Mavro Tea, Gym, and Slipper-Hunting
Gee, I didn’t realize it’s been a while since
I’ve posted an entry here. I haven’t really been that busy lately, since my
brief stint at SP Care. I don’t know. Maybe I just felt lazy. Or maybe I just
got too engrossed with Harrison’s.
I’ve posted an entry here. I haven’t really been that busy lately, since my
brief stint at SP Care. I don’t know. Maybe I just felt lazy. Or maybe I just
got too engrossed with Harrison’s.
Haha. Yeah, right.
But, hey, that’s partially true. It has become sort of a
habit for me to study at Mocha Blends, SM Marilao during the afternoon. I’ve
just discovered their Mavro Ouzo tea, a delicious brew of fennel seeds,
elderberries, and licorice. Sipping that tea clears my mind and the licorice
after-taste just suits me. I think it’s a good companion to my Harrison’s. I
haven’t been able to finish reviewing Endocrinology yet, though. Got to
increase the pace.
habit for me to study at Mocha Blends, SM Marilao during the afternoon. I’ve
just discovered their Mavro Ouzo tea, a delicious brew of fennel seeds,
elderberries, and licorice. Sipping that tea clears my mind and the licorice
after-taste just suits me. I think it’s a good companion to my Harrison’s. I
haven’t been able to finish reviewing Endocrinology yet, though. Got to
increase the pace.
* * * * *
I recently enrolled at Slimmer’s World. I had two
sessions already and, I guess, it felt good. I remember the last time I was
there, I was so hung up walking and running on the treadmill I wanted to do an
hour more. I don’t like the stair master much, though. I can still feel my
sore hamstring muscles right now. Sigh. Gym was fun but I still prefer
badminton over it anytime.
sessions already and, I guess, it felt good. I remember the last time I was
there, I was so hung up walking and running on the treadmill I wanted to do an
hour more. I don’t like the stair master much, though. I can still feel my
sore hamstring muscles right now. Sigh. Gym was fun but I still prefer
badminton over it anytime.
Entering the gym, though, made me think I was entering a
Roman Bathhouse. According to that episode I saw in Discovery channel, the
Roman Bath house levels the "playing field" for the poor and the rich Romans.
It is a public bath house and anyone, whatever their social status is, can take
a bath. A poor carpenter can dip into a water pool with a rich businessman.
However, the bath house can still segregate the poor and the rich in another
way: their physique. During those days, only the rich Romans can afford money
and time to go to a gym. Thus, they have muscular and well-toned bodies. The
poor Romans stand out in a public bath house because of their thin or flabby
bodies.
Roman Bathhouse. According to that episode I saw in Discovery channel, the
Roman Bath house levels the "playing field" for the poor and the rich Romans.
It is a public bath house and anyone, whatever their social status is, can take
a bath. A poor carpenter can dip into a water pool with a rich businessman.
However, the bath house can still segregate the poor and the rich in another
way: their physique. During those days, only the rich Romans can afford money
and time to go to a gym. Thus, they have muscular and well-toned bodies. The
poor Romans stand out in a public bath house because of their thin or flabby
bodies.
That was how it was in Slimmer’s World. It levels the
playing field because both the fit and the not-so-fit have equal use of the
facilities. However, the fit are still segregated from the not-so-fit because
of their physique. Those who can spend much time and money going to the gym
obviously look fabulously well-toned and muscular while those who are just
starting to get caught up with the health revolution stand awkwardly in groups,
facing mirrors, while trying to catch-up with the aerobics instructor’s steps.
Even the flabby guy trying to do abdominal crunches in the corner could only
spare a glimpse at the female fitness instructor who could lift weights heavier
than he is. This kind of setup could make anyone timid cringe.
playing field because both the fit and the not-so-fit have equal use of the
facilities. However, the fit are still segregated from the not-so-fit because
of their physique. Those who can spend much time and money going to the gym
obviously look fabulously well-toned and muscular while those who are just
starting to get caught up with the health revolution stand awkwardly in groups,
facing mirrors, while trying to catch-up with the aerobics instructor’s steps.
