date questions

This is not for the faint of heart. Ok, so that may be a bit dramatic but just so you know, I'm sending this to just a handful of friends. I don't even know if I'm going to post this on my blog at all - maybe when I'm 60 and couldn't care less who reads my blog.

Anyway, I was watching the movie, The Tourist, starred by Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp. There was this line that struck me - it was sooo me and I just wondered if every other girl also feels the same as me and Elise (played by Jolie). Elise, in response to Frank (played by Depp) when he asked her if she wanted to have dinner with him, says, "Women don't like questions."

This brought flashbacks of (some) of my dates (and I''ve had more than a few). Questions are good, but not the ones that flashed before me.

It so irritates me when a guy has to ask me, "Can I ask you out to dinner?" or "Pde ba kita maaya sa labas?" I go completely blank for a full 5 or 10 seconds, just staring at him thinking what to make of his question. I ask myself, "Is he trying to be cute or pa-gentleman?" Well, unfortunately, I neither find it cute nor gentlemanly. The first dates I've had when I was younger... maybe. I don't know why but I find such a question ludicrous.

Then as the date progresses (or maybe after two dates or so), he'd ask me, "Ok ka lang? Are you having fun on our date(s)?" And I'd go think, "Dude, really?" What does he expect me to say to that? NO? Well, yes I could but I'm not that cruel.

And the ultimate question that really sets me off: "Is it OK if I kiss you?" I'd be silently screaming at the back of my mind, "GET ON WITH IT ALREADYYYY!" Another bad question: "Pa-kiss naman dyan?" Oh please! No can do after THAT. If he was trying to be funny, well he succeeded. This isn't to say I want to be manhandled, but... seriously?

I know, I know, some of you'd be thinking, "Ohhh! So that's why!" (I'm single). But I don't think I'm being picky or fussy here...am I? Or is this "age" seeping in?

So...is it just us (me and Elise, I mean) who don't like questions? Were there "date questions" in your past that you find just as amusing?

This is fun. Maybe I'll go post this on my blog after all.

another take on perspective

My BFFeee and I were talking one time and she asked how the construction of my sister and bro-in-law's house was coming along (the house is just 2 blocks away from my house and a house away from Ricky's parents) Our conversation went like this:

BFFeee: "Musta bahay nina Ricky?"

Me : "'k naman. Matatapos na"

BFFeee: "Nabibisita mo?"

Me : "Pag nagru-running ako. One time nga I went running at night.
Mga trabahador were outside the house...nagku-kuwentuhan.
I thought to myself, "Isang beses nyo lang ako sipulan o pansinin, isusumbong ko kya kina Tita.

Aba! Nakaka-limang ikot at daan na ako sa kanila, e ang mga walang 'ya, di man lang ako tingnan!"

There goes my perspective!

matter of choice... matter of perspective

I've heard it said that with age comes a certain perspective. I couldn't agree more.

This realization - that "OMG! I must be getting...wiser!" - dawned on me while in a meeting in the office. The meeting was unexpectedly turning to be a long one and everybody was getting restless and a bit hungry. So coffee and some snacks were ordered from the in-house resto/cafe.

When the waiter arrived and served food, I leaned over and made quiet small talk with him. He gave one big generous smile as he chatted a bit. I noticed him sneaking glances at me as he served the others.

He has been a waiter a long time and has served us countless times in meetings. I wondered what those "glances" were all about. I had thought that maybe he was noticing my cuteness for the first time (yeah right!). It was only when I looked down on my notes that I realized that the front of my blouse gaped wide and a bit of flesh shown when I leaned over to chat with the waiter. So that's what the generous smile and the glances were all about. Hah!

Had this happened, say 10 years ago, I would've shrieked in horror and would have felt embarrassed and indignant as hell. I would have been insulted at somehow being visually molested.

As it is, I found the whole thing quite amusing. In fact, I would've felt insulted had he NOT taken at least a second look. See? Perspective.

Last week, I found zit growing on my face. It's a telltale sign of changing hormones (or whatever) and that I'm about to have my period. In years past, I would've given a frantic cry of panic at having pimples on my face. Now, as I look at myself in the mirror and find zit just waiting to pop, I tell myself with a smile, "Uyyy! Nagdalaga ka na!"

I could've let that scene with the waiter bother me. I could've let the pimples (or a stained shirt or the heavy traffic or ...whatever really) ruin my day. But in such instances, I remember what my sister always tells me, "Will this thing that you're upset about matter years from now? If not, then just let it go." And I did - I let them go and let them be.

