Living in a Foreign Language

Randomness on Thursday

Did you know if you actually start writing a book it makes you far less likely to think of anything to say on a blog?  Yes, it is true!  Peeps, I've got the prologue, and three chapters under my belt.  Now, the only problem with them is they are BO-RING.  I'm not sure how to fix this unless I just write about someone else's fictious life.  Maybe they are BO-RING because I've already blogged about them, told people about them, basically exhausted all of the fun out of the stories.  Hmmm.  I have to think more about this conundrum.  Plus I REALLY need to think twice about sharing every little thing here because you are likely the ONLY people who might read my book, if I gave it to you as a gift, so by saying it is BO-RING doesn't do much for readership in the future.  Yet another conundrum.  Word of the day:  conundrum!  Definition by Merriam Webster:  (noun) 1)  a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun; 2)  a question or problem having only a conjectural answer; 3)  an intricate and difficult problem.  Yep, that about sums it up!

Since I was without blog materail I considered taking my camera around with me today just to get a look at the day to day life here.  Then as I was getting ready to go I realized I had to have DES because today was his grooming day, so then I needed a leash, I needed more iced tea really, I had to stop for gas and pick up dry cleaning before delivering him and darn!  I'm late!  No camera made it for the day to day life of today.  Sorry!

I've found that if you want to feel better when your week is sucky,  just post a new profile picture on FB!  I love every single one of you who commented this past week.  Totally made my entire week.  You see you never know what a nice comment here or there will do for someone else!  Practice random kindness as often as you can!

On a more serious note...not that this blog has one serious bone in its body but...I have realized that brunch on Sunday with shell fish and mass quantities of champagne just makes me regret ever doing it come Monday.  Then the entire week gets off to a bad start and well, I'm useless.  I normally make my menu and my grocery list for the week on Sunday, shop on Monday.  That all got pushed out to Tuesday.  Then I felt so bad all I put on the menu was Comfort food with a big capital C (as you can see) and healthy flew right out the window.   Now, Mr. Ken was loving this menu (because anything that gets him REAL food as opposed to the healthy version is a step in the right direction according to him ):

Tuesday:  Smothered Pork Chops, rice and green beans

Wednesday:  BLAT's with french fries

Thursday:  Fried Shrimp, hush puppies and cole slaw

Friday:  Grilled steak, ceasar salad, mushrooms and crusty bread

Saturday:  King Ranch casserole

Sunday:  Pot roast, mashed potatoes, gravy (for someone, not me!) and peas

See what I mean?  Not a healthy thing in the bunch.  However, it is but one week and most every other week I am all about the healthy and nutritious.  Just let it go is all I can say (to myself, loudly as I get another hush puppy).  Not to mention - come on, frying stuff in this heat??  I'm on my third shower of the day at this point.  Oh well, sweat helps carry away all the bad stuff, right?  Oh my, did I just say sweat?  Forgive me dear readers, glisten!  The glistening helps carry away all the bad stuff.  Jeez, you'd think this was a guy's blog or something.

Let's talk about shellfish for a minute shall we?  I have still not forgotten the whole crab debacle in December in  Singapore rendering me unable to eat for more than a week.  Now, again Sunday, I had shellfish (but NO crab - muscles, clams, and something which still remains undetermined but I was assured was a Chinese delicacy once it was steamed).  Monday and Tuesday were not good days for me.  The only shellfish I seem able to ... stomach, as it were... are shrimp, or prawns, you say potato I say potatoe...whatever you prefer to call them.  I find it odd none of this previously bothered me (the undetermined Chinese delicacy when steamed notwithstanding)...so, do you chalk that up to OLD or foreign travel.  Ding, ding, ding, ding, b) foreign travel it is Alex!  You are only as old as you feel..yes, but get sick on enough shellfish and you will feel ancient.

