me & leo

On Leo's birthday we tried walking to the Grand Place (tall, pointy, lighted building behind us)


The view behind Leo's office (he's on the 22nd floor!)


The hands of fate


I walked down the street on the left


Cathedral

Photo blog

Birthday Lunch, Leo comes home at lunch time to share a quick birthday lunch with me!




This is my first venture out of his building. He lives in a very busy area!


How do I rotate the damn thing?


The birthday afternoon|

Today!

I got up late today (although I still had to get up at 8 when Leo left to lock the door). Since Kari's post of krispy kreme's, I've been wanting to have a donut! We don't have much in Rome (otherwise I don't know where I'm looking) but I know you can have doughnuts in Brussels! I didn't get around to buying one yet, but on Leo's way home yesterday, he remembered that I said I wanted to buy some and you know what? on his way home yesterday, he bought me doughnuts and waffles!
:)
So I just had my breakfast.
I need to fix my things and get ready to leave by 2.30ish, I'm heading back to Rome. I'm meeting Leo at the airport, since he's coming straight from work.
I've had so much fun here (albeit, not as much fun as I would have wanted being so cold and rainy)but I have to head back to work. I'm glad I took these 3 days off to be with Leo, see where he lives and stuff. Very cool. I can't wait for the day that we're living together. But so many things have to happen first before that.

yesterday, today and tomorrow

so yesterday was Leo's birthday.
With all my daydreams of coming to Brussels to take care of Leo (make him breakfast, etc) I can tell you, when Leo woke me up to lock the door after he went to work (at almost 9ish) I crawled back into bed and STAYED there until 11.30.
his house is cosy (well, its a residence and not really a proper appartment) I took a shower and Leo came over for lunch! He brought food from outside so we could eat! we had a good time and then Leo went back to work. At 2.30ish, I decided to go out because I wanted to get Leo some stuff for his bathroom. I'm very proud of him, he's organized in his house and cleanish over all. But his bathroom was very bare and the tub needed scrubbing. I headed out confident, which was silly because I didn't know where I was going or that it was cold! I had forgotten that about Brussels. I walked as far as I could go, and found that Leo wasn't kidding when he said it was expensive. I finally made it to the Moroccan guys store and I bought the cleaning stuff I needed. I even bought the deodorizing thing for the toilet (you know when you flush), scrubbed the tub, dusted the surfaces and cleaned his mirrors. He was very happy when he got home! We opened his present (the french learning material I gave him) and his parents card. He was very happy. :)
We celebrated his birthday by eating in Pizza Hut! :) that was awesome! I really missed Pizza hut!
We wanted to walk to the Grand Place but it was so windy outside we made it less than half way and turned back! Leo got a lot of calls from Greece and his parents while we were out and even at home. while eating at pizza hut, his ex made his phone ring. Leo didn't have credit so he didn't call her back. He did panic a bit, because we were home opening his gift and Portugal (the ex) sent him an sms, "I arrived. I'm coming home" that's all she said. Leo was like, lets go quick, before she comes over. She knows where I live! Crazy Leo. He says there isn't anything there, so who am I to judge?
today I had lunch at Leo's office. I got up shortly after he left for work,as I wanted to go around the grand place and just chill. have a belgian waffle, walk, take pictures. My mom sent me an email. I added my brother onto Leo's skype list. When I got out of the shower, ralph and left a message on Leo's sykpe asking if I was here, because mom called the OFFICE and they told her I was here. Its all good. I wasn't really keeping it a secret. I just didn't have the time to tell them. Anyway, we had a long chat and before I knew it, it was almost 12. Leo had asked me to leave at 12 so I could be at his work by 12.15ish. It was 4 metro stops away. The sun was actually shinning today. I was so happy. That didn't really last when I stepped out. It was so damn windy and cold! The sun didn't help that much. I saw Leo's office (pictures to follow later), on the 22nd floor!
It's really impressive, outside his window you can see Central Brussels.
I spent the afternoon, aimlessly walking around, finding the Grand Place and the peeing statue.
I walked home tired and exhausted, but at least I bought all the pasalubongs I wanted too.
Tomorrow (i.e. today,) I'll post about separately.
I love Leo so much, I can't believe how happy I am, and how happy he makes me.

as you probably didn't know

I'M IN BRUSSELS!!!!
wait, let me say that again,
I MADE IT TO BELGIUM!!!!

