RED and the Jamaican pattie on the floor

After a refreshing trip to Taipei, I went back to work today, not so ready. My mind is still afloat, so I had to force myself to make a mental note of everything I had to do for the week. Though overwhelming as it may seem, I think the time off from everything sort of recharged me and despite my floating mind and hesitant disposition this morning, easing into work today seemed to be quite smooth by lunch time. I was on a roll by early afternoon.

One of the things I liked from my Taipei trip was seeing that most of the food i eat is not really good - delicious good, yes, but healthy good? Far from it. I made a mental note today to be conscious of what I eat, and so far it is working - I may manage to lose substantial weight by end of the year. Also, I have to go back to the gym. One week off can take its toll, but as I told my trainer, he has to start being mindful of pushing me too far. He has too or else, I will replace him. Had to check with my doctor before I left for Taipei due to persistent pain in the left calf and leg area. His diagnosis - an over accumulation of lactic acid in my muscles, due to over exertion. I was trying too hard too fast. Well, at least I've rested. And I realized that my extensive, relentless walking in Taipei has made my leg and calf muscle painful at the onset, but bearable after a while. So I guess i have to continue the exercise. But with more caution on over exerting.

Anyway, after work, at around 7, I decided to do some more walking. I don't have my car today since it I can't bring it out on Wednesdays (Manila has a strange way of decongesting traffic - one of them is banning your car one day a week. I wonder if it is really working). So i had no choice but to walk. After a little walking, I realized that the traffic is horrendous (as always), so I decided to see a movie instead to kill time until traffic thins out. I decided to see RED, since I have been seeing huge posters of it in Taipei (and it stars Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Karl Urban, Mary Louise Parker, the great John Malkovich and her highness Helen Mirren so it should be good). Before going straight to the cinemas, I decided to buy two Jamaican patties. I was lucky because I was the last one in line to get the last two pieces (haha, sorry to the two couples behind me).  I realized my last food intake was around 1pm, and it was just vegetables and tofu and a little bit of rice. I was starving! In fact, I was trembling a little. Talk about hunger pangs; I was worried people will hear my stomach grumble. LOL!

Anyway, I went to the cinema with my ticket my two patties, my green tea. I ate one patty at the theater doors, waiting for the cinema empty out from the last screening. I was led to my seat, and as I was settling down, the second patty slipped from my lap and fell into the back of the seat in front of me. There it was, seen only by the light from the projector, naked, out of its paper pouch, in its full naked glory. 5 SECOND RULE,  I mentally shouted and scrambled to get it. Also, it was the last piece in all of Greenbelt, so I had to save it (naks!).

Now this is where it gets weird. As i scooped it out of the floor, I checked to see if it was dirty, using the light from my phone. I mentally noted that it is still alright, and since it was dark and no one was around, I decided to eat it, thinking WHAT I CAN'T SEE WON'T HURT ME.... It didn't. I am still ok now, writing this story. And I enjoyed RED, after all. All the cast members did an acceptable performance. It could be better, but hey, it's an action movie. Helen's fantastically efficient timing and phrasing can only do so much. Though she really was convincing as a retired agent/hired killer. Bruce was his usual self, only older (and yes, he was a retiree in this movie, with pension checks and an empty nest, for full dramatic effect. After the movie, I actually totally forgot that I ate a whole Jamaican pattie that I took out from the floor. There is always a first - this is a first, as far as I can remember.

So there, the moral of the story is - those who try are better than those who plan. I actually got that from the notebook cover of a cigarette/street food vendor who hawks his wares in front of my client's office. Who knew I could connect that to my food-from-the-floor experience? By the way, Taipei is niiiiice. More on that in another post.

bigboy promises to get back to you soon with new news! nunus!