Wednesday, April 28, 2010

#22: Donate Blood - Check!

I've been wanting to donate blood since high school. Why did it take this long for me to do it? It's not a fear of needles or blood -- I just never weighed enough.

I remember doing nothing but eat one weekend in high school in a desperate attempt to gain weight. I gained 2 pounds in 2 days, but lost those 2 pounds the following week. The adult, health-aware me now is disgusted.

So now, thanks to a desk job that keeps my butt glued to my seat 8 hours a day and a couple of hectic weeks that have sucked away most of my gym time, gaining weight isn't as hard as it used to be. (If I knew this when I was 16 I wouldn't have complained so much.)

Perfect timing for crossing off goal #22!

The process itself didn't hurt (I have no problem taking needles or shots - growing up with nurses in your family does that to you). But the puncture site gets sore after. And holy crap does it take away a lot of your energy. But I saved a life! The sticker says so.


Thank goodness for the free Oreos after. I would have smiled, but clearly I had cookies in my mouth. Priorities, people.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Me gustan mucho los burritos y free stuff

I took the first step to relearning Spanish by taking out some books from the public library. The last time I was in the New York Public Library was last summer. What exactly have I been reading for the past year? Oh right, women's magazines and the internet. Ah my brain.

Turns out they have Spanish conversation classes too! (Suck it, Rosetta Stone.) My broke self will forever be grateful to free public services like libraries and health clinics (Suck it, Tea Party).

Next class is in May, and EVERYTHING will be in Spanish, so I guess time to hit the books, and maybe tune in to Telemundo?

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

#9: Happy Hour - No, This Isn't Just an Excuse to Drink

Earlier tonight I attended Ed2010's Happy Hour/Networking event. Ed2010 is a non-profit organization started by magazine editors to help out other magazine editors and editor-to-bes. I wouldn't have a job without this site, so bless them.

I put off attending one of their happy hours because I thought, "What could I possibly get out of it?" Plenty, actually. You meet awesome people who share the same interests as you, get industry contacts and cheap booze!

But another reason was that I didn't know anyone there. Well I'm glad I went alone.

One of the things I liked about doing reporting is that you get placed in situations outside your comfort zone (kind of the point of this blog too, actually). It's terrifying at first, but there's a thrill to it. Like that time I covered a photo exhibit about Hurricane Katrina and needed some quotes. I could have not approached a woman who was crying looking at the photos, but her story (she lived in the neighborhood captured by the photographer) added so much to my story, that it was worth putting myself into an awkward situation. Trust me, I'm more likely to roll my eyes at you than offer you a tissue if you get emotional in public.

While I didn't meet my new BFFs at this happy hour, I did meet people who were in similar situations as I, career-wise. Good to know I'm not that girl standing against the wall sipping her drink. Next happy hour on my calendar is with NYC Women in Publishing.

Cheers!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

#17: Spa Day - Ahhh...Ow!

Why was this on my list? Because it's my list and I figured the only way I would get myself some quality pampering time was if I put it on an actual to-do list.

So Spa Week (it ends today, but some spas extend it until the end of the month - call now if you're interested!) was the perfect opportunity to book a facial and massage at La Peau Day Spa.

The first time I got a professional massage was while trying out a new gym/spa for work (yeah, I know, my life is so harsh). You know those pictures of calm, peaceful women in white towels lying on a table? They lie. I was in pain most of the time. That's probably my fault because I have the body of an old lady, but I didn't expect massages to hurt! Today's experience was a little less painful, but still not the serene scene those pictures portray. So that, plus the fact that my body was creaking in a morning Pilates class, reminded me that I should probably do yoga again.

They're squirming under those towels, I know it.


Step 2: facial. I have never had a facial. I'm a big believer in the right drugstore cleansers + healthy lifestyle = good skin. Ok, add good genes in there too. But for the sake of trying new things and self-indulgence, I got one. Everything was fine until the extraction part. You know, where your harmless aesthetician turns serial zit/pore killer. Right now my face is a little red in some spots.

I'll stick to getting pedicures and sitting in the gym steam room.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Ch-ch-ch-changes

If you know me you know that I cannot function without being properly caffeinated. I get headaches and I get cranky. And so this change will hurt.

Instead of going to a TV show taping for my #20, I've decided to go a week without coffee.

BUT. I will still allow myself tea. A girl's gotta work, you know, and I would be miserable at work without any bit of caffeine. Let's see how many cups of black/green tea I end up drinking that week.

Am I a masochist? Maybe. But I do enjoy a challenge.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

I will know how to save your life by the end of April

#19: Learn CPR.

Could it have been a mere case of serendipity that this week's work newsletter mentioned FREE CPR training for all employees? I don't really care (I hated the entire premise of that movie, despite my love for John Cusack. I mean who the fuck almost marries someone else while still pining for a stranger? This is romantic??) but it works in my favor because a 5-hour class from the Red Cross costs at least $75. Before the end of this month I'll be a slightly more useful human being -- for $0.

Yay!

Another coincidence? A friend posted a link to Filipino dance performances on Facebook today. Years ago I wouldn't have been interested in this, but hey, if I'm going to learn a dance it might as well be a Filipino one. We'll see if this takes care of #21. It's funny how opportunities show up when you keep your mind a little more open.

Also, welcome, Prek, to the 25 before 25 bandwagon!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

I'm turning 25 this year. Whaa?


While searching for reviews for a new Filipino restaurant in the East Village, I came across this woman's blog about accomplishing 30 things before she turns 30 (in a little over a year). So, since I am turning 25 at the end of this year (dun dun DUN!), I decided to make a 25 before 25 list.

It took more than a day because 1) my funds are limited and 2) it's less than a year away- holy crap!

I really didn't want to blog about it because frankly, I've gotten tired of the internet, but my boyfriend Dean thought it was important to document it, even if in a notebook/pen-on-paper form. So because it has been years since I've written a coherent sentence on an actual piece of paper, here goes my attempt at blogging.

And here is my 25 before 25 list:
1. Get a freelance article published in a print publication.
2. Go indoor rock climbing.
3. Relearn how to speak, read and write Spanish.
4. Take trapeze lessons.
5. Run a 5K in under 30 minutes.
6. Write a book pitch.
7. Kayak in NYC.
8. Try Bikram yoga.
9. Attend an industry happy hour/networking event.
10.Take a self-defense class.
11. Leg press twice my weight.
12. Swim a complete lap without stopping.
13. Go to winetasting/vineyard.
14. Relearn to read and write Tagalog.
15. Go to a shooting range.
16. Gamble at a casino.
17. Spa day.
18. Visit all major museums in NYC.
19. Learn CPR.
20. Sit in the audience of a TV show.
21. Take a dance class.
22. Donate blood.
23. Cook a Filipino meal well.
24. Take a boxing class.
25. Join and be active in a Filipino-American organization.

If you'd like to join me in any one of these activities, please let me know :)

Now your turn: What would you put on your 30 before 30, 25 before 25, or general bucket list?