A Cool Coffee Drink in a Hot Summer Town

Had lunch with B, and he treated me to free coffee. Wee!

(Yes, Manila still has the old Seattle's Best Coffee logo. If you want to see the new logo, check this out.)

Swim, Eat, and Be Merry

Today, the kid and I had lunch together, at one of the fast food chains on Tomas Morato. We just had her swimming lessons, and were on our way to "investigate" one of the preschools near E.Rodriguez Ave.

The Swimming
The swimming lesson was eventful since: 1) we were late, and 2) the kid developed the fear of submerging her head under water, going to ridiculous lengths and overacting poses to make sure her head was above water while we were gliding. It was irritating me (I blame my hormones). Really, I still remember how she looked like in the water -- if I wasn't irritated (because I know she was overacting it), I would find it really funny. Instead of forcing the matter (and making her really afraid of water), I deemed it more prudent to not finish today's swimming lesson. She wasn't wild or tantrum-y, probably just resistant to change. She still likes to swim, just doesn't want to put her head under water.

The Preschool
I haven't really blogged about our search for a preschool. But trust me, I've spent hours and hours poring over forums and websites, looking for an affordable, progressive preschool that hopefully also teaches Chinese. Have I found it? No. I've read about Montessori, multiple intelligences, international schools, progressive schools, pseudo-Montessori schools, and now even Waldorf schools. Have I decided? Not yet. It's a bit scary to think that my decision now could have the possibility of limiting her options for the future. So...I'm not 100% on anything yet.

The Meal
The kid and I had a quick lunch together. With the turmoil of learning something new (submerging her head while swimming), and the anxiety of deciding on a course for the future, it's really the quiet moments spent with her that matters. Being present. I'm thankful she can eat well. I am thankful that we have this opportunity to spend some quiet time, together, just the two of us.

Thank You for the Music

Funny. I have a lot of things to be thankful for, I don't even know where to start.

Photo by Michael Yarish/FOX

Today, among other things, I am grateful to Neil Patrick Harris and Glee. It's Episode 19 of the 1st season of Glee, with the episode titled "Dream On". Let me just say, I have never watched Glee on actual TV. I usually come home late from work, and if I am at home, the TV is owned by either my daughter (who watches Playhouse Disney), or the househelp (who watches ABS-CBN). Sometimes B. sneaks in and gets to watch basketball. So there, I've never actually caught an episode of Glee on actual TV. I don't entirely live under a rock though -- I've caught my fair share of episodes online so I know the show and the story.

So anyway, today I get home almost 10pm, and surprise! No one's watching TV! My daughter's asleep, the yaya's watching the kid, the hubby's drinking with his buddies. Guilt-free TV for an hour.

So...I am thankful for some alone time. And I am thankful for music. For entertainment that moves us and seeks to inspire. Music inspires, it's fun, it's...cathartic, as needed. It doesn't even have to be pop, rock, alternative, hip hop, jazz, death metal, whatever. As long as it suits your mood for the moment, it inspires. Music can make you fall in love, run faster, release your anger and sadness and grief. It can make you cry, plunge you into a deep emotional abyss, and then take you along as it soars through it's own uplifting arc.

I am thankful for music and the ones who have made, written and sang music. Every time you create art, you give a little of yourself. Just like giving love though, giving a little of yourself doesn't make you any less. On the contrary, creating art (just like love) makes you go beyond yourself and makes you bigger than you originally were.

Giving oneself -- whether it's a personal sacrifice, your time, your love, or sharing your gift of music -- does that. It inspires. And at any given the moment, you should always opt to inspire people. Why? Just because you can.

"I'm trading my one dream, for the chance that the 13 of you will have a chance with yours." - Will Shuester, Glee

Thankful 365 - The Start

All of us are thankful for something. Sometimes, anger, negative emotions and difficult experiences just make us forget it. But it's there. For the thanking.

This is my Project 365*. To write about the things I am thankful for. Happy thoughts, every day of the year.

*Originally, I wanted to call it Project 52 -- so I can do a post just once a week. Hehe. But what the heck. Go for broke. Project 365. Something to be thankful for, every day of the year.

Singapore Stopover!

Our Singapore stopover would not have been possible without our hosts! Too bad that I forgot to have pics taken with them though. But thank you thank you thank you to Lala and Simon and my friend Jen for accommodating us!!! And thanks to the Singapore-based Enterworks ex-officemates for the company, the white pepper crabs, and the Paulaner beers!

Sa July daw ulit sabi ni Jo Jao. :)