FL Real Estate

Its been days since my state exams. I've been on a high since then because - I PASSED!! Hehe!

Yes, miraculously so, but who knows how these things happen eh? LOL! However, I must admit, trying to recuperate from the Miami trip while at the same time cramming for an exam was not the best of my days. I think I was on the brink of going insane there. Phew! Glad that's over with. *shaking my head while wiping my brow*

I passed the exam last Tuesday and the very next day I signed a contract with mom and dad's broker so I can hang my license there too. I survived hell week, and now... life goes on!

Leaving next week for SF. Meeting up with Bads and staying with her and her good friend JV. Stopping by LA too for my best friend's birthday (have to make it up to her because I will be absent for her church wedding in Manila next year). Pretty bummed out about that but hey we can't have it all.

Don't know yet what I'll be doing for Easter but I guess I'll just have to wing it. Was thinking of meeting up with a friend but apparently she'll be here in Orlando while I'll be in LA. Just for that weekend, we trade places. Hehe! Funny how the world works. But awww... Jacqui Nierras I will miss you in LA! :( The City of Angels is not the same without this chica.

So what have I been up t these days? According to mom, "live, breathe and eat Real Estate." Haha! Of course, by that she means I start with selling condos. Here's a sneak peak at the condos we're selling here in Orlando. This one particular unit is one of the units mom bought. It's also the model unit for a one bedroom. Which is what a friend is interested in buying. Right Stace? :)





So thats a condo here in Orlando. Wanna have a peak at one of the condos in Miami?

Miami - just in time for WMC 2007

Believe it or not, I truly had no plans of going to Miami this weekend. Even when I've known for months that it was the week of the Winter Music Conference (WMC 2007) and my brother and some of his friends were making plans way ahead of time just to go. Even when it was almost hopeless to book a hotel room for a decent price, they were able to find a way to make their trip happen.

I have been caught up in my own world because I had a major exam looming ahead. The Florida state exams for real estate has been known to be very difficult and passing rate apparently was only 40%. Imagine that. Only 4 out of 10 pass. I was intimidated by the statistics, to be sure. And just the fact that both parents were realtors, there is an underlying (although never mentioned) pressure that I should to pass this.

So when I got a call from my brother asking me what day Mom and I were arriving Miami, I replied, "I'm not going to Miami Dru. I have to study!" We hung up and I thought that was the last of that.

A few minutes later my mom walks in the kitchen and casually mentions she wanted to go see some properties for sale in Miami. We talked about going there weeks before but since I had an exam coming up, I thought the coming week was a no-go.

I noticed the "ironic timing" of it all, and I knew she'd been wanting to go, so I said, "fine fine we'll go. But we need to leave early so we can fully utilize the day." As it turns out, instead of just an overnight trip, we could stay for 2 days because I could not attend a prep class that Saturday anyway (all slots taken). And so we scheduled to leave early the next day (Thursday) and come back to Orlando after check out that Saturday - just in time for me to attend a class on Sunday. My exam was 2 days after that. Gulp!

While I was online looking for hotel rooms, my friend Stacy from NY calls me to ask if I was going to be in Miami. She knew my brother was there and was asking what day I would arrive. Hmmm... why is it that everyone seemed to think I would be there this particular weekend?

Oh how the world wisely conspires.

Turns out, Stacy and Ana were flying in from NY for the WMC weekend! And without knowing where they'd be staying, the hotel mom and I managed to book was just a few steps away from their condo. What a coinkidink eh? Add to that, our other friend Kara came in from NY a day after we arrived. (I feel destiny's hand on this. Haha!)

Here are a few photos of our trip:

Top pic: Ana prepared mirienda after our swim at the poolside
Bottom pic: view from their loft. South Beach at your doorstep!


Left: Ana and Stacy on the balcony
Right: me and my drink... lovin the place!


Top pic: OM Party, downtown Miami - met up with Dru & others
Bottom pic: everybody wasted!


Top pic: Opium day party the next day with Stacy
Bottom pic: dinner at a hotel resto.. where we got free drinks from strangers. LOL!


Needless to say, I had a blast. Impromptu trips are the best! How weird is it that the New Yorkers had to step out of NY just to bond and have such a grand time. I think the venue made everbody more carefree. Stacy's cousin's condo was kick ass! And of course, the WMC (held once a year) boasts of all the big name DJs from all over the world. The vibe of the place was intoxicating! It was a bit like Boracay on holy week but on a much much more grander scale.

