Here's an article Peter sent me from MSN lifestyle:
Is living together a recipe for tepid times in bed — or sex 24/7?
We didn't want things to change. Especially the sex. After a year of dating, we were moving into our first apartment together. There would be no more shuffling between his place and mine; no more simply exchanging bodily fluids, showering, and leaving — now there were groceries, chores, bills, the whole bit. Everything was about to change. Thinking otherwise was a big crock of stupid.
Of course, I had heard the debates. Cohabiting, the peanut gallery argued, would turn us into glorified roommates. Nah, the other side would say — cohabitation meant better sex, more often. We were about to see who was right.
Pre-move, our sex life was hardly shabby; it was intense — and loud. I had a hunch my neighbors threw a big-ass party when I moved out. But the new pad was huge and oozed chic, a happy by-product of combining incomes. Making love in this incredible apartment (our apartment) was like making love for the first time again. The bathroom, for one, was an orgasm waiting to happen. In the past, we'd tried to navigate the choppy waters of tub sex — alas, neither his bath nor mine could contain all 5'2" of me — let alone both of us.
With wide eyes and expectant loins, we sank into our plunging tub. The only thing better than doing it in the bath was doing it without cramped limbs and a face full of faucet.
When there were no new orifices left in the apartment to explore, we settled into a routine of sex twice a week. Thing is, when you're under the same roof, you can't help but be amazed by life's banalities.
Soon, talk of hot-tub action became: "Hey, have you noticed how much sediment settles on the bottom? Think that's remains of the bath salts or just our dead-skin cells?" We put the whole tub-sex thing on hold.
A cohabiting case in point: There are no chores when you're living apart. A forgotten pair of panties left on his floor becomes a keepsake; perfume on a pillow, an erotic trail. "I snuggled up to your side of the bed so I could smell you," he would tell me on the phone, moments after I'd left his place. Now, today's musky sheets are tomorrow's dirty laundry.
There was also a new kind of sex that refused to be denied. And it was the kind I, heretofore, liked least: morning sex. Living apart, it was easy to skedaddle back to my place before he awoke. Sometimes I didn't even stay the night.
But when you're living together, there is simply no escaping morning wood. There it would be — risin' and shinin' — rubbing against my thigh as unapologetically as the sun beaming through our windows. Surprisingly, morning sex turned out to be not half-bad. It's all about compromise, so I indulged him once a week; in turn, my sated man promised he'd de-stress with me instead of his Xbox.
And sure, the novelty of new rooms to romp in has since burned off like morning fog. But it's been replaced by something much deeper. I don't know about you, but nothing gets me hornier than plain ol' thoughtfulness.
Here, in our new abode, I've seen him send my mail out without my having to ask, turn the TV to my favorite channel when he's done watching, and one work night, bring home my favorite frozen yogurt. (Usually just a weekend treat.) A simple gesture, but when I saw my sweet, sexy son-of-a-bitch clutching that pint, I grabbed him. We ended up having the best sex of our lives.
Lying there, legs entangled, all of life's banalities melted away, like the frozen yogurt left out on the counter. "This is ours, baby," he whispered. "All ours." It was — for better or worse, morning and night. I loved him from the bottom of my heart. And that hadn't changed.
I guess I'll have to agree with her - after living with someone for awhile, the attraction felt in the beginning of the relationship turns into something deeper - but deeper doesn't mean flaming passion; deeper means more stable, rational and nurturing kind of love which I have yet to fully grasp and come to terms with. I guess I'm dumb, young and don't know any better!
What I know is that after sulking last night, this morning I woke up to iloveyous and morning kisses which I probably didn't deserve. And a banana from the breakfast buffet, placed on top of my morning paper before he went to work to top it all off. Now, I should really know what love is about!
We spent last weekend in Maastricht, the 'crown jewel of the South' (of the Netherlands, that is) they call it. It is a mere two and a half hour train ride away from Rotterdam in those comfy Dutch trains - then again, are there any uncomfortable train rides in Europe? Nah, I seriously doubt it.
Apparently they say a trip to the Netherlands is never complete without visiting Maastricht so we decided to find out if this is true. Nestled near the border of Belgium, we find that Lonely Planet is spot on about the city being unlike any other Dutch cities; I associate a lot of things Dutch as simplistic, no fuss, and down-to-earth which I think is very cool. However, when it comes to Maastricht the medieval city did not just charm us with it's numerous atmospheric squares and winding cobbled streets - there is that cool sophisticated vibe that we really dig!