The thing I love most about the random blogs is you can flit from thing to thing because well, it's random!  I bought a "mosquito" plant at the nursery.  The guy assured me that when the "breeze" blows the scent of the plant perfumes the area and the mosquitoes leave.  Breeze?  Really.  What was I thinking?  Speaking of breeze - has anyone ever noticed that if you wear a particularly frilly or billowy or well, anything that isn't a pencil skirt, frankly - skirt, that is the day it decides to be breezy?  You could have rocked along for weeks with no breeze but sure enough!  Particularly I find this phenomenon to occur when I have to ride an outdoor escalator.  Yes, of course, this did happen today on my way for a facial...see, when DES goes to the groomer, I get a facial.  Works out nice, they are in the same shopping complex and then I don't have to come back and, dread of all dreads, find yet another parking space somewhere in the vicinity of the groomer.  Because walking with DES and a bunch of people, NOT good!  Especially men people who may or may not be of another ethic group than I.  Big SHUDDER.  Anywhoo - where was I?  Oh, yes.  Escalator, skirt.  Hello world!  No it appears I did not listen to my mother on the whole "you never know you might get in a car wreck and then what" discussion and perhaps I should have rethought the undergarments.  Enough said.  And, very politely, I might add!

At any rate, I am sitting with my feet propped up in another chair and the "mosquito" plant under my legs.  At last count I had twenty one bites.  Yeah, a breeze is definitely in order, particularly since I've changed clothes and the skirt is hung up now.  I sure wouldn't want to be showing my business here on my private patio, after all!  

 I DEFINITELY need to think twice about sharing everything here!  What a conundrum!

Love, spajunkie

Crashing Down to Earth

I was thinking today, a month away from the two year anniversary of moving here, that I needed to find something to do...I looked into some photography classes and some volunteer options, nothing really lit me up yet.  Then I started wondering???  Hmm, what was I doing before now?  It seems like I was holding on by my fingernails while people, places and things just whirled around me at a frenetic pace. The I really realized all that had taken place in the almost two years since I arrived here...

The first six months beginning June 2010...how delightful, crazy, and scary they were.  Lauren and I flew here, we met Ken and picked up the DES and went to our new home.  I continued working, albeit long distance but still had my hand in the work world I'd left.  Six weeks later Lauren went back to Houston, our shipment arrived and unpacking fun was had by all.  We quickly realized what a mistake we had made in the house of our choosing.   A few weeks later Rogielyn came to live with us.  We subsequently traveled to Bali, Miri, Singapore and Perth.  That was all in the three months before October...then the dreaded "C" word entered our life and we flew to Houston for 10 LONG weeks of doctors, radiation, and of all things, a broken ankle.

We brought Mr. Ken with the broken ankle back to KL in mid December, to the house with 3 sets of stairs, Cobra snakes, chemo treatments, and more travel.  In early 2011, we went to Singapore many times, back to Perth in February.  Everything seemed to rock along.  I finally officially "retired" and ended my consulting agreement with my former company in February.  Then there were trips to London, Italy and Switzerland in March.  In April the storm that is named Lauren came to town with all of its various 18 year old things, some good, some not so good.  Sometime in May we started having security issues with every other night attempted break ins...Ken always traveling somewhere...Seemed like there would never be any sleep.  Chemo rocked along until June... then no more and gratefully went to a pill everyday and Mr. Ken's health seemed on the upswing.  Some trips were made to Singapore, Perth and Malaka. In July I broke MY ankle and did physical therapy all the way up to December.  Some trips were cancelled but some trips were taken..Cherating, Genting and Langkawi.  In November Lauren went back to Houston, and we found out we had to move houses (yeah!).  We searched for a house, found one, made a quick trip to Perth before the movers came and we all, Mr. Ken, Rogielyn, Desi and I, happily moved in by Christmas.  

In January we went to Houston.  We saw, we met, we drove, we saw, we met...we did alot in a short amount of time.  In February we were back home in KL.  Then we went to Perth, Singapore, and back to Perth.  In between we had an out of town visitor, our first!  Throughout all of the three months we bought fish, killed fish, kept fish, bred fish; bought turtles, kept turtles, bred turtles.  I worried incessantly over the pond...Mr. Ken traveled even more, as he always does, and came back from Vietnam sick.  A few tests and a lot of prayers and breath holding later, all results were excellent and he was as good as 18 months ago.

In between all of the above there were many spas visited, restaurants eaten at, friends made, and blogs posted marking each and every event...a new Ipad to learn, and a new MacBook to hate somewhere in the mix....

