Rollercoaster Ride

Planning events as a profession gives me lots of lessons ,including this:

Don’t expect to get to catch up or chit-chat with the hostess, organizer or honoree.

If the event was organized by you or for you, you won’t get to have any bonding time with anyone. But your guests will–to each other. (You might not even see them or notice that they came.)  So sometimes, it’s great when it’s not your event. You can actually talk to people. Or choose not to attend at all.

Today, I saw what a suicide note could contain because I actually saw one(copy only).

And although I  don’t know the people, I am affected by these tragic things.So I realize I personally cannot deal with anything very serious for a job. I cannot be a doctor, a lawyer, a police officer or a social worker. (That’s why I’m in PR which still helps other people anyway.;> )

I really don’t understand why people would even think of killing themselves. Why people would resort to that. (It should not even be the last resort. It shouldn’t even be an option.) If your job is killing you, don’t actually kill yourself. If your life is a living hell, do you want to be there in your death too? Do not let the people wo are harassing you or abusing you or teasing you get the better of you. If you kill yourself, you let them win. If you run away, you win.

What also boggles my mind is how could there not have been any one, any soul who intervened, who lent a hand, who showed concern, who took the time - to talk to these people and talk them out of their demons. How could there not be a friend or a family member who checks in, who expresses thanks…or longing or hope.

How could these people not find anything to live for? From things as deep as God, faith, family, love, fear of death, to things as shallow as a favorite TV show, a great sight, a good snack or a crush?

It’s ridiculous that people who kill themselves do not believe in God; do not believe in life after death; do not believe in heaven or hell, or purgatory; do not believe in the fifth commandment; have no respect for their one life, or the people who love them.

I don’t understand how people of 23, of 58, or 15  years can feel that they’ve reached the end of the line. To die by natural cause or accident is sad enough. But to actually die by choice is the saddest thing in the world.

"I might be boring you…"

"…I’m actually fascinated."

It’s amazing what people can do for you if they like you.

It’s equally amazing what you can do for people if you like them.

It’s been a while since I was last flabbergasted. It’s when something  unbelievable, almost impossible, actually happens to you…when what was once surreal, becomes reality.

I’m going to Chicago next week to see Oprah. It just reminds me how amazing it is that some people could be so generous with their contributions and connections. I always say, that more than anything financial, the best thing one can give another is access. Because we are surely more connected to some persons more than others are. Because no matter how rich or famous one is, we can still help. Because what is a daily occurence for one, could mean a dream for another. What could take a minute of our time, could mean a lifetime for another. What could be just a  few words to begin with, could mean  happy endings for another.

So, many many thanks to a dear friend and a friend of a friend, or a fan of a friend, or a friend of a fan.

Sometimes, you don’t even dream about them. They just come true. With a little help from your friends.

Okay this is the other side of the spectrum, and for me the least positive blog I have because it actually acknowledges my pet peeves which are not really my style to share. I don’t hate these things, I just don’t like them. And I guess this is also because of the way I was brought up. Growing up, my dad and sister taught me not to say certain words.  So for what it’s worth, here is the list of the least:

1. People who intentionally misspell the way words are spelled.Like eniwei, gud and teyk. Webster has already given words their spelling, and we’ve accepted those for the past 100 years. Why are we wasting our time thinking of new ways to spell things? On text message it’s a bit more acceptable. But on email?  I mean it’s hard enough for some people to spell words the way they are to be spelled. I actually knew a 21-yr old guy who spelled tommorrow, Consolate and Wensday that way.

2. People who refer to the Philippines as PI. If we want to refer to our country in two letters, it better be RP as in Republic of the Philippines, not Philippine Islands which was used in the time of the Spanish colonization i.e. 19th century.

3. In messages, referring to compatriots as kabababayans (with an s). To make a Tagalog word  plural, add ‘mga’.To make an English word plural, add ’s’.

4. People who still call going to the bathroom ‘jingle’. Yikes!

5. People who wet their fringers when reading newspapers and getting papers. Yuck! As if they can’t turn the page without licking their finger first. C’mon, would you rather have salivated edges of your magazine?

6. People who think all the world is against them or is out to get them.

Note: There was actually a NYTimes article about someone who hates the misuse of Apostrophes (’) so much. As in picture’s, shes, etc. He had a a whole club or campaign that corrected any error themselves or advised businesses about the wrongdoing. Only 1 out of 10 businesses made the adjustment.

