Xiner and Raymond's Diary

2012-02-09T01:57:00.002+08:00

View from my apartment - Mountain View

Golf course at Shoreline Lakeside Park, Mountain View

another

Horse Shoe Lake. Along one of my hikes at Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve

Me during the hike at Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve

Intense midnight talk

2012-02-09T01:54:00.000+08:00

My Camaro

2012-01-25T08:53:00.001+08:00

Just got my car! $2.6k plus 100 for registration. Paying 35 per month for insurance.

Anyway, it's a v6 3.8 liter engine. MANUAL. That's the downside but I'm getting used to it. Petrol is heavy on my wallet though. But i love the way it looks. =)

Also, took some pics in the Chinese supermarket I went to. No other trace of cny in the area otherwise.

New furnishings, new room

2012-01-19T16:56:00.001+08:00

New bed. New room!
Set up my bed in my room on Tuesday. Then Waiyin said she felt uncomfortable in her bigger room. So I offered to swap. Now I have the big room. After dismantling and rebuilding my bed in her room.

Look at what she saw on her luggage mysterious questions marks drawn in water when she came home. Really spooked her. So I'm taking her room now. Hope I don't experience anything paranormal =D

Should be fine tho. God is with me. =) enjoying the bigger space so far.

Have to thank Chenyang for helping me out though. Carried my table 1 mile at 12midnight in the 3 degrees cold back home from seller. Then helped me dismantle and set up my bed again.

Haha that's all for now. Work is same. Trying to get a good reliable car now. Many ppl have been getting flashy sports car. I shall look at Honda accords and Toyotas for now.

Untill next time....

Raymond

Ikea shopping room furnishing

2012-01-12T18:17:00.001+08:00

Photo post!

I got an apartment!!

2012-01-09T04:06:00.002+08:00

So...... the 5 man apartment plan fell through, leaving only 3 of us housing together. We now had to look for 2 bedrooms apartments instead of 3. Meaning we had wasted our saturday looking at 3br. Waiyin and Chenyang were giving up on sunday thinking that most realtors and leasing offices would be closed and unavailable to bring us for viewing. But I was hopeful. I woke early and continued searching on craigslist calling each listing up hoping for someone to pick up. Good thing I did so too, eventually I was able to schedule several viewing appointments in the morning!

The first was Arbor's Apartments, an old hotel converted into apartments. It was a 2bedroom2bath apartment. However, given its past life as a hotel, it came up short on the size department. We still liked it a lot and had half a mind to go back after viewing the rest, to place a deposit with them.

The second one, was at Surrey House, 1984 Latham Street, Mountain View. On the outside, it was rather unassuming and small. Once we entered the main gates, I fell in love with the quaint surroundings with cushioned swings, stone stairwells and park furniture. Definitely more space than the place I'm currently living at and Arbors apartments. We went up to Apt 21 where the manager Nancy Jolin, sweet 71 year old lady, was living. She showed us to our apartment, 33, and the rest was history. I was immediately struck by the size of the place. We had a large living room, a nice wooden kitchen, an area for dining, and the sunlight that the 2 rooms were getting was definitely uplifting. Each room had large east facing windows where we will get nice morning rays to warm us.
So we decided to get this apartment. I will be taking one of the rooms, waiyin the other, and chenyang shall be partitioning off the living room as his personal den.

Here are some pictures of the outside. I have yet to take any pictures of inside the apartment as I was too overwhelmed with excitement. So these shall do for now. I will be moving in on Wednesday when I will get to take more pictures of inside the apartment. Stay tuned till then!

U can see a pool in the background. There are nice chairs and the swing is also by the pool where we get a lot of sun. Over here, the sun is great.. warm and nice.. =)

Common areas

Main entrance to the property

Some more info on our lease. Apartment comes unfurnished, so it will just be an empty space. We will be going to ikea for shopping after work on wednesday.

Also, we are paying $1700 for rent every month. Thats a very god rate given our location. I will be 15 min walk from San Antonio Caltrain, Close to Walmart, Safeway, San Antonio Shopping Centre, Food is nearby, Close to highway 101, and we can walk to the very happening Castro Street too.

