Little White Box On Table 7

Some people celebrate their 1 year, 5 year or even 10 year anniversary. Others stop celebrating their dating life when they get married. The ones with really good memories, celebrate first kisses, first dates and other firsts. On August 10th, Dave and I celebrated our 2.5 year anniversary.

For the occasion, Dave made me promise to keep August 10th open. At first, I wondered why? As quickly as I questioned the date, it clicked. It was our 2.5 year anniversary. That Wednesday evening, I planned to take off by 5pm. I walked out the door at 5:25pm.

At 5:15, I knew I was past my promise. I took the gamble of going out around Artarmon to look for a card. While I was out, I decided to give him a gag gift - whipped cream. I took it back to the office and taped white paper around the canister and labelled it Shave's Whipped Cream - Shave is our "Brangelina" nickname given by our dear friends back at Junggye Chungdahm. I tossed the canister, card and assortment of sour candies into my bag and raced to the station platform met only by the glaring "6 minutes until the next train" sign. Damn.

Dave kept telling me all day that I had better get off on time because we would miss something happening at 6pm. What could he have planned that needed my presence precisely at 6pm. My guess was a boat ride.

I met him at 5:55pm at Central Station and he was not happy with my tardiness. We walked briskly onto Elizabeth Street and even started running - away from the harbour. This 6pm surprise was not going to be a boat ride.

For 15 minutes, I bickered about running and being pressured when he wouldn't tell me where we needed to be. After 6pm, he gave up running and turned our pace into a walk. Reading the disappointment on his face, I apologised for being such a bad girlfriend and told him how appreciative I was for his efforts. We rounded Crown Street and we were walking in silence.

I stopped and started to cry. I hated this feeling. Dave is so thoughtful and I was the one that made us late. My tears were further propelled by pressure at work - the very place that made me late. He gave me a big hug and reassured me he didn't mind. He just wanted us to make this 6pm reservation and it wasn't a big deal if we missed it.

At 10 minutes past 6pm, we stopped walking and in front of us was Red Lantern. This particular restaurant is founded and owned by Luke Nguyen, a famous Vietnamese Australian chef we love. He has a show on SBS called Luke Nguyen's Vietnam where he travels throughout different cities in Vietnam cooking dishes of the region while highlighting cultural nuances. Most of his dishes involve a wok, oil, garlic, chilies, a protein and spices - our kind of dining. Watching his show every Thursday night increased our appetite to indulge at his Surry Hills based restaurant - a short walk from our home in Potts Point.

My eyes light up as we walked up the steps into the quaint, homey and very red restaurant. When you enter, there are tiny two-tops and few larger tables in a place that looks like it could be a 2 bedroom apartment. Throughout the red painted rooms there are books, lamps and paintings like you've stepped into a New England library. We sat down and began to peruse through the menu. With Vietnamese names and paragraph descriptions under each item, we decided this menu was too overwhelming because we wanted to try everything - which led us to ordering the tasting menu.

We had 10 items including:

• Fresh spring rolls
• Calamari
• Wagyu beef
• Duck
• Pork belly
• Tiger prawns
• Fish
• Chicken
• Assorted vegetables
• Rice

Although small in portion, by the last bite, we were stuffed. Because we knew we had 10 items coming to our table, each waiter walking by our table with dish in hand kept us salivating. My favourite of course was the calamari entree, which was so lightly battered and came with a very lemony and salty dipping sauce.

Trio of Spring Rolls

 

Salt & Pepper Squid 

 

Wagyu Beef with Lemon Grass, Crispy Chicken with Ginger and Oyster Sauce Served with Rice 

Wagyu Beef with Lemon Grass

  

Pork Belly with Ginger and Oyster Sauce

Steamed Fish Wrapped in Banana Leaf

When we finished our last course, our table was cleared and I had Dave open my gift. First was an anniversary card with two stuffed animal dogs - we're both hoping to get a dog soon. I named the two dogs Georgie and Calamari, names we've chosen for our next dogs. Georgie comes from an inside joke between us. Originally the name is of the little boy who is eaten by Stephen King's It. I know. It's strange, but I've always had a fascination with that movie - perhaps because I saw it when was 4 years old and had to sleep in my own bed for the first time. Calamari is my hands down favourite food. If I were on death row, this would be my meal of choice. And what a lovely name right? Inside the card was a dozen of his favourite sour candies. Finally he reached in and found the whipped cream. He laughed and joked he was excited to 'use' it.

