Remembering A Lesson Learned

Because I had two hours to kill today, I decided to go to the gym.

Because I loved how it felt parading naked in front of strangers the last time I did it, I decided to do it again today.

Because I almost forgot the lesson I learned from my previous experience, I am reposting this piece to remind me.

Lord, please make me not forget again.

I walked into the locker room and found two men: one, probably in his early 40's and the other, in his late 20's. Judging on body language, they didn't know each other. One was just getting ready for his tennis game while the other was still damp from the shower. They were both chinese, and both naked.

As soon as I deposited my stuff in my assigned locker, I marched into the shower cubicle. I was in my trunks and a towel hung in my shoulder. Twenty minutes later, I was wiping myself dry. I was going to wrap the towel around my loin but it was too small for one end to even reach the other. I decided to wear my trunks again. And then I decided otherwise. Come to think of it, I have never experienced parading in any changing room completely naked. Not in the dressing rooms of the company I used to work for, not in any public changing room I have ever been. Other people can do it, why can't I?

With much pride and dignity, I swung the shower curtain open and walked to the locker stark naked. The two men I had walked into weren't around anymore, but another character had appeared: the boy who, about an hour ago got me pissed because he moved the dumbells I was using for my Arnold Press. Few minutes later, I heard somebody walking out of the steam room. And another one coming out of the toilet. We were all bare-assed. Nothing to be coy about.

Although I didn't pretend to be straight, I also didn't announce I was gay. Maybe they knew and didn't mind at all. Or maybe they were too busy to even examine. Or maybe, they really thought I was straight even though my blonde lock screamed faggotry. Here in HK, I have learned that to judge a book by its cover is truly unwise; because here in HK, metrosexuals do exist.

Everything was going well. By that, I meant I wasn't having trouble co-existing in an enclosed space with other men in such vulnerable state. Neither were they. I could say so because none of them made me feel they were uncomfortable. Well, until I headed to the sink, and, out of habit, applied my cheek tint right after applying my moisturizer.

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.

Convincing Dan

I'm a feline lover. But Dan is not. I wanna adopt a cat but I can't do it without Dan's consent.

Although Dan and I are not a couple, but his opinions on domestic matters are essential because we share a common roof. We are technically domestic partners, besides being best friends.

Tonight, I intend to talk to him again about adopting a cat. The animal welfare has a package that might make him say "yes".



Dan, don't we need to get our windows washed too?

One Last Lecture

If you were to give one last lecture, what would it be about?


Randy Pausch, professor of computer science and human-computer interaction and design at Carnegie Mellon University, gave his 10 months before he passed away in July of 2008.

On Sept. 19, 2006, Randy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Almost a year later, after undergoing an unsuccessful Whipple procedure, he was told he only had three to six months of good health.

On September 18, 2007, Randy gave his last lecture at CMU, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", the condensed version of which, he delivered on Oprah in October of 2007. Below is the video of that condensed version on Oprah. To watch the 1 hour, 16 minute-original lecture, click here.

Mr. Pausch passed away on July 25, 2008. He is survived by his wife and three kids, the people for whom his lecture was originally written.

What Do They Feed These Kids?

Jazmine Sullivan in 99, at 11.

In His Eyes

"This is Rye. Flamboyant. Outspoken. Fearless.

A rockstar with a heart as huge as a diva’s stage.

A winnur performer. A proud son. A good friend."

-As Is
http://reyasis.com

Thanks, friend!

PANAWAGAN

I'd like to know who
among my friends in the Philippines
are going to John Legend's concert.
Please let me know?
Love you all! (ok, maybe not all.)

Sagutan

Revived! Ep 3, Sagutan Episode, Is Out Now!

Ito na ang kabayaran sa mga utang naming response sa mga comments nyo.
And we did this because we love you all, mga kasuy!

Also, the next time you visit the Rainbow Bloggers Philippines site,
don't forget to vote for us as the Blog of the week.
But if you don't visit RBP, well go ahead, visit now and vote for us! NOW!

http://www.rainbowbloggers.com/

Thanks to the kasuy who nominated us.

http://tdrs.mypodcast.com

What Excites Me

I've just been given two wonderful, wonderful invitations: a dance performance for Likha's anniversary concert, and a docu project.

And as if those weren't enough to make me wet with anticipation, I asked two people to collaborate with me in the first project: Jethro and Rems.

Jethro saw a contemporary dance show on Friday and went to a Bhuto workshop on Saturday. The inspiration to create that he showed when I saw him after those re-immersion activities was overwhelming and utterly contagious. I just can't wait to start on our piece.

Three weeks ago, Rems expressed her desire to enrol in a Creative Writing Workshop, which I support tremendously. But since there's none yet opening soon, I asked her tonight if she wanted to write me a a few verses that I would use for the piece. "I'll do it now," was her response.

Although Dan is just a meter and a half away from me right this very moment, and Verna could very well be reached through her mobile, I haven't really talked to them about the next CMO Productions project. I will soon. Probably before Sunday. I'm still awaiting a continuity script. Then our project is a go. Dan and Verna, if you think the 2007 Christmas Project was big, wait till you hear about this one, Let's keep our fingers crossed that we get the project. And thanks, Jojo for hooking me up! Number 1 ka sa puso ko! ;-)

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".