Ok, so I was going to wait to post anything until after the partying was over, but I feel inspired today plus Jim is taking forever downloading something so we can have something to listen to in the car on our way to IKEA. We're going shopping today because Jim has decided to have a Superbowl breakfast buffet and I don't think the house is in proper order to have that many people over. Sure everything was fine when I had people over for my birthday but honestly I don't remember exactly how many people were here. My birthday celebrations lasted 4 days starting on Friday and ending on Tuesday early morning. All thanks to Sim! She showed up on Friday with luggage and a plan. First, we sat around the house all day and watched LOST, my favorite show ever!! Sim has never seen it and when I was home I picked up all 4 seasons on dvd. It was fun watching from the beginning because a lot of parts I'd forgotten about. Finally we peeled ourselves off the couch and walked up to the mall with the intent of bar-hopping...we only made it as far as George & Dragon. I drank a Flamin Lamborghini, Around the World, Sambuca, Capn & Diet, and as a special treat for me, the manager Kabi brought vodka and sugar-free Red Bull!!....wait! Sorry, all this happened ON my birthday on Monday...how easily I forget...oh well I'll go in reverse then. Mel joined us and later Jim came up too. After all those drinks we decided to just bring everyone home with us and continue from there. My friend Scott came by and a few other people who I really don't know but who are friends with Sim, so they were cool, and I talked to my family on the phone and that's all I remember about Monday. I do know that on Tuesday there were still 4 bottles of wine, a bottle of Capn, and a bottle of champagne left so that means I really didn't drink THAT much.
Friday me and Sim went out. Really. We were hanging at the house all day and then decided to go back to her house for a swim before going to dinner. We met one of her friends and he took us to this Mexican restaurant that I really like and then we went to Finnegans in Hartamas. They were having a promotion that night, a popular dj from Italy and a group called the Asia Dolls. The dj was ok, we only heard a little bit and the dolls were similar to the dunhill group I mentioned last post, they played string instruments to club music. That seems to be really popular these days. But really it was disappointing because Sim and I had gotten dressed to the nine's and the show was over before 10:30 pm. We were in the mood to dance so we headed for Bangsar Village to a place called Telawi St. Bistro which is a club late nights with a dj and of course cocktails. Jim met us there and we danced and we played LCR ( greatest dice game ever!), our friend Denesh was there supposedly as a bouncer but really he sat with us and played dice and drank beer. It was a good night although me and Jim got into a "tiff" about something and he left so me and Sim had to take a cab home.
The other two days were really just recouping, watching LOST, eating and sleeping. I really had fun and now I will be all alone next week. Sim is in Singapore and Jim is off to E. Malaysia so I'm unchaperoned. I know I will be at G&D on Monday for their 1 year anniversary party ( I AM a regular ) and Friday I am going with Mel to a traditional Chinese New Year dinner. I'm really excited about the dinner, I'll try anything once...except tripe. In the meantime I'll be working on my plans for Jim's Superbowl party. It's a breakfast because since it will be live, it will be Monday morning not Sunday night like it is at home. On the menu: biscuits and gravy ( if I can find sausage ), glazed ham, cheese eggs, 2 breakfast pizzas ( one w/meat, one veggie ), hasbrowns, fruit, apple cinnamon coffee cake, bloody mary's, screwdrivers, and beer. You didn't think we'd leave the alcohol out just because it's breakfast...did ya? Soon I'll put up the pics from my birthday and CNY...til next time!!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
January 8, 2009
HAPPY 2009!!!! I know, I know it's been awhile and really I have no excuse. Many of you know that I was away in the States over the holidays and those who I saw already know what I've been up to. Today I'm feeling bored as I try to wake up, hence, a new post. I see my last post was about Langkawi, WOW! it has been awhile! I'm not even sure I can remeber everything we've done since then...I'll try my best. Hope you have some time to read this, it could take a minute.
