Shakin'

I often wonder why people always assume that I'm not doing anything.

Friday night, after finalizing my schedule, my sister called in to ask a favor. Go to the south, place and ad for her in the newspaper of where we used to live. I've come to accept that some people don't really ask. Regardless of how they phrase it, they already assume that you'll do it. After all, they'll pay you back, etc.

Still, I hate it when people call last minute.

Just like my uncle when he called me Friday night and told me to come to his house early.

He cancelled a minute before I was to wake up and my dad decided to leave our house 30 minutes later than I expected.

Wow. I really do wonder why people assume that I'm not going to be hassled. Contrary to popular belief, I don't like being late.

Still, I've had a pretty shaking Saturday. I met Holly in the south and she helped me with posting the ad and a few other errands. Afterwards, we took a bus to the city and I met the Certified Olympian. She treated me to lunch and we watched a movie afterwards.

For dinner, I met up with Frances and one of our other college friends. It was nice. Short. Simple and nice.

Looking forward to more shakin' Saturdays,

Someone Anxious

Mountain Weekend

Going up to the mountains with friends have always been fun for me. Holly, Jackie, Janey and I had/have a tradition of going up to Holly's rest house twice a year. And although, I never get to see them as much anymore, I eagerly wait for all of us to hang out soon.

Last weekend, Frances and our college gang finally took our long awaited trip up to the mountains. Frances' family had a great rest house over looking the lake and we had a great time looking over the city lights as  fog surrounded us. Let  me start from the beginning.

Every other Friday, my college friends and I all meet up and eat somewhere we can't really afford. Then we drink coffee at a local cafe and talk until around 3 in the morning. Of course, our parents barely believe us... who in their right minds would think that their 20 something children are out on a Friday night drinking coffee?

It was during one of these nights that some of us decided to go and plan a trip to the mountains. Frances' house was available all year round and we just decided to set a date and go. And that's exactly what we did last weekend. Those who could make it, came and we hurried off to the mountains after office hours, beating the city traffic. We got to the house at around 1 in the morning and we immediately started a game of scrabble. The next day was spent doing groceries (Iron Chef!), going around the place, horse back riding and eating at one of my favorite coffee places on earth!

Such an amazing weekend, one that I would always be happy to remember. I'm glad.

I hope you are too.

Someone Anxious

4 Cities in 1 Night.

BECAUSE WE CAN, WE DO.

Last Saturday was another great adventure. I met up with Janey to watch rugby and go to Holly's niece's birthday party. On the ride to the party, Janey shared this great idea of going to four cities in one night and just hanging out with each other while having a drink in each. We were all tasked to choose one city each and complete a dare in the chosen city.

 

Right after the party, we immediately drove off to the first city where Holly met up with Chen. She splendidly accomplished her dare which was saying hi to a random stranger and pretending to know that person.

For the next city, which was mine, I had to introduce myself to a stranger as a complete imposter. I thought it would be easy. Guess not. Completely chickened out although I was still able to do the dare (technically). I introduced myself as someone else to this server/waiter who I asked directions too. Of course, everyone thought I was chicken for asking for directions.

By the third city, which was Janey's, we decided to go to this pub Holly knew. They served foreign made draft beer for reasonable prizes and I had a blast getting a bit tipsy. I did realize that beer was no longer my preferred poison. I think I'm beginning to develop a taste for hard drinks. Janey dared herself to say hi to as many people as possible and she ended up saying hi to an old friend from the university.

The last city was Jackie's and by that time, we were all a bit too tired. Had beer and breakfast at this point and just talked about random things. I almost left my debit card at the restaurant and had to run back in panic to get it. Then Janey took us home, me being the first one to be dropped off.

To more awesome Saturdays,

Someone Anxious.

Christmas Traditions and New Year's Resolutions...

I'm glad that there are a couple of things that I can still hold on to despite everything. Dinner at my dad's place was never better. I realized that I am an able cook and a simple potato salad could go a long way. I was reading posts earlier and I'm feeling a lot of positive energy (even if the kids here in the internet shop keep cursing). I think it's time to really move on and live. For the past years, everything's been too serious and despite trying to keep it light, some shadows still creep up at night which makes me sink into that hole.

Enough of these thoughts.

2012 will be different.

I was reading  Janey and the Certified Olympian's posts about their resolutions and promises. I love the way they are so positive about things and for the upcoming year. I can't help but feel inspired. I promised myself that for 2012, I'll be going to a lot of different places, taking different trips (both with friends and alone).

I'm also launching diskcover - the lomography extension of my photo project, zramphotography. I'll be posting my "training" photos this January on diskcover and I'll be going on a trip next week to try to practice more. I'm not really into joining clubs and meeting people for walks to take photos. I prefer doing things on my own, actually. Photography is something so personal to me and that's why I feel like capturing moments alone.

I'll be saving up more too... I promised myself that for the first six months after graduation, I'll be living life to the brink fullest. I feel like I was too young to actually take things seriously. This month marks the end of my hedonistic lifestyle. It's time to take things a little bit more seriously and saving up is one of them.

There are so many things I can't wait for this 2012. I'm so blessed to have met so many people this year that I know will be there for me next year. I'm also grateful that I was able to continue building relationships with close friends and family. I hope that 2012, with all it's adventures to come, would also help me continue building relationships that matter.

Waiting for the fireworks,
Someone Anxious.

Another Unusual Weekend Adventure.

As I hurry to Holly's house that Friday, I never really thought that I'd be spending my Saturday in her rest house at the mountains and my Sunday at her grandmother's 90th birthday.

Here's how it happened...