And, then here we are in May of 2012.

All I can say is - ALOT can happen in two years!!  

Why am I just today reminiscing over the last two years?  Well, because since we've been back from Perth for a week, I've been at loose ends.  I keep thinking I must have more things to do.  Though, honestly, everything I can think of to do...finally organize all the photos from the last three years, print them, scrapbook or put them in albums, take a class, find a hobby, volunteer...go to cooking school, book a trip. ..I just can't seem to muster up the energy required to do any of them.   I told Mr. Ken after Perth I wanted to stay home for awhile...until Phukett at the end of May.  So, suddenly, what was making me itch to do something when all I REALLY wanted to do was....nothing.

I realized.  I had come crashing down to Earth.  I was finally actually just living here, day to day, minus the next crisis or shoe to drop, minus the next bag to pack or unpack...minus work, minus worry, minus stress.  In other words - if I am not the stressed out, worried woman I once was or the globe trotting, packing a bag every other week, spajunkie I thought I'd become, who was I?

Here is the conclusion I came to...  I've come crashing down to Earth.  I like Earth, it's a good place to be.  I like no worry and no stress.  I even like having nothing to do in a day but make dinner, post a blog, feed the turtles and fish or, God help me, read ANOTHER book.  Oh, I know I need to do something...sometime...but...for now, I've decided to enjoy this time of laziness.  This season, as it were. This being, and having a relaxed, slow, lazy life. 

You never know when you might need all the energy you are saving up being lazy for the NEXT two years of frenzy.

Living life in the SLOW lane, FINALLY.   Two years after retirement, a year and three months after "official" retirement.  

Love, spajunkie

Catching up with the DES

The fish now come when they are "called" for breakfast and dinner...look how big the "baby" fish are!  Yes, you do see "baby" fish also...someone had more babies while we were in Singapore so now we've got just about all age groups hanging here!  The procreating that goes on in this pond...as they say, must be SOMETHING in the water!

Scooter and Scout also know when it's meal time!

The DES has a new fascination...the pond, the fish, Scooter and Scout.  I mean a real interest that makes me think one day, soon, he will be IN the pond!!

 

I think Scooter likes the DES!

Last night he was on top of the ledge he is just hanging over here...I don't really relish the day I have to get in the pond to get him out...but I DO hope I have the camera on hand.

From our pond to yours...Love, spajunkie

Random Thoughts Thursday

For whatever reason I cannot get my laptop to find a wireless connection - anyone know a fix for this, I've tried everything I know!  So, I am borrowing Mr. Ken's for a quick update. 

I just went to Sonic for a super large iced tea, in my jammies. In KL there is only one drive thru (McDonalds) that I've ever seen so jammies just don't work for a "quick" errand. You have to park, get out and go in. And, for those of you thinking "why would you go anywhere in your jammies?". I just say, psshhhh, you know you've gone somewhere in your jammies before! But, so, yum! Sonic iced tea.

Facebook is a lot of things, and it is not a lot of other things. But, one thing it does have the ability to do is make you feel really good on your birthday! I had over 100 posts or email messages from well wishers for my birthday. That is so amazing. I sincerely appreciated each and every one. I felt so darn popular! How crazy is that? So when you look at the number of "friends" you have, you really do!

Eating my way through southeast Texas. I have been! Let's see, in about a week I've had Mexican food twice, bar-b-q, Panera for breakfast and for lunch, a beautiful Ruby Red Texas grapefruit almost every morning (my momma got a whole box from the valley for me!), Floyd's, burgers with homemade potato salad and baked beans, huge country breakfast, fried dill pickles, pizza from Pizza Hut, boiled shrimp...and some scrumptious cupcakes from Rise. Is this the cutest cupcake pedestal you've ever seen? My momma gave me that for my red velvet cupcake!

Tonight is dinner with our VBFF, Sharon and Eddy, at Tommy's. Then tomorrow night is dinner with our dear friends, Angela and Brian, somewhere TBD. Have no fear - The eating will continue!