I guess the main focus of the last few months has been the holiday season starting with Hari Raya which I described last. Well since then there has been Deepavali, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Awal Muharram, and New Years. Since 3 of the 5 holidays are well-known in American culture I'll only tell you about the other 2. Deepavali or Diwali is a major Hindu holiday also known as The Festival of Lights. This holiday signifies the beginning of the financial calendar and is celebrated over 4 days. Each day has a story behind it involving gods and battles, mothers killing sons, and of course blessings. I'm sure there were celebrations, we didn't see any, but I do remember seeing in all of the stores designs on the floor made out of colored rice, sort of like a sand design ( that's what I originally thought it was) but on the floors of the malls and no one ever disturbed them. All in all to sum it up: Diwali is Hindu New Year.
Duriing this time Jim and I were preparing for our trip home. I was shopping for gifts and he was working. One night we were invited by one of his clients to a launch party for one of their products. I'd never been to one so of course I was game. It was for Dunhill, a brand of cigarettes and it was being held on Heritage Row, a neighborhood of clubs and bars near the city center. There was a DJ, food, and free flowing drinks ( Johnny Black only, somehow Jim got vodka). Pretty typical party: loud music, crowd of people, no one dancing, everyone was very clique-y, no one socialized outside the circle of friends they were with. The highlight of the night was an all girl group who, instead of singing, played a trio of string instruments to club music. I'd never seen anything like it...very entertaining, Jim just thought they were pretty. Our host Jade was kind enough to take photos of us which include the one in our Christmas card in front of the Petronas Twin 'Towers.
So then we're off to the States, first Dallas where we visit Jim's family and my brother's family, then on to Atlanta to visit my parents and celebrate Thanksgiving and then lastly to Aurora, my old stomping ground. It was FREEZING!! I saw more snow than I care to ever again in my life. Jim only stayed in Illinois 1 week whereas I stayed 3. It was great seeing everyone and just makes me appreciate my life more that I'm able to go on vacation for a month at a time. I did miss my husband though, and my dogs, so to come home to them and warm weather was also greatly appreciated. The trip home was rough, I had to fly to Houston then to Moscow then to Singapore and finally Kuala Lumpur. Along the way I noticed my insulin pump was low on medicine and because in Chicago they made me check one of my carry-on's which had my insulin in it ( I forgot) I had to go without medicine for about 11 hours of my trip. And then my luggage was lost when I arrived in Malaysia so needless to say, I was not a happy camper when I finally saw my husband.
I got home just in time for Christmas ( I didn't want Jim to be alone) and it was a quiet holiday for us. We had lunch at Chili's, Sim came by for a visit, and then I made prime rib for dinner. We were invited to a Christmas party by Jiim's friend Andy ( Jim and Andy play poker together) so we did spend Christmas Eve with other Americans. Everyone seemed nice but we were the only couple without children so I felt a little out of place. New Years Eve was also quite subdued for us. Sim invited us over for dinner so I whipped up some side dishes and packed our swimsuits and off we went. We ended up playing Gin and watching the fireworks. Sim's house sits on the side of a hill so we had a good view of downtown and all the fireworks. There were actually 3 different sets going on at the same time. Funny part was when the show started the monkeys all gathered on the telephone wire and watched the fireworks too!! I tried to take a picture but it was too dark, it was cute though. Awal Muharram is the start of the Muslim New Year signifying the journey Prophet Muhammed made from Mecca to Medina. What do all the holidays mean for all of Malaysia? Time off from work!! I swear Jim didn't go to work for like 2 weeks, ok maybe he went 2 days out of 2 weeks, but everyone was off from work. I've never seen my grocery store so packed! The malls were all decorated with Christmas stuff and there was even a Santa Claus! Sorry I didn't get close enough to Santa to see if he was white or Malay...a Malay Santa would be weird!
So now the only things I have to look forward to are: my birthday, and Chinese New Year. I'm really excited about Chinese New Year, I want to go downtown to the festivals and see the dragons dance around. I'll be sure to take some pictures, plus I'm almost positive Jim won't have to work. In the meantime, I'm getting my house back in order since Jim was alone for 2 weeks, rebonding with the dogs, and introducing my friends to the greatest dice game ever...LCR!!! And if I didn't see you or tell you: Happy Thanksgiving! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Happy Birthday to Me!!
