Had an Awesome Birthday

Happy birthday to me! Yesterday was awesome (despite a bit of angst in between, but what’s high in life if there’s no low?). Got up to row in the morning. Weather was (relatively) nice, sun was out (a bit) and it wasn’t raining. We had 2 quads and a double out, rowed through the cut and back. I stroked for my quad yesterday, quite rare as I typically bow and cox in quads (come to think of it, even more rare is for me to be in 2 or 3 seat). Felt pretty good to lead overall.

Digits were a little frozen after rowing so we went to Le Fournil’s with our rowing buddies/ classmates for a Mocha to get warmed up. Gossiped a bit about somebody who got blacklisted from a class. It’s a very strange scene, since people are typically very nice and friendly in the rowing world.

We then went over to OP’s for brunch. She made pancakes and waffles with fruits and we brought over bacon and sausages and eggs and made some omelets. Invited Adriana too. OP also made parfait but we were pretty stuffed after numerous pancakes and waffles and eggs, so I just had one Spent the rest of the afternoon getting the remaining accommodations for Puerto Rico and Florida booked, while watching Battle of the Wedding Planners on TLC and mimicking their evil laughs. Then we went to Target so Ani can do his returns and we picked out a couple of games (Funglish and Madgab) for the night. Rushed home got changed vaccummed up broken bulb and dashed over to Kingfish Cafe for dinner. We had drinks and chatted during the 1.5 – 2 hour wait (they don’t take reservations). Food was DELICIOSO and portions are good enough to feed 4. Mac and Cheese hmmmmmmm Thank you kutti for ordering a side. Even though it’s supposed to have onions and peppers (gagh) I only got bites of cheeeeeessseee and macaroni. yuums! and My gumbo was super tasty and gigantic. Barely took a tip of the iceberg.

Hula and Nanna got me gift cert. to JL Racing

We went to Susan’s for cake and Funglish afterwards. Cake was chocolate with custard filling super tastttty and Funglish was hilarious. We had a good time.

Woke up this morning thinking it was Monday and dreading a bit about what to wear to work and why I didn’t set my usual 6:30 am alarm. Then my 7:00am alarm came on and I suddenly remember that’s the alarm for rowing, i.e. IT’S SUNDAY! yaaaaaaay. Thank god for Sunday.

Had a good row this morning. We had 3 singles in the class, rowed out to Lake Union all the way through Fremont Bridge and down the channel. Water is sooooo calm once we passed Gasworks park and just glassy after the Fremont bridge. It was beautiful. We got some really good practice in. My hands didn’t freeze today, probably also because I was busy rowing around It started drizzling when we were heading back from Fremont, but overall it’s a nice morning.

Hmmmmm

….this whole bathroom sink pipe burst thing…

still couldn’t decide whether it’s lucky or not lucky. Lucky that Peter is around to discover it and rescue with Ben. Lucky that it’s FROM my apartment, not INTO my apartment (sorry neighbor). Lucky ( ? ) that I’ll be out while (hopefully) Ben works to get the pipe fixed and carpet cleaned. Lucky that Ani would also be around to help. Lucky that I don’t really have to deal with it at all.

Unlucky that it burst. Unlucky that some of the stuff is probably wet. Unlucky ( ? ) that there isn’t anything I can do about it, really.

I’ll have to throw a thank-you-for-rescuing-my-apartment feast when I return from California. So many favors to ask…

Meanwhile, I finally got my VS package delivered. Somehow I was brilliant enough at the time of order to have it delivered to my office instead of my home. Random pleasant surprises that I plant for myself here and there. I continue to do logical planning without much conscious decision. It just all happens on the back of my head. I guess it’s by design.

Few & Infrequent Postings Lately

Last week pretty much flew by with stress and work. Rowed all 4 days the past week, through good and bad weather.

Friday we were invited to a comedy show at Parlor Live and went to an Irish pub before hand. It was a fun night out.

Saturday was PRC (www.pocockrowingcenter.org) 15th anniversary and open house BBQ. Terrific weather and Susan and Peter came by for a free LTR lesson Very glad they got the opportunity to try rowing out. It was also very nice to finally meet some of the operative staffs and members of the center. We stayed after morning rowing for the member presentation.

Sunday morning was freezing cold and there was barely any boats in the water. There was thunder 10 till 11 and we were just heading towards U-bridge so we immediately rowed all four back to the dock :p Very happy to hear from Kip that Ani and I are ready to move up to Level 2 intermediates. We are both looking ahead to join competitive teams down the road. Went to the French Bakery afterward for some hot breakfast Later in the evening we went to Golden Garden beach for Kara’s farewell BBQ. It was cold but good to meet up with some folks.

Have a feeling that I’m becoming lactose intolerant. My left middle finger has also been acting up on me since Mt. Rainier weekend. It’s like the bone or tendon/ ligament is off or something; can’t fold and unfold naturally and can’t really use much force. Need to check it out soon; hope it’s nothing too serious.

I’m in a bit of a scattered brain mode. Maybe it’s time for some coffee.

A Sunny February Day in Seattle with My Goofy Friends

My apartment has a big window that looks out to the East. On a sunny day the view is really nice.

