Thank goodness for this face, my day yesterday brightened a bit.
 Before anything, let me rant about my April Fools' Day. April Fools. Does 'stupid' count? For the first time in my life I went to this government agency to get another copy of my birth certificate. A contingent copy, if you may. When I got it, I checked the data. Right father. Right mother. Right birthdate. Right surname.
Wrong first name. Wrong birthplace.
I knew it was because I was registered when I was born as FLORENCE. Then three years later, my folks had it voided, then re-registered it to JENNIFER, and had my birthplace as my hometown instead of the city I live in (where I was actually born). The latter one was what I've been using all these years. To my schools, my affiliations, my professional license, my passport, EVERYTHING.
Then they had this so-called update of their database, and what they draw up when they search for my info is that of my original registration.
Define UPDATE.
F*ckin' define UPDATE.
Now it is up to me to fix the legal stuff? Who are they kidding?! (I could adapt this attitude, and they would just be complacent about the whole thing and do absolutely nothing.) Ugh. And they actually suggested I go for Florence. Because of their error? Because of their so-called update, I can change everything? Dang. That Florence has nothing on me. A friend, Akiko, pointed out that, ON ME, Florence sounds too flouncy. I agree. No offense to real Florences out there. It just isn't me.
It doesn't help that my colleagues are teasing me, calling me Florence...my Mom actually had the nerve to laugh when IT IS THEIR FAULT for not making up their minds the first time around! (I do love her. To bits.)
*tries to smile...looks at caps to brighten my day* So I watched this show, TOKYO FRIEND PARK, where guests are made to play FOR huge huuge prizes. And it lifted me up a bit, just seeing the dorkiness. (Ah, I could be such a child!) OK. So this game was for one person to listen to some rhythmic beating, then hit on the bulb-like spheres before him, producing the same rhythm, and the other person is supposed to guess what song it is. Aiba was having a hard time guessing the song even after THREE attempts at the beats. Then Ohno makes that face. Damn. I just let my childish tendencies gnaw on its own leash. Forgive me. Lolz Anyhow, time to go sort out my thoughts.
I swear that phrase was the only thing I could think of when "Subject" glared at me. And I don't even really wonder why there are two A's. How did everyone spend their Easter weekend? This early I apologize for this one being long.... In my country, it could only be one of three things. One: hit the beaches (the island of Boracay is still a big hit for locals and foreigners). Two: take a road trip up to Baguio City, my city, which is dubbed our country's summer capital because of its climate (it's elevated, you see). Three: stay home and do whatever. I can't do One, because I'm not really a beach-ocean girl, and the beaches are bound to be crowded anyways. I can't do Two because I already AM in Baguio, and going out would be inviting stress, what with the influx of people. There's the reason why Tourism was never high on my list of college degrees. Needless to say, I went for Three. And tried to catch up with....err, non-Nihonggo visual assimilation. So I had a marathon of the 13 episodes of GOSSIP GIRL. Out of curiosity, more like, because my friend has all 13 episodes on .mp4 and practically shoved it down my throat, ordering me to WATCH IT. It's the Holy Week, right, so I was unusually obedient. More like resigned.
I've never read the books, not even laid a finger on them. I don't even know who wrote them. Chick-lit was never my fare. Cecelia Ahern is not chick-lit, is she? And I only read Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic books because my friend (yes, same friend) very nicely lends them to me even without my asking. While they're a fun read, I'm not really too impressed. And how one's outrageous spending habits backed up by more outragous logic behind each purchase can be excused simply because 'she has a good heart' is beyond me. I'd say it's nothing special. Typical TV fare with a good-looking cast, not-too-new themes. But surprise surprise. I actually found myself having a bit of fun watching the exploits of the filthy-rich kids of the Upper East Side, led by the best friends Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf. Who wouldn't? Some characters are just deliciously evil while being sympathetic. But I must say my favorite character would be the only un-rich (and need I say, moral voice) among the lot, Dan Humphrey. I watch him, and I thought, "I WANT HIM FOR MY BOYFRIEND." Not drop-dead gorgeous, but has a charm. Not rich, but has gold for brain. Has a spectacular (and sometimes self-deprecating) humor to compensate for the lack of blings. Any repartee with him would be worth looking forward to. And the actor who plays him plays him with such zest that he owns each scene he's on. I also rewatched a couple of movies that's been sitting on my lap for the longest time. I have now watched ONCE twice (Gawd, I love how that sounded!), this beautiful small Irish film with great music...I was gloating a bit when it won for Best Song at the Oscars despite - three? four? - competition from the film Enchanted. I was reminded why I love Irish music. When you hear it, you feel it's....Irish. *cough* I rewatched STEP UP again, because the sequel's coming up, I wanted a review. Boy, Channing Tatum sure could dance. Then there's AUGUST RUSH, yet another music-infused film. (Mix Jonathan-Rhys Meyers and music and a heartfelt story and you can never go wrong.) Oh, and I've only watched JUNO recently. Haha! Very beautiful film, owing most of it to the screenplay, I must say. Darn. Does one have to be a former stripper to come up with such a gem?
