12 Roses and a diamond ring.

26 December 2010 shall be a Sunday that I'll remember for years to come. The moment where he knelt and professed his love with tears in his eyes will be a memory etched so deeply in my heart forevermore.

I guess I have to tell you the whole story of the day it happened.

I packed my overnight bag in preparation for a 'chalet' that he said was organized by his ex-classmates. This he kinda told me a more than a month ago, so even though I had a rather funny feeling or perhaps an instinct you may call it, I asked myself, "could it be that he was going to propose to me that day?". However, everything else was normal and there wasn't any other giveaway so I just shrugged off that feeling.

A week or 2 ago he told me that before the chalet we had to head down to scarlet hotel to attend a friend's wedding anniversary celebration and I didn't think anything of it. That was a good trick to ensure that I was dressed appropriately for what he had planned for the evening!!

So that Sunday I went for a hairwash in the morning and since he wasn't going to pick me up, I took my time and he sent me a message and told me not to take too long! How I regret I didn't hurry abit more since it meant more precious time in our lovely room later on!

So we met at the hotel lobby and he told me the couple were getting ready in the room first so we could have some drinks and snacks as it was on his friend's tab. I didn't think much about it when he paid for the bill and told me his friend would reimburse him later on.

Then, he said he'd head to the counter to check out something and when he came back, there was a bouquet of roses in his hand and the little box bearing the ring! He went down on his knees, tears welling in his eyes and told me that even though it took him awhile, he is certain that he wants to grow old with me, that he promise to love me and take care of me for the days and years to come. I felt really touched but at the same time I had to admit I was really disappointed! I've always told him that I wanted a romantic surprise proposal so I would have a story that I would be proud to relate to our children and then our grandchildren because they would find it so romantic! It makes me sound like such a terrible person but right after that moment he put on the ring for me, in my head I was asking myself, "so this is IT??" I was so deeply disappointed but of course I couldn't hurt his feelings so I pretended like I was ok with it. Even when I took a picture with my bouquet and all I felt like my smile was so forced and not the least bit genuine! Haha!

I felt so bad for both myself and him I felt like I needed a smoke real bad at that moment and we stepped outside. He then said we should hurry as we should head to meet his friends for the dinner already. While catching some fresh air outside he could sense my disappointment and told me, 'don't worry ok baby? I still love you alot and the 12 stalk of roses represents 12 months a year and for everyday of each month I will love you still'... somewhere along those lines..

So he took out a room key and said his friend passed one to him and we headed to look for "them" in the room. Upon reaching the room door he even commented,"howcome its so quiet, where's everybody??' What a cunning stunt!haha His key for some reason did not work and I asked,'why dun you call your friends?' and he said it's ok he'll check with the receptionist. Thank god I wasn't too bright that moment so although I found it strange I didn't think too much.

Once he got it fixed he opened the door and I noticed there was no one else but us and the gorgeous room and he said, "I'm sorry baby looks like it's just the two of us!" I was absolutely blown away and thrilled. Nevertheless relieved that my proposal was more than what he made out to be! I literally shrieked with joy and started jumping up and down (like seriously!!) and said,'I love you I love you! thank you baby this is soo grreaattt!

He said he also made reservations for dinner and wouldn't tell me where it would be. He even did a 'cd' with his voice crooning "I wanna grow old with you". Not the best singing in the world I'd have to say but the most romantic, with the 'lyrics' pages filled with poems he wrote about me and our love.

Thank you baby for such a memorable proposal, now I can tell our children and they can pass down the stories to our grandchildren about how romantic grandpa was! I love you and I can't wait to start living our life as one.

XOXO,
Jo

pampered care bear

My $14 hair wash if feeling goooood!! Hehe right this very moment it has progressed to the massaging part.. Aaaah I could get used to this!! If only I can do this everyday like Xtine!

Dear Santa, this christmas I'm not askin for much, just make me rich so I can a $14 hairwash everyday and so I can help the poor!! Hehe

Xoxo,
Carebear

TODAY I AM BLESSED BECAUSE....

Today I am blessed because I have food on the table
Without having to beg or steal
Not having to be hungry and have no food
Food that is cooked for me while others survive on leftovers

Today I am blessed because I have shelter over my head
As with every other day of my life
Shelter that keeps me from the rain where poor people stay drenched and shiver
A home that comes with a big cosy bed
A place that keeps me safe from the outside evils of the world

Today I am blessed.
And I hope most people will be too.
That homeless and starving people are getting blessed by the good of others,
Like how I am blessed everyday of my life.

Terry Jones: Pastor or IMPOSTER (of the Devil)

Recently what hit the media like a hurricane and all over the world was news about this pastor named Terry Jones who wanted to burn the Muslim Holy book and the funniest thing he said was that the church's goal was "to expose that there is an element of Islam that is very dangerous and very radical."