I personally welcome the break from Orlando. I needed to be with familiar faces no matter how "lovely" my textbooks were. But next time around, I think a week advance notice would be appreciated before hitting the beach. Hehe! Would have been more cautious of my food intake had I known about Miami. I've been known to stuff my face whenever I get into study mode. It was a bad habit I acquired during college and I just can't seem to kick it off! As in, I used to devour a whole cake by myself! LOL! (I think sugar helps me concentrate. Hehe!)

And although mom loved the condos for sale by the beach (and was able to strike a deal), I obviously did not get any studying done. :(

No surprise there huh.

Oh well. You win some, you lose some.

Men

Little lessons I've picked up about men:

1. Timing is everything. For example, women should never compete for attention when a man is focused on a game on TV. We should not look at it with a "the game is more important than me??" attitude but as his time to relax and enjoy a game. Just like when we are on the phone with our girlfriends gossiping and catching up, we do not want to be disturbed either. We just need to choose our battles, that's all.

2. Sometimes they really can't read between the lines. Other times, they just don't want to. Whats the point of prolonging things? When this happens, ladies we might as well come right out and say it. Get. To. The. Point.

3. Some guys do not like to be called "nice guys". Can u believe that? Coz apparently they finish last. I obviously think its a complement but - whatever!

4. Yes, they do compare themselves with other men. I guess it's human nature.

5. Yes, they are territorial. Sometimes this is could be flattering, other times its infuriating.

6. Can't live with them, can't live without them. HAHA!

And that's just my two cents.

(There's more, but that's all I'm sharing here. Care to add your own?)

today's horoscope

I get horoscope by mail everyday from an astrologer. No surprise there since I'm fond of astrology right. But I thought I'd share today's horoscope. Definitely food for thought.

Dear Abby,
Not everything that is influencing your life right now is out in the open. There's a lot of powerful stuff swimming around in your subconscious. This is a good time to stop and think through all your options. It's perfectly fine to avoid committing to any one position -- in fact, tossing ideas back and forth with friends and exploring your future's possibilities would be a good idea. Keep digging until things become a bit more obvious.


Somehow, this one was right on target. See? The world conspires to guide us after all. If you seek it, it will come.

Vegas Trip February '07

I'm finally home, spent a week in Vegas.

As I walked around the airport today, I realized I get a lot of mixed emotions whenever I smell the distinct smell of airports.

I don't really know how to describe it. Its just... well, this universal scent. Its in airports everywhere. Take a whiff next time you're in one. You'll know what I mean.

So they say scents can easily evoke memories (even very distant ones) because the brain associates the scent with people, places or things. I'm still debating whether that airport smell makes me sad or relieved. Or perhaps both.

Sad because it signals the end to the usual fun-filled trip. And let's face it, we've all had journeys we wished would never end. Some of us have endured unavoidable farewells in airports, some involving tears and heartache. But on the other occasions when we actually feel relieved to be on our way home, the idea of finally ending a tiresome journey is indeed welcoming. Even if our reasons are as shallow as finally getting to sleep on your own comfortable bed, of reaching that restful slumber (which is hard to come by when you travel), and coming back to homely meals, recorded tv shows, and yes even your blog. For me, I look at it as the rightful time to get back to my personal "breathing room" and to the routine I'm well acquainted with (and sometimes even seek).

I guess it's a mixed dance in its own way, an upbeat tune with a slow and thoughtful end note.

Anyway, here are some photos of the trip. It was really good to see old friends in one City. And I guess meet new ones in the process. Nevermind that its Sin City! A lot of laughs, a lot of catching up, and the usual dose of silliness you just can't get enough of. Oh man, did I miss these crazy chicas. And the guys too ofcourse. We went there for Migo's wedding and to reunite with friends from all over and I think we somehow got what we bargained for. It was a good bonding trip with friends BUT as usual - bitin! Oh well, till the next one I guess!

Top: our first night there - met up at our empty condo
Bottom: on top of Stratosphere - about to get on the INSANITY ride


Left: Bellagio gardens - Chinese New Year theme
Right: Tao bar with my UK buddies (Mag & Kerri)


1st photo: the "wedding crashers" - Chris, Kerri, Jeff, Nick & I
2nd photo: wedding reception at Rum Jungle (Mandalay Bay)
3rd photo: clubbing at Moon after the wedding

New blog

I have a new blog. The old one was causing some trouble and so... I deleted it.

Just like that, it's gone.

Sad, coz I think I kind of got attached to it.

But I have no problem starting anew.

So let's see how this one turns out.