Taking a Break... (1)

After that horrendous experience last weekend (over 60 SMS messages in a span of two days on several issues and a total equivalent of over 15 hours of unscheduled weekend work) , I'm glad to have been able to get a break today to kill off all that accumulated work related stress that's been piling up for months and months. Ten in the morning, and I'm already lounging at the local library writing up this post and just being laid back about it all.

In fact, the break started out pretty much last night when I finished off a couple of minor things at the office and left for a well deserved perk - gym, of course. You should've guessed it by now. Its the only consistent thing that's regularly plastered in this blog. Not that I'm particularly euphoric about the class I'm about to take, but I did have a straight 36 hour waking time over the weekend, coupled with a first time training first thing Saturday morning for my upcoming marathon event (this Sunday) which likely caused internal bleeding on both left and right shins - yes, that's my imagination talking - and completed 2 gym classes. And then the nightmare began. But then, that's not the point of this post. The point is about having the lack of sleep, thus having me pick out this particular earlier Monday gym class, over another that starts at 20:40 .... Its quite too late for me... I'm afraid I will fall over my face if I attempted that, despite the fact that I liked the latter class' instructor far more than the one I was going to attend now.

The class was ok, but I had a nice talk with Hiro afterwards and on the way back to home. That's pretty much the extent of my social interaction for today. Better than being the loner hermit that doesn't have any human contact.

Of which afterwards, coming back from the gym, I gobbled on some quick dinner... and started watching Prison Break. Until 3am. While downing down several packets of Nestle Crunch and black glutinous rice sweet dessert soup.

So much for that little trivia earlier with Hiro mentioning 10pm to 2am being the optimal time for resting and sleeping. He said man can live by sleeping at this 4 hour window with optimal rest. And hopefully also getting rid of the acne that sporadically pops everywhere on my face these days.

After that, I started today with some bread, a quick passby the office to check on any urgent issues, and a long lounge at the Kosmo smoothie bar at LKF while reading up on Men's Fitness and Vogue, and just taking my sweet time - while drinking that ultra-constant favorite, a Popular (that's equivalent to Large size) Rush consisting of pineapple, yogurt and banana.

Eventually 10am brought me up to pass by the office to grab a much anticipated subsidized bite - condensed milk, honey and peanut butter on whole wheat toast. As you can see, I've been constantly eating since last night. The wonders of going to the gym for an average of 10 times a week. I barely have to think about what I eat. How cool. But I do admit I am starting to grow a paunch... gym is ok, but I haven't been lifting weights at all. Its weights that keep my weight down, not the aerobics classes, actually.

So.. library now. After this post, hoping to hit the books and magazines. And hopefully I can start reviewing that "life objective" that I've been leaving out and neglecting for so long - something that I've learned to do after reading Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. It's really quite useful actually. It needs some mass updating after 6 months of neglect, which I figured, is actually a good thing. That means that I've changed much since my last evaluation to admit that my life's objectives need some realigning and revamping.

After this, I'm going to the gym to get back what I missed last Sunday ... a really deserved spinning session. And maybe watch Borat and Going Home at the cinema across the gym branch. I have a pretty good feeling that is going to be a great day.

Camut Band (Its Not Something You Want To Miss)

Truth to tell, I had no idea what I was going into when I bought tickets for this show to be performed at the Central Hong Kong City Hall. All I knew is that I live on music, I like rhythm, I love moving my feet to the beat (my gym progresses can attest to that) and I love jumping and spinning round and round. Take the fact that was Itaking jazz dancing at the time that the ads for this show came out, and I was in a full fledged adrenaline rush for dancing and performing, I quickly picked out this show along side a fully orchestra supported ballet performance and a dark play directed by Tim Robbins to satisfy my energetic whims.

I was ready to fall asleep before the show - having worked full day straight, and missing out on ALL my Sunday gym classes due to this, and add the fact that I have been awake since 7am in the morning on Saturday - I was really ready to fall flat on my face and snore the show away.

Boy, was I wrong.

