Gloved and loved ;)

I got me my gloves!!!! Okay, actually Eric got me my gloves. Bf rocks! ;)

I'd been looking for fingerless gloves for a looooong time. So hard to find! So today, hitting the Bugis dive shops on a whim (we had a bit of time after our last FSC pre-marriage counselling session =P), I wasn't all that hopeful we'd luck upon a nice pair.

The first couple of shops we came across were closed or closing. Saaaaad. But there was one that Eric wanted to check out at the end of the street, and it was still open! We walked in and they were like, "Sorry, we're closing in 5 minutes." Arghhhh!!!

So okay, gloves. Not that hard to check out, right? I turned around and there they were, a whole rack of gloves. Red gloves, yay!!!! They were all too big though, even the S size. Didn't they have anything smaller? Luckily the dive shop dude was really helpful and said, "Here, try this pair." And they were FINGERLESS GLOVESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

Look Ma, no fingers!!!!!

I pulled them on and they fit like a dream. Eric took one look, smiled and said, "Done!"


For protection, insulation, and the cool factor.

Aaaaaaaaand I have me my gloves. Tada!!!!



Gloves bagus!

Almost ready for our first dive trip together. Make that our first trip together, EVER. I know, so guai right? Haha. Can't wait to be back in the water... Bintan, here we come!!!!

Gorgeousness

Got our bridal shoot photos!!!!! God, they're beautiful. Heehee. Not gonna upload them on FB till after the wedding - our lucky selected guests will be the first ones to see them at the wedding itself ;P Just one little photo as my profile pic, as a teaser. Can't wait for September... 3 months to go!!!!

Princess me!

Second photoshoot done! Yayyyyyyy!!!!!!!

Thank God for holding the rain - perfect weather while we were shooting outdoors, and it started raining the moment we stepped into the car right after we finished shooting at our last outdoor location. We were praying that the weather forecast was wrong, and God must have heard our prayers! :)

Thank God for wonderful vendors we can get along so well with. Our bridal boutique, Blessed Brides, kindly let us use their premises for my last change of look today. The shop assistant Sandra was super helpful, even offering to help me 'undo' my hair at the end of the day (I had a zillion hairpins stuck in my gloriously messy 'do). And the dresses! The dresses! MY dresses!!!! Love love love. I'm so glad we discovered this little gem of a shop with the pretty, pretty frocks. Sigh. Makes me wish I had a few more changes of dresses in my shoot ;)

My hair and makeup artist Ivy is fantastic. I gave her photos of the looks I wanted and she just... made them happen. Impressed! Three lovely looks, complete with gorgeous hair accessories and jewellery (shiny shiny!!!!). I wish I could get dolled up like that every day. Dressing up is so fun! =P

Actually, make that 'photoshoots'. Photoshoots are so fun. Monica, our photographer, is such a joy to work with. She makes it really easy. Plenty of suggestions and direction - always a good thing.

Monica: "Girl ah... chin up. Uncle, don't smile so cheesy, can?"
Eric: "I only have one smile, and that's cheesy!"
Me: ...

(Notice she calls me 'Girl' but Eric 'Uncle'. She started off calling him 'Boy'... wonder how he became 'Uncle'. Heehee. Confused my dad once when he was standing nearby. Monica said 'Uncle', meaning Eric, and my dad responded instead! Heh.)

Eric and I did insert a few ideas of our own too. I hope(!!!) that between the three of us, we came up with some really fresh and personal shots! Can't wait for the photos...!!!

Thank God for Dad, who was our very patient and helpful personal chauffeur today. Love you so much, Dad. You're the best!!!

Thank God for Mom! Her attention to detail is awesome. She spots the little things that everyone else misses. Maybe it's a mom thing, I dunno. Whatever it is, thanks Mom!!! You saved me from, erm, a misplaced bustier and 'sideburns' today. Heh. And thanks for lunch and handling the balloons and flowers. We wouldn't have kept to the schedule without your help ;)

And finally... thank God for wonderful HTB who made me laugh 'naturally' throughout the day, helped me totter around in my killer heels and carried them when I gave up tottering in them (my feet will look great in the photos though!), gamely held the same poses until we got the shots we wanted, kept me hydrated while I got my hair done, and told me how pretty I looked the whole day long ;)

This is one of my fave moments of the day (apart from each time I took my heels off!):

Eric and I are waiting outside the bridal boutique for Dad to pick us up to go to our last location. I'm all togged up in a gorgeous evening gown with a gorgeous loooong train, ears and neck sparkling, birdcage veil coquettishly over one eye. We're talking and laughing and all excited. I'm feeling like a million bucks.

Random lady comes up to us and touches me on the arm. She smiles and says, "You look so beautiful, just like a princess."

