and im off to chicago (soon)

24th, will be flown to chicago

got the email at work early yesterday morning. 3 of my works (an animation, a photograph, and the spreek je filipijns book) were chosen to be included in an art show in chicago to be held on the 24th. really happy about it obviously coz it includes being flown free and hoteled free as well for the opening night of the exhibit. (and jason gives himself an invisible pat on the back, good job, johnny!) only caveat though is that i might be flying to chicago only for the 3-hour event and then take a red eye flight back to ny. all depends on whether i get to convince the office to give me a free day off (coz my days are all spent up with all the travelling done and those to be done, and ive already planned on asking for another free day for when the dutchman comes flying to new york). but anyway, not to make things complicated and create problems where there aren't any--im really happy for the great news. for a while there, i thought my creative juices have lost their power (not that it's necessary to be featured in art shows to prove one's worth of course). congratulations, me! (jeez, such a self-important person this is. no wonder he's thriving in new york. ha!)

to make things even better, i got my free dvds from sony as well. nice collection of short films shot on their high-end high-tech digital cam, the cinealta. while i was opening the packages, i realized they mailed me an extra one. is it my birthday or what? but i obviously have no need for the extra so whoever wants it, email me or post a comment. first one who responds gets it [already claimed, sorry. raf gets it, all the way from japan].

while all that opening of dvd packages was happening, my phone rings. crunch fitness representative calling. turns out i had won a free (week's) gym membership from a raffle i had joined a week or two ago. of course i already have a membership at the nyu sports club but the crunch one should be good coz they have classes which id like to try, even for just a week--a more strenuous type of yoga, boxing, etc...

i could get used to this string of good luck (most be the yoga, or not).

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spent some time at work today preparing for this sunday's event that ive organized. a "socially-themed" lunch out among filipinos, friends and strangers. ive created a mock newsletter which i think is quite good. special thanks to gettyimages, anna for the research work, and no thanks to leslie for not getting the babalik ka rin lyrics for me, hehe. should be a good lunch. not sure if there'll be lots who'll attend but it feels kinda good (and strange) sending these invites to people whom i dont even know (especially that i use all these strange sounding spam-names).

lunch get-together with pinoys on sunday. tomorrow, a symposium with newfound italian friend, olivia -great italian accent- fincato. it for now. tons of chosen work to be done.