Just Another 365 Project

Today, I decided to start my very own 365 project. But since I am neither a photographer or a DJ, this project won't feature still photos or chanson du jour's. Instead, it will be about stuff that I am grateful to Life and the Universe for. And since, I know, there are too many people, things and incidents to be thankful for on a daily basis, please forgive me if I write more than one entry a day. And more importantly, to everyone I owe gratitude who don't make it to the posts, forgive me too. Know that at the exact moment that you showed me kindness and love, I already have thanked you in my heart.

original photo borrowed and tweaked without permission from Jimbography

1/365

23 May 2011

• My ex-dance students from the YMCA International Kindergarten School remembering, and missing, Mister Rye. They remembered my winged silver shoes too!
• "You're looking really good. You look very happy with your life" -- Susie Young
• "Miss you Chix!" -- Rai Lee via Facebook
• T preparing my steamed salmon and mixed greens with avocado and parmesan cheese lunch for tomorrow.

2/365

24 May 2011

• The clouds, the low humidity level and the half-hiding sun that made today's weather perfect for lunchtime picnic at the park.
• MPF
• YMCA International Kindergarten School, Fusion Academy of Performing Arts and Central Dance Studios for the income they gave me when the company that I was supposedly working full time for was going bankrupt and couldn't pay me my wages.

3/365
25 May 2011

• When Life gives you a gift, you say "thank you" and take it; you don't give it back and say "i don't deserve it". After all, we ALWAYS get what we deserve. Always.
• La Chiquitta is Rosebud in Golden Voice Entertainment's Sleeping Beauty.

4/365
26 May 2011

• The morning off that gave me my much-needed additional two hours of sleep.
• The courteous taxi driver that brought me to Bel-Air.
• The ever-so-helpful Teacher Alisa
• Our bright and adorable Bel-Air students

5/365
27 May 2011

• My lunchtime siesta
• The Universe's surprise visitor-- a person I didn't quite get along with in the past but proved to be such a big help today, as I was struggling to get through my day despite the flu.
• The steak dinner that T had planned in lieu of Jacs' birthday barby.

6/365
28 May 2011

• My bright, adorable and talented Musical Theatre kids who did well in their TGYP Exam
• My dance circle girls who are starting to develop a sense of responsibility
• My diligent Jungle Book cast who made tonight's rehearsal far easier than I had anticipated

7/365
29 May 2011

• T's healthy, hearty breakfast
• The opportunity to work closely with Fajee, a friend whose passion and artistry, I admire; and with her very hardworking kids.
• Chaat Masala & Fenugreek-- my new favorite spices.
• The fact that I don't like calling in sick anymore.

Of Friends, Food & Macau (The Blog Entry) 4

...continued.

After a bit of a caucus, we hiked (literally) to the Venetian to get Tiya Razel's Lord Stow Egg Tarts, and to have some ourselves. Then, it was time to ferry back to HK. But we changed our mind.

Soon after Noel mused how manic it must be going back to HK, we hopped on a cab and dashed to the only ParkNShop in Taipa to pick up ingredients for the dinner that Chef Noelito was preparing for us.

Three hours later, we sat around the table eating quietly. The hosts were probably exhausted from the party-slash-touristy weekend that they have just had. We, their visiting friends, however, were quiet because we were already winding down and (sadly) prepping ourselves for the trip back to HK which was gonna happen first thing the following morning.

By 11:30 that night, the house was quiet, and I was the only person awake. The only sounds that could be heard were deep snores and the ticking of my computer keyboard.

The following morning, the couple had already left when T & I woke up. After a little bit of tidying up and a quick shower, we found ourselves rolling our suitcase out of Noelito & Nak's flat. I paused and looked back before shutting the door, to check that our little thank you note was exactly where I wanted it to be, and to blow our foster home a kiss. I uttered a short prayer to keep the owners of the home safe, blessed and always joyous.

T swung by Cuppa Cup to get one last baguette before heading to the ferry that would carry us back to busy, hectic Hong Kong.

We boarded the ferry less than an hour later and then I had a sudden recollection. My blog entry. My "What's so good about Good Friday?" post. And this has been the answer. This year's Good Friday marked the beginning of a super weekend. It was far better from just Good. It was the Best Friday I've had in so long.

--

T & I would like to thank our darling friends for the loveliest time that we had in Macau.

Belle, thank you for spending precious time with us walking the streets of Macau and travelling from place to place when you should be resting at home scratching your belly and waiting for the baby to kick. Jojo, thank you for the beautiful photos-- the icing on our Macau trip cake. Verna, thank you for just being as touristy as we were in the mood to be. We've been friends for a long time but I don't think we've ever done that before.

Alisa & Alex, thank you for joining us to Cubic and adding even more fun to the night. Monica, thank you for being very available to us, wherever our plans or the lack of them led us to.

Noelito & Nak, thank you for opening up your lovely home to us. Thank you for the rockin night at Cubic, for the 4am pesto, for the Rosti and for sharing your invaluable time with us Noelito. Thank you for picking us up from the pier, for the curry dinner, for rescuing us when we were lost and for organizing the House Of Dancing Water, nak. We owe you biiiiiiig time!

We love you and thank you for making my first ever real holiday so memorable.

End.

...That Ends Well

Merlot.

Life Salad.

Home-cooked Beef baltic curry by T.

The mere sight of him.

...All's well
--- even a grueling 2.5-hour staging of "Consider Yourself"
from Oliver with a cast of 4 dozens---
that ends like this.