I put off watching EASTERN PROMISES because I feel I might need more mind-conditioning before jumping in. It is, after all, Viggo. In a badass role. This time with a Russian accent. (Still reeling from his Spanish Alatriste.) 'Nuff said. Gosh, a lot of films coming up. THE KITE RUNNER is showing next week and I literally clutched Sheryll's (my bestest friend) arm when I saw the poster. "Oh, wow, we HAVE to WATCH THAT, and if you're not coming with me, that's OK because I'LL WATCH IT EVEN BY MYSELF!" It's one of my favorite books, you see. Then there's PRINCE CASPIAN...what else? Oh, the week before, though, I met up with my high school classmates who came home for the weekend, and we watched 10,000 BC. Not my popular choice at the time, but for lack of options I was again resigned to go. The trailer was misleading. See, I was expecting something Apocalypto, only a prehistoric one. There wasn't even blood in the movie. And I found the final battle....anti-climactic? I love the CGI of the spear-tooth (tiger), though. My gawd, he looked gorgeous. On the Jdrama front, I checked out the first three eps of FIRST KISS. First scene and I was cringing. They could've spent a few more hours coaching lead actress Inoue Mao with her English pronunciation. She's supposed to have spent most of her life in the Orange County, for pete's sake! But Eiji and Shizuku made me tear up yet again last night when I watched the hardsubbed ep 9 of Bara no nai Hanaya (Florist without Roses). I love that series, owing mainly to the father-daughter dynamics. So beautiful. (I ought to rename this post to beautiful because I've said it many times already.) Now time to wrap this up before I put anyone to sleep.
I'm bored. It's the week before the Holy Week, and already it's a deafening lull. I was tagged by a friend yuubi 'someblog else'. Game rules：
A. People who have been tagged must write their answers on their blogs and replace any question they dislike with a new question formulated by themselves. Tag 8 people. Those who are tagged cannot refuse.
B. These 8 people must state who they were tagged by. You cannot tag the person who tagged you. Continue this game by sending this to 8 other people. People who are tagged will be blessed and their wishes will come true in the future.
1. If your lover betrayed you, what will your reaction be?
Initially I'd feel outrage, but I was never confrontational, and never one to cry over spilled milk. And then, it's Sayonara.
2. What will you do if you do not share the same feelings as the person who likes you?
I keep my distance. And I've become sooo good at doing that.
3. What will your dream wedding be like?
I don't dream of it....:)
4. Are you confused as to what lies ahead of you?
I try not to be. Sometimes I wonder, but I shake it off. Just look forward, therein lies the answer.
5. What's your ideal lover like?
I once read something like, "being with someone you can sit with for hours, in complete silence, then walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you ever had." I want a connection of the subconscious.
6. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone else?
Loving and being loved alone is good. It is love. I don't try to measure or compare.
7. If the person you like does not accept you, would you continue to wait for them to change their feelings?
I'm the worst at waiting. I don't have the patience. Plus, I believe in constantly being mobile, so I want to keep moving forward.
8. If the person you secretly like is already attached, what would you do?
'He was mine before.' Haha! Anyway, I'm too selfish; I don't like to share.
9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy recently?
Perhaps, but I think of those that made me happy and make them bury the others.
10. What do you want most in life?
Live my life FREELY.
11. Is being tagged fun?
It's all about the timing. :)
12. If you find out that your best friend is going out with your boyfriend/girlfriend, how would you react?
Happened a long time ago. :) Forgive (can't forget, though), then move forward, but I shall reassess my choice of friends and boyfriend.
13. Who is currently the most important person to you?
Mom and Dad.
14. What kind of person do you think suits you?
It's not shoe size, it is? But if it fits, it will. There shouldn't be a measure. 15. Would you rather be single and rich or married and poor?
Hypothetically, single and well-off.
16. If the person you secretly like cannot recognize you, what would you do/how would you react?
Ouch. But hey, I didn't bleed, did I?
17. Would you give your all in a relationship?
Never. As I've said, I'm selfish.
18. If you fall in love with two persons simultaneously, who would you pick?
No one. I'd hate compromises, especially in love.
19. What type of friends do you like?
Those who've seen me at my best and liked me, and seen me at my worst and loved me. Thank heavens I have them.
20. If you played a prank on someone, and he/she fell for the trick, what would you do?
I do this a lot. I'd also laugh my ass off. tagging whoever's up to it....( do let me know if you do it on your blog, too, coz I'd love to see your answers and find out how twisted my way of thinking is compared to yours.)
The man I love turns a year older today, 4th of March 2008. Not one for big celebrations, he opted for dinner outside on Saturday, since my Mom's out of town on one of her business trips yet again. Many times I look at him and think how LUCKY and BLESSED I am to be born his daughter. I am sure somewhere, sometime, as most fathers do, he wished for a son. It's a guy thing. But he never showed it. Instead, he made me his girl. (I also know he was a bit relieved I did not turn TOO much into a girl....frills, sugar and spice and everything nice...) I always thought he and my mom made a good combination. As a couple, they personify equilibrium and amplifies that with perfect timing. When one goes crazy, the other is sane; vice versa. When they both go crazy, it's actually fun. But I NEVER.SAW.THEM.FIGHT. Petty arguments, yes, but they just don't talk for a couple of hours, then everything's back to normal. As parents, they are more like best friends. I can tell my mom secrets, my innermost thoughts. I could fool around with my dad like boys playing. And he gives the BEST back massage! My Dad's got one mean sense of humor. I think I got that from him. He's so sunny of disposition that no one would think he's already 54. Such youthfulness. There's just one thing I don't get. He's afraid of me. *rotfl Even my mom says that. She goes, "tell your Dad......." and I go, "Why should I?" She'll say, "He'll obey you because he's afraid of you." Really. I don't get that at all. But I love the guy. He's the man I love the most in the whole wide world.....!
