Ugh...

I'm so out of shape.  Two months on tour, and no time at the gym.  I busted out one of my workout DVDs, and could only finish HALF OF IT!!! Granted it's the Insanity workout, one that's guaranteed to make even the toughest cookie cry, but still.  I don't like doing anything halfway.

That's what happens when you eat your body weight in food more than you should.  Ugh.

I recently saw old pictures of myself (taken at age 28 or so), and couldn't believe it.  And believe it or not, I thought I was overweight at the time.  Objectively speaking though, I was in fighting shape, thanks to TaeBo everyday and performing in Miss Saigon 6 times a week.  More recently, while in Les Miz, I kept my weight down by walking to work daily and not eating too much because of having to sing in that goshdarned corset.

Life... that's what happened... and it manifested itself in my hips.

Again, ugh.

I really shouldn't be so down on myself... after all, a fitness program can always be restarted, regardless of how much time was spent away from it.  Thankfully there is a lot of incentive: plenty of opportunities in New York next year, and a return to musical theater (in a few of its many incarnations).  That should help me keep my eyes on the prize.

Motivation... must keep focused...

Late night thoughts...

- It's great having my little one all to myself without anyone to share her with for a few days...

- After the recent revelations of a close family member, I am absolutely incredibly grateful for how protective my mother was of me.  Given all that I've just been told, I'm surprised she wasn't even MORE protective!  Yes, I resented it at the time, but it all makes sense now.  Thanks, Mom.

- As long as there's Family Guy, King of the Hill, Robot Chicken, Metalocalypse, Looney Tunes, Scooby Doo, and just about every 70s cartoon known to man, there will always be something good on TV.

- Singing is heaven.

- Doing musical theater is heaven.

- I miss my friends from home.

Late night thoughts...

Isn't it weird that there are people who are such a huge part of your life one minute, and then absolutely nothing the next?

Anything with peanut butter is heaven to me.

Knowing what it's like to be completely silent for long periods of time, I've found there's really no reason to speak unless you have something really important to say.  Otherwise, it's just noise.

Family Guy reruns will never get old.  Ever.

New York has the best Chinese take-out anywhere.

Glee means happiness.  It really does.

DONATIONS FOR VICTIMS OF TYPHOON ONDOY

LOCATION BREAKDOWN FOR VOLUNTEERS AND DONATIONS FOR VICTIMS OF TYPHOON ONDOY. - collated by bianca gonzales - yabang pinoy advocate :) MARAMING SALAMAT bianca !!!

QUEZON CITY.

- go to ateneo de manila university, katipunan avenue, and proceed to the college covered courts to volunteer. shifts are in three hour cycles. you can go as early as 6AM but it goes on the whole day.

- please bring packed/cooked food to 12 Denmark, Loyola Grand Villas, QC, and help @patriciahizon whose group was the only one helping the victims in tumana today.

- TULONG BAYAN, to volunteer, just go to Balay Expo Center in Cubao, Edsa cor McArthur, 8AM onwards. contact (02) 9137122 and look for Mary, May or Cam

- donations accepted in MIRIAM COLLEGE insa office.

- donations also accepted in UP DILIMAN student council office at vinzons hall.

- for the GMA Kapuso Foundation, you can drop your donations at Samar St. cor GMA Network drive, QC. Behind GMA complex. Beside Malayan Bank. Tel # 9284299, 9289351, 9827777.

- for those who want to volunteer for sagip kapamilya: call 4132667/4160387, or go to #13 examiner st., west triangle, QC

- the other address for sagip kapamilya is sct. bayoran corner tomas morato. look for Girlie Aragon or Jet at 0916-7227806 or 0929-5348176

- this is the REAL SAGIP KAPAMILYA ACCOUNT for your donations: banco de oro #56 300 20111 under abs-cbn foundation. to all those spreading fake accounts, please naman..


MANILA:

- DLSU along taft avenue will be accepting any and all kinds of donations starting 830AM.

- csb alumni also accepting donations at 9/f dls-csb school of design and arts building, along pablo ocampo street, vito cruz.

- UST is also accepting your donations, proceed to the Tan Yan Kee Student Center.

- donations can be dropped off at victory church in malate, call 5221212 or visit the victory website.