It is really nice to be in Texas. It is so familiar, yet not. We drove by our old house yesterday...the house looks good but the people who are living in "my" house took out my azaleas! Really! Why?? They have tacky potted plants placed in their place. I just don't understand this at all and was frankly tempted to stop and just ask why? Why? Talk about random. My yard was beautiful! I'm sure they believe the house isn't mine anymore and they can do what they want but come on, that is just tacky!

The big party is Saturday where there will be more eating of mexican food and cupcakes! So looking forward to seeing everyone. It seems like the weather may not cooperate but we will just have to muddle through, rain  or shine!

I miss the DES!!!  I would say I miss the fish but they have once again gone belly up.  I am hopeful the turtles make it...oh, we got another turtle, Scout!  So, Scooter and Scout.  We hope anyway.  We don't know what the heck kills everything but from here on out I think just plants and turtles.  And DES.  I miss him!  Fortunately there are these cuties to pet!  Mr. Buff:

And Mr. Sassy.  Yes, Mr.  He was named prior to finding out his gender...he was rescued from his head being stuck in the bar-b-q pit in my momma's back yard.  He was pretty skittish in the beginning but now he is just spoiled, and super duper cute!  He posed for these pictures, seriously! As soon as I started snapping photos he preened and posed for me. 

Party Pictures will be next!  Until then, enjoy your super bowl weekend!  Love, spajunkie

Random Thoughts Monday

1.  It didn't seem like that long of a time when we booked all of our travel for the US but....I still have like ten days, and nights, before I leave!  Ugh!  
2.  I have been accomplishing some projects I've wanted to work on for a while now.  (more on these in another post.). Feeling crafty!
3.  Has anyone ever heard that turtles like egg shells?  Guy Fieri said so today on his show.  I'm not that partial to his show but my ears really pricked up on that...And, what about the fish?  They seem to eat anything you put in the pond...and the Scooter is like the proverbial goat, eats anything on the surface of the water!  I still am not completely sure what to be feeding them so I've opted for fish food, and turtle food...and some random lettuce and other veggies.  But they all eat each others food. Have to wonder if that is a problem!   Plus the DES will sneak any of the pellets if given the opportunity...not to mention the gardener fertilizes with chicken $&;t, serious.  DES loves that too!  At least it isn't chemicals...
4.  I just don't get Pin interest, I really want to but I don't.   I've tried but I simply fail to get it.  If I wanted an outfit I would go buy it.  If I wanted to decorate a certain way, I would just do it.   If I want a recipe I print it or save it ... And just go on about my business.  I just do not understand.  It makes no logical sense to me.  (No offense to anyone who enjoys this particular pastime, I am probably too ADD to really focus on what makes it great.)
5.  Having friends here in KL has turned out to be surprisingly nice!  I had a dinner party Saturday night for the girls and in turn they have invited me out this Saturday night for Gong Xi Fa Cai Yee Sang dinner for the Chinese New Year and have invited me shopping this week so I can pick up a few trinkets for a few special peeps in Houston.  I am feeling almost popular!  Or at least as if some women enjoy my company!  (I have sworn off expat wives for the rest of my life!)
6.  I haven't even been back to check on Luke (the cocker spaniel puppy who should be mine), I just can't see those beautiful eyes again unless he is in the car with me coming home.
7.  Mr. Ken bought me the most gorgeous baroque pearls for Christmas, our anniversary, my birthday, and Valentine's day.  They were just delivered on Saturday.  They are from China, and are somewhat rare as they are a silver/pewter color with a gorgeous luster to them.   Baroque means that they are imperfect and unfinished.  Kind of like me!  Yes, that's it!  I am baroque! (not to be confused with BROKE, even though...)  Thank you Mr. Ken, I love you much!
8.  I keep saying how much I love this house...I will just keep saying it...from the pond, to the plants and the yard, from the decor to the layout of the rooms, I LOVE this house.  Plus, I feel super safe here.  No alarms going off in the middle of the night, no snakes of the two legged or slithering kind, just peace and tranquility.  Aww....big sigh of contentment!  While we were both excited to go to Houston and see family and friends we are both equally excited to come back and enjoy this space.
9.  Oh, and might I mention since the move I haven't been sick once!  I had a sinus infection for what seemed like the entire time we lived in our other house.  I swear if you took out the walls and ceilings you would find nothing but mold in them.  Here, no issues, so far, knock wood.
10.  Oh!  So, we have this gardener, handy man, jack of all trades, guy that we got hooked up with when we moved in.  His name is Vicky.  No really, I have his business card.  I at first thought he kept saying Ricky (which let's face it makes a lot more sense than Vicky).  Anyway, I have finally named him Rikki Tikki Tavi  After the mongoose in the short story in "The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling.  Why?  I don't know, why is he a guy named Vicky?   But, as we've had Rikki Tikki Tavi do a lot of work for us I've gotten to know him and his story is amazing.  He is in his early twenties.  His father passed away and so he is taking care of his mother and sisters.  They are Malay Indian and as such he has taken it upon himself to provide for his family inclusive of giving his sisters their respective weddings which by Indian tradition are very elaborate and expensive.  He has never traveled, never even eaten Italian food, much less experienced any other culture (because as he said to "Sis, I've got to save my money."  He calls me Sis???  I don't know.)  So, in the tale by Rudyard Kipling, while Rikki Tikki Tavi fought the two giant cobras to keep the family who rescued him safe, we find our real life Rikki Tikki Tavi, keeping his mother and sisters safe when most young men his age are out on the town.  He is polite, unfailingly honest, does extremely good work, and I must say, I admire him.   He said to me recently that once his father died he knew at that moment his pride had to take a backseat to whatever he had to do to make a living and support his family.  That no job was beneath him.  He would do whatever it took to keep his home (that he bought and pays a mortgage on) so they always had a roof over their heads.  I just can't help but think there is a boy who was raised well by his parents.   He did also mention he wishes for the sisters to marry except that the weddings would break him financially!  You can't knock a guy for wishing!

