First Wedding Anniversary

Time really flies! Hubby and I have been married for a year now. It seems like it was only a couple of months ago when we were busy planning for our big day, and it felt like it was just yesterday when we were walking down the aisle. Alright, I was exaggerating, but you get my point. It's scary how fast time dashes by without us realising that there are so many things still undone. For example, I have yet to get Hubby a significant gift as a momento for our very first wedding anniversary.

I was browsing the net sourcing for ideas on what to get for him awhile ago.

Just as when I was in the Tiffany & Co. website considering if I should get this beautiful key ring for Hubby, he came into the room with my present.







He got me this very dainty ring from the place where I was thinking of getting his pressie! Great minds think alike! Haa... Not only did we both think of the same place to get our gifts, both items we chose had the same amount of diamonds on it, though my gift is alot cheaper than his. We are such a match-made-in-heaven, aren't we? *Wink*


I feel so guilty for not getting a pressie early enough to exchange for the lovely ring he got for me. Anyhow, I guess the pile of assignments shall be a reason valid enough to explain for the late gift. In fact, I am not anywhere near late since we are only a couple of mins into our anniversary day and I planned to get the key ring later this noon. =P

I have been craving for fresh oysters and foie gras. I've explicitly spelt out my cravings yesterday, and I hope do Hubby is sensitive enough to bring me to the right place to dine this evening. Tsk tsk... First wedding anniversary definitely have to be a speical night, isn't it?


Updates on 17Sept: No fresh oysters and neither did we have foie gras. ;( Hubby said it's because there is quite a huge population of animal rights activists, so I can only crave for them and salivate in my dreams. No key ring for Hubby too since he insisted he doesn't need anything. Initially I thought i can save me some money, especially when I a non-income earner now. However his bday is coming up in a couple of days. Maybe I should get him something bigger as a bday cum 1st yr anniversary gift. Any ideas? I'm clueless.

Burnt Out

I am DEADBEAT. Having to cook when I reach home at 6.30pm after school is really a chore. Especially when the hubby is sooooooo hooked on Texas Holdem that he doesn't lay his fingers to help a tiny weeny bit anymore. I am so pissed with him that I have decided to either let him cook his own dinner and packed lunch, or to have packed dinner from the Teo Chew eatery from Mondays to Wednesdays, when my classes end late.

By the way, the weather has been pretty bizarre, by my own standards. It's only the end of Summer now and the temperature has been hovering around 18 deg when I leave home for school in the recent mornings, and around 15 deg when I head home in the evenings. If it is already so cold now, I am thinking do I need to wear my thick jackets when Fall arrives. I am so afraid of the cold.

Lastly, as usual, school has been crazy. Stochastic is my worst subject and I have been struggling with it since the day school started; actually since NUS days. I am sooooooooooooo behind class that I have been mugging almost every single day. I guessed I am putting in 10 times more the effort than I did during my undergrad days. This is definitely much much much more tougher than what I had thought it will be. Sigh......

Chicago Trip

Chicago is the biggest city in Illinios, our neighbouring state. It is also the 3rd most populous city in the United States, after New York and Los Angeles. September 1st is Labor Day, and since we had a long weekend, our group decided to spend 2 nights in Chicago. The drive up took us 5 hours; a good chance "to train for our 14-hour road trip to Mt. Rushmore", proclaimed hubby. I guess I will try to get myself an air tic up, rather than let my legs suffer in the cramped coupe for that many hours. A 5-hours drive is already more tedious than I had thought it would be.

This is how far we had travelled. Almost across an entire state to get us to Chicago. Map's a credit of photographyschools.com.

The only pitstop on the way up. We had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, an old country-styled restaurant. A very nice cosy little place.







One of the first sights of Chicago. An old dirty tunnel which do not look welcoming at all. We entered Chicago from the part where the more impoverished communities lived. It looked pretty much like a riot had recently broke out along the streets.



Along Lakeshore. The ensemble of the clear blue sky, the pristine water and the neat rows of yachts is such a pleasant sight. Totally different from the sights that greeted us initially.





