Middle Life

Distant fireworks woke me at 2:28am. In my dazed state, I managed to turn on MTV channel to see what song I would first hear during this significant day. "So Far Away", remade by a local artist, just started playing. "So far away, doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore...", the first few lyrics went. Hmm... my predicament exactly. Is this a message for me? I wonder if I get an early opportunity to be closer to my family... Oh yeah, I fell asleep after. My celfone rang in her shrill Kill Bill theme at 5:45am, nudging me finally out of dreamland for a new day, a new year.

I arrived at Greenbelt chapel at 7:30am to hear mass. Bummer! I was late for service... and on this very day!

Already back home by 9am, I was relieved to have bought Go Nuts Donuts for my breakfast today. Hey! MTV's playing that song again... My friend Teena just informed me that we're still on for a little self-pampering at 1pm - a full body massage! Yaahhuuu!!! And Liezl and Rheea are coming along too! The more, the merrier! And hey, you're all going to help me cook later, ok?

It's 2:30pm. Ah, the good life! A quick foot spa, 15 minutes of sauna bath, then an hour of body massage. Wish I could have this often enough. Hmp! Well, maybe I can squeeze it in my budget every month? 2 months? Hmm...

Hey! It's 5pm already and I've still got some shopping to do for an all-girls get-together dinner at my place. It's not going to take 1 hour to buy a few groceries, is it?

Yeah, right. It's almost 6:30pm when my friends (well, my 'cooks' are more like it) and I arrived to prepare dinner. Uhm, sorry guys, but the massage lost all our awareness of time. But I'm sure we can whip something up in just 30 minutes. Promise!

And my 'cooks' did their thing! Impressive, indeed. 10 more minutes and Teena's dish will be done! Uh-oh, the gas just ran out. @*&%$#$%*!!!

By 8:30pm... Yum yum yum... Do the dishes really taste good or are we just hungry?? ...Yum yummy!

Ah, finally. The kitchen's in tiptop shape again. 10pm, what a night! Wish I had a beer though... Hey, where'd that remaining cooking wine go? :-) hehe

And, what a wine! I didn't know this wine can keep you up till 4:30 in the morning!

What a way to start mid-life. I just turned 36 years old yesterday. Hope the rest of the years are as colorful as how the first day turned out. Happy years ahead!

... I needed to know the complete lyrics of that song ...

SO FAR AWAY by Carole King

So far away, doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn't help to know you're just time away

Long ago I reached for you and there you stood
Holding you again could only do me good
How I wish I could, but you're so far away

One more song about movin' along the highway
Can't say much of anything that's new
If I coild only work this life out my way
I'd rather spend in bein' close to you.

But you're so far away, doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore
It would be so fine to see your face at my door
Doesn't help to know you're so far away

My Bangkok

A week ago, I was on my way to Bangkok for Thailand Open 2007. The event promised a showcase of the top tennis players in world and I was so excited to be a part of it all. I took the bait- hook, line and sinker- even though I cannot even call myself an amateur player. I expected so much but I felt I was cheated out of something I was entitled to. Huhuhuhuhu..... Life certainly has an insane, and quite costly, way of showing you her lessons, doesn't she? It's not fair!!!

1. Expect the unexpected.

- Two, Rafa and Andy R., of my most favorite players to watch during the Open pulled out from the tournament. Bad luck, good luck, who knows? Verdasco and Becker were good to watch, though and they were a nice consolation.

2. Travel with somebody you're in sync with, else travel alone.

- I don't really know much about MeeMee, my companion. But he's a tennis player in the Manila arena and I thought his excitement would equal mine during the games. I thought wrong. Seems like he was just watching live tennis on TV!!! What a total bummer.

- During our preparations for the trip, MeeMee was as diligent as could be expected of an excited traveller: have we got reservation for air and tournament tickets? about hotel accommodations? places to go after the games? etc... his questions were irritating at times when he'd catch me during my toxic moments at work but I felt I should be patient and understanding with a first-time tourist. I even psyched myself that I should lessen my adventurous side because I thought MeeMee was quite a planning freak with his daily calls. Ha! Little did I know that these calls were a facade for his indecision. At crunch time, I was not able to rely on him to make responsible choices for our safety. Double bummer.

- MeeMee, my nickname for him, defines the things we always talk about. Him, and him, and him. Triple bummer. Come to think of it, all the things he bought in Bangkok were for himself! Oh yeah, he did manage to buy a couple of pillowcase sets for his mom and girlfriend after 10 minutes of convincing.

- Two days of watching games, and I thought we were ready to do a little sightseeing on the 3rd day. "Yes! It would be good to sleep for a whole morning after watching those games, don' t you think?", he asked me. Huh??? I did not come to Thailand just to sleep away the day!

- The majesty of the Grand Palace was really stunning for me, as a non-Buddhist. Even though it was quite hot, but the artful paintings and buildings were quite mersmerizing. "Hey! Let's take a picture... Where is he???" ...and I find him waiting for me on the shade, not even looking at the paintings on the wall where most tourist were watching with apparent interest. Should I say more? Nah, I better stop. I'm getting myself worked up in an angry fit again, thinking back...

- I was at my happiest when we decided to part ways and just meet at the hotel. It was really a lot better wandering IT City and Siam alone.

My travel to Bangkok would have turned out a lot better if I'd had better company. I truly cannot say I was good company for him too, given the fact that I'd given in to many angry moments. We didn't have the qualities to mesh well for this trip. I've been to many places in my home country; I've been to two other countries, too; and, I've been into many unplanned adventures with other people. But this was a first that I've been very disappointed. It proved to be quite costly too. Experience is the best teacher, no? What more can I do.