PASIG:

- MEGATENT, Meralco Ave, Ortigas beside Renaissance: need more volunteers and donations! Very big space! Open 24 hrs til Friday!

- according to @margaga, poveda school (beside galleria) opens 9AM tomorrow and is open to all volunteers and any kind of donations.

- according to @angel21kawaii, CFC Center in Ortigas is receiving donations in cash or in kind. Call (02)7270682-87 or 09195359036.

- donations can be dropped off at victory church in ortigas, contact 6311212 or visit the victory website.


MANDALUYONG:

- GAWAD KALINGA is accepting volunteers and donations, base is RFM gym in pioneer. Contact Raul Dizon 09178888109 and Felice Caringal 09178888304.


MAKATI:

- White Space in Pasong Tamo ext. / Chino Roces is in need of volunteers to pack goods

- you can drop of your donations at Assumption College, San Lorenzo Village, Makati

- you can drop off your donations at the following stores in rockwell powerplant mall: aranaz, luca, greyone social.


TAGUIG or FORT area:

- donations can be dropped off at victory church in the fort, you can call 8171212 or visit the victory website.

- you can drop off your donations in embassy superclub in the fort.


PASAY:

- @elizabacud shares that Manila Doctors College will also be accepting donations. Bring anything that can help at Speech Lab., Macapagal Blvd, PasayCity


SAN JUAN:

- La Salle Greenhills, Xavier School, and ICA (right beside Xavier) are also accepting donations. Xavier will be accepting goods till 12midnight.


FAIRVIEW area:

- Help needed in Fairview and Novaliches. Please send clothes, food, water, meds & blankets to the Divine Savior Parish in North Fairview.


SOUTH (alabang, las pinas, paranaque):

- drop donations or volunteer at DE LA SALLE ZOBEL. Contact Ms. Angie Brazan at the Social Action Office 0917-8597602

- you can drop donations at the ATC concierge, call 8422782 or 7721860

- san beda alabang in alabang hills village is also accepting donations

- you can help pack donations 10AM at st. james church, ayala alabang village

- you may volunteer at Red Cross Alabang - ATC along Zapote Road fronting National Bookstore call 8097131 for info

- CFC center in Las Pinas City is accepting donations. it is near Verdant and in front of the construction of SM Center Las Pinas. Contact 09174493154 / 8460809


BAGUIO:

- donations can be dropped off at the ABSCBN Baguio Office

- donations are also accepted at the Baguio Convention Center Executive Room from 10am til 4pm starting tomorrow til Friday. Volunteers are urged to come.

- Organizing a soup kitchen. Baguio donating vegetables to arrive via Victory Liner. Contact Dave at 09178396179.


BULACAN:

- RedCross bulacan accepts donations. It is located in Malolos Bulacan, near bulacan capitol :)


CAGAYAN:

- send your donations to the kkp office in xavier university, ATENEO DE CAGAYAN.


CAVITE:

- DLSU-Dasmarinas is also accepting donations, pls proceed to the 2nd floor of SBC Building


BATANGAS:

- DE LA SALLE LIPA is now accepting your donations, drop off point is at the college lobby.


CEBU:

- details on how you can donate are on noelle's blog or the living for a cause blog.


BACOLOD:

- For your donations, drop off center is at the Coliseum in the University of St. La Salle. 435-3857

- CAFE BREIZH wil be a drop off center for donations. text 09193651101 for details.


DAVAO:

- ATENEO DE DAVAO is accepting in kind donations for ondoy. drop off at the samahan office in jacinto campus.

- BANTAY BATA 163 davao located at matina,davao city is also a drop off point for any in-kind donations.


ZAMBOANGA:

- ATENEO DE ZAMBOANGA is accepting donations. You may bring them to the SACSI office. Look for Alma Curesma, 991-0871, loc 2224 or 2225.


for PETS in need of aid:

- @kimmydeleon is announcing that PARC is open for animals. Click this site for info of PAWS for helping from the flood. for the official website of paws, click here


for those in SINGAPORE:

- pinoys are mobilizing and gathering donations, visit this forum for more details.


for those in SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA:

- you can deliver relief goods to 303/5 Stromboli Strait, Homebush Bay 2127. you can also contact through twitter at @allorange if you want to arrange for a pick up in the city


for those in TORONTO, CANADA:

- pinoys in toronto are spearheading efforts to help, visit this website for details.


for anyone in the UNITED STATES:

- visit the abs-cbn foundation website for details.