On top of that, instead of the usual 3 months rent security deposit that we usually have to pay, we only put down an $800 deposit. Sweet deal.

More updates when I get to move in =)

Miss everyone in Singapore! Miss my Xiner and Family, miss my home. Take care!

-Raymond

Quick pic updates

2012-01-08T11:27:00.001+08:00

House hunting pics and plug an play centre access pass!

Starting work tmr! =)

First Days in Silicon Valley

2012-01-05T19:11:00.004+08:00

Landed in San Francisco late Tuesday evening. Went to Arthur's place with Glenn, Chenyang, Waiyin and Audrey to crash there temporarily. Had some pretty decent food so far (some.fast food..haha).

We began the day after we landed (today) by first setting up our Bank of America accounts and then getting our phone lines.. For ~USD50 I get unlimited calls to local mobile phones, unlimited SMS, 700 free minutes for land line calls, 2GB of data! On top of that calls locally are free after 9pm and in the weekends.. not too shabby me thinks.

Waiyin and Chenyang who were initially supposed to house with me got some bad news today and have to look for alternative employment. Terrible that they got played out by the company, and at such a late point in time no less. Soo, though it really sucks for them, having to look for new jobs and all, I also am left in limbo. Currently I only have Glenn who has definite plans to house w me in Redwood City. 2 of us can't afford a rental together unless we only rent a room. Long story short, we are ceasing house hunting untill Waiyin and Chenyang confirms their employment and confirms with us whether they would be housing w us. Untill then, it's more of hobo time, sleeping on whose ever's floor will have us. hahaha

On a slightly more hopeful note, Apoorv, senior living in Redwood City, has an awesome deal in his household where 2 more rooms are going to be vacant starting 20th Jan. We are in talks with landlord on pricing, if we are able to drive it down, we might have an awesome place to live in! If this goes through, we will go ahead with the move regardless of Waiyin and Chenyang's status.

OK this was meant as a picture post but I went a little in over my head.

me at Taipei Taoyuan airport, transiting to San Fran. Shopping for Shu uemura for Dear Xiner

First night in Silicon Valley (mountain view) went to petrol kiosk for nissin supper at 4am!

Lunch on first day was at Country Gourmet, quite a quaint little eatery with all day breakfast! Awesome omelettes

This is me on a chilly Cali morning

OK... thats all for now... Untill next time =)

-Raymond

Christmas eve dinner prelude

2011-11-22T11:52:00.001+08:00

Are you ready?

Piggy still sleeping

2011-11-20T12:03:00.001+08:00

I couldn't wake up in the night. R tried to drag me, put water on my face, whack me, video... All rendered useless! Haha!

Same for him, he can't wake up in the morning. Lol

Say gd morning!! :)

For my baby R

2011-11-19T14:29:00.001+08:00

2011-11-19T04:51:00.002+08:00

I'm so sorry to be putting you through this.. It may have been a little selfish for me to make the decision to go for NOCSV, but I hope we will hold on tight to what we have and not let the situation put any distance between us (metaphorically at least).

I know I hurt you and I am hurting too. I am very sorry... Please save up to come visit me and I will save up to cover your expenses when you are here.

You will always be on my mind even if we have no time to skype I hope you will think of me too.

I created this time chart so you can refer to it to find out what time it is at SF.

I love you.

~Raymond

2011-11-16T16:54:00.002+08:00

This is so true.. I will miss our stupid fights.. =/

I hope you don't forget me when I am away. I will always be thinking of you and missing you.

Even though we may not be physically together, my heart shall always be with you.

Jiayou on your makeup and tuition. Hope you can save enough to come visit me in the US.

I am counting on you to make it big in the makeup industry! =D

Believe in yourself, stay focused in your pursuits and not let trifle things distract you from your goals. I believe in you =)

2011-10-11T15:57:00.001+08:00

Waited for Raymond for super long

NUSSU Appreciation Dinner 2011

2011-10-09T15:05:00.001+08:00

Last AD with the ryzonian.

He's flying soon.

How I wish US is as near as JB.

