overcompensating

July 16
A release date has been set for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth book in J.K. Rowling's series about the young wizard's scholarly years at Hogwarts. Rowling has finally finished the book and the manuscript is already with her editors/publishers. The book will be released on the 16th anniversary of the killer quake that hit us, by the way. This is so exciting!

Go Oprah!
Caught Oprah's favorite things episode for the year, the episode that always makes me and zeester#1 drool. This year she gave away flat TVs, washer-dryer systems, MP3 players and Sony Vaios. Kewl. What was more cool was the audience was composed of teachers who thought that they were going there for an episode on the educational system. Tears were streaming down their eyes when they found out they were there for the "hottest ticket on television". Who wouldn't be overjoyed... especially them on a teacher's meager salary. What was fun to watch was their sheer jubilation at receiving $500 gift cheques from the OfficeMax supply store. Haha!

Oprah again
Wonderful Finding Neverland promo episode with Sexiest Man Alive Johnny Depp. Looking all 21 Jumpstreet again with clean hair and a clean face. Is this man actually 40ish? Sigh. Am teeny-bopper all over again.

Gyeon-Woo
The lead actor of My Sassy Girl reminds me so much of G! Methinks I will take to calling him Sassy Boy. Sassy Boy just dropped by the office today and brought me a bottle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon as well as a CD that apparently has a program. Hmmm. Interesting. When I mentioned the resemblance to Sassy Boy, he groans and says, "Oo nga daw." Haha!

Asian Chicken vs. Asian Tsunami
The whole world is watching the disaster coverage of the tsunamis that have so far killed 23,000 people in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, coastal Africa and other areas. Ominous as the consecutive disasters may seem, harbingers of the apocalypse even, life still goes on. Which is why Kart and I had lunch at KFC and I had the Asian Chicken salad. Is good, especially with Sour Cream Funshots.

Last Song Syndrome : Seven Years - Sugar Hiccup

have yourself a merry little...

Christmas. It was the season for gift-giving, carols, reunions, weddings, cold mornings snuggled up in bed. There was time for some meditation, but not enough. There was time to be appalled at the way some people viewed Christmas, lugging their kids along to make pamasko, and the street urchins not satisfied with 1-peso coins. Indeed. Christmas in Manila.

A belated Merry Christmas to one and all. Here's to a blessed, prosperous New Year, too. Heaven knows we Pinoys deserve one. You hear that, Tita Glo?

Finally the year-end work is starting to clear up, and the gifts have all been wrapped and given. I've also (quite speedily and skillfully, I might say) done my accounting for the period. I'm the type of person who accumulates all the expenses and receipts and then sits down later on. There have been times that I've been shocked out of my skull because I've spent too much. Fortunately this Christmas wasn't such a time.

Things I was able to do over the Christmas holiday weekend:

buy the DVD player the parentals have been hinting about wanting for the longest time. Now we have to find room for it in their bedroom, for which jam-packed is an understatement, as the mother-unit is the ultimate pack-rat.

feel good about myself because the mixed-CD of some of my favorite songs I gave as a Christmas gift to my closest officemates was well-received. Songs included Someone to Watch Over Me by Sting, I Only Want To Be With You by Vonda Shepard, White Flag by Dido and Worry About You by Ivy.

go to Power Plant on Christmas Eve just in time to spot Jericho Rosales (yummy but looking a little thin) and the entire Cojuangco clan (Peping, Tingting, Maimai, Mikee, and some husbands).

go back to Power Plant twice, once because Rustan's package counter didn't give us back one of the packages we left, and the other time because the DVD of The Apprentice had the bonus materials instead of the season finale.

plan to meet up with a lot of people and not having anything push through because...

got sick over the Christmas weekend. The rhinitis is already a constant factor, but I got a baaaad case of the runs and abdominal spasms as well. Overeating was not a factor; although zeester#1 also had stomach trouble, so it must have been something we ate at Christmas lunch. As a result, was able to watch Cartoon Network Megatoon Movies 4 hours running... from Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, to Batman & Mr. Freeze: Subzero, to Barbie's Rapunzel (was quite cute, actually... or maybe those were the painkillers talking). When it got to Barbie's The Nutcracker I had had enough, though, and ran out screaming.

see the look on Cam's face when I got her the Barbie love Surfer SpongeBob set. And then marvel at kids' interpretation of meaning of the season when the next morning she calls and mentions that if I were to get her a gift for New Year's, she would really really want a surfer Ken. Hmmm. When we were young... oh well... never mind. I must admit the parentals did a good job of bringing us up.

watch the season finale of The Apprentice. He deserved to win. Especially when his opponent in the final face-off was aherrm.

finally get to watch My Sassy Girl. It was totally engrossing, hilarious, entertaining. Koreans must be doing something right, what with this movie and the hit series Lovers in Paris (at least I now know who Carlo, Martin and Vivian are). Wanna die?

after watching My Sassy Girl, get plastered watching the saccharine, tongue-in-cheek, but ultimately blah A Carol Christmas, starring the person who makes it ultimately blah, Tori Spelling. Gary Coleman and William Shatner and the ghosts of Past and Present make for good watching, though Coleman's dialogue was a little too tongue-in-cheek about him being a has-been. In the battle of the ultimately blah Christmas Carol variations, I think I'll take Vanessa Williams' A Diva's Christmas Carol over this one any day.

achieve about 2% of targeted room clean-up plan. Not helped by the fact that the Christmas gifts for the province are still stacked there.

go last minute shopping with the mother-unit for her gifts for her department. Lines aren't that long, there was even a sale at SM. And then last night, gift-wrapping 40-odd gifts.

Phew! It was a good weekend though, tiring gift-wrapping and stomach pain notwithstanding. Not bad for a member of of the Samahan ng mga Malalamig ang Pasko.

Last Song Syndrome : All I Want - Toad the Wet Sprocket

a needle, a card, a bottle and my element

I've taken up crocheting again. Spurred on by a spread in Real Living about adding crocheted accents to gifts. Since I'm following last year's purple color scheme, I tried a light lavender crochet thread; but it seems a tad bland. I might switch to yellow thread but then that might make it look like a Lakers souvenir. Feh. I like my dark purple wrapping paper!

I received my first Christmas card in the mail yesterday. It was from Ex-Immediate Boss, who's now Down Under. Of course, technically, it's "from" her daughters, My and Ice. I love receiving Christmas cards! Just reminds me I have to start sending mine out, though. The ones to the Stateside family, especially, since snail mail takes so slow.

I've tried the C2 green tea drink made by John Gokongwei's Universal Robina Corporation which is currently being marketed aggressively. It's too freaking sweet. It takes like sugar water with a dash of green tea and lemon. Although more expensive by about 30%, there's less sugar, and I think a more 'authentic' green tea taste. I should try the unsweetened version though, my officemate said they have one.

Sixteen days 'til Christmas and there are no gifts for the immediate family yet!!!

My element:

Your Element Is Air

You dislike conflict, and you've been able to rise above the angst of the world. And when things don't go your way, you know they'll blow over quickly. Easygoing, you tend to find joy from the simple things in life. You roll with the punches, and as a result, your life is light and cheerful. You find it easy to adapt to most situations, and you're an open person. With you, what you see is what you get... and people love that!

What's Your Element?

Last Song Syndrome : What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

soreness, all over

The arms are sore. Playing badminton last Saturday after a month of inactivity, and playing with Coach Graze and Wonderkid Toni of all people--that's a surefire way to get your body all aching. Almost pulled a hamstring running around, but fortunately, the legs are in better shape. The arms and wrist took the brunt of the trauma (okay, okay, so I didn't s-t-r-e-t-c-h for the requisite fifteen to twenty minutes). But it was a whole lot of fun. Dang this work, nakakasira ng badminton.

The back was sore last Sunday, because I had fallen asleep on Bespren J's couch. We came from zeester#1's boyfriend's birthday at Grilla, where I saw little girl in heavy makeup Heart Evangelista, wandering all over in search of a spot to take her phone call. I wanted to go up to her and say, dear, it's noisy everywhere here, you might want to go outside. We old fogies left early, took out tea from Starbucks (old fogies talaga!) and chatted away at Bespren J's house, where we watched the Kontrobersyal (?) feature on the internet-sex den, and then tried to wait up for the replay of Coupling, in vain. I had to go home before I was too sleepy to drive.

The wallet is sore. Dang that Midnight Madness sale! Bought new cross-trainers (20% off, in the darnedest place, Cinderella), new bedsheets (30% off, at Woman; since zeester#1 was complaining that one of my sets was icky) and Christmas gifts. Why do I have to love giving Christmas gifts? Why do I have so many godchildren? Why, why, why?

The stomach is sore. Lots of cake, lots of crabs (as in the shellfish kind). Not a good combination. The mother-unit's birthday gig was at Red Crab, with the daughters, the hoping-to-be-future-sons-in-law (none with me), and the adopted sons. Was fun eating with your hands, although it was really really messy. And it was really good barbecue crab, mind you.

