Simply Thai

My friends from work and I were stressed to high heavens and hell because of our workload. It's been almost one bad call after another and we needed to unwind. We agreed to eat out once a month and so, today, I bought my Yummy magazine and had them choose which resto we would eat  at.

Simply Thai won simply because Janina loves Thai food.

These are what we ordered.

tom yum

green mango and apple salad with soft shell crab

lamb curry

pad thai

The food was delicious. It was not too spicy because we requested for it to be just mild but the way it was cooked, spicy or not, we would have finished it all. What made this even more special? I was with people who mattered.

Thank God for coworkers like them. Thank God for real people.

totally Zen ...

I was exchanging SMS with a girl friend earlier today on  my way home when she made a comment that caught my attention. She said to me that I seem so centered nowadays. She said that I was not constantly wanting, not constantly lacking, not constantly needing, and not constantly giving. She said that still waters run deep and I guess that the past few weeks have taught me that.

I used to pour my heart out and want the world to hear me out but lately (I guess I am maturing) I have learned to just keep it within. Instead of being down, I appreciate what I have. Instead of pining for friends whom I have lost, I made new friends (yes, angel, I'm referring to you.) Instead of wanting, demanding, desiring, needing ... I am giving, sharing, and letting things flow.

I have spent a lot of time with my family and have bonded over movies and songs with my sister and son. I have spent time talking with my Mom and my Dad and I just feel really connected to them.

I am centered because my family is my center. I am Zen because as long as they are behind me and supporting me, I will be at peace.

why strays are better ...

Advocate for Saving Dogs

A Letter from a Shelter Manager - anonymous in North Carolina

I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays", that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are; "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving too that doesn't allow pets? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog".

Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door.

Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.

If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down".

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room", every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.

I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this and it made me want to adopt". THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT.

under the rain

Earlier today, I was hanging out with a friend of mine having milk tea at Tea Farm. It was raining and he was feeling negative earlier and my aim was to cheer him up. Unfortunately, by the time afternoon rolled in, he was okay and I was the one feeling a wee bit negative. It ended up with both of us cheering each other and him reminding me that he will beat me to a bloody pulp (okay, I exaggerate haha) if I do not stick to my guns about an upcoming decision that could make a BIG impact on my life.

The rain did not let up and I had to get home to tutor B so we decided to brave it. Thing is, I had a jacket and he didn't. He had an umbrella and I didn't. We ended up with him walking me and waiting with me for over half an hour for a bus that I could get into. It was a crazy mob and it was raining like there was no tomorrow.

While waiting, I was complaining about the rain and the fact that my feet was getting wet (which is a big pet peeve of mine) and he was telling me, "It's just water Kay. Wash it off." Toink. He was so positive it was actually rubbing on me. Imagine this, we ended up singing "Singin' in the Rain" under one teensy weensy umbrella.

Me ... singing in the rain ... me ... who hates it when it rains because my feet would get wet ... was singing.

Seems he is turning out to be such a positive influence in my life. So ... here's to you ... thank YOU ... not just for the burrito a few weeks back but for teaching me that I can make my life more pleasant and happy by choosing for it to be happy and pleasant.

2nd place overall - DLSU Dragonboat Team in Shanghai Invitational

My brothers are part of the team. One of them was the Team Captai last year. Boo yeah!

Congratulations Twins!

brother wearing white bandana and the onther one is the guy on the left, second from front, yes, they are TWINS!

The Philippines again stamped its class in the Dragon Boat scene, with the De La Salle University (DLSU) Dragon Boat Team finishing second overall in the 2011 Shanghai International Chinese Dragon Boat Invitational Tournament over the weekend.

In an entry on the Philippine Dragon Boat Facebook page, the DLSU team placed first in the 500-meter category and bucked an accident to place fourth in the 3,000-meter race.

