How time flies! She's now four. She's the only child of M & QG. I have been doing this for her for 3 consecutive years. It's the least I could give her right now. I wish I to do it until she reach sweet sixteen. *hehehe* Okay, that's way too far to think about. Did you know that I haven't seen her in person yet? Maybe soon, if not someday...

[Credits]  Alpha, Elements/Embellishments, Papers, andPiece-a-cake page from Shabby Princess
 

Happy 4th Birthday Kenz!

Right. I am planning to do an hour cardio (bless you, inventor of treadmills) and do additional exercises today but it is already 3am and I am still up.

Blame it on Little Asia's version of brewed coffee and the grande of Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks that I had last night.. uhh... could also be the grande of Caramel Latte that I had after lunch at Bo's Coffee  in Galleria. How about the cup of Nescafe Classic that I bought from Ministop in lieu of my usual Folgers coffee that I bring with me to the office every day?

It is only now that I realized I had too much coffee for the day. Sheesh! I am going to need another cup when I wake up later (I have to hit the gym at 1pm).

Sshhh... Quiet. I am hearing voices...

Ahummm... you are getting sleepy...
your eyes are getting heavy...
you are getting sleepy...
your eyes are getting heavy... you are getting heavier...

What do you mean I am getting heavier?! All right! All right! I should force myself to sleep now before I start seeing some strange things here in my room. It's the witching hour!

On Thursday night BS asked me to keep JS a company for the next day (last night). Said she'll join us after she pays her last respect to her friend's mom.

I know how sacred Friday night is for this couple. They make sure that they go out on a date. A romantic one I say.  They've been married for 14 years (and counting!) and they remain consistent. But lately, for some circumstances (like today), they'd include me in the picture. Either the three of us (sometimes with some of our friends who are available) would watch a movie (last week was the Wanted) or plainly have some dinner/coffee together.

Last night, since BS had to be with her high school friends, JS and I decided to have dinner and/or coffee in Greenhills while waiting for her. The question was, "where'd we eat?".

For people who would eat anything or everything, throwing a question like that is like throwing them multiple glass balls all at the same time, asking them to catch one. JS and I had a plan. We'd walk at the Promenade and scout around the area. First floor then second floor. We ended up choosing Little Asia restaurant. They serve  Chinese, Filipino, Japanese,  Asian, Thai and Indonesian cuisines.

"Are you going to eat?"

JS is aware that I am on a no- or less-carbo diet and he (and Sir D, our lunch buddy) supports me on that. I just had greens with tuna and my fave tomato soup at the Kitchen in Galleria for lunch.

"Yes, I am going to eat. Let's order foood now. I am hungry!"

We had squash and carrots soup, tofu with salt and pepper, roasted chicken, prawns in talangka, and a cup of rice for each of us. Then I tried their brewed coffee (Chinno d' Oro) while JS had a bottle of San Mig Light. Then we transferred to Starbucks where BS had joined us past 11pm. They both shared a grande of Starbucks' new frappuccino and I had my grande of Caramel Macchiato.

"Hah! You're on a diet, huh?!"

Yeah I know. I have to work out twice or thrice harder today but who cares?! It was a fun night. I was with a fun company (as always) and if shots were taken every time, I am sure I'll have all shots put in picture frames and I will place them somewhere where I can see them closer. That way, I will always remember-- that my diet jumps out of the window every weekend and I am having fun watching it jump out of the window. LOL!

See you later, Es!

Ang pagsabay sa indayog ng musika, ang pag-awit, ang makalumang panghaharana ay ilan lamang sa mga tatak ng pagiging Pinoy. Isama na natin ang hilig ng karamihan sa pag-inom ng serbesa at ang pagkakaroon ng kakaibang imahinasyon (gawin daw bang tao ang kabayo?! marami sa kanila dinamitan pa.).

Maligayang Huwebes sa mga kapwa ko litratistang Pinoy [narito ang ibang lahok nila sa LP].

2 Timothy 4: 6 - 8, 17 - 18
________________________________

6 For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

You see, I have been asking myself lately, "shall I go fasting?"

"What's the meal of the day that you can't do without? Something that you think you couldn't give up?"

It was one of the hardest questions that I had to answer one time. They said I should go fasting. Abstain from my favorite meal. Pray. And that will help in having my prayers granted.

It could be true. People believe in the power of fasting-- you burden yourself in exchange of something. Only question is, do I believe in such practice? This is not a question of your faith now but a question of my faith.

Jesus said, "It is finished!" (John 19:30), right?

Today I am marking my calendar for my nine-day (a novena) prayer/s in preparation for (the) yet another verdict on the 9th of July. Pray for me. Pray for the consul. And pray that I don't get lost inside the unfamiliar territory. *hehe* kidding.

We are at Jesus' disposal. If he wants you to be sick in bed, if he wants you to proclaim His work in the street, if he wants you to clean the toilets all day, that's all right, everything is all right. We must say, "I belong to you. You can do whatever you like." And this ..is our strength, and this is the joy of the Lord.

-- Bl. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Christmas is not the only time that we should be giving away a gift basket...

I am on the look-out for someone, to whom I will hand-down some of the stuffs that I have gathered through the years, which are now gathering dusts, like some bags, shoes, and some bottles of perfume (I have my fave, eh). Let things serve its purpose then let go after they have accomplished it. It's my mantra lately. I am not passionate about any collectibles (except maybe for my books and my DVD collections-- with Friends and Sex and the City series?! Do not argue with me.)

And altho' I have my eye on the lady who is responsible in maintaining cleanliness at the gym's ladies' restroom, I still would like to know more about her. I will start with her name when I see her again. I have the whole month of July to do this. And if she tops my list, then I might give everything to her in return for her humble smiles and hellos.

