lucky me!

"with all that i've done wrong, i must've done something right"

- from the song butterfly kisses* by bob carlisle

1. got sent to india last may for work-related training. and got to visit taj mahal. (my own set of photos still yet to be uploaded, though! linking you to robbie and pamy's first...)

2. received two cool job offers: bayan-anihan and philippine center for entrepreneurship. 

3. am a GRIP alumni -- with full access to all parties. haha! thanks, guys. :D

4. met these strong and fun climbers in yangshuo, who turned out to be sponsored athletes. one was also a photographer, who took my photo and was able to use it for PATAGONIA!!!! (i'm the one in red beside the butterfly!!!! i was so psyched when i found out about this!)

6. given a slot for an upcoming event by the chinese mountaineering association. i'll be off to huguan province, china on Thursday!

7. know a reliable travel agent. rina is the best!!!

8. have a mom who founded chocolate kiss. she went on a vacation over the weekend, so last Friday, i had to receive -- on her behalf, along with Minette our UP branch manager -- an award given by the QC government for being part of the Top Ten Restaurant Trendsetters in Quezon City. this was one of the activities in the QC-na event. grabe, sobrang nakakataba ng puso!!!

9. loved by loula, our family golden retriever. kahit na hindi ako ang pack leader ;) 

10. take part in a beautiful, meaningful wedding. congratulations to my friends nina and yuklid :-) super happy for you guys.

there are more, but if i list them all, this will never end!!! :-D

*super sappy song, but this particular line struck me and has always been tucked away in my mind...

Update - 26 Aug: Photos! Credits: #1 - Robbie's Facebook; #4 - Patagonia website; #10 - Jayjay Lucas

Update - 5 Sept: Photos to China climbing event are up!

hope floats

the title isn't all that fitting, but the movie title just popped into my head. it's really a general feeling of optimism that's kicking in, and the word HOPE was the first thing that came into mind. 

after a climbing / bouldering / stretching-slash-yoga session at TS, i was doing my usual arm-circling exercise to find that i wasn't feeling any pain in my left shoulder. it just sent a huge grin to my face and i couldn't help but jump (two times!!!!) in delight!!! hooray!!!! i'm sure it's not yet in 100% great shape, but it's a progression, right?!? i'm totally keeping my fingers and toes crossed that my rehabilitative approach is working....climbing light, static, making sure that my left shoulder gets a mild burnt feeling after each session (to make sure it got a fair share of work out), do some therapy exercises if the warm feeling isn't there, stretch before and after climbing, get enough rest.....it's probably been about four weeks of doing this already....so i'm hoping it's actually taking effect!!!!

then later on, while sitting on the toilet (sa bahay na 'to ha, hindi na sa TS!), i caught sight of my toes, all dried and calloused. of course, i ended up peeling the whites off, and smiled in all insane-solitary-glory for being so perked up by dry skin on my unwashed feet. 

there is more to come :)

*Photo courtesy of Mikey Schafer