*rewind the past 48 hours*

remember the grand birthday surprise plan for leo? the one main obstacle was that i wasn't allowed to travel without my documentation, which to this date hasn't arrived. 3 weeks ago, I gave up on the idea of coming since I didn't have the documentation. so I told Leo the idea and he was so happy I was planning to come, he was so optimistic, he was saying, "grace, maybe you'll get it and you can still come" Monday morning. with no news of my documentation, Leo writes me this email saying, "I'm still hoping for the miracle that you'll get it today" He who doesn't lack in faith, will always see the window open when the door is shut. I tend just to stare at the door, he would nudge me so I could see the window. Anyway,after telling everyone about my problem, Jill (bless her) overheard me talking about this problem and she showed me the police state's website, and it was written that people who are still waiting for their permesso's to be renewed may travel around the european states until the 30th of October.
I was jumping with joy. I made my leave slip, told Elena (when she came back) that I could actually travel and I was going from Wednesday to Friday. She was happy for me(off you go) and I handed my leave slip to Rob, which he signed (they're very cool at the office), and suddenly, I was overwhelmed. I had tasks to finish, the volunteer wasn't doing too well, and I had to pack!
I stayed until 6ish finishing what I could. I went to Kristine's house to get my endorsement letter for the car and sped home. As soon as I got in, I took in all the laundry hanging outside and watered the plants. Leo was going to call soon, and I was going to push through with the surprise! I closed up everything, made myself Carbonara (which sucked coz I used too much garlic and pasta! tragedy....*tsk*tsk*). I spoke to Leo around 9.30ish, by our standards, that's late. so we talked and I had to resist the urge to tell him. We talked about other things instead. It was 11.30 when he tucked me into bed, and I had to resist the urge to sleep. I haven't packed yet! I finished packing and everything by 1.30. But I couldn't sleep. So much so, that by 6.30 I was awake. It was good because I was planning to leave the car infront of the office. However, when I arrived at 8am, parking on the street infront of the office was already full! ARGH! So I parked by the other building. Let me also insert that on Monday afternoon, after I confirmed that I was leaving, I wrote an email to Leo's parents asking them if they had anything for him. I didn't receive a reply from the dad, so I assumed they didn't want to send anything. I mentioned in the email, if they had anything I would pass by at lunch time to get it.
Now Tuesday lunch was a bit messy. There's this Kenyan lady who prepares the most amazing samosas ever! Really! and she was coming at Tuesday lunch and we were just having a little get together. In the morning, Leo's dad called me to tell me that they have a card and if I could pick it up from their house. Since, I offered I couldn't say anything. The day was going to bad, I needed to reserve / buy Rob's ticket to Khartoum, deadline was on Tuesday, among other things. Fortunately, Mayra was going to take me the airport. i waited for the kenyan woman to arrive (edith) so I could pay her brought the food upstairs, stole one samosa and ran to the car in the other building to go to Leo's house to pick up the card, talk to the mom and explain why everything was last minute (in italian!) and head back to the office. Fortunately, at the end of the day around 5.40ish) I got the ride with Mayra. That woman can DRIVE! Shames our jeepney drivers, really. my flight was at 8.40, so i was there 2 hours before, 6.40 (thanks to Mayra's driving). The queue fortunately wasn't too long, however, I forgot to purchase check in luggage when I bought the ticket, so the guy told me I had to pay at the ticket center, whose queue was the opposite of what I just left. If it had taken me 20mins to check in, the payment queue took an HOUR! seriously!
It was all ok, because the bigger picture was I was going to see Leo! Leo's parents were so nice, the loved the Idea that I would go and see Leo on his birthday, so he doesn't have to celebrate his birthday alone in a strange city. The dad was really concerned though, he was like, what time will you arrive to the airport, how will you get to brussels, and if you encounter any delay, let me know so we can arrange with Leo that he met you. Its better that way, otherwise you'll be surprised when you get there and spend the night in the airport! His parents are so cool! Anyway, true enough, instead of boarding at 8.10 which got pushed back to 8.30 until I saw they changed it til 9, I had to tell Leo. So I called him up and said, I'm arriving tonight. He's like, really? I told him, I'd explain later everything, but my flight has been delayed til 9, etc. He was so happy that I was coming. We did have the fear that I wouldn't be able to catch a bus because the last bus was at 11.30 (from Charleroi to Brussels) and infact, because I had checked in luggage and everything, I got out by 12.05. Leo in the meanwhile had sent me sms' in directing me to where I could buy the bus ticket and even to find the bus! So it was very awesome. and very fortunately for me, I caught the bus! (Leo wasn't able to go to the airport because he missed the last bus from Brussels) we made it into Brussels at 1am! And Leo was at the stop waiting for me! :)
It was funny, because his parents were still calling him at that time, asking if I had arrived safely. :) We got to his house around 1.45 and he had bought me some mcdonalds as a snack, in case I was hungry. We ate and I greeted him a happy birthday! It was 2.30 when we finally went to bed.