MB: Oh! Me: (blankly) Yes? MB: It's you! Me: (looks around, sees no one) Yeah...so? MB: What happened? Me: (thinks hard) With what? MB: Where've you been? Me: (realization dawns) Ah. Er...Around. You know...here and there. But mostly here. MB: I thought something might've happened. Me: Lots of things happened. Work happened. Life happened. But you know...nothing of consequence, really. MB: I thought you'd drowned yourself somewhere... Me: Oh, you'd love that, won't you! MB: The Flowerfestival in your City's going on, right? For the entire month of February? Me: *Ho-hum* Err, yeah. MB: I hear it's a big success. Tourists came flocking for the parades and stuff. Me: I guess. MB: You joined the festivities? Me: (glares at MB) Hell, no! Did you see that crowd? I hated it, hate, hate hate! MB: Right, right, chill. Didn't mean to upset you. Geez. You're in a surly mood lately, aren't you? Me: (smiles brightly) Says who? MB: (shakes head) So...where do we go from here? Me: From where? ................
Bill protecting unwanted babies filed MANILA, Jan. 17 (PNA) -- A lawmaker has filed a measure seeking to stop abortion, child abuse and other anti-child acts by allowing the parents of unwanted babies to give up their children to the government without fear of arrest and prosecution. Rep. Eduardo C. Zialcita said House Bill 3227, also known as The Safe Haven Act of 2007 or The Moses Law, permits parents to entrust the custody and care of their baby 60 days or younger, unharmed, to a member of any hospital, medical emergency facility, police or fire station or to an office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The baby shall receipt prompt action. Read more. I always thought this country has a lot of good heads up there; it was just a question of whether they were on the right shoulders. His intentions are good, the bill is also something remarkable (unlike a recent local legislation in my city moving to provide roughly Php20 million worth of cars to city lawmakers when the city's waste management system lacks disposal trucks. Anyway, I digress.) It sounds humane. It probably is intended to be so. And lately, in this setting, humanity + intelligence is a rare mix. But there is a downside to their intelligence: they tend to look a kilometer ahead without seeing the glaring hole barely a yard from their noses. They can't even find a way to address the problem of streetchildren begging in the streets. The Social Welfare centers are not even equipped enough because the funds due them already went through some politician's deep pockets. How on earth do they expect to take in more?
In a way, won't this also encourage more irresponsibility among the individuals concerned? It's like giving them a license to be even more reckless. "It's fine, I can just let the government take care of the child...." And they can 'reclaim' the child they left in the government custody? What is this, a bloody human pawnshop? I have nothing but distaste for people, mothers, who dump their children - alive or stillborn - no matter what their reason or justification is. It's a life. They created it. Whether they wanted to or not, it's LIFE. If one can't be responsible for anything else, at least be responsible with LIFE, whether it's one's own or not. Sometimes their stupidity knows no bounds...... ANYWAY. My January's hellish so far, but work is work, and we all have to deal one way or another.
This is one of those times I am glad I am out of high school and primary school: there are no more teachers telling me to write my New Year's Resolutions on a piece of paper, to be passed to her, then read in front of the whole class. During those times, one had to be creative with what to write, I mean, we're talking about earning creds and props. If I were to take stock of my 2007, I would say it was better than I hoped it would be. Work demands aside, I got to live my life the way I wanted it. I got started on the LIST, regained that spontaneity which I felt was slipping away from me. The latter part of the year kinda revolved around reconnecting and reunions...(part of this entails me having to be more Friendster-friendly, which I haven't been due to reasons I've already discussed. Phew! The things we do....) Of course there were frustrations; it won't be as fun as it was without those stumbling blocks. But we are given two feet and two strong hands to pick ourselves up. It would be such a waste to not use them. They say one has to resolve to change something, or have something new...Be a better this, do that thing better, yadda yadda yadda.... Truth be told, in the back of my mind, I have my 2008 mapped out, albeit vaguely. There are things I have hoped to accomplish, slowly piling up in that corner until they somehow got embedded into my subconscious that, looking back, made me realize that everything - significant or not so much - I ever did in the past are just small steps towards it. (cue: Collin Raye's All My Roads re: they could not be mistakes when they brought me here.) So it's all about moving forward, facing a new year in our lifetime's timeline. I won't make resolutions; i'll just go on as I have trudged before. Dissolutions...well...there are simply things that are meant to be wrapped up, ended, left behind...and THAT I will do. As much as I don't fall for that Year of this or that hoolabaloo, during this Year of the Rat, I am going to nip my way to anything handed to me (and anything I can put my hands on). And with that, Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!
