Got Handed a Sweet Card Today... Tuesday, August 29

In the morning I had posted a picture of myself in Ayala Triangle Gardens on Facebook and the caption I wrote for it was the following: 

Sending a big sorry to everyone in Canada. I heard you're having a brutal summer... all the more reason to come to the Philippines!!! It's always summer here, 365 days a year. Missing you all but wishing you were here and not me there.

My pastor in Toronto responded to the picture, telling me not to forget where I had come from.  I won't forget though because I can't forget.  I miss my friends in Toronto a lot but I must admit I prefer living in the Philippines much more.  If I never see snow again that will be alright with me but if I never see my friends in Toronto again, well, that would be heartbreaking.  

I attended a special event tonight, Drink Manila's one year anniversary, and as I arrived I was greeted by several familiar faces, one of which left me giggling because of what my Pastor had written to me. Upon returning home, I then posted another picture on Facebook and wrote the following:

No matter where life takes you, it's important to never forget where you came from... but then again it's hard for me to forget when I'm way out here in the Philippines hanging around two guys from the 6ix... TDot... Toronto, Canada.

Of the people I mingled with tonight, tonight I met one fabulous Bollywood dance instructor and was introduced to two other fabulous females.  I also ran into a busy female entrepreneur whom I met about a month ago.  She walked up to where I was standing and leaned in to kiss me on both cheeks.  She asked me how my business was going, talked to me about the boot camps, and then I revealed to her I'm having a hard time finding an appropriate location for Empowered.  

You remember that particular location I had seen last week that I feel head over heels in love with only to have my hopes totally crash and burn when they raised the lease?!  Well, guess who also enquired about that same exact spot?!

SHE DID!!!

In discovering we were both interested in the same spot, she told me that she decided not to pursue it because for her business it'd include way too much construction.  However, for mine, it'd require very little -- one bathroom to be turned into a shower room and the loft to be converted into a lounge with light kitchen.  My construction would be very minimal.  

And then we discovered we had been quoted different prices!!!

She enquired about this particular spot back in May of this year, so fair enough, the rent might be different but if it's been empty since before she even enquired and it's now 4 months later, it should be definitely negotiable.  And for it to jump so much, wow.  Something smells fishy with that one.  

Later in the evening, after midnight and after I had already returned home, she forwarded her Letter of Intent for the building and the broker's response.  Plan is now to go see the place again and negotiate the price.  If they argue, I've got this email as my backup for argument sake but I'm hoping I don't have to play dirty and slap it down on the table.

All isn't lost just yet.  There still is hope.