“De La Salle Philippines soars high in the 2011 Shanghai International Dragon Boat Competition. Despite an unfortunate accident during the 3,000-meter race, the team still emerged as 4th in that category, 1st in the 500m category placing second overall among 20 teams. Their all-heart performance was all it took for a good fight and a strong finish. Glory to God, Animo La Salle!" it said.

However, there were no further details of the accident that hounded the team.

The 500-meter event was the Straight Speed Race while the 3,000-meter event was the Rounding Race. Both were under the Mixed category Standard Small Racing Boat.

During the weekend’s competition, the DLSU team reportedly went against formidable international teams such as the China Nanhai Jiujiang.

The DLSU Dragon Boat team has received much buzz since representing the Philippines and winning two golds at a competition in Penang, Malaysia earlier this year.

Last June, the team won two titles in the 32nd Penang International Dragonboat Festival (PIDBF) at the Teluk Bahang Dam in Penang, Malaysia.

Skippered by Paolo Gallardo, the squad ruled the 250 and 500-meter Small Boat Racing classes in the Junior Under-23 Open divisions.

It beat strong squads from the National University of Singapore, hometown bet Kolej Universiti Insaniah of Kedah state in Malaysia, the Royal Australian Navy and the Hong Kong Island Paddlers.

La Salle’s win was a fitting follow up to the third place finish of Triton-Philippines Dragon Boat women’s squad in the Macau International Dragon Boat Races at the Nam Van Lake Nautical Center. — LBG, GMA News

my own space ...

If I were to have my own house, this would be what the study would look like. Bookshelfs are a must  and that couch there ... that is a no brainer. The only thing that's missing is a nook where I can place my iPOD to play music while reading and to place my coffee mug which is also a necessity.

I covet thee.

Memolane

I recently (like an hour ago) discovered Memolane. It works well for me since it gives me updates on what happened on a certain day just by linking my Facebook and Twitter to it. For someone as sentimental as I am (I can't believe I admitted that) this is a gem.

I heart it. For those who are interested now (and I hope at least one of you is,) add me up.

My Memolane

forbidden ...

3x in my life, I have fallen for someone forbidden. Those loves, be it for one reason or another, has left a mark on me. I loved them deeply ... however, it just wasn't meant to be. It couldn't be.

It was forbidden.

F # 1: I met him when I was 18. I wasn't over my first boyfriend yet but he manages to always make me laugh. We hanged out a lot. He was in for a visit and we clicked. We just  clicked.

He was funny, witty, and he could dance up a storm. He also liked it when I dress sexily. He wasn't like MU who'd make a huge fuss if I show a bit of skin. 

Unfortunately, amongst the 3 forbidden love stories, this is the most forbidden. It will never be accepted by society. It will never be understood. It will never happen ... it couldn't.

We ended it even before it could really start. He was there and I was here and it just wasn't going to happen. It couldn't ... as much as my heart was breaking, I knew that it had to end and so I ended it.

F # 2 was someone I met through a workshop. He was much older and I was still jail bait by society's standards. It didn't help that he was in showbiz and was taking on sexy roles.

He was decent, mature, and he  had a dream. Unfortunately, my Mom disapproved and was really hurt by this. I had to make a choice. It was him or my Mom. I chose my Mom and ended things with  him.

F # 3 ... now this is the person who has made an impact on my life. He blew me away.  I never stood a chance. I was his for the taking and no matter how much I resisted, I was a lost cause.

So I prayed ... I prayed so hard for God to take him away from me and He did. Now, there is just an empty hole where he used to be and I am lost. I long for him ... yet I know I shouldn't.

He is forbidden.

This is forbidden.

burning brightly

our lips met
fire ignited
burned brightly
too much too soon ...

until we both burned
to the ground.

Geek Fight: It's Magic, Charlie Brown!

Geek fight is here once again but for the first time, I came with a small crowd. In previous geek fights, I'd have over 10  people and it would all be a blast but it would be chaotic as well. This time, the group was smaller but more focused and dedicated.