Am a little sore that I just got to watch The Incredibles last Sunday night. As J. texted, I "usually watch those stuff waaay before everyone else". Well, not this time. Bespren M and Kalila were chattering happily away about Violet and Dash last week at the baby shower. Oh well. I finally got to watch it. Was quite entertained, although it was no Finding Nemo. Still, I would get a DVD. At the same time, I was wondering what the heck I was doing there with that specific person. Was it a regular movie-date (which it was not, not really)? Was it a pity-date (on whose side, I wonder)? Was it really just two friends going out for a movie? Yes, it was that. At this point I don't want to think it was anything more.

And finally am a little sore at J. I'm not sure if he's avoiding me, or if he's really just super-duper-busy (which I think he is, also--although I am a proponent of the make-time-for-your-friends school of thought). Maybe it's really just a matter of wrong timing. In any case, I don't think I'll be dropping him a line anytime soon.

Last Song Syndrome : Limp - Fiona Apple

announcing ali

Bespren D will be giving birth to little Ali (short for Alejandro) sometime in late January. The Glider girls had a baby shower for her last Sunday. Amidst the booties, receiving blankets, and other baby paraphernalia, there was also a "surprise" from the AlphaDog (Mr. D), because he's in the US right now far away from gestating D. He had me buy flowers for her, and then we set up an internet chat, despite the fact that it was early morning in NY.

The expectant mother was teary-eyed and all; and it didn't help that she got a call to go to work on a Sunday evening. Feck. Oh well.

-oOo-

I broke a little Ugu Bigyan urn over at Tita X's during the baby shower, clumsy me. Of course, before that, I stepped on Tita X's well-manicured and exposed-in-tsinelas toes. I felt like such an oaf (and being overweight did not help). Fie upon me! Now I have to find a little Ugu Bigyan urn/vase to replace it. Help?


-oOo-

Not schadenfreude:
One of our officemates died of lung cancer early this morning. She was 39. Thirty-nine freaking years old! It's absolutely sad, because she just gave birth to a little boy. Actually she was diagnosed with the cancer during her last trimester of pregnancy. Sometimes things just really suck. And you wonder how there can be a silver lining for something like this.

-oOo-

Happy Birthday, magnifique_f8h!

Last Song Syndrome : You Make Me Wanna... - Usher

on user docs, hot mamas, ratios and airports

I am currently preparing user documentation for a training session this Saturday. This is one of the most boring tasks in my entire job description here at StingyCo. Granted, I've been used to preparing reference materials when I was teaching, but this is different. I can't inject any humor, and I have to follow a certain template. It's almost mechanical, if I didn't have to think about the various fields. My job isn't particularly enjoyable as it is, and this is one of the least likable aspects. Oh well. Compensation has to come from somewhere...

Hot Mama Anj has given birth to her third supling, Anthony, named after her father. Of course, from her picture a days after giving birth, it looks like she's much thinner than me again. Feh. I'm fatter than a mother of three. I'm looking forward to going to Bacolod to be with her, maybe if they push through with moving the November 30 holiday to November 29.

Anj, Del, Bespren J and I have been through a lot together, since second year high school. Bespren J and I were old friends, since third grade, but during freshman year I was much closer to Bads, May, Lene (+) and Gail. I went through a whole pop-kid phase and I even wrote Bespren M a letter telling her that we weren't best friends so she should stop thinking that. What a biatch. And then, out of nowhere, Bads joined up with the real "power" group, May, Lene and Gail booted me out, and I sought comfort in Char's friendship, which was then miscontrued as a lesbian relationship (!). [Apparently, my relationships -imagined, by others- were grist for the rumor mill, including that one with Char, and another with our NatSci teacher.] On the first day of class of sophomore year, I didn't even know where to go for lunch. I think it was Anj and Bespren J who asked me where I was eating (or something) and the rest was history.

Through the years we realized we were usually in a ratio of 2:2. For example, Bespren J and Anj were the varsity players; while Del and I were the writers. Anj and Del used the St. Michael socks with the heart design, while Bespren J and I used the socks with the little parallel lines. Two of us would get singkamas with bagoong from outside gate 6, while the other two would get mangga. Hence, we called our barkada (clique) Ratio, to set ourselves apart from Fuji, or the Circle of 26, or even Rubber Band. Whether it was a ratio of 2:2 or 3:1, we were Ratio. We became each others' confidantes, sounding boards, bridesmaids, kumares.

It continues--Anj and Del are now married, while Bespren J and I are boyfriendless. (Shite.) Anj, however, is the only one with kids, and it seems that she's having enough kids for all of us. Last time I met up with her at her parents' house, I was the one who got tired for her--7 months pregnant and taking care of two toddlers. Beautiful children, though. So there. Del has to have kids to make it a ratio. Unfortunately for little Anthony though, Bespren J and I are already godmothers to Wills, Anj's eldest, while Del is godmother to her second, pretty Justine. No more Ratio godmother for him. We'll surely smother him with kisses, though. Teehee. These are good friends, these friends I've kept. Together with Bespren M, Bespren D, the Gelpren, and Piaya, these are my support group, a family away from family.


At the Centennial airport, while waiting to board. Waiting at airports while pumped with Bonamine makes you think strange things.

-oOo-

Birthday good-vibes to gamhanan. Have a great one!

Last Song Syndrome : Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying - Bob Marley

life blogger

nicked from new QA Manager gamhanan:

You Are a Life Blogger!

Your blog is the story of your life - a living diary. If it happens, you blog it. And make it as entertaining as possible.

What kind of blogger are you?

Since I'm not at full-blast yet after the short vacation. Maybe tomorrow.

Last Song Syndrome : The Mystic's Dream - Loreena McKennitt

flowers for mamang

Flowers for Mamang, originally uploaded by brightblade.

I must commend the mother-unit's practical creativity. This flower arrangement we placed on Mamang and Papang's grave was made out of flowers from the market, sinamay from a bouquet that zeester#1 received from the boyfriend, leftover ribbon, and a Selecta half-gallon tin. Purty, no?

I understand the need for a more practical approach to this; after all, it seems that the minute you leave the flowers at the grave, little kids scurry over to scavenge them (at least in our part of the Sucat burial grounds), and flowers are oturageously priced at this time of year. Besides, Mamang and Papang were simple and practical people and I believe they would have appreciated this.

Of course, things are different in the province, where there is a mausoleum for my Lolo and Lola and a modicum of flair must be maintained (or so the relatives think, because the Lolo was one of the town's founding fathers). I believe the mausoleum is repainted every other year; and my parents spend more than a month's worth of groceries on maintenance each year. Oh well. I've been to Mamang and Papang's simple grave every year since 1978. I've only visited Lolo and Lola's tomb twice. Ever.

said the alligator king to his seven sons...

A few weeks ago, Bespren J and I were "serenaded" by DaMike with this song at a Greenwich near the baywalk, at about 11pm. I remember the cartoon that accompanied this song quite vividly, along with Wanda, the Wicked Witch, Sammy the Snake, and the lowercase n who was longely on a hilltop. This is what I grew up with; this has helped shaped the person that I am. Generations after us were weaned on Batibot, and then later, Barney, Blue's Clues, and the latest, Dora. Sesame Street remains to be one of the best teachers I had, teaching me everything from counting up to cooperation.

DaMike knows this song by heart. Teehee. The guy will probably make a great dad.

One two three four five six seven!
Said the Alligator King to his seven sons,
"I'm feelin' mighty down.
Whichever of you can cheer me up
Will get to wear my crown."

His first son brought seven oyster pearls
From the bottom of the China Sea.

The second gave him seven statues of girls
With clocks where their stomachs should be.

The third son gave him seven rubies
From the sheikdom Down There Beneath.
The King thought the rubies were cherries,
And he broke off seven of his teeth.

The fourth son tried to cheer him up
With seven lemon drops.
The King said, "I'm sorry son,
Since that ruby episode, I just haven't got the chops."

The fifth son brought the King perfume
In seven fancy silver jars;
The King took a whiff, and he broke out in spots
'Cause it smelled like cheap cigars.

The sixth son gave him seven diamond rings
To wear upon his toes.
The King snagged his foot on the royal red rug
And crumpled up his nose.

The seventh son of the Alligator King
Was a thoughtful little whelp.
He said, "Daddy, appears to me
That you could use a little help."

Said the Alligator King to his seventh son,
"My son, you win the crown.
You didn't bring me diamonds or rubies, but
You helped me up when I was down.
Take the crown; it's yours, my son.
I hope you don't mind the dents.
I got it on sale at a discount store-
Cost me all of seven cents!"
Seven!

some kind of inferno

Since I'm not back to regular blogging yet, here's the result of a hell-raising test. Got this from sunshine.

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished me to the Third Level of Hell!
Here is how I matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very Low
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Moderate
Level 2 (Lustful)	Moderate
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	High
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Moderate
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test

Last Song Syndrome : Incubus - Like A Virgin (thanks librarianjessie!)

hmmm chalk another one up for the red sox

The New York Times > Sports > Baseball > A New-Age General Manager Helps End an Age-Old Curse

Has a twin, son of a twin, grandson of a twin, just about two years older than me, and chiselled good looks. And GM of the Red Sox. Gaah. Sorry, Joe Torre, I think this guy's winning me over!