Woes of a ryzonian gf

2011-10-05T11:18:00.001+08:00

It's really torturous to wake the ryzonian up in the morning. Not just early morning, even late morning like NOW. he is like an ultimate pig which refuses to wake up every single time u try to push him, nudge him, shout at him etc. Everything u do is useless! He just refuses to wake up like a bigass lazy pig.

Always give excuses like it is ok, do ur own things, don't need so early la. Then what about me? I just watch him sleepppppp...

Ryzonian + sleep = pig + sleep
Ryzonian - pig = sleep - sleep
Ryzonian - pig = 0
Ryzonian = pig

my 21st birthday!

2011-04-21T23:52:00.000+08:00

exams coming = holidays coming!

2011-04-03T17:41:00.001+08:00

let's go for another holiday together!!!

i know you don't come here anymore, raymond pig

2011-03-31T19:36:00.001+08:00

2011-03-07T12:44:00.000+08:00

2010-10-04T23:12:00.001+08:00

2010-07-29T12:20:00.001+08:00

sleep all you can.
school is more impt.
take modules with friends better.
i am just bull shit.
fuck.

2010-07-29T01:20:00.002+08:00

HONG KONG!!! Here we come!!~

2010-07-21T16:18:00.005+08:00

You are my OC girl! =D

Thank God we met..

2010-05-01T17:16:00.001+08:00

The best thing about me is you.

Shannon Crown

10yearsPROMISE

2010-04-30T16:23:00.004+08:00

We've made a promise to meet every 10years counting from 8/8/09 at Changi Airport Terminal 1 Arrival Hall 12nn. Even if we're not together or married, we'll meet there. And that when i turn 40 and still not married, he turn 42 and single - we'll marry each other:)

iloveyou

study hard:) goodluck for your last abnormal psy paper

iloveyou somuch.

2010-04-19T17:40:00.000+08:00

2010-04-02T04:02:00.003+08:00

Don't stop believing

Hold on to this feeling!

-Ryz

2010-03-27T13:38:00.003+08:00

super outdated post but whatever:)

we went to watch KUMAR@esplanade:D it was quite funny and both of us enjoyed ourselves very much on that day!

we're going for another concert at VCH tonight. nus symphonic? something along this line.. supporting yong qiang!

2010-03-23T01:08:00.001+08:00

how much?

'many many....'

lol... so cute can I pls pinch ur cheeks!!!

2010-03-18T00:56:00.002+08:00

What is a good rship? I don't know. To be honest, whtever tt is posted here are just stuff that one would like others to know and not the complete truth. Who would blog abt quarrels? Unpleasant stuff? NO!

Girls are really very weird type of animals! We tend to say stuff that we don't mean and often, the guys just took whatever that we say. But, we're probably the species that love to say the opposite stuff. If we say go away, it means stay here! If we say I hate the times we spent tgt, we usually quite like it most of the time. I say most of e time. So, if we ever become really serious and tell you that we really really hate it, then yes! We do hate it.

Whatever, I don't even know what I'm writing. It's just that things ain't going that well ever since school started. I'm probAbly expecting too much and you're also expecting too much from me and that is why it alw hav to end up w unhappy endings. Which is just fucked up!

On my bed with my iPhone aloneeeee.......

missyou

2010-03-05T18:20:00.001+08:00

.....a trip down memory lane....

2010-02-06T22:42:00.024+08:00

a short path though it has been,
many a place we have already seen
hand in hand we shall chase our dream
of my heart you will be the queen
-Raymond

Sorry for the lousy rhymes, haha I know they're bad and corny... but I try.. =/

ilu no matter what

2010-02-03T18:50:00.003+08:00

To you i give

by Nikki Mclean

This valentines day

Im hoping that you will see

That with this gift I give to you

You and me will be

A special valentine gift from me to you

Something that will always last

Something that will be in the presents

And never in the past

A gift that you should cherish

A gift that makes you weak

A gift that helps you through your days

This gift is all you seek

The gift im willing to give

Is something so high and bright

A present that you cannot see

But is more powerful than the sun light

I want you to know that I love you

And even though we are apart

This gift will never fade

To you my baby I give my heart

i don't have the flair to write such stuff but i'm willing to find them for you. just a pre valentine's surprise:) love you sweetheart

xiner

2010-02-01T13:01:00.011+08:00

this has started since 080809. happy that we've came this far, hopefully it will continue. our first vday will be coming, sadly it falls on CNY this year but we'll have the best day/night ever ok?