Anniversary Card

Shave's Whipped Cream

Dave knew I had very little time to get a gift together, but was happy with my charm and thoughtfulness especially my note in the card. Then, he made me close my eyes and when I opened them, there was a white box in front of me. When I opened the box, my heart raced. It was the size of say a ring, but we were definitely not at that stage, nor did he get down on one knee. What lay before me were beautiful earrings. A few months back, I had lost my 'pearl' earrings. Not a fussy girl when it comes to real gold or real pearls, I'm happy with ones that look like the real thing - even if it comes from Kmart. Dave remembered the day I placed some 'pearl' earrings into our basket at Kmart and couldn't shake the feeling that I deserved better.

The silver drop hoops with gold accents twinkled just as Dave's eyes twinkled as I opened up the box. Incredibly happy and thankful for such a sweet boyfriend, I thought gosh I hope these earrings fit. When I was little, I had a bad habit of pulling on my ears, which stretched my lobes leaving my piercings placed much higher than the typical piercing.

Nevertheless, I excitedly tried to fit them on without hesitation. As I expected, my earlobe scrunched inside the hoop - not the elegant dangling look I had hoped for. Dave's face dropped. He had so carefully chosen these earrings, so I wouldn't have to wear Kmart earrings. I reached across the table and smiled and he quickly mediated the situation by declaring he would go back to the store and get me some studs - my usual style earrings.

As we sat at our table looking into each other's eyes, our server came by and saw the box. He joked that he and the rest of the staff thought Dave was proposing. "Little White box on Table 7!"

We left the restaurant bellies satisfied and hearts warmed. It was a brisk night, but we decided to walk the half hour to get home. As a last stop, we detoured to Gelato Messina, famous gelaterria in Sydney. With a cup of dulce de leche in hand, we thought wouldn't some whipped cream be good right now?

The Little White Box at Table 7

Beautiful Hoop Earrings That Don't Fit My Ears

Not everyone celebrates their 6 month marker each year, but for us it's just as important. These days, dating life can be short-lived. The 6 month marker is a great milestone for making it half-way between your last anniversary and the next.

This time last year, we had been in Sydney for less than 2 months and were jobless. We only had each other. Today, we're both employed, in a great apartment living in a fabulous city with many friends who have joined our little family. It's amazing what can happen in a few short months. Six more months till our 3 year anniversary! I'm thinking Fiji...

*The next day, Dave surprised me with not one set, but two sets of stud earrings.

Cracker of a Season

Pre-Game Team Huddle

Today was the last game of the season for my soccer team, Maccabi FC, in the All-age Women Division II. We were the wild card team. We were in 8th place and managed to break through regular season with injuries, lack of players due to holidays, torrential rain and league rulings on alleged 'non-registered' players that could have thrown us out weeks ago.


I joined the team back in April eager with soccer fever and ready to expand my network in Sydney. Luckily, I found a team desperate for players - they only had 11! If you don't know already, soccer is a 90 minute game requiring 11 players. If you don't have subs, it's absolutely exhausting.


We practiced every Thursday and played every Sunday from April to August. When there were only 4 teams left, we played each other once in a knock-out round to the finals. We beat the Dunbar Rovers, the 4th place team and now faced the Heffron Hawks, the 2nd place team.


As the third place team, this was a must-win situation because if we won, we would face Coogee United, our rival team. Coogee hadn't lost nor tied one game the entire season with one exception; we beat them in regular season 4-1 on a rainy Sunday when they were least expecting it. We had played them 3 times this season and each time, they were nasty constantly trying to knock us down often clothes-lining our team and tripping us. At one point in that game, we were awarded a free-kick because Coogee fouled us. Our player set the ball down and one of their players went up to the ball and kicked it away. Remember, this is grown women playing. So by the playoffs, we wanted to knock off Coogee out of the top spot.


It was a cloudy Sunday. Kick off was at noon and we arrived 45 minutes prior to warm-up. We had 13 players, 2 more than we usually have. I hadn't played the week before because I was running the City2Surf race. With almost 2 weeks off, I was ready to play.


We started off really slow. We could blame our lack of concentration during warm-up or just lack of excitement, but our first half was slow. Our passes were not direct and we were slow to anticipate. By half-time we were losing 1-0, uninspired, exhausted and not sure if we would be making it to the finals. I had pulled a muscle at the top of my foot during the City2Surf and desperately tried to keep playing despite the pain.


We went back in for the second half and I could feel the top of my foot wasn't right. With 20 minutes left, I asked to be subbed out. My coach was not happy. In a league where we're supposed to play and have fun, this game was not the case. With finals on the line, our coach wanted to play only the best. I take all corners and make players in the middle. Without me, our team would struggle in those areas.