The show was awesome. There's probably not enough adjectives in my vocabulary to express my enthusiasm and excitement after watching the show, but allow me to take my best shot:

Four sensational tap dancers, two impressive percussionists, a lot of rhythm, spinning, humor, audience interaction and a whole new world to behold after seeing what the medium of tap dancing and percussion drumming can express, compressed in a roughly two hour show.

Using the feet to create the beat? Check.
Tap dancing for the Blues? Check.
Rap themed dance step to the medium of sand in a box? Check.
Flamenco oriented groove? Check.
Chanting in an a capella type presentation with humor and acting? Check.
High speed tapping faster than you can say Flash? Check.
Lively audience participation? Check.
Lots of spinning, twisting, tapping, jumping and flying? Check, check, check, check and check!

Totally well worth paid ticket to a show I'm glad I did not miss.. its amazing to see dancers who makes music out of nothing, the stomp and slide to beat to their feet and moving in a fluid like, spunky smooth grace that will leave your eyes glued to the stage and your hands clapping. The best of all? Its not a snobbish, only for the higher classes show. Even better, its best show for both adults and kids to enjoy - whether you like music or not. Cool.

Would've begged for more. SoooOOOoo well worth it.

Catch their website at www.camutband.com

Gym Progress 23

Chinese new year. Nice choreography from Steve, too bad I missed it. Lots of pai nin to relatives so can only make it to one for Monday.

Thursday? Feet's killing me. Still couldn't figure out why. Didnt trip or anything. Friday feet's still killing me.

Mon (IHL): Bibi
Tue (ISM): Stanley
Thu (ASM): Bibi,Bibi
Fri (IHL, ASM): Bibi, Bibi
Sat (ISM, ISM): Calvin, Steve
Sun (XXXX): Can you believe it? None!

Hako Iri Musume

NOTE: There's a bit of psychobabble and rant here, so feel free to skip. Actually, I think the length of the post itself might have turned you off already.

Literally translated as "Daughter in a box" in Japanese, this term refers to daughters who are sheltered and protected by the family to the point of being "in a box".

Something I learned from Hiro - the super japanese gym guy - on our way to our destinations after today's class - him to the CB class which I wanted to join if I really had the time, but I had to do some "relative visits" customary for the Chinese New Year. I go tomorrow to that class (with the same instructor) instead. For me, my destination was back home, to pick up my nephew and visit some more relatives.

After the conversation, he went off to his merry way. It wasn't actually a big deal when I first heard the phrase from him, but after he went off and I was left to my own personal world again... it started nudging back inside my head. It was like those little viruses that sneak into your body and you start feeling slightly uncomfortable. Then you start getting a bit of sniffles, then your throat starts getting dry, and you start coughing really bad. Likewise, the phrase snuck up and got stuck in my mind. Worse, it bothered me and kept repeating inside my head. It kept on repeating and repeating. It was definitely bad news.

I kept on thinking: It was an unfair phrase. Knowing that such a term exists in another language, was a revelation that was interesting, but also suffocating and quite depressing.

For a quick overview, Hako refers to "box". For the japanese word itself, I've always associated and imagine a plain carton brown box... not a big one, but a small one that is simple in design and appearance, which opens at the top, much like those little boxes used for gift wrapping and holding luxury items. Iri - not being a japanese expert, but I was told it was a verbial form that means "to be placed inside". Musume refers to "daughter".

As a child I've always hated being a daughter. I hated being female, I hated being the only girl, and I hated being the youngest. I've also hated the position I've always been placed. I've never been allowed the freedom to commute-bus, taxi, train or otherwise. If I needed something I had to have one of my brothers with me. On school excursions I would be chaperoned by one of my brothers - I would be the only one in my whole class who would have a brother tag along to beach excursions .... at 16. That's a preposterous age to be chaperoned. And trust me, also quite embarrassing. How can you enjoy with your friends when one of your brothers is within a 10 feet radius from you - and he's probably not liking the experience either. Who would want to babysit their little sister ALL the time.