2010-01-30T01:55:00.001+08:00

ilu

The Sweetest Dream

2010-01-25T00:14:00.001+08:00

Raymond

a dream

2010-01-24T08:54:00.003+08:00

i had a stupid dream that woke me up at 6am! we were getting married and as i was talking to those aunties.... they said i am pregnant! WHATTT!!!!TTT!!!! i got so pissed and woke up. hahahHAHAHAHahhaHAHHA stupid dream...

How I Wish Time Will Freeze

2010-01-20T13:06:00.005+08:00

school started. How i wish time will freeze. the time when i'm having the most wonderful time of my life. Worries free! Just enjoy, have fun and spend! I love spending! hahah. Sometime, I wish I would be someone you think of everytime you meet with a problem. Not one who is only there to share your happiness but not the miseries. I don't like to talk about some stuff is because i know i'll snap if i talk about it. But, in any case, violence will not get me to talk also. I'm just so stubborn. You should've known by now. I'm really grateful to you. I'm so glad that everytime when i'm met with some freaking disgusting stuff you're always there. But, sometimes... it's just hurtful to hear you say that i'm always not there for you and that you're only around me when i'm free from other distractions. I want you to be there everytime. Even if i'm just watching a show. your presence just makes me happy. You probably don't think so, but i hope you can understand in no time. my heart hurts more than my hands...
But i still love you so so so much...

late night reminiscences

2010-01-17T23:19:00.000+08:00

Bali was amazing.. Not so much the places and activities, but the company. I love you, and am thankful for having had the chance to share a week of worry-free fun with my tian xian.

I guess the best part of the trip was that we got to be together, without the hindrance and distractions of the everyday gadgets and chores. We weren't on the internet all the time, watching tv shows, worrying about school work or our other commitments. We just focused on enjoying each others' company, and sure enough - mirth and merriment.

I was in a dream. The sweetest kind. You know the kind you awake from, cursing and punching the pillow because it wasn't real? I was living that dream when I was with you in Bali. Being together with the one you love, spending everyday together, and no ounce of our thoughts lost to idle worldy distractions and worries. Just revelry. That is a dream I never want to awake from.
Alas, departure date neared, envelope of cash went flat, no longer were we multi-millionaires. It was like a hard punch to the face, rousing me from my blissful fantasy. Fuck.

I really treasure such times. When you're not looking for new shows to watch on funshion or shopping for clothes on the internet. I'm not facebooking MLIAing or being distracted from you by my commitments in PRU and what not......

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I miss you. As stupid as that sounds, given that we're practically siamese twins, it's true.

I can't wait for our next trip together! we'll bring some sunblock this time ;) love you~

What a beautiful way,
without speaking, to say,
so much more than our words portray.
Kiss me,
smile for a little while,
you'll make my everyday.

Ahn nyung ha se yo~
Raymond

ps: perhaps you can do a post on bali? =)

merryxmas!!!

2009-12-27T19:27:00.000+08:00

so sorry darling. i wanted t come up with this awesome post that's why i stayed at home and didn't send you there. after you read this please don't be angry anymore and still be my chauffeur yang! please

MERRY CHRISTMAS MY YANG! I really enjoy every single day with you! Even if it's like this morning when i suddenly had mood swing and gave you a "really nice" morning. but we'll still end up loving. haha. i don't know if you can feel it but i really love you loads. probably this time is really different. i may appear indifferent to many things but truthfully it's not like this. ISWEAR! you're already becoming the air i breathe. when i see that you can get along so well with kids and had such patience with girlgirl which i dun even have after 9 years of knowing her, it really made me dream that if only my husband is you, i'll be thrilled!!!

i guess you're still pissed off with me not sending you there but!!! look at this post and smile! ilu! how i wish we can sleep tgt every night. i don't care what my mother will say, i don't care what others will think. you're all i care about.

