily, I found myself an easy-going travel buddy who seemingly wanted the same thing out of a trip. To take it easy and be content with doing a whole lot of nothing.

Enough of the serious talk. Even with a post so true and blue, it can end off on a happier note. Trust me, it will happen.

The destination was Las Vegas. You're thinking long walks, clubbing, partying, drinking, gambling, sleepless nights, and total gluttony. But we did Vegas our way. Which was none of that. Quite the opposite.

And it was perfect.

See, I told ya ...

Happier note : there is still perfection.

A Calm

We hugged each other. We cried. We sat in silence. We all stared at the flickering TV playing endless commercials. We held each other's hands. We listened to each other. 

It's been an extremely difficult week for a lot of people close to me. There doesn't seem to be enough words to express how I feel and what I want to give and do. I just hope you can feel my sincerity of being there for you the best that I can be. Sending you all my love, courage, and strength. 

Family Funnies

Grandma stood in the doorway of the bathroom watching me pluck my eyebrows. After a few minutes of it, she finally said something.

"You're lucky that you have such nice eyebrows."

I was surprised to hear. Frankly, I've always hated my eyebrows, but that's another topic for another day and certainly not claiming to sound like I hate everything about myself.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, you draw them on so nice. It looks so full."

"I don't draw my eyebrows on!".

"THOSE ARE REAL??!!".

"Uhh, yes. They are real. All real. Not drawn on. Not coloured in. Just all eyebrows."

"Well, are you really my granddaughter?? I don't even have eyebrows." (Which is true... hers are so "dainty" that you can barely see them).

As funny as it all sounds, I have an inkling my grandma said all those things on purpose as a compliment. That's one thing about her that doesn't make her fit in a typical Asian family. Or, safer to say... not typical of my family. Y'see, corret me if I'm wrong, but most Asian families are not open to throw compliments of any sort. Instead, it's quite the opposite. They'll point out all that is wrong with you. Compare you to others. Maybe it's all suppose to be more humbling.

But grandma here... she loves to make me feel ... perfect the way I am.

Fatty Cow Seafood Hot Pot

One good thing about this lingering, cold winter weather is time to squeeze in another hot pot. I love hot pot. Not quite sure what is so satisfying about boiling your food and then dipping it into dipping sauce, but perhaps because your food is guranteed to be piping hot.

On this wonderful Friday, we celebrated Kat's birthday at Fatty Cow Seafood Hot Pot on Victoria Drive.

Safe to say only Asians would enjoy snacking on deep fried fish skin like chips? Eddie entertained us as usual. And Freddie was the happy cook for the night. 

Good times with some friends. 

Happy Birthday, Kat!! 

Germany

I was sitting on the couch fiddling around on my laptop while my mom was sitting on the other couch fiddling with hers. I can hear that she was watching some Chinese show of hers. A segment on the basketball player, Jeremy Lin.

My mom says : "Wow. Everyone knows about this football player."

Me : "You mean basketball player."

Mom : "Yah, Germany Lin."

Me : "Jeremy".

Mom : "Ger-man-ny Lin."

Hiiii!

In the middle of our text messages, someone wanted to say hi! His mommy sent me this photo along with the message. Gahhh, Barney is so cute!

The Vow And Always Meeting Back At Thierry

On a super dreary, miserable, rainy Friday afternoon, I trekked down to downtown to meet up with Wendy and Karen. Downtown is not my most favorite place to go on an ugly evening especially during rush hour, but hanging out with some of my bestests somehow overrides it all. As I'm slowly weaving my way through small streets in hopes to get downtown in record time (because God forbid that I'm late meeting up with punctual Wendy), I'm listening to some of my favorite David Choi tunes. It calms me somehow. Made it in record time indeed. I have my mystery back road to downtown during rush hour that never fails me.

We had a quick dinner at Guu Thurlow. Why we picked one of the most busiest and smallest restaurants in downtown when we're in a rush... who knows. We spent more time waiting for a table than eating, but the food was so yum. I always enjoy dinner time with these two 'cause the craziest conversations come out of them... so much so that I wish we weren't in a rush to go watch a movie. 

But, Wendy was set on watching The Vow. And it had to be that day. And nothing was getting in her way of it. We already made her wait an extra week trying to coordinate our schedule to watch it together. 

Of course, Wendy being Wendy wanted us to buy tickets in advance... while Karen and I laughed at her anxiousness, and said, "You seriously think The Vow's going to sell out?". 

........ who told anyone to listen to Karen and I anyway?? 

Yes. We made it in time to the theatres to find out that it was indeed full. 

"OMG, I AM READY TO MURDER SOMEONE RIGHT NOW!!", said Wendy. 

She didn't mean any one of us. She meant anyone. Karen and I looked at each other and then looked at her. Leave it to Wendy to become melodramatic over missing out on a rom-com. Karen and I laughed. "Who would have thought that they would be full." 

Luckily, we were suppose to watch the 8pm show. And there was still the 10pm show left. "Did you want to watch the 10pm show then?", Karen proposing the question to Wendy. 

"YES. WE ARE WATCHING THE 10PM. WE ARE WATCHING THE VOW TODAY!!". 

So, we were left with two hours to kill. I'm not sure where we killed time before Thierry opened, 'cause it's now starting to become routine to always end up back at that same place. With a birthday party inside, we were forced to sit outside. Under covers and a heating lamp, it was probably better anyway. So on a cold, dreary and miserable winter night... we missed our movie and ended up hanging outside. And even so, we're always in good spirits.

Fuzziness is what you get when trying to take a photo too quick.

Wendy kept complaining about her soggy socks. The rain had soaked through her pants and socks leaving her super uncomfortable. "I really don't want to sit through the movie with my wet socks. I know, I'll take off my shoes during the movie and air them out." 

Karen and I then argued about who should be the lucky one to sit next to her.

"Why don't we go to the Bay and you can buy some clean, dry socks?" Karen proposed.

So, right before the movie, we ended up at Roots. Wendy had to choose one of the most expensive pair of socks out of the most expensive place (that was still open). She rolls like that. And to boot, (or, to socks), she had to pick these. 

The most colourful socks to mismatch her neon yellow and grey runners. And wore them hiked up just like that. I doubt Wendy's fashion sense will become the next trend setter. 

But then again, The Vow did sell out.