Dating Ideas Galore

Would you believe that I now write weekly dating tips for one of the projects of the company I work for? Me, of all people! But as the only writer left, I don't really have a choice, do I? So well, well, well....

I'm not really supposed to post this here since anything I write becomes company property, but i just can't resist. So shhhh...

This is for all dating guys and gals out there: Do away with your usual unimaginative excuses and learn from Itzamatch's Dating Tip #9:

Dating Ideas Galore

Don’t know where to go or what to do for a memorable date experience with your special someone? Fret not. Itzamatch gives you the following dating ideas, according to your mood or interests, to start you off or spice up your time while cruising the romantic lane of love.

Here goes:

Easy – Rent a movie or watch TV together; Go malling; Have coffee or a drink; Watch a movie, concert, or any show

Fun – Dare to karaoke; Run together in the rain; Bump cars; Play ball one-on-one; Try new board or card games; Go to an arcade

Not Your Usual – See fireworks; Go for a hot air balloon ride

Sentimental – Do volunteer work together; Visit each other's families especially grandparents

Out-of-Town – Go camping, create a bonfire then roast hotdogs or marshmallows; Go to the beach and do shell searching together; Visit exciting caves; Take a trip to any of our 7,107 islands

Something Physical – Go dancing, horseback riding, biking or rock climbing; Garden together; Work out together

Romantic – Go on a riverboat cruise or a country drive; Go for a moonlit or sunset walk; Park and stargaze; Listen to romantic music together

Practical – Grocery shop together; Walk your pets; Visit garage sales

Artsy -- Finger paint, build models, or decorate a room or Christmas tree

Social/Cultural – Go to a wedding, a party, or church together; See ballet, a play, a symphony or musical; Visit an art gallery, museum, an amusement or city park, or even a circus or your local haunted house

Educational – Join a hobby class together; Go to the bookstore; Read the news or tabloids and then comment or laugh together

Food fest – Have a picnic; Cook out; Bake cookies or cook special dishes together; Experiment with ice cream

Water sports or activities – Swimming, jet skiing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, water-skiing, sailing, scuba diving or snorkeling

Pet Props – Visit the zoo; See an aquarium; Visit a pet store

Child’s Play or Games – Play a game of tag; Climb trees together; Go rollerblading; Make and fly a kite; Visit a playground or your favorite childhood places and swap stories


So ano, date tayo weekend? hehehe. ciao!

My Favorite Things

The sun is setting, the sea particularly sparkling from afar, and though I’m listening to Maroon 5 at the moment, I can’t get Julie Andrews’ voice singing “These are a few of my favorite things…” out of my filmic (thank you for this term, Ronald) head. What the…?! Aaarrghhhh. So let me just play along for the moment…

My Favorite:

Dish: Hot and spicy tuna with cheese
Time of the Day: Sunset
Flower: Yellow or peach roses
Getaway: the Beach, with a nice, modern CR (of course! Hehehe)
Sensation: Raindrops on my skin
Hugs or kisses? Both! Both!
Mindless activity: Long drives to anywhere
Smell: Hmmm…FG knows
Exercise: Swimming
Drink: brewed coffee
City: Aside from home? Baguio.
Expense: Travel
Cake: Red Ribbon’s Choco Mallows (yummy)
Food: Ice Cream
Day of the week: Friday
Chocolate: Cadbury or any Swiss or Belgian choco
Shake: Mocha shake from Shakey’s
Thing to look at: the Moon
Pizza: Yellow Cab
Stress buster: Slow and deep shiatsu massages
Musical Instrument: Drums
Song: Burn
Date: Quiet talks by the beach
Alcoholic beverage: tequila (cuervo ha)
Musical Play: Miss Saigon
Author: uncomplicated, funny and wise Andrew Matthews
Book: Ecclesiastes
Color: Red (for now)
Morning alarm: sweet text messages

And, oh! -- my good friend Berna, who apparently is also praningningning (based on her latest blog entry. oops. peace, girl!), wrote me the sweetest (my favorite) testimonial ever on my birthday. (I luv u jud dai… and not once did you even mention the word ‘nice’--- I love you more! hehehe). I was so busy the past days that I almost missed reading it. Imagine?!

Anywayz, these are just a few (few daw!) of my favorite things… So can you hear it? Can you hear the music? Will you tell it to stop already please so I can get back to work? Nah, let’s sing nalang: “Raindrops on roses…”

18 + 2(5) = 7 (1+3) + 20(0)6

Apparently, numbers don't lie. Today, I turn 28 and try as i might, there's just no way i can argue my way out of it.

If my life were to turn out the way i planned:

2 years ago, i would have been at the peak of my professional career, livin' my dream job

last year, i would have traveled the world already

this year, i'd be married

and in two year's time, i would have died and gone to heaven.

And yet today I find myself, after everything -- still single, a traveler not of the world but of my own home, and working at a job i did not know was possible when i graduated from college.

Apparently, too, My life already has a plan not my own.

Maybe, after all, my friend M is right: If it's just too hard to get something, then that something must not really be for you. You're meant for something else."

Come to think of it, the best gifts in my life did come to me in moments unexpected and times when i did not really ask for them: my family, true friends, helpful hands and souls when i was down, free vacations, great jobs, a lover, a 7-inch angel flying on a quarter moon arriving at my doorstep last midnight, faith ... maybe, even love?

For one who hates surprises, my life is certainly full of them. Maybe that's what it's all about.

Me? I'm done with planning. I'm done with wishin' and hopin'.

I'm tired of waiting for the fire in me to spark. I'm done looking for magic.

If they're meant to come, they'll come.

Born under the sign of cancer, I learned some time ago my element is water. Perhaps the best thing for me now is just to go with the flow.

At 28, my heart is learning to beat only for the moment -- another of life's gifts.