Last Song Syndrome : Sound of the Underground - Girls Aloud

and after the storm...

...come many little things that contribute to a relatively good day. Which is great after that not-so-splendid day yesterday. Okay, so my screen protector didn't go on quite that well on AchTungBaby, and I don't think I consumed anything remotely healthy today, but still.

Things that made me break into a smile:

the prospect of lunch with besprens on the natal day

was able to find a download of a good Sergio Mendes song (Magdalenha)

we are suddenly able to access our Yahoo! accounts, which we have been unable to do since Big Project Weekend

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. suddenly comes on LAUNCHcast (which I am listening to because I have been able to log onto Yahoo!

Maleen suddenly giving me a Kitkat bar

the BawalPikon barkada all know it's nearing my birthday although they don't really know anything except that it's sometime around Halloween

relatively good presentation for user training

Sigh. Maybe it really does have to do with your own personal wellbeing, how you deal with circumstance. However extenuating circumstances may seem to be, they still, after all, are a test of character. Feh. I think I lost mine somewhere since starting Big Projects.

Last Song Syndrome : Pardon Me - Incubus

fohtah, they've done it...!

Yahoo! Sports - MLB - A catch, a celebration, a dynasty of disappointment is over

The Red Sox are the World Champions!

'Nuff said.

i am in a strange blue funk

It's funny how I could start a day

and now feel so


People can just really clash, even people who apparently like each other and go out on gimmicks with each other. It's hard when you put so much importance and exert so much effort on your work, because someday, sometime or another, it will let you down. You will have a bad day; it's just that it's something I could really do without now, not after being at work the entire weekend and finding out that the PDA that I wanted to buy on zero-percent installment wasn't on zero-percent installment anymore (talk about vague advertising--apparently some products are available until the 31st, but the majority, well, aren't).

Immediate Director-Boss sent me and JP an email reprimand because we came back from lunch late (after buying the Tungsten E, by the way). And then the matter of the training scheduled for this afternoon, which was well-attended. However, this funky little tongue of mine let slip a statement that wasn't well-received by some people, these friends of ex-Medium Immediate Boss (ex-MIB). And now, ex-MIB, with whom we were supposed to meet tonight, suddenly cancels, heaven knows where she is.

CB wanted to meet up after the training but I'm in no mood to socialize right now. So there. I'm going home. I'm watching The Grid and then CSI: Miami and then I'm tuning out. The hell.

Last Song Syndrome : nothing. i can hear nothing.

hands on manila

The zeester#1 is taking quite an active role in some of these charities. Maybe you could also help make a difference in other people's lives. I like that it isn't very much philanthropy but more of assistance--the whole teaching a man to fish shtick. Anyway, the various project descriptions are listed here, from story-telling at Museo Pambata to Habitat for Humanity. Hands On Manila is your Megamall for volunteerism. I'm all for giving it a try.

something stupid
I did something utterly stupid a few hours ago. JP was asking me for help tweaking his file and I accidentally erased everything that he had done for the past hour or so. He was peeved. I know he was. You know when people say, "No, I'm not mad..." because it's what's expected; but they're really seething. I stopped saying sorry after about 10 tries. It wouldn't get anywhere. I feel so stupid for having caused him additional strain, not like the stress at StingyCo's enough. Right now the peer-relationship is a little strained; we haven't directly spoken to each other since (aside from the apologies). Sigh. Takes one little thing to ruin a day.

Last Song Syndrome : All Apologies - Nirvana

advice for the young at heart

a.k.a. a certain someone who is problematic right now

Note: Yours truly is no Dr. Love, nor have I enough life experience to actually give good advice. I just thought this over.

I still go back to my basic concept. Do whatever makes you happy. Don't do anything out of paranoia, or out of fear that someone is going to end up with someone. Listen to your head, too; take that advice from someone who's constantly listened to her heart and has nothing to show for it. What have I learned after all this? Sometimes doing the right thing is hard; you will regret it, but never for very long. Sometimes doing the right thing will lead to heartbreak but in the long run you will realize that it was for the best. Sometimes, on the other hand, doing the right thing will require you to swallow your pride and endure countless jabs at your heart, your ego, your self-esteem. Either way, doing the right thing will be hard sometimes, and you need to think it through and pray it through.

Last Song Syndrome : Broken - Seether

sunday at stingyco

Or 'Things to Do in StingyCo When You're Bored (and still at work on Sunday evening)'

yay red sox
It might actually be a Cinderella season after all. Yay for the underdog!

birthday celebrants on friendster
Apparently, friendster has a new feature showing your friends with upcoming birthdays. Because of this I have received birthday greetings from a couple of people whom I don't always come into contact with. It was nice, actually.

people who share my birthday

• Markee - okay, so he has better-shaped eyebrows than I do (natural yun), but this founding member of the LasPinyeros is one person whom I can always count on for droll, frank comments and advice that more often than not are true.
  
• y_slaybelle - Ms. Russia, PinoySlayer, Digital Dave-owner and inveterate blogger all in one! One of the first PinoySlayers to welcome me to the fold... wonderful person.
  
• Tristan - former student and volleyball varsity player, now based in the US. Funny and fearless.
  
• Shirley from the lower batch - don't really know much about her... just that we share the same birthday. Hahahaha.
  
• According to The CelebrityCafe, I share birthdays with the following notable people: Ezra Pound, Ruth Gordon, Louis Malle (husband of Candice Bergen, right?), Ivanka Trump (aak! daughter of The Man), Diego Maradona, Henry Winkler (hey Fonzie!), Harry Hamlin, and Gavin Rossdale. Not so notable: Snow (1, 2, 3: inFORmer! watermelon-watermelon-watermelon...)
  
• A check at IMDb yields two more interesting personages with whom I share a birthday: Gael Garcia Bernal (yummy... exactly the same age as Markee, by the way) and Adam Copeland, known to wrestling fans as Edge.

There can be absolutely no truth to people with the same birthdays having the same characteristics.

And now, back to work.

Last Song Syndrome : White Houses - Vanessa Carlton
For some insame reason, I like this song.

still at work

I've just about had enough of dividend balances and reconciliation. Would that it were reconciliation between me and Z.

(Lagot ako nito kay g! at kina Besprens D, J and M. Hehehehehe.)

Last Song Syndrome : Mr. Jones - Counting Crows

this can't be true...

Got this from magnifique_f8h:

You are 10% geek

OK, so maybe you ain't a geek. You do, at least, show a bit of interest in the world around you. Either that, or you have enough of a sense of humor to pick some of the sillier answers on the test. Regardless, you're probably a pretty nifty, well-rounded person who gets along fine with people and can chat with just about anyone without fear of looking stupid or foolish or overly concerned with minutiae. God, I hate you.

Take the Polygeek Quiz at Thudfactor.com

Moi, self-confessed geek, algebra-lover and avid Star Trek: Voyager fan? Apparently it takes more than that to be a certified geek. And Drew is the poster girl for this level. Kyut.

Last Song Syndrome : No Blue Sky - The Thorns

red sox, stephen king jubilant

Yahoo! Sports - MLB - Red Sox 10, Yankees 3

For the first time in major league baseball, a team has clawed back from a 3-0 playoff deficit to win the series. And for a storied team that hasn't won the World Series for 86 years, it was a wonderful story indeed, one that will reverberate for ages. The mighty New York Yankees were struck down by the Boston Red Sox.

I don't really follow major league baseball all that closely now, although I used to cheer for an Andy Petitte/Tino Martinez-lead Yankee team as well as Tom Glavine and Chipper Jones over at Atlanta. That was half a decade ago. The Yankees are still mighty, but nowadays I prefer European football to the American national sport. When the Yankees raced to a 3-0 series lead, it was almost a done deal. And then when I was home recuperating, I watched as the gutsy Red Sox fought through 12 innings to win Game 4. And then 14 innings worth of Game 5. The series was actually shaping up to be exciting.

And now this. It's the perfect cap to a historical series. Diehard Red Sox fans Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan chose a great season to chronicle. Props to the Boston Red Sox. They really deserve this.

Now, back to soccer, where there are a lot of cuter dudes.

Last Song Syndrome : Take On Me - a-ha

matinong usapan

An email exchange ensues:

Bespren D: pwede ba akong mag-request...ng baby shower

Ri: kelan? kelan ba usually ang baby shower? ilang months?

Bespren D: ay hindi ko alam pero 7 months na ako next month kaya time na rin for me to buy stuff (actually dapat 8th month pero alangan naman i shop during the christmas rush!). and i dont know where to start.

Bespren M: Sure ba! Hello.... I may not be around when the baby is born (you're due in March, tama ba?)

