easter mondate

It was the last day of our long vacation, and unwilling as we were to accept the harsh reality of work the next day, we acknowledged our last day in paradise by going out on a date on Monday, our last holiday frontier.  (Our original date was cancelled because of my sudden fever, soon as we arrived back in Manila.)

We went for a destessing massage, (how ironic, to need destressing after a 5-day vacation=p)  and had our date at an unlikely romantic destination. My tastebuds were hankering for something flavorful and since our massage ended late, we headed to the only Thai place conceivably open at 9pm: SOMS.

It’s a small eatery nestled behind the busy road leading to Rockwell.  That night, the air was cool, and the place was bustling with clients from the area.  The canopy of trees were lit with tivoli lights that reminded me of christmas.  The setting couldnt have been more quaint or romantic.  As we settled ourselves in a hidden nook, we savored my Thai fix,  I was reminded strongly about my idealistic youth.  As my tastebuds were exploding with the perfect blend of Thai spices, I was transported back to college, where my dates consisted primarily of the magic of the moment and not the elegance of the food or the venue.  It was more of an adventure dictated by imagination and the capacity of our student allowance.

As I looked at my husband over our easter monday date, I was once again transported to the magical romance of my youth; I was in the magic of someone I love in an unpretentious environment where any setting would have been perfect because of my date.

H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S

As I have said in the beginning of 2009, this is  MY YEAR and I’m making a conscious effort to attract positive things my way.

One of the simple things that give me immense consolation is watching plays; musicals in particular and I’ve been fortunate to see at least one a month. The most recent one which has really prompted me to write this review is, obviously, Spelling Bee.

Everything about it was fun for me, and it certainly did prove that laughter is the best medicine (I was suffering from an unbearable migraine that day until the time I settled in my seat in the back of the auditorium).

We booked ourselves the lousiest seats in the auditorium, but even that did not deter my enjoyment of the lines.  It was an uncanny beginning because a lady stranger walked up to my husband and me right before the show started offering us properties for sale. I found it odd, (but since my husband and I are certified queer magnets, it was nothing worth puzzling over) until I realized that she was one of the leads in the show, working her way through the audience and onto the stage!

Then, the show started with an adorable soundtrack and masterfully portrayed kids.  Added to this entertaining mix is the witty dialogue that made me shake off my migraine from all the chortling and laughter.  You can’t be a passive audience in this play for sure.  Another thing that delighted me were the additional ‘surprise’ spellers that were called out from the audience, and among them were celebrity guests: Sitti and Miguel Mendoza (from Pinoy Idol).  They were willing and game participants among a dynamic and well-versed cast of expert spellers.

I love that it is a show about kids and their very real and important angsts about failure, and achievement.  I love that it was played authentically by characters who have obviously studied or worked with children.  I love that the words chosen in the bee were a punchline in themselves.  I would watch it again if I could. It was the best money I spent so far this year.