Thank you, T, for being the light at the end of my tunnel;
the bearer of comfort food at the end of my rehearsal;
the spooner at the end of a long, tiring day.

Postponing New Year's

The post. Postponing the New Year's post. Not the arrival of the new year, it's inevitable. Not the festivities, either. It's a sin to postpone any activity that involves consumption of alcohol in large quantities.

I was gonna post something more apt for the occasion, like a review of the year that had just closed or a promise to make the one that had just opened, a lot better than the previous ones, but I decided I'll save that for when all New Year's celebrations have finished.

For today, the first day of 2010, I decided to write about two anniversaries that took place just recently, but which I hadn't written of. And since I am a person who is big on anniversaries (I am bigger on anniversaries than on birthdays or national holidays), it is but just that I write about them, albeit late. You know what they say, better late than never.

December 18, 2008--- I went over to T's after a night of drinking. Loaded with a huge dose of liquid courage, I said to him. "Are we a couple? We have to make this official. Tonight." I was adamant. I made sure he had no way out. Shotgun marriage-- almost like that. And then quickly, I kissed him good night and dozed off; I didn't wake up the following morning until I was sure he had gone to work. I made sure he had no chance of taking it back.

A year, and way too many happy moments together, he still hasn't taken it back, thank God!

I AUMULU, T, here's hoping for many, many more wonderful anniversaries which I won't mind you forgetting, but which I will never, ever get tired reminding you and celebrating. (Next time, hopefully, not over breakfast.)

December 28, 2004--- Out of need of a venue to let it out, Can't You Read?, was born.


Five years; 36, 332 views since its resurrection on May 19, 2007; 510 posts; thousands of hours on end; countless emotions, people, events & life experiences; 3 blog awards & a few reviews and citations here and there; and dozens of new friends later, Can't You Read? is still alive. Not as busy as before, but somehow still serving the same purpose.

This is the very first time that I am celebrating my blog anniversary, and that shouldn't be the case, because my blog is way more abused than any of my best friends-- always there when I need it. Just when I need it.

Thank you, Can't You Read?. And I continue my relationship with you, knowing that somewhere, sometime, one person will stumble upon you and you will change his life, for the better. Oh, and thank you, Dan, for motivating me to blog again.

------
I once read a love quote that said something like, "Someday, someone will come and make you thank God that all the others in the past didn't work out." To that someone in my past who is now a good friend--- for pushing me to be where I am now, which made my meeting with T possible; and for that wrinkle in our history that made me start "Can't You Read"--- my deepest, sincerest thanks to you.

My Boyfriend Is A Stud

Oh, my man, I love him so
He'll never know
All my life is just despair
But I don't care
When he takes me in his arms
The world is bright all right
What's the difference if I say
I'll go away
When I know I'll come back on my knees someday
For whatever my man is
I am his
forever more


Happy birthday, T!
Thank you for loving me
despite, with all, and because of
my imperfections.


You're everything to me.
I AUMULU to bits.

Death In The Middle

Somewhere in that little nook that has become our rendezvous, in that oh-so-familiar little bar in the middle of Hollywood Road, called Volume, in the middle of the week close to midnight, I was in the middle of a friendly conversation, amidst men intoxicated by free vodka, talking on the top of their lungs, so that their voices could drown the blaring music coming overhead, when, with a sense of urgency, he came up to me and said, "I have something to tell you."

I asked him what it was.

And, with both pride and coyness, like a child showing his teacher his artwork, and with a misplaced accent, common to caucasians trying to speak my language, he said to me, "Mahal kita."

I felt, in the middle of my chest, a heart just died a thousand joyous deaths.

Rainy Days & Mondays

I love the rain. It gives me a certain kind of energy that propels me dream. To create. To imagine. To read poetry and feel it with all my five senses. To listen to music and be moved. To dance and meditate through it.

Mondays, however are not always looked forward to. Monday mornings are the most difficult time of the week. It's when I have to forcefully detach myself from the carefree, debauched weekend that passed. It's the time of the week--- the only time of the week--- when I question the Universe why I can't be filthy rich so that I won't have to work.

But as from every rule there is an exception, let today, March 9, Monday, be the exception from my Monday loathing.

If every now and then, my Mondays could offer little pleasures like,

• an unexpected call from the immigration telling me that my working visa sponsorship has been transferred and extended till June of next year,
• realizing that I have more money than I thought and because of that I manage to give myself a little midday treat,
• meeting someone in the lift, a Caucasian ballroom dancer, who says that she could tell I'm a sensitive dancer by the way I stand,
• T treating me to a sumptuous Italian dinner to celebrate my visa extension,
• showing up in the studio and realizing that my class is full and my students tell me that they got excited when they were told I was taking over another instructor's class,
• coming home and discovering an unexpected paycheck delivered by post, and dinner waiting for me (prepared by my best friend, Dan),
• receiving an instant message while podcasting telling us that our podcast is the Blog Of The Week, and that my blog is nominated for next week,
• being rained on a bit as I walk the busy streets of CWB, just before I run Jethro's choreography,

the way it did today, then Monday would be my favorite day of the week.

Good Sunday Morning

7:47am

After a thousand songs and a thousand cigarettes,I still haven't had a wink. I should've been asleep 5 hours ago. I have a show to do tonight and hundreds of errands to run later today.

But I'm not. And I'm glad that I'm not, or I would've missed his first "I love you".