End of an Era in Badminton

The 2008 Beijing Olympics marks the end for many of the badminton players I've known since I started playing badminton in 2004.  It's sad that I won't be seeing them in tournaments anymore.

Zhang Ning. She's been around since 1996 (from what I've read) when she was beaten in the 1996 Uber Cup by then 16 year old Mia Audina. You could say she's a late bloomer, only rising to the top at 28 years old after Gong Ruina, Gong Zhichao, Zhou Mi left. Her reign was also short but she made the most of it winning the 2003 World Championships, 2004 and 2008 olympics and many titles after the 2004 olympics.

Gao Ling. No official announcement has been made but it's likely that she will be retiring. She has won everything there is in badminton whether in the mixed doubles and women's doubles category. Truly a legend in badminton. Her mixed doubles partner Zhang Jun retired last year due to injuries. He got to be torch bearer in the Beijing Olympics for winning gold in mixed doubles twice with Gao Ling (2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens).

Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen. My favorite women's doubles team. Yang Wei actually partnered Gao Ling in women's doubles in the 1996 World Junior Championships which they won. Yang and Zhang were olympic champions in Athens, also world champions, and won many titles together. There were briefly separated last year when Yang Wei was partnered with Zhao Ting Ting but were reunited for the Beijing Olympics. Too bad they were unable keep their title.

Xie Xing Fang. This one I'm not sure but she has been heard saying the drive to win is not there anymore as evidenced by her loss to Zhang Ning in the Beijing olympic final. All she wants to do is get married and cook for Lin Dan :)

Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah. My favorite men's doubles players have been around since 1995 but have not really won anything of note. They won the 2004 Malaysian Open, the Dutch Open, ABC, and have been runner up twice in the All England. Still they I like the way they look on court when playing and Lee Wan Wah's sooo handsome :D

I don't know anyone else retiring. Taufik is playing till the end of this year. I need to find new favorites to root for in the coming tournaments. So far, only Lee Yong Dae has caught my attention.

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Growing Out Short Hair - Some Tips

I've had short hair for more than three years and am now longing for hair that I can style. So I'm growing it out. I've had it up to my chin last June but in a moment of insanity I've had it chopped again. Now I'm regretting it. I have to start all over.

I've been searching for a sort of transition hairstyle that would keep my from lopping it off again when it doesn't look good. I like Katie Holmes' do in these pics (just ignore the pegged pants).

If you're growing out your hair:

• Wait longer in between haircuts. If you're getting maintenance cuts every six weeks with shorter hair, try waiting three months before getting trims.
• Use conditioner and don't rub hair dry with a towel to prevent damage. Squeeze out water from hair gently with a towel. 
• Use a wide tooth comb for wet hair.
• Avoid using hot water and hair dryers which damage hair.
• Have weekly scalp massage to stimulate hair folicles.
• Get plenty of rest and sleep and eat a balanced diet

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My First Completed Crochet Project

I used to do some crocheting years ago but I've never completed any of my projects. I would get bored with it and move on the something else. Lately my interest in crocheting has been renewed. I searched online for a simple pattern that would be useful to me and easily finished to keep my interest going.

I finished this wrist bag in one week. Useful to put my wallet and mobile phone in during lunchtime forays to the mall.

There are so many nice patterns online and am downloading everything that I find doable looking for my next project.

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Rainy Day

I love rainy days....as long as I'm indoors. This is the window behind me in the office. Usually the blinds are down to shield my computer monitor from the glare. But on days like this, its so nice to watch to rain pouring down and the trees gently swaying.

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Serenity

I have a friend who's been struggling with family issues ever since I first knew her. Decades after, it's still the main conflict in her life. I was chatting with her yesterday about her issues with her brother and I realized that her problem was control. Whether it was an event in her life, a friend, family, she had to be in control of their actions, of the outcome, of everything.

She has a good heart and I know that this comes from wanting the best for everyone. The thing is, life is full of surprises and most of what happens in our lives cannot be controlled. And certainly our family, husbands, friends, siblings, children should not be controlled.

As for her brother, she told me that she decided not to talk to him anymore and has not done so in about a year. I said if that's what will give you peace and quiet, then so be it. Reconciliation will come when it is time. What is holding her back in this situation is her desire for her brother to respect her feelings and her individuality. I told her you cannot change your brother. Just let it be.

Just let it be. This is what I learned from P. Know that you did the best you could and leave the rest to the experts...to Him. Know when to let go. I used to be like my friend. I believed in positive thinking and that nothing cannot be changed or fixed if one wants it badly enough. After all the tribulations I've been through in my life, I've learned to simply let go. This little prayer really works for me:

God Grant Me The Serenity
To Accept The Things I Cannot Change
Courage To Change The Things I Can
And The Wisdom To Know The Difference

and

Psalm 121:3 - He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber.

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A Dozen Red Roses

I've always thought that giving flowers was a waste of money. Better to give chocolates or have dinner in a nice restaurant. Probably because I never got any flowers hahahaha....

Yesterday, P gave me a dozen red roses for my birthday. Wow...it's nice pala to get flowers :) I didn't have a vase to put them in so I improvised and used a jar.