So, on that note, I leave you...feeling very humbled by even having the good fortune to have met our Rikki Tikki Tavi, and we hope to keep him employed for a long time!  I am just sure the pond needs something else!  Oh, which reminds me...

11.  The pond now has lights for night and a bridge for Scooter to sun on!  (All Rikki Tikki Tavi projects!)

Love, the very random spajunkie

How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?

Today the DES and I went for some grooming!  Desi went to his groomer while I went and had a facial and a massage.  I caught a quick bite to eat for lunch and by then Desi was ready too!

Those of you who regularly read this blog know how in love I am with this dog...this crazy, sometimes pain in the neck, sweetest boy dog ever.  You may not know, though, that I am just as in love with cocker spaniels in general.  The DES is our third.  First there was Delaney, then Maggie, then Desi.  (Additionally my mom had Barney, and now Buffy.)  All three were "rescues" from the cocker spaniel rescue.  Desi was named so after Desi Arnez...Ricky Ricardo...I said after we lost Maggie that someday I wanted a Lucy to go with Desi!  Sweet!!

When I went in to pick DES up this afternoon, here is what (who) greeted me:

I was drawn to this little puppy like a magnet!  A two month old, golden, pure bred cocker spaniel puppy.  I had finally found my Lucy!

Who could resist this face?

Then I found out ... puppy is a boy!  His sister has already found her home.  Darn it!

At any rate, Mr. Ken had just landed in Moscow and text me so I text him back with the little guys picture and said no Lucy but how precious is he?

We text back and forth, mainly Mr. Ken teasing me about my (in)ability to resist this temptation.  As I was driving home I was talking to myself in my head (and you know maybe even out loud!), basically writing this blog, and I got to the juncture where I said to myself (and you readers and the DES and whoever else was watching me drive and talk to myself), no Lucy but maybe he is a Luke! 

I kid you NOT dear readers, the next second my phone goes off and it was a text from Mr. Ken that said "Ok very cute, let's see how strong you are.  Maybe he's Luke!"  I almost wrecked the car!  NOT REALLY!  I was at a complete stop at a stop light that was red and the vehicle wasn't even considering being in motion, I SWEAR!

Maybe there is a natural transgression from Lucy to Luke, maybe we've been married so long we think alike, OR MAYBE, Luke was meant to be ours!!

All I know is I left my puppy there and I've regretted every second I've been away from him so far! 

