Note : Willing to try anything (well mostly anything).

A friend asked me what have I been up to lately. In response to her question,  I said, "Plenty".

Then she went on and asked me, "Anything of your own?"

I didn't quite catch the meaning of it, so I asked her what did she really mean.

She laughed and told me that usually whatever that I have going on is because of my boyfriend. I will take after whatever that he is currently into; hobbies and activities.

LOL.

Looking back at all the things I've done, it rings true for the most part of it.

I always ended up doing things that my boyfriend is doing. In my defense, it is normally because I support whatever that he wants to do and I don't mind learning and taking up the challenge even if it means that I have to do new things, things that is out of my comfort zone. Things that am not used to. (Hence the tagline of this blog).

That is where the fun lies, isn't it?
Usually the boyfriend would ask (politely most of the time), if I want to join him for *insert suggested activity here*..

Of course I would!!

I learned to surf and dive because of my ex and now am running, cycling and sketching because my current boyfriend, Mr Snots. He is a runner and very artsy fartsy kinda guy. We have been together for almost 5 years now and all I can say is that my knack of "stealing" his activities is working well. Haha.

But what people fail to see is that I don't have to try too hard to do all these new things. It usually comes naturally to me. I have always been active ever since I was in school. Even back then when I was in Uni, I enjoyed doing outdoorsy activities and I still play futsal now...occasionally. So taking up other sports or outdoorsy activities because of my boyfriend is no big deal. I can adapt easily.

Not many people know that I have always been drawing and doodling, but of course it was not to the point of what am doing now - going out sketching. I have always loved paintings in general, but to be presented with an opportunity of starting a small business of our own? No one is their right mind would want to pass that up.

I guess my relationship sparks new interests in me, or even brought out and heightened all the interesting stuff that lies underneath my mundane life. We bonded during these times and it is beyond fun that I have someone to do all these things together although I don't mind if doing it all alone either. With all that is going on right now, I am not complaining.


But really, don't you want a girlfriend that is more than willing to take up all the challenges thrown at her? You should feel loved .... or .. maybe a bit intimidated. :)

Scenes from all my cycling trips -some with Mr Snots, some I went cycling alone.

The first time I spoke of Mr.Snots to my family member, it was to Along; and his wife, and his son, the FIL, MIL. Well, I was there to pick up my birthday present from him. Approximately a year ago.

Upon hearing that I have a new man in life, and I've ditched the Ex, he immediately turned into some Pak Arab, clapping his hand in joy. They asked me a lot of questions about Mr.Snots. You know, the usual suspects. Where he’s from, what does he do, how old is he….blah blah blah. My SIL was sitting quietly looking all engrossed in her thoughts. So we continued talking about him, and Along extended the invitation for our family BBQ nite at his place to Mr.Snots. He wanted to meet him; and it was supposed to be a simple meet and greet session. Towards the end of the conversation, my SIL suddenly came up with a suggestion on what name we can use if we have kids. She came up with Suraya, and asked me to keep Mr.Snots' middle name and make it a family name. Out of no where. Tetiba jer. So malu.

So that's that.

On the BBQ night, Mr. Snots was introduced to Ayah, and the rest; Auntie Lah was there as well. If I can recall correctly, he was interrogated by Along's MIL. He was in the house sitting through a rapid fire session, and I was in the lawn BBQing. Then he accompanied my dad and my Along during dinner. Abis satu chapter.

The latest one took place last weekend when we went to his place to visit my new niece, Along's new daughter. Named Nada Zahra (makna: embun pagi yang berseri). While we were there, Nona was on the air, and they were showing the wedding ceremony between that AF judge and his bride.

So Along said, better not waste money and have this lavish wedding.

So he asked me to invite maybe 20 of my friends, and our family member, and we can rent his place for RM500 per day(then he laughed at it). Nikah at the nearest masjid, and cater the food for less than 100 people. Really simple and intimate wedding. Mr.Snots and I were smiling, but unwillingly. So he basically plan my wedding, without my consent. Great. My sister in law was giving suggestions as well.

