Adventures and Stories

June has been quite a busy month. Aside from the daily grind, weekends were filled with appointments, errands to run, family trips to go to and even work. Instead of boring you of the details of the Connecticut weekend were we visited my mom or that Cafe Wha event were we went home at 2:30AM to wake up for work at 9AM, let me just tell you of the last three events.

Thursday night, I went to an art exhibit of a Filipino artist, Cesar Llamas dubbed as New York Roadkill. As the name implies, it is a collection of painting and expressions of various road kills sans the dead animals. It focused primarily on junk such as cola cans, Starbucks cups and various "trash" that have been squished and left for nothing on our roads. It was put up in a Japanese restaurant at Great Jones Street, near SoHo. The collection was good. It could have been better if it was tied up to an event like Earth Day or something. Just to make the art more relevant.

Friday night, I find myself sitting in a church's basement listening to the works of the students from Literacy Partners, Inc. They had what they call a "Reading Celebration." A friend who teaches ESL for the non-profit had 3 students out of the 7 read their compositions. Very powerful writings especially for someone who just started to learn English 6 months ago. By the way, Literacy Partners Inc is a non-profit, free training programming. You just have to basically show up and want to learn. Aside from ESL, they also provide GED studies.

The whole day of Saturday was set aside from NYCares. I signed up for this organization last year, but after my orientation I was not able to go to any programs. Three days prior to this Saturday, I got an email of what they call "hot projects", saw the camp cleaning program in upstate New York and signed up for it. So after getting my a cup of coffee and bread, I headed to Union Square to board a school bus that brings us up to the camp. I guess, there were like 30 people who joined us that day. It was supposed to be an hour ride to the camp, but New Hempstead Avenue was just eluding us. We were an hour and half late. There was no time for chit chat when we got there. I volunteered to repaint the ceiling of two of their bathrooms. How hard could that be right? I partnered up with Brian who has been volunteering since he moved here in NY. As I taped up the ceiling, he proceeded with cleaning the mold and stuff. From the looks of it, he has done this a lot. I would not have thought of putting up spackling paste on some of the holes on the ceiling (I have always thought that paint could cover it). Anyways, it was an easy task, we finished two bathrooms way before 3PM. So we headed outside and volunteered our "painting skills" to those painting the outsides of the dormitories. I had my camera with me, but since we were late and had to go to work right away, I forgot to take pictures. As we were loading the bus, that's when I remembered.

My Saturday adventures was supposed to end after I got my haricut, but I went to Central Park and met with a friend. Just to hang out, people watch and relax. I found out that night, that they do free Tango lessons every Saturday night during the summer season right in the middle of the park. Pretty cool if you like dancing or can dance!

Friday confession - I was walking along 7th Ave and had a grade school moment. It had to do with white polka dots.

Grande iced cafe americano from Starbucks - $2.39. Lemon cake - $2.75. Paying with a gift card - priceless.

Coney Island - 05.28.2007

Being the Middle Child

I knew it all along... read on...

"Contrary to their rep as insecure messes (think: Jan Brady), middle kids actually make stable and loyal partners. “One thing you’re not is spoiled,” Dr. Leman says. You probably grew up feeling you got less attention than your sibs, and that drives you to work for every perk—including a happy relationship. Also in the plus category: You’re “a compromiser and negotiator,” Dr. Leman notes, so you’ll give your partner plenty of say in everything from how quickly your relationship progresses to where you go on vacation together. And your romance should be free of daily petty squabbles (middles hate conflict); instead, you try to put others at ease. Your love challenge: Opening up. Have you ever been told you’re hard to read? “Middle children can be very secretive,” says Dr. Leman. “They got hammered by the first-born and swindled by the baby, so they keep their cards close to their chest.” You’re also not the best communicator when you’re upset. But if you learn to speak up instead of holding your anger in, you’ll have a more harmonious relationship.Best match: Youngest child. “Middles aren’t as threatened by last-borns as they are by exacting first-borns,” so the odds are good for open communication, says Dr. Leman. " Complete article can be found here.

But then again, this might not wholly apply to me, since I am the only boy in the family as well. What do you think?

Streets of New York

As I wander the streets of NY last saturday I came across this building in SoHo. I don't know why I like it though, I just do.

Relief

I have been in this situation for a very long time. Just last Sunday did I realize that I have been spreading myself too thin. I have been pulled in almost all directions. Which leaves me to nothing.

I need a break. Knowing this is a relief.

Enough said.

Pearl

A new gadget added to my family... the Blackberry Pearl. Nice sleek black shiny phone with a glowing pearl button. The afternoon that I got it, I activated the Blackberry option on my plan so that I can start receiving and sending emails. Cool, right? For me, I find it useless... I'm in a computer all day, so why would I want to check my email on a 2 inch screen? I cancelled the option a few hours later, saving me $20 a month.