I'm super close to cancelling my flight to Houston, picking Luke up and starting some potty training!

 

Just Kidding MOM!!!   

Desi and Luke.  The DES and LUKE.  Deeesss, Luuukkkee,... I like it!  I like it alot.  It flows well when you need to yell correct bad behaviour.

If he is still there when we get back from Houston, HE IS MINE. 

Love, spajunkie.

 P.S. The answer to the rhetorical question of How Much Is That Doggie in the Window is that you cannot put a price on welcoming a new member of the family!  It is priceless!  Right Mr. Ken? 

Quality of Life

Quality of Life is one of those catch phrases that you hear people say, talk about, reference; but the actual articulation of what is quality of life is sometimes lacking.  Is it because we don't know what it is?  Or, likely, is it because we don't know what it looks like for us?  I'm not at all referring to the reasonable expectation that we all have a roof over our heads and food on our table, or how big our house is, or how much money we make...but is the quality of the life you have good?  Good for you?  Or do we just adapt to what we are doing and consider it good?

I had an epiphany this morning (YES, even spajunkies have them). 

We are currently living the best quality of life we have ever had.  I say this for many reasons. 

Rewinding even back to 4 years ago or so.  Mr. Ken and I were both working and traveling for work non-stop.  There were many times one of us arrived home the day the other was leaving so that the animals were always taken care of.  There were many times the animals were boarded for weeks while we were traveling, separately, for work.  Oh, sure, we made a lot of money.  We had a nice house, nice cars, and took great trips together.  Why I remember several, many "vacations" where all we did was work - separately, on our laptops.  At beautiful locations we paid money to go to.  To work. 

When we moved here the pace of life slowed down a bit, but in all honesty not really (refer to this blog post http://spajunkie.typepad.com/living-in-a-foreign-language/2012/01/the-year-in-review-2011.html. )

Mr. Ken still had an hour or longer commute, even if I dropped him at the train it took a half hour to get to the station.  The traffic is unbelievable really.  The commute home was normally even longer.  So, of course based on this you get up earlier and you stay gone longer.  Couple this with the time difference here and his day could easily stretch into 18 hours if there were conference calls with Houston in the evening.  Up at six, to bed at midnight.  Not exactly what we were looking for in slowing down our life!

Then you had our location in general.  It IS true what they say - Location, Location, Location!  Where we lived was super nice, that is a fact, but we were up on this mountain, kind of back in a corner whereby the only way out was through Sri Hartamas or Solaris.  Quite possibly two of the most congested outer lying areas in KL.  Honestly Sri Hartamas alone could add a good 20 minutes to anywhere you tried to go.  Then on top of that the area was new, I don't speak Malay, I have an accent (YES, I do! ), so even getting a taxi was an iffy proposition.  It was just difficult!  Very difficult. This archive memory is a good, funny example!   http://spajunkie.typepad.com/living-in-a-foreign-language/2010/06/to-know-me-is-to-love-me.html.

When we found out we had to move the highest priority on the list was a house closer to KLCC where Mr. Ken works.  Or, minimally, closer to the train station so it wasn't an hour round trip to drop him there. Once at the train station he can be at his desk in 15 minutes.   We also wanted to be out of the corner where we were!  Someplace that getting around, or getting a taxi wasn't iffy, nor did it take three hours to go 20 minutes!

At any rate, as you know we luckily found this house we are now moved into.  It allows for us to get up around 7:30 or 8:00, leave for the train station by 8:30, Mr. Ken is at work by 9:00 or earlier and I am back home by 8:40 or I'm at my favorite shopping center for iced tea before any of the shops even open and parking is EASY.  It also, obviously, allows for me to have the car every day which is a major plus.  Mr. Ken then texts me in the evening when he is on the train headed this way.  I wait 5 minutes, leave the house and drive up just as he is coming out.  Plus the DES gets to take a car ride twice a day! 

From a purely quality of life stand point this adds back hours to the day...makes it so easy for Mr. Ken's commute, plus even allows a bit of nap time in the evening if there are conference calls late into the night.  It allows me the advantage of a car, no taxi necessary, and the stress level is just way lower. 

Location, Location, Location!  What a difference it makes!