After having drinks with my officemates, I rush to Holly's village with a cheap bottle of brandy and coke. Holly, Jackie and Janey already had a couple of glasses and we started talking about life in general (as usual) while pouring powder onto my feet. Several courage pacts later, we were in a car giving Janey and Jackie a lift home. After dropping Janey off, we went to Jackie's house. Drank wine, ate pizza, crackers and ended at around 3 in the morning. Then went back with Holly to her place and finally went to sleep.

They next morning, Holly woke me up and asked if I wanted to go with her and her dad to meet up her mom who was at work for the weekend in the mountains... Had no plans and was just going to bum so I thought... what the hell! Got up, took a shower and got dressed. After lunch, we started the road trip. The rain wasn't that hard despite the storm signals and the weather was refreshing. It felt a little bit like Christmas and Holly and I talked our hearts out most of the time.

While smoking outside Holly's rest house, we talked about life and certain things that we miss.  We both agreed on a social pact that we're going to test out for the next two months.

Going home, my uncle called and cancelled on me. This was when Holly's mom invited me to a family reunion of sorts. It was Holly's grandmother's 90th birthday and they were having a family gathering of sorts in her Aunt's house. I decided to go (simply because I had nothing better to do until around 6 pm that day) and felt a little bit awkward with the whole situation.

After, we went to the mall so that Holly could get her haircut and met up with an old friend of our, Cat. For the longest time now, I've been trying to avoid her simply because I don't feel comfortable around her. I thought I was in for an hour of ranting and annoying conversation topics when we met up with her. To my surprise, there was nothing but sincerity and plain old catching up between the three of us.

After, I met up with two old high school friends and I've come to realize how different I am. Unlike my friends, I don't feel like going back and being young. I don't have the compulsion to wish that I was young again. In the end, we parted ways knowing that even if we feel different, talk different and act different, we would still meet up in the future.

I got home a little before midnight and had a quick Peking duck and soy chicken dinner with my dad. Took a long shower and finally went to bed hoping that I'll wake up just in time for work the next day.

Guess what?

I did.

Someone Anxious

Things I said I'll never do but I did them anyway...

When I was younger, I was pretty sure of what I wanted in life. I bet everyone had them... those little sentences in your head that told you of who you wanted to be or what you wanted become. For example: I'm going to have a dog and name him Charlie. 

Yes, those little sentences. Remember them now? Well, I remembered mine last night as I was in transit and I've come to realize that all those things I said I'll never ever in my whole life would do... well... I did them anyway. Let me share them with you.


1.) I'll never smoke / I'll never become a smoker.
Well. Yes. I am a habitual smoker. Formed out of the habit of trying to be cool, I've become addicted to nicotine. Unlike the many men that I've kissed, a cigarette stays with you until its very end.  It will give you pleasure, help you release tension and is always there when you're alone in crowded (smoking) room.

2.) I'll never drink alcohol.
There was a time - I do admit - that I was addicted to my Taekwondo training. I was seriously in to it and if it weren't for my doctor's orders maybe I would still be. Part of the training was to watch what you intake. No softdrinks, no junk food, no sweets, no smoking and no alcohol. I honestly thought that I was going to live a very clean life. I never really thought I would develop a taste for beer, wine or anything alcoholic when I was training.

3.) I'll never work inside an office.
Yes. When I was younger, I knew (or thought I knew) what type of work I exactly wanted. I always told myself that I wanted to be in the field, never really have a desk  and be stuck there for certain periods of time everyday for the rest of my life. In short, I never really wanted to work inside an office. Now, I've come to realize that working in an office from eight to five is actually a blessing. Not to many people have a boss that leaves work at work and understands that you have another life beyond your desk. I have time to go out, watch the primetime shows, have my laundry done, play video games and all those things that I need to keep me sane in this crazy mixed up world.

4.) I'll never want to teach.
I remember this quite vividly. I was in high school, my last few months of bliss before I start over again in college and my friend told me of a saying that goes: Those who can they do but those who can't do... they teach. Back then I agreed totally, laughing my heart out. Now, I've come to realize that teaching is one of the most gratifying things in the world. Even though I'm no way a teacher, I think college made me realize that I want to be at some point in my life. Maybe that's what drew me into training to begin with.

5.) I'll never sleep with someone.
Okay, I just want to say that I'll find it hard to ever explain this without sounding explicit and very much not myself. I do admit that I'm not the good girl that some think of me but I am a good person (yes, I will say this with conviction). Growing up, you can say I was really religious and I never really thought I would stray from that. Avid mass-goer and somewhat bible reader, there was a point in my life when I said I'll never really sleep with anyone. I've changed a lot this past year and event though I still know what's right from wrong (or so I think so) this thing that I said I'll never do, I did it anyway.

6.) I'll never give money importance.
I think to really just explain this I have to say that loosing it all gives you a lot of perspective. Before, money wasn't really a factor and you can say that I lived in ignorant bliss. Things change, you loose it all and you grow up, you've come to realize that there are some ideals you'll have to forget and some accepting you have to do. Yes. Money, in more ways than one, makes the world go round and if you want to survive, you'll need it more than ever.

7.) I'll never see him again.
I've wrote it a million times in this blog, in my other blogs and in almost all of my diaries. I always said that enough was enough and I'm over it. I'm okay and through with it. Yes. Well, I do admit that even though I pledged/vowed/promised that I'll never see him again, I saw him again and again and again. Every time I do so, I keep thinking about my ideas on never smoking again and yes, it makes me appreciate a cigarette even more.

There are a lot of things in this world that I think I'll still never do and maybe I'll break them in the future. Still, I've come to realize that people change and even if they do, they're not a bad person for doing so. Maybe my 15 year old self hates me right now for everything I've done but at least my present self can say that so far, I think I'm having a lot of adventures that makes life worthwhile.

Until my next,

Someone Anxious.