Starting the Month Right

It's only February 1 and already, everything felt right today.

I was able to revise my report due for presentation tomorrow...just in time.

I went out with my balikbayan friend who is an avid reader of this blog. (That means I have to weigh my words carefully now.)

We first went to Serye in Quezon Memorial Circle. Nice place. Great food. Since we stayed for several hours we ordered a lot - pork barbecue, grilled salmon, lumpiang ubod, turon, sans rival, calamansi juice, Coke Zero, coffee and chocolate iced frappe. (We bought apple pie for my mom, too.) But too bad they didn't have their specialty - boneless crispy pata.

My friend tried to help me with my problem regarding my programmable calculator but alas, he couldn't figure out what's wrong either.

We were lucky enough to get a cab right away and we went to Bagoong Club.

The monggo with bulalo tasted good but I didn't like the binagoongan (I must have ordered something else before).

All the while we were together, we talked about a lot of things: family, work, health, finances, politics, economy, heaven, dreams, my blog, etc. etc. It seems there was so much to say to a friend who has been away for many years although we do correspond by email from time to time.

Thanks for a great time, friend!

Eating Out Again

Tonight, I went out with Jobert. First we went to Bagoong Club. Our second time to be there. He is on a diet so he did not eat rice and no meat. We shared the laing. He ate tuna belly. I ate binagoongan special and garlic rice. He had calamansi juice and I had my usual Coke Zero. We talked about confidential stuff. Ha ha. Since it's confidential, I cannot repeat the conversation here.

Jobert was about to bring me home when he said he is still too early for his next appointment. So we decided to go to Bellini's. He ordered red wine, I had Coke Zero, and we ate an appetizer with eggplant, tomatoes and cheese. (I didn't bother getting the name.)

When we were in the basement of the condo, Jobert's celphone was acting up so we had to fix the problem first. When everything was okay, I went down and said goodbye.

My dear friend Jobert. Hope he finds the love of his life.

Three Places in One Day

Yesterday, I went to three places with Jobert.

First was Sushi-Ya in Libis. I ordered my favorite sukiyaki! Yehey! I ate three bowls of it ha ha.


Then, we went to Conspiracy in Visayas. It had an art exhibit of women artists. We drank (he San Mig Light, me Coke Zero) and ate nachos with dip. We composed a poem entitled, "Thinking of You".

When I think of you, I have only tender words to say
An image in my heart that bewilders my beloved soul
You are a friend I shall always cherish
Like the sun that shines its beautiful rays

Thank you for the many times you made me laugh
And helping me to open up my life’s concerns
Where would I be now without you, my friend?
Moments of happiness would never be enough

How I miss the moments we shared together
Hands that touch make life so timeless
Just remembering you brings warmth to my heart
The oneness of friendship that lasts forever

I feel so blessed to have met someone like you
True to the heart bringing awe to us both
You will always be in my thoughts wherever I may be
Seeing you again brings a rebirth to a life anew

You are God’s special gift to me
Heaven’s blessing that conveys the meaning of love
May the Lord grant you peace and happiness
A life of gladness that makes you feel free

*poetry by Nimia Gamo (purple lines) and Jobert Abiva (blue lines)

Lastly, we went to Bagoong Club. We ordered binagoongan, inihaw na pusit and garlic rice. Food trip!

Conversation was both heavy and light. Can't repeat most of it though. He he.

Baths and Halo-halo

It's so hot these days. That's why I appreciate airconditioning, cold cold water, taking a bath and eating halo-halo. It's a good thing the restaurant downstairs sells halo-halo for merienda. Yehey!

I finished revising two reports. I hope to get paid within the week for four projects.

I don't know but I seem to be obsessed with sukiyaki. Can't take my mind off it. I also crave for Bagoong Club food. Oh when will I eat there again?

I tried watching "Bucket List" online but I just got frustrated. I think I will just settle for another movie.

Silence...Bagoong...and More

The other day I watched "Silence of the Lambs". My friend texted me with "Hello, Clarice". I texted back with "Huh?". He said "Famous line in the movie you're watching. Duh". Ha ha. Duh. I heard the line towards the end of the movie.

No wonder Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins won Academy awards for their performance. The movie won three other Oscars - best director, best writing, and best picture.

When I asked my son if he has seen the movie, he said "No". No wonder. It was produced way back in 1991 - he was only 3 years old!

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Last night, I went out with friends. It was Rica's birthday last Sunday and she treated us to Bagoong Club. Ronald, Noel, Kune and Adolf went. There also three co-workshoppers in a playwriting workshop under Nestor Torre in 2004.

Food was delicious as usual - adobo with kangkong, pinakbet, binagoongan, special bagoong club friend rice, sinigang, munggo with bulalo, etc. They ordered dessert but I refrained from eating because the leche flan and custard were both rich and sweet.

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I got into thinking...What if I reprint my first two books which did very well except that my publisher is rather "small time" they could not print many copies at a time? I shall ask for friends to be my co-publishers.

Also, I am already lining up my future books - "Turning Gold", "I Love Humor and More", "Fit for God" and maybe, just maybe "I Ain't Crazy (...Just a Little Cracked!) and "Mission: Possible!". Ha ha. Fickle minded me!

Am considering going into self-publishing. I have the time. I have friends. And I stand to earn more.

I want to be best-selling author in National Bookstore and other bookstores nationwide. I also want to sell my books abroad. Ambitious of me but I can dream, can't I?

Here's a beautiful quote:

"If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing."
—Benjamin Franklin

Why not both?