Catch (up with) me if you can!

Since so much has happened since I last posted, it would only be fair to my posterity (and my future self, if she ever bothers to read this) that I fill in the blanks.

I talk about some pretty significant things here. Because I'm evil, I'm going to make you dig for the good stuff: So baby READ it!

Thursday, April 1

April Fools. For April Fools, it totally sucked. I mean, I had a great day, but it was just an ordinary day: I didn't play a single prank on ANYONE!!!! I KNOW! It's unbelievable. The prankster of pranksters didn't do a thing on April Fools'. I must be growing up or something [Panics!]

Actually, it was the lack of planning on my part. I could have pulled off an engagement thing like Jared attempted to had I prepared for it. But Mark and I already pretended to be engaged once. Hehe. It was so funny - his roommate REALLY got engaged that day and we totally ruined the news. Then of course there was Daniel who made us feel so guilty about lying to him. "I've been thinking about it and it just feels right!" The poor dear.

On the bright side, I wasn't anybody's victim either (unless I'm so dense they got away with me being completely clueless, but I doubt it) although it would have been something to contribute to April Fools'.

Lyanne called me at work that day to invite me to a movie that Yong Seng was planning to go to "Along Came Polly". I was more than happy to go, of course. Being paranoid, I was worried about it being some sort of joke. Determined to come out victorious, I schemed a prank and called Kheng Saik to be my accomplice.

Oops, wrong guy.

I can't believe he wasn't up to holding hands with me for a few minutes to pretend that we were dating. Still, if I had known that he'd never had a girlfriend before, I would have never asked. Ah well. That fell through.

Last year, Jared and I had just broken up before April Fools' and everyone thought that our prank was that we had broken up. lol. The joke was on them in the end either way.

I tried calling Mark and Jared on April Fools' (mine and theirs) to pull something off but nope. Mark is ignoring me and Jared, well... he must be smarter than I thought. (And that's saying alot) I couldn't get a hold of either of them and didn't think to call my sister once. Darn it. She would have been an easy target.

I take back the statement about not beeing a victim of any practical jokes. I think the whole world's prank on me was not to let me be successful at fooling anyone. Blah.

And thus ended the first day in the forth month of the 2004th year after the birth of Christ.

Friday, April 2

I went to teach piano at the music school. My first student was a Malay kid named Hilmi, a beginner who wants to learn all the tough songs. Ech. I made the mistake of asking him how old he was: 22!!! @#$%&*!!! I can't teach a guy who nearly fits in my dating pool. Ok, he DOESN'T fit in mine because he's Muslim (not LDS either way) and his breath smells of cigarettes. (Could you imagine kissing a guy like that? Ok maybe YOU have, but I certainly don't plan on doing that. Ever.) What I'm worried about is that I fit in HIS dating pool.

Either way though, I'm worrying over the wrong thing. I need to be telling them that I have to ditch them for Hawaii in a couple of weeks and they willl have to look for ANOTHER teacher! I don't know how to break it to them.

I met the teacher I was replacing, Jeanie, a cute 25-year-old Chinese girl from Miri (that's where Lyanne's from!) and we just hit it off immediately! I found out that she has been approached by the missionaries before and has our "blue bible" the Book of Mormon and that her Dad in Miri was visited by Elders too. I invited her to church and she just might come sometime. They're Roman Catholic though, like 4th generation or something. Anyway, missionary opportunity or not, she is just one heck of a cool girl who would totally get along with our group of friends and I went home just walking on air just from meeting her. Strange huh? Like love at first sight only it's a she and I'm not a lesbian or bisexual.

Sheesh. Why can't that ever happen with guys?

But wait - there's more! I go home (so elated that my brothers had to ask me what I was so happy about) to guacamole and American sharp cheese and homemade salsa and tortillas!!! You have no idea how rare that is here. Oh gosh. I'm hungry now.

And then as I'm eating and talking to mom about Jeanie, Ernie comes up to me and says: (hang on to your seats, this is the gold nugget you've been waiting for)

"Did you know that the separation is over?"

[blink blink]
[look over at Mom for confirmation]

Yep. Mom talked to Dad that morning/night before(?) (My timing is all messed up now, the weekend was a blur and it's already Monday) She saw his eyes all puffy and asked if he missed her. Of course. They talked things out and decided to work on it.

