I only opened my Ovi mail today after creating an account 2 weeks ago. Lo and behold, I have a new mail! It lifts my spirits when I hear from readers of the site –and really appreciate it when they go out of their way (like sending me a personal email or dropping a comment in the site) to reach back to me. I know sometimes it takes me a while to respond (esp. the past two months) but without doubt, the simple notes touch my heart.
I’m going to take time out today to respond to one through this entry.
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Ovi Mail: Between Bites
September 25, 2009
Hi Jane,
You may most likely not know me but I am a keen follower of your blog. Anyway, I saw your plurk (I now sound like a stalker 🙁 ) yesterday that you were going to an event in Tower One. I was on my way home when my friend Joie and I saw Chris at the lobby of Philamlife Tower. My friend and I looked at each other probably having the question “Are we seeing who we’re seeing?” running through our minds. And then she suddenly blurted out, “Di ba si Bubba yun?”. So if Chris noticed two idiotic-looking girls staring at him, then it would be us.
The next thing we did was to know if you were with him. And there you were just behind him. We got a little excited and my friend almost slammed me to the wall out of exhilaration. We couldn’t stop talking about it. I wanted to say “hi” to you but I chickened out. Nonetheless, I would like you to know that we were both happy to see you. And oh, you are so much prettier in person. 🙂
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Hello Jerellt,
What a very intriguing name! 🙂 Care to share the history of it?
First off, my apology for the delayed response as I have only read your email this morning. Late discovery but it’s good timing because this week has been a bit hard on me. It’s uplifting to read that you follow the blog and that we almost met! –not to mention, your last statement ha-ha-ha . I’m easy.
Oh, the first time I met Anton Diaz of OAP, my mouth went gibberish telling him how I read him all the time and what not –I think I freaked him out a bit. 😉 He suddenly had “something to do” and excused himself 🙂 I can’t blame him. I’d excuse me from me too. (Haha forget it, he was super nice and he did a presentation during that event, thus he was really busy.)
Please don’t hesitate to nudge me (or pull my hair) when our stars align again somewhere someday. I will surely remember that name.
Thanks again for making a difference to my day today.
Touched by an AnJerellt,
Jane
I hope that I can find the time to give back to my readers. You are my little angels who bring me a ray of sunshine.
I have a few ideas since last year. Soon.
Love is love.
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Dear Jane: BB Before CTC
I got another email today that really got me floating a few inches off the ground (step back David Blaine). She seriously touched a gratifying part of my heart and I choked back a tear while reading her email.
Not that I’m stroking my ego (but yes, maybe I am, a bit. I’m pretty down this week so I need to feed on the gushing positive vibe from this), but I’m going to share with you folks her email and I surely hope she doesn’t mind.
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Between Bites Email (betweenbites@gmail.com)
February 17, 2010
Hi Jane,
I’ve been an avid follower of your blog ever since I bumped into it when I was researching about Yaw-yan. I was mostly interested in knowing about women who go into kickboxing or mma here in the Philippines. I wanted to encourage women who feel helpless in tough situations especially one that needs self-defense to try out kickboxing. Sadly though I had to stop yaw-yan because of my schedule. I work in a contact center as a trainer and most of the time, my schedule changes. I could be in the morning shift this week and graveyard the next week.
I always enjoy reading your blog and recommend it to people who want to read interesting stuff online. They in turn have become your followers too. What I love most about your blog is that it’s very personal and you allow us to experience what you experience in a whole new level. Before your blog, I always log on to www.clickthecity.com for what’s in and out. The difference is that I feel so detached and I don’t feel the writer’s personality in articles. I still check out their site but I always check your blog first now.
I want to start a blog just like yours but injected with my own personality. I’m currently in Cebu and there are so many places and experiences that I want to try out here and in Bohol that I just want to share them. You are so creative, smart and witty Jane and I don’t think I can be at par. I would like to know how you started, what motivated you and what keeps you doing it. If you were to ask me, I’ve started several blogs but never had the heart to keep doing it cause I felt lost most of the time. Not knowing on what to write and how to write. I needed something to motivate me and your blog has done just that. If you can create and touch lives just by writing in your blog I am definite that I can do the same. You see Jane, when I feel down or I need something to cheer me up, I sometimes go to your blog. Makes me feel that I can still be hopeful and that there are so many things to celebrate in life.
I kinda hesitated to write this email cause you might not have the time to read it but then I read your post on “Dear John” so I am sure that you would take the time to read your readers email. Well, I’m just dropping you a note to say Hi and thanks a lot!
Nadine
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Between Bites’ Response
February 19, 2010
Nadine, it’s the third paragraph that blew me away. Thank you for sharing a part of you particularly the long lost love of writing. It’s not always easy to write and most of the time, I feel that I’m short-changing my readers when I write about some mundane or insignificant stuff that only I can actually relate to or find significance in. I actually think I was a better writer back in high school or college because there were less distractions and for some reason, I had better writing technique. Now, it’s just writing on top of my head or drawing inspiration from elsewhere. Most of the time, a strand of happy vibe can already keep the writing fluid flowing. And yes, YOU can definitely touch lives as well –just put your heart in it.
Most definitely, there are many things to celebrate about Life. One just has to have the appetite to find the good in life.
Thanks for your heartwarming email, Nadine.
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Saying she reads Between Bites before Click the City has got to be the best feedback I’ve ever received (with love to CTC, of course!). *Blush* I also like the fact that she shared a lot about herself to me too. I know it’s not always easy to put yourself out there.
I have the urge to fly to Cebu and give you a TIGHT SQUEEZE! 😀
Your email really brought a ray of sunshine in my week –and emails I receive from readers like YOU inspire me to keep finding a bite of happiness from the food I eat, places I go to, weird scenarios I get into and people I meet.
Big LOVE,
Jane
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