stick, stuck

Today I drove a stick shift. In the evening, at rush hour, alone. First time in over five years. I got home in one piece—the car, too. Pretty damn proud of myself. Again I’m reminded that I can do anything I put my mind to. I wasn’t fearless, but I faced my fears head on, and came out better, braver, more confident, more beautiful—ooops, where did THAT come from?! Ha-ha!

So goes the mantra: I am not afraid. I can do anything I put my mind to. I will let go of  fear and things that hold me back. I will let go, and I will soar. I’m a dragon and this is my year. RAWR.

Sold!

Yay! This is the first painting I sold:)
Title: Cotton Candy

I think it helped that the exhibit, aptly themed In The Eyes of a Child, was for a cause–to help a friend’s nephew, a 3-year old who needs an eye operation. We sold 10 paintings on opening day:))

from ho-hum to glam clutch: a cinderella story

Transforming my pink patent clutch into a glammed-up bejeweled purple version:

something smells fishy

It was a relaxing afternoon spent at  Tibiao Fish Spa in SM City Iloilo,  I wanted to try the fish spa in Siem Reap but it was a little, well…icky. And I wasn’t too comfortable with the setup. After the fish spa we had foot acupressure treatment, and the therapist was chatty. We all wanted to relax but it was painful getting our feet poked and rubbed. According to my therapist, the spa began as a school project of Fisheries students from the University of the Philippines. They turned it into a business venture  after it became a big hit. Now they have a general fish spa area, and a VIP room, if you want to soak your feet in private while lounging on a sofa. Also, you don’t get to share your fishies with the general paying public:)

general fish spa area

my sister enjoying the plump pillows in the VIP room

there are small fishies...

 

...and big ones too!

 

The boys enjoyed it too.

ad it up!

Gigantor billboard of Mang Inasal @SM Centerpoint—kumbinsing! The biggest I’ve seen so far, it covers the entire facade of the mall.

the perfect breakup

Watching old episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, I stumbled upon the perfect breakup scene. It was between Callie Torres and Arizona Robins, both women doctors. Callie wanted a baby, in the future, while Arizona simply did not. They already talked and fought about it, and for a while swept the issue under the rug, but it kept bothering Callie. In the end, Callie simply said that she really wanted a baby, but that she loves Arizona, and she didn’t know what to do. Eventually they were both crying, and hugging, and saying “I love you” to each other, with Arizona saying that she’ll get her stuff out.

Why do I consider that a perfect breakup? No screaming, no fight, no name-calling, no violence, no blaming involved. They parted when they still loved each other, but both acknowledged that they wanted different things in life. Nobody tried to bargain or give up anything, or promise something. It was a moment when two people were secure in themselves, and loved each other so much that nobody wanted the other to change just so they could be in a relationship, but heading in different directions. It was an intelligent and mature breakup that you wish you can have, but almost always never happens.

business name registration made easy

Business name registration is now a breeze! (The system has probably been in place for sometime but definitely not when I registered my previous business about five years ago.) Just log on to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) business name registration page, check the availability of your proposed business or trade name, and fill out the online form. Then select the method of payment and you get a transaction number. I chose to pay at a DTI cashier so I went to their office, presented my transaction printout plus photocopy of two IDs, paid, and got my registration certificate. It didn’t even take an hour, including my online registration.

Happiness!

I hope it would be as fast when I apply for my local permits and BIR registration.

no kiddin’

I have been dabbling in photography for over a year now (or more likely, photography has been dabbling with me:) and I have found that I like photographing kids. They make such great subjects—well, they don’t hold still, or smile when you tell them to, but you get a wonderful sense of fulfillment whenever you catch that rare smile.

Children are such perfect creatures that you very rarely need to edit your shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every expression on a child’s face is priceless…

 

 

 

 

 

 

…and every body part is a wonder in itself.

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

While in SM City for our post-new year malling, I wondered out loud (and with a lot of mischief) why I never had a hunk-y boyfriend. The guy I was with automatically replied, “You don’t think I’m a hunk?“

Me: “Ha-ha! No.”

I thought that would be the end of that. I was wrong. In the middle of the mall, he stopped, turned me by the shoulders to face him, and said, “Whaaat??? You’re the only person who has ever said that I’m not a hunk. So what do you think of me?“

I thought long and hard, never mind that I was barely keeping myself from cracking up. I thought of him…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…and fondly said, “Er…you’re the nerdy/intellectual type.”

The man wouldn’t let it go! ) He said that I didn’t know what a hunk is and demanded that I name one. We had just gotten back from Boracay with my cousins so I said, “My cousin Beng!”

photo courtesy of tweetstb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

…which, by the way, made him even more agitated. “Si Beng?? Ang liit-liit nun!” (He’s so small/puny.)

My cousin regularly plays basketball and goes to the gym.

I couldn’t hold it any longer, I cracked up. Unadulterated laughter. Best way to start the year. So while others are blessed with hunks, I am blessed with laughter?

tropical storm Megi

Tracking tropical storm Megi here…

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Iloilo City had its share of heavy rains this afternoon, causing flash floods in flood-prone areas such as NFA Jaro and Lapaz. Keeping our fingers crossed that it won’t be another Frank.