Three day compilation:

So on Christmas eve, I was woken up by dad at 6.54am to ask me to come online so we could skype during their Christmas eve dinner. I only had like 3 hrs of sleep and I didn't sleep after that. I reached the bookstore at about 1 and started indulging in the book called "Growing Up bin Laden". It was a pretty good book and I finished it and started on a new one called "The Piano Teacher". I didn't think it would interest me at first but I guess so far, it's pretty okay. Also, I could feel some sorta tiredness creeping up onto me.

I went to grab some Thai food by myself after that. The restaurant was empty. I was the first customer. yeah... everyone will say... pathetic. Eating all by myself on Christmas eve. 15 mins later, a girl came in. She was waiting for a friend. about another 15 mins later, another couple came in. Great. Everyone had a partner.





On my fine walk over to meet Bud, I saw a Christmas ornament in the display window. I think it says it all.



Something I realised: In SG, I kinda dislike going out with no one to meet but in NYC, many times I don't want to be alone, but I'd rather be alone. I'd rather be alone to the extent that I prefer being alone. Maybe because I know that my friends here do not share the joy of doing what I wanna do and I always end up accomodating or the person will end up accomodating me and it just ain't very nice anymore.

Bud and I met in the evening and at first we wanted to catch a movie.. but we weren't interested in most of the movies that evening and the timing wasn't right. We went to two cinemas before deciding that perhaps, we would watch the movie the next day and we would grab a bite then. We walked to the "Hummus Place" where they sell cheap Israeli food but they weren't opened. We were kinda surprised because they were supposed to be Jewish pple who didn't celebrate Christmas. ahaha. Bud said that her friend Katie told her that there are only two things for Jewish (or I guess those who don't celebrate Christmas) pple to do on Christmas.

1. Eat Chinese food
2. Watch a movie

We then wanted to go downtown to the village to have Pizza at John's Pizzeria. They were closed too! Well.. that wasn't very surprising so we went to the Thai restaurant just next to it. Bud insisted that I take a few sips of her Plum wine. It was in this sake cup. yeah sure it was sweet and yummy but I know the yummier the taste, the more alcohol content so I made sure I gulped down ALOT of water after every sip. Well, pple who know me know I'm a cheap drunk unlike my sis. I was SO not gonna get drunk!

Anyway, after that we passed by Fat Cat and bud suddenly asked if I wanted to go in. She's been there twice. So off we went to Fat Cat- This pool/pingpong/chess/bar club. Bud said that on normal days, there would be ALOT ALOT of pple. But thank God it wasn't crowded due to the Christmas season. It was nice to really hang out for a game of pool for the first time.

They chopped this pic of a cat on my arm after I paid 3 bucks and showed my ID.






The three "eggs" that Bud was taking care of. :)



We were having fun when these two guys came to (as Bud calls it) hit on us. They challenged us to a game saying that if we beat them, they will buy us drinks and if we don't, they will still buy us drinks.

This Israeli guy called Rafi (unsure of spelling) was totally bald and had no facial hair. His other friend, Larry was TOTALLY the opposite. He looked like a caveman. He had hair a little bit down the shoulders and a beard and moustache. He was pretty comical and claimed that he was a real lousy pool player. He showed that he was too. But who knows? he could have done that to gain sympathy from the girls and BLABLBAL.. anyway, i thought he would have made a real nice buddy. They were an odd-looking couple.

Anyway, so we totally KICKED THEIR BUTTS! :D So they bought us drinks. 1 can of cheap beer ($2) for Bud and a cup of $5 cranberry juice for me. hahaha.

I went home before Bud to open Christmas pressies with my family. hahah it was nice! except that they couldn't really hear me well so i had to keep repeating myself. My throat was feeling weird-ish I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE LOVED THE BAG HANGERS A LITTLE MORE!! (hint hint)Everyone who saw my bag hanger loved it. I thought it was really awesome... and useful..

That night, I started to feel a little ill.

Christmas day:

I was feeling a little ill.
I woke up freezing on Christmas. I was so cold that I had to sleep in my frog position. I used to sleep that way all the time when I was young. The heater in the entire apartment was spoilt so there was only ICE water. Bud didn't even bathe the night before because the water had turned really cold. I had the opportunity to bathe earlier even though it already wasn't as warm as I would have liked it to be. Bud and I left the apartment to catch a movie. It was so much nicer and warmer OUTSIDE than in our apartment! We met Javier (the superintendent of the building) outside the building and he promised that by the time we got back, it will be nice and warm. He's a really nice and helpful guy and the superintendent of two buildings!

Bud and I went to watch the movie "Nine" at the largest cinema in nyc. It had 25 theaters and it was free seating. I was surprised that it was really nice and spacious and clean and comfortable. The show was okaaayy. I think I'm gonna catch Avatar. Heard it's really cool. Bud said that they give out free tickets to pple on the streets to fill up the theatre when they screen it for journalists to review. I don't know why they give out more tickets than there are seats. So pple with tickets have to queue up for about 2 hrs outside the theater to get in on a first come first serve basis.





