On eating alone

Yesterday I had lunch at CPK and ordered my ultimate favorite Thai Crunch Salad. I walked in and the waitress asked 'Table for how many, ma'am?' I said one. It was already 1 pm, a little late for lunch but there were three other couches occupied. The one I sat nearest to was a couple, the two couches on the opposite side were a family and two ladies.

So there I was in the couch, conveniently seated facing their overhead plasma TV and open kitchen, waiting for my Thai crunch salad.

I personally don't mind eating alone. I have a friend who'd rather starve than eat alone. Me? I eat if I have to and when I want to. Aside from the physical evidence of my eating principle (haha), eating alone was never an issue to me because I have reasons to enjoy eating alone.

1. I can revel in the silence and focus on the food.

2. No need for small talks to keep conversations afloat.

3. I can take time watching the dynamics of the restaurant or the people eating

4. There are a lot of things I can observe when I eat alone. Like the details of the restaurant design (CPK's walls have framed pizza boxes), or how overpriced my meal is (but you'll pay just the same because you cannot replicate it at home).

5. When I'm alone and without distraction (like Internet or TV), I get to reevaluate my life, my goals, dreams, plans and random thoughts that pop into your head while observing people.

So yeah, I don't mind eating alone.

I just don't want to eat alone forever.

You've Got Swagger

Oh yeah, uh, uh, oh yeah!

Yesterday Fa, Jen and I attended a trial session of basic hiphop at Brewing Point. I kinda expected it'll be another adventure for me- as in I got lost and the trike driver didn't know where Tierra Pura is! MONEY HUNGRY BASTARD! So instead of taking another trike from where I got off, I decided to walk so I can ask people where I'm supposed to go.

I made it after waaaaaaaalking. Yes, it was a long walk. When I got to Gate 1 of Tierra Pura, I talked to the guard.

'Kuya sa Brewing Point po ako, saan yun?'

Ah Brewing Point. Lakad ka lang ng lakad hanggang makita mo.

HAHAHA NAMATAY AKO. In fairness tama si Kuya. Lakad ka talaga ng lakad. As in I reached Gate 2! I got there just a few minutes before the class started. Our classmates were kids! Well, teens- as in 13-14 ish. And they were better than us! HAHAHA WILD. It's all good though. Our instructor was so chill, (and cute!) and he's got this hiphop accent which suits him so well. Think Rafael Rosell (accent and looks) but definitely Rafael is hotter.

Early in the class we did stretching. Like the longest stretching session I've had. In my mind I wanted to joke 'basic hiphop ba toh or basic stretching?' but since we were newbies, I didn't coz I have no idea how our teacher is like- if he's strict or he welcomes jokes naman.

When we finally started dancing, we were already relaxed. But sometimes when I miss a count, I curse in a soft voice. But the choice of curse was the F word and the kid nearest to Jen and I would look every time I say the F word. Kawawa naman, baka innocent pa so I switched to sh*t thinking siguro naman yung S word alam na nila. Yung F word mejo wild na for their age. Then a little later, the S word was just a mumbling of sounds whenever I made a mistake. "Grrr!" "Aaaagh!"

Prince would tell us form time to time 'relax, just enjoy'. Feeling ko natatamaan ako! hahaha I'm enjoying but of course you'd want to enjoy and do it right at the same time diba? After completing the set he had the girls and the boys alternately do the set. Feeling ASAP XV kami nila Fa. hahaha He also picked students to do the set. Among us, Farrah was picked along with the kids and the girl who was also a newbie.

Super fun! The studio was airconditioned. Akala mo hindi ka pagpapawisan pero wild ha? I'm kinda sad I won't be here in Manila next Saturday for hiphop classes. I'll be in CWC in Naga for a major company meeting so we made up this funny alibi as to why I won't be in class next week.

"Sir, nag-Steve Martin in heels kaya napilayan. Next week nalang daw aattend." HAHAHAHAHAHA HILARIOUS! ( I tried to look for a video to illustrate what steve martin is but I couldn't find one. Anyway, just imagine your body facing the left side. Lift your leg alternately as if marching in place but you have to twist your body to the opposite direction on the fourth count, with only one leg supporting your whole body.)

I found this video though. It's one of Coach Prince's classes in the south. Our class goes pretty much like this. But our studio is nicer! teehee! :)

The thing I hate about not having a digicam is not being able to document everyday happenings in your life- like meeting up with friends, seeing random people or celebrities, or attending fun dance classes. Using the SLR is just too much for everyday stuff.

P.S.

Prince is part of the Philippine All Stars. He's married to an All Star member too. Cute!

MY CHRISTMAS LIST!

