A challenege

The same friend that wrote that beautiful piece in the last blog of the passings of this last year, has issued a challenge to the rest of us:

 "Herein lies the challenge - and perhaps the peace - write down ten things you are grateful for this 2009."

Even with the embarrasment of sounding selfish, here I go...

I don't know how, but I'll try and do this. 

1. I'm glad I got to play abroad this year in Singapore, Saigon and Hanoi.  In Singapore, the food and hawker places there were AWESOME.  Oh and IKEA IKEA IKEA.  And the sprained right ankle that became "Barney".   And in Vietnam....the banh mi and the catfish goodness.  Good friends, and crazy nights.

2.  Because of all the traveling perhaps, I'm eternally glad to have been able to learn the true nature of people when shoved into a small breathing and traveling space together, and to maybe try not to do a repeat performance of THAT.

3. I'm glad that I can still play drums and I'm now in a band full of friends.

4. I am grateful to have a home of my own.

5. I"m glad that I've learned that I'm stronger than any health scare that can come my way, even if I get confined in the hospital.  In the end, it really wasn't so bad, since the meds were kickass.

6.  I am grateful for my family, that despite their own crazy, psychotic, nutty, stubbornness that stems from all of them being so darn smart, I see my own shortcomings, potential and normalcy.  Because of this, I'm becoming closer to my siblings and understand them more.

7. I am grateful I got kittens this year.  They've changed my life enormously and are a source of great furry comfort without me having to ask them to give it.

8. I am grateful that I know when a job is making me feel bad about myself, made to feel guilty for thinking I should strive more to reach my full potential, making me feel guilty for my background, and allowed me to stop thinking for myself.

9. I am grateful that because of that awful job, I now have one that is challenging, engaging and with people whose opinions I value and respect. 

10.  I am grateful that C and I can still laugh even with everything that has been thrown at us this year, either together, or individually. 

I guess that wasn't so hard.  :)  Thanks Gang :)

weeeee wednesday

Ok it's been a little busy today and I'm sadly STILL not done so I will keep this as short as I can.

I had a successful meeting this afternoon about a couple of project I will take part in...I hope that the work I do (which is due on Friday!) will be good enough.

I found the books I've been looking for in Fully Booked Greenhills....WHEW.

I'm going to finish an article due tomorrow after this.

And after THAT, I have a meeting.

A few things keeping me going today:

1 - Coffee, iced and hot...freshly brewed

2 - "Word of the Lourd" on youtube.com by my friend Lourd. Warning to those who do not speak Tagalog, it's all in um, Tagalog. It's hilarious though if you can understand it :D

3 - Nice cab drivers that smile :D

4 - Vegetarian chicharon (pork rinds or is it crackling?): never thought I'd like anything vegan after trying Bodhi. Soy does not a good meat make. *BARF* I respect those who can take it, and admire that you have that sort of strength. I just cannot and will not.

5 - It's HALFWAY THROUGH THE WEEK!!! (but see that also is a bad thing, SORT OF, since it reminds me of the other stuff I need to do!!)

6 - The Shys: check them out at http://www.theshys.com/

7 - I'm doing projects I LIKE. Haven't had that for a while.

8 - I have funny friends. Especially when Miao is in her happy moods, coz apparently, I make a face when I say "NOOOOO" that makes her double over in laughter. I like that. :)

9 - My new band the Marshas are getting offers for regular and other gigs all over the place and we haven't even gotten a set list together! Seriously, we don't even have 2 songs to rub together yet!! Awww...go girl power!

10 - I'll see C later when we meet about artists drawing on his restaurant's outside walls. We were quiet in the car this morning, I want to make it up to him and tell him about my day and find out what he's been up to the last 12 hours.

OH! And there's an:

11 - These artists are my friends and one of them my tattooer. I CAN SKED MY NEXT SESSION WITH HER! :D Joy joy joy! I've been wanting that one tat for my foot for a while.

and a 12 - For Dmunoz for always sharing his lunch with me and keeping it real :)

So much for keeping it short. But I'm glad that there are a lot of things keeping me going today! Now...to get cracking on that article......until the bright side of the sun.....if that made any sense....