Awwwwwww. That makes me SO happy. Haha.

And then Eric says, without missing a beat, "She's MY princess."

Eeps. Now I feel like a BILLION bucks. Hee! ;)

Eric's super bingo

The bf proposed at Marina Barrage today over a game of Scrabble. He was hoarding letters and grumbling that he couldn't get the ones he wanted. "Can I change letters again? I keep drawing the same ones!!!" Good thing I let him.

Eric prepared a yummy spread for us. Potato salad with bacon bits, chicken chunks, sandwiches and grapes. And how do I know he loves me?... He put cheese on everything. Except the grapes. :)

Enjoying my sandwich. Eric's specialty. Luncheon meat, cheese, and lots of love.

"I just need a 'Y'... if I could place my letters, I think it will win me the game." I thought he was saving for some funky bingo word. He was saving for two words, actually. And yeah, they won him (a lot more than just) the game ;)

He never actually got his 'Y' because I had it. And I refused to trade it for his blank tile. He didn't want to use a blank because "blank got no points".

So how? He finally gave up trying to draw a 'Y' from the bag and said, "Ok, for illustrative purposes, let's say I had a 'Y'"... and he took my 'Y' from the board, put it in his tile rack and spun the board around to face me (he later told me he'd bought the Scrabble Deluxe swivel set just for this).

His proposal...

When I saw those two words, it took like 3 seconds to sink in. And then he pulled out the ring. Surprise!!!! =P

I cried, and then I laughed, and then I laughed and cried. I hugged him. And then I placed two letters under his tile rack.

...and my answer ;)

That's a bingo. The best one Eric ever played :)

Oh, happy day ;)

Bald and beautiful

I did it. I shaved for Hair for Hope!!!!!! See?


Check out the vid my darling boyfriend did here: Mel loses her hair!

I kinda like my new look, to be honest. It's lighter and cooler, I don't have to wait for my hair to dry after my shower, and certainly no more bad hair days =P I get to try out new looks with caps and scarves, and certain people pat/stroke/rub my head a lot these days (I won't name names) - it's actually kinda soothing. Like a head massage. Haha.

Anyways, really really glad I did it, and so happy and thankful for all the generous donors supporting me in my effort to raise funds and awareness for this cause. To date, I have already raised over $700 - I'm hoping to make it an even thousand :) So if you aren't already one of said donors and wish to be, make your donation today!

Do it for the cancer kids. I did ;)

1 more day!

Hey people,

I'M LOSING MY HAIR TOMORROW!!!!!!

Come support me at Vivocity Central Court (Level 1) at 3pm. The event's on from 10-8 so you can just come check it out yeah.

Thanks to everyone who's supported this cause so far! Anyone else who would like to do so can make a donation at Shave Mel. I'll also have my pledge card till mid-August.

Hairless photos to come...

See ya tomorrow!!!!! :)

For honour

The Girl Guide Promise

I promise to do my best:
To do my duty to God,
To serve my country and help other people, and
To keep the Guide Law.

It's amazing the things I remember from Guides. 12 years since I last wore the uniform, and the Promise is still word-perfect. And it's not just the Promise. I can see Guiding in many aspects of how I live now... I think Guides had more of an impact on my life than I ever realised.

Here's one of the old campfire standards. I remember the first time my Company Leader taught us this song; the look on her face was so solemn. It really impressed me that she took these words so seriously.

On my honour I will try,
There’s a duty to be done and I say aye,
There's a reason here for a reason above,
My honour is to try and my duty is to love.

People don’t need to know my name,
If I’ve done any harm then I’m to blame,
If I help another I help me
If I open up my eyes to see.

Yeah, good words to live your life by. Not ever for personal glory... but always, above all, for honour.

No hair, much hope

Phroooooo!!!!! Ok, now I've really gone and done it.

Ahem, ladies and gentlemen, I have a shocking (to most of you, anyway) announcement to make... in 57 days I will be losing my hair. Yes, voluntarily. Yes, ALL of it.

Yes, I will be going botak.

This July I will be taking part in Hair for Hope 2010 in aid of children with cancer.

Please join me in supporting this cause by making a donation at
http://www.hairforhope.org.sg:8080/hfh/donation/create?shaveeid=626

Thank you for your generous support (I have so much faith in all of you!) and all the good-natured ribbing I know I'm going to get along with it.

I'm so looking forward to 25 July ;)

Happy anniversary

Thank you for a wonderful dinner. Thank you for the music. Thank you for the surprise dedication. *HUGS* Thank you, sweetheart, for a night to remember ;)

I love jazz - good jazz, and this was good - it just makes me so happy. I don't know if you noticed, but I was grinning like a maniac throughout Ruth's set. And then she said, "This morning I got an email from Eric and Mel..."

