My Royal Flush

I was flipping through a poker book  (How to Win the World Series of Poker, thanks Jazzmah) and in the first few pages, the dedication of the author said: "For Jeannine, my very own royal flush" For a poker player wannabe like me, I found it soooo sweet and at the same time, witty! Witty + Sweet =  "I get so weak in the knees I can hardly sleep" HAHAHA. LULZ LULZ LULZ. 

Well, to the poker illiterate (I judge you, along with people who don't know how to play chess hahahaha im kidding), let me talk about the royal flush for a bit. The royal flush is the absolute best hand in Texas Hold'em poker. 10-J-Q-K-A of the same suit! The possibility of getting such a hand in poker is 1 in 700,000. 1 in 700,00!!!! Hmmm, imagine taking a test, answering all C's, then getting perfect!!!! Well, point is, it's not impossibe, but it's really really really really, to the moon and back, hard. So, to be called someone's "very own royal flush" is to me, one of the best compliments ever. But then, what would you prefer? To find your "very own royal flush" or to be a "royal flush" to someone? Something to shoktong about. :)) It's not that hard a question, really.

Come to think of it, all of us are in search of our royal flushes in life. Some are even fortunate enough to have found theirs already! I guess we each have our own definitions and ideas of what our royal flush/es are. And I believe that someday, with a bit of luck, or a lot of luck for that matter, we'll all find our own royal flushes (is finding the same as getting?)! As long as we do our part, prepare for the many opportunities that will come along the way ("opportunity + preparation = luck" - Kriselle Hahahaha) , that time will come! ROYAL FLUSHES ON THE FLOP! SHIP IT!!!!

Summer Solstice

After being majorly disappointed by Ateneo's loss to La Salle (Redeeming factors: Kita kami sa TV & Probably the funniest half-time show I've seen from Ateneo), I went with Taruc to Summer Solstice. He volunteered to take some shots and I tagged along as his camera bag-toting assistant. Free food! And 2nd Avenue ballpen. Haha. Thanks Jerold and Co!

I guess you could say I was amused at the bazaar. Mostly by the food. And challenged by the people I saw there selling their goods, promoting their products, and making things happen for them...while I'm stuck in medschool still studying. Delayed gratification sucks, really.

First, let me talk about the food. At the back of the bazaar there were plenty of food stalls. There was this buchi stall. But instead of the usual red beans inside, they would put different kinds of chocolate: Ferrero, White Toblerone, Andes Mints. I found the idea interesting so I tried one White Toblerone buchi for 40 pesos. Taruc got the one with black beans for 20. The melted White Toblerone inside the sesame-fied buchi shell tasted goood. Goooooood.

Then there was this gelato stall. Mio gelato, I think. They had unique flavors: cream cheese frosting, chili chocolate, wasabi, cinammon, etc. It was delightful! I took a particular liking to the chili chocolate. I read about it before and I finally got to 'free-taste' it. And although it was less than a spoonful, the spice was already there! Interesting stuff. I think I 'free-tasted' like 10 flavors. But all along, my heart was already settled on the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough. I have a weakness for Cookie Dough. Haha. 

Oh, to supplement our dinner, Taruc bought from Chubby Chicken. I have to say it was exquisite! I loved their white sauce. The owner, who is far from being chubby, described it as 'like Bon Chon but better'. And I guess there was some truth to that statement. Sarap eh!

There was one other thing that I wanted to try but I didn't get to. Partly because I was already full, and partly cause I didn't want to spend anymore--the cheesesteak something (I forget the name)! To my surprise, it was the stall of our family friend, Kate Diaresco and her boyfriend! I was really amazed! She told me that it was all her boyfriend's recipes and I just found it so cool that they were there, slugging it out! Inggit me. Didn't get to try their cheesesteaks though! I will next time :)

So throughout the night, while walking around the place, I would see familiar faces, mostly Ateneans, and they were all there manning their booths and selling their products. A 3rd year management student was selling hoodies that you can design on your own. The fashionistas (dex!!!) were selling clothes and shoes and other girly stuff. The culinarians were offering a free taste of their sinful deserts! And this mom was advocating Wheat Grass! According to her, a glass of wheat grass juice is equivalent to 2 kilos of fruits and vegetables! That's some healthy stuff!

I left the bazaar feeling somewhat sad and like I said, challenged. Ang galing nila! Taruc pointed out that those people in the bazaar took that path while we, on the other hand, decided to become doctors. The funny guy has a point, really. But I still feel challenged to come up with something that I can advocate/promote/sell and make a profit from. It doesn't have to be mindblowing. It just has to be interesting, marketable, and easy to pull off, given the fact that we don't really have a lot of time on our hands. Help me brainstorm, people! :)

To the Summer Solstice crew (Jerold and Patsy), Chubby girl, Kate and boyfriend, Wheat Grass mom, Banoffee Pie couple, 3rd year hoodie girl, and the fashionistas who made the bazaar such a pretty sight, props to you for believing in your idea and making it happen! Good job guys and best of luck!