I feel like throwing up.

Omar woke me up at 9am demanding I follow through with my promise of letting him watch Hellboy 2 on my mac. I needed my mac so I loaded the movie on his computer, gave him some ramen and I was left to do laundry. It was early so I figured I could still catch Mica's show at 2:30. I had a bowl of oatmeal when I woke up and shared a ramen with Omee for lunch. Around noon, I had the washer on and was feeling a drowsy so I decided to take a nap. I woke up a little before 4pm! I guess I underestimated how tired I was and how much sleep I've not been having lately. So I missed Mica's show and my intentions of going to Brooklyn to pick up my pasalubong was out the window. I still had two batches of laundry to do so I continued. I was chatting with Jad for a few hours while I munched on tostitos, ube ice cream, and apple pie. For dinner, Tita Chon made monggo and daing na bangus with tomatoes and salted eggs. I've been eating chinese food for over a month and was glad to be having something else for a change so I devoured it like a maniac. I feel sick.

I chatted with mama on Skype today and she kept asking me to chant for her like it was some kind of show. I kept telling her that chanting was not meant for her entertainment but she wouldn't quit. She asked me a few questions about the practice and I tried answering to the best of my knowledge. I told her I could give her a book about it but she wasn't that interested. She only told me how nana was saying I should shut the door when I'm chanting so I wouldn't bother anyone. Haha! Also nana must have been snooping around my room when I was in Brooklyn and found my receipts because she mentioned to mama how much I spent for my altar. Hay nako nga naman.

Currently catching up on shows I've missed the past week. A few of them have returned after the holiday break. I don't have the time to see most of them now.

Recurring thought of the day: Did you ever feel like you were meant to be a part of someone's life? Like you're meant to help them in some way? There are those pivotal people in life Those who change who we are no matter how long or short of a time they've been in our lives or good or bad their contribution was. I can fondly recall some of these people. Some of them are still with me, while some of them have moved on. I wonder if I've ever been an influence in anyone's life or moved anyone in some way. Just the thought of it makes me want to be that light to others just as those people have done it for me.

Attended the WD/YWD Kick Off meeting yesterday at the culture center. It's my first meeting since joining SGI and everything that was shared yesterday had a whole new meaning for me. There are some things Linda Johnson said yesterday that I've also heard a few times from some SGI members that I'd like to share.

Buddhism reminds us that we're already perfect. Everything we need to be happy and be fulfilled in our lives is already in us. It's simply a matter of bringing out your inner buddha.

Happiness is found in the journey and in your struggle to reach your goal.

more photos

Had lunch with Miyuki, Tita, M, Leah, Jennifer and Eileen at Saigon Grill after the meeting. I wish I wasn't running late for work so I could have enjoyed the awesome food better. I scarfed down my meal and 15 minutes before my shift, grabbed a cab at Union Square and told him to step on it. I got to work in 10 minutes only to have Lily tell me to not rush next time and simply call her if I'm running late instead of spending for a cab. Pfft. Oh well.

Weather report said there was supposed to be a snow storm yesterday. It did snow a good part of the day but it ended just before night fall to be replaced by a light drizzle. This caused the thin layer of ice that accumulated on the streets to become wet and slippery. I had to take extra care skiing on the sidewalks going home. I witness no less than 5 people embarrassingly fall on their asses. We also had a little incident at the restaurant last night. A homeless man came in demanding that we call 911. He wanted to be taken to a hospital because it was too cold to sleep outside. He smelled like a really bad public bathroom and stank the place up. Lily and the owner gave him food and nicely asked him to leave but he refused. Richard had to get the cops to come pick him up before he finally left. That entire ordeal was sad but it was a place of business and it had to be done.

I'm supposed to watch Mica dance today at 2:30pm but I think I will stay in for once and spend time with my Omee boy. I've been feeling horrible every time he looks at me with his puppy eyes and says "You're going out again?" I haven't spent an off day at home for weeks. I need to do laundry anyway. Although I might make a quick trip to Brooklyn to get my pasalubong from Ana's house. Poy said my mom sent stuff for me from Manila and I want to see if she got me more than I asked her to get. I miss cheap manila items.

