Back To The Grind

47/365

7 July 2011

• For the arrival
• For the chance to reconnect with my little sanctuary

48/365
8 July 2011

• For the upward trend of the figures.

49/365
9 July 2011

• To Paul, for making me part of his fabulous birthday party, and for the generous and warm reception that his friends gave La Chiquitta
• For my very supportive partner

50/365
10 July 2011

• To Verna, for her perseverance

51/365
11 July 2011

• For my job. I love my job.
• For yoga
• To T, for yet another dinner he so lovingly prepared.

52/365
12 July 2011

• Michelada on a humid summer night.

53/365
13 July 2011

• For my love for cooking that T is very appreciative of.

http://ryenessfood.blogspot.com/2011/07/wipe-away-stresses-of-today.html

• For Asia & Janine, their talent, and their willingness to help.

54/365
14 July 2011

• For the 10-minute lunch break siesta that helped me get through the day.

55/365
15 July 2011

• "LC... ! i just received the raw uncut version of the video... it looks fantastic.. I don't whether to edit it or not...mmmmm need to decide..but you look FAB! g/f.... what a night to remember ..thank you. See you tomorrow night !! seriously ... it is so good.. I can show you the raw version...but I will get the guys to make a dvd and put different menu titles... you are SO good... can't wait til the next party... ha" -- Lady R, via Facebook

Home Is Where The Digestive System Is

36/365

27 June 2011

• For the long but peaceful journey to Boracay
• For the sunset margarita on the beach

37/365
28 June 2011

• For the uninterrupted sleep
• Getting up in the morning because I wanted to, and not because I had to.
• Being able to sit by the pool and let the whole day pass without having to worry about trains, deadlines or call times to catch.

39/365
29 June 2011

• For the profoundly calming siesta on the beach under the coconut trees
• For my new tattoo

40/365
30 June 2011

• For the, albeit rough, safe landing in Manila
• To Tita Peps for the sumptuous Saisaki buffet
• To Law for the warm welcome
• For Tutit

41/365
1 July 2011

• For the helpful teller at BPI Supercentre in Cubao
• To Maan for the delectable Tong Yang dinner
• To Jowjow SD, Pepe, and Cat for coming all the way to Makati to join us
• To the Universe for giving me my emotional, complicated, high-strung, and lovable brother, Mai.

42/365
2 July 2011

• For our dear La Rems

43/365
3 July 2011

• For the extraordinary night at Bed
• To LV, for his hospitality
• To T, for the time, money, and effort that he spent to get to know and enjoy my roots
• For the steamed crabs and roasted chicken for tonight's dinner

44/365
4 July 2011

• Rems' lunch
• Maan's patience
• The great catching up at Jowjow's

45/365
5 July 2011

• The fun podcasting with the Fabcasters
• Dan's undying and genuine friendship
• To Tita Mike & Tito Augie for coming to see me.

46/365
6 July 2011

• "If home is where the heart is then i've left home for HK. But if home is where one has built a life he is comfortable with, then I've left Manila to come back home. Bye, Manila. Til we meet again. Hello, Hong Kong!"

Closer To Home

26/365

17 June 2011

• Luxuria opens.

27/365
18 June 2011

• (La Chiquitta) is grateful for the applause. Dai ga, do che. Ngoh oi lei dei. --via Twitter

28/365
19 June 2011

• Exactly a year ago tonight, Oliver was onstage-- the biggest choreographic project I've had to date, that led me to whole world of opportunities and possibilities.

29/365
20 June 2011

• At Sunny Bay watching guests and cast members wait for the Disney train to open. I remember when I was one of them. When everyday, I would stand on this very same spot and wait for these very same doors to open, signalling the start of my workday. I have moved on from that life, and that piece of my past feels so distant to me now. I thank the Universe for where I am now, and I thank Mickey for opening even more doors for me besides those of his trains.

• After 17 years of smoking (from when I was 11 years old), I gave it up, just like that, one day in 2008. Today, I celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of my Smoking Cessation. http://ryenessfood.blogspot.com/2011/06/happy-birthday-meal.html

30/365
21 June 2011

• For the extra day off spent lazily on the couch.

31/365
22 June 2011

• Dance Gala finished!