This "growing ol...I mean, wiser" thing could be something to dread and fear. But I will...I am choosing to welcome it with excitement. I choose to let go and let God take me where His road leads me. Instead of flinching at the thought, I choose to smile and look forward to the changes that come with getting "wiser". And I choose to delete the word "old" from my vocabulary.

Everything IS, after all, just a matter of choice...a matter of perspective.

food tripping

Last weekend was a weekend of celebrations. And what would a celebration be without food? Just thinking about what I had that weekend makes me feel stuffed!

On Saturday, to celebrate my sister's birthday, we had our lunch at Chef's Quarters at the Atrium in Megamall. I've tried this resto a few times before and though I'm not much of a steak lover, I must say how they do their steaks is masterful (though I'm no judge). We had Tessie Tomas Salad for starters which, I must agree, is their best seller, salad wise; then we had N. Carolina Pulled Pork in Cabbage Relish Tomato-Coriander Salsa and Rasperry Sauce (hew! that was a mouthful and the name says it all); a juicy and tender Churrasco Beef Tenderloin in Chimichurri Sauce cooked medium well; and some Seafood Paella. For dessert we had Banana Langka Crepe Samurai and Ube Cheesecake Creme Brulee. What can I say? Everything was delicious and had me full and going 'til dinner time.

My "Singles" friends and I had our Christmas dinner get-together at My Thai Kitchen in Eastwood Mall. We finished off our plates with Tom Yam Goong (shrimps in hot and sour soup), Khau Kluk Gapi (bagoong rice with sweet pork and green mangoes), Yam Pak Bung Grob (deep fried kangkong with spicy sour pork and shrimp dip), Gai Hor Bai Toy (Chicken in pandan leaves) Tod Man Goong (shrimp cakes with chilli sauce).

We had coffee and cheesecake at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf to cleanse off our palates after that heavy meal...or maybe just to chat and catch up a bit more. I guess a four-hour meal just wasn't long enough.

On Sunday, a joint birthday party between my sister and her bro-in-law was celebrated at Bono Yaki Resto along Libis Road. We had a buffet lunch of Japanese, Korean and Chinese dishes. I'm still deciding which among the dishes was my favorite. I guess I would have to try them all out again! Every single dish including their dessert/pastries, I swear, was deeee-lish! We had fun grilling their wide array of seafood and meat dishes. By the time we were done trying out all their foods, we were the only ones left at the restaurant.

Well? Have I made you crave for steak or seafood or cake yet? I know I'm hungry for some!

What I had last weekend was more than just mouth-watering food to sustain the body...what I got was nourishment for my spirit! Laughter shared, catching up with amusing stories, fellowship, wide and unpretentious smiles, affecting concern, ghost stories, running after babies and kids - these, and not the food nor the places visited, made my weekend special. We celebrated more than birthdays or get together...we celebrated God's blessings - life, family, friendship!

girl meets boy

Usually, whenever I meet a guy for the first time, I try to meet him halfway and set the "date" on a neutral ground, if you will. I don't play coy and ask him to pick me up. I mean, I can walk, I can drive, or I can take the cab or the train to go anywhere. But I most certainly have not (at least I don't think so) gone over to a boy's place for a meet up.

But it was different this time. I was excited to meet this guy. I have heard only good things about him and I actually couldn't wait to see him. On THE day, I look at my watch every now and then to check if it was time to go and meet him. I fretfully anticipate and even tried imagining how it was going to be.

At last, I get to his place. I see him from across the room. He is soooo cute and looks adorable. And so very young. I feel old just looking at him. As I walk towards him, I feel myself age with every stride I make. He turns and I see a hint of a smile and I feel young once again. I stop just in front of him...tentative, unsure, afraid. I look at him for what seemed like an eternity but was really only minutes, maybe even just seconds. Against all better instincts, I grab hold of him and take him in my arms. And I smile! Awwww! This cute two-week old baby boy is going to turn heads and break some girls' hearts someday. For now, he is our bundle of joy and is the delight of everyone's hearts!

Happy New Dear ... este Year!

I didn't gain a single pound after attending last year's Christmas season's parties...I gained FOUR!!! I do hope though that's not all I gained last year. I hope had gained (or still hope to gain) ...

a more positive outlook in life
appreciation for life's detours
forgiveness
a charitable and forgiving heart
a better understanding of family, friends
courage to pursue my dreams
a more accepting and tolerant nature
patience
confidence to take on life's challenges
God's grace and wisdom

I hope I had given as much as (hopefully more than) I had gained. May this new year bring forth a renewed hope...and the chance to do things right, if not better than just right. God bless us all!

Happy New Year! (Happy New DEAR to me!)