I sat on the sidelines and watched my team fight back desperately trying to score before the whistle was blown. Over my shoulder, I heard cheering whenever our team was given a whistle. It was the entire Coogee team! They were all there heckling at our misfortunes. I couldn't take it anymore. I asked the coach to put me back in even if we only had 10 minutes left.


In the last 20 seconds of the game, we were awarded a corner kick. I took the kick and hoped for the best. It sailed into the box and bounced off one of Heffron's players into the net. We were not tied 1-1 and the whistle blew signaling the end of regulation play.


During playoffs, teams who are tied will play an extra 15 minutes for each side, totaling 30 minutes of extra time. The first team to score, wins - this is called 'Golden Goal'. If no one scores within the two 15 minute halves, the team's go into shootouts.


We played for 5 minutes and their player scored, but was off sides because she was cherry picking right in the box.


A few minutes later, Heffron was giving a corner kick. I went up close to try to head it away. I jumped up to head it and my arm grazed the ball. This was one of the most disappointing moments in my soccer career. I get so peeved when players try to chest or head the ball and end up placing the hands or arms in front of them because they think it will hurt. We're girls! Our boobs should be padding enough! In this instance, this ball graze was a complete miscalculation on my part because I tried to head the ball away then changed my mind to chest trap it and then it was too late.


We all lined up outside of the box, while their player set the ball down to take the penalty kick. I could just hear our players saying, ''Good season girls" because they had given up. People on the sidelines even started to pack up. I had the biggest lump in my throat and a knot in my stomach because this was my fault. All the hard work we put into the season would go down because my arm grazed the ball.


The player shot and our keeper blocked it with ease. Whew!


Nearing the end of the first 15 minute overtime half, the main Heffron forward had a break away and shot from outside the box. The wind carried the ball over our goalkeeper's hands and it was in. The game was over. The season was over. Heffron won fair and square, so there was no hard feelings. We felt deflated because we so desperately wanted to make it to the finals and beat Coogee.


We weren't angry. We had a good season despite all the setbacks. One of my teammates made a joke that was I was playing netball - a sort of basketball for girls in Australia.


We sat in a circle around our coach and had our last talk of the season. He was proud of our efforts and made a speech about hard work, showing up and dedication. It was true. If we had put more effort in at training, warm- up and the game - perhaps we would have come out on top.


No regrets though. We had a cracker of a season (Aussie for 'one hell of a season'). The whole point of my joining a team again was to do something outside of work and home. I got to reconnect with my high school self and reignite my passion for soccer. I'm so glad I was able to find a team in my neighborhood, play club soccer and make a new set of friends. My soccer aspirations were answered by Maccabi FC. The next outdoor season is 8 months away. Maybe I'll try some futsal until then.

Taking a Corner Kick

Dirty Play - Check Out Her Arm!

Determination and Speed

Post-game Handshakes

Maccabi FC
All-age Women Division 2
3rd Place - Winter 2011

The largest race in the world

On Sunday, I ran my first race ever. I lie. I once ran with the Lufkin junior varsity cross country team when I was a senior in high school because they needed some representation at our own Lufkin meet. I came in seventh of eight.


Being a soccer player, running is a given. I'm not the best runner. In fact, I'm quite slow. I embody the 'slow and steady wins the race' mantra.


Throughout college, I was addicted to the treadmill. Running five miles was no sweat (no pun intended). It was the perfect getaway from the stress of class, papers and internships. My life was so scheduled back then with class and work always at the same time. Running became part of that schedule and if it didn't happen, then my day was incomplete.


Post college years were harder. For 2 years I lived in Seoul - a city with gray skies. The only place I could run was by the river, which was also next to the highway. Running outside is supposed to clear your mind. It filled mine with car exhaust. I took to the gym instead for the last few months, but I never really cemented the daily run into my life. I worked at 4pm, so waking hours varied dependent on activities the night before. Hungover? Kimchi jjigye was the answer. Woke up early? It's raining outside. Woke up on time? I should think about prepping for class or just linger in the apartment till I really have to go. I don't know how I kept my weight down with all the Korean barbecue and soju present in my life. Thank goodness I counteracted with a diet of mainly rice and vegetable soups.