We would have rocked except it was also the most competitive group of geeks that we have ever encountered. Our group name is "worst group ever" but we are thankful that last night, we still were not the worst group ever. We were close but not quite. Whew!

Arnie and I rocked Harry Potter round and I was very happy that I was able to  contribute in other categories. Next one, we finally have a strategy. We'll make sure we land midway in the fight.

I like how geek fight has become a venue for my friends and I to meet and have fun while making sure our brains are still working. :)

dear someone ...

When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . It is
usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have
come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you
with guidance and support, to aid you physically,
emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a
godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason
you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an
inconvenient time, this person will say or do something
to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our
desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you
sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

This is a post that is intended for everyone who mattered to me at one point in my life. I want to just be able to say these words and then move on.

RT ... you were my best friend. You were my rock and the one I can turn to and call on at Sunday morning to rant and rave about how cruel the world is ... or just to pick on your ugly haircut and even uglier facial hair. You were also my first quasi heartbreak and the one guy I wished was my first kiss. Unfortunately, you thought she was prettier. Hmpf.

CC ... it seems that the friendship we have was really not meant to be. It  burned too fast, too bright, too soon. It burnt out. We were tested as with any other friendship but sadly, ours did not fare well. I still am grateful for the times you defended me and were there for me.

KC ... to this day, I do not know why I met you but I think you paved the way for me to meet others and realize things about others. You paved the way for great lessons to be learned and for that, I am grateful.

NC ... college thesis days were the craziest. I'm happy that I was there when you needed someone to defend you and teach you how to love and respect yourself. Funny that it was I who eventually forgot those lessons.

The boys who have sprout up from time to time .... some of you appear when I need someone to talk to for an afternoon .. over coffee. Some of you stay for a time and pamper me to remind me that I deserve it. Some of you, stay for a limited time to help me through something. To all of you, I am grateful.

The friends who betrayed me and whom I have hurt ... we are not perfect. My mistake, which I continue to make, is that when I cut ties, I cut ties. I rarely make amends when I decide that I am turning my back on someone. I am sorry but I stand by it.

To the ones I have left and the ones who have left me without word ... thank you. For every tear that has fallen from my eyes, you have added steel to my spine. 

I am now more resilient and I will always stand up after you push  me down to the ground. I will always get up and stand proud for I am who I am because of the things that I have done, mistakes and all.

I've made mistakes. So did you.

overbreak ...

J, E, and I have become fond of eating out all over Makati during our lunch break. It's one way for us to relieve stress and its one way for us to also talk and enjoy each other's company.

Yesterday was an extra special lunch for us because it was J's birthday. We ended up at Momo Cafe (again) and ordering the following:

cornflake covered boneless chicken

corn in the cob bucket

seafood pasta

As usual, we had a lot of fun talking and just sorting through each other's lives. What I like about this group is that I don't do all the talking ... they share as well and it feels good just to be able to sit back and listen.

There's just one teeny tiny problem with the  3 of us. Since we have a lot of fun talking and eating out, we'd always go on overbeak. LOL.

J and K

The two of us, we're kind of inseparable in the office. It drives our boss nuts. He's always finding ways and means to put the two of us apart, making sure that when he does the seating arrangement, one is on the far corner of the other.

After a year, he's finally given up. He realized that no matter how much distance he places between us, what J and I have is for keeps.

She sought me out when she was new to the team. I normally kept to myself and would not eat with anyone else. I wasn't being a snob. Seriously. I was just wary of people. I've been burned so many times that I found it hard to make new friends because the betrayal of so many others are still fresh on my mind.

Still, she managed to get under my skin until I realized, she was someone I already cared for. She has been my rock at work, the one person who manages to stabilize my psycho mind and tolerate my unending quest for true love amidst the 3 men who have passed by since we became friends September of last year.

She has seen me cry and she has cried for me. She has wanted to share my pain and for that, I am eternally grateful. She is younger than I am but in a lot of ways, she's the older sister that I never had. She calms me.