Bespren D: confused ka talaga M, pero excused ka dont worry. magbilang ka iha--7th month = november, 8th month = december, 9th month = january...11th month = march -- baka nagsasalita na ang baby kung patagalin ko hanggang march sa tyan ko ;)

Last Song Syndrome : Stay - Lisa Loeb

dissatisfaction guaranteed

As dicussed in our human behavior in organizations subject, in a work environment, there are satisfiers and dissatisfiers. Satisfiers are items in the work environment that make an employee happy with their presence; dissatisfiers on the other hand are those items without which an employee becomes unhappy. Satisfiers may be absent and the employee would not be dissatisfied, for example vendo machine in the pantry. Dissatisfiers are items like medical benefits, without which employees could grumble.

Call me spoiled, but I consider internet access in my workplace as a dissatisfier. When I was with the green-and-white, I would spend an average of at least 2 hours a day on the internet. To think we shared PCs back then. Since I was at work early and more often than not went home late, I could use the PC that AMJ and I shared without remorse, or without supervision, for that matter. When I transferred to StingyCo, I realized that there were network admin who actually had the power to remove internet access. Once adminDude removed my internet access because one of the bosses of another department complained that she passed by my cubicle in the middle of the day and I was surfing. Feh.

After a while, my access was restored (after a few friendly chats with adminDude) and I learned how to be more discreet. However, we have never been able to access any instant messenger services due to the firewal. Then, last year, our office email started blocking yahoogroups mail; more debilitating was the start, just last Monday, of our proxy server blocking Yahoo! mail and other services. Aside from having to check mail at home (and not at lunch hour -wink, wink- as we were wont to), we would not be able to check if there were any urgent mail, and I would no longer be able to access my LAUNCHcast personal station. Gaah! I can only listen to so much of The Big Hits station.

If I consider this a dissatisfier, does this mean I'll be on the lookout for new work then? Who hasn't been on the lookout for greener pastures, really? I was just really disappointed that suddenly this policy was implemented, after four years of relative freedom. This also means less sleep, because I will now be forced to surf during the offpeak time of the wee hours of the morning. Oh well. In any case, though, if a better prospect for work comes knocking, who knows? Internet or no internet.

Besides, with a 20% pay differential I will be able to afford unlimited broadband.


social animals we are
Got this from Patty:


Category I - The Hub

You're a 'people person'. Networking runs in your
blood. Consequently, you can move through most
social circles with ease.


What Type of Social Entity are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Apparently I am a 'people person'. Well I do have a lot of acquaintances (just not on friendster), and I believe I can move through most social circles with ease (except the extreme class A, and some communities especially in say, Tondo). I can't say I network well, though. I think I would have jumped StingyCo at the first chance if I did network right. (Hastily looks around to check if anyone has been reading over her shoulder.)

Last Song Syndrome : Building a Mystery - Sarah McLachlan

signing off for the week

Apparently last Wednesday's shivers were the portent of a full-blown case of influenza. As it is, I'm heading home because I can't function right here anymore. Got some things done and am I now going home to rest. Tomorrow we have the final despedida of the Medium Immediate Boss, which I hope to be able to attend.

Here's hoping for a peaceful and healing afternoon's rest as well as a good weekend ahead. Have "pseudo-date" with BB on Sunday; four-odd years after our first pseudo-date for Mickey Blue Eyes. Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow looks interesting, if only for the star value. Besides, am such a sucker for JUDE-LAW-AND-ANGELINA-JOLIE-IN-THE-SAME-MOVIE! Oh well.

I leave you with a cute Calvin and Hobbes comic. Here's to us all, insignificant specks, but we make the most of it.

-oOo-

I know someone important to me (or used to be, at least) has his/her birthday today. I can't remember. Feh.

-oOo-

Big-time agent is looking for me. Good thing she doesn't know me by face. I will escape now. Have a good weeekend.

Last Song Syndrome : Sweet Home Alabama

in the air

Apparently, Bespren J is also under the weather. Tsk tsk. There must be a bug going around in our little barangay.

despite all my rage i am still just a rat in a cage

Pohtah. Ayoko na magtrabaho.

Ang lamig pa dito.

Last Song Syndrome : Bullet with Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins

procrastination

Yes I have a lot to do. Yes I am at work trying to do it. But I have been at work since 7 this morning so I wanted to sneak some time to fill this up. In between work. Because the brain is on overload and may explode sometime soon.

TOP 3 Frequently visited sites
1. mail.yahoo.com
2. blogspot.com
3. livejournal.com

TOP 3 Foods
1. penne al telefono
2. ebi tempura
3. salted garlic squid

TOP 3 Drinks
1. mirinda orange
2. raspberry tea frapp
3. water

TOP 3 Snacks
1. oishi ridges bbq
2. brazo de mercedes
3. kettle corn microwave popcorn

TOP 3 Indoor activities
1. internet
2. TV
3. sleeping

TOP 3 Outdoor activities
1. driving
2. walking
3. badminton

TOP 3 Accessories
1. cellphone
2. earrings
3. badminton racket

TOP 3 Major expenses
1. groceries
2. cable
3. badminton

TOP 3 Books that you like
1. Einstein's Dreams
2. Mists of Avalon
3. Dragonlance

TOP 3 Movies that you like
1. The Princess Bride
2. Lord of the Rings trilogy (hehe, 3 in 1)
3. Good Will Hunting

Last Song Syndrome : Why Not - Hilary Duff

spinning, spinning

How do you handle it when things somehow seem to spiral out of control, and you can't take a step back, even for a moment? Things are a bit stifling at work nowadays (evidenced by my sporadic, not to mention erratic, blogging). Everything is coming to a head within the next two weeks, when StingyCo and Acquistion#4 are going to merge systems. There are two other major projects, and production support for current systems. Then there's also the industry exam that I'm taking on November 3rd, for which I haven't even started studying. Not even opened the book. Not once.

How does one stay sane in times like these? I don't want to go back to 70-hour workweeks and no social life, not when I'm starting to actually have a set of friends at the office, getting close to CB again after all this time, and being able to spend time with my family. I know it's a matter of time management (like I shouldn't be blogging right now); but sometimes it really seems there aren't enough hours in a day. I don't even get to surf and download as much anymore. Sigh.

Last Song Syndrome : If I Am - Nine Days

earthquakes notwithstanding

I am at work on a Saturday evening. We finished a planning session a few hours ago and now we're doing the work that we're supposed to have done this morning if we hadn't had that planning session. In the planning session, we were made to go through a "tunnel" under a row of chairs, in pairs, simultaneously from separate ends of the "tunnel". HR Facilitator was quick to point out that our team, Sir N and I, were heavyweights. What an understatement. Alone, I would have a hard time going through that tunnel--and with another person? Just too much to handle. I ended up "breaking the rules" a bit. Apparently we were all "obedient" because we didn't question the need to do it. I did, but I kept it to myself. And in a jam, I readily break the rules. I knew that. And now, it's back to work, obedient people that we are. (Well, right now it's pretend working. Blog first, work later.)

Meanwhile, on earthquake-related stuff: I was at Starbucks Glorietta 4. Ate J. and I were looking at the plastic Starbucks glasses (the ones that come in the plastic tote bag) when Maleen pointed to the ceiling. Ate J. thought I was being mean when I suddenly looked away from her mid-sentence and stared at the ceiling. The (paper? fabric?) lantern shades of the Starbucks lights were swaying ominously. Then I felt it, a gentle rocking. Everyone had left by this time, but we had just taken our orders and I, for one, didn't want to waste a good raspberry tea frappucinno. So there we were, glued to the spot. Like prophecygrrl, I do not know whether it's safe to go up or down; in any case, we would just have taken our chances and run out to the smoking area. I would have wanted to experience this at one of the upper floors of Oakwood, though, knowing in hindsight that it wasn't a fatal quake. That would have been fun--motion-sickness-inducing, but fun. Supposed nightcap quickly became an earthquake-story-fest, with Vanj having the most interesting story, having been a student in Baguio during the fateful July 1991 earthquake.

N., the former SO, was in Cavite and started texting me, asking where I was and with whom. Another text said that he was concerned and to let him know when I was already home. I texted him, "Hello, OA ka!" I don't want to be mean, but I don't see the need to be answerable to him in any way. It's been more than a year since we've broken up, and I'm not exactly keen for him to be back in my life. Why is it the people we don't really want sticking around do stick around, while those that you wish were still with you don't want anything to do with you? Am I wrong to push him away because, heck, he's the only guy who'll have anything to do with me right now?

Last Song Syndrome : Trouble - Pink

if i were for sale...

"You are worth exactly $1,841,366.00"
I found this out at
Human For Sale

Swiped this from Patty again.

movie weekend

Posted reactions on Saved! and Raising Helen. Quite an interesting combination, actually.

