Women will always be salon-goers. My mom just emailed me about her trip to Tagaytay this weekend with my aunt who's visiting her. She said she's taking them both to a weekend of pampering - body spa, massage and hairdressing for 2 whole days. Good on yah mom! 'Bout time, I think.

Anyway, today, I was back at Gian Carlo's and we got to chat for a bit, longer than the last time amidst the roaring of the hair dryer. He asked about the Philippines and I asked about his salon. Heheheh.. He didn't have any other branch of it but that one by Greenwich Ave. and Lewis Ct., atop the Anne Klein store. He said he used to have one in Toronto and another in Milano. The one in Toronto kept his name but is in a different management/ownership now. Gian Carlo is a very pleasant man with salt and pepper hair and a gentle demeanor. He's a little shorter than I and you can tell where he's looking from your peripheral vision. His eyes stand out when you look at his face. I think it could be the feature that makes him either endearing or intimidating.

We spoke about the airbuses that flew in today in NY and LA, how he thinks Patricia of Robert is a nut, and the photographs in his salon (one of the models looked like Penelope Cruz but I failed to confirm it). I like Gian Carlo. I've been there only twice but I have taken a liking to the man. Although he charges 25% more than his other stylists, I think he has a huge following because there's a certain calmness and sincerity in his person. I kid you not but he offered to photograph me. Hahaha! That made my day, I tell yah, but we'll see if that's my first sampling of lip service from the gentleman-slash-entreprenuer behind the great name. =)

Joan (well, we have our special song, but here's another one), Kate, Tim, Nitz, Concep, Rheea, Rizza, Chen, Michelle, Mima, Michi, Rina, Anna, Jen, Shiela, Cher, Albert, Jojo, Ron, Allen, Chix, Tere, Joseph, Will, Rom, Butch, George, Boyet, Vince, Edwin, Gino, Faye, Chris, Dave, Jeff, Myk, Debby, Frances (I sooo miss you!), Fay, Donna, Dodgie, Ish, Kathleen (my girrrrrl!), Adrian, Nathan, Andrew, Sha, Marlone, Pebbles, RR, Timmy, Jay, Jake, Abbie, Shesh, Bonch and Marinella..

I got a pleasant surprise when I got home tonight. My college friend Shiela called! She's flying home from Orlando but she will be back in 2 months. We're planning a get-together, I cannot wait!!! I have missed her so much... She's one of the few people I hold dear to my heart from my college years. Being with her or sharing a conversation with her means jaw-locking laughs and crazy lingo. =P

How happy I am for the way things are for her. We've lost touch for so long and how I wondered what have happened to my dear friend. Now, after a wedding and 2 births, we found each other. Wait, I found her. ;o) Thanks friendster! I can't wait for May! I wanna see her already!!!

I've not gotten over my blessing tonight and with this cold, I think I must turn in early. I can't afford to be sick away from home. =P Thanks for making my day, dear girl!

My friend RR and I hungout today. We had great Italian food at Frank's. Loved my Penne Vodka pasta (their specialty). It was in tomato cream sauce, which I am a huge fan of. And we had this super cheesy pizza with just basil and tomatoes. RR requested for extra mozarella cheese pa, coz you know how I'm such a cheese person.

Anyway, the highlight of my day was when we went "shopping". I got this beautiful green box for my trinkets, 2 rolls of lovely gift ribbons and heart-printed paper pads and post-its @ Michael's. AND! I stumbled upon this iFlop froggy!!!!!!!!!! Just when I thought going to BBB meant more towels, I got me a treasure! I so love him! I actually couldn't wait to get home and plug in Touille to try the speakers! It's a really cool addition to my froggy and Apple collection. REALLY! Now, the Orange iPod shuffle will look pretty on Frank too. I named my iFlop Frank, because we ate at Frank's and I enjoyed everything today.

Thanks RR! =)

Lent officially started today. Went to church to hear mass and partake on the Ash Wednesday Catholic tradition. I can't believe the season's here already. Didn't we just celebrate Christmas?

I got a daily reflections book from church. Here's the scripture for today:

Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God. (Joel 2:12-13)

Just like Christ's life, ours has a purpose. We are all on a journey, and lent particularly takes us 40 days around what our life's supposed to be for. Like salmons in the stream, we're meant to swim against the tide to get to where the Lord wants us to go -- which is home with Him... =) Blessed be!

Winter's almost over. No, it's not a relief because I love winter. I guess it's okay............... Even if it snowed only like 6 times. Pssh! And maybe I'm not complaining because somebody does the shovelling over here, and none of the ladies. But I love getting bundled up and "talking with steam" and my ear muffs and my fluffy robe and the wistfulness of the weather. I like it. No, I love it. Of course it looks a little bit creepy at night and you're driving past "hibernating trees" (that's what I call those lifeless looking trees, it's patented *wink) but it is, at the same time, romantic like that. =P

The wind chill is getting tolerable lately. I can go out in my flip flops at times, unlike before. Also, my head doesn't feel like cracking open when I go hatless outdoors. Oh winter...