I guess the main focus of the last few months has been the holiday season starting with Hari Raya which I described last. Well since then there has been Deepavali, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Awal Muharram, and New Years. Since 3 of the 5 holidays are well-known in American culture I'll only tell you about the other 2. Deepavali or Diwali is a major Hindu holiday also known as The Festival of Lights. This holiday signifies the beginning of the financial calendar and is celebrated over 4 days. Each day has a story behind it involving gods and battles, mothers killing sons, and of course blessings. I'm sure there were celebrations, we didn't see any, but I do remember seeing in all of the stores designs on the floor made out of colored rice, sort of like a sand design ( that's what I originally thought it was) but on the floors of the malls and no one ever disturbed them. All in all to sum it up: Diwali is Hindu New Year.
Duriing this time Jim and I were preparing for our trip home. I was shopping for gifts and he was working. One night we were invited by one of his clients to a launch party for one of their products. I'd never been to one so of course I was game. It was for Dunhill, a brand of cigarettes and it was being held on Heritage Row, a neighborhood of clubs and bars near the city center. There was a DJ, food, and free flowing drinks ( Johnny Black only, somehow Jim got vodka). Pretty typical party: loud music, crowd of people, no one dancing, everyone was very clique-y, no one socialized outside the circle of friends they were with. The highlight of the night was an all girl group who, instead of singing, played a trio of string instruments to club music. I'd never seen anything like it...very entertaining, Jim just thought they were pretty. Our host Jade was kind enough to take photos of us which include the one in our Christmas card in front of the Petronas Twin 'Towers.
So then we're off to the States, first Dallas where we visit Jim's family and my brother's family, then on to Atlanta to visit my parents and celebrate Thanksgiving and then lastly to Aurora, my old stomping ground. It was FREEZING!! I saw more snow than I care to ever again in my life. Jim only stayed in Illinois 1 week whereas I stayed 3. It was great seeing everyone and just makes me appreciate my life more that I'm able to go on vacation for a month at a time. I did miss my husband though, and my dogs, so to come home to them and warm weather was also greatly appreciated. The trip home was rough, I had to fly to Houston then to Moscow then to Singapore and finally Kuala Lumpur. Along the way I noticed my insulin pump was low on medicine and because in Chicago they made me check one of my carry-on's which had my insulin in it ( I forgot) I had to go without medicine for about 11 hours of my trip. And then my luggage was lost when I arrived in Malaysia so needless to say, I was not a happy camper when I finally saw my husband.
I got home just in time for Christmas ( I didn't want Jim to be alone) and it was a quiet holiday for us. We had lunch at Chili's, Sim came by for a visit, and then I made prime rib for dinner. We were invited to a Christmas party by Jiim's friend Andy ( Jim and Andy play poker together) so we did spend Christmas Eve with other Americans. Everyone seemed nice but we were the only couple without children so I felt a little out of place. New Years Eve was also quite subdued for us. Sim invited us over for dinner so I whipped up some side dishes and packed our swimsuits and off we went. We ended up playing Gin and watching the fireworks. Sim's house sits on the side of a hill so we had a good view of downtown and all the fireworks. There were actually 3 different sets going on at the same time. Funny part was when the show started the monkeys all gathered on the telephone wire and watched the fireworks too!! I tried to take a picture but it was too dark, it was cute though. Awal Muharram is the start of the Muslim New Year signifying the journey Prophet Muhammed made from Mecca to Medina. What do all the holidays mean for all of Malaysia? Time off from work!! I swear Jim didn't go to work for like 2 weeks, ok maybe he went 2 days out of 2 weeks, but everyone was off from work. I've never seen my grocery store so packed! The malls were all decorated with Christmas stuff and there was even a Santa Claus! Sorry I didn't get close enough to Santa to see if he was white or Malay...a Malay Santa would be weird!
So now the only things I have to look forward to are: my birthday, and Chinese New Year. I'm really excited about Chinese New Year, I want to go downtown to the festivals and see the dragons dance around. I'll be sure to take some pictures, plus I'm almost positive Jim won't have to work. In the meantime, I'm getting my house back in order since Jim was alone for 2 weeks, rebonding with the dogs, and introducing my friends to the greatest dice game ever...LCR!!! And if I didn't see you or tell you: Happy Thanksgiving! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Happy Birthday to Me!!
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