More to come as I notice other nitty gritties.This is just a topic and I know I make mistakes too

I love New York: the magazine.  If my book has ‘a finger on the pulse of New Yorkers,’ New York magazine has a hand on our hearts and minds. TimeOut is all about the things to do out, while New York is about the themes we think about. TimeOut is about the surface-where to go, what to eat, when to shop. New York goes deeper into the issues common to New Yorkers. Like a good blog, I devour every issue of New York and love how it’s written. It has better covers too. It got me subscribing.

I don’t usually rave about products. I prefer to rave about people as much as I prefer to work not for products, but for people. But the following products are obviously backed up by people who actually care, I can’t help but to love them back.

1. British Airways.

I seriously didn’t want the plane to land. I truly enjoyed the hundreds of movie and music options in my own personal space. The Business Class was impressive too - with the comfiest  ‘Z’-form sleep position: the form the body takes when floating in space and in water. (Just tried it at their launch party last week)

2. GenArt. The best and most fun upscale event organizer in the US, which showcases emerging talent in films, fashion and art. Always great parties. Free booze, sightings, foods and goodies.

3. ‘Tales from the Times: Real-Life Stories to make you think, wonder and smile from the pages of the New York Times’(edited by Lisa Belkin). Every feature held my interest, expanded my knowldge and literally sent chills to my skin.

4. Papa John’s. Better Ingredients. Better Pizza. Probably better people too.

5. ProActiv Solutions. Never needed a visit to the derma again. Yahoo!

6. Cafe Habana. Corns: So that’s the reason why that Nolita corner  was always full of pretty people: Natalie Portman included. Great Cuban-Mexican food, and reasonable prices too!

7. Museum of the City of New York. Where I officially learn about the city in the big city. ‘Free’ (suggested) admission too!

The list will go on as I am exceptionally pleased by products.

**

If I were to endorse people, I would such good-natured men (Junji Morales, Anthony Villacorta, Tony Lambino and John Paul Su); and level-headed women (Mae Ermita,Liz Casasola and Vanesa Soto.)

The list will go on as I am exceptionally impressed with people.

-CV

In a city where most people live alone, walk alone and eat alone, many of the conversations you have are with yourself. With the threat of being approached or talked to in public, you wear your ipod and sit, walk or sing like you’re in your own world. It’s hard enough to make conversation with a total stranger, even more discouraging to bother him when he’s conversing with Jay-Z.

To the point that talking to oneself is considered weird when wintessed in other people, but when catch yourself doing the same you can’t think you strange. Sometimes you even excuse yourself for thinking out loud.

But, the thing is, many of our conversations are with ourselves. And if we go to the stream, rather  falls, of consciouness of our daily lives, with a few variations,  I think it goes a little something like this:

6:45  ***What times it? oops, late again…***

7:05 *** Just five more minutes ***

7:20 *** Really gotta get up…Ugh I hate work/school ***

7:21  ***Clean self up***

7:40 **What shall I wear today? Am I meeting anyone special? Do I have an event? ***

8:00 **Grab the bag and the coat. Lock doors.**

8:10 **At station, gosh ang aga, aga ang init ng ulo nito!**

8:20 **On train, Ipod or read Metro?**

9:00 **Yay! On time!**

9:05 **How was your weekend pleasantries**

9:15 **Check inboxes, paper and email**

9:30 **Action action action,, with a few thoughts about co-workers, boss, friends **

**How do I look**

**How much or how little did I eat**

**Gotta study/do that homework**

**Girlfriend/Boyfriend; Family**

**What else do I have to do**

12:00 ***What shall I do on my lunch break? Eat or errands? What am I eating? Is that healthy? Oh I’ll do yoga later.***

1:00 - 5:00 **Work work work**

**How do I look**

**How much or how little did I eat**

**Gotta study/do that homework**

**I wonder how my Girlfriend/Boyfriend; Family are doing***

**What else do I have to do**

5:01 ***Outta work for social and personal obligations***OR Still working for that client.What am I still doing here?***

6:00 ***Strutting it out at the gym***

8:00 ***Dinner with friends/ or straight home to your art/hobby/bed***

12mn  ***Watch TV or Sleep-finally!***