question

just how important is religion?
personally, i believe in a higher being. i believe in God.
I believe in Mama Mary, Jesus, the angels and the saints.
I've also beein reading up about the orthodox church.
I knew I could never be with someone who would give up their religion for me, and I would never give up my religion for theirs.
but as leo and I talk more of a life together, I wonder what we will end up doing. how will we get married.
which religion should the kids be baptized in.
do i really still want to be catholic?
with what i've been thru (using it as an excuse) i never lost my faith in up above. I lost faith in the institution. i lost faith with humans (some) but never lost faith in HIM. Although, I'm hardly a model catholic. I skip church, intentionally. I don't make time to pray.
it is important for me to have faith, it is important for me to have someone with me that shares the same kind of values and tradition, honestly and the inner sense to be a good person. you don't have to be catholic, greek orthodox or even muslim to understand the basics of a good person.
so what should i do?

blast from the past

i should be making my dinner now,
i should be doing my spanish homework.
i logged onto facebook to find kuya and what do i see....
suzie with tomas fontano, my first crush!
it was funny because the last time i saw suzie (must have been senior year of hs. coz it was in the new house) she was like, how can you like him, he's so pangit.
granted, he's still not good looking in the photo i saw them with, but i was jolted with a longing for a different high school memory.
i wished so bad that i could have been there, i could have grown up with them. i wish my high school experience wasn't one wherein i felt so inadequete and out of place.
coming home to the philippines should have been like being putting on a perfectly fitted glove.
and i love the friends, i've made in h.s. the true ones (you're one of them kari, although i think we became more close during college)and i can count that with one hand, but all the rest. it was AWFUL.
i have facebook and keep intouch with my h.s. uk friends there and realized how much i've missed out and how i wish i could be part of that.
that's all i'm saying.

the difference between you and me

so i don't know if she was serious. could be, maybe, maybe not.
well, i'll just keep my distance and not distract her so much.
its my own fault anyway.
and when she gets over her temper, it'll all be fine.

just shows how much i miss you and certain situations (like being in a
"class") reminds me of the good memories of being with you..
and how i wish i could take those happy moments with me always. and make
each reminder, a fond memory to go back to.

i apologized. i apologized for being me. and that is so wrong.
you know how there are people who just bring out different sides of you.
there is amina, who i don't really know well, but whenever i see her, she just makes me feel so comfortable, i can and i end up talking to her about anything. there are other people, that bring out the silly side, there are people that you just can't get along with.
without meaning to, i got on her nerves.and so she uttered, leave me alone. i wasn't sure when she first said it if she was joking or not. she did speak to me after that - she asked a question, but for the remainder of the class, i hardly acknowledged her presence and that was difficult seeing that she was right beside me. and we're doing spanish together.
but as i said, i'll let her temper blow over and it'll be fine.

i apologized for being me. my great insecurity highlighted by a person who didn't know any better.
if i showed myself to my friends (which is why i'm not completely open to people, i have my different shades, but not the full colored me) i would most probably annoy them and i would be friendless. this person saw a shadow of a shade and was annoyed.

*sigh*
you cant win them all, but would you want to?

Wish list....

"Form a goal in your mind and if you believe in it enough, the universe will conspire to give it to you."
I can't tell if its from The Alchemist, because I remember reading something along this line there, or from a different source, but THANKS KARI for this line.

Grace (Fuentes) came up with a list of things she'd want to do before 30.
I guess that's much better than making a generic wish list with no deadline. At least with a deadline you can make it happen more than wishful thinking.
So here's my list (before 30? maybe before i get married! hehehe)

to go wall climbing
learn salsa dancing!
learn to ski (even just one season)
learn spanish well.
go to madrid and read in their library our history written in their point of view
go to sweden!
see the northern lights.
explore the rest of europe.
go to africa!
see the pyramids of egypt!
go to mexico!
see Machu Picchu!
diving and surfing!

before turning 35 i want to get a second undergrad degree - and maybe pursue a masters
my events business will maybe always be the unattainable dream

what do you want to do?