J, I may never have thanked you enough but I want you to know that you are one of life's treasures that I am truly grateful for. You are one of the things that make work more bearable.

Happy birthday beks! I hope that you find the happiness and peace that you so deserve. I am just here for you; flaky as I am ... I WILL  be there for you when you need me ... and even when you don't.

I love you beks!

In the Heights

A really handsome angel treated me to a stage play which I saw today. The name of the play is In the Heights. All I knew about it was that it was a musical with Salsa and Hip Hop. The storyline, I had no clue at all.

They did not have a photo wall like Sweet Charity but they did have a lot of souvenir items for sale. I got the ref magnet after the show.

I loved this show. As much as I love Sweet Charity, In the Heights was something I was able to relate to. I literally had tears in my eyes on two separate occasions.

I could connect with the Mom because she wanted to reassure her daughter that when there are problems, all she had to do was to come home. I could connect with the female lead because she felt that she was letting everyone down and because she fell in love with the wrong man. I could connect with dreams and wanting to see them through but encountering a lot of obstacles.

Here are some of the scenes from the play. Photos are lifted from here.

A write up about it lifted from the same article.

" In the Heights, a Broadway musical that presents a portrait of the Hispanic community in Washington Heights, Manhattan, runs at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza in Makati City until Sunday, September 18.
 
Audiences can expect hip-hop, salsa, soul and merengue (music and dance from the Dominican Republic) musical numbers from its Tony Award-winning score." 


I  love the song Breathe because it reminds me that amidst all the chaos and clutter in one's life, one has to remember to Breathe. 


Kudos to the cast! I loved the show.

Faburrito

I've never been a burrito fan. I can survive life without eating one and I don't think its a loss for me if burrito were forever banned. Shrimp and chicken I'd probably kill for but burrito, nah uh.

Imagine my surprise when I ended up eating here today with a friend who dragged me along when he learned that it was 5pm and I haven' had anything more than a cup of coffee since last night.

This is what greeted us open entering.

I found it refreshing and unpretentious. It was clean, fresh, and welcoming. The assistant manager (Myra) was also very accomodating. We learned that it just had its soft opening last September 1.

Since I was not a burrito fan, I had my friend pick for us. It seems he has a long affair with burritos. We got the chicken mango barbecue burrito which cost Php270.

being prepared

TADA!

excited much?

Verdict: For a non burrito fan, I fell in love with it. It wasn't greasy, it wasn't too mexican ... it was just right. Even the beans (and I loathe beans) was good. I love the taste.

I'm not so good with descriptions of food so all I can say is, please visit this place when you pass by Buendia Makati. It's in Columns, across RCBC and formerly Shell Maya.

BURP

I would run away ...

I was on a dating spree for some time and I got fat. Yep, I got fat. BOO! As with anyone who has been reading my blog (the very few but treasured readers, followers [super love you all!], stalkers, and lurkers) you would have noticed I've been featuring restos left and right. Honestly, there were a lot more that I did not even feature.

So, going back ... I got fat. I'm not even exaggerating. I've been wearing dresses lately and its not because I have a date or what have you but simply because, my slacks would not fit me. Wahhhh! FAIL!

So what's a girl got to do when she gets fat and unceremoniously dumped by a non boyfriend through being unfriended on facebook (this is another blog entry all together in the far distant future when I can just laugh at this situation)?

I jog. Yes, I jog. I jog so that my mind can focus on the physical pain of my muscles screaming bloody murder that I dared to make them move at a pace they are not accustomed to. I jog to block unwanted and unnecessary thoughts in my head. I jog, to run away from problems in a good way. I jog.

So for a very long time starting today, I will be jogging ... I will be running away. I will run away and be better ... smarter ... thinner (I hope) and just be on my own. I am choosing to be on my own for real now. No more dates, no more men, no more love.

I am running away from love.