What a HYPOCRITE. He should have come up with another excuse or something more convincing. Very dangerous?? How is he keeping his own Christians safe from hatred when he is taunting the millions of muslims? Who is he to judge or burn any other religions' book just because he have his own whacked beliefs? I can't believe that he is a pastor, someone whom many may look to for guidance and prayers. HOW CAN HE LEAD WHEN ALL HE SEES IS HATE??

It is people like this who makes me skeptical of believing in any religion. DONT GET ME WRONG, I JUST DON'T TRUST THE PEOPLE THAT REPRESENT! For me, I do not comprehend certain thoughts or rules that religion practice but I always respect that people have the right to choose what they want to believe or practice. I look at it from a cultural perspective. As with religion, people of different races have different practices, some a little weirder than others but it doesn't give us the authority to mock them or to think that we are better than them. We should accept that we are just different.

With a moment of Hate, creates a moment of Folly and when the emotion of hate blinds people, they do things that are way out of logic. Every religion have had bad people doing bad things but I am sure that it is not what their religion preaches and encourages. I believe most religions teach promotes good behaviours like not cheating on your spouse, not to be greedy and to help those in need. The worst ones are those that use religion as a cover, whenever it feels convenient to so call bring justice to their actions. All these are bullshit and I feel that followers of religious leaders have to be logical and not just follow their guidance blindly. THERE ARE MILLIONS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR DO NOT HAVE THE BASIC NEEDS LIKE SHELTER AND FOOD. Those are the issues we should really concentrate and act on.

Love: The 7th year itch

Is it true that in love, there is something called the 7th year itch? If it is true indeed, I must be feeling it today. Lots of it.

It started when I asked my boyfriend to do me a favor: which was to pick up some traditional malay clothes from our mutual friend's house as I had to wear it to his house tomorrow since it was Hari Raya. He would have been off work half day today and I was to finish only at 8.30pm and wanted to hit the gym after. He did not want to and I guess on my part I should try to understand as he probably had much to do at home like help his mom prepare for the festive period. It was almost 1am and he called me to do a favor to pay for some minor stuff as he left his internet banking equipment and it couldn't wait till tomorrow. I felt agitated since he didn't want to do me a favor earlier on and now he is only calling me when he need mine. What a selfish bastard right?

Times like this I feel like I deserve better and suddenly listening to his impatient voice over the phone turned a sour tune in me. JADED is how I feel. Sounds like a harsh word but I couldn't find another gentler word that could accurately describe how I feel this moment.

It worries me... the last time I felt this way ...we both felt the same and parted ways. Is there a way to not take each other for granted? Or is it inevitable since we've dated for such a long period? We're are planning to get married at the end of next year and for the very first time it scares me that I might not be ready for fear of what our future might hold. Will we last the test of time?? I wonder how many of you out there experience this. This is so not normal for me :'(

Autobiography Part 1

Flipping through the old dusty albums I started to ponder about my childhood. How much of it do I really remember or from what age do memories start to form? I do remember though that my dad was always the control freak, from how we should dress to go out to the way we walk.

My sis and I were always made to wear similar looking dresses as we were both a year apart and I grew pretty fast so we were about the same height. I guess my parents got a kick out of it cause it made people around stare at us with those adoring eyes and gush "they are so cute, are they twins?" The worst outfits were those princess looking ones in some kind of tulle material which were awfully prickly and which we hated and also that very odd umbrella hat which made us look like abandoned animals from some circus. You have to believe me it was THAT BAD!

I think times like these were the only time that me and my sis agreed on the same thing. We never really saw eye to eye on anything. I must have been the more dominant one or you could call me, 'the bully'.

This brings me to a particular memory. Our little brother Dennis must have been about 1 year old and she was tickling him on a high mattress. He was certainly enjoying it, exploding in giggles and when I walked into the room, I felt fiercely protective of him. At 13 I had that motherly instinct to stop what was going on, fearing that he might accidentally roll off that high mattress and fall to the ground. The consequences would have been unimaginable (or so I thought). I scolded my sis and told her to stop playing with him but she wouldn't listen and I raised my voice again but she paid no heed. Furious, I walked over to her and slapped her on the face. I don't know what really made me do it but it happened anyways and immediately she broke into tears and told my parents about it. My parents of course scolded me but I told them what happened and they scolded her too.

We had a love-hate relationship, or I guess its what people always refer to as sibling rivalry. I couldn't stand how childish she was and she couldn't stand me either. But I would always feel protective of her, such that if anyone were to bully her I know I'd stand up for her. Now that I'm 26 and she's 27 though, we definitely have drifted apart. Even though we live under the same roof, its strange but we can go on days or even weeks of not talking to each other. My brother and I always think she lives in a little bubble world of her own. That I will come to again when I tell you more about her.