I can't chant :( Tito Moe is sleeping in the living room and I'm afraid to bother him with my weirdness tonight. I got home at 2:30am because we're supposed to close at 12:30am but there's this couple who could not take a hint! We were obviously closing up, sweeping the floors and putting the chairs up on the table. At 1am, the guy comes up to me and asks, "Excuse me, what time do you close?" Dahil sa trabaho ko ngayon, nagiba na ang tingin ko sa lahat ng waitstaff. I used to hate it when waiters start closing up when I'm still in the restaurant eating. But now I realize that those people have probably been there all day and just really, really want to go home. So please people, be considerate to your servers. When you see that they close at a certain hour, don't come in 30 minutes before closing and ask if they're open. They will smile and say "yes of course" and serve you but I promise you, they're all groaning inside because they've closed up the kitchen, cleaned the bathrooms and kept all their sh1t already. If you really need to eat, take it to go.

I'm currently reuniting with a bottle of Stella since I realized I still had 5 bottles in the fridge circa before-christmas. I feel bad for not being able to chant tonight and I'm hoping I wake up early enough to attend the noon one hour chanting at the center tomorrow before the WD (women's division) and YWD (young women's division) kick-off meeting. In as much as I know I'm losing money by working a lot of dinner-only shifts, I'm starting to like having half the day to do whatever I want. Of course lately I've been using it to catch extra zzz's but I think I will stick to the shortened hours for now.

Well, I'm off to bed. I keep thinking about the apartment and I'm only freaking myself out knowing I have a lot of stuff to move and will still have to shop for a mattress. Good luck to moi!

Mica and I have been apartment hunting for a while. When we walked into this place, we didn't have to say anything. We looked at each other and we definitely know this was it! It's newly renovated and brand new! New hardwood floors, paints, tiles, kitchen cabinets, everything! It's about two blocks from the subway station which means this beeyotch will never have to suffer 27 blocks when she misses the bus! YAHOO! Instead of Andy, we will have Mica's friend Benny, a fellow dancer, rom with us. They're currently in the process of filling up applications, etc. I should be able to move in by mid-January, which is pretty much next week. Grabe, madugong lipatan ito. Makakailang balik kaya ako para ilipat lahat ng gamit na naipon ko dito? Hindi kaya ng isa or dalawang pasahan ito, maygahd!

In the order that you see it, the rooms are: shared bathroom, Mica's room, the teeny room is mine, then the shared living area/studio, Benny's room, the kitchen. I'm excited for the shared common area since it can be doubled as a studio which we all can use. Both Mica and Benny are dancers and they'll have enough leg room to do whatever they wish and I can use the pristine walls to take portraits, specially the ones I plan to do of Mica and Eisa. EXCITED NA KO!!!! GAME NA ITO!!!! GO 2009!!!

I know my posts have been boring, un-visual and long. Patawad po!

Nakakalito kayo ah, if I don't post, you guys react, when I do write the long ass ones, you complain still. I'm trying to compensate my lack of visuals with words. I know the long SGI-related posts have been boring to most of you. I will try to cut it down. Ang saya saya kasi eh!

OK so visuals...kahit na late na sila.

5 out of the 11 cousins are in NY together

so we had a photo last Sunday
l-r: Cherish, Joey, James, Omee and moi

Semi-better photos of the restaurant. I didn't have my wide angle lens on so I couldn't take better angles.

the bar on the other side of the fishtank

Kenny again behind his sushi bar

and these are my two boys from work, Paul and Richard

both always on their internet phones checking the damn stock market

this was Kelly and Kyle when they were at the resto on NYE
and this was kelly, me, my silly hat and my white apron

I think those are the only photos I have for now.

In other great news, I finally found an apartment! I'm rooming with Mica and her gay friend Benny. We're waiting for the credit check to get approved and we can move in as soon as next week! I need to buy a mattress and bedding if I'm to sleep in my new room. I cannot wait!!! Finally living on my own (sort of). I am so stoked! I am dying to see what I can do with my little room. I plan on printing and framing my photos and putting them up on the hallway from the front door leading up to the living room. This is going to be so great! Yey 2009!