Last Song Syndrome : Whip It - Devo

oh yeah, this is not a gloat post

Green Day: DLSU Reclaims UAAP Men's Basketball Crown

Last Song Syndrome : Confessions Part I - Usher

the zeester has a blog

SPY | SPIN

Zeester#1 is making use of her sloth-filled days (her words, not mine) after the big test. Apparently she just started yesterday. Welcome to the blogging world. Hope you still get to blog when you start working at BigLawFirm.

a soon-to-be-father's request

My friend is becoming a father soon. He sent this through our mailing list just a while back. Since I'm not ready to blog about the toxicity of my life right now, here's this refreshing, heartfelt letter. I can disagree with him about growing up in the States being the best thing for his child, but I'm frankly too stressed out to argue. Til the weekend then, when everything should have cleared up. Here's P's letter.

Dear Community in Christ,

I would like to ask for prayers particularly for the intention of my little family in the making! :O)

Today would be my last day before I leave for the US tomorrow at 5:30 am. I would be back this November 22nd!

In line with this, could I ask for a prayers for a safe delivery and a healthy baby for my wife who is expected to give birth this Oct 16th? This would be our first baby and we would be parenting in a place far from home. :O(

Anyways, I know that the Lord would be guiding me and R on what to do but it would surely be very comforting if I could ask you to pray for our intentions also.

This would truly be a very humbling experience for us for it would be the 1st time in our lives that we are not exactly 'in control' and are 'away' from all our comfort zones... our homes... our immediate family... the comfort of our lives in Manila.

But then again, that is what parenthood is all about right? Giving the best for our child!!! My wife and I have sacrificed time away from each other and honestly, it is a most grueling and emotional experience for both of us... :O(

Anyways... it is just a few hours away and I would be with her and my baby again... I am really asking for prayers from all of you... for my safe journey there... for R's safe delivery over there... for our safe bringing up of our little family over there... till the time that baby is safe to come home... to be with our families back here in Manila.

Thanks to all who have been very helpful and have prayed for us even in the very beginning... we love you all! :O) Well, tomorrow would definitely be a new chapter in our lives... at least, by tomorrow... R and I and my baby would be together... so whatever hardships we would be encountering there... it would definitely be bearable for we are all together again.

So lastly... maybe one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be would be enough for the intention of my 'little family in the making' - that would be the best gift that I could ask from all of you!!!

Till the time we return... take care and God bless!!!

We love you all from the bottom of our hearts...

~ P., R. and 'baby' :O) r

Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me."

Last Song Syndrome : God is a DJ - Pink

yay for miranda/cynthia

MSN Entertainment - News - 'Sex and the City' Star Switches Roles

Not being a lesbian myself but recognizing my tendencies (!? potential?), I'm glad when people realize their true sexuality.

chaos on taft

Mind you, this is not because of the UAAP, because the green-and-white lost (feh).

This was the barristers' salubong--the last day of the bar exams. Zeester #1 (the over-achiever) had her last day of exams (one of 5,000) for the license to practice law in the Philippines. Apparently the last day of the exams is a big thing, with different schools' tents all around, war drums (apparently not all are alloted to the UAAP games), beer- and softdrink-drenching, and a LOT of people. Taft was closed, so there was a party in the streets. Well, don't take my word for it, here are pictures.





Just for that instance, I was behind this flag, which y_slaybelle and aurieslayer will find familiar.


Overheard:
"Pare nakita mo yung babae, and laki ng suso nun!" (after 5 seconds) "Ang laki talaga ng suso!" Shyet.
(shouting) "Nasan na si _____?" "Umihi lang!!!" Yes, we all needed to know that.
"Sino'ng #1 sa bar last year?!" Ateneo, by the way.

Yet another 'Feh!' moment. Photobucket (Feh!tobucket) is down. Grr.

Last Song Syndrome : Hey Jealousy - Gin Blossoms

an exercise in brevity

A few weeks ago, this creative writing list that I joined gave an exercise to write a short story in 55 words. At the time I didn't have time to write, which is bad, because you must always have time to write. Or pretend to write. Anyway, last night I decided to give it a shot. Of course it was something close to my heart:

Chino’s face stared back at her from the worn picture—boyish grin that made her melt, hazel eyes that pierced her soul. She missed him so.

She smiled, planting a kiss on the picture-Chino’s lips. This would have to do for the meantime.

She dropped it into the tin, which was alight with crackling flames.

Last Song Syndrome : Cool Change - Little River Band

i am a hollow reed...

Apparently,

You have a Calm Soul! Being calm and cool is what
you do best. Your collected thoughts and always
positive attitude make you very bright and
logical. When there's a problem, you know how to
approach it, and solve it. Your friends rely on
you for their problems, and your shoulder for
their crying. You are peaceful, and enjoy
nature and freedom. You rarely get angry and
hardly scream, which makes you good with kids.
You seem to be in tune with the world and if
anything goes wrong, you always bounce back.

What Kind of SOUL do you possess? (For Girls only) Incredible Anime Pictures!
brought to you by Quizilla

People who know me personally are welcome to send violent reactions. Strange, Chinese-horoscope-like reading, don't you think? And for girls only ha! Thanks to Patty for letting me steal her link.

the casual watcher is back
Slowly but surely I'm getting back into the groove. Here are the latest additions:
The Stepford Wives
The Notebook

Last Song Syndrome : Totoy Bibo (?) - Vhong Navarro

ang galing galing kong sumayaw
galing kong gumalaw, galing kong sumayaw
bibong-bibo gumalaw

[enter maniacal laughter]

hurrah for chip and kim

CNN.com - 'Amazing Race' has its winner - Sep 22, 2004

Well, at least a couple that I liked (aside from the Bowling Moms) won. This just goes to show that every little bit counts... and teams that seem to have commanding leads can get upended on the last day of competition. Thanks to Kim's foresight (and should I say cunning and stealth), Chip and Kim were able to get on an earlier flight and that sealed the deal for them becoming 1 million dollars richer.

I must admit though that I have grudging respect for Colin Guinn. Despite the fact that he was generally a jerk, he was really one of the best players ever to have joined The Amazing Race. Although a lot may have been edited out, it seemed very logical and efficient the way that he went through the maze at the Fort Worth stockyards. So if he and his sometimes-whiny girlfriend would have won because of that, that would have been acceptable. Indeed.

TAR5 was a great show, especially because they went to the Philippines. Maybe next time they can go back... like to Vigan or the Chocolate Hills.

strange friendsters
I just got a friendster request from an unlikely source--JE is the husband of KC, a former student to whom I've gotten quite close; it also happens that JE was a teammate of The Ex, Z., on the close-knit varsity baseball team. So I know him in two ways, but I've never carried a decent conversation with the guy. But now he's my friendster. Kewl.

Last Song Syndrome : My Girl - The Temptations

emmy blog filler

Links to Emmy stuff:

Looking good!
Amber Brkich & Rob Mariano

Don't they look alike?
Portia de Rossi (no relation to Assunta, et al) and Drea de Matteo

Cutie
Heather Locklear in a pretty dress

Not-so-cutie
Jennifer Garner in frou-frou
...but note the comment about Ben Affleck. Is Michael Vartan actually a free agent? (Like we stood a chance.)

Al Pacino rambled on and on, and he wasn't cut by the orchestra. Scared of Michael Corleone much? However, Meryl Streep was played over. As was Jeffrey Wright, who was saying something profound about how AIDS now affects more people. Unfortunately, Wright never played a former mob boss; while Pacino, ever in need of a face lift, was quite "unfocused". How sad. Although Wright's speech was good, the speech that got to me was Sara Jessica Parker's acceptance speech for her Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Maybe it's because the final season is already upon us; but she struck a nerve with me (and more apparently, with Kristin Davis).

The "reality" participants were quite cute. Awestruck and real. Kaya nga reality, eh. Queer Eye won for Best Reality Show (as opposed to Best Reality Game Show, won by The Amazing Race 4--this is Chip and Reichen, right?). And another Emmy awards show wrapped up. It was all glitzy and glamorous, disappointing in defeat yet glorious in victory. For us, it was just another day.

Last Song Syndrome : Bizaare Love Triangle - Frente

short takes

Thirty two years ago, today (well, actually on Sept. 23), Ferdinand Edralin Marcos signed the declaration of Martial Law, elevating himself to full-fledged dictator of our country and effectively strangling human rights. I have a lot of friends who are Marcos loyalists, especially those whose families come from the Ilocos region, but I, meanwhile, am a stalwart believer in everything that Ninoy Aquino stood for (regardless of his youngest daughter's shenanigans). And I believe that a lot of human rights were trampled, people murdered and Philippine money plundered during the Marcos regime. I believe the Philippines went to the dogs during that time. So every year at around this time, I mourn what was lost--the Philippines' premiere status in Asia, lives of great statemen, innocence--and what could have been.

-oOo-

The Medium Immediate Boss (MIB) --as opposed to the Little Big Boss (LBB)-- is leaving for Australia. Migrating. With her family. Apparently, the application was done at the height of the semicon recession, because her husband works (now used to work) for one of the semicon plants in the South. Said application is now approved and they are leaving by the end of next month. Maleen, JP and I are going to be orphans. The turnover meeting a few days ago was exhausting and overwhelming. MIB has been a huge factor in department stability and our job satisfaction (not to say I'm biased, but she is one of the best bosses in the company from the perspective of staff). It's a big loss for StingyCo, because MIB is part company historian (having been here a decade) and repository of system knowledge.