Wow. Ok. I have to admit, it's not news that makes me HAPPY. Relieved, yes. But not happy. I guess it's good because now I know that I didn't let it affect my happiness. In a way, I felt like "WHAT - ALL THAT DRAMA FOR THIS?!" Seriously though, I am worried. I know that their issues haven't been completely resolved. I don't want them to sweep this under the rug and move on like they did the million times before going further and further in the wrong direction.

More talking to Mom has reassured me that this isn't the case, and they realize that it's not over. There's just that difference in giving up (as in separation that leads to a divorce) or deciding to stay together and working out the bugs.

Maybe this news hasn't been phenomenal because I had put this whole separation thing behind me and since Dad had been over frequently anyway (just about as frequently as when he lives at home since he's always mostly lived in the office) it was easy to forget. I also gave up worrying about it because I could never figure out what to think.

My reaction to this news is what worries me the most. It’s a relief for me that I wouldn’t be leaving Mom in the middle of a separation when I go to Hawaii in 2 weeks (my decision is, as usual, to not make a decision and just go with the flow) I simply don’t like the way I view marriage right now. I had convinced myself that it was a dead end and my parents would be happier after a divorce. Am I going to view my own future marriage that way and quit after a few problems? What happened to the sanctity and eternal nature of marriage concept that I had?

I’m glad this isn’t the end, really. So now, my parents back together and I am going back to Hawaii? What’s there left to blog about?

How about the next day?!

Saturday, April 3

I woke up when my class was supposed to start! I had planned to cycle to the music school (which is in the mall near my house, Ampang Point) because I nearly killed myself with parking fees the day before. But since I was in a hurry, I drove to work and paid for being late. Literally. I didn’t get into any trouble for being late, and it wouldn’t have mattered either way since I’ll be outta here soon but I still felt really bad.

During my lunch break, I was eating at a table by myself. The table was at the very edge of the restaurant so I was right by the display window of the next store and this guy who was window shopping right behind me suddenly decided to strike up a conversation.

Ok, I’m sure he wanted to strike a conversation with me so he “casually” went to windows behind me to get within the vicinity of a conversation. Hello, FREAKY! I’ve forgotten what it’s like to get hit on and anyway he was one of the sicko types. *shudders* WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THE SICKO TYPES? (Ok. Not true, once in Hawaii, this total hottie hit on me on TheBus. I wonder who I’d date if I didn’t have “Mormon” as a criteria…) Speaking of sickos, I never did tell you guys about the [insert the ghastliest word you can think of here] taxi driver I encountered last year. Scared Mark half to death (we were still “dating” then. Long distance) and I didn’t tell anyone else about it so they wouldn’t freak out and get all over protective. I’m generally friendly and love talking to the taxi drivers… ya know, ask them about their family and stuff. I had asked this guys about his wife and kids. When I found out how many kids he had, I asked if he was planning on having anymore. My Malay must be bad and he thought I asked if he was planning on taking anymore WIVES (the Muslims are allowed to take up to 4 wives here – and you persecute the Mormons for practicing polygamy way back when. Sheez) and he asked if I was interested.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWWW [puke]

No, it gets worse. As usual, I was too afraid to be mean and I just laughed it away. You know, the nervous machine-gun laugh (the cute one that Bert does). We were getting close to home, thank goodness. You think that’s bad. No, when you’re at the front door of WHERE YOU LIVE and you’ve paid the taxi driver and he has your hand around the back of your head trying to stroke your hair and asking for your number – that’s freaky.

Come to think of it, I have never taken a taxi since. I haven’t needed to. That night was an exception in itself, but it could be because I am terrified. Fearless Fei, frightened? Hah. It’s that bad (worse than cheesy alliteration, trust me).

Anyway, back to THIS sicko. He kept asking me questions. I told him a bunch of lies and tried to get back to eating without asking any questions back. It was awkward. Like I said, I don’t know how to be firm and make it clear that I’m uninterested. He asked for my number and I said “No thank you”. Hehehe. Oh gall, it sounds so silly just telling you about it. I turned him down a few times and he finally left. Time to teach again. Thank goodness.