Anyway, after that, we went to fat cat again for pool and this time, even before I could enjoy a nice one on one game with Bud, three guys came to hit on us. Oh dont be jealous, they were men in their mid 30s or 40s or sth. and ugly. As you all know, my standard is pretty high. I hardly say anyone looks good. Anyway, they were just not attractive. The music was really nice. This group of black men sang a capella.

hahaha anyway, I was totally not interested but pretended I was. The music was so loud and I could hardly hear/understand what they were saying so i just smiled and laughed and agreed with them and BLABLABLA. i was also careful not to sit near them or get into some deep conversation or sth. anyway, I think having a sore throat really helped. I was totally not in the mood for whatever. Also, it was awful when they came over real near to my face or ears (cuz it was really loud) and I could smell their beer breath and smoke. EEU!! Two of the worst, most disgusting things I DETEST in life (no offence to dad about the beer. But u really should cut the addiction), besides rats. I held my breath so I wouldn't get a headache.

One of the best ways for me to get a headache is by fake excitement and laughter.. and of course really weird smells.... and motion sickness... and hunger.

Anyway, besides it all, pool is a great way to interact with people. Just that we usually attract the flies. I got a friendly cheek to cheek goodbye peck from Bryan/Brian and then this guy tried to kiss Bud on the lips outside. He was like saying, "Aww c'mon just one..." GROSS OUT! I just really can't stand such people. KISSING on the lips after knowing each other for a couple of hours? I was horrified! I prolly would have stuck a bible in his face or sth. FORTUNATELY my dear housemate rejected him. PHEW! Later, I gave her a good pat on the back for not letting him do that. Bud thought he was cute but just too old for her so she rejected the kiss.

Bud says it's very common for guys to do that. I dunno man... total culture shock. I'd prolly never get to find a decent bf here.

EEUU!

Anyway, Patrick, the other guy who hit on us was this really old man. I mean he wasn't THAT old. but he had streaks of white hair on his moustache. He's German -Jew. He has German, puerto rican, and Irish blood in him. he was born on Christmas day. and his name is Patrick (total Irish name). hahaha! what a confused soul! He also teaches chess in 5 schools. hahaha later, he went to play chess and this guy beat him. HMM.. hahaha. anyway, Bud, Patrick and I took the subway back because we lived kinda near each other. So he got Bud's hp number. I was praying inside that he will not ask for my number. So I managed to change the subject after he indirectly asked for it.

Patrick called Bud today asking what plans we have for New Year's. I'm totally not going out with that person again. I wish I took pics of them then you guys might start laughing and think this is all a big JOKE. Well it is. But i don't intend to laugh at all..

Boxing day (26th Dec '09)

think i was confirmed ill. but still...
Bud and I went shopping! it was raining but I HAD to go since there were many sales going on etc. We went to sooo many places. Bud and I went to buy an electric piano that we carried up 4 floors. We finally made it. I hid all the discomfort in my body until I couldn't take it and fell sick as soon as I got back to the apartment.

I'm still feeling lethargic and took everything I can to make myself feel better. My throat was dry and rather painful when I swallowed. So I had gargled lemon juice, ate the active 25 manuka honey, oregano oil, throat spray, lozenges, stuffy nose pills, pill that Bud gave me from Israel and drank vitamin C water. I also drank this porridge (it's supposed to be soup but ended up being porridge instead which was really good cuz i was craving auntie's porridge when I got ill) that Bud made for both of us plus her friend Avner. It was really healthy (rice, garlic, onions, potatoes, olive oil, peas, curry powder, salt and pepper) and I felt alot better after eating that and under a blanket on the couch watching a movie. This afternoon, I cooked myself some mushrooms, capsicums, eggs and rice. Feel so much better after that. I also ate Cranberries that I bought several days ago. They look so sweet and yummy, red and round and innocent but don't be fooled by that. They tasted HORRIBLY sour. Totally like lemons. But I forced myself to eat that cuz it's OH SO HEALTHY and full of anti-oxidants and vitamins.. I felt better after eating that even though they tasted pretty gross and I was sure my throat would like fall apart or sth. I also took a 45 min to one hr power nap. I made sure not to over-sleep because I might not be able to sleep later.

My throat is much better and it doesn't really hurt when I swallow. Just an occasional dry cough. I sound abit weird due to all that phlegm and stuff. Bud says it's a good thing I have those to spit out cuz now I can get rid of all the bacteria and stuff. I still feel kinda weak in my body. Don't worry if I don't come online or pick up the phone. I'm prolly sleeping and getting better or I just don't wanna talk too much because it will hurt my throat.

I HAVE to get well soon because I need to go for a voice lesson this wed and I really wanna go to the bookstore tmr.