How about your quality of life?  Have you considered what one small change might do for your day?  I know we were super lucky we had a FORCED change of life occur but seriously, what might you do, some small, seemingly insignificant change, that just makes your quality of life better?

Think about it.  I'd love to hear!

Love, spajunkie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Year in Review - 2011

It has taken me some time to actually reflect on everything that occurred in 2011.  It was a year filled with blessings great and small.  It was also a year filled with surprises, some good, some not so good.  It was certainly a year filled with travel to a number of amazing places. 

Remembering 2011:

January started off with Mr. Ken doing physical therapy for his broken ankle and his first round of Chemo ( beginning a series of six treatments every three weeks).

February kicked off with a memorable stay at the Ritz Carlton KL for my BIG (new) 30th birthday and a Chinese New Year Celebration.  Following that up was a trip to Singapore and Perth where I fullfilled my life long dream of meeting a koala bear up close and personal!

March had us traveling in different directions ~ I flew off to London to meet Lauren, Sandra and Hazel.  It was just an amazing trip catching up with friends from Ireland!  It was long overdue and hopefully won't be as long again before we all meet up.  Mr. Ken went to Italy, and...I can't even remember where all!

April had us back on a plane headed for Europe.  This time we went to northern Italy and Switzerland.  There were a few bumps in the road as Mr. Ken experienced some altitude sickness in the Alps which was caused by lower oxygen levels from the chemo.  I had never been to either of these places before so overall it was a fantastic trip.  We ended the trip in Singapore where Lauren met us.  We showed her some of the sights of Singapore before heading home to KL.  April was also the last of the six series of chemo...now we were to wait two long months for PET scan to see if it worked.  Mr. Ken was very blessed to not have experienced many side effects and those were minimal, during the six treatments.

 

May was a visit to Melaka Malaysia for some local color.  It was also a month Ken traveled extensively without me...to Korea, Houston, Singapore, ect...

June we had one of the best trips we've ever taken as we stayed in Margaret River for several days with friends prior to exploring Perth again.  We also got the results of the PET scan which showed no new cancer, and actually tumor had shrunk considerably.  It was the BEST news and the answer to many, many prayers.

July Mr. Ken started on maintenance chemo (maintenance being the KEY word!).  He and I snuck off to Singapore for a week.  The day we got back I tripped and broke my ankle along with severely dislocating it.

August and September were completely a blur to me as I struggled to walk, entered painful physical therapy and generally was not very happy being semi-confined!  My constant companion during that time ~ the handsome, wonderful, dog-who-eats-anything, DES.

October we took a couple of long weekends to see some local spots, Cherating and Genting.  Then we went to Langkawi.  Quite possibly the best or one of the best vacations we have ever taken.  We arrived home from Langkawi to be informed we would need to find a new house and move by end of December.

November was spent looking for a new house, finding the house, and then waiting patiently for the house to be ready.  November also saw Lauren go back to Houston and us once again peacefully and blissfully just us! (Well, and Rogi and Des!)

 

December we took a quick trip to Singapore and Perth and celebrated Mr. Ken's birthday.   Then we came back and said goodbye to the monkeys and hello to the fireworks... and we just couldn't be happier to start our new year here! 

Heading into this new year we are grateful and blessed that our health is good, our new home is magnificent and I think we've enjoyed this past two weeks here at home more than we've ever enjoyed time at home since we left Houston!  We are actually planning to stay home more and travel less this year!  (That's what we keep saying anyway, we will see if the two gypsies can actually pull that off.)

Can't wait to see what 2012 brings! 

Love, spajunkie

 

 

 

Top 10 List - Simple Pleasures

Now that we have been in the new house, all decorated and organized, for around 10 days, I've noticed every single day something I LOVE.  Some things that I decided deserved to be on a Top 10 List of Simple Pleasures.

Herewith a few of my favorite things!

10.  I love that in 10 short days we've met three really nice people for us to be friends with!  

9.  I love that we have more than two electrical outlets in each room thus enabling us not to have numerous extension cords strung everywhere.  Not to mention each bathroom has an electrical outlet also so if you wanted to dry your hair in front of a mirror (duh!), you can!!