A pretty much dingy subway station near our hotel. The place where we put up at was quite close to the shabby streets, that explains the presence of an almost dilapidated station.






Chicago's skyline. Finally we get to see clusters of high-rise buildings...















...and throngs of people. I had not seen so many people along the streets for the past 2 months. It ignited some excitment in me, having seen crowd the first time since we arrived in STL. I felt like a hermit being let out. Haa...




Parking in the city is extremely exorbitant. Thus we took the subway and walked miles and miles on the first day. Lucky my legs were spared on the second day as we managed to find a parking place that cost us only $11 for 12 hours.










Dinner was at Morton's. The real Morton's Steakhouse in Chicago! Last birthday, Hubby planned to bring me to the Morton's in Singapore, but I can't remember why there was a change in plan in the end. We were delighted to have a chance to sink our teeth into the acclaimed steak at the origianl Morton's.

Superb steak. The taste was AWESOME. The only flaw was it was a tard too raw. Hubby and I shared one, while Shaun and Zhiwei shared the other portion. While both orders were medium rare, the chef grilled the entire thick cut of steak before slicing it up into 2 portions to be served. Thus the centre of the beef was too raw. It would be the most perfect steak if it was sliced first before grilling. The others had thinner cuts, and thus their steaks tasted much better than superb.

After dinner, we took a looooooonng stroll to Navy Pier to catch the fireworks. Thereafter, it was yet another much looooooonger stroll to the subway station to take a train home.












Chicago at night.












On the second day, we had Tim Sum at one of the restaurants, recommended by The Wives' Club, in Chinatown. For this huge spread, we paid only $10 each. Almost the same price for a meal in McDonald's. Pretty decent chinese food, except the bland congee and thick-skinned crystal dumplings and Char Siew Baos.

I went gaga over this huge Hershey's store. It's a chocolate-lover's heaven.
















The genuine chocolate-making machine in the store! I say genuine because I saw "kisses" rolling down the spiral duct of it.













Late noon, we each paid $15 to go up the Hancock Observatory for a 360 degree view of Chicago. One of the touristy must-dos.








Nice view of Chicago from the 94th storey.











Dinner was at Carmine's. Nice food, better wine. It had been a while since we do alfresco dining.









Night fell after dinner.

















It took us some time before we managed to find a modest place for some drinks. Modest but still a far cry from our happening clubs in Singapore. It was good enough to remain in there for only 2 hours.



We left with the intention of adjoining to the most happening club, but with a drunk member in our group, we decided to give Level a miss.







I'll be posting the entire album on Chicago in my Picasa real soon, I promised.

St. Louis Zoo

Two weekends ago, we went to the STL Zoo. I held off the post on our visit for more than a week as I was busy struggling to mug for last Friday's exam.

Anyway, friends who knew me would have long identified the fact that I dislike animals. The reasons why I tagged along was because I need a breather from the gruelsome revision, and also because I did not want to be alone in the apartment on a weekend while the rest of the gang went out for some fun. Definitely not my kind of fun though, but a great opportunity for more photo-taking sessions.

Near the entrance. As usual, the sun was blazing hot.
One of the numerous stalls that sell drinks and snacks.
Spotted a dead deer hanging on the tree!
Us and the grizzly bear. I think Hubby was smittened by the bear.
The only part of the zoo I like is this chilly world of Penguin and Puffin Coast. Though it's freezing cold inside the cove, at least we're away from the heat and more importantly, the stench of all the other animals.
This must be Hubby's favourite animal, since he insisted on leaving only after he saw this highly endangered cat, the Amur leopard. Looks like any other leopard to me.
Lastly, a group picture before we leave. Check out more pictures on my Picasa album if you are interested, as I'd uploaded all the pictures.
Dinner was at Denny's to celebrate Zhiwei's birthdat in advance.











Nothing spectacular about the zoo. I think we have a better zoo in Singapore, especially the Night Safari, that beats the STL Zoo hands down anytime. Since I have nothing impressive to comment about the zoo, I shall end my post here.


We just came back from a 3D2N trip to Chicago 2 hrs ago. Will update on the trip very soon. Till then, tata!