I blinked and Christmas Day passed in a blur. It was a flurry of motions, leading up to that day, what with us juggling work, planning our office activities, and generally getting into the mood of the season. In a nutshell, December saw me at ZillerNet torturing myself sweetly, trying to wrap my tongue around foreign words and hurting my eyes from 'attempting' to read Kanji....(well, I cheated, most of the time)...sampling a couple new restos and vowing to make it a part of my not-so-structured routine... Our office had 2 Christmas parties, the first one at a reservation park type with these middle-aged folks acting like kids, and the actual younger ones just laughing at their antics. Afterwards there was a bowling tournament, second half of which I had to skip out on for reasons I am not about to disclose. (Kuya Ric: Mam Almay's team, which included Kuya Bong, Lala, Ate Racquel and Tita Claire won in a sweep! You should've seen the look on Sir Tony's face!) The next party was an all-nighter (yet again) at the private vacation house at Rosario. Again, it involved the old-er ones making utter fools of themselves. I had a problem with my jaw the next morning, more from laughing too much. Really. There's a thin line between respectability and hilarity; our superiors are masters at crossing that line time and time again. This year, I decided to do something different for my birthday. In the past, they were more private affairs, with my immediate family together, and my closest friends pulling an allnighter at my place with a video marathon or something...This time I thought, why not go out of town, or something? So there was this small resort outside the city, called Riverview....and I told my folks a month ago that I wanted to go there. (Our high school class is planning to have a gathering of sorts at the same place anyway, so I wanted to hit two birds with one stone.) The next thing I knew, cousins and nephews and nieces heard about it. What the whole thing ended up in is a children pool party. Right. A twenty-bleep girl with a children's party. And it doesn't help that 'Addee and Mama were acting like kids as well. Define "festive", then. December 24 and 25 were brief respites from work; Christmas. I lost a lot of sleep from doing marathons of......BLOOD+ and half of MONSTER. Festive enough? *heckles* Merry Christmas indeed! I leave thee with a pic of my godson, Ronn Marius Gabriel. SMILE FOR ME!!! 
Congratulations to Singapore! Their Idol won the Asian Idol title. :) All 6 contestants were very good, really, although I refuse to declare myself biased for thinking Philippines' Mau Marcelo is the best singer of the lot. Anyway. As they said, whoever gets the title, ASIA wins. *shakes self awake after having slept merely three hours. Damn live telecasts and the importance of commercials!* I'm in a bind right now, and it's due to something trivial: preparing Christmas presents I am to send to my friends. And they have to be done BEFORE Friday this week so I can send them via courier and they get to receive it before Christmas. Not that I was late doing Christmas shopping; I didn't do any. It was more like, I haven't had enough time to MAKE them. Piss myself for deciding to MAKE the presents this year instead of buy them, THEN realizing only too late that I don't have the luxury of time! *sighs, then looks dolefully at PC and burner* So! I was teasing my unmarried aunt a couple of days ago via SMS, asking her what present she'd give me. (One good thing about having your mom's closest sister unmarried is you get to be her favorite. Nyahaha!) She went, "why should I give you one? You're already much too old!" Ouch on the 'old' bit. But indignation took over. WHO SAYS SO!? Out here in my country, there's a saying that goes "Ang pasko ay para sa mga bata", literally translates to "Christmas is for the children." My nephew seemingly hammered this into his brain that now he pesters me to give him something (a) he REALLY likes; and (b) is REALLY over-the-top expensive. As a result, I notice him being more obedient than usual. I somehow miss the bickering we have before he actually does what I tell him to. He's sucking up. And it's so not working. I am immune to it. I mean, IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE, right? I posed the question to my mom. "What'll she give me for Christmas?" She goes, "Why should I give you anything? You're already earning!" Ack. But she relents in this respect, and she told me she has something for me. Now THE trick question: What about my birthday present? This time I get a dirty look. *sigh* Having your birthday quite close to Christmas is really not as fun as it appears to be. Disbelief update: With the scarcity of time I am having, I can't believe I am watching a tokusatsu show. Kamen Rider Kabuto. And two, I can't believe I am actually hooked! How are your holidays?????
My brain's on overdrive. I can't keep up. This, after months of its hibernation, despite proddings here and there to get it back in working order. I guess it took a mountain and chill-factor mist to actually accomplish it. Now I feel like this thing between my ears is running high on steroids. Not that I know how that exactly feels, but...I seriously can't keep up. My Arkarna phase is back with a vengeance. (This, my friends, is an early warning. Post-influx, full speed ahead!) So. November. The month before December. Before I turn another year older (and wiser. Yes, this, I can say for sure.) Before the Christmas rush is at it again (which reminds me to start planning my Christmas pressie purchases before the crowd gets too thick for comfort). Before the deadlines and closing of accounts insinuate themselves into RL again. This is like the calm before the storm. And what calm it is. October, my mom had to be at the hospital. November was Dad's turn. I am seriously rethinking helping them change addresses, y'know. They are already 'regulars', no other word for it. Already, my Mom's getting VIP treatment (stemming from her regular status and her job title). Not that they are sickly. She just works herself to the ground, and one of these days, if she doesn't pace herself, she might as well be working herself UNDERground. My dad...well, that's a different case. As unsavory as this might sound, he got....amoebiasis. *heckles* Sorry. I know I shouldn't be laughing, but I am. He's laughing, too. Especially when I point out how he has to wear diapers. OK. Enough humiliation for my old man. I love him to bits. See, here, this is the resilience I was referring to. I got it from him. For who else would be assailed with such an ailment and still keep laughing...in between bouts of nausea, vomitting and.....you know what else amoebiasis brings. He's such a trooper about the whole thing. And I'd like to think I got that from him. Among other things. Two things I don't want to inherit from them, though...Stomach ulcer...and High blood pressure. They are hereditary, right? Both of them have it. I am their only child, the only one to inherit. *face goes white with dread* Holymotherof....*Looks for ways to enjoy life while still young and healthy* I got an SMS about a fun climb and rappel activity on Nov 30-Dec 1. Blast it. I had earlier plans to go traipsing to Laguna and push my friends underwater in the Rio Grande Rapids at EK. BY THE WAY, if anyone here ever gave the Pagsanjan Falls SHOOTING THE RAPIDS a shot, kindly PM me. Like, NOW.
