Simple joys 89: Keeping the faith

"Running is the ultimate faith healer, restoring belief not only in oneself but in life's possibilities."

.Bart Yasso.

With that in mind, I've been running like crazy. Tonight, I finally gritted my teeth and did that 10K distance that has been long overdue for me to do. And this is what I get:

Sub-1 on my first attempt. I hope I can do this again in an actual run.
I'm so thankful to have discovered the joys of running, even this late in my life.
Please God, let me be able to run forever.


This is my birthday run for you, Superman.

Simple joys 88: Running my heart out

Definitely not bad, after not running at all (and eating badly) during the Yuletide break. 

Thanks to that nifty Nike+ Ipod thingamajig, I am now able to track my runs better.

More love, more xoxoxo's this 2012

Neil Gaiman's New Year wishes again. Never fails.

I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you’ll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be,  be wise, and that you will always be kind.

-Neil Gaiman

 

***************

I believe I can tick almost all of the above. Again, 2011 was not without hitches, but I always prefer to see the good stuff behind every not-so-good things that happen. I'm learning, and trying to let go of bad feelings and whatever issues I may have. I am happy to be alive. I am happy with I have done and created for myself. It may not be that grand for some, but I have more than most, and for now, I have enough. I am always one to count my blessings.

So, Water Dragon, please be a good to me. This Tiger babe will growl and roar and be fearless.

And most of all, thank you, Lord, again, for everything.

Simple joys 87: Enchanted

This is me praying that this was the very first page, not where the storyline ends. My thoughts will echo your name until I see you again.

I miss you...

11/11/11

Simple joys 86: My Aya

Aya

a.k.a.

Daniella of Harriane Rain

6 November 2002 - 31 October 2011

Thank you for the memories. 

Thank you for always loving me.
I knew you were meant to be with me 

when I learned that we shared the same name.

I already miss you so, baby girl.

Simple joys 85: That 1st day

 

And it was two days, and a year ago today. 

I had absolutely no idea then how much you'd mean to me.

Simple joys 84: Zugbu Liempo @Maginhawa St.

It took the most recent (although not too recent since it was over a month ago) long weekend for me to finally pay my favorite cousin, Ate Bambi, a visit in Quezon City. I'll never know why it's difficult for me to drag my tooshie to QC and get pampered by Ate Bambi when she pulls out all the stops to make sure I get taken cared of, and I am WELL FED. Seriously. She knows the best places to eat, whatever cuisine you may have your taste buds set on. So if you're on a diet of sorts, he he, she's gonna wreak havoc on it. And with my healthy living and healthy eating drama, it was quite a challenge to say no to this:

All hail Zugbu Liempo, tastier than Cebu lechon! The meat is tender, juicy, and flavorful. The skin is crispy, as lechon skin is supposed to be. The marbling on the meat is just wonderful---you'd think that the pig had done cardio exercises. Plus, it's roasted---not fried like lechon kawali, so it's a wee-bit healthier. I'm all about healthier food choices, even if the choices before me are not that healthy, he he.

I eat liempo (pork belly) and other sinful pork dishes (e.g. crispy pata, lechon kawali, etc.) in moderation. If I can help it, I'd eat a healthier alternative to those. However, the mere aroma of Zugbu Liempo was enough for me to forget whatever dietary restrictions I've placed myself on. And Ate Bambi dangled the offer to take me to UP Diliman to run (or bike). Well, even without that offer, I'd still eat that liempo, hehehe. It's really delicious, I swear.

Zugbu Liempo-Maginhawa Branch is located at 79 Maginhawa Street, UP Village, Diliman, Quezon City. They also have Litson Manok. A whole liempo costs PhP199, which is really value for your money. Their Face Book page is here.

So if you find yourself anywhere near Diliman, drop by Zugbu Lechon!