Just me and my shadow dancing

To dance as if no one was watching and with no care to the world last Friday night until the wee hours of Saturday morning made me realize how much I missed my craft: be it classical ballet, jazz, ballroom or disco/bar lounge grooving.

Did not mind the sweat streaming down my face; did not feel my feet ache from the high heels I was wearing; did not bother with the crowd closing in on me nor the smoke emitted from smokers around me and from the DJ's booth. I was basking in it all.

I was lost in my own world, in the comfort and reality of dancing. I was on my own most of the time, dancing and unleashing myself, and once in a while, someone would offer to partner with me for a sweet, slow LA walk or an exhilarating swing that left me breathless, excited and happy.

To dance: my dance, my partner's dance, our dance, and my dance again.

- Google+ Status, 7 August 2011

Goals After Submitting My GIR

It was liberating to change my Governance Innovation Report (GIR) topic so I can fully finish my graduate degree with the Ateneo School of Government (ASoG). Changed topic, changed adviser and what I did not expect was the dean - Tony La Vina - specifically telling me that he insisted to help me in accomplishing it. How wonderful is that?!

With renewed interest and "aggression", I am intent to finish my "thesis" this year. Target: November 2010. I can almost smell that Masters in Public Management or MPM attachment at the end of my name.

Now that the GIR has captured my time and attention, I intend to treat myself to hobbies I took up and seemingly left "hanging". So here I am churning up a list of things I would like to pursue again after I am done.

1. Ballet (with Dione Estabillo) - Whenever I look at my pointes or toe shoes, I can't help but feel the strong tug to go back and dance. This will be the third time I will go back to the first thing I love. So Magdalena Dione, expect me to be with you in the dance studio around January 2011.

2. Piano - I used to enjoy pounding on the keyboard until I grew out of it. (Read as bored.) Now that our old piano is gone and I've rekindled a love to play tunes, I'd like to fill our home with soothing music my mom and I can hum, sing and sway to.

3. German and Spanish lessons - It's such a waste that I did not get to fully utilize these. Especially my German since I graduated with a minor in that language. Time to take out the rustiness by reviewing my notes, lessons and books. This will also prepare me for another round of studies - this time overseas. More on this in a later post.

4. Target shooting - Aside from the fact that I am trigger happy, this activity will be my bonding with my cousin Pinggoy. Plus, I can't wait to earn my license to own a gun for my protection.

5. Scuba diving (!) - Ah yes, my dive master and my diving friends have been wondering about when I am going back to diving. I miss the sea and everything in it. It was also another sanctuary and a relief from stress when I was into it.

There are more I know but these are the "immediate" so to speak. Will share more of my goals in another post. But because I took these up and never bother to sustain these interests, I think it is about time that I took these seriously.

The initial investments made and seeing the materials/ equipment I purchased haunt, nag and remind me (and yeah I guess whisper at me disturbingly). I should add ultimate frisbee here but it will depend on how healed my left hip is.

So much to look forward to after the GIR. Another way of providing myself incentives. Not bad really.