 | GENKI! | Nov 5, '07 9:39 PM
for everyone |
I won't make this long. *note to self: don't freakin' ramble* November 2 to 4 was the fulfillment of yet another of my to-do's. Another item ticked off in my List of Things To Do Before I Die. I went on a 3-day trek up Mt. Pulag, the 2nd highest peak in my country. It was a long time coming. I was practically neighbors with it. It was right in my home province. Two thwarted planning attempts in the past year, and finally it came into fruition. One word. FANTASTIC. Hella tiring but utterly fulfilling. The trek itself, the summit. It was all about climbing. Dealing with all that camping gear on your back. Grab at whatever handhold is available, try to find secure footholds (unsuccessful more than half the time). We're talking about a trail (aptly named Enchanted Trail) which was never trodden before. It was a new trail, a new route up the mountain. It took a good 8-9 hours trek. And even that was moderately fast. (Because the last ones up took almost 14 hours). But I digress. I'm not to talk about them, this is about ME. (Yeah, edeeot me, selfish me.) The park superintendent early on said that climbing the mountain is a test of character. Damn if mine wasn't tested. But there were stuff I learned about myself through it, and that's what I will talk about now. (After all, if I were to describe the trek itself, then this piece would be really long, and the best way for you is to experience it firsthand. Ah. Now I am rambling.) I confirmed one thing. My masochistic tendencies go deeper than I thought. Right. I paid to torture myself for hours on end. At the top, we probably looked like some scraggly creatures with mud around our shoes, up our pants, our palms not unscathed. I am such a glutton for punishment that I begin to wonder what I've done in my past life to be like this now. But I love it. Every minute of it. Even when the oxygen was thinning as we rose higher, even as I wanted to just toss my camping gear down the side of the mountain. Which, thankfully, I didn't, because that would be the best way to commit suicide come nightfall and dawn at the campsite. (My masochist self has not gone so far as to commit bloody murder on myself.) Another thing I learned. I love the company I have now. The two best friends I went with are going to be my best friends for life. All friends can go, but these two, I am keeping. Those people in our group, virtual strangers at first but fun buddies as the elevation rose higher, I wish to meet them again in future mountaineering jaunts. Because, come hell or high water, this won't be the last time I'm gonna do this. At the summit, staring at the silhouette of the setting sun, I was thinking one thing. I could die right now, and I'd be the at my happiest. It's the closest to heaven I will ever be while I breathe, and I felt so at peace. Screw those beaches where you see nothing but sand and miles and miles of water. Go up a mountain, lose yourself in the untouched forest and wonder at the Creator's genius for creating such beauty that many of us fail to see and appreciate for the glory that it is. I rambled. My deepest apologies. But I am feeling hella good!
Just when I thought August could not get any worse and I was glad it was over, September smacks me hard with something else. It's been two nights since we had to rush my Mom to the hospital (hypertension, headache, hyperacidity. I call it the H-curse). I miss my bed for two nights straight. Looks like there'll be two more nights of this, but seeing as I can't miss work, my Dad's taking the watch until then. She isn't the healthiest person out there, but it's still disconcerting to see her in so much pain. And I have to do what I do best: try to inject a bit of normalcy into anything. I only hope her injections lessen. They come by every 4 hours that I lost count. Rather. I stopped losing count. Too depressing. Not my cuppatea. Meanwhile, GAMBARIMASU! (To be honest, though, 'being an adult' is hard.) Ja ne!!!!
"What is it with guys and their wheels?" I've asked this question countless times before. I still do, only now, it's more like a rhetorical question than an actual inquiry. (My second post in two days. In other places, this'll be considered spamming. I call it 'me thrashing about'.) I remember when I was a high school sophomore, where curfews are implemented at home and I had fun breaking it since my parents don't fully grasp the meaning of the word GROUNDED anyways. At one time, my Dad had no choice but to lend his wheels to a nephew. It's still 6 in the evening, and he is restless, constantly checking out the window if his nephew's returned yet. He was totally worked up over it, worrying and thinking up worst-case scenarios. I go home at 10 at night after one of my jaunts with my friends, and my Dad's already fast asleep since 8 o'clock. Whoa. Even now, there are some guys I know who could talk for hours about cars, engines, the latest and the hottest. They could sit by the windows checking out this set of wheels, how cool that one is, how not cool this one is. They are worse than film critics and, unlike the film critics, they don't earn their living by handing over their analyses. It's funny, at the same time annoying. Well, yeah, it does, when you hear nothing but the same talk over and over....and then you don't hear anything new anyway, because it's just like a broken record on replay. Yes. Broken record. On constant replay. But I learned to accept it as part of my listening routine. It's their thing. Guys and their wheels. Kinda like "Billy Crawford and his caps & do-rags or bandannas". Or "Britney Spears and her scene-stealers". Or "my nephew Mel and fried chickens". Or "my mom and mobile phone games". Or "Jhing and books." Or "Jhing and movies." Or "Jhing and She and Mama Roj." (I just had to put that last one.) All of the abovementioned, are INSEPARABLE.
