Blogspot is the best

Sorry for the confusion but I switched back to Blogspot. Tumblr is great but I seriously have to learn HTML if I want to make any changes to my site.

My new blog Trip The Light Fantastic can now be found at http://trippingthelights.blogspot.com

Moving Blogs

I'm not quite sure exactly why, but I feel like it's time for more new things in my life, and this includes a new blog. I'm leaving Blogspot for Tumblr, which I think is cooler (although I have yet to figure out so many things about it! Like I think I need to actually learn HTML in order to put my picture. Demn.)

Thank you to all those who would read Juice and Pepper (whether intentionally or by accident). I hope to hear from you guys over at the new space. (I know, you'd think I was moving houses or something!)

To read more about my adventures and misadventures, I'll see ya OVER HERE!! :D

Of Planes and Paranoia

In the past month alone, I’ve ridden a record breaking 10 airplanes in total. That’s like getting on a flight every 3 days for one whole month. I mean, who does that but crazy executives who have to travel every week for meetings??

Considering I’ve been riding in planes my whole life, it seems quite silly to admit I’ve suddenly developed a slight, erm, shall we say apprehension when it comes to boarding these flying contraptions. Each time the plane shakes and the pilot announces the “slight turbulence we are experiencing”, my heart grips in fear and I find my fingers automatically crossing (which, in olden days, was a secret way of making the Sign of the Cross without being punished) while I start praying silently.

With the number of people who have passed away this 2009, no one can really blame me for being a walking case of nerves. It seems every month I am slapped with the reality that ANYTHING can happen and lives can tragically be taken away at the blink of an eye. Before I left for the States, my friend Eggy was murdered. Before that, 2 girls from my school died in fatal accidents, while high profile deaths of former Philippine President Cory Aquino and Michael Jackson shook the public’s lives.

Two days ago, the day I arrived from the US, my brother in law’s best friend died in his sleep. It was the first news I received as soon as I turned on my phone after disembarking the plane. Last night, I was at the wake where several of his friends and family members gave tear-jerking eulogies. Ardee was supposed to speak also but apparently didn’t have the strength to do it, having just arrived from a 10 hour flight and still obviously so distraught.

Most of my life I’ve found myself attending funerals of relatives of people I was never close to. People that my parents or friends knew that I was merely required to go to. But this year has been different. This year I’ve been going to the wakes of people I actually know. It’s entirely alien to me and frankly, scares the crap out of me. Suddenly, when my phone beeps or it’s late at nights and my sisters aren’t home yet or when someone close to me gets on a plane, I get nervous. Nervous for the things that might happen when we’re not together. Nervous for the bad and for the unknown.

It seems I am being reminded more than ever how fragile life can be and no one is spared from being the next person to cross over to the other side, and that includes myself. This realization, if anything is making me embrace life more than ever now and has pushed me closer to God. Because when it comes to life and death, who else can you really turn to for help and strength but Him?

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to ride yet another plane to Iloilo, where my best friend is getting married this weekend.

Home Sweet Home

Nothing like being back in my beloved Third World! After a month of sunny skies and perfect weather it was all too ironic to have landed back in reality with rain and traffic welcoming me at the airport. Nevertheless, I'm thrilled to be back in my own bed at last.

And now, it's time for the ultimate pampering session at home! Been dreaming of a massage and a mani/pedi for weeks now!

Drop-off points in Metro Manila!

After being hit with the worst flood in four decades, Metro Manila is slowly picking up the pieces thanks to the help of countless volunteers and donations from good souls. Let's all do our part in helping out our fellow countrymen! Click on the picture below to enlarge.

Cool Billboard

Here's something I bet my advertising friends would love to create on their own: a giant funky billboard with no brands and logos! Just pure art. I saw this in SoHo.

On Blog Leave

I'm here in fabulous New York right now! Don't expect a lot of blog posts because I've been quite busy going around. There's so much to see!! My feet are totally dying already. Wore my suede Zara boots for an entire afternoon once. I think that totally killed me and I'm still trying to recover. It doesn't help that I go to the gym in the morning and walk all day too. FOOT SPA, I WANT YOU!!!!!

I am having an incredible time though. I wish I could stay for a month...or forever! :P Once I get my pictures sorted out, I'll start posting! Cheerio for now!