Hee. Eric!!!!! That was so cute. I can't believe you told her you won me over with her songs! And I can't believe she said it in front of everyone! Hahaha. That was a sweet moment. *blush*

I love the lyrics in the song she dedicated to us:

I can change the world,
I will be the sunlight in your universe
You would think my love was really something good,
Baby if I could change the world

You know what, darling? We are going to change the world, you and I. We'll make the world a better place - I truly believe we can and will achieve that. And I am so so glad we're gonna be doing that together.

Know something else? We've already begun.

Play with me

"Look!" says the boyfriend, "Race For The Galaxy, online!"

"You're playing it? But I thought you didn't like the game at all!"

"I don't. I'm just practising so I can play it with you."

*grin*

Blogs and eggs don't mix

Note to self: The boyfriend's blogging is cycle-dependent... mine, apparently.

Me: Hey, you don't blog anymore.
Him: I don't want to make you cry.
Me: But they're happy tears! You can make me cry as long as they're happy tears.
Him: Yeah, I'll blog... eventually. Actually I'm just trying to avoid the emo streak.
Me: ?
Him: You know... when you're done ovulating.

Ok, this relationship is getting complicated. Heh.

P.S. Done! You can blog now =P

Love, me

To family, friends and my dearest significant other... to all those I love and those who love me (I hope this works both ways!)... to lovers and dreamers... Happy Valentine's Day! ;)

His name is Eric

He makes me laugh. He tells me I'm beautiful all the time. He sings to me when we're alone. (He calls me up at 6am just to sing 'You Are My Sunshine'!!!) He tucks my hair behind my ear and then kisses me on the nose ;)

He quietly takes my bags so I won't have to carry them. He's not afraid to carry my handbag (though I don't let him do this too often!). He patiently waits for me and never ever complains. He spends an hour sending me home, and then another hour getting back to his place.

He keeps me from getting lost. He gives hugs freely. He says the sweetest things - and really means them.

His name is Eric. He's the boyfriend who rocks.

I thought you'd never ask

But you did ;)

Happy birthday dearest! *hug*

Suan me. Suan me now.

I am She Who Walks Into Plants. No kidding.

Our first cell group meeting was hilarious. You had to be there. We had a new girl, Camelia, and I *think* she liked us =P another Harry Potter fan! The girls are so gonna do a movie marathon before the last two movies come out *grinz*.

She'd studied in Sydney, and we wound up telling her about Sam and I visiting Lis there. I said it was a fun trip, except Lis and Sam ganged up against me the whole time. Like when Lis signalled to me to get off the bus and I signalled back that I got it, but *apparently* they both thought I just looked blank. They call this look the 'elevator music' look. (This is in the June 23, 2007 post - I knew I blogged this!)

Humph. So anyway, as I'm telling this story and pouting that my best friend(!) and my own sister(!!) like to gang up on me, my dear Europe holiday buddy Siew May, who's sitting on my left, chips in, "Actually, yeah, she does have that blank look on her face when she wakes up in the morning..."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boo. So much for support from my girls.

And Sam proceeds to recount the 'wrong cinema' story. You know, the one where everyone's waiting for me at Cineleisure, while I'm racing to PS to try to make it in time for the opening credits. (Or was it the other way around? I forget.) Anyway, I make it to the cinema *just* before the movie starts, can't find anyone and call Sam. Only to realise I'm at the wrong cinema. The best part? The tickets had been booked by (you guessed it) yours truly! I remember Pete saying "We'll kill you later" as we finally ran into the right cinema hall. Sorry guys =P

In my defence, I said at least I didn't get lost (for once) getting to the cinema. I just went to the wrong one!

All this time Jason sits across the table with this bemused look on his face. We all know what he's thinking... "Suan me. Suan me now!" Heehee. Well, it IS good entertainment right. Like Camelia said, I bring happiness to everyone. Yeah, 'cos everyone's definitely laughing now ;)

And to compound the evidence for my utter lack of direction, I take two steps out the door as we're leaving... and walk right into a neighbour's plant. "OW!!!!"

Now how on earth did I do that????? Sighness. Now I know where all these scratches that mysteriously appear on my arms and legs come from...

I gotta say though, I really do *heart* my cell girls. I love how they're always there for me, for meals, movies and mayhem (I mean, er, holidays). Already May and I were planning our next Europe trip over dinner before cell. Italy!!!! Whee!!!!!!!! Sam - 15 years of history. *Ouch* =P And I'd had an awesome lunch with Jess that day - always a pleasure babe ;) Glad I still get to see you even though we've split. Honestly, what would I do without my girls?

