Hi!!!

I'm back. After another long break from blogging. If it weren't because of my slipped disc, in fact, I probably wouldn't be able to write anything for another 3 months. My church wedding is coming up. August 28th. Ain't it cool? 08.28.08.

That has kept me busy, plus my change of status not a year ago. It has been a wonderful '07. 'Twas the year I met the guy who would change my life FOREVER. =) So nice to be in love, but nobody said how extraordinary it is to love and truly be loved in return.

So what's been keeping me busy's preparing for our first anniversary-slash-church wedding celebration. I could say I've covered 75% of what should be done with only 3 months to go. Not bad considering I did everything on my own. I love the Internet (thanks Tim Beaners-Lee!). It's funny how until now, I haven't ordered my invitations. I know, I know I have until June to mail them, but June's just 3 weeks away! Next thing I know it's already June and I'm still not expecting a delivery of cardstocks with filigrees and calligraphy. Sigh.

I wanted to order my invitations from the Philippines. I have so much confidence in the creativity of the Pinoys, see. I thought I should just put the entourage together with the program so people can actually put names to faces as they walk down the aisle, instead of doing the usual Pinoy invitation: main invite, entourage page and reception card. So if I'm having a single paged invitation with elaborate ribbon accents and gold strings, I don't think it wise to spend 300Php per ensemble plus international shipping. So scrap that ordering from my beloved PI. =( Besides, it's a lot more practical and convenient to just order them here and online. They'd be here in 2 days! And I could start shipping this week. Nah.

I'm still stumped, though. Too many choices. Grrr. But, I'm not complaining. In fact, I'm having fun! Gives me something to do and be busy for since my hubby won't let me go back to work yet. Thanks to my very nice boss, she understands what it's like to wear a brace all day and the actual discomfort of a scoliosis & a slipped disc.

More updates to follow!

It's such a mess here at work!
The roads are being recemented. Nice if you think about it, because they're not waiting for problems before they address these things, but it's so chaotic! The main gate's closed.. You have to go through the service gates and go all the way around just to get out. It's crazy!

Anyway, it's Friday again and Natalie, Anna and I might hangout after work. My 2 Georgian friends. They're my best workmates! I dunno why but I always find myself in a groupie of 3. Heheheh... No kidding! Odd man out? Nope. Always nice to be with 2 others, that way we don't pair off and eventually go our separate ways breaking up the group in the process.

Going back to the construction around here, it's hecka noisy! All I hear is this beeping sound the trucks and cars make when they're backing up the driveway. I'm at the South wing and that's where the cars are parked today. Hecka messy!!! I hate it when it's this cluttered! Grrrrrrrr..... Hopefully by next week all this hullabaloo's over coz it's really inconvenient and annoying and I just want them to finish things already.

Hopefully.

6 months ago, I met this guy...
6 months ago, I was afloat.. living life as if I'd have a million more days just like that. Same old, same old.
4 months ago, I thought I'd take a demi-risk and figure something out. That did not go so well. Here I am, changing myself from the cautious and proud brat that I've always been into something a little more feeling -- a risk taker. Someone who's not that afraid to take a step in a dark, unfamiliar room and then I end up with a big boo-boo?

Turns out, I was just being prepped for something amazing.

A month ago, I saw this guy again. The same guy I met 6 months ago. Was it the 4th of July??? Coz I swear sparks did fly! Hahah! And since then, life has been throwing me beautiful flowers again. When a door closes, a window definitely opens. I am thankful because when this window opened, I was ready for it. I again took the risk but this time, I so know, with all of my heart that I took the right one. In fact, I don't even think it's a risk anymore. I simply think it's fate. Finally, I get to be that person who finds herself at the right place, at the right time.

Life is great!

John came early today for breakfast. He's to go on a trip with Lisa and his Aunt Hopie. What would I find at the sink after we ate? A bouquet of roses -- in Spring colors of cream and pink. How lovely they were. John said it's from either one of my boyfriends or some secret admirer. Crazy! I put most of them with the Star gazer lilies he gave me last Sunday and the 2 giant roses I got from my Aunt's bouquet. Now the vase is full with blooms of pretty colors. I took 4 from the bunch and put them by the kitchen table, which is kinda like my table here -- I practically do most things on it!

What a pretty present to leave us with. Flowers are always beautiful. Specially when they come from the heart. It makes an ordinary day special... always. =) Thanks to one of my "boyfriends" or "secret admirer". BWAHAHAHAH!

I woke up to a very nice surprise this morning. I called John a few minutes after I woke up, still in bed and in my PJs. He immediately asked if I already stepped out of the house, of course the answer was a NO. It was before 9 on a Sunday, was he crazy? Hahahah.. So he told me to go out the front and call him back after. What would I find? My fave blooms!!! AWWWWWWWWWW......