Worse, even at an age as early as 8, I've already written a birthday card for my eldest brother, explaining my "gratitude" and my "apologies" for the times he had to pick me up and drive to school when he was still in his college days. At 8. After reading and rereading, and in my embarrassment, I did not give it to him. I just greeted him a Happy Birthday. The last time, when I was already working, I came home to the Philippines and was cleaning up my room, I saw the same card in my scrawny handwriting. It was still there, after all these years. And its still there now.

When I think about it right now, its not fair for an 8 year old to be sorry for herself, and others, just because her family thinks she needs to be protected and taken care like a porcelain doll.

I never wanted to be a bother to anyone... I loved anonymity. I wanted freedom. I wanted expression. At the age of 20, I don't want anyone to be forced to change their schedules so that they can pick me up at school everyday. I couldn't go to extra curricular activities because no one had the time to drive me or pick me up after school. I sacrificed joining the glee club because of that. I wanted to have friends to hang out with after school.. but I couldn't because I also had to compromise with my brothers - they can't pick me up late. I can't go to bars, I can't eat out late, I can't drink, I can't party, I can't hang out.

It can also be a bit stifling when it comes to exercising your decision muscles. I've always resorted to "I can't, its too late" or "my parents won't like it". When I have a boyfriend, they don't really trust my decision. They would say that they do not believe my boyfriend would protect me in case anything really bad happens. They wouldn't react and think to my best interests. "Only family can do that," they say.

I do not blame my family, but I wish I could've done something better. But then, at the age of 8, how much thoughts can and should you think, and how many decisions can you make that can be life altering? The phrase is a depressing idiom, and in some sense, I'm not much surprised a term such as this exists outside the Chinese language. Things are better now. I do have my freedom, and I can make decisions on my own with the respect of my family. Almost, but not quite though. Past is not yet behind me, but it is far better than before... but... I can't help the feeling that I've been somewhat robbed of one aspect of my childhood, and at some level, altered, and still pervades my impressions, thoughts and opinions until present.

Yes, I know I can fix and make my own decisions now, and not let the past affect the present... but its still not fair.

FINE. I hear what you say. Life is not fair anyway.

Being a girl, the only, or the youngest one, sucks. No wonder I don't like losing to guys.

*Oh, incidentally, as a side note, Hako Iri Musame is a popular puzzle. I hit on tons of them when researching... even came across a programming code for the game.
** Here is a definition from Kanji-Step.com website: "Boxed daughter/Hakoiri Musume: A daughter, who is raised very carefully and even hardly let go out as if she was a treasure that is kept in a box, away from getting broken or dirty."

Gym Progress 22

2 leaves and a heck of a week away...

Crazy Saturday... ABT with 25-30 minutes of it doing only abs. Its supposed to be Abs, Butt and Thighs - but I can't fanthom where the heck the B and T went to. What a crazy class.

Sunday was a killer... I wonder if I can keep up with this on a weekly basis...

Mon (ISM): Bibi
Thu (HL,ASM): Bibi,Bibi
Fri (SM,HL,ASM): Steve,Bibi, Bibi
Sat (ABT,ISM, ISM): Bibi,Bibi, Steve
Sun (IHL, SM, HL, ASM): Suzette,Suzette,Bibi, Bibi

Gym Progress 21

Maybe you think I've learned my lesson...

No its just that there's lots of gatherings, old colleagues, college friends... and work, of course. Next week's a holiday... You know what THAT means...

Tue (ISM): Stanley
Thu (ASM): Bibi
Fri (IHL, HL): Bibi, Bibi
Sat (ISM, ISM): Calvin, Steve
Sun (ASM, HL): Bibi, Bibi

Gym Progress 20

Dear Readers,

Please don't ask me if I intend to kill myself the past weekend. Thank you.

Sincerely Yours.

Mon (SM): Steve
Tue (ISM): Stanley
Thu (ASM): Bibi
Fri (IHL, ASM): Bibi, Bibi
Sat (SM, ISM, ISM): Johannes,Stanley, Steve
Sun (IHL, SM, ASM, HL): Suzette, Suzette, Bibi, Bibi