Little Pink Ballerina

Sketch dated 01/18/07.
I just discovered Adobe Photoshop and was excitedly experimenting when I made this rough doodle. Naturally, having a fascination with ballet, I chose ballet shoes as my subject. I wasn't finished with it yet but I kinda like how it turned out quite unpolished.

Anyone else out there who's interested in watching ballet?

I've been inviting friends for years now to watch one with me but I think they would rather watch paint dry. Haha. Is ballet really that unappealing???

I guess my love for ballet started when I donned my first ever pretty little pink tutus (although I hated the tulle 'coz it was itchy) while I was in Kindergarten. Aww, I can still remember the smell of our ballet studio. I miss it. We had this big presentation at the Meralco Theater and I can still picture the audience as I danced from the second line of little ballerinas onstage. We practiced real hard for that performance but I'll let you in on a little secret. I cheated with my pirouettes. Shhh.

Sadly, I was a ballerina only for 2 years, though I never stopped liking it. I try to collect photos, prints, displays of ballerinas and try to watch all the dance movies out there. Centerstage is my favorite ballet movie so far.

Here's a video that is also a favorite of mine from another movie called The Company:

Well, no one in my family really likes ballet. None of my friends do, too.

I have tried asking them but what I usually get is laughter, followed by "Are you serious?", and then followed by some more laughter.

I don't care, I still think ballet is inarguably cooler than Backstreet Boys, noh! (Hi Tif! :D Haha.)

Although some would be real sweet enough to volunteer to accompany me (even if it's pretty obvious they want nothing to do with it. Haha.), I'd politely decline since I don't really want to hassle them.

If I do get desperate, though, I might just go watch ballet alone.

***There are shows lined up at the Aliw Theater (of Star City, CCP Complex, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City) these coming months.

(1) Halo-Halo 2

August 24-26, 31, September 1-2, 2007

(2) Swan Lake

September 28-30, October 5-7, 2007
(3) Pinnochio

December 7-9, 14-16, 2007

(4) Le Corsaire
February 15-17, 22-24, 2008

For inquiries, please call Ballet Manila at 525.5967 or 400.0292. You may also buy tickets at A Different Bookstore outlets.
And if you're planning to watch, please call/message me! Unless you're some psycho stranger who just happened to click on my blog.

Rainy Days

Frankly, I don't understand why rain is so hated. I, for one, love it. I long for it.

I always hear people complain at the sight of cloudy skies and rant about how they make them sad, or worse, depressed.

I mean, I get why people would consider it gloomy. But what I don't get is how they don't see the beauty in it.

Maybe part of its negative connotation is brought about by its resemblance to tears/crying? I don't know. Or the people's dislike for getting wet and getting mud on their shoes? Or maybe it's the idea of being stuck at home and being bored out of their wits. (Which isn't a problem for me at all since I'm such a homebody.)

I guess Science is also somewhat responsible for rain's bad reputation because our eyes associate happiness with bright, lively colors. I agree that with the dullness of gray skies, I'm pretty sure I won't suddenly be doing any song-and-dance number anytime soon. Still, it doesn't make me sad.

David Gray's January Rain. Your perfect background

music as you stare at the rain by your window. Haha.

But rain can be so beautiful if you look past its gloominess.

If you give it a chance, you'll see how relaxing, pure, and serene it actually is. Even therapeutic.

And frankly, rain isn't depressing. At all. It's just misunderstood.

Oh Crap. I'm 24.

Maybe it comes with the age, but I've noticed how I've gotten more mellow (sounds too depressing), or rather, more mature (that's more like it).

Few things I've noticed about myself that solidifies my getting older--

• My tastes have matured; improved, in my opinion.
• I feel like my views have changed; I'm more open minded now.
• I don't dwell on things that don't matter to me; and petty things don't bother me as much anymore.
• My reasoning has improved.
• I'm calmer in difficult situations.
• I played Mahjong on my 24th Birthday.
• Why yes, that's a good reason alright.

I recently celebrated my birthday at home with a few close buddies. I actually prefer staying in, having friends over, and talking the night away.
It's much more intimate.
Usually, girls I know would rather go to bars and get drunk to celebrate their one more year of wisdom. Nothing against them, of course. To each his own.
Then again, this is me talking, Lil' Miss I-Dream-Of-Afternoon-Tea-Parties.

Everything about the party was impromptu. Unfortunately, my turning a year older still didn't do much on my indecisiveness.
I invited my friends on such a short notice (and was relieved they didn't have plans that Saturday).




Good food. Great music. Even greater company. :D








For the food, I ordered Lasagna and Chicken Pie, bestsellers from Magic Kitchen in Acropolis [+632.637.8002 / +632.635.2043] (do try their cakes as well.), made some Chicken Parmigiana, and baked my favorite Chocolate Cheesecake (I had to, it's my birthday! Hehe.)

CHICKEN PARMIGIANA

Ingredients:

Chicken Cutlets, Breasts preferrably

Salt and Pepper

Egg, beaten

Breadcrumbs

Parmesan Cheese, grated

Olive oil

Tomato Sauce

Mozzarella Cheese

• Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Dip into beaten egg, then cover with breadcrumbs-and-parmesan-cheese mixture. (I used around 1/3 cup cheese for every cup of breadcrumbs.)
• Heat oil in pan, place the chicken and cook until golden brown, drain oil.
• Pour tomato sauce (any type you want, plain, puttanesca, basil pomodoro, etc.) on a baking dish and arrange chicken cutlets on top.
• Place a small slice of mozzarella cheese on top of each cutlet.
• Bake until the cheese melts.
  
  
  

After scarfing down our food, we moved from the dinner table to the mahjong table.
And so the fun begins.
We played for four hours straight while talking about High School and singing along to some great music simultaneously. (Haha. I did say we're frustrated singers as well, right?)
And in those four hours, I only won once. I still had a great time though. No, no, I had a blast!

***Thank you to those who came as well as to those who tried. :)