[Ny Minute Now]

On my way to Serafina on Sunday I walked past this guy and couldn't help going back to ask him about this way too intiguing "mobile office"—in its most literal sense.

Me: "Um, excuse me, may I take your picture?"
Guy: [nodding nonchalantly] "Sure."
Me: "Thanks. So, what work do you do here?"
Guy: [really wanting me to go away, now] "I'm a freelance writer and editor."
Me: "Oh my gosh! Me too! But I don't have this office."

I managed to squeeze out a name (Stefan) who mentioned that on weekends, this was where he conducted work. According to a friend, she's seen him parked near where she worked. So I guess this guy's pretty serious about this whole writing-on-weekends-on-the-mobile-office kind of thing. Flowers, desk lamp, stapler, and all.

Week 2 of freelancing and surprisingly I’m… having fun. After give or take two or three weeks of being paralyzed by fear, wanting to sleep all day, and getting my new ‘office’ in order (Staples and cables now in place), I am now settling into a workable routine. One good hair day at a time.

My Mondays have become an unplanned, yet welcome, foray into the culinary arts. Last week was highlighted by gooey dark chocolate brownies and homemade banana-walnut-chocolate chip muffins; this week it’s a big batch of spaghetti in cheesy tuna tomato sauce. (I’m on day three and the last serving.)

What used to be a morning dilemma of what fabulous outfit to start the week right (along with subway-friendly heels that are high enough to make me reach the stainless steel bars yet comfy enough to keep bunions a distant future concern) has become a happy ritual of donning my new apple red apron from Crate and Barrel. True, I miss the beautiful cafeteria at my former office, but right now I’m amazed at how I’m NOT spending at all. And my finances—though skeletal at the moment—are developing the backbone needed for a stable, disciplined, money-smart future. It’s true when you’re slapped with an unexpected lesson, you learn hard—and fast.

I’m far away from resting on my laurels just yet (or in my dad’s words, “sitting on my garlands”). But this journey is taking unexpected and exciting turns and cliché as this may be, the journey is more important than the destination.

And speaking of fun destinations, I’m going to the Hamptons for the first time this weekend. It’s work-related, but I’m thrilled nonetheless :)

Today marks my first year in this "sliver of an island that is the center of everything," in the words of my friend, Oliver—who, turns out, is currently immersed in the pages of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged.

I still remember the first time I'd picked up The Fountainhead, also by the author. At nineteen, and in the middle of college, I had just moved out from living with relatives and I'd popped by my dad's office to let him know I would be occupying his unused room in the apartment he shared with his sister.

"Buy this book, it has everything you need to know," he said, referring to the thick novel I'd seen around growing up, but never really bothered to pick up because, well, it was... quite hefty. But when I got past the first 100 pages, I knew why my dad had purposefully written its name on a little sheet of paper and sent me to the nearest National Bookstore to make the purchase (with his money, presumably).

True enough, the two books above have helped shape the way I've lived my life for the last 10 years—personally and most importantly, professionally. It's hard to explain in just one entry the philosophy behind these novels. Basically, they herald one's performing in full capacity, getting the job done silently, passionately, and being a good citizen/employee/friend, minus the hooplah and drama.

Ayn Rand is famous for this philosophy of "objectivism." But what makes her work in Fountainhead and Atlas groundbreaking is that she was able to integrate the complicated philosophical musings into intricate, entertaining stories—with richly-drawn characters you either aspire to be or cringe to be. In recent months, I have been amazed at how she was able to put into words certain observations I've made personally from living in the U.S.

So now I am onto rereading these books, and hopefully, be inspired and motivated once more by what they represent. These, along with a steadfast faith in God and a strong belief that life is good, life is abundant, I know I'll be looking forward to more happy anniversaries in the future.

On my first official day as a full-fledged freelancer, this is how my kitchen looked like. And now I have time to blog and get my online life in order.

My last day aboard the mother ship was quite serene and uneventful. Perhaps because I feel that I will still be a frequent passenger anyway. After all, I am not one to say goodbye to a hearty, savory bowl of Ocean Don. No, no, no.

Meanwhile, I have a beckoning to-do list. Between beating procrastination and battling paralyzing fear (i.e. Will I make the rent? Will I get enough projects to sustain my Whole Foods addiction habit? Will I finally meet Lindsay Lohan and Sam Ronson?) I am tackling tasks as well as planning for the future.

It's time to heed my own advice.

July felt like a theme park ride—dizzying, exciting, and at times, disorienting.

Okay, I know I haven't been blogging as often as... well, what cyberspace deems of its bloggers in this age of quick links and live feeds.

So there is my requisite oh-no-I-haven't-blogged intro. Anyway, here are my updates so far:

• Met the Patrimonio sisters (teen tennis players) and their mom for an interview. We met up at David Burke, a chi-chi cafe at the side of Bloomingdales. Overpriced, but cute. [See photo.] My feature is out today in the Inquirer.

• Former Preview fashion editor, Anne, is back in Manila now, but not before having a blast at Dante's Fourth of July Barbecue Bash. My friends and I had invited ourselves to an unwitting Dante, who ended up grilling steak on the deck of his lovely townhouse in Jersey City. I am finally enjoying Facebook, as I've successfully uploaded our pics there.

• Saw Hilary Roda, Gwyneth Paltrow, Elizabeth Hurley, and Carolyn Murphy at Estée Lauder's Sensous fragrance launch at Bloomies.

• What else? Sorry for this cryptic entry, my creative juices are being directed elsewhere at the moment, while I try to beat procrastination. Meanwhile, I'll let these pictures do the talking:

Murakami exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum.
Doing the whole floral thing with Anne.
Brunch at Serafina. This photo is priceless. But I won't say why ;)
Green day. Oh dear, that's so corny. Uploading more photos later!