Thursday, December 23, 2010

Eat, Pray, Love, Lather, Rinse, Repeat

 What I learned from watching Eat, Pray, Love:
  1. Eating a plate of pasta with wine by yourself is OK.
  2. If your jeans don't fit because of too much of #1, buy bigger jeans.
  3. Lounging in lingerie by yourself is great.
  4. Don't get into a relationship with an actor.
...wait, I already knew all that!

I really wanted to like this movie. Pizza, pasta, gelato, James Franco, Javier Bardem, and beaches. What was not to like?

In a way, Elizabeth Gilbert was going through this "WTF is my life?" period the same way I kind of am. She wanted change and to experience things she had always put off. But after eating lots of pasta, pizza and Indian food and praying, what exactly has changed? Besides a bigger waistline and a hotter man, NADA.

She decides to take a 1-year vacation because she felt lost -- lost in her marriage and lost in the relationship she jumps into after that marriage failed. She learns Italian, how to not live like a workaholic American, gets spiritual help from some ethnic people, and that it's OK to get into another relationship. And the movie ends with just that. Liz throws herself into Javier Bardem's sexy arms. 

Did I just spend an hour drooling over pizza for a story without a climax or resolution? Great.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

I'm 25. Aaaack!

Happy birthday to me!

Today I no longer fit in to the 18-24 years old age bracket. From now on, any survey I fill out will have the 25-29 box checked. That is, until I turn 30 (oh my god.). And so because I figured out months ago that there was no way I would complete this 25 before 25 list , I am turning it into a 30 before 30 list. Tada!

Am I setting myself up for another impossible to-do list? Maybe. But I've got 5 years to figure it out. Here are the new additions:


26. Learn to ride a bike.
I never learned. I owned a tricycle and after I outgrew that, I had no desire to transition to a 2-wheeler. I mean, it's not like I would have been allowed to ride it anywhere outside our house. Blame my overprotective parents and my natural clumsiness. So why now? Because I'm sick of hearing people's gasps when I tell them I don't know how to ride a bike. Yeah, you heard that right.

27. Get my driver's license.
I got started on this when I was 18. Got my learner's permit, paid for driving lessons, drove on a parkway and notorious Queens streets without hitting anyone (phew!), then dropped it because I had bigger priorities, namely, getting a magazine job. But after tackling that on my to-do list and realizing that I may not always live in New York City (I love you NYC, but you're a high-maintenance lover, and it's about time I got the upperhand in this relationship.), I'm accepting that being able to drive is pretty important. So watch out, pedestrians!

28. Explore the Philippines.
I grew up in the Philippines. I've spent 4 (or 5?)  vacations there. Next month, I leave for another trip to the motherland. But it's a shame that I've never really explored the country beyond the cities where my family live. I think I've spent more time going to malls than doing anything cultural. Not to knock the awesome shopping experience -- malls with ice skating rinks and concierge service? Hell freakin yeah! But it's time I got to know my country a little better. For starters, here's a nice list with things to do in the Philippines.

29. Lead a volunteer project.
In the past year I've been a proud member of New York Cares, a non-profit dedicated in providing needed services through volunteer work. I figured I needed to do something better with my life besides work, eat, shop and sleep. Last summer I became a Team Leader, who is a volunteer in charge of specific projects. Partly because of my schedule and partly because I haven't found the perfect project, I haven't put that "Team Leader" badge to use, but that will change. (BTW, I strongly suggest becoming a member. These projects are some of the most fulfilling work I've done and you get a reminder that there are people who are willing to work for something other than personal gain.)

30. ____________________
I'm not really sure what to put for this one. Should I learn a new skill, like sewing or pottery? Take up swimming as I originally planned? Go on vacation by myself? Run a marathon (even though I'm still recovering from injury. Maybe we can alter that to a HALF marathon)? Buy my own place? (I can already hear NYC real estate laughing at me.) What do you think?