Malu sial.

If both of them continue doing this the next time we see them, am sure Mr.Snots would end up having a cold feet and ditch me.

Of late, I have been really busy and stress with work. Taking up a RM300k project and doing it alone, gives me constant headache and drains my energy. I have been putting on weight and I do blame myself for not managing my stress well and for not being strong enough to stay away from munching every time it kicks in. Last Tuesday I had to demo the first of four modules of the application I'm currently working on, and I can say that it was a success. Everyone seemed impressed and they sure did ask a lot of questions.

At the end of the day, everyone was satisfied with the final product, and I can start working on the second module.

I have a couple of art projects in mind for the apartment, such as, mural for the dining area’s wall and some plastering work for the kitchen, unfortunately I can’t seem to get myself interested in kicking-off any of the project. I have been procrastinating, and I do not know why. Coming back from work late every night doesn’t really do any good, but it does keep me in bed longer during the weekend (This is only true when Mr.Snots isn’t around. Because if he is, then my weekend would start as early as 7am; depends on what time he wakes me up)

He always says that early bird catches the worms; although I do think at that point of time, even the worms are still asleep. But never mind that.

This month is our anniversary month. We don’t get to spend it like other normal couples do on their anniversary, but it doesn’t matter; like how my dad used to say, First things first. The stars must be aligned the first time we said Iloveyou to each other, because none of us actually thought that we can make it last this long. Both of us have strong personalities, and both are hardheaded as well.

We didn’t seem to glide through every single fight we ever had easily. It gets harder and tougher every time. Sometimes, even the smallest glitch could put us in a lot of pressure. But I do miss him no matter what. So that’s love, no? If not, then I don’t know what love is.

So baby, Happy Anniversary.

I can't wait for my Bali trip with the girls.

But kesian Mr.Snots. His birthday is on March, 30th and I'll be flying off on April 1st. This is supposed to be his first birthday that we are going to celebrate as a couple, and I was thinking of spending the whole week with him, but I had purchased the ticket even before we started seeing each other.

Speaking of trips, I have been travelling around lately. I work hard, so I balance my life with a good quick getaway to keep my mind sane.

This month is the only month that am not on any vacation or some sort. Eh but then, I was in Terengganu for 5 days, so can I consider that as handling a business and mixing it with pleasure? Not really a vacation but sort of. At least, I got to stay in a room facing the wide open sea. So oklah.

Next month, I'll be going to Phuket, with Mr.Snots and a bunch of my colleagues and most probably Pulau Perhentian in June.

People think that I'm like the super rich person that's why I can afford to go on for a vacation every month.

What people do not know that I'm a savvy traveller, and I travel cheap; oh and also a charitable Along that is easily melted everytime I tell him that I want money and I love him. Haha.

But seriously; I travel cheap.

I don't spend so much money on shopping (unless am in Bangkok).

I rather spend my time taking pictures and learning about the places am visiting.

Lying on the beach reading books, getting a traditional massage, or whatever that can help me calm myself.

That for me is a heavenly getaway.

Spontaneity

I was hunting clouds.

What was supposed to be a surprise birthday bash planned for me was canceled at a very last minute due to someone's excitement for knowing that this coming weekend is his semester break.

"Jom! Let's get out of KL!"

"Huh? You are crazy!"

He had totally forgotten about the plan he made with my darling girlfriends about my surprise birthday party. But since this is the only window of opportunity that we have to spend time together, my girlfriends let him go (with warnings of course!) and reschedule the not-so-surprise-anymore party to a more feasible time. Thanks girls, I love you guys! Thanks for being so understanding.

..sebenarnya takut bf kene kutuk ...hahahaha

So yeah, am taking a leave tomorrow because someone decided to give me an early birthday treat (as if! am sure he has something in store for him too :P), and am off to some place nice and relaxing to chill for the weekend.

