The 'Dog Experiment' Results

Here's what we learnt -

• Dogs need affection and attention, which neither Sham nor I could give much of. We're not at home very much and the days are just so hectic. So, most of the time, she was left to herself to roam around our small garden.

• Dogs need exercise! Throughout the 5 days Figs was with us, Shaman only manage to take her out once for a walk around the neighbourhood.

• Dog meals should be planned in advance. We kept coming back home late especially over the weekends, so poor Figgy had her meals late too! And even then after she barked to remind us!

• Dog fur is a pain! Figgy's were all over the place! I had to keep vacuuming our patio set.

• POTTY TRAIN ALL DOGS!
  

I guess it looks like Sham and I won't be getting a dog anytime soon.

Jeez... how will we manage a baby??!

P.S. - Figgy did NOT eat my plants or kill any squirrels :)

Elbowed patient's remedy...

Two nights ago, in the wee, vee hours of the morning I was subjected to much kicking, rambling and finally was elbowed by my wonderful wife. Much of this violence I reckon was caused by my failure to be nice while asleep.

The illustration above depicts the full colour x-ray scan of Mel's right elbow which crashed into my rib cage. At the moment of impact I yelped, shouted in pain....What I got was 'huh' and a silent back to sleep gesture. Hmmph

Now you see, the glow of the actual x-ray results of mel's elbow, you see the glowing bright joint which has the potential of cracking the biggest bone in 'DALCA' curry.

So I decided to defend myself with the help of Mr. Figgs who belongs to my in-laws. I have absconded with him.... faithfully hoping that he will save me.. should this episode take place ever again. Mr. Figgs is a dog and the last post says it all, however as I left Mr.Figgs at home, she too was looking kinda weiry and scared

The 'Dog Experiment'

This is a picture of Shaman taking my PARENTS's dog Figgy into his car.

Being my PARENTS's dog, Figgy (short for Sir Alex Ferguson) should really, be in my PARENTS's house. However, during lunch at my mum's today, Shaman talked me into allowing him to bring Figgy back to our house.

Apparently, this is some sort of 'dog experiment'. This 'experiment', according to my husband, is very useful as it will reveal to us a lot of very important things - like if our home is dog-friendly enough, and if we are able to look after a dog - should we decide to get one in the future.

Okay Sham, I love you, so... whatever you say, babe!

Figgy will be in our home for 2 days (so Shaman promises), she will NOT eat my much loved and carefully tended plants (so Shaman promises) and she will NOT kill the squirrels that scamper around in our garden every so often (so Shaman promises).

No doubt, Shaman & I are going to have a very interesting weekend.

Sham's all optimistic about it.

And I'm... well, I'm...

... less optimistic

P.S. - Watch this space for updates on the 'dog experiment'.

There Is Life In Our Garden!!

All the watering and fertilizing and weeding has finally paid of!

What a treat it is to sit out at our patio in the evenings with a view like this! Praise God for flowers!

Things That Go Bump In The Night

I have a embarassing story to tell. Read on.

So Sham's been away for the last 4 nights, on work.
The first night, on the weekend, my mum & sister stayed over.
The second and third, I slept alone.

My mum & mum-in-law called everyday asking if I was ok, if I wanted them to come over and spend the night, if I knew the number to the nearest police station, etc.

I'd sigh and say "I'm fine!" "Stop worrying!" "I travel so much for work and stay in strange hotels, I most certainly can stay alone in my own home!"

I've even stayed alone in the ancient, creepy, Kuala Kangsar Rest House for two nights, what's a night alone at home, I thought!

So I slept alone those two nights and they were totally uneventful.
Last night however, last night.... was a whole other story!

I got back from work, changed into my sporting gear, grabbed my gloves and rushed for kickboxing class. Returned home, bathe and did my hair, fixed dinner & ate it in front of the TV. Went to bed at almost midnight.

Then I heard it... a loud, resounding THUMP!
My eyes flew open, and I stared out into the darkness in fright.
I wracked my brain thinking about the things that go bump in the night, and my paranoid mind kept coming back to one - an intruder knocking against my furniture!

I stayed up hoping I wouldn't hear it again... and I did!

Grabbed my handphone and called the 4-hours-away husband.
Groggy and half asleep, he convinced me that it was NOT an intruder and probably something that had fallen, a picture frame or something.
Just as I was about to believe him, I heard it again... THUMP!
and again.. THUMP! THUMP!!