bali trip is coming and i really look forward to it! i'm going to bali with my love. gosh. jy said it's the most romantic pl la. bali got charles and jy tgt, and it got you to say i love you to me. wonderful! i would like to explore this fantastic place with you, raymond. even if that means i have to very giam siap for the next few months.

lastly, merryxmas my love
_____________________________________________________________________________________
our journey,

jan: i don't know you, you don't know me

feb: first impression of you-not bad looking,friendly,humorous,mr YOUNG,handwriting can be better and all sorts of stupid nonsense.we got to know each other for 2 weeks but we didn't get close but you're still friendly enough to accompany me for lunches and tea breaks:)

mar: totally no contact at all since i'm not working in cchy

apr: whee~ i'm back to cchy means more $$$ hahah. that aside, we still didn't know each other that well. timbre for the first time with you,joc,zhitong,andrew - actually it's my first time going to timbre-substn. i was quiet but overall it was fun.aft i came back from tw, i gave you a niao hu which i dunno who else to give. ah har.. i also intro thomas to you before that. lol. some dinners tgt when u got ps by T.

may: i cant rmb if u helped me shift furnitures in apr or may but whatever, it was nice of you even when we were not really shou yet. had some rocky stuff going on and u were there for me. oh ya! first time at BUTTER w you. haha fun la. but u smoked! i can nv forget.how can u smoke??? totally spoil image can? funny stuff we did i mean i did at the dam after i got drunk? not really la. i weren't drunk lo seriously! WHITE CAR!!! you confess in may too! you were so joke that i thought it was a jokE!!!

june: more frequent suppers and dinners tgt. i love the lexus lah! super comfy! lol. the nights out at lower pierce and dam were unforgettable. how i wish time can go back - to the working times. no worries just enjoy and have fun!you went bali. miss you loads la! you told me "IloveYou" in bali. goodness! i love bali!!!

july: you went for several camps and i was really afraid that you'll run away with other girls since you're like so talkative/humorous-killer!!!and the girls are like pretty la!ok but u're still around. haha LUCKY!!!

August-nov: start of nightmare! schoollllll i'm really grateful that you're alw with me when my world is almost crumpling down due to the stress i had. thank you my dear! and we got officially tgt. haha. on your bday. i hope we'll cont like for long if not you'll be damn sad on your bdays la. haha other than the occasional quarrels we had, i still had a wonderful time with you. thank you for accompanying me to school even when you don't need to and it's like freaking 8am need to reach sch la.MUACK!

dec: happiness la!!! everyday just slack around with you and just have fun and laughter. even though i'm busy with bash but i still think of you everytime i can. really! had a little bump this month but we settled it? i hope smth like that won't happen again. i don't want to cry again. i want to enjoy every moment with you and i want to laugh! please be more humorous, you're kinda losing it already but i still love you!bali trip is coming and i'll have more to write about.

2010-??? coming soon...

YOU'RE ALL I EVER NEED

2009-12-18T15:07:00.000+08:00

i love you and you're all i need! i love the previous post. thank you darling. i hope we'll have fun in BALI. CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!
missing you already

Best days of my life

2009-12-15T01:23:00.001+08:00

.....what would I do without you......

I can't stop saying I love you

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So many events and activities coming up! SLC, cousin's wedding, outings, meetups, meetings, tuitions. Bloody eventful! Unfortunately that means I have less time with you!

That Sucks~ =/

More trips to dam and upper seletar! I miss the quiet talks under the moonlit sky. Staring into your eyes, overcome by the enchantment of the night. Money cannot buy such rapture. I reminisce and smile to myself. It's moments like these that I wish I could capture and hold onto forever. To look upon and remember, even when my memory has been given to the ravages of time, relive the moment all over. But perhaps such moments are all the more precious because they are fleeting and ephemeral. To preserve them in any manner would be to tarnish and corrupt the immaculate perfection of the sweet memory.
The paradoxes of life. Kinda makes me sad.

wtf am I ranting about.. making sound faggishly emo. Lol.

