The wife's jogging.... guess I should get my sagging @$$ off this chair and jog too. She's been really good - sticking to her run around the neighborhood routine - whereas it's such a struggle for me to run 15 mins on a treadmil.
I got the girl already didn't I???
Goodness... as time goes... so does the collagen!
posted by JCandKim @5:29 PM
The wife is sleeping and it's only 10:00PM here in Flames country. Now I'm alone... as alone as I can get from now on anyways - I meant that in a good way folks!
Here we are going on our 7th week of marriage... we've already surpassed (or more like "toppled") Britney Spears' tenure into married life. Now my reason for living has been fulfilled ;) Man, I'm toxic!
After funding the payroll of both Westjet and Aircanada over the past 2 1/2 years with our monthly trips to and from, it's nice to be home and really feel "home". There are still times though when I look at the Mrs. and I feel like I should be taking her to the airport - the bags are packed, the box of frozen Grade A Alberta Beef has been taped up silly for MamaNellie, and I feel like I've just been kicked in the ________ (fill in the blank). That feeling bites big time! The wonderful, fun filled 4 day visit is over... and we're on our way back to the airport again... it feels like my guts are hanging out and I'm tripping over my spleen...
So... sometimes I'll look at her and get this funny feeling as if my body and mind has been programmed for these 4 day cycles of elation and depression. "Shouldn't I be taking you to the airport?" I'd ask myself... "Shouldn't you be packed up - you know we have to go the airport an hour prior to departure, right?"...
I'd often have to remind myself that she's here to stay - and it's a wonderful reality. No need to schedule the next visit, no need to book the flights, there's no more "I'll have a Coke please" to the flight attendant, no more vacuuming the house prior to her coming (she helps with that now!)... The house is complete.. and now it's "home".
Long distance has been really good in hindsight. You don't take each other for granted - a coffee out is a time to cherish. You realize that fighting and bickering (mostly her not me - kidding) on the little things is just a waste of precious time. ***Caveat: I'm not saying we never disagree/argue...we do. Somehow I end up apologizing though - weird... yeah - you kow how it is guys :)*** You learn a lot from each other because the phone forces you to talk. While you're apart the heart "grows fonder" making the upcoming visit incredible. With long distance, you really reflect and focus on the values you both share and the quality of the relationship. And also, you get travel points each time you travel - now I can buy those movie tickets for 10,000 points... woohooo!
Seriously though, although there has been countless times over the past two years when we wished we didn't have to do this,we are greatful for this experience. We have been so thankful for what being apart has taught us about each other, ourselves, this relationship and about life. Are we then relationship pros? By all means, no. We'll still mess up, we'll still disappoint each other... but the long distance stuff, I feel, has made the two hearts fit. And they fit well.
Well, here's my first post here. For those of you who read all of it.... SUCKER!!!
IT'S ALL A LIE!!! NONE OF IT'S REAL!!!
Alright, alright...just kidding...
Good night all & Hello Surrey!
jc
posted by JCandKim @10:04 PM
Just wanted to say belated Happy Birthday to one of my closest friends of 18 years - Florian Yang who celebrated her birthday last week.
Also, belated Happy Anniversary to Nicky and Mel - who celebrated their 3 year anniversary this week.
posted by JCandKim @7:26 PM
(1) commentsYesterday we went to Tyrell Museum with Dustin, Mike, Gerald and Skylar ...
For my dad and I - who love history ... Tyrell Museum is overwhelming with all the fossils, history, and artifacts.
The guys and I had so much fun ... it's about an hour to an hour and a half out of Calgary going towards Winnipeg. Now I understand what the prairies really look like ... flat and green.
It was quite the experience ... and I can't wait to bring dad there when he comes here this summer.
posted by JCandKim @7:51 AM
Since moving to Calgary, I've been afraid of never finding a good Japanese restaurant like the ones in Richmond. I think working in Richmond I was spoiled with all the Asian food around me.