It’s supposed to be flattering when people hit on you, but HOW CAN YOU TAKE THAT AS A COMPLIMENT?!

After work, I paid half a bombshell for parking. I had begun noticing that I was aching all over. My head was pounding and I just wanted to lay down. I then admitted to my body that I really was coming down with something (does contact with sickos promote sickness?) and collapsed as soon as I got home. I remember trying to read some blogs or something but couldn’t take it anymore and went to my room and curled up under the covers, shivering, with the fan turned off. I hate being sick.

Much later that night, after dragging myself to dinner and shopping with the family (Mom’s birthday was the next day and I hadn’t bought a present yet), I finally downed a 500g paracetamol pill. Everything was fine after that. I don’t know if it needed time or it was just all the pill’s doing. If it really was the pill, I feel really stupid for not having taken it earlier. ALL THAT SUFFERING FOR THIS? Can you see a pattern in my dislike for happy endings yet?

I also got to have a good long talk with Mom. *sigh* I got to talk to Mom about her and Dad and me and my future, my ex-boyfriends… my patriarchal blessing, what my decision should be. It was good. We’ve gotten really close and I hope that I never forget to maintain that relationship. If this was the only reason why I needed to come home – to develop a close relationship with Mom – it would have been worth it.

Sunday, April 4

I was late for church again. This time Han was with me, and I made him miss the sacrament. He is (I think) the only Deacon in our branch and I feel really bad for not getting him in time to do his priesthood duty. It wasn’t completely my fault, but I should have left the house earlier. I was just about leaving for church, with enough time to get there just a little earlier when the phone rang.

It was Jennifer. “I’m waiting outside my house now – are you coming to pick me up?”

I look at my clock “Pick you up now?”

“You said that if you couldn’t pick me up you would call!” She was clearly upset.

“What, you meant for me to pick you up every Sunday?!”

She did ask me to call her, but I thought she meant specifically for last week. Did I know that it was going to be an every week deal? I don’t remember now, she might’ve… what did I blog about? Either way, if I had completely forgotten or misunderstood, the point was that I wasn’t there to pick her up.

She passed me over to her mom who muttered something which I couldn’t understand… I don’t think she actually said anything yet but I just said. “Ok, ok, I’ll come by to pick you up”

So I did. Thank goodness my brothers were in the car, I talked to them the whole time. Jennifer is not much of a conversationalist and it gets awkward. That’s the one word used to describe her. Awkward. That is all.

To be fair, Jennifer isn’t what you would call “normal”. Dad says she has some “emotional problems” which to me translates to be “psychiatric issues”. If anything, I don’t say it to be mean. It just means that she needs some sort of help that I am not qualified to give and she isn’t just some irritating girl, ya know. In the end, I am the one being less than sensitive.

I wasn’t too angry this Sunday though. It’s nicer to blame someone for being late. If I had left earlier, I would’ve missed the phone call and been early for church so in a way, it WAS my fault. Blah. Strangely, I didn’t let it ruin my Sunday this time. It was fast and testimony meeting and I really felt the spirit (oh my gosh, you non-LDS out there must think we are so weird!). I bore my testimony too. I mean, REALLY bore my testimony. Bawled as usual, but it’s been a while since I’ve really felt that kind of conviction. It was good.

Also, Kenny and Daniel BOTH just got back from their missions! I was so excited!!! Kenny just plunged head first into the branch again (he’s an ex-Jehovah witness, since they believe that they are saved by works, they are like super active) as if he had been home forever. It was great.

Daniel came over to our house for dinner. He’s a Pakistani and when I couldn’t figure out what the heck he was talking about before, I still can’t today. He is a trip though. He speaks in a pitch much to high for him so his voice always cracks, especially when he gets excited (which is like always) – you know like when you’re trying to tell a joke and you crack up because you’re trying so hard not to laugh? Yeah. And he spent the evening flirting with Ray. He’s weird, but at least I can laugh about it.

Mom got a total of 7 presents. 3 were from Ray. I took him gift shopping with me and paid for what he picked out. He chose the funniest gifts. A box of 2B pencils, post it notes, and a big flat hard-covered note book. Hehe. It’s just as well that we were at a stationary section in a bookstore. I’m not sure I could’ve afforded anything he’d randomly pick out in any other store.