- you can also call 1-800-5272820


for anyone else ABROAD who wants to help:

- you can donate through the paypal (https://www.paypal.com/ph/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_flow&SESSION=FWCfk0xCV_5FeCgPx4tFy9rqz7JcbU5rHYHHEyf1x6QcJ3gXA82iZXS9PMG&dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1fca8cb0621aa94a5fc157eca86dc6e6adbec4b69650d8a3ec).

- the ayala foundation is also accepting your donations through their website.

- you can donate through the kapuso foundation site.

- you can use your credit card to donate via the the abs-cbn foundation.

- donate rice through the UN's World Food Programme through their official website.


OTHER FORMS OF HELP FOR YOU:

PAL IS OFFERING FREE AIRLIFT FOR DONATIONS. for details, click on the pal website.

TO REPORT MISSING LOVED ONES OR AREAS IN NEED OF HELP: call the SAGIP KAPAMILYA HOTLINES at 4110011, 4110012, 4110013.

HOTLINES FOR MISSING PERSONS:
marikina - 09209389914
qc - 09216555262
pasig - 09189356318
cainta - 09175606241.

DATABASE OF ONDOY VICTIMS AND EVACUATION CENTERS: click on the ateneotaskforceondoy website.

FOR CAR TOWING NEEDS: HONDA and NISSAN offer free towing! call 09228504452, 09224452242, and 09228997959.

DONATIONS ON WHEELS!! if you have donations to give but no means to transport, contact 09189791229, 09177974098, 09326991794. don't worry guys, this is not a scam! it's by friends of @jiggycruz!

Hi there... it sure has been a while...

I know, I know... it's been a very long while since I actually posted on my blog... 

Life has been busy, what with raising a very active 3-year-old girl (who has one hell of an active imagination), being a housewife taking care of a home and husband (which can and does include late night allergy interventions), working, traveling, and making sure I have some time for myself.  Well, it turns out that tonight, everything is quiet and settled, which give me blog time.

Now, what shall I blog about that I wouldn't already talk about in Backstory?

First... lots of work related stuff going on that I can't quite talk about yet... until the dotted lines are signed, I have to keep them to myself... but yes, it's all exciting!

Second... there are a few modifications I'll need to make to my house.  No, nothing of the aesthetic sort... the thing is, the water quality where I live has caused a few health-related issues with my family, so upon the recommendation of our neighbors across the street, I called someone that can hopefully help us fix the problem.  I'll let you all know how that turns out.  If all goes well, we'll all reap the benefits.  Man, the skin issues my daughter had was driving us all crazy!  Was it something she ate?  Was it the laundry soap?  Nope, our pediatrician said that a lot of the kids in the area were suffering from the same thing caused by the water supply.  Don't even ask me what it's called, I can't even pronounce it much less remember it.

Third, I've been racking up some serious frequent flyer miles, mostly for work.  I'm not complaining!  It's actually been a lot of fun visiting all these new cities that I've never been to, or have visited by never performed in.  I've gotten to see friends that I haven't seen in a long time, which is always a great perk.  And yes, I get to drive my car!!!

Yes, life has been sweet, and I feel incredibly blessed.  So far, 2009 has been a very good year.  It's half over, and going by quickly... I'm hoping that the rest of the year goes smoothly, too. 

My Favorite Quote from President Barack Obama's Inaugural Speech

"To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

UPDATE on the Valley Golf Incident

This intro has been edited to reflect current events...

After investigation, the elder Dela Paz was judged to have instigated the fight at the Valley Golf Course, and was expelled from the golf club for disorderly conduct.  Meanwhile, Sec. Pangandaman was suspended for two years, and his sons banned for life from ever entering Valley Golf Club.

Amazing how a very emotional posting can sway public opinion... and how important it is to get all the facts first before handing down judgment.  Turns out the victim wasn't such a victim after all.

Now that this matter has been put to bed, we can all focus on other, more important things...