So far - I've found a good Chinese restaurant ... Ho-Won Restaurant - where they serve the best deep fried squid ... and an amazing Vietnamese Restaurant ... but I can't remember the name of it.
And just last week, Love brought me to the best sushi restaurant I have ever had in all of BC and Calgary ... Towa Sushi ... it was so good that we had to go back today for lunch ...
The sushi is so HUGE and so fresh ... I cannot believe how good the food was! I can't wait to bring Mom and Dad there ...
posted by JCandKim @5:37 PM
(1) commentsWell, this is my first Father's Day away from my dad ... I guess this year will be a many of "firsts" ...
It also is my Kuya's first Father's Day! Even though his baby is not yet born, my brother is already a 'dad' ... wow!
On Sunday we celebrated Father's Day with my Father-in-law and the family ... had so much to eat that we couldn't even eat dinner ;) After lunch Love, Dustin, Mike, Skylar and I went driving ... it was so neat to see the small towns outside of Calgary.
The rest of the day we spent watching movies and just recuperating from our huge lunch ;)
Happy Father's Day!!!
posted by JCandKim @6:37 AM
Everything seems so much cheaper here ... NO Pst and the gas prices ... when we left BC 2 weeks ago it was 99.9 ... here it was something like 86.9.
I've tried holding back on the shopping too ... I'm always in the baby section looking for stuff to buy for Kuya and Darleen's baby. I figured I'd start buying in a couple months b/c if I start now, the baby will have clothes until he/she is 4 years old ... so I've started making lists so I don't forget where I saw the clothes and toys ;)
Today the weather is so beautiful! Love mowed the lawn and I was able to go for a quick jog around the neighborhood ...
Summer is finally here!!!
posted by JCandKim @6:52 PM
Well, I've officially been living here in Calgary for 2 weeks now ... so far ... no snow ;)
I don't think it's sunk in that I've moved here and that Love and I are really married. We're still reveling in the fact that we get to spend so much time together ... we're still in awe that our wedding was just over a month ago ... amazing how time flies.
I received this week my new drivers license ... Love was so excited that he took a picture ... it's official, my last name is no longer 11 letters long and I'm a Calgarian too!
posted by JCandKim @4:58 PM
It just dawned on me last night that I'm a housewife! How cool is that?! Never thought I would see the day ... amazing how things change.
My days are pretty busy ... in the morning we're up at 6am - get the guys ready for work and off they go ... during the day, I'm organizing, unpacking, cleaning, working on post-wedding stuff, grocery etc ... once the guys are home - it's clean-up, dinner, and down-time - so we usually watch a movie or grab a coffee some place.
I love my new role as a housewife and caregiver ... and I love it when people call and to ask to speak to "my husband".
posted by JCandKim @4:10 PM
It's only 31 more days until Kuya and Darleen's wedding ... and only 6 more months till the baby comes.
Tomorrow Kuya, Darleen, Mom and Dad are going to hear the baby's heartbeat ... I wish I was there to hear it too ...
posted by JCandKim @10:49 PM
Well, my first week living here in Calgary has been quite busy. I'm still unpacking and organizing my stuff along side of all our wedding gifts.
Last week it rained here for a couple days and everyone was asking me if the rain was making me feel home sick ;) Which it did ... i miss Surrey!!!
The funny thing is that when I'm in Walmart, Superstore & Chapters ... it looks so much like the ones back home that for awhile I think I'm in Surrey ... it's when I step outside of the store that I realize, "Hey! I'm in Calgary! Not Surrey!"
Being married is such a blessing ... we are truly enjoying married life and the day-to-day activies ... even something as simple as going out for a movie or for coffee we love ... and also the fact that every night I go to sleep I know Love will be there when I wake up ... it's so nice not having to live in 2 different provinces anymore ;)
Our long distance relationship was hard, but well worth it ...
posted by JCandKim @11:15 PM
Wow! We've been married one month already? It seems so long ago since the wedding and our honeymoon trip to Italy.