I guess what I was about to say is that I really treasure the time we have together. I want to hold on to our special moments forever. Every day with you is special and I don't want to give in to routine and habit. We ought not to take each other for granted and neglect making each other feel special and loved and important. I love you my dear xiner... but i think you already know =)

-Raymond

young at heart

2009-12-10T11:25:00.000+08:00

2009-12-08T11:40:00.001+08:00

i love you

Cousin's wedding

2009-12-06T02:00:00.000+08:00

Picture post... max zi lian pics... LOL... you said to take pictures... so here goes!

Zomg... uber red.

Day was not complete without you by my side though ='(
I miss you... and have not even gotten to see you since..

missing you,
Raymond

Edward

2009-12-04T23:45:00.001+08:00

picture says it all....

My darling Xiner....

2009-12-04T23:26:00.000+08:00

Everyday with you is a gift. You have no idea how much I love you. I would give the world for you. Even though we practically live together, each day I spend with you is still a day I will cherish. I am sorry if I am ever unkind or hurtful. They say love is selfish, and I think it's true. All I want is you and for you to feel the same about me! haha. Alas, all I can do is savour all the sweet moments we share.

here's one!

here's another!

I look at these photos and smile to myself. I am thankful for having you in my life. You are my special little angel. I hope our lives can be filled with many many more sweet moments in the future.

I hope you want that with me too.

-lovingly yours
Raymond
(your pwee pwee/xiao pang/yang yang)

2009-12-04T02:47:00.000+08:00

ilu

just came across this:)
Yesterday I went to see new moon with my twilight crazy friends. Not being a fan of twilight, I felt like an outcast tagging along. When Robert Pattinson came on the sceen, a 8 year old girl got up and screamed; "Cedric Digory lives! I must tell Dumbledore!" She then proceeded to run out of the cinema along with half the cinema including me. I've never felt so included. MLIA

ikea!!!

2009-12-02T11:01:00.000+08:00

there are so many x'mas trees there:):):) happiness!!!

the food taste great too. especially the chicken wings.. fingerlinkinggood hhahahah

this is yesterday's special: curry noodles:)

their famous meatballs (combination of pork n beef - must try(ray))

ray loves this ball.of.light hahaha

i love this table:)

and this miniature masa masa

ilu

2009-12-02T10:07:00.000+08:00

pulau ubin trip is postponed. we're going shopping today!!! whee!!! watched case 39 yesterday. both ray n i thought paranormal activity is no way in comparison w case 39 even though it is rated as the scariest movie this year. case 39 is kind of more relatable while paranormal activity - u just sit there n watch the door movie. did not really see anything else. CASE 39 best la. haha
oh ya we went ikea also. we love ikea!!!

2009-11-30T19:50:00.000+08:00

Today my boyfriend said he would treat me to my favourite teppanyaki provided i give him five kisses. I did. It's 8pm now and i'm eating instant noodles cooked by my mother. FML

my mother is still the best!

2009-11-30T09:08:00.001+08:00

finally. the exams are coming to an end. raymond is finishing today and me- tomorrow. but wth! it's math! my most hated subject in my whole life. but hahahaha!!!! we're going pulau ubin on wed and butter in the night! whee~ thurs is new moon day!!! yippie!!!!

2009-11-26T00:47:00.000+08:00

yay!. this blogskin is finally done! even though i just kop from blogskins.com, but haha. it's nice. lol.
alright! enough of crap. this blog is actually set up for raymond and i to record down the places that we've been to or are going to:) cant wait for 29 dec to come and i'll be on the plane to BALI!!! wow!!! but the first place that we're gg to go is PULAU UBIN. hey. don't think it's some ulu ulu place. pulau ubin is fun okay! the cycling there is dirt cheap but the bikes are as lousy too. what u pay is what u get. however, the main pt is to enjoy the ourselves there in nature. u can hardly find that in singapore (mainland) already. so! it's gg to be fun. we'll be going to other places too! wooooo!!!! impatience. but for now, examssss. hate it! but what to do?!?! just do it mann.. haha!!!

2009-11-25T09:45:00.001+08:00

first stop: BALI!!!