I almost screamed outloud!

Shaman panicked and immediately called his folks, who live about 5 minutes away.

(Embarassing bit starts here)

They jumped out of bed, hopped into the car, and rushed over. They had a spare key so I didn't have to get out of the room and open the door for them (thank God!)

Mum-in-law walked straight up to my room and gave me a big hug. I was sweating by then! Dad-in-law walked around the whole house, inspecting every corner and every room.

We finally found the source of the noise - the water pump up in the roof.

Yes, the loud thumping sound I heard, which nearly scared me to death and forced my in laws out of bed past midnight - was from the water pump.

Mum-in-law spent the night with me and dad-in-law went home laughing his head off. God bless them!

Siiiigh..this is one story that's going to make its rounds at every family gathering... probably right up until 2035!

Now, please excuse me while I go hide my face in shame!

The STORM comes our way!

DISCLAIMER : Boring housewifey post below. Feminists, the young and hip, men - leave now.

Those of you who've been to my house, know this of me - I'm almost anal about cleanliness.

I feel shudders down my spine when guests forget to put their drinks on the coaster I provide, cry inside when I see fingerprint marks on glass surfaces and lose sleep over the fact that my fan blades have dust on them.

That's just the half of it. My husband will attest to more.

Simply put, I revel in the clean and tidy... except for my husband - him, I like messy and scruffy and sweaty, sometimes ;-)

Anyway, back to clean and tidy. A few days ago, my husband generously bought me this!

It's the STORM hydrocleaner.

You can read all about its functions in the website.
In Mel-speak, its a tool that sweeps, mops, dusts, dehumidifies, removes stains, cleans curtains and mattresses and washes carpets, very, very well and very, very quickly. In short, a heaven-sent gift that soothes my soul and calms my spirits.

No more sweeping twice and mopping and mopping again and then sweeping again. With the STORM, I do everything all at once, once!
House cleaning this weekend took HOURS less than it did all the weekends before. Phew!

Aaaand I went to sleep with a smile on my face - my house is clean, all's right in my world :)
I told you this was a boring housewifey post!!

Teen Invasion!

3 teenagers visited our home a few nights back.

My cousin, Gordon was back in town on uni break and decided to pop by for a visit with Trina & Romie. So cute they were! Chowed down 4 pizza in what seemed like 10 minutes and entertained us with their crazy chatter.

They oohed and aahed about how our home was so 'cool' and totally 'rawked', teased me over my obsession with cleanliness, threatened to jump all over my sofa, and pledged to return for sleep-ins and free food!

What a visit! I managed to capture the kiddos in action. Enjoy!

Trina, Romie, Gordon - you guys are welcome anytime! Just DON'T JUMP ON MY SOFA!!

A Boy & A Girl & Home Cooked Food

I wasn't feeling very well the other night. So my sweet husband made me lamb stew! I watched and diligently wrote down the recipe. (Yes, it's a well known fact that Sham cooks like a pro and Mel can't at all... but that's going to change because I'm learning!!)

It turned out delicious and definitely helped clear the flu bug.

We ate together by the island, talking, sharing, laughing. Life is good. And my husband is the best!

We Got Married!

We're back.

We're married and we're back!

I very much regret abandoning this blog, especially in the days leading up to the wedding. Our apologies for leaving you hanging like that! Our bad!

Much, much, oh so much has happened since our last post, the most obvious being - that we got married!

Yes, by God's grace and kindness, we are now Mr & Mrs Shaman Gaspar :) Praise the Lord!

The wedding... ah the wedding! People are still talking about it, more than a month later. It was a complete success and truly, a celebration of love!

The church was FILLED with people, so rare for wedding masses! The music was marvelous! The entire Sacrament was celebrated so meaningfully and joyfully! It was a happy, happy day for everyone who came.

The reception was a blast! It was a perfect mix of good food, good music, family and friends! It was, in every possible way, the perfect day! One we will remember forever.

Praise God!

There are tons of photos, some of which I've posted on Facebook, so add me if you wish to see them. I'm not going to post them here - simply because a marriage is SO much more than just a wedding, isn't it? :)

Shaman & I are now husband and wife, entwined together for life.

A new journey begins, and a new story. Stay tuned.