When A Hobby Pays Off

Something I learned during a recent business trip: when it's a business gathering, it must mean really doing business. I have been to a national entrepreneurship convention for the past few days. As any convention goes, there was a lot of talking, lots of ideas conceived, and the future looked so promising. But going there, I was bound for something else. I wanted to meet new people, learn something to drive my organization forward- and do business. I backpacked a few copies of my book. Who knew? What if I  got lucky? I would never have the slightest idea if my product would sell to strangers unless I gave it a try. If people believed in my product, so much the better. And if they don't, what is there to lose? Luckily, interested people came pouring in when I announced that there was an available culinary fiction in the room, for anyone interested in food, fairy tales, or simply in reading a love story. And they could get it at a very low price. 

I sold around sixteen copies that day. Not so bad for a three-hour selling :) 

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Writing for me started out just as a hobby. I never meant to be a professional writer. But writing got me into a college scholarship. And writing helped me keep my sanity intact during the most depressing events of life. I write because I love to. I may not be perfect at it, and people may not like or believe in what I write, but I always write from the heart. 

As for selling, well... I've experienced selling cupcakes, make-up, pili candy, yema, stories for reading, a few writing services, tried to open a gypsy booth in a college open house and was surprised to see people lining up outside it. Sold anything. Wrote anything. 

Hobbies are said to be expressions of inner passions, right? So when I was writing my very first book, even with a very tiny child, I had to work it. Not surprising if I dragged Julienne at the National Library when I applied for my copyright. I wanted to get a book done at least once in this little lifetime. 

Lining up at the cashier of the National Library. 

And of course, enjoy everything as I go. :) 

Lunch break. 

How To Live? Without Coffee?

I had been to the dentist last Saturday. While my gums are okay, there are some things that I must dismiss from my diet. I was sniffing mentally as I walked out the clinic- though at the same time rejoicing for having had the most wonderful dental treatment I've had in this life. I said I was sniffing in my mind because I had to cut down on my coffee intake. Because...













Number one, because coffee stains the teeth and lips.
Number two, because coffee tends to flush out calcium from the body.
Number three, in relation to number two, when I had my bone density scanned, I was advised to drink more milk than coffee.

What is going on? During my pregnancy I had to beg my doctor to please allow me to drink coffee at least when my daughter was twelve weeks in utero. The kindly doctor gave me a go signal when I said, I will die if I will not drink coffee...
Now, this. My teeth are showing signs of too much coffee consumption. I had to cut down.

No problem. Now I'm having a new love affair with green tea. So far, I've lost a few pounds since the tea-drinking habit kicked off. I might retain it. For good.

What Day Is It?

What I feel right now is like springing up from an afternoon of sleeping. Sleeping past lunch, waking up, jerking - panicking - losing that basic sense of time. What time is it? It was only... it was only a few hours ago that I had been moving around and about.
The past weeks and months had been full of activities. There were the holidays, and many traveling to and fro Manila for many weeks.  I just moved Julienne Roux from our apartment in the city, back to the house where I grew up. And because she moved, of course I had to follow suit. I changed jobs- from a fast-paced culinary career into a more low-key business teaching and business creation and development coaching for young entrepreneurs. The two are quite far-fetched, but previous experiences seemed to prepare me for that ordeal somehow.
Living in the province feels like the ideal life for me. Friends and former colleagues had been asking if I had any regrets, having established a house in the city, and having lived and studied and worked there for the last sixteen years. I said, no. No regrets at all. While I am not closing doors to what the future could possibly bring, I am enjoying the provincial life to the core. More blogs about that in the future.

Now, getting a grip back to the blogging life, there is a song singing in my head...

I don't remember what day it was
I don't remember what time it was 
All I know is that I fell in love with you 
And if all my dreams come true
I'll be spending time with you! 

I Love You More Today Than Yesterday 

-The Spiral Staircase