Moving to Sydney was literally like a breath of fresh air. For the past year, I have lived in Darlinghurst and Potts Point, both neighborhoods bordering The Domain park. In less than 40 minutes, I could run from my apartment, around The Domain (which overlooks the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour) and back. Dave and I have taken advantage of this trail and the exceptionally clean air Sydney offers. Yet, I still haven't nailed down a steady running regime. The difference is both Dave and I now have 8:15am-6pm+ jobs with half hour commutes each way. What we're left with in the working day is less than 4 waking hours. Throw in showers, dinner and a necessary mental break a la The Wire, what is left? We've been good though. For about 6 months we were going running 3-4 times per week. Now it's more like 2 times because I'm playing soccer. The adage is true; the older you get, the faster time flies by.


Last year we watched the City2Surf race. This year we were a part of it. It is the biggest timed race in the world. This year, over 85,000 people registered! I was 52204. We registered 3 months prior, ran 1-2 times per week and had ourselves a little pre-race pasta party. Calamari is traditionally not a part of this ritual, but it is my favourite food, so why not. I'm about to run 14k in the morning.

It was the Night Before the Race...

On Sunday, 14th August I woke up to the sound of rain drops beating on my window and a helicopter hovering over William Street - the start of the race and next to my neighborhood. Dave looked out the window and confirmed the rain. Hazily, I thought he was joking. My first instinct was to turn on the TV to see if anyone was out there. There were tens of thousands.


We met up with Dave's colleague Saskia and we all walked down William Street to line up for our group - the yellow group. The yellow group is the second to last group who aim to run and walk. Our group had about 10,000 people and we were aiming to break the world record of 9000 for number of people stretching simultaneously.

Blue Group Start Down William Street

Pumped for City2Surf

Me, Dave and Saskia

Dave Helping to Break the World Record for Group Stretching

The 10,000+ People in the Yellow Group Anxiously Waiting to Start

Everyone Behind Me on William Street

At 9:05, the yellow group set off. There were so many of us that Dave, Saskia and I didn't cross the starting line till 9:15. Our game plan was to jog leisurely and walk when we wanted. Everything changed as we ran down William Street. Picking up speed and finding our stride, Dave and I left Saskia with her friend.

City2Surf 14k Race Course Map

We ran for over 6km until we reached Heartbreak Hill in Vaucluse. The race may only be 14k, but it feels like 25k. The path goes up and down the entire way, but the real turning point is mid-way when runners hit the 2km nearly vertical hill. We walked. Funny enough, the Heart Association bought advertising along the way to congratulate runners. Even more funny, RSVP the dating website bought advertising to encourage runners with phrases like 'You look so hot right now'. Real encouraging.

What was encouraging was all the water and Gatorade stations as well as the sponsors cheer leading, bands playing and private parties yelling "Keep going!" "You're almost there!"

Can You Guess Where Heartbreak Hill Starts?

City2Surf Elevation Graph

After Heartbreak Hill, we entered Dover Heights and it was all down hill through to North Bondi and the finish line at Bondi Beach. I sprinted the last 4k encouraged by the idea of not letting any 'big' people beat me. I would see larger runners in front of me and try to pass them up. Once I passed one, there would be another. This was my running trend for the entire race. With 4k to go, I ran into someone I really didn't want to see. I'm not one to have enemies, but I'm also one to avoid awkwardness. Long story short, I bolted.


We approached Bondi Beach and with 1km to go, a surprise hook turn lowered my confidence. With the finish line so close, how could the race organisers make runners run a 'V' shaped trail? Shouldn't this be a straight away? Regardless, Dave and I had less than 5 minutes till the 90 minute mark and we were going for it. Less encouraging was a very large hairy man huffing and puffing next to me. My mind was set, there was no way this guy was going to beat me. When we were less than 100m away from the finish line, camera operators were yelling, "Keep your hands up if you want your picture taken." I lifted my arms, but they just wanted to stay down. All of the sudden, I was crossing the line and so was the hairy fat man. We tied. Dave finished right behind us, still carrying our sports bag filled with sweaters and cell phones.


1:31 was our time and we were damn proud of it. It was our first race and we were expecting a time around 2 hours. My quads ached. Dave's knees felt like rust. All we wanted were cups of Gatorade and water and the sausage rolls everyone we saw seemed to be eating. We received our medals at the finish line, drank till we couldn't anymore and ate our sausage rolls overlooking Bondi Beach. We met up with our friends at Beach Road pub and exchanged race day stories over pints. We finished our first race, but this marked the start of our next challenge - training for our next road race.

City2Surf Champions

I was 52204, but I Felt Like Number One

Runners approaching the 'V' to the Finish Line

I Don't Care What I Look Like. This Sausage Roll is All That Matters

Race Keepsakes

Published Race Times, Medals and Race Bibs