Now we're in Calgary ... starting our new life together as a married couple ...
We have been so blessed ...
posted by JCandKim @11:53 PM
[ A Picture of Thousand Words ]
Last week I had to say bye to my family and friends from BC ... here's a picture of Anne-Marie and I ... i think the picture says it all on how we felt that night.
[ It's Official ]
Well, it's official. I've changed my last name! This morning we did a lot of running around changing my name, getting a new drivers license and banking changes ... goodness, changing your name entails so much work!
But it's well worth it ...
It still does not feel like I've officially moved here ... Love and I keep expecting for another airport scene ...
posted by JCandKim @8:14 PM
[ First Weekend in Calgary ]
It still does not feel like I've officially moved here to Calgary ... for Love and I it still feels like I'm just visiting ... we've gone through moments this weekend where Love gets grumpy thinking I'll be leaving in a couple days ... then it dawns on him that I've moved here and it's not a visit ... we always have a laugh over it.
This afternoon my Kuya called - him and Darleen had a 1/2 hour layover in Calgary ... too bad it wasn't longer then we could have visited them at the airport. When I heard my Kuya's voice on the phone ... it made me so home sick ... but at the same time I was so happy and so excited b/c I know I'll see them soon for their wedding.
Every day, every moment I think of my Kuya and Darleen's baby ... I am so excited and I cannot wait for 'little Mangalindan' to join us this December. I think of what he or she is going to look like ... I'm almost 100% positive the baby will have the Mangalindan gene of snoring.
posted by JCandKim @6:31 PM
[ New Home in Calgary ]
Today is my first day as a Calgarian ... interesting since the Flames have a home game tonight ... hope they win the game tonight ... it's going to be crazy here in Calgary if they do.
Yesterday we left Surrey in the morning ... it was hard saying bye to mom and dad ... but it makes it easier knowing that i'll see them in a month for Kuya's wedding. Our drive into Calgary was nice, but at times I felt homesick and wanted to cry. I'm looking forward to my life here in Calgary - but so sad to leave my family and friends.
Today we've been busy unpacking all my stuff ... I need to learn to let go of stuff ... I am such a pack-rat!
The next little while till Kuya's wedding is going to fly by so fast ... my project for early next week is getting all my id changed from BC to Calgary ... including my last name!
posted by JCandKim @2:40 PM
[ Family Dinner & First of Goodbye's ]
Last night we had a family dinner for Vince's birthday ... it's so much fun talking and of course eating. A must try is the ube cake from Goldilocks ... just melts in your mouth!
We sat around joking, talking and playing with Lauyrn throughout the night ... one of my favourite past times is spending time with our families ...
When it was time to say good-bye ... i think that is when it hit me that I'm moving. For the past couple months, I've been trying to keep it together ... but as most of you all know me ... I'm quite emotional. I'll be seeing some of the family tomorrow night, but for Anne-Marie and Ron - I probably won't be seeing until my Kuya's wedding in July.
When I hugged Anne-Marie to say 'bye' ... that was when it hit me and goodness, talk about opening the flood gates! It's so hard to say bye to your oldest and dearest childhood friend of 22 years ... I'm so use to having Anne-Marie by my side and now it's strange that our lives are now on different paths.
I am so close to Anne-Marie and Nicky's family that it's so hard for me not to have them close by ... in the past 22 years they have become my 2nd set of parents, my brother and sisters ... how does one move away from the love and security of that?
It was so cute b/c last night Tita Lu and Ninang Luz were saying to Love ... "you're taking our daughter away from us" ... "you better take care of our daughter" ... they are so cute ...
Even though moving is so hard and so emotional for me ... as always, I think of my blessings and I thank God that I have them in my life ... I also thank God that Calgary is only a one hour flight from here ...
I'm going to miss my family and friends ...
posted by JCandKim @10:33 AM
... thank you God for our family ...
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