TV Talk

Lights, camera, action!

DAY 9
of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

For someone who doesn't own a television set, I happen to love watching TV. Not owning a cable box and the whole flat-screen-DVR package isn't an effort to seem "cool" or "detached" but rather, a function of limited space. Plus, I'm afraid that if I had a TV in my room, I'd enjoy it too much and that's all I'd do. Come to think of it, I already shy away from big shenanigans of the mingling and drinking kind, and if I start getting glued to the tube, there goes my (modest) social life.

Anyhow, I do get around watching my favorite shows, thanks to online streaming. ABC has an app on the iPad that lets you see their shows, including sitcoms like Happy Endings (super funny!) and Modern Family (I have yet to get on board).

My three faves at the moment happen to be on USA Network and are as follows (I read somewhere recently that they're still in the middle of having their app approved by Apple):

1) White Collar
2) Burn Notice
3) SUITS(!)

If you haven't seen #3, you have to ASAP! It's about two lawyers: one legit graduate from Harvard, and one who passed the bar without having gone to any law school. It's hilarious and entertaining. Hotshot closer Harvey Specter hires Mike Ross, who wows him at an accidental and well-timed job interview. The former covers up for the latter's lack of a law degree and the rest is bromance history. It's TV candy, alright. Both men are handsome—Specter in a dashing-debonair kind of way, and Ross, in a cute-hipster-who-wears-skinny-ties kind of way (the latter's character lives in Williamsburg and rides a bike to work). I love the New York street and office scenes in the show and get a kick out of recognizing areas where they shot.

Here's the trailer of the show. It's on every Thursday night. Happy viewing!

Sweet Beats

DAY 8

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Something to repeat.

 With my blogging and overall love for good food, I may come across as this "foodie" with very evolved tastes (and tastebuds). But, to tell you the truth, I tend to be boring, if not, monotonous, in my day-to-day choices. For instance, I have the same thing for breakfast almost everyday and more or less follow the same sequence:

First, I'll have some steel cut oatmeal (once you've tried it, there's no going back to rolled oats…unless you're baking cookies). Next, I'll have eggs with toast or potatoes, or both, depending on whether I prepare them myself or get them from a deli.

So, yes, I have two breakfasts spaced about an hour apart. From that point forward, I'll eat when I'm hungry, and shoot for small-ish, frequent meals. Lunch can fall between 1pm to 2pm, depending how the oatmeal and eggs were spaced apart, and it's usually something with salmon, arugula, rice, potatoes, or cheese. If I go out to dinner, I'll most likely pick something out from the menu that has any of those items.

For dessert, lately it's been a lot of yogurt—frozen, parfait with granola—oh, and yes, ice cream (gelato if I'm anywhere near the Grand Central food court).

As I'm writing this, a Jon Bon Jovi interview comes to mind. The rockstar has been married to his high school sweetheart for the last 20-plus years. I remember the reporter asking him how he felt about this, given that musicians were notorious for having all these women around, throwing themselves at band members. He said, and I paraphrase, "It's like going to the candy store—at some point, you don't want all that candy inside the store, you have your favorites."

What's your favorite sweet treat?

Take Flight

DAY 7

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Part of flying is landing…with grace.

At a very lovely dinner with old and newly made friends, the subject of taking flight came up. And I paraphrase the words of Miriam, who, at the moment, holds the key to my next bowl of Ocean Don and being reunited with one of my favorite cafés in the world, even just for a moment. "It's easy to burst out and fly. It's in landing that you need grace and control."

In life, it's easy to be impulsive, or justify similar actions, especially when we truly want something, or when that something doesn't materialize nor come to our specifications. Finding ground means literally switching gears. It could mean learning how to react differently, breathing through a stressful situation, or simply being more respectful of circumstances.

When I first moved to New York, I made certain career mistakes—out of naiveness, impatience, or sheer ignorance (or all of the above). In my desire to reach new heights, I fell hard. I thought I'd never recover. But I did. And when that happened, I learned to be more deliberate in my actions, scrutinizing of people and situations, and most importantly, grateful for all the new opportunities that have given me the chance to try again, and try harder and hopefully make better decisions—in life and in career. True, some doors may possibly have closed permanently on me. But whereas a certain ship may have sailed, this plane has definitely landed.