Alex...

oh, along with my thoughts about marriage and anto and me and her and whatever,
because people at work are giving me a hard time about getting married (well, anto is 30! so really, no rush for me!)
here's a guy who is taking it slow
now, i don't believe in judging my friends.
so i'll try and share this as non-judgemental as i can.
alex is pushing 30 (ok, fine, he's turning 29 this october)
his girlfriend, when they first got together (they got together late last year, overlapping with another girl, but that's a different story) and well, she just graduated HIGH SCHOOL!
did that just freak you out or what?
guy who is 29 is dating a HIGH SCHOOL student. now, well, its different. funny how words can change things. now she's a university student. so that doesn't sound so bad right? 29 year old guy and a university girl.
but hello?!
what are we doing with relationships when we pass a certain age.
i mean, i could be completely wrong and this is a relationship that he really wants to work on, but he'll have kids at 35ish if he's lucky. plus, its also not fair for the girl, because she's still growing up and he's old already. not mature, but old.
am i overreacting?
is it just me?

before or after the romance

i had coffee with anto today.
she finally told me her engagement story.
i've met the guy, he's really nice. and from what elena can gather, rich too!
hahahaha
they were walking along the park and he told her that he had a surprise for her but she had to close her eyes, he put his arm around her with his hand at her eye level and asked her to open her eyes.
When she opened them there was a box in his hand. She opened it and there was the ring!
:)
In celebration (I think) they, went to Rhodes, Greece a trip at his expense and chose a great (5 star) hotel and paid for it all.
He swept her off her feet.
They will get married on 27 September 2008.
The guy already has a house too. Its currently being rented out (as he needed the extra cash I think) but the tenant moves out at the end of the year. So all of next year, they have time to renovate and furnish the house.
Gosh, when some things are meant to be, they just all fall into place don't you think?

Now, Leo and I have talked about the future. Which is great. You know, planning the kids and everything, but I wonder if I've forfeited the surprise of getting married.
I'm a romantic through and through and I would want the most romantic proposal, and the most unexpected one. But if we've talked about it...what does that mean? Will I still ever have it? Will my fairy tale be complete?

the email that was never sent

well, my stories have always been here if you've ever wanted to read them.
i can't believe guys just don't know how to listen, and it applies to everyone who has something hanging in between their legs (straight or gay).
oh and addie *girlish squiming* you owe galdys a kwento!
*eyes start rolling here*
noone is perfect adds, not even our dream guys.
but at least he should have the basic qualities you require, otherwise, i don't understand how it can work!
let me take a stab at this, intellect, sense of humour and patience,
player!
liar, vain, stupid?
he is wallowing in self pity,
because he doesn't have a job,
he blames my mother
and it hurts me because he says he HATES her....

these kids, they don't understand from the parental point of view.
my mother would want to provide for his masters, she really does,
but he is pissed off that they can't afford it,
he says his life is screwed because of them....

because we can't afford it, what am i missing here?!

i wub you

with all the ups and downs and insecurities in between, its a wonder why leo doesn't just dump me
of course, he doesn't know most of the up, down, and insecurities,
but the weekend was awesome....
:)
i got flagged down by the police on my way to ciampino....second time! but it was the carabinieri, and so as soon as he saw the CD plates he let me go....
i ran into a british asian couple who where late for their flight and instead of going to departures, ended up at the arrivals.
friday night was spent near piramide, we had dinner, there.... and then saturday, we had a full day! we passed by conad to get some stuff, and i had called celia telling her to make carbonnara. so we had lunch at home, and rested up. we waited for federico to show up. he's the story i just don't want to talk about because he gets me so aggravated with just the thought.
We left around 5 to go to his house and finally take a step towards the plan we've been talking about, we bought a bike!
:)
We've been talking about biking but we never got the chance to. Leo has one, but I dont. Well, I didn't. Now I do! In anycase, we bought one and we struggled to bring it back home. Once home, we had to struggle to get it working coz some things fell off. After probably an hour, we got it to work and then, we went biking! Not too far away, we found a small ground wherein I could practice biking without cars. I was very shaky at first but I think I got the hang of it. Leo was so patient with me. I'm so happy (and pleasantly surprised!). I mean, come on guys, really, who would really take the time and help me remember to learn how to bike and we can just go biking? In anycase, Leo is coming back next Friday and well, we're going to biking some more! I can't wait. I left my bike, in their storage space. I don't have any here.
Anyhoo....he watered the plants and I watched TV. He talked to his parents in greece and I still watched tv. Unfortunately, his parents were sick in Anthens and the sad part was that everyone is on vacation, even most of the hospital staff!
We had dinner out and then i decided to sleep at his house. It was ok. The bed wasn't as comfortable, but at least I was with Leo - that was the main thing.
:)