For months now, Greenwich held its breath for snow. Usually, Christmas is white around here. For some reason, this year was different, or should I say, last year was different. Since I moved, there's only been one white morning until today. I woke up to a tractor's noise (of sorts). I went downstairs to find a man clearing the walkway with a huge shovel. It was snowing, but not that hard... It was pretty, and romantic but gloomy at the same time. How bout that for Valentine's? Heheheh...

I have to return a few books to the library. It's due tomorrow. But I'm afraid I can't go out because it's really windy and it's raining and snowing at the same time. Hello hypothermia! Hahaha! So I renewed all of 'em online for another week. I miss the library...

So it's Valentine's and there's practically nothing we can do today or tonight because of the weather. Of all the days, huh? But being snowed in shouldn't be that bad. I've spent the last couple of hours writing and reading, I still have a few DVDs to watch too. So I guess I'm good until tonight. And the loner in me loves the idea of snow on a movie night. Can't complain! *wink

*Thanks John for the Hershey's and Peanut Butter Hearts. =)
My dear friend J, for the lovely song.
Kuya Jerome for the DVD.
(Parang Christmas! Heheh)

And everyone who sent me their love through ecards and SMS!!! Thank you, thank you! MMMMMMMMMMWAH!

I hope you all get the ecards I made a month ago. Heheheh!
Happy Valentine's Y'all!

Yesterday, I got to pamper myself at the salon, latino style. Love my hair! (Thanks Gloria and Martha).
Had a late lunch at an Italian restaurant, Putnam, at the Avenue (Cajun Chicken sandwich w/ bacon and fries). Love their breaded, crispy fries! Then we went shoe shopping at Shoes n More. I bought 3 pairs of shoes - a pair of Saucony, Keds and Seychelles. Yipee! Then I went bowling with my aunt, not that I played. When I got bored, I checked out the stores along the B. Alley. I did not buy clothes. Have to be a little stingy after all those shoes (I need a job). I splurged a bit at Apple Farm though. Their produce selection was really tempting and because I had time to waste, I was careful in picking my fruits and veggies.

Today, we had pizza, salad and buffalo wings for late lunch (Yum, but what's up with late lunches this weekend, eh?). We had to do some errands that morning, see..? Anyway, we went back to the Avenue. Tita Bonet arrived the previous night and wanted to get some shoes, so we went back to my aunt's fave store (It's also the closest one). Well... err... I ended up buying 2 pairs of Seychelles again. Teehee! What can I do, they were hecka comfy and they looked pretty on me. =P

So yeah, we did a bit of grocery shopping after. My aunts got disappointed to find that the liquor store by Stop n Shop was closed. So much for their red wine-slash-videoke night. Heheheh! I found myself in a sunny mood when we got home I even had the energy to help fix dinner, while everybody just fell into bed or dropped on the sofa. Love weekends. I love how the dining table is packed with beautiful people and how we say a collective prayer before meals. Love it! =)

You think that if you choose to be honest with a person, you're doing him/ her a favor. That instead of leaving them in the dark to wonder, you give them the upperhand -- because they are in the know. After all, information is power. But what kind of people choose to look the other way just because the path turns out to be something they did not anticipate? What kind of people choose to blame you for showing them the light instead of leaving them in the black pit, where all seems to be running according to their plan, because their plan is nothing agreeable anyways? I wonder too.

But here's what I know... I know that if you choose to have a life that's all about you.. that the dot on the clean, white paper is all that matters and nothing else.. that promises and hopes and love is empty.. If you are that kind of person who does only as much as is necessary, a person who never takes an extra step or an extra minute... you don't impress me, and never will. When time comes that you will have a life outside of yourself, "Hurrah!" for you. Life would be more promising, and I shall be one of those people who'd be happy that you saw the light, even when I have been greatly disappointed in the past. Piece of advise: Get over yourself already. It's starting to be disgusting.. Doesn't it get too tiring to be fenced in all the time? Take what you can get, my friend and live with it. You can't have it ALL, after all. And no, don't get me wrong. There is a thin line between taking the risk, and knowing what you want and what you don't want. Don't chastise just because what you want is not what others do.

Yes, I am writing to you. And don't pretend that you haven't been told coz you have been.. many times, in fact. "He who hesitates is lost... loses... or is a big loser." For that I wish to pity you, but I shall refuse to. Because you have a brain. It has been paid for. USE IT.

I am done feeling sorry that you choose to shimmy back into the darkness. It is up to you now to find your way.

People have preferences and it might not be you all the time, or half the time, or never at all. Live with it. Because at the end of the day, it all boils down to accepting that you are not the world. And that the world was here before you. And my life, and many others, don't revolve around your sorry ass.