Meanwhile, the three of us orphans are now rethinking our employment strategy, especially when MIB's replacement will come along. We don't know how this will play out. Wish us luck.

-oOo-

Friday night was spent with Maleen, JP and Sir D. Apparently our persuasive skills were quite effective because we were able to coerce Sir D, who has just transferred to BigTelecom Co., to treat us to dinner. (Sige na D, mangungulila na naman kami eh... we're playing this soon-to-be-orphan card to the hilt.)

After dinner we didn't want to head home just yet so we drove around. The establishments along Perea were already closed; while Aposento and Capone's were rejected. We ended up buying liquor at a Ministop and then heading to my so-called pad where we talked, looked at pictures, drank and generally bonded. Strong departments, although about to be orphaned, are made of these.

-oOo-

Zane writes about Ryan Gosling.

Ryan Gosling. Sweet. I definitely see the attraction here, Sandy Bullock. He was already an eyecatcher in that little role in Remember the Titans; and then he charmed my socks off in Murder by Numbers. I have yet to see him in The Believer, but Zane's post has me looking for a copy. Good thing I was able to get the pDVD of United States of Leland a few weeks ago at Dread Pirate Square.

It's not a matronistic sort of attraction, mind you. He's the same age as my last SO. So there. Teehee.

Thanks Zane, at least I now know that Ryan Gosling belongs to that same esteemed alumni group of MMC (Mickey Mouse Club) mousekeeters that includes the Twit-ney, Justin Timberlake, Keri Russell, JC Chasez (who is quite cute and underrated, I think), and Christina Aguilera. Hmmmm. I'm so glad for Ryan Gosling. Now I am looking for mousekeeter pictures.

-oOo-

Left the trusty 6220 at home. Again. JP is clucking away because this is the third time I have left my phone in eight days. I've managed to survive on all occasions. The cellphone for me has never been an essential, only very, very convenient. And today, it's an inconvenience that I wasn't able to bring it. Nor my files on The Notebook, Dodgeball and The Stepford Wives. Grrr.

-oOo-

Happy Birthday Joelito. Can't believe we've known each other for twelve years. Thank you for being a most wonderful friend.

Last Song Syndrome : Kyrie - Mr. Mister
(LAUNCHcast Big Hits of the '80s)

the karma kalabaw kampaign

Join the KKK! And yay to TAR4 for winning another Emmy!

Here is the KKK's Supremo's original post for your consumption.

-oOo-



If you loved TAR, and you loved having them in the Philippines, it would be a nice gesture to mail them and tell them so, and maybe suggest that they could come back. (And maybe open up TAR to international players, but that's just me.) This is not the nasty bit, so it hasn't been completely thought through.

There are three easy steps in the Karma Kalabaw Kampaign.

1. Buy a kalabaw postcard from any National Book Store branch near you.

2. Write a message. Maybe "Mabuhay, Amazing Race! Please come back!"

3. Snail-mail to any of the following addresses:

CBS Television Network
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

The Amazing Race
World Race Productions
4120 Del Rey Avenue
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

And now for the nasty bit. I thought of an optional vindication campaign in honor of our friend, The Amazing Kalabaw, and his scene-stealing work versus Colin Guinn on last Wednesday's Amazing Race. Again, three easy steps:

1. Buy a kalabaw postcard from any National Book Store branch near you.

2. Write a message. I heartily recommend "My ox ain't broken, bitch!"

3. Snail-mail to any of the following addresses:

Colin Guinn,
Contestant, The Amazing Race 5
CBS Television Network
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

Colin Guinn,
Contestant, The Amazing Race 5
The Amazing Race
World Race Productions
4120 Del Rey Avenue
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

Last Song Syndrome : In The Air Tonight - Phil Collins
(LAUNCHcast Big Hits of the '80s station)

hail, hail alma mater

DLSU, 69 - ADMU, 55
"Archers Put A Fork in Eagles, Enter Finals"
by Norman Vergara, University Belt Sports

Wala lang. This is not a gloat post. Well, maybe it is, just a little. I'm not all in a tizzy over the victory, though, unlike the zeester, but I am happy that we're in the finals again. Still green at heart (and mind--that's for sure)...

of inflation and road rage

taking inflation into account
Apparently, taking inflation into account, the top-grossing movie of all time is not Titanic, but rather Gone With the Wind. Star Wars, the original, is second, while perpetual favorite The Sound of Music is third. Tsk tsk. So Titanic isn't tops, after all...

classical music doesn't work
It's supposed to be soothing, right? Anyway, was testing a classical music CD that I burned recently in the car on the way to the office. Unfortunately, road rage almost got the better of me, especially in those jeepney-teeming areas of Buendia, and that wonderful intersection of Ayala/Salcedo-dela Costa. Vivaldi and Brahms weren't much help. Oh well. Maybe Natalie would have soothed the soul better, but almost 8am (time-in) + wonderful wonderful Metro Manila drivers might have gotten the better of her, too.

Last Song Syndrome : Vivaldi's Four Seasons

goodbye, speed

CSI Files - Rory Cochrane To Exit 'CSI: Miami'

Okay, so he's not exactly Brad Pitt. But I liked Rory Cochrane ever since Empire Records and The Last Don. There's something appealing about him and I think he's a pretty good actor. It's good that he's pursuing films... perhaps he felt he wasn't getting anywhere with CSI: Miami. Or maybe he was just annoyed by Emily Procter's breathy voice.

Last Song Syndrome : Chikinini - Parokya ni Edgar

a perfectly good afternoon

I spent an afternoon in Powerbooks. I haven't done that since Powerbooks Arnaiz closed (I still mourn its demise). There were a lot of new books, but it seems that compared to Fully Booked, there are way fewer selections available. Take their collection of graphic novels and comics compilations. Am still loyal though, because I actually have a PowerCard.

The afternoon was mostly spent browsing through home decor coffee table books and magazines (my current love interest) and a few books. However, I wasn't able to sit down for an extended period to warrant my checking out The Woman with the Alabaster Jar, a treatise on Mary Magdalene's life. I had been waiting for that book to be available for the longest time. However, it costs a pretty penny, which I can't afford at the moment. So I think I will have to schedule another Powerbooks afternoon pretty soon.

Last Song Syndrome : Underneath Your Clothes - Shakira

the call of home

Things didn’t push through with Pi and Bespren J. tonight. Earlier, at work, JP popped-up this message: “Does people who work regular hours have to go out on Friday nights?” Apparently, Eych was missing him and wanted to go out and it was becoming a big deal. However, JP had been sick these past few days and I could see that he was exhausted. I answered honestly: No. There comes a time when you have to spend some time recuperating from the stress of the week, prioritizing your own well-being as well as that of your wallet.

Tonight I am staying home, foregoing two other possible gimmicks, aside from the aborted dinner with Pi and J. Sometimes it just feels a bit sad, or pathetic, because you’re at home while the rest of the town is whooping it up. But they aren’t. A lot of people are also at home, preparing for an early Saturday. A lot of people can’t afford to go out regularly. Some people are already at the airport because they are flying out (DnA, enjoy your delayed honeymoon). So there. I figured, I could feel sorry for myself because I wasn’t out, but I could also embrace the fact that for the first time in not a few days, I have time to rest and meditate. Not to mention stock up on much needed rest for what will be a grueling next few weeks.

shiny, happy
Channel-surfing yielded shiny, happy stuff:

On Studio23, The Swan featured extreme changes on this contestant named Cindy, who went from looking like a witch with a hook nose to looking like… a regular Filipina. Great.

On National Geographic, the topic was asteroids. I am always entranced by those big shiny things in the sky—I think it’s an offshoot of my not being interested in people but in bigger things. I’m continually reminded that I’m a speck of dust in an infinite universe.

On AXN, Brad Pitt in The Devil’s Own. I remember watching this in college in a packed cinema. I think it was one of my first exposures to the hunka burnin’ love that is Jennifer Aniston’s hubby. It’s like, Brad just has to smile, and the world is a better place.

Okay snap out of it.

On HBO, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. The battle of Helm’s Deep, and the Ents’ attack on Isengard, in particular. Sigh. Would that we could battle modern-day orcs (corrupt politicians and their henchmen?) and evil could be defeated by burning a Ring… I looked up and smiled at my Legolas action figure.

Last Song Syndrome : Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead

name game

In some sort of tribute to the late Laura Branigan, here's some sort of name game, which I filched from Sarah, whose neverland has changed URLs.

PORN STAR NAME (NAME OF FIRST PET + STREET YOU LIVE IN)

Baby Eureka. (Sounds like a gangster.)

MOVIE STAR NAME (NAME OF YOUR FAVORITE SNACK FOOD + GRANDFATHER'S FIRST NAME)

Chip Filomeno. (Am I a guy?!?!?!)

FASHION DESIGNER NAME (FIRST WORD YOU SEE ON YOUR LEFT + FAVORITE RESTAURANT)

Agent Bento (Box).

