Horse Whispering

When I was a few years old, I grew up in a farm in Zamboanga City (located at the southernmost tip of Mindanao). We lived humbly in a house made of plywood and would pick our own vegetables from our backyard, and drink milk from our goats. I was only between 3 or 4, but I vividly remember sitting by our window, watching a tiny raincloud draw itself closer to where I was before it even soaked our roof wet. It was my first encounter with rainclouds, and the science behind it. Amazing.

We owned a horse and named him Silver. He does not possess any kind of silvery patch or color, but we got his name from the Lone Ranger's ever-famous song (Hi ho Silver, away!!!). Cheesy, huh? I would ride his back carefully, with my dad guiding me from behind, and I would muster up enough courage to go another mile at 5mph.

I loved horses - I still do. Despite the couple of times I rode them at 18mph and fell off, or got stuck in little tree branches, or despite getting bruises and cuts wearing uncomfortable riding boots. If I wasn't in New York City, taking up graduate school, and if we never moved to cosmo Manila, I might have taken up a minor in Equine Psychology and mastered the art of milking goats and growing cabbage.

This little business card I found at a cork board inside a restaurant somewhere in the West made me backtrack and think about the "what if's" of my life. Of course, I know this path is left inside my "might have been but would have been fun and interesting" folder.
You whisper to horses? How cool (or freaky?) is that!

Adios, Summer!

As the weather slowly calms down to the 70s, we say goodbye to the summer in Central Park over a little picnic with the geese. (That's Central Park West, the upscale residential area where the late John Lennon used to live in.)

The Reason Why He is The One

He let me drive his big black 4x4 SUV in the streets of Manhattan (specifically). And I didn't even insist, because he understands why.

No Competition

Unless you come from circa 1600 and could not accept it, most likely, your current lover has had an ex lover or an apple of his eye. Yes, it is a has been and it is soooo over, but sometimes you can’t help but feel a pinch of insecurity whenever you come across some voluntary (or involuntary) public (or private) information these exes put on your nosy platter.

Of course, there are exes who are unworthy of anything but bashing, but there exists the opposite. Let me define further. This breed of exes are:

1. Within your league – meaning they hang out with the same types of people, studied in a reputable university, does what you do and gets what you get
2. Eye and Brain Candies – the perfect combination of a looker (especially in a bikini) and a mind picker
3. The Ones That Got Away - he may not say it nor admit it, but this label can never be yours (of course, ‘cause you’re not going anywhere, right?)

So what does a girl like you (who is so interested in reading this blog entry) to do? Do you google his ex’s name nonstop until you find some dirt on her to make you feel better? Do you forever compare the way your sweetheart said “I can’t wait to see you” to you versus the way he did to her? Do you stare at their photos together to check if she has crooked teeth and flabby arms or if you have a smaller waist line?

But what if all this childish detective work finds you no less than an affirmation that there’s nothing really wrong with her? And, unbeknownst to her, she is just a person who can potentially ruin your day? And you let her get away with it (even if it’s within your control)?

Do you still go on with your voodoo doll ritual and stick needles to prick her until she bleeds? Or do you just exhale and believe that there is some compelling reason that no Google, Friendster or any other public display of information, can simply distinguish why she is not with your lover now? That in your lover’s mind and heart, you are a universe apart and far better off than her (plus she does have crooked teeth). And there is no competition.

Why Some New Yorkers Wouldn't Talk To Me

I was with David socializing with other Yale students over wine and cheese awhileago and came across a personable, yet typical, New Yorker who moved to New Haven to attend SOM.

After a little chitchat about SOM and how we love New York (no matter how it gets to you after some time), we talked about our apartments. She said she had given up her apartment at Murray Hill, a studio for $1200 plus utilities. Afterwhich, I mentioned I lived in Midtown, in a doorman building, elevator, utilities included, complete with a view of the Chrysler and in a very nice neighborhood for under $900 bucks. She nearly fainted.

Now, she wouldn't talk to me.

At Yale

I haven't written in quite a while because I've been busy. To many people, that's already a sufficient excuse, but to some, there needs to be an explanation. Bah.
I don't want to get specific, because this blog is not supposed to be an outpour of my soul, but just a venue for me to spill my thoughts.

I am currently at Yale University in New Haven and enjoying it. I'm writing this blog, standing up inside the SOM building, so forgive me for any incoherence.

My classes won't begin until the next few weeks, so I'm helping David settle in and sort things out first here before he begins his MBA at Yale SOM. He's got a great apartment (a house actually), complete with washer, dryer, full kitchen, bath, a/c, whatever!... and is staying with 2 other students. When I got here, his room didn't have anything! No bed, no table, no nothing! It was so pretty difficult, yet fun to slowly unpack and furnish his place. Life in the US is a total turnaround from life in Manila. You really have to fend for yourself here, otherwise you will be left with... errr, an unfurnished room and will have to sleep on the floor!

Random bits of what I have learned in the past couple of weeks:

1. I learned more how wonderful David's family is, and how they lived a simple but rich life.
2. I learned that most of the US of A is not all glitz and glamour like what you see in movies.
3. I learned more about David's wonderful childhood - and how I love him all the more for that.
4. I learned how to put up blinds using a drill - as in the hardcore D.I.Y. kind.
5. I learned to not feel awkward driving an SUV in the US.
6. I learned that New Haven is not New York, but not a bad place to live in.
7. I learned that Yalies are very warm and partner-friendly.
8. I learned that I can never live without DSL.
9. I learned that a trip to Ikea with your partner is an unofficial "dry run".
10. I learned how to iron clothes. (the laundry part, I still need to perfect! Tie-dying and doing laundry are entirely different things... hehe.)

As both of us are grad students, the next two years will definitely become a slew of uncertainties and adventures, I'm sure. But I'm really up for the ride.

Back to Reality

It's 230am, New York time, and I had just gotten to my apartment. My body feels the combination of exhaustion and awakeness - after 24 hours of intense air travel. Driving east of Manhattan on a Wednesday ungodly hour feels like a ghost town.

Anyway, my flight went well and I have been greeted by different friendly people... mostly Asian men. They carried my bags, offered me snacks and even a ride home. The building doorman is also very welcoming when I arrived... he'll definitely receive authenticTabacalera Coronas in the morning.

Sometimes traveling alone has its perks. I just hope chivalry does not end at Newark, or at the door downstairs.

I know that tomorrow, I'll wake up to reality. I'm back to my daily grind. I've got tons on my mind, and I'm only getting started! :) I'll write more the next days when I am more rested and sane.