Grand Central Station

DAY 6

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

Ciao Bella Triple Espresso Gelato, mmm…

One of my favorite places in New York City is Grand Central Station, which may come as a surprise given how I feel about Times Square. Both tourist spots can get very crowded, but for some reason, with Grand Central, I couldn't care less. Perhaps it's because of the sprawling food court at the basement, or that the main concourse looks like an airport.

Grand Central is where the Metro North Railroad and MTA Subways converge. If you need to go somewhere or find yourself lost, this busy hub would be your "reset" button. If you're meeting up with a friend, Grand Central Market would be a convenient place to wait and browse (the cheese counter is a must-see).

Personally, I love going to GC, again, for the Dining Concourse. Ciao Bella is a regular stopover, for the gelato and blue cheese and mushroom crepe. I've had the triple espresso gelato for two consecutive weekends now. If you're craving something a little more salty and savory, try Chirping Chicken, Brother Jimmy's Barbecue, or Zarro's Bread Basket. If you like warm, pressed paninis, Paninoteca is your place (don't forget to ask for the balsamic vinaigrette to dip your sandwich in). Back to dessert, Magnolia Bakery has an outpost there as well.

If you're hanging out for a bit with your computer/iPad, expect to just find a few homeless people taking a breather in any of the seats. It's a come-one-come-all place after all, and they don't bother you if you don't bother them. And, if anybody gets extra rambunctious, I've seen the NYPD arrive within minutes, after a drunk person started hurling expletives(?) at another person.

So, if you're ever in the city, you know where to meet up :) Ciao for now!

All in a Day's Work

A small, but very functional space.

DAY 5

of the 30-Day Blog Challenge, 2011

It's no secret that I've experienced job loss before. This happened not once, not twice, but three times (a lady…sorry, had to say that).

The first time it happened, all I wanted to do in the days that followed was sleep, and maybe make brownies.

The second time it happened, I shipped out, and told myself I never wanted to live in New York again, how overrated the city was. Besides, I also had a wedding to plan: my own.

The third time it happened, I soldiered on. It also helped that I had a part-time writing and editing job that paid very well so I could somehow live decently without going flat-out broke. That, and I have a very generous and hardworking husband who can tell when my wallet's close to empty even without my mentioning it.

So, what is the moral of the story? You simply have to look at the big picture, or wait for enough time to pass so you can see and find meaning in the larger scheme of things. I've always said in this blog that there's a reason for every setback. Had #1 not happened—had I not lost my "dream job"—I wouldn't have met my co-author, Marsha Irving, with whom I collaborated on the Freshman 15 fitness book.

If #2 hadn't happened, yes, I would have had a lucrative proofreading and editing job with a popular fashion retail brand, but I probably wouldn't have gotten around having that fantabulous wedding, AND, I would still have undiagnosed lumps lurking inside my breasts. I'm serious.

If #3 hadn't happened, I wouldn't have been able to embark on the Travel Series, among many other "pluses" and experiences that have occurred since so far. (A number of them, leading to the job that I'm doing right now.)

When something sad happens with one's career, it's almost always a jump-off opportunity to pursue a different kind of success, except that the experience is disguised in a very unpalatable package. To me, it's exactly like a break-up, given how I take my jobs seriously. One still has to go through the requisite living-in-pajamas-not-wanting-to-get-up-and-eating-ice-cream phase, but past the pain, heartbreak, and aggravation is a journey that opens up doors to new opportunities.

Meanwhile, the three instances above are partly, if not, majorly the reason why I have three jobs right now—one, I do full-time, while the other two, part-time and at a very languid, leisurely pace. I have a working home office that can accommodate my writing, editing, and printing needs. While I've had to streamline my freelance writing career at some point early this year (I no longer contribute to the newspaper back home) I tend to welcome assignments without much hesitation. I'll take the $400 articles, next to the $5 tasks, next to the pieces that pay in Philippine pesos that my husband wishes I no longer did because they take up time and pay the equivalent of a trip to Whole Foods (not complaining!). Still, I do not discriminate; work is work, and I'm happy to be doing what I'm doing.

PS—
Have you experienced a career slump lately or have just been feeling down? You may want to read/reread the Inspiration Series :)