EXOTIC FOREIGNER ALIAS (Favorite Spice + Last Vacation Spot Visited)

Sage Hong Kong. Eeek.

SOCIALITE ALIAS (SILLIEST CHILDHOOD NICKNAME + TOWN WHERE YOU FIRST PARTIED)

Riri San Andres. ?!?!?!?!

"FLY GIRL" ALIAS (FIRST INITIAL + FIRST TWO OR THREE LETTERS OF YOUR LAST NAME

R. Ara. RAAAARRRR!!!

ICON ALIAS (SOMETHING SWEET WITHIN SIGHT + ANY LIQUID IN KITCHEN)

Choco Joy. What joy!

DETECTIVE ALIAS (FAVORITE BABY ANIMAL + WHERE YOU WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL)

Puppy Scho. That doesn't sound good.

BARFLY ALIAS (LAST SNACK FOOD YOU ATE + YOUR FAVORITE BAR DRINK)

Ridges Sunrise.

SOAP OPERA ALIAS (MIDDLE NAME + STREET WHERE YOU FIRST LIVED)

Comoro Eureka. Swangit! Kapatid ni Baby Eureka (porn star name)... because we've never moved.

ROCK STAR ALIAS (FAVORITE CANDY/DESSERT + LAST NAME OF FAVORITE MUSICIAN)

Strawberry Merchant. Pwede. Pwede.


Last Song Syndrome : Bring Me To Life - Evanescence

The Wit and Wisdom of Imelda Marcos

The website is here.

Was just feeling nostalgic.

I especially like the quote on being "hamburgered geographically". Actually some of the quotes listed here makes sense. Unfortunately, some are non-sequitur and some others are a bit... strange...

happy birthday pretty girl

Is the Doc's birthday today. One of my inspirations. Former tennis varsity, full-fledged doc, face like an angel, devoted wife and awe-inspiring mother of soon-to-be-three who remains the thinnest in the high school barkada. Happy Birthday, A.!


Last Song Syndrome : Take My Breath Away - Jessica Simpson

oh yeah, damn these people

CNN.com - Survivor recounts horror in Russian school - Sep 3, 2004

Let us not forget the humanity of it all. Someone's son, or daughter, or mother, or father, or brother, or sister, was killed. There is a number--330, they say. Imagine your anguish at losing a loved one--there is no replacing them, and there is no measuring that. But multiply that 330-fold. And children! There is nothing I could wish killers of children (like that addict who jumped from the pedestrian underpass with his son, killing the child)--there is nothing I could wish them but eternal damnation. I know we are supposed to be forgiving and everything, but we are not divine (to err being human, and to forgive divine). We are definitely human and although wishing these people ill is so wrong, I must let that part of humanity through.

one night at power plant

Eych and I had already watched The Notebook. JP wasn’t about to go for any Princess Diaries stuff. We girls, especially Maleen, were rightly hesitant about Anacondas. No one wanted to watch a documentary, however interesting (Super Size Me), on a Saturday night. It was between Laws of Attraction and Connie and Carla. Thankfully Eych made a good call and chose Connie and Carla. Much fun was had.

Here's a short commentary on Connie and Carla at the seemingly resurrected Casual Watcher. It pays not to have any expectations for movies. At least you can enjoy them outright.

Last Song Syndrome : Moondance - Michael Buble

some shorts

Am finally able to blog after a week of hospitals (the mother-unit was finally discharged yesterday afternoon), meetings (the big project deadline is on Oct. 27), getting back into the badminton groove, and doing about a thousand more ratings on LaunchCAST.

the premier hospital in our city
...is supposed to be Makati Medical Center. Spending a week there dropping in constantly on the mother-unit has shown me how appalling conditions are over there considering that a room like my mom's cost PhP3,200 a night. One elevator of the three "main" elevators was not functioning, and the other two were still the same (dilapidated and all, down to the black cylindrical plastic buttons). For ventilation, a hole was cut into the ceiling of one elevator and a Rota-Aire electric fan inserted. Brilliant. New wing and all, they should still have done some improvements to the old wing. They are, after all, still the hospital that a lot of us grew up with (and me, practically in and out of). Sometimes I think that it is better off being covered by the new PeopleSupport building...

my name can't be that tough to pronounce
Keanu Reeves turned FORTY last Thursday. Another sign that our generation is getting older, given that one of our first teenage crushes (oh, won't you admit it, now?) is approaching middle age.

bar tales
The zeester (#1) is taking the bar all Sundays of September. Prayers would be most welcome. Each Saturday I will deposit her at Westin Philippine Plaza and every Sunday morning I'll pick up her stuff and check out for her. Will draw myself a hot (bubble) bath every time then. What fun.

not that i don't like The Office
...but where is Absolutely Fabulous? Where? I checked all the StarWorld schedules for the next few weeks and it's gone, gone, gone! I miss Eddy and Patsy! And Saffy! There should be DVDs...

Last Song Syndrome : Toy Soldiers - Martika

fast fingers, and a close encounter with alex compton

Fast fingers, the blog, is here.

Am jotting this out right before logging out on my way to Makati Med. The mother-unit's bronchitis worsened to pneumonia over the weekend and she's now confined there. Hoping she gets well soon, but am glad that she is at least getting some rest. Workaholic of a mom (after whom I did NOT take) has been working non-stop because of a lot of reorganizations, system implementations, and other changes in their office. This morning, though, she apparently spent an hour on the phone giving orders to her secretary, hoarse voice and everything... this mother of mine!

Another hospital visit over the weekend, to Bespren M's dad. Tito R. had gastrointestinal bleeding, not helped by the fact that he's already undergoing dialysis. Went with good samaritan Carlo, who was willing to donate blood. Once there I saw M's two sisters and little brother (not so little anymore, binata na!). And then Alex Compton arrived. Apparently he's a friend of M's other sister and was also there to donate blood. Unfortunately, Carlo and Alex were rejected as donors because of anti-tetanus shots and an recent operation, respectively. More unfortunately: I was not introduced to Alex Compton! (The time he was there I was visiting Tito R at the ICU.) Grr. Hehe.

The bowling tournament is over, finally. Now we're on to the Christmas party. We are pencil-booked at The Loft, Hard Rock and Tavern. Time to move!

Missed the HS class's equivalent of the society wedding of the year. DnA's wedding remains closest to my heart, though. Too bad I wasn't able to make it, since marental was already in the hospital then.

Last Song Syndrome : Plush - Stone Temple Pilots

anticipation

Movies to watch out for:
Wimbledon - Paul Bettany is a skidding tennis player and Kirsten Dunst plays a tennis golden girl. Set amidst the traditional and well-loved Wimbledon courts and tournament.

Without a Paddle - Seth “love-pa-rin-kita-Oz” Green and Matthew “Shaggy” Lillard on a sometimes distasteful but funny camping trip-cum-journey of discovery.

I Heart Huckabees - Jude Law and Naomi Watts lead a wonderful ensemble ironing out existential issues, including Dustin Hoffman, Lily Tomlin, Isabelle Huppert, Jason Schwartzman and Mark Wahlberg. Tippi Hedren and Shania Twain have cameos.

Vanity Fair - Reese Witherspoon plays Becky Sharp in the film adaptation of Thackeray’s classic novel, supported by such notables as Jim Broadbent, Bob Hoskins, and Natasha Little (who played Becky in a miniseries adaptation of Vanity Fair a few years back). To watch out for are Rhys Ifans in a serious turn far removed from his usual buffoonery and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who is just, plain and simple, nice to watch. Teehee.

Last Song Syndrome : Storms in Africa - Enya

oh yeah

I've forgotten that about The Casual Watcher. I've posted about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Traci Lords on Oprah since the last time. On Eternal Sunshine: I absolutely adored this movie. On Traci Lords: this woman rocks! (And I don't mean in a porn-queen sort of way.)

Last Song Syndrome : Love is Strange - Everything But The Girl

i'm a fanatic

Been listening to a lot of Yahoo!LaunchCast lately, since the speakers were transferred to my PC from Maleen's. The little OC strain I have in me prompts me to rate the music as I go along. Which is great because they keep on playing the songs, artists and albums that I rate "Can't Get Enough", including the following artists. I have done more than 1,000 ratings and I am now a "fanatic". Not that I was trying. I guess that sums me up nicely though. The next level is "addict". Hmmmm, interesting.


However, right now it is playing an unrated song, William Hung's Free. Blecch. "Never play again." With exclamation!

Last Song Syndrome : Free - William Hung

laking national

Finally went to National and rummaged through the PhP99 hardbound books. (Paperbacks are cheaper at Powerbooks, 20% off.) Came through with the following:

• Far Horizons - a collection of sci-fi short stories by some of the masters, including editor Robert Silverberg, Orson Scott Card, Anne McCaffrey, and Ursula K. LeGuin. Prized find. Now I have to find a nice matching copy of Legends. Until Legends 3.
  
