As the story has it, one day I headed to the opposite side of the globe – the Flipside. I arrived in Korea February 16th, 2005 and thought I’d do a year, then leave. I was wrong. I stayed, launched my first company, Flipside Fitness, and then opened Korea's largest boxing club, Hulk's Boxing (now called Hulk's Club).

After 11.5yrs in Korea, I then picked up one day and returned to Toronto, Canada. But then I left again.

Now I live in the Philippines where I am the CEO and head coach of Empowered Clubhouse, the Philippines' first and only boxing clubhouse exclusively just for women. I also am the founder of the Lil' Sistas Project, CEO and designer of Slay Gear and Baa Baa Black Sheep .Ph.

Saturday, August 04, 2018

Birthday Party Time... Saturday, August 4

Tonight Skittles treated my birthday party of 11 to dinner and drinks, an massive bill I totally wasn't expecting him to pick up and cover on his own.  But he did and for that he wins "The Best of the Best" in my books for people in my life.

I, on the other hand, played the "but-it's-my-birthday" card and told someone they couldn't invite someone -- a person who was quite rude (in a sexual way) to me the first and only time I met him, this past week.  I had told many of my friends that this was a small private party because originally it was only suppose to be four of us, so if anyone else was going to join us, it'd be one of my friends and not some rude, punk-and-a-half.  I was blunt and to the point with telling them how I felt about the situation and there was that awkwardness in the car but I didn't mind.  Common sense would tell you not to assume you can invite a stranger to someone else's party.

Apparently common sense isn't so common.

I'm turning 38 on Monday and this year of my life I've decided that I'm going to be more upfront and more open about what I feel.  If people can't handle that, well, that is honestly not my problem.  Maybe they shouldn't do stupid things for me to call them out on.  I find that too often we try to spare people the embarrassment of calling them out on their BS and instead take on the burden.  Forget that.  Why should I be made to feel uncomfortable when they're the ones who made the uncomfortable situation? Exactly.

Having said that, I'd like to announce that Skittles tonight proved to be a bigger man than perhaps I even deserve and that he is a true gentleman in every sense of the word.  He went up and beyond what I expected tonight for my birthday celebration and he really tried hard to make Coach Adamson, Coach Marcelo, and Coach Marcelo's girlfriend Sheila feel comfortable and a part of our crew.  He definitely made the night, not only for me but really for everyone.

I don't know if I'll ever be as nice and as sweet as him.  He holds back where I don't.

I was so happy that both coaches showed up and how they really tried to not shy away from using English and chatting with us all.  They were super sweet but I know they didn't order a drink at the bar because they saw the prices.  Even I thought it was so expensive.  I had to laugh at how they first greeted me when I arrived at the restaurant.  Usually we say hi by fist bumping each other but tonight we hugged.  It was nice but we all broke out into laughter at the realization of it all.  I wonder how they'll greet me on Monday now that they've seen me super dolled up and not borderline drowning in sweat.

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