This post was inspired by Cat's message on my tagboard (yes, I don't like flowers)... and also since the week of hearts is at its wake. Don't get me wrong, I'm as (hopelessly) romantic as any girl. I cry myself through Judith McNaught novels. A sentimental song can get me teary-eyed before it even reaches the chorus. Oh man, and if I'm PMS-ing? I can cry just sitting by myself in the dark. I'm a sap too. And a sucker for romantic surprises.

I guess that's it. Surprises. Flowers just doesn't do it for me (beyond the fact that they're butterfly-related). Especially on Valentines, which is so predictable. So are flowers on an anniversary, on a birthday... so on and so forth. More than flowers, what I really don't like is "predictable". It would mean so much more if it was even just a single flower (it need not be a rose) given to you "just because". Not because an occasion propels your partner to do so.

Okay since we're on the topic of romance and "normal" romantic practices. Another thing that I don't like is when there's a booth in a resto and a couple is both on one side. Argh I just hate that. It looks like we're watching a movie. I recall when Chips and I were just a "few days old", we were eating in Sbarro's and he motioned to sit beside me. I told him off frankly, "what are you doing?". And he just stood there, dumbfounded. Sitting beside you, he replied. I gave him a what-are-you-thinking look. Uhh... no, I said simply (sungit ba?). Since then, he asks my permission if he wanted to sit beside me. I let him only when (1) the airconditioning in the place is unforgivable and (2) if I'm moody, in pain, or PMS-ing and need some comforting. He attempted last valentine's. Eeek! No! If he did, we would be a whole row of couples sitting like such. Over my dead body. How are we going to talk anyway? How are we going to properly share food? Where's the eye contact? Bah.

It must be difficult, you might think, to celebrate a milestone with me. I'm not high maintenance really. I'm happy if dinner was an all-beef shawarma with cheese at the Food Channel. Or a meal at Tapa King. Among the whoop-dee-doo gifts Chips has given? An exacto-knife with a matching cutting board. A glass pallette he had carved for when I painted (I bawled when he gave this). A brown bikini from Roxy (okay so that cost quite some moolah). A "Little Book of Crap" from Fully Booked. Shoes (yah, who could go wrong with shoes). And a ring (not that kind). He's been keeping it up so far, throughout the four years. And he'd better keep it up for more years too. Hint, hint.

I don't think I'm a difficult girlfriend, really. I'm sure all you other girls would have your quirks too.

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On another note, let me introduce everyone to Obi-wan Kenobi - our 2-month old shih-tzu. He's so small that I had to buy him a bell so we'd know where he was. He currently thinks that Liam's ponytail is a teether and gnaws on it everytime he gets the chance (which often results to some dog-wrestling). He bites on everything from the hem of your skirt or pants to your slippers. You'd like to scold him... but he's just the cutest little thing.