Shuan got mom an umbrella. He didn’t even bother wrapping it – too much work, and wrapper required. It was funny trying to hide it from Mom yesterday when we were done gift shopping. I couldn’t find a curling iron at first so I bought mom a special brush instead. It LOOKS like a curling iron, but with bristles and no electronic parts whatsoever. I found a curling iron later, but by then I was looking for a hair dryer/styler kit thingy for her. I found the hair dryer that came with interchangeable nozzles for a diffuser and somebrushes. Hehehe. A hair dryer that looks like a vacuum cleaner! We were all very nervous about Dad’s present. It felt soft so it had to be clothes. With Dad’s taste, that’s never a good thing – you should have seen the horrific number “Santa” got Mom last year! If you don’t know what hideous means, I have to find a way to post a picture of Mom in it on here (I think she’d kill me first though). This year, Dad got Mom 2 checkered blouses which Mom said was something she would wear, so we’re all ok. I don’t like them, but I don’t have to wear it so hakuna matata!

I spent the rest of the Sunday preparing the music and narration for the Easter program for Sacrament meeting next Sunday. I’m really excited about this – it’ll be my one substantial contribution to the music in our branch since I’ve been home (beside playing the piano, that doesn’t count).

Also, Mom ran the front of my car into a lamppost the day before – she said she accelerated into it when she meant to brake. Hehehehehheheheh… I’m so tickled!!!! It happens to the best of us I guess! It’s a relief, really. The down side was that I had to drive around in that car to church and back and people would assume that I was the one who wrecked it: No, I SWEAR it wasn’t me this time!

I also have a couple of other things I want to say so I’m going to sneak it in here in hopes that I’ve bored everyone away and none of these people I’m going to mention from here onwards read this. It’s not bad-mouthing or talking stink or anything. Just honest feelings that are somewhat negative and you don’t wish people to read when they are happy. Ok… what EXACTLY am I talking about?

Lindsey and Matthew (Laird. If it were my ex-boyfriend, it’d be a totally different scenario) are now officially a thing. What does this have to do with me? Good question. Besides the fact that I feel a slight twinge of jealousy, not much. It’s unrealistic and totally DUMB but throughout this couple of months from cyber stalking Matt, I’ve developed sort of a crush on him. I haven’t taken it seriously because I can’t. Been there done that, got a T-shirt, broke my heart, lost a virginity… you know. Not good.

Since I only know these people through their Live Journals, you have to realize how ridiculous this is. But this is so me – to take these internet relationship thingies so seriously. It’s even worse thinking that JARED was the one who recommended his blog to me. He must be shaking his head as he’s reading this. I corresponded with Matthew through email (some – he takes forever to write back) and encouraged him to open up more in his posts and he did. All his friends were all like super supportive and as they got to learn more and more about the side of him they didn’t get to see in real life (they see the him I only got to read about from their blogs). Anyway, I knew it was only a matter of time when some girl would take notice of what a star quality guy he was and get it on with him, you know.

Well, it happened to be Lindsey. Don’t get me wrong, I think that she’s totally da bomb!!! She’s absolutely hyper with a sex drive to match mine – except that she DOES something about it. Here we have to kids whom I absolutely adore, but for some reason, I don’t endorse this relationship. It could be me just being bitter or something, but I don’t see them as compatible. Not that I would be a better match. No, we can’t even carry a conversation online (hah, so much for that). I had thought that perhaps Peggy would have been a MUCH better match. If only attraction were that simple.

My point is that, I wish I were happier at this good news. Even if I realized from the very beginning that all this “crushing” would amount to nothing in the end, it’s still sad to “lose” him. Not like depressed and not wanting to live anymore type of sad. Oh heck no. Just, well... sort of a "Now what?" Do you have ANY idea how hard it is to find blogs written by guys that I can like?! Shoot. It’s a good thing he’s all the way in Indiana. Now, where do I find a good blogger who’s a single LDS guy maybe at BYU Hawaii even– one who’s NOT an ex-boyfriend, by the way…. Other girls go gaga over celebrities like Johnny Depp and such but me, I fan-girl the anti-social intellects who I will never get my hands on.

So yeah, that was my weekend in 303,457,923,465,721,930 nutshells.