Even the flabby guy trying to do abdominal crunches in the corner could only
spare a glimpse at the female fitness instructor who could lift weights heavier
than he is. This kind of setup could make anyone timid cringe.
But I’m not timid.
To hell to those vain fitness buffs who try to show-off
whenever there’s a newcomer passing by. I don’t care if
I’m running on a treadmill beside a tall, gorgeous, waif-like girl, looking so
good in her itsy-bitsy gym shorts while I’m sweating my butt off in my crappy
shirt and jogging pants. I may look awkward shifting my weight alternately in
the stairmaster while she goes on fluidly like it was the most natural thing in
the world.
whenever there’s a newcomer passing by. I don’t care if
I’m running on a treadmill beside a tall, gorgeous, waif-like girl, looking so
good in her itsy-bitsy gym shorts while I’m sweating my butt off in my crappy
shirt and jogging pants. I may look awkward shifting my weight alternately in
the stairmaster while she goes on fluidly like it was the most natural thing in
the world.
I will just do my thing. I will have my
time.
time.
(And, who knows? The waif-like girl may only have her
perfect body and nothing else. Or even if she is the perfect girl with both
beauty and brains, I don’t care. I will make good with what I
have.)
perfect body and nothing else. Or even if she is the perfect girl with both
beauty and brains, I don’t care. I will make good with what I
have.)
I will be perfect in time.
* * * * *
Yesterday, I was hunting for the perfect cheap slippers
I’d wear on our barkada outing. I was just picking through the racks of
Parisian slippers (of course, no Havaianas for me. Too expensive!) when I
bumped into a lady who was going through the same rack. She said she was sorry,
then noticed we were about to pick the same kind of slippers.
I’d wear on our barkada outing. I was just picking through the racks of
Parisian slippers (of course, no Havaianas for me. Too expensive!) when I
bumped into a lady who was going through the same rack. She said she was sorry,
then noticed we were about to pick the same kind of slippers.
"We have the same taste yata," she said with a smile.
I smiled back. I wasn’t in the mood to be friendly but
I’m not a snob. Then she went on to pick another pair (a thong sandals with
bead designs) and asked which of the two is prettier. I said I like the one
with beads but it depends on where she is going to wear it.
I’m not a snob. Then she went on to pick another pair (a thong sandals with
bead designs) and asked which of the two is prettier. I said I like the one
with beads but it depends on where she is going to wear it.
"Ah, yeah, I like this one din. Pero mababasa lang.
Sayang."
Sayang."
Then we went on with our separate ways only to bump on
each other again on the other side of the store, still looking for slippers.
each other again on the other side of the store, still looking for slippers.
"Ay, it’s you again." She said, still with the same
smile. "Maganda ‘yang hawak mo. Maganda ‘yung glittery design n’ya.
Sige, you get the blue one. Akin ‘tong pink. Ma-pink
kasi ako eh. Feeling virgin."
smile. "Maganda ‘yang hawak mo. Maganda ‘yung glittery design n’ya.
Sige, you get the blue one. Akin ‘tong pink. Ma-pink
kasi ako eh. Feeling virgin."
"Oh."
But I didn’t buy the blue slippers with the glittery
designs. I ended up buying the first pair of slippers I picked up (just typical
of me, hehehe). It’s a green thong sandals with dark green and light green
stripes. Just perfect for getting wet in the pool.
designs. I ended up buying the first pair of slippers I picked up (just typical
of me, hehehe). It’s a green thong sandals with dark green and light green
stripes. Just perfect for getting wet in the pool.
I don’t know what happened to the slipper-hunting lady.
Well, wherever she is, I bet her world is one happy ball.
Well, wherever she is, I bet her world is one happy ball.
