I hate having to make a conscious effort to write '2009' when dating things. Someone should invent an auto-dating stamp so I can mindlessly date things without worrying about the year. Because... Because I deserve the right to reserve my brain power for more useful things!
It's been an incredibly busy time for me, as evidenced by the lack of blogging; I've been spending most of the past three weeks sewing my hip to Neptune's, and this morning when she had to leave for America again we had to rip out the stitches and it hurt like a bitch. I am, however, pleased to report that through a combination of biting my lip and exercising sheer willpower, I managed not to cry at the airport, and so avoided raising suspicion in the In-Laws. Of course the moment they left, I bawled on the train back home and Singaporeans, being inherently rude, stared as I hugged a huge pink plush dolphin and cried. If only that were America... In the town where Neptune and I lived, them Americans would never let me sob alone in public like that. And even if they did, they would have the decency not to stare.
Neptune and I spent Christmas eve at a bar with a few of her friends. I'd been angry with her the entire evening for reasons I cannot remember or comprehend, and later at night I reflected logically on my bad behavior and decided to instead start drinking and have a good time. Someone decided that it would be a good idea to place a hugeass bottle of vodka on the table, and it didn't really occur to me that 40% alcohol by volume was a huge deal, which led to me being incredibly happily drunk before midnight.
Someone took my glass away and apparently I said, I WILL SUE YOU! For a loss of chance to kill my liver on my own terms? We shall never know. Neptune later recounted that someone (else?) said s/he would sue me (if I drank any more), and I replied immediately, I WILL COUNTER-SUE YOU! See how law school is making me crazy in my head? I also told the cab driver, when he asked for directions, to drive to the toilet because I'd needed to pee.
On Christmas morning Mochi passed away, and in reaction to the stress, I went ahead and called up my local Tiffany & Co. to have some items placed on hold. I know that this is a very dysfunctional way to deal with stress, but I decided that it was a sensible way of releasing the inner tension while allowing for some serious guilt-free shopping, and if you can buy that kind of happiness with money, there is really nothing much more I can ask from my dollar.
I phoned Tiffany & Co., verified the prices of some items and decided to purchase some jewelry from the Singapore Changi Airport, where my purchase would be tax-free. So I was speaking with this very nice lady on the phone, right? And I had her place $1.5k worth of stuff on hold, did everything right, asked about the polishing services and return policy and sizes/lengths etc. She then asked me if I was departing on a flight later from the airport terminal, and I was all, whoa lady, are you seriously wanting to make conversation with me over the phone? Because my phone bill is, uhh... Anyways I told her I wasn't, and that the only reason I wanted to make a purchase at the airport rather than downtown was because making a purchase downtown would have cost me 150% of the usual price: They seriously mark up prices like crazy downtown, those pompous asses!
The lady on the phone sounded confused and asked me if I worked at the airport, and I was thinking whoa, lady, this is a weird time to network, no, srsly. I answered no, and then she asked me, "So... How are you going to get into the departure lounge?" Which is beyond the checkpoint where you have to show them security guys your fight ticket and passport. Because yeah, some jackass decided to place the Tiffany & Co. with low tax-free prices in the airport IN THE DEPARTURE LOUNGE, taunting the rest of us who are stuck outside because we don't work at the airport or have a plane ticket. The rest of us, who are forced to either purchase in the U.S. or pay 465 USD downtown for an item usually priced at 300 USD. Well, all I can say is that my money is going to America, and when the Singaporean economy collapses because I have stopped spending in it? Don't say I didn't warn you biatches!
On a related note: Apparently the Singapore government decided that Singapore is in recession, which really confuses me because the malls here are incredibly packed. I clearly did not get the recession memo, along with the thousands of Singaporeans who squeezed themselves downtown during the Christmas season. Them Americans know the meaning of recession, and if you go to the malls there, chances are you'll find it empty and haunted and full of cob-webs and dust.
On New Year's Eve, Neptune's sister and her husband (Neptune's brother-in-law) hosted a party at a gorgeous hotel suite which had an amazing view of the city. At 00:00, January 1, 2009, Neptune and I squeezed each other's hands while we watched the fireworks from the balcony on the 64th floor, and I remember thinking that I did not want it any other way. I remember in that moment of immense clarity, for me, it was just Neptune and me and the beautiful fireworks, and then me holding my breath willing the moment to last forever. We spent the night at our own hotel room and had a bubble bath at 6AM. I woke up on New Year's Day next to Neptune, smiled to myself, and told her that I was happy, because there could be no better start to a new year than waking up next to the person you love the most.
Happy New Year, you guys!
Labels: I heart America, In-Laws, Maki/Mochi, Neptune, oniomania
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Angelique
20 nov 1988
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