32/365
23 June 2011

• The easy 3-hours-only workday that gave me the rest of my day to sleep in an extra hour and a half; have breakfast in bed (Thanks for that, T!); attend yoga class at lunch; stand in line for 40 minutes at the Consulate to apply and pick up my OEC for next week's trip home; make T dinner; finish eating before 9pm; and just lounge at home with T in front of the tv.

• (from Val via Facebook) "We all know that poignant singing can move anyone to tears but very rarely can dancing. This made me think of you and how you use your body in this awesome art form. You know what I mean and where I'm coming from. I love you.. http://youtu.be/xnguqsMQmg4"

33/365
24 June 2011

• For the rare chance for Happy Hour

34/365
25 June 2011

• "There is something tear-jerkingly fulfilling in this exhaustion. I love my job. I can never be grateful enough." -- via Twitter

35/365
26 June 2011

• Festival Week is over!

Long Stretch To Annual Leave

19/365

10 June 2011

• For my students who did very well in their YPC Exam.
• For the YPC Exam that led me to Mr. Barry's encouragement.

20/365
11 June 2011

• For, despite the heavy downpour of rain, the calmness that Tung Chung brings.
• For the warmth and comfort that my own bed still gives.

21/365
12 June 2011

• For my Artistang Artlets training to remain poised and calm when faced with production stress

22/365
13 June 2011

• For the easy Monday-in at work
• 330 kcal burned on the stationary bike for La Chiquitta

23/365
14 June 2011

• For my bright and lovely MT students who make Open Class a looked forward to event

24/365
15 June 2011

• For the distraction-free and quiet time at the art room.

• For T's brand-spanking-new stove top.
• La Chiquitta has a new makeup bag from T. Not all drag queens are as lucky to have an accepting, loving boyfriend.

25/365
16 June 2011

• To Rcxy for the Tender Juicy King Hotdog
• For tonight's dress rehearsal in preparation for tomorrow's opening.

18/365 Me First

18/365

09 June 2011

• The chance, finally, for some me-time. Thank you, Universe! Thank you, Providence! Thank you, Fitness First!

17/365 Somewhere In The Middle

17/365

08 June 2011

Today I was asked to cover the class of a fellow teacher who had to go home in the middle of the day because she was hit by a bad case of flu.

Somewhere in the middle of the room, in the middle of her class, in the middle of singing and dancing children, I found myself smiling, whispering to the Universe a simple prayer of thanks for leading me to that very moment.

I realized that despite the many frustrations that I've been through, the many deadlines I had to beat, the little me-time I've had, the physical exhaustion of the thousand and one things I've been trying to fit into the hours over the last couple of weeks, there's always been at least one thing-- at least one-- that Life threw at me everyday to make me say

Oh, ho, ho it's magic, you know

Never believe it's not so

It's magic, you know

Never believe it's not so.

------
And somewhere in the middle of my lunch break, when I was supposed to be having my siesta but my mind was refusing to relax, another colleague played the piano, which calmed me down quite a bit.

16/365 is for Dandelion

Tuesday, September 02, 2008
About A Boy And A Talking Dandelion


Dandelion: Matalino ka e. Alam mo naman yun diba? Pero sa mga ganyang bagay, hindi masyado. Alam mo na ngang mali, pinipilit mo pa. Mahilig kang nasasaktan e. Pinapahirapan mo lagi sarili mo e.

(cut to 5 minutes later)

Dandelion: Di ka kasi mapakali nang wala. Alam mo, friend.... Pokpok ka. You're a slut. Sorry ha? Pero ganun talaga.

Boy: (smiling sincerely) Thank you.

Dandelion: Alam mo yun... (attempts to explain further)

Boy: I appreciate the honesty, really.

Dandelion: Talaga?

Boy: Oo. Kasi nga diba, you're my voice of reason? Ikaw yung mirror ko. Ikaw yung nagsasabi ng totoo, kahit gaano kasakit. Sinasabi mo lang, as it is --- as an observation, nang walang halong judgement. Hindi nandadaot. Kaya I value your opinion.

Dandelion: Hanggang ngayon?

Boy: Oo.


...and then a wingless angel flew by and disrupted the drama.

Happy mid-30's birthday, Dan-- my best-friend-slash-ex-flatmate-slash-podcast-partner-slash-voice-of-reason-slash-adoptive-nakatatandang-brother!

I thank the Universe for the incomparable brotherhood that She allowed us to share. And I thank you for your insurmountable Dan-ness.

I love you!