If I could watch my whole life in a film, I don't think popcorn machines could serve enough popcorns for the duration of the movie. *hehe*

It was one weird thought that came to me while on my cab-ride last Friday night... err... Saturday morning, when I was holding a huge bag of popcorn from my movie night out (WANTED!) with J and BS. I know it was supposed to be their date but like the bag of popcorn that the three of us shared together, I brought home a zip-lock of joy not half-empty but half-full.

The bag is empty now but the film is still rolling...

Cut! More popcorn, please!

"Hey! You seemed so distant today, you used to smile while working out, as if you never get tired and never having a hard time. Who are you thinking of, huh?", one of the trainers sat beside me one time while I was doing my lat pull-down.

"Oh! No one. I wish there's someone tho'," I said smiling. And before he was able to answer, I told him, "They're the ones who think about me. I don't bother thinking about them."

Me, that trainer, and my PT ended up laughing, "Get used to her. She's always like that," my PT backed me up.

"Oh No! It's raining! Dadami ako!" I exclaimed.

"If that happens, let me have one piece of your kind ha?" says one trainer. Either he likes a gremlin for a pet or he likes me. Either way, it's all right. I like gremlins, too. *wehehe*

"I should keep my distance from you 'coz I might fall in-love with you," the same trainer told me one time when I was trying to weigh myself.

"Naks!", what else can I say, kiddo?!

I don't mind the compliments (thank you). We all know our stand. And the gym, well, it is not the kind of venue where I see myself meeting someone. Remember, I don't even talk to anyone there not until they start the conversation with me.

And most of the time, the conversation is clean and fun. And well, sometimes healthy. It's the gym. And just like I come to the office just to work, I go to the gym just to work out (and laugh at some people's jokes most of the time).

But then again... who knows the next time I see John Estrada, eh? *tee-hee*

OMG. Am I becoming too vain now? Naah. I don't think any compliment could boost my only-5-foot-high-confidence to a higher level. In fact, I thought I would chicken-out on hitting the gym the other day as it was my first day without a personal trainer. I was both shy and nervous that I might do something wrong (like stretch back my triceps when I am doing biceps pala) or funny. Sometimes I am clumsy. I could trip on their newly installed, literally-red, carpet. But I know I'll be okay because sometimes they watch me do my thing, especially when I am picking up that heavy dumbbell from the floor for my DB squats -- "Hey! That's the right way to ruin your back! Carry on!" *kidding* They are nice. Of course they make sure no one leaves the gym injured.

But guess what? I did good at the gym the past two sessions without a PT (thanks for the presence of those trainers who were a little familiar with me-- and well, my PT was on duty today, he helped me with my stretching). They made sure I am following my program and that they have assisted me on the equipments that I needed. I guess my basic knowledge in circuit training is enough to keep me going on my own. I can always ask for assistance from any gym instructor on duty (it's their job)-- I just need to know how to ask (shy ako eh!). It did me good but I think I should never get a personal trainer again as I get too dependent on them. Not having one is a good thing too, you know. Now I can talk to the other gym buffs especially when we have to take turns on one equipment.

I didn't know I have an officemate working out at the same gym until Tuesday when he talked to me (we needed to take turns in using an equipment).

Altho' I've proven them wrong a lot of times when they see me chuckle every time they say something funny, I think they think that I am a (too-) private person because they don't see me talking to anyone except my PT. Literally, no one has spoken with me until that day. Some had their chance to strike a conversation with me because instead of my PT preparing for my next equipment, now I'm the one to do that-- which means, I have to start asking if someone's going to use one. And I have to start asking how to set-up some of the equipments.

Oh! And there's this one guy I like *wink* -- he makes sure he sets the equipment back for me to use. I was rude not to put it back for him when it was his turn though (sensya na, spoiled ako eh! LOL!).

"It's all right. No Problem," he said.

I have had my eye on him right from my first day at the gym (I am just good at ignoring-- I could even ignore myself! LOL!). I think he's nice. I wish I know his name. Hmmm... I'll call him Bamboo Shoot then. One, he's skin-head. Two, he's smaller than the real Bamboo. No, he doesn't look like Bamboo. *hehe* I wish he's my officemate but he's not. I guess I'll get used to working out without a PT sooner than I thought.

While I was grateful that I had my personal trainer, it was my mistake that while building my body, I have ignored building my self-confidence-- that confidence that I can stand on my own and that I can go out of my shell. Well, it's not too late. It is never too late. There will always be a room for improvement for me. As always.

If things went on the other way, you think I know Bamboo Shoot more by now? *wink* Next time I'll fish for some info and feed (y)our curiosity about Bamboo Shoot (he wasn't at the gym tonight tho'). I wish he's still single and unattached and of course I wish he's my age. (Hey! I could sprinkle some thrill on my program, right? LOL!).

I am taking it back-- gym could be a venue in meeting someone. *grins*

Only problem is, he's like me. He doesn't talk to anybody that much. Oh well, I wish he's not gay! *sniff*

Habang ang iba sa atin ay mapalad na nakaraos nang matiwasay sa kanilang pag-aaral
at ngayo'y nagtatamasa ng isang maaliwalas na buhay,
marami pa rin sa ating mga kabataan ang naghihikahos
upang matustusan ang kanilang mga pangarap na makapagtapos
Nang maka-ahon sa hirap at magkaroon ng kahit na kaunting liwanag ang kanilang kinabukasan...

Nawa'y huwag natin silang talikuran.

[dalawin ang iba pang lahok sa LP dito...]