When did darkness become synonymous to 'evil', or 'bad'...or anything unsavory? My nephew is already 10 years old, but he is still afraid of the dark. Now I have no idea why (since he only came to live with us when he was six). Maybe it's that boogeymen myth that kids nurture while growing up. Since I am always the last one to hit the sack, it's my duty to turn off the lights in his room when it's already 11. Turn it off earlier than that, and then he wakes up, gets pissed and turns it back on again. He must have an alarm system for that, because he somehow feels it when the light's off. My earliest memory was not being able to sleep with the lights on. It has to be turned off. (I am the power company's less favored client, then. I make up for that with my endless hours-long burning with the PC and video marathons when the couch bugs bite me. Harhar!) Why do they associate darkness with not-so-desirable stuff? Like when they say battle of good versus evil, they say, Light versus Darkness. Night versus Day. It is during the Night that creatures of darkness creep out of their burrows and scare the bejesus out of unsuspecting mortals. Funny. When do we get the most comfort out of rest (read: sleep)? Night, right? Yabai. I just rambled nonsensical things yet again. Some things never change, eh? Unload: *kicks CDJapan.com* Unbe-fuggin'-lievable. I receive an info email about an item I'm watching out for, click the preorder link, only to read OUT OF PRINT. OK! SO NOT FINE! I opened the preorder link an hour AFTER the email got to me. Are they telling me it took about an hour for EVERYTHING to be sold out? I'd hate to think I am the slow one. Either everyone else on the planet clicked the preorder button before me in those 60 minutes, or CDJapan sucks at their market projections and does not hold enough stocks. (And to think the item won't still be released October 16. Bleh.) Good thing yesasia.com is there. *sigh* I am so gonna pull a Light Yagami act and create a new world (dis)order. First on my list: take over CDJapan. (No. I don't have a murderous streak. Yet.)
If there's one person who wants August to end quickly, that'll be me. (My apologies, dearest She. It IS, after all, your birth month....but let's just say that is one good day out of the 31 that was unkind to me.) The fact that it IS August, and storms are synonymous with this month is something I'd let slip. After all, I'm not too stupid to contend with Nature. Four times I got marked Late coming in to work. Four is not such a huge number. However, add the other four I had last July and you get a whopping EIGHT. Fine, then. Part of the reason I was late those times are partly my fault, the weather's fault, the motorists' fault...Bottomline: I take part of the blame. Imagine my chagrin when I found out that we were given 5 minutes allowance. Like, if you got in at 8:05, that would still count as 8:00. Holy mother --- Out of those 8 times I was late, 5 were well within the 8:00 to 8:05 range. It turns out I wasn't the only one who did NOT know about such a thing. I was never one to cry UNFAIR but damn if I don't feel cheated. Cause I am, big-time. Just thinking of these past few days with me fidgeting nervously if this was the day I'd get a memo for my punctuality problems. That's the thing, even. Punctuality was never a problem when it came to me. In the past, I was 95% on time or early in my appointments. Until I learned my lesson. (You tend to, especially when you decide to be a few minutes later only to find out that you're still the earliest and you STILL have to wait...) But when it comes to serious stuff (stuff that earns you memos and reprimands), I know how to keep time. Then there's that thing with the postal system. I was on the verge of going postal over the lack of system in our postal system. What usually takes a couple of weeks took almost a month to get to me. I was courting notoriety with my daily jaunt to the post office downstairs to check if I had anything. Everyday, the answer would be NONE, and I end up getting the mail of everyone at the office and handing them over. I was thinking I should've earned good karma simply by doing that. At least, I am still thankful my parcel arrived, and in good condition. Although I would've preferred it to arrive earlier so I could've handed She's pressie on the day that mattered. Ah. Better late than never. Then there's my dental 'appointment'. The dentist, when we were leaving, was like "Come again!" I couldn't help myself. I gave her a dirty look. She laughed, clarifying that I should come back for my routine dental checks, and not for anything involving cutting, slicing and pulling. Ok. Got it. I am totally being whiny right now. I won't mention more of the mishaps I've met this month to spare you. A few more hours and September comes in. I hope life's better by then. Meanwhile, let me just bang my head to Orange Range's Ikenai Tayou......YO! To Kuya RIC: You told me to keep you updated. Here's something to laugh at. (At least WE did laugh) Birthday ni Sir Mon idi kalman, tapos ada natanggap na nga bouquet of three red roses. Ijay card na ket nakasurat: "Happy Birthday, from your secret admirer." Naks! ....(xet, tsismosa ak gayam)
I love my dentist. ...... A complete turnaround. I know, I know, no need to tell me. I didn't feel any twinge of pain. So I was lying there, my right palm gripping my left wrist (Yeah, that's how I deal.), waiting for the pain. Nada. Maybe it helped that she had to use three shots of anesthesia, AFTER swabbing it with what she called "kiddie anesthesia". Whatever, it worked. I gotta lay off real food for at least a day more, though. Geh. On a more somber note, my prayers go to the souls of the 14 men in uniform, members of the Philippine Marines whose lives were cut short because of service to the country. To the Powers-That-Be, the bold all-out war against the domestic terrorist is all well and good, just...please make sure that those you send into the front lines are well-equipped and well-backed. Easy for you to make decisions, you are at the comfort of your own luxury cars and plush offices and homes....
I had quite a day yesterday....and I have no idea as to the root of why what happened happened. Right. I can't be any vaguer, can I? Once I have quite a hold on things, I just might talk about it. But for now, I am letting my heartbeat settle. My apologies - and huge thanks - to Raine for reaching out via YM. Thank you. Rule: Emphasize all lines that apply to you.
I wish I was a different ethnicity. (Ah, yes. Sometimes, I can't help it.) I have an eating disorder.
I'm short.
I'm tall.
I think I'm really attractive.
I prefer winter over summer.
I'm a geek. (Define GEEK.)
I'm a shopaholic.
I'm reasonably intelligent. (Emphasis on REASONABLY.....I think.)