It was very nice out so we all headed over to the blue house for some early spring BBQ. OP made meat patty from scratch with Italian sausage meat and regular minced beef with mozzarella hearts. We ate those with pesto sauce and burger buns. yumms.

Nanna made a silly face when she turned around and saw the camera

OP decided to fulfill the Northwest profile of the socks and sandals gal

In Response to Dooce…

Got the questions from Heather Armstrong @ dooce.com. Looks like a fun exercise. So here are my answers.

1. What are your middle names?

He doesn’t have a middle name, and my middle name is really my Chinese name.

2. How long have you been together?
We’ve been dating for 514 days (or 1 year 4 months and 25 days) according to my day counter app on Google.

3. How long did you know each other before you started dating?

We first met on the Badminton court in college. We were both avid players for over 10 years and enjoy pick-up games. For 2 years we didn’t really talk, we just see each other on the court and play our games (I believe we’ve even partnered in double games, but we are both experienced enough to know where the other person is and no talking is needed). We graduated 2 years later and ran into each other in the bus close to where we worked; we exchange contacts and agreed to lunch. The rest is history.

4. Who asked whom out?

I think technically neither of us did. It was mutual understanding and affection. I might have pushed a little harder to stay together when he was freaking out about the idea of us dating.

5. How old are each of you?

We are 2 years apart.

6. Whose siblings do you see the most?

I’ve met his brother twice, he has met my sister way more. The first time I introduced them we weren’t dating yet, and then it was my big birthday dinner, and another birthday dinner, and my big Chinese New Year feast at home. There’re probably some more outings here and there with my friends when they were both present. I like to make sure my sister likes him and accepts him, or at least they could relatively comfortably be in the same room. Same with my friends and our mutual friends; I have not yet met ‘his friends’.

7. Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?

Can’t quite think of ‘hardest’ on top of my head, but one of the tougher scenarios is when he loses his cool. Both of us know and well understood that I’m quite a short circuit and I could blow up really quickly, and for a really short time. Usually he would just keep quiet and let that moment go, then I’d come back to my normal self and apologize, and cuddle to make things better. Otherwise, it’d just be a vicious spiral downwards. We’d get mad at each other for the other person being mad for no apparent reason, etc. But we’d eventually hug and make good.

8. Did you go to the same school?

We both graduated from UW. He graduated with EE master and I graduated with Business and Econ bachelors.

9. Are you from the same home town?

No. Vastly different background. He’s from Kollam, Kerala, India; I’m from Hong Kong. I still haven’t been to India and have very little concept of how big/ crowded of a town he’s from. I most often hear people comparing Hong Kong to NYC, whereas Kerala, as far as pictures go, looks like a beautiful tropical forest. The truth seems to be closer to some sort of a dense city though.

10. Who is smarter?

Depends on subject matter. I’m the planner/ control-freak so I’m really good in making sure everything is done on time and proper. Otherwise, he’s pretty smart too.

11. Who is the most sensitive?

Me… very self-conscious and needs constant reassurance/ recognition as I achieve perfection.

12. Where do you eat out most as a couple?

I’d say either my favorite hole-in-the-wall sushi place Musashi or the taco truck around the corner from his house Rancho Bravo Taco.

13. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?

San Francisco…

14. Who has the craziest exes?

Don’t think either of us has any really. If one day I became an ex of his, I would be it.

15. Who has the worst temper?

Me again. I lose it when things are not perfect that way I want it (surely there’s a range of emotions, starts from sulking to snapping off for 1 second to completely pissed off for a day).

16. Who does the cooking?

He’s the head chef; I’d help if I really need to. I don’t like to cook because I don’t have any creative ideas (in general and cooking in particular). My top of mind recipe is top ramen + fishballs, or any instant dinner like frozen pizza, canned soups, toasts, or chips.

17. Who is the neat-freak?

I just know how things need to be kept in order to avoid situations where one is likely to lose or forget about things, as well as maximizing sense of space in a small room with lots of piles.

18. Who is more stubborn?

hmm I haven’t thought about that for a while. I think we’re both stubborn up to a certain level, but not too bad really. We’ve grown up. lol

19. Who hogs the bed?

That’s up for debate.

20. Who wakes up earlier?

Me, and I stay up later too. He’s the ‘weaker sex’ (just kidding)

21. Where was your first date?

Neither of us grew up with the concept of ‘dating’ so there wasn’t really a first date, future dates unlikely either.

22. Who is more jealous?

lol ask him.

23. How long did it take to get serious?

I have always been serious. Then again, if we define serious as “planning to get married” that takes thing to a whole new level that neither of us can be sure. After all, it’s India vs. China.

24. Who eats more?

If the question is ‘who CAN eat more’ the answer would be him; after all he’s 0.7lb/ inch heavier. Otherwise, it depends on the day.

25. Who does the laundry?

We do our own. He’s the one who has piles all around the room though.

26. Who’s better with the computer?

He is.

27. Who drives when you are together?

So far, mostly me, mostly because my car is older and I have more confidence driving in the States (he’s used to driving in India where there are no lanes nor traffic rules). So when we go to Snoqualmie we’ll take focus when we’re traveling between our own place and / or other errands, he’d drive. Otherwise he prefers to drive when he’s comfortable enough.

I love him for making me a better person.