Back to the 'old faithful' where it all started. ;)

The old faithful.

Loved and Overwhelmed.

Disclaimer.
This entry is so keji. You might want to puke or feel like killing yourself after reading this post, so consider yourself warned. Proceed with a plastic bag in hand if you will. You can choose to barf in it, or strangle yourself with it.

Pic was taken by Canon EOS 350d, location: Cameron Highland, Pahang

It has been two months since we first said iloveyou to each other, and I have officially shed tears for 16 times and counting; I am pretty sure there's a lot more coming my way looking at the rate of it. Tears of joy and love, most of the time; and tears of anger, for the rest of it. Anger triggered by my past, jealousy, miscommunication; you name it, most likely we have gone through it. We are still in the stage of getting to know and adapting towards each other, so we are certainly bound to make mistakes, lots and lots of it.

When I'm my normal erratic self (and this happens not just during the time of the month!!) ; I get pissed off, annoyed and feeling all sensitive easily. Thank god for the past two months, he has been coping with it quite well if I may say so. I can be so hardheaded at times, I am sure he sometimes do feel like pulling his hair when we are in that situation. But being cool and macho, most of the time, he would just kept quiet.

It is always so hard (no pun intended :P) between us, because although we share the same passion in life (read: gigantic power transmission towers perched all over the country, MatLab coding, boring engineering stuff, photography) we are totally on the extreme opposite side when it comes to everything else.

Firstly, he is more "Malay" than I could ever be. Even if I am the "Malay" one in this relationship, and he is not. He loves his ulam, like how i love my coffee. He knows every name of the ulams, rebung, pokok-pokok, like how the cows know its grass and grains. :P

He cooks, and I eat.

When we argue, I would like to talk things out, come clean and sort it out there and then, but he would prefer to be left alone. Just let him be for few hours, and then feed him. He'd be okay after that. (and that was his exact sentence mind you).

While I am more of the organized type, he is more hippie in a way. Everything with him is quite spontaneous.

While I do think more and need time to rethink the situation again and again and again..he acts on it.

He is the morning, early bird type and I'm just too lazy to wake up way too early regardless of whether it is my working day or not.

We do complement each other if you wish to see it in a different angle, but knowing me, am sure am going to make it hard for this relationship to work. I don't adapt and change my anally-retentive-strict-for-no-reason self that well. Here in this post, am giving my assurance that I am learning as I move along with him.

Certainly, there are moments that I would treasure my whole life, and keep on using it as an excuse/reason for me to work things out and go forward with him, no matter how difficult the situation might be.

There's this one time, it happened somewhere in June, when he was helping me out moving stuff from the old house to the new one. After chucking all the stuff in, we sat in the empty living room taking a breather... he reached for the guitar and started singing one song after another.

(He has this tendency of bursting into songs, using the words we use in our daily conversation as cues *looks at Leen* *Aries!!, rolls eyes*)

Then he sang me this one particular song from the Everly Brothers called Let it be me.

(i know, he is such an old soul trapped in a not so young body. He is ancient when it comes to his choice of music)

He sang it with such passion and feelings, both of us were totally overwhelmed by it. I was looking deep into his eyes, and he was looking into mine..digesting and absorbing every single words coming out from his mouth. Suddenly both of us cried, and we couldn't stop. It was such a freaking waterworks display.

That song touched us like nothing else can. We were totally absorbed into the moment and lost in oblivion. I never really cry for something so sappy and romantic, so I put the blame on the gloomy weather and the emptiness of the apartment area.

We were laughing and crying and alternate between the two like a bunch of hyenas. It was so embarrassing. *malu*

For the past 6 years that I have known him, I never once see this side of him. I don't know whether this kind of things happen to you guys out there often, but not to me.

I realized at that point of time, I want him in my life and for the first time, I feel that I've made the best decision to be in a relationship with him.