... Mmmmmm well. I'd still be laughing at myself I guess. But I'd have less people to laugh with me ;)

It's You I live for, everyday

First CG meeting of 2010 tomorrow (technically, later today, heh). Super excited!!!! Still choosing songs for worship. I thought I'd decided already, but now I'm reconsidering. Wondering whether or not to include this one... it pretty much sums up all that I hope to see for each one of us this year.

Everyday

What to say, Lord? It's

You who gave me life and I

Can't explain just how

Much You mean to me now

That You have saved me, Lord

I give all that I am to You

That everyday I could

Be a light that shines Your name

Everyday, Lord, I'll

Learn to stand upon Your word

And I pray that I

I might come to know You more

That You would guide me in every single step I take, that

Everyday I can

Be Your light unto the world

Everyday, it's You I live for

Everyday, I'll follow after You

Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

Everyday, Lord, I'll

Learn to stand upon Your word

And I pray that I

I might come to know You more

That You would guide me in every single step I take, that

Everyday I can

Be Your light unto the world

Everyday, it's You I live for

Everyday, I'll follow after You

Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

It's You I live for, everyday

It's You I live for, everyday

It's You I live for, everyday

It's You I live for, everyday

Everyday, it's You I live for

Everyday, I'll follow after You

Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

Everyday, it's You I live for

Everyday, I'll follow after You

Everyday, I'll walk with You, my Lord

And you wonder why I care

Trawling. It's a little bittersweet. I'm discovering a lot. And a lot of it makes me smile. Ah well. Que sera sera.

Anyway, I think I've gotten to the point where I'm happy to do it. And it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Yay me!

You know... I think I'm actually enjoying this. Quite a fair bit. And that's a very good thing ;)

Two weeks

Happy New Year y'all! It's 2010 already. Woot!

Last year was a year of ups and downs for me and mine. Who knows what this year will bring? Already it's off to a rollercoaster beginning. Each day a new surprise...

Well, I don't know about tomorrow... but I know Who holds tomorrow ;) So I'll start the year trusting Him, and hope I'll keep trusting Him all year through. It's the only way!

________________________________________________________________

I think I experienced a brief moment of self-doubt today. I was almost tempted to emo. Sheesh. I had to remind myself why I'm doing this. And the reason is enough to keep me going. (It's a good one.) And so instead of emo-ing, I started praying. And found my peace in talking to God.

Incidentally, I know I'm experiencing personal growth when something that would have sent me into a tailspin barely 12 months ago now drives me almost immediately to my knees. Looks like I have found a good balance after all. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

________________________________________________________________

(In case you're actually reading my blog.)

Have you heard the story of the boy with the ball of golden thread? You probably have. If not, I'll tell you the story some day. Anyway, here's something that popped into my head on the train ride home. I'm writing this down before I forget.

********************************************

The boy with the ball of golden thread
Wanted too much too soon
So he skipped all the stars of the Milky Way
'Cos he wanted the Sun and the Moon
But the Sun burned out and the Moon grew cold
And before he knew it he'd gotten so old
And he'd missed the beautiful stars of the Milky Way
'Cos he wanted too much too soon

The boy with the ball of golden thread
Wanted to shed no tears
He shielded himself from each demon and ghoul
'Cos he wanted to face no fears
But he felt no joy 'cos he felt no sorrow
And with nothing to fear all bravery was hollow
So the boy with the golden thread lost his soul
'Cos he never shed any tears

*********************************************

As if it wasn't obvious enough, this is a little bit you and a little bit me.

You were right (mostly). I was wrong (sort of). But it'll still be two weeks till I say I'm sorry.

Time goes by...

Why do we love? Because we were first loved.
Why do we give? Because we were first given the gift of life.

Keep loving. Keep giving. Keep living.

Merry Christmas y'all. Hope your Christmas was as meaningful as mine ;)

Leave, love

It's quiet when you're not around
But then you're never really gone
You exist in the starry skies
And in the words of this song
You're like the pull of the ocean-tide
And I'm carried along
Do I mean something to you, love,
Or am I just another heart you've won?

When I look at you I see
A tiny part of me
When you're looking back I wonder
If we could ever be
Looking back and now we know
That nothing comes for free
We've paid our dues, we've earned our right
To possibility

Leave, love, while I'm awake
Let's not recall the give or take
Leave, love, just leave me here
Leave while I still hold you dear

Tomorrow's coming soon enough
We're never out of time
Regret belongs to yesterday
For tonight you're mine
I was all right before you came
And I'll always be fine
But darling, if you steal my heart
You'll have to pay in kind

Leave, love, while I'm awake
Let's not recall the give or take
Leave, love, while you still can
Don't tell me that you'll be my man
Leave, love, just leave me here
Leave while I still hold you dear
Leave while I still want you near

The funny thing is... I think I want you to stay.

Everyone's a winner

Completing a marathon isn't easy, but it is simple.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. And listen to the voice inside your head.

"Run."