On my way to work today, I was standing next to a lady who is busy punching away messages on her Blackberry. I got curious as to what could be so important to be doing emails in a subway under the streets of NY with no signal? She was replying to an update on a "Spring Fabric Touchbase". I guess she worked for the fashion industry where this highly classified fabric is being transported from a secrete location and she needed to be updated minute-by-minute by her assistant. She replied, "Thanks for the update ---name----." She couldn't send the message because we were two floors down the streets of NY. So she taps the option to send later and I got off the train.

Stress

I have been feeling all sorts of stress. I have also been planning on releasing stress by going for a massage. Having a 1 hour massage costs around $60 to $120 depending where you get it. By this I mean if you will have a chair massage by Chinatown or a luxurious spa treatment with that sea breeze music in the Upper East side. Here in Chelsea you get those legit spa and the not so legit spa. I'd browse by one of the websites of a spa around where I work (it is a legit spa) and just reading the descriptions of it feels like heaven already. I could feel tension being released from the soles of my feet.

In Manila, this wouldn't be a problem. A 1 hour in-house massage would cost around $10 - $15. A spa treatment around $25 - $30. When I was in Boracay, I had massage by the beach, by the pool, during sunset, during my afternoon nap. It was heaven on earth.

Anyhows, I plan on getting a massage tomorrow. A quick massage after work should be a good thing.

A Crazy Month

This month is far the craziest month ever. From national events to my private life. I am just thankful that everybody is still well and good. Though I can tell that it has been a very stressful month, I still believe that me and my family have been blessed and is being sheltered with God's blessings and grace!

Thanks God!

This Feeling Inside

For the past few days, I have this feeling inside of me. I don't know how to describe it. Anxiety? Nervousness? Scared? Happy? Sad? Disgust? Or is this a sign that I'm getting sick?

Do I need to relax? I think I need one but I feel that it's what I have been doing every weekend.

I need to detoxify physically, mentally and spiritually.

High Definition

I got a nice TV as a gift from my mom. It now resides in my room acting as morning-news-alarm-clock-getting-ready-for-work gadget and a PC monitor extension. I get HD local channels through a cable split, no additional cable box needed.

Another techie addition to my household is this new Toshiba HD DVD player as a gift from Jen and Horacio. I paired it up with my other TV in the living room. I thought TimeWarner HD channels were excellent already until I saw Children of Men on high def. HD DVD + HD Player + HD TV = an explosion of pixels in the screen!! It was more than superb!

Before I forget, a more recent addition is this Wii. It's not mine. Horacio just thought of leaving it at my apartment since he's always with Jen anyways. A lot of gadgets in my small apartment. If the cellphone-cancer thing was true, I'd be fried right now!

Big Birthday Bite

A big bite for a more bountiful year!

Thanks for the Party

After all the chaos, the party was still a blast. Food to feed an army!

Thanks mom!

Pictures coming soon.

Twenty-seven

Today I'm 27.

A year wiser and definitely a year older.

Thanks everybody for everything.

Wishing on a Whim

Last Sunday, my cousin asked me what I wanted for my birthday. Being someone who doesn't ask for anything, I answered, "World Peace!"

Today, after the fact that my mom gave me an early birthday present of a TV for my room, I am now wanting a mac mini. A cool way to transition to the mac world, right? However, thinking about it, would it just destroy my eyes since that TV I have is so big to act as a computer monitor? Anyways, still dreaming about it.

"Spring"ing Forward

In a few short weeks, I'd be turning a year older. Back in Manila, summer kicks off this occasion. Here in NY, it's spring. I kinda like it that way... a new beginning, a fresh start. Every year, the same questions pops up. Am I where I'm supposed to be?

However this year, that question went away pretty fast. I have the answer. I am happy where I am. I don't have to compare myself to my friends. They took one route, I took another. I can honestly say that if I decide to pursue other endeavours, I can. I may not have the riches, but I definitely have the freedom.

Single? Yup. Still single at 27. I don't care too much about it. Eventually I will find that right girl. Or maybe a few wrongs first. I just don't find the "sense of urgency" in being in a relationship. I get to go out, have fun, meet people. When I'm done, maybe that relationship will find its way. Maybe I need to explore the world to find that special someone, something that I have to travel for and discover.

I have always told my sister, if I get canned a work (which I am not really wishing for), I'd take whatever I have saved and go to Europe. Maybe stay with relatives in Austria, learn how to fish and be a farm boy for a while. Get to study German. I'd become that cool uncle to my nieces and nephews who travelled the world and give them ice cream when they are not supposed to.

My only thing for this year is that I look forward to everything that will come my way and see the God in everything. He made a great deal with me... after all the "character building tests" He gave me in my earlier life, I'd be enjoying the remaining part of it. I pray.