It's been a tradition for me to write a wish list for two reasons. First, to keep track of the things I want/need at this moment and second, to help my friends or relatives decide in case they're planning to give me a gift. HAHA

But seriously, wala lang talaga. I just wanna gauge if my wishes are improving over the years. I haven't really thought about doing comparisons though. Maybe in a few more years. Anyway, here goes!

My material wish list:

1. SPECK see through satin for my mac (in red please)2. Aquazorb body towel
3. Gift certificates from Ayala, Rustan's, Healthy Options and SM!
4. Suelas Punterea flats in gray, size 8.5
5. Nice journals/ doodle notebook (no lines) –It doesn’t have to be a Moleskin coz their price is ridiculous.
6. Metallic gel pens to write on the journals
7. DVDs of iWitness documentaries (They’re at Powerbooks!)
8. Happy hoodie in panda or bee design (call Oliver or Trixie!)
9. Sebago shoes (navy-white, red-white or light gold), size 9
10. Archie Comics. I miss reading them. I used to rent from this small bookstore downtown or swap with my classmates in grade school.

11. Cute fabric covered file holders from fabmanila or at Heima.
12. Unique watches (i.e. Normal watch brand or lego)
13. Kerastase Bain Satin shampoo or masque
14. Victoria's Secret Shea butter soft embrace mist
15. Samsonite or Delsey lightweight luggage
16. Sony Cybershot TX9 or iPod touch
18. Prada bag (Tim Humangit, bilhan mo ako please! It’s half the price of THAT BAG. Hahahaha hello Emm!)
19. Sunglasses (with square-ish lenses). (David Yurman, Rayban or Oakley)
20. Coffee table books about beautiful houses, different countries, or the Philippines

(Photo searched on Google)

My intangible wish list:

1. That the Philippines can recover from the heartbreaking (and stupid) hostage issue.
2. That P-Noy will finally step up and spearhead major major changes for this country.
3. That Filipinos will love this country and do pure and honest work for its development. (That we will be Filipinos more than just on paper.)
4. That corrupt people can just fade from the face of the earth so that the good will reign.
5. That we will all live better lives.
6. Good health for the people that I love and those who love me.
7. More memories with my family and friends.
8. That I maintain ties with my friends and start meeting new ones.
9. That I can contribute to this country in a significant way (which I have yet to figure out).
10. Finally, for the right one at the right time.

I'M EXCITED TO START SHOPPING FOR GIFTS! I've already started actually but I'm far from completing it because, like every year, I find it difficult to think of a gift for the boys aka my dad and kuya. Joop is easy to please. I already know what he wants this Christmas. Ever since I can remember, I'm the only person who gives gifts in the family. Mom and Dad gives each of us cash, my kuya never gives anything (hahaha!) and my brother Joop never tries. I had to pressure him to buy me my Belle de Jour once. Tapos 500 lang daw babayaran niya, ako na bahala sa kulang. HAHAHA KAMOTE. So I have no plans to stop giving gifts. Boring pag walang namimigay ng regalo.

I leave you with the very nice 2009 Christmas song from ABS-CBN.

Few things

There are a few things that make me kilig

1. A cute guy who can pull off a small talk

2. A kilig gesture from unexpected people or friends (including girls)

3. Cheesy lines that work and you'd wish a guy will one day realize that line is perfect for you

4. Movies

5. And there's those intellectual conversations that you wish you could record and listen to again and again just to remember that you actually spoke those words.

Lunch at C! in Pampanga. photo from Weng

Yes, smart is sexy and I've been craving for intellectual conversations for quite a while now. Thanks to some friends, my long weekend was totally worth it. I miss my other friends as well. I bet we'd had wilder conversations if there were more. But it was good. I love UP friends.

Don't buy sachets

It is probably only in the Philippines that almost any product exist in sachets. In other countries, sachets or little bottles serve as samplers and freebies. Here, it's a booming industry. (My marketing teacher back in college mentioned that Rexona Mini Stick is being exported to other countries as a giveaway promo.)

Anyway, if there's one thing I hate, it's shampoo sachets. It's super hassle when you have to open it while you're already in the shower. Of course some would argue that you can open the sachet before getting wet. But most of the time we tend to forget that.

Moving on...Today I bought colorful bottles for my toiletries. I plan to buy whatever products I use in big bottles and just transfer them to designated bottles when I need them for travel, sleepover or what-have-you.

Let's try to lessen our garbage. Ok? I'm not saying you do what I just did. Just do your part. :)

p.s.

For the bottles, you may contact Sir Mike at litromanila.multiply.com He's very nice. :) There are also available bottles in the personal care section of department stores and in Watsons but the prices are wild if you compare to litromanila's rates. Their prices is at least 200% more in these stores so if you're buying quite, sulit to buy from Sir Mike.