I'm attracted to girls. (We're talking appreciation here, right? Yes. Nothing preferential.)
I'm attracted to boys.
I like British accents. (LIKE.)
I smoke regularly.
I drink regularly.
I smoke socially.
I drink socially.
I get drunk easily.
I do drugs.
I will never date a bad kisser.
I've lied to avoid kissing them again.
I brush my hair at least 50 times a night.
I'm religious.
I'm not religious but have morals. I'm impulsive.
I'm hardworking. (depends on what I'm working on.)
I liked "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind".
"She's All That" is one of my favourite movies. (Haha! Guilty! I had my Freddie Prinze Jr. phase)
I'm good at History. (I was really into it.....)
I speak more than two languages. (Getting there.....*clasps hands*) I enjoy taking pictures.
I like spending money on myself.
I like spending money on others.
I have a regular income.
I earn money on a job-by-job basis. (on special projects)
I pay my own bills. (I pay part.)
I rely on my parents for money.
I can cook. (Can, but rarely does. I mean, why should I, when my Dad's a whiz?) I enjoy cleaning. Tidyness is a must in my life. (to a certain extent.)
I like clutter. (there is such a thing as GOOD clutter, right?)
My idea of good music is Britney Spears.
I have heard of Blonde Redhead.
I enjoy Blonde Redhead.
I'm fashion-conscious.
I have good taste. (I believe so.)
People tell me I have good taste. (Subjective, but generally, yes)
I excel academically.
I'm told I have yet to fulfill my potential. I'm good at sports.
I'm good at certain sports.
I couldn't do sports to save my life.
I'm creative.
I'm artistically inclined.
I wanna be an artist when I grow up.
I wanna be an engineer when I grow up.
I eat when I'm upset.
I cannot adapt to change.
I'm interested in politics. (Ah, can't help it. It's an affliction.)
I have shoplifted.
I download MP3s.
I've done underage drinking.
I've gone underage clubbing.
I can dance reasonably well.
I can dance extremely well.
I dance like a cardboard gorilla.
I can sing.
I sing like someone stepped on my foot.
I can swim.
I enjoy surveys.
I enjoy surveys when I'm bored.
I keep a journal. (strictly the keyboard-type thingie......not the pen-and-paper type) My teachers don't like me.
I enjoy controversy.
I can be a bitch/bastard.
I have a thing for bad boys/girls.
I have tattoos.
I've been in a nudist colony.
I'm not sure if I want to have children.
I'm not sure if I'll get married. (If I WILL.)
I know who I will marry.
I'm interesting.
I'm a good liar. (there. Honest.)
People enjoy talking to me. (I think so.)
I annoy people from time to time. (Err....I think....so.)
I'm a born leader.
I'm a born leader but shouldn't lead.
I enjoy filching.
I have a foot fetish.
I have a shoe fetish.
I watch "Sex and the City".
I wanna be J.Lo.
I cut myself.
I've cut myself.
I hate people who pretend to be suicidal.
I hate popular people.
I think cheerleading is a sport.
I'm photogenic.
I live in Chucks.
I think graffiti is art.
I have dated a criminal.
I have been cheated on.
I have cheated on someone.
I have a temper. (had. Still rears its ugly head, but only occasionally)
I like playgrounds.
I dance in the rain.
I'm obsessed with Shakespeare. (yeah, obsessed is too strong a word....)
I have tanlines.
My favorite color is pink.
My favourite color is black. (ranks second...haha!)
I would classify myself as emo.
I'm musically inclined.
I like listening to music.
I like music-blasting cars.
Thongs are comfortable.
I like flip-flops.
I know what monogamy is...
...and I believe in it.(it's more like "belief in humans actually observing monogamy" that I don't have)
I wanna be a social worker when I grow up.
I have (a) sibling/s.
My sibling/s annoy/s me.
I think "South Park" is funny.
I believe in LOVE.
Sometimes I wish I have the capacity to be downright rude. For all my stoicism, I think I am still nice sometimes. *Sigh* There's a reason why I have a book whenever I commute on my way to work. Especially when the weather's going all roller-coastery, when traffic is sure to be a headache with its snail's pace, ergo getting a cab is strongly advised against (unless you are loaded, then be my guest.) Blast it. I need new earphones. So this morning, I got on one of those nifty jeepneys and settled down for some homestretch reading of the book in my hand. Last 2 chapters, for pete's sake! Then this big guy next to me inquired about the time, which I gave. I opened my wallet to take out some change for the fare. Somehow he glimpsed my ID and asked about it, wondering aloud how he could also get a replacement for his lost ID. Then it started. During the 45-minute ride, I already know he is 30, in the Army as part of the Highway Patrol, youngest amongst 9 children who, by the way, are now all working. He had his appendix taken out a year ago, where his hospital bill accumulated up to Php29,400, but thanks to his Insurance, he only paind roughly Php4,000.00. On his jaunts on the job, he already issued tickets to the former mayor who is now our Governor. He has made loans, and now he pays them off. (Yeah, he even showed me his pay slip, with his Net Take-home pay and total deductions, AND his Community Tax Certificate.) He knows the City Prosecutor (retired now) because they used to play mah jong together. His commanding officer is so strict right now, so he'll have hell for being late today... Mind you, I never asked. Not one question. He just...kept talking. Many times I tried to open the book, but really, how can one read when someone keeps talking? He asks. I answer. Not too truthfully half the time, really. I kept wishing for someone I know to actually come and rescue me. But have I mentioned how I am low on luck lately? Here's the punchline. The radio started to play the soundtrack to MUSIC & LYRICS...."All I wanna do is...." He was like, Nice song, huh? Not much of a fan of the song myself, I say, "It's OK." Then he goes on reminiscing about his school days, the dances he went to.... When my stop came, I was like, "OK, this is where I get off. Bye!" then jumped off. Literally jumped off. Really. I need new earphones. *Sigh* It's Tuesday. That means there'll only be 3 days between now and Saturday, when my dental appointment goes through. I look at the meds my dentist gave me, in preparation for the procedure on Saturday, and I feel like crying. Gawd. She was poking around last Saturday. Saying it's growing all wrong, my wisdom tooth. Sideways, for crying out loud! And she says she can't extract it that same day. Come back next Saturday, when the swelling goes down and the pain is lessened. Then she stacked a handful of capsules for me to sock myself with until that time. D: "Surgery" Moi: "SURGERY?!" *thinks of knives and blades and the words 'cut' and 'slice' swim before my eyes* D: "Yes. We have to....blah-blah-blah...your gums." Moi: "MY GUMS?!" I stopped listening. Brain on auto shutdown. I hate dentists. They are not evil, but I still hate them.