8.  I love having drapes.  I have never, ever liked drapes or curtains in my life. I find them fussy and dust collectors.  But, after living in a very bright house with hardly any window coverings at all, and living in a very bright, open house, still; I really, really like the drapes.  They make the rooms really cozy and romantic at night...and during the day, they tie back and let in all the light if you like!

7.  I have a wonderful little reading nook.  It is comfy, cozy, and because of 8 above I can make the room dark and cold and read mystery thrillers to my hearts content with a throw quilt even!  How yum is that?

6.  As mentioned in my last post, cooking all in one kitchen on one floor.  Enough said!

5.  Looking in my closet and seeing all of my hanging clothes and shoes in one place!  Wow!  I'm finding things I haven't worn in two years but clearly kept for a reason as my clothes have been cleaned out and pared down four times in two years.  (sadly, mostly due to necessity based on the available closet space!)

4.  Being able to sit at my dressing table, dry and style my hair, put on my makeup, choose my perfume and my jewelry.  I've forgotten the joy of this.  And, really, this is a joy to me...something I just love and haven't been able to do!

3.  Having all of the seasonal decor I use in one place, organized and ready to CREATE.  Today I put up Christmas and created Valentines.  All in thirty minutes!  (yes, I do know when Valentines is, we just won't be here so it will be happening a little early.)

2.  Watching the DES run around his backyard!  The poor thing has never had a yard, ever!  He just loves it!  It is pure dog joy with his ears flapping behind and his feet running as fast as he can.  DES is a happy boy!

1.  Of course, the number one reason to enjoy the house is because Mr. Ken is here with me!  

What is your top 10 list of simple pleasures?  

Love, spajunkie

P.S.  I just must add that they fog for mosquitoes here at our little enclave.  That is just amazing.  And, so far, cross fingers, say a little prayer, NO snakes, NO worms in the shower, but also no monkeys...the scariest wildlife we've seen so far was a five inch snail with a really nice size shell on his back!  Wow!  Look at that S-Car-Go!  HeHe - silly, old, old joke...

 

We Interrupt this Blog for a Word from our Sponsor

House is in disarray.  The DES is NOT in his element.  He is clearly worried.  Oh my, mommy, does this mean I am back in that kennel for 48 hours flying around the world then quarantined for 7 days??? 

No, baby, let mommy soothe your furrowed brow!  All is good!  It is just across town...you only have to do doggie day care for a couple more days!

House gets very, very quiet.  Mommy realizes the DES is MIA...but where could he be? 

Desi, Desi, Desi, mommy calls.  No response.  Very quiet.  Mommy realizes she must find Desi NOW.

He finally appears on the stairs as she is going up.  He clearly has something in his mouth as it won't shut exactly...mommy feels around his tongue, under his tongue, gosh, mommy practically gags poor Desi in search of what is in his mouth.

Finding nothing and getting nowhere, mommy decides to go upstairs and find the source.  And, what does mommy find?  Her gym bag, ripped open, her toiletries awry....kleenexs ripped to shreds. 

A-HA!  There it is.  The miniature Scope bottle, empty, no lid.  Explains the minty fresh breath at least!

Mommy goes back to cocker spaniel to say you are BAD!  His tail hangs between his legs, he knows he was bad.  But...what is this???  Mouth still seems open...like it cannot close.  Another sweep of tongue, under tongue, etc.  Dog drool....nothing else.  Finally, last resort (truly last resort because if hiding something this move can cause them to swallow - NOT GOOD) mommy opens mouth up, tilts head back and looks inside.

Scope plastic cap imbedded on back molar...can't close mouth around it! 

No, moving is NOT FUN!  Poor, sad, displaced cocker spaniels with impaled Scope caps on their molars are, I'm sorry, just freakishly FUNNY!!!!!!. 

As I extract said Scope cap delicately, well, maybe not so delicately, as I PULL said Scope cap off his molar I can't help but think again what FRESH MINTY breath you have DES!!!!

What an ordeal says Desi!  Stop the madness, PLEASE!

 (I guess I should note that Scope doesn't know me or ask me to place sponsorship ads based on our cocker spaniels preference for mouthwash.  Just saying...)