I never told him I love Star Gazer Lilies but he got me those! So I called him back and grilled him a bit as to how he knew what flowers to get me. Coincidence. Of course he tried to pull my leg at first like he had sources and all that, but knowing me too, he didn't push his luck too far into the conversation, else the nice surprise might turn not so nice anymore.

Happy Sunday! =)

I'm in love.

I've never been a pet-lover. Actually, I'm petrified of all kinds of animals. But I wasn't this loony back then. I remember how I used to pick up stray kittens whenever I'd see one. My mom found it ghastly but she let me be (one of the perks of being an only child -- then). I also, always asked her to buy me those little chicks or ducks sold outside Sto. Domingo whenever we'd go to church or when I'd get picked up from school at St. Mary's. I'd let those little feathered cuties run around the house while the nanny tried to scramble away from them. All I remember is that they wouldn't live long enough to grow their beaks. Heheheh.. I thought then that they really only lived for a week without their parents. Those were the days.

Anyway, I can't really tell for sure when or how or what made me very scared of animals. I've never been bitten or hurt by one. I know the feeling I get somewhere in my throat when I'm around hairy ones, or how gross and monstrous the reptiles look and how slimy and eekie the amphibians seem to the touch. Last Friday though, when we arrived at the salon, I knew it wasn't going to be a fun visit. There was a dog at the entrance.
A Shi Tzu named Coco.

I guess they really smell fear because when we walked towards the shampoo station, so did he. Guess where he sat his little bum? By the foot of the empty seat at the shampooing area. Hateful dog. He just sat there, watching. By the time the main man (Gian Carlo) came out to do his job, I was already seated in front of the huge mirror. The dog came over to his master (GC). Very chic dog with a collar that was "eternally" rhinestoned. Cuteness! Gian Carlo started petting him and I told him I was scared of pets. The dog had really kind eyes and had a disinterested demeanor, except for the fact that he walked to where I was all the time. I tried petting him while GC did. He had really soft hair and he didn't mind me doing so. He was so calm, something most dogs are not blessed with. At least those that I encounter. I just realized I was sitting next to him, rubbing his belly. After a while, he stood up and walked away. The little brat. GC was so amused because I walked around the salon trying to get Coco to stay so I could pet him some more. He did, at his favorite spot, the entrance hall. I again sat there with him and played with his hair. John was on his way but I called him to make sure he would see me with Coco. It's one of his missions to get me to liking pets, dogs specifically. He didn't have to lose a limb on this one. Coco had me wrapped around his hairy paws, and he was enjoying it. Heheheh..

When he got up again and this time, found GC's wife (Coco's adoptive mommy), I had to respect the space he needed. HAHAHAH! Can you believe I'm saying this? I'm giving a dog his space! Loony old me. By the time we were done, Coco was asleep, snuggled by Sharon, GC's wife. I wanted to kiss him goodbye. I kid you not. I actually almost did, all I know is that I'm smitten with Coco.

I will get a shi tzu.

Last night, after dinner, I had the pleasure to see "The Shamrogues". They are a non-profit group of people who have the passion to cultivate and share Irish music. They played the tin whistle, bodhran, Uilleann bagpipe, concertina, violin, guitar, flute and the fiddle. It was very enjoyable. There were happy tunes and sad ones and I enjoyed the performance very much. I especially loved the Danny Boy rendition of the founder of the group, name I forget, with the tin whistle (a.k.a. the penny whistle) accompanied by the guitar. It almost made me cry. A lot of people from the audience knew the words too and they sang along softly. It was really nice, like I knew everyone in the room and we were attending the thing together. Unity and harmony is always beautiful, I concur.

One of the musicians sang acapella in Irish language a sad Irish song. 'Couldn't make out a single word and whenever she did the high notes, her voice was on the verge of breaking to a croak. She's an obstetrician, not that it has anything to do with her performance, but it was an information the band manager shared with the audience. Heheheh... I was enthralled by the voice of this other lady who played the flute though. She's the director of the Stamford Philharmonic Orchestra here in Connecticut. She sang from the gut and really well too. I could listen to her all day if she had a record! Even the band manager sang beautifully. I think he looked and sounded a tad like Kenny Rogers. =P

It was a fantastic night and the hall was packed. We sometimes sang with the band, which was cool. Each member got to play their instrument too - solo, a recognition far better than $$$ can get for you. And so the night was mystical because music always brings about a certain magic to things.. I love it.

I can't wait, because tonight we're going to listen to Bob Rissolo play the piano. This is me, making the best of what life hands me and living my life to the fullest. Cheers to talent and life's small blessings!

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..