He also wanted to have dinner in a nice restaurant. However, the TV was showing badminton matches from the Beijing Olympics and we wanted to follow the Taufik/Wong Choong Han match through the livescore. We had food delivered instead from Max.

I would always be the one ordering whenever we wanted food delivered as he had difficulty communicating with the order taker through the phone. But last night I wanted him to do the ordering. It's more special I told him. He had no choice.....hahaha......took him a while but it turned out alright.

p.s.-taufik lost :(

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The Best Kinda Cake

My friend K brought me a slice of birthday cake last week. It's chiffon cake with marshmallow icing. These kinda cakes are specially ordered for occasions like birthdays, debuts, etc. so it's not readily available. That slice of cake triggered a tremendous craving for birthday cake. It's my favorite. For me nothing compares.

Yesterday, I went to goldilocks to order one. I was told that they don't make it anymore. So off I went to Red Ribbon hoping it's available there. The conversation with the order taker went like this:

Me: Miss, mag order ako ng birthday cake.
OT: For boy or girl?
Me: Walang okasyon gusto ko lang kumain ng birthday cake.
OT: Meron kaming cakes dito (gesturing towards the display of cakes like black forest-ugh)
Me: Hindi gusto ko nga birthday cake. Mag oorder ako.
OT: For boy or girl?
Me: Hay...sige girl.
OT: Ito po ang catalogue.
Me: Ano bang pinakamura? Gusto ko lang kumain ng cake.
OT: Mam, tingin na lang kayo sa catalogue.
Me: (Leafing through the catalogue) Ano itong boiled icing? Ito ba yung marshmallow icing?
OT: Ahhh....Mam itanong nyo na lang sa manager..ayun po.
Me: (arrrgggh going to the manager) Miss, ito bang boiled icing e marshmallow icing?
Mgr: Yes Mam.
Me: Salamat (went back to the catalogue looking for the cheapest cake with no design)
After finding the cheapest, round picture cake for P500, I went to the counter.
Me: Miss, oorder na ko. Ito na lang.
OT: Mam, dun po sa manager nyo i-order.
Me: *sigh* went to the manager again....Miss, order ako ng birthday cake...ito.
Mgr: Sige Mam, picture cake, anong picture po ilalagay?
Me: Wag na, wala naman okasyon, gusto ko lang kumain ng birthday cake.
Mgr: Kailangan po may picture kasi picture cake.
Me: (AAAaaaarrrghhh....just a little more patience...) sige meron ba pagpipilian dyan?
Mgr: Ito po.
Me: Ito na lang (pointing at the first one).
Mgr: Paki fill up po itong form at full payment po. Ano pong ilalagay na greeting?
Me: (Filling up the form)...lagyan mo na lang ng pangalan ko
Mgr: Ok Mam, bukas po ang pick up ganitong oras din po.
Me: Hoooray...finally....I get to eat my cake!

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Vanity?

What is it with mirrors that people, male and female alike, cannot resist looking at their reflections? It is specially noticeable in elevators.

I live in a building with elevators that have mirrors. The whole back of the elevator is mirrored. So when one enters, its the first thing they see unless the elevator is full. Females (and some males I might add) head straight for the back to look at themselves. Adjusting their clothes, hair, wipe smudges from their faces or just plain admiring their reflection. I find it so funny. I can understand if they're running late and did not have enough time to fix themselves up but most of them looked perfectly fine.

Why then can people not resist the draw of the mirror? Insecurity? Lack of confidence in their looks? Or just plain vanity?

What do you think?

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PANDESAL atbp.

Dito sa division namin walang magugutom. Kung wala kang pera o di kaya walang oras mag almusal o basta gutom ka lang...punta ka lang sa center table o kaya sa file room...palaging may pagkain.

Tulad ngayong umaga, ito ang meron sa file room. Yung PANDESAL na malaki pa sa plato, spaghetti at cupcake.

Eto magaaalas dose na di ko pa maubos kaya hindi na ako kakain ng lunch. Busog na busog na ko.

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Captive Victim!

P who's a medical student told me that they have recently been shown how to draw blood for blood testing. They will have a practical exam this coming week and he was complaining how it's been difficult to find a "victim" to practice on. While telling me all this, he was busy preparing the cotton, alcohol, syringe, and tourniquet which was making me apprehensive by the second. Sure enough, a moment later he took my arm and started feeling for the vein. Me! OMG! I'm scared of needles even at my age. Every year when I have my annual physical exam and have blood drawn for a blood test, I sit in the chair, grip the arms of the chair tight and close my eyes until it's done. 

But in the interest of helping him out in learning how to draw blood, I swallowed my fear, covered my eyes and started breathing deeply. To his credit, he was gentle. After 4 pokes though, 3 on my right arm and 1 on my left, he wasn't successful. So he called it quits for now.

That was last weekend. I thought it was over. Oh no was I wrong! The practical exam is this week. The medical student needed to get it right to pass the blood drawing exam. So once again, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. When it was over, I opened my eyes and he showed me the syringe, a fourth of it filled with my blood. At least THIS time he got it right. Then he took my blood pressure - 100/70. And listened to my heartbeat - normal. Counted my pulse (80 beats) - normal (within 60-90 beats per minute). Listened to my lungs - no signs of TB.

Whew! He'd better ace that practical exam and treat me to dinner after.

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