Maastricht is bisected into two by the river Meuse or Maas and the main sights are scattered equally on both sides. The pedestrian bridge that links the citycentre of Maastricht at the western side of the river Maas with the Wijck district at the other side of the river is the famous Sint Servaasbrug, the oldest in the Netherlands which dates back to 1298. Yep, it is so old we need a new word for old.
Sint Servaasburg
Maastricht's landmark include the Vrijthof where the two important churches are located - Basilica Sint Servatius and Sint Jan church. The Vrijthof is the city's main square and is dotted not only with important monuments like the churches I've mentioned but also with restaurants, cafes and pubs offering al-fresco dining to tourists and locals alike.
Entrance of Basilica Sint Servatius
Fountain statue near the basilica's entrance
The striking red-coloured tower of Sint Jan.'s church
Vrijthof is not the only square in Maastricht, in fact the city has a few others to offer. Onze Lieve Vrouweplein is an intimate cafe-filled square named after its church. We dropped in for hot chocolate in this cute chocolate shop; they offer an array of flavoured hot chocolates from coconut to caramel to hazelnut. You actually pick your flavour off the shelves (they're pre-packaged on sticks like lollipops and they bring you the steaming hot milk. you then stir in your chocolate-on-a-stick and voila, yummy hot chocolate!).
Onze Lieve Vrouweplein
Everyday is a winding road...
The Markt is another bustling square - here we found the gorgeous townhall and the statue of Johannes Petrus Minckeles holding a flaming rod. He invented gas light.
Stadhuis (town hall) at the Markt
The other highlight of our weekend trip was where we stayed. Kruisherenhotel is a stunning Crutched Friar monastery complex that dates from 1483. During the French Revolution, it served as a barracks and arsenal. Early last century, the monumental gothic church and monastery complex fell into a state of disrepair. Then late in 2000, initiative was taken to save the unique building from ruin. Large-scale renovations were set in motion and the building was transformed into a luxurious, contemporary designer hotel, retaining respect for the past.
Entrance
Courtyard
The fortification in Maastricht is a feast to the eye - the Helpoort is the oldest surviving town gate in the Netherlands.
Helpoort
Autumn in Maastricht
the star of the day! 
garf + DD (DD means younger brother in Mandarin)
she was 1 of the chosen speaker
graduates
garf, DD + idiot
DD, proud of his JJ (JJ sounds like 'elder sister' in Mandarin)
it was fun..! especially being an Aunt.. having bubbly children asking silly questions and creating little nuisances.. when they're throwing tantrums, i can just shove them to their own mommy.. and when their diapers need to be changed or times when they get hungry, shove them to the maid.. HAHA.. this Aunt gets to do the Fun things only.. bring them around, have small activities like drawing/ colouring/ story-telling/ singing etc.. hurhur..
anyway, can't wait to have a few of my own. =) heehee. (for 'Fun' times only)
Call me hedonistic, call me kiddo, call me Americanized. I love Halloween and jump at the opportunity to get dressed up.
So this year is no different, we rounded up a bunch of people and said to them that they have to come out for a party because not only it is Halloween but also kind of like a farewell for us. Hah.
So Providence was our final goodbye to partying New York style. I always thought that it'd be easy breezy leaving the city but I guess I thought wrong. Anyway, here's to Halloween and enjoy the costumes!
Skeleton takes Manhattan!
Skeleton-Travolta & French Maid. Yeochyy you lovebirds.
Angeline is that character from Scooby Doo. Velma?
Skeleton seducing Travolta.
Yan Zheng and our sexy superman. Note the Superman pose. Hahaha.
Shiny party people + clown.
The aussies. Australians really get around.
Shirin came as a cheerleader, Ling as cutesy French maid. The skeleton gets the girls.
Superhero or the mile high club? I say superhero!
Michael in a trance, completely hypnothized by the skeletal hand.
Edward Scissorhands yo!
I'm trying to get it on with the baby but nanny seems to not like it. Its a costume with an inflatable nanny attached to it!
Peter and I then proceeded to say our own goodbye to NYC; we went home, grabbed the Veuve Clicqout bottle Peter bought earlier and took a cab to Brooklyn Heights Promenade for the twinkling view of downtown Manhattan at four in the morning. It was breathtakingly pretty and we sat there for what seemed like an eternity talking about our NYC adventure, at the same time quietly pondering to ourselves on ways to let go and say goodbye for good, for now.