1. Trust and be trustworthy. Trust is the backbone of true love. You should never have to doubt him, nor he you. Do not cheat! What does that mean? Anything you wouldn’t want him to do with a third party.

2. Communicate effectively. Men are not from Mars, but there can be misunderstandings between the sexes. So don’t expect him to “just know” what you want; tell him. Don’t talk around your main point. Give him some time to absorb what you are saying. Don’t play passive-aggressive. Avoid giving unsolicited advice or criticism—ask first.

3. Be with him—but be yourself. It’s nice to be open to your man’s interests and opinions, but if you find that you don’t share them, let him pursue them on his own! Don’t start TiVo-ing the U.S. Open just because he keeps a tennis racket in his trunk.

4. Don’t overanalyze. A healthy relationship is organic. If you find yourself constantly analyzing what’s going on between you and your man, either you need to relax and lighten up, or something is amiss. Try the former first. If you find yourself plagued by doubt, suspicion or insecurity, you two might not belong together.

Nervous

I am nervous...

Since I sent out the email invitation this morning, I have been dreadful about the reply. What would he say? How would he respond? At this moment, I am telling myself, be calm, things will turn out to be how they should be.

Be calm. Be calm. Be calm.

was cleaning up the bookshelf, found a card dated nine months ago. remembered i was lookng through the entire apt to look for it. did not know it was hiding there for the entire time. things have changed so much, people have changed too. read the card again, tears dropped on the paper again.

Cartographer

Here is why I love about this town. My eventful Sunday ended with meeting an interesting guy: a world-class cartographer! Of course, shamefully, I learned the word cartographer for the first time. He does not have an outstanding figure based on my definition. But he did have a strong presence with his passion for map-making (obviously!)

Sand clock

I woke up with no trace of record whatsoever about the password for my blackberry. After 9 times of failure, I keyed in the 10th trial. Phone immediately went shut down. Light went off. As if the world does not make much sense to it any more.

I reboot the device. The sand clock sign flipped, flipped, and flipped. I was led to an unfamilar page. I was greeted with welcome message. I switched to the phone log page. Oh My God. It is showing my phone log back in December 3rd 2006. The day before his 27th birthday. The day he and I were much in love. The day before he whispered those three words into my right ear.

Now I know time could go back to the good days if we had an electronic sand clock to flip they days back, just simple like that.

Love is a losing game

For you I was a flame,
Love is a losing game
Five story fire as you came,
Love is losing game

One I wish I never played,
Oh, what a mess we made
And now the final frame,
Love is a losing game

Played out by the band,
Love is a losing hand
More than I could stand,
Love is a losing hand

Self professed profound
Til' the chips were down
Know you’re a gambling man
Love is a losing hand

Tho' I battled blind,
Love is a fate resigned
Memories mar my mind,
Love it is a fate resigned

Over futile odds,
And laughed at by the Gods
And now the final frame,
Love is a losing game

In the mid-night of March 1st 2008, I, shamefully, wet my pillow again. Is one year a long time? Surely it is not so to my memory. I asked: I feel you and I are so different when it comes to our hobbies, interests, etc. You said: so what? don't you enjoy being with me? A few months later, we had similar conversation, but we said the other person's line. The first time, I said I was thinking our relationship is centered around me and you while you added everyone else into the circle. Half a year later you said you think our relationship is just about two of us then I do not know what happened to the two of us.

At this moment, I could not stop tearing. But this is not right. It is March 2008 and I shall not weep.