Sat & Sun

Saturday Relaxation.

My day was quite packed but the activities I did alone/with family, friends were all geared towards relaxation and de-stressing :)

• Salon stuff at Cielo and Piandre (girl stuff!)
• Quiet time at Starbucks in between appointments (with my Green Tea Soy Latte and new book)
• Swedish Massage at The Spa (kudos, kudos to my masseuse!)
  
• Feetish Foot Massage at The Spa (finished several cups of ginger tea)
  
• Shopping at Greenbelt (it's been ages!)
  
• Yummy pepper steak dinner (I didn't realize relaxation activities could make me so hungry)
  
• An Innovation Dance concert by Airdance (a cool way to cap the day)
  

Sunday Musings.

Sunday was spent at home with the family, and preparing for Monday so my system won't be too shocked :p

I'm closing the weekend with some musings:

• I'm really looking forward to that time I could begin practicing work-life balance (as I define it) more consistently. I know it's coming soon (it should!). Also, I've got vacation plans lined up, and I decided nothing's going to keep me from making them happen!
• I'm revising a few items in my 12 Things To Do this year -- to address some realizations I've come to recently, and also to reflect certain changes in me. It'd be fun crafting a list that's more relevant and focused :)
  
• The best is yet to come! :D

What A Week!

Since Monday we've been encountering several emergency situations at work which require a lot of delicate and smart handling.

I'm really grateful for the people in and out of HR who banded together, rolled up their sleeves, and gave so generously of their time and expertise so we could hurdle these challenges. I'm humbled by their commitment, and energized by their support. It's also touching -- people simply being there for you during those "haggard moments" (as Ron calls them), no questions asked.

I pray for help, and help comes in the form of these individuals...Thank God for them! :)

Newest Favorite Drink

Two weekends ago, Allan, Liza, and I had dinner at Terry's Bistro, Pasong Tamo.

(Note: I really like Terry's - its interiors, the delicious Spanish cuisine served, its ambiance, the live music, and the fact that it's housed in an out-of-the-way building that patrons trek to anyway simply because it's worth it.)

Accompanying our sumptuous meal was a pitcher of sangria, which is now officially my newest favorite drink! I was surprised (and thankful) it didn't make me tipsy (my alcohol tolerance is quite low), so I did some quick research on it the first chance I got. Here's what I found:

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SANGRIA (Spanish: sangría; Portuguese: sangria; both meaning "bloody") is a wine punch typical of Spain and Portugal. It normally consists of:

• red wine,
• chopped or sliced fruit (often orange, lemon, apple, and/or peach; occasionally kiwifruit or banana),
• a sweetener such as honey, sugar, or orange juice,
• a small amount of added brandy, orange-flavored licqueur, or other spirits, and
• gaseosa (carbonated water).

Preparation consists of cutting the fruit in thin slices or small cubes, then mixing in advance all ingredients except for ice and carbonated sodas. After several hours in a refrigerator to allow time for the fruit flavors to blend with the rest of the ingredients, the ice and any last-minute ingredients are added and the drinks are poured.

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Though it made me a bit warm all over (my typical reaction to alcohol), the drink was refreshingly cool and tasty, which created a very interesting contrast. I really like it! :D

Dance Like No One Is Watching

I'm so elated to find out that my jazz dance teacher, Rhosam, bagged the GRAND PRIZE at the Yokohama Solo x Duo + competition in Japan! Rhosam was the official representative of the Philippines.

Yokohama Dance R Collection was launched as a contemporary dance festival in 1996 and has become one of the most prestigious dance events. Held to discover, support, and train promising young choreographers from around the world, the Yokohama Solo x Duo+ received 192 entries from 14 countries this year, a new record. From this pool, only 15 individuals - screened through the videos they submitted - were selected to compete for the championship.

Rhosam's prize is a 6-month dance scholarship in France which will begin in September. Really well-deserved! I am SO HAPPY for him! And so, so envious, too! :p

Rhosam's such a nice, humble guy. He knows his craft inside out - he can dance anything flawlessly. I enjoy my one-on-one classes with him (even if our warm-up stretching is sheer torture!) because he makes them fun and different each time.

He asked me a couple of days back when I intend to resume our weekly sessions. This made me sad because I just haven't been able to find time! Soon, he'll be off to France. Knowing me, I wouldn't want anyone else for my one-on-ones (because I searched high and low for the right teacher).

I was thinking: If I had the chance to live my life over, I'd definitely choose to be a professional jazz dancer. I'd traipse all over the world, and dance like no one is watching!

The Company I Keep

Over dinner the other night, Allan posed an interesting This or That? question to the group:

Would we rather -
A) be eating really, really good food but be in bad company, or
B) be eating really, really lousy food but be in good company?

My answer is B. To me, good company can make the lousiest stuff infinitely bearable :)

One thing most people don't know about me is that I am very deliberate about the company I keep. A lot see me as outgoing and extroverted (and I generally am), but when it comes to my life's front row seats -- I reserve them consciously and exclusively for select individuals I truly enjoy spending time with.

So what for me is really good company? My list is simple. I like being with people who --

1) Can be serious, but can also be silly. I'm drawn to people I can consult/converse with on important topics (life, esoteric stuff, musings, ideas, insights), who will be serious when the circumstance calls for it, but who can also do silly things, find humor in any situation, make me laugh like tomorrow will never come, have fun, and be playful and childlike every now and then.

2) Are streetsmart. I like self-propelled individuals who can hold their own during challenging times. I don't think I can spend long periods with helpless, fragile, high-maintenance grown-ups who perpetually require hand-holding, delicate treatment, and/or rescuing from those around them. I'm allergic!

3) Can be spontaneous. I gravitate towards those who are comfortable with spur-of-the-moment stuff, who can plan well but can also create something equally exciting out of dashed plans. Spontaneity to me is also about trying out new experiences, doing something out-of-character now and again, playing hooky sometimes! The people I enjoy being with are neither boring nor bland, but are vibrant and don't let life pass them by.

4) Are considerate and care about others. They are good people who do not think the world revolves around them (I simply cannot stand prima donnas, narcissists, and self-serving individuals). This doesn't mean they are saintly, but their good nature is evident in simple acts that count for a lot: little sacrifices made for loved ones, being there for you during tough times, being trustworthy, helping without expecting any payback.

5) Value what really matters. I like people who have depth, who don't let trappings and superficial stuff define who they are, who stay grounded even when surrounded by life's finer things.

6) Give me a feeling of acceptance. They let me be me -- there's a lot of comfort in that. Also, those whose company I enjoy are not 'scripted and contrived'...They are aware of their flaws, they strive to be better, but are nevertheless comfortable in their own skin and don't pretend to be someone they're not!

I'm lucky to have people in my life who are all these and more...They make me happy!