• Jeffrey Archer's To Cut A Long Story Short - admittedly his career is in the doldrums, but I bought this for old times' sake. I want to see if he's still the master storyteller he used to be. Somewhat prized find, if only to add to the Archer collection on my bookshelf. Will probably not compare to A Twist in The Tale, though.
  
• Miss Wyoming by Douglas Coupland - one of my favorite authors. Been meaning to get a copy of Miss Wyoming for the longest time (one of the few of his works that I don't have). Apparently this is a sign. Another prized find. (However, someone seems to be selling this at $0.05 used at Amazon. Oh well.)
  
• Storyteller's Collection - a collection of Christian short stories. Will read through it to see if I can give it to my ninang, who is in remission from cancer. (After reading the amazon.com reviews, though, I think this is better off with my pastor-officemate.)
  
• What Looks Like Crazy on An Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage - a stirring story involving AIDS. Okay, so it's on Oprah's book club. A good book will surpass any cheesy plugging. Teehee.
  
• The Nanny Diaries - for a little fun on my end. Promises to be quite juicy. Perfect for being stuck in lines.
  
• The Shadow of Albion by Andre Norton and Rosemary Edghill - Book 1 of Carolus Rex. Seems like interesting historical fantasy. Who knows, I might start to love this series.
  
• Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell - adding to my small but growing collection about old Britain and that ring of stones.
  
• Children Are From Heaven by John Gray - a gift for DnA. (Seems to be quite a while before I will be needing this.)
  

Last Song Syndrome : I'm Sensitive - Jewel

I have this theory that if we're told we're bad
Then that's the only idea we'll ever have
But maybe if we are surrounded in beauty
Someday we will become what we see

something i've known all along

Take the What High School
Stereotype Are You? quiz.

Last Song Syndrome : If I Am - Nine Days

we should never let the sun set on tomorrow
before the sun rises

deer caught in the headlights

Chill Babe is this pretty girl I know. Yeah, I guess I consider her a friend. She's the right blend of pretty and disarming that both girls and guys like her and aren't threatened by her. Anyway, Chill Babe and Co-conspirator (conspiratorial story was previously blogged here) seem to be an item now.

I guess I was expecting it, but when I received pseudo-confirmation from Chill Babe I sensed my reaction was that of a deer caught in the headlights of a fast approaching car. Maybe I wanted to justify that Co-conspirator wasn't ready to commit to another person--resulting in the conspiracy. I know it wasn't anything deeper, but it was quite a letdown to be faced pointblank with the fact that it really wasn't anything. I realize that he probably wanted Chill Babe all along and when Chill Babe suddenly became single, he saw the opportunity.

I'm not hurt, just particularly perplexed. And crossing my fingers that Chill Babe will be the one to tame the Co-conspirator. Am glad that I get to close that short insane episode.

-oOo-

Meanwhile, it seems that a security camera has been installed on our floor. It's supposed to prevent unsavory characters from doing anything, well, unsavory on our floor, but it seems to be portents of Big Brother. Am more concerned about Spyware though, because the camera (if it is indeed a camera and not a fire alarm) cannot pick up my monitor. Malay ba nilang nagba-blog ako.

Last Song Syndrome : Upside Down - Fra Lippo Lippi/2 Minds Crack

my inner child

Got this from Patty.

My inner child is ten years old!

The adult world is pretty irrelevant to me. Whether
I'm off on my bicycle (or pony) exploring, lost
in a good book, or giggling with my best
friend, I live in a world apart, one full of
adventure and wonder and other stuff adults
don't understand.


How Old is Your Inner Child?
brought to you by Quizilla

Last Song Syndrome : Miss Jackson - OutKast

blogger's block

It's so easy to say that being in charge of the office bowling tournament and getting quite sick (first with dysmenorrhea and then with a nasty case of the flu) prevented me from blogging. But I know better. I could have written down a couple of lines from time to time but I just really didn't feel like doing so. Anyway, I seem to be back. Seem is the imperative word.

not paavo's replacement
A few days before Paavo left, the father-unit brought this little kiddie home for want of a foster home. She's not Paavo's replacement but still cute nonetheless. Her capers are a welcome reprieve from stress-filled days and she's still cute enough to get away with them. Meet Mocha.


Last Song Syndrome : Let's Get Retarded - Black Eyed Peas

some template changes

Made some changes to the template to get out of the blogger rut I've been in the past week. I've removed the Pic of the Week (not much time to go out and shoot pictures anyway); added the links to Soloflite and Zane's blogs; and added icons for Ina's Filipino Blogs listing as well as Fast Fingers--a PinoySlayer blog. I've also changed the Tag-Board into a Chatterbox/Flooble thingy because the blog wasn't loading with the Tag-Board.

Last Song Syndrome : Where Is The Love? - Black Eyed Peas

isolated rainshowers

I woke up early yesterday morning to have a head start on what was going to be a hectic day, what with the company audit, new projects, and some sidelines are kicking in from an unlikely place (ok, it's definitely not Cosmo). I was deep in thought in the middle of shampooing when the rain started suddenly. It pelted the hard plastic roof of my so-called flat with what sounded like really heavy raindrops, pounding on the roof like drumbeats, quite disconcerting when it's early on a Wednesday morning.

And then, just as suddenly as it began, the rain stopped. No tapering off, just an abrupt halt. It was an "isolated rain shower" in the strictest sense.

Some people come into our lives like isolated rain showers. They make their presence felt to such an extreme, and then, in the proverbial flash—which may take anywhere from three days to a year—they are gone. And we never hear from them again. They are phenomena that give us a taste of something new only to hurriedly take it back—with or without consequences, which may or may not affect us.

There seem to have been a lot of isolated rain showers in my life. There was Maite, this girl I met in Grade 3 who made the most marvelous drawings (to my Grade 3 eyes) and let me read her Elfquest books. Her family moved and she transferred to another school but I never forgot her. There was Jing, sometime friend and pen pal, from a time when I used to go to Ateneo for the summers. There was Neil, for whom I risked everything I had with A., a long time ago when there was something to risk and I was straining at the bit. It was a good thing I had to go back to Manila before I could do anything stupid, but he made me feel very special. Then there was Benjie, he who was my “second father” in high school, who encouraged me to dream and write. Then he was gone. Or maybe I was.

Sometimes what hits you though is an isolated rain shower and thunderstorm, the sort that just might cut a swath of destruction in its wake. In my case, it was Carl, that sweet-talking little man who seemed perfect to sweep me off my feet--totally sweet, wide vocabulary, loved Everything But the Girl, but a shame-faced liar and in a relationship. The warning signs were all there—you know how the air feels different when it’s just about to rain? Isn’t that just like knowing that someone isn’t right for you, but you still rush headlong into it anyway because there’s nothing to lose—which is like sometimes when it feels good just to walk in the rain even if you know that you’re going to get sick afterwards.

There’s a time when you try to get it back—that friendship, that feeling—but it’s not going to happen. The time for that was done; consequently you are the better for it, but it’s not something to which you should go back. I’m thankful for having known Maite, and Jing, and Neil, and Benjie, and even Carl—because I learned a lot from them that I probably would have never been able to unravel myself.

Ultimately, it’s up to us whether to allow ourselves to get affected by the isolated rain showers. Things aren’t going get flooded. You might get wet, but only momentarily. And after that, the sun comes out. It’s up to you to let it ruin your day—or see it as a little gift and reminder that the ways of the world are mysterious, and more importantly, you’re alive to see them unfold. Sometimes, just sometimes, it’s good to rush pell-mell into the pouring rain.

-oOo-

Speaking of isolated rain showers, we had a long one, and it was called Paavo. That was some of the best rain ever.


Last Song Syndrome : Why Can't I? - Liz Phair

out is through

Last Song Syndrome : Out Is Through - Alanis Morissette

We could just walk away and hide our hands in the sand
We could just call it quits, only to start over again
With somebody else

The only way out is through
The faster we're in the better
The only way out is through ultimately
The only way out is through
The only way we'll feel better
The only way out is through ultimately

last weekend i was thankful for...

...bosses’ children
...a 100 score in bowling
...people with birthdays
...umbrellas
...the rain
...new godchildren
...Nike sales
...credit cards
...marked-down calendars
...Masses at Greenbelt
...microwave popcorn
...classical music
...old friends
...memories of Paavo
and McDonald’s Banana-Strawberry McFlurry

Last Song Syndrome : Everything - Alanis Morissette

fare thee well, our little boy

Paavo finally succeeded in his attempt to slip through the gate grilles early Tuesday morning and we haven't found him since then. We chalk it all up to his impending manhood -er- dogpuberty. Apparently this is a common occurrence in "adolescent" males especially those of certain breeds (Paavo's mix being a mystery to us till this day).

Paavo was never an extraordinary dog--he couldn't do tricks for the life of him, and I wouldn't depend on him to get help. He did have a knack for sniffing out intruders though, and was so malambing (hence our theory that he is a lab mix, aside, of course, from his looks). But like any other member of the family, however imperfect, however strange he was sometimes, he was accepted with total unconditional love. Despite the tantrums when we had a new puppy for a while, or making it a point to jump up on