Happy first birthday, blog!

Exactly a year ago, I started this blog. How fast time flies.

A year ago, I was cooped up in my SMU workstation revising my thesis and pining over a broken heart in my black Janylin pumps that I resolved to wear for the first time in Singapore (since the pair is a Manila native).


I wanted to talk but didn't really want to. Hence, this virtual corner was born.

Have things changed?

Have I achieved my goals since I started this blog?

Have I attained a certain level of maturity from a year ago?

Anyway, a pleasant birthday to my solitary blog - a wailing wall, a quiet respite, in the midst of the hustle and bustle of internet traffic.

Feeling nostalgic

I miss my jogging path in Singapore - from Bukit Purmei to Henderson Waves and when I'm feeling more energetic, go past the Forest Walk, Alexandra Arch to Hort Park then Canopy Walk and finally end at Bukit Chandu.

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?Itemid=73&id=62&option=com_visitorsguide&task=attractions

Bukit Purmei Road

Henderson Waves

Henderson Waves bridge

Forest trail

Alexandra Arch

Hort Park

Hort Park jogging path

Canopy walk

Finale: Reflections at Bukit Chandu

The pictures are not mine. I just reposted them from the net. But the spots are that nice especially on a Sunday afternoon after a mid-afternoon rain. The feeling is nostalgic.

I have one more bonus. I discovered this garden, which I call my secret garden, when I first explored the Bukit Purmei-Henderson Waves-Hort Park route. It's formally called the Hilltop Walk. When I first went to this place, it was deserted. It was just me and another woman basking in solitude.

Hilltop Walk

Hilltop Walk: View from the top

   

Here's missing the red dot,

Diana

Almost there

It's positive thinking. I'm almost there. I am almost there. In no time, I will be there. I am there.

Toastmasters

Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty – they merely move it from their faces into their hearts. - Martin Buxbaum


Got this line from the ADB Toastmasters program this lunch time. I hope I get to be one among those some people who sincerely mature and grow deeper in their spiritual lives as they age. I hope I get to develop an eye for life's essentials, without getting distracted by people or things that are not aligned to my personal development.


I finally got myself to do an impromptu speech at today's Toastmaster's session! I did not volunteer. The Table Topics Master picked me to answer his question. It was a good thing that I was taken aback as I did not have time to panic. I answered using the Point-Reason-Example-Message framework and the evaluator thought I was confident in my speaking. I personally think though that I did not give a clear exposition of the topic. I just wish that I have a wider English vocabulary and a flair in using the language.


I also had another chance to be a Language Evaluator today where I used the word of the day: Milquetoast. I resolve not to be a milquetoast and stand firmly by my actions.


I realized that I should be grateful for being a part of this institution. No amount of money can match that lifestyle that I enjoy here. I get to do yoga at most three times a day (although I have only done 2x a day at most), five times a week. I have finally made myself part of Toastmasters (though not yet official as I haven't paid yet) - a personal goal since I was in Singapore. I hope to engage myself in one more activity soon. Thank you, Lord.

A little too much (Natasha Bedingfield)

Sometimes it hits like a car crash
And it's to late to reverse
Sometimes you make me a better person
Sometimes you bring out the worst 

Sometimes we get on like fire
Sometimes we're stubborn like rain
Just when I think it's over, over
You wave a white flag again

Aaa, aaa
We fall out and we fall back in
Aaa, aaa
We're always back where we begin

Everybody hurts just a little too much
Everybody hurts but it's never enough
It's wonderful to fall
Let's love and risk it all
I'd rather love just a little too much

Sometimes we're trapped in the circle
'Til we're digging holes in the ground
We're trying, but nothing is working
But still I want you around
'Cause if I'm lost in the desert
I know somehow you'll find me
And if I drown in the oceans,

You'll be the first to rescue me...

Everybody hurts just a little too much
Everybody hurts but it's never enough
It's wonderful to fall
Let's love and risk it all 

I'd rather love just a little too much
Woooooooah, woooooooah, woooooooah, woooooooah....

Everybody hurts just a little too much
Everybody hurts but it's never enough 

Aaa, aaa
We fall out and we fall back in
Aaa, aaa
We're always back where we begin

Everybody hurts just a little too much
Everybody hurts but it's never enough
It's wonderful to fall
Let's love and risk it all 

Even if it hurts just a little too much

I'd rather love just a little too much

It's good to be back

Had my first run since the operation at the Ateneo campus at Loyola Heights this sunny afternoon. What a great feeling to be able to do some of the things that I used to do 3-4 years back. As I was running, I can't help but sport a furtive smile on my face as I passed by familiar places in the campus. I suddenly missed my old days at the Ateneo - those times when I complained but, actually, basked at hell weeks, when I dreamed of meeting my boyfriend in college (that never happened), when I rushed to submit a paper before a deadline, those benches that were witnesses to conversations with remarkable people I met in school, the church choir whose songs just made me drop a tear at times, the sun's rays resting on the green Ateneo grounds, the fire trees that looked fantastic against the blue sky...

Thank you, Lord, for bringing me back to Ateneo this Sunday afternoon. This was actually the first time that I missed  and felt for my alma mater since I came back to Manila. When I first visited the campus, I thought I had an estranged feeling that I no longer connected with the place and that I needed to move on, look for a different job. I guess I am right with that but I shouldn't lose the connection. After all, some of my formative years happened there.

And did I tell you that it feels good to be running again? Whoa! I feel great!

Funny dream (well, at least to me)

Woke up in the middle of my sleep because of the howling winds outside and I wondered how come the rain has not subsided yet. It must be flooding outside or elsewhere. Hopefully not though.

Then I recalled my dream.

I was in a mass and I was supposed to be the only lector. After the procession, just when I was seated at the side of the altar already, I noticed that the book where I'm supposed to read the readings from is missing. Come my turn to read, I told the priest I don't have the book with me and I have to look for it. I approached Tchr. Nene (my hs prefect of discipline who was there) who scolded me, and eventually gave me the book to read. When I started reading before the churchgoers, I realized that my reading didn't make sense as the book was a poor translation of some other language, and it made use of both English and Filipino. So I told the people to excuse myself as I am going to look for a better reading material.

My dream ended as I was endlessly looking for the Bible readings in the internet and the priest becoming impatient with me.

I think I know what that dream meant..