| Itai!!! | Aug 8, '07 8:33 PM
for everyone |
Not a few people have commented about me having quite a 'wide' threshold of pain. (No) thanks to my frequent migraine attacks that have now essentially became a part of my life, somehow I learned to deal. I mean, if it doesn't kill you, then you can still keep going, right? But this is something else. My wisdom tooth chose NOW to assert itself, and what an assertion it is. Supposedly, GENERALLY, it's supposed to grow between ages 17 and 25. I am 25. And damn if it didn't do a last-minute catching up on me. Aching tooth = aching everything. The part that I hate most is sleep deprivation. Nothing more painful than wanting to sleep, every fiber of your being screaming for slumber EXCEPT your tooth. Right now I am still tolerating it. No tears have yet been shed. And it does not help that my colleague said that in her case, it was a year-long ordeal. Not very comforting, is it? I only hope my so-called threshold of pain is roomy enough. On another note! Bourne Ultimatum is out, I'm gonna catch it hopefully this weekend. I know a Bourne Ultimatum without Carlos the Jackal is not an ultimatum at all, but Bourne is Bourne. I just hoped they didn't stick to the original Ludlum titles and then changed (some of) the (major) plot points. Well, I know they had to, since the books were set during the Cold War and not really modern-day but still! IMO, the essence of the Bourne saga was the tension between Jason Bourne and Carlos. I'm still gonna watch it, though. If only for the thrill ride, and to watch my favorite tormented-and-flawed-yet-utterly-human-superspy David Webb a.k.a. Jason Bourne. And let me just say Matt Damon could be the only one to fit the role. (Never much of a fan of his, but He.Is.Jason.Bourne.)
I just can't stay away from the News, can I? No, not talking about my own notoriety here...I meant, what with my crazy schedule, when I get home late at night, I'd still find myself asking my Mom about the latest news, or I'd be tuning in to the late-night news despite knowing that what I'd see and hear will be hazardous to my health. My masochistic tendencies have a mind of their own. One thing I'm peeved about. (Brief backstep here, something I might've posted about before.) Antonio Trillanes leading a group of young military officers in holding 'hostage' an entire structure in the country's financial center some years back, now infamously dubbed as the 'Oakwood Mutiny'. They consequently got arrested, imprisoned and faced with charges. Some of the movement's other leaders pitched over to the other side and were absolved of the charges, and now, apparently some are still in the service. Trillanes, meanwhile, is still behind bars, still facing coup charges, not subject to bail. Then came the Senatorial Elections last May. He filed for candidacy under the Opposition party. He ran for Senator, but unlike another prominent candidate who is also imprisoned and facing charges for another coup attempt, Trillanes was not allowed to step out of jail to campaign. His few press conferences on TV were even blocked by some (and how is that different to the other senatorial candidates shown in their adverts rubbing more than elbows with celebrities who parrot how saintly they are?) Lo and behold, election time came and out of the more than 30 (or more) who ran for Senator, Trillanes ranked 11. He is now one of the 12 newly-elected Senators of the Republic of the Philippines. The thing is, he is in jail. And at his request at being let out of his prison a few times each week to attend the Senate's regular sessions, there's a scramble to stop it. Then the Supreme Court denied the petition. To the almost 12 million voters, there goes your vote. It seems the Supreme Court itself blatantly disregarded that vital fact that almost 12 million Filipinos wanted Trillanes to be part of the regular sessions. The high court may recite ad nauseam constitutional snippets supporting their decision, but it still somehow negates the "for the people, by the people" clause, doesn't it? Almost 12 million people. He did not even campaign. There wasn't a huge political machinery backing him up. I didn't see a multitude of campaign posters and fliers, not even adverts on the telly. Only a couple of (lesser-known) people openly declaring their support for him. And still, that many people voted for him. Makes me wonder how much more it would've been had he been allowed to go around the campaign trail. IN THE FIRST PLACE, the moment he filed his candidacy, they should've made moves to stop him already. Was it because they thought he won't even score a vote? For all the cunning and malice of power-grabbing a**holes seated up there, they could be quite idiotic most of the time. Oh, it's the elections in Japan this week, too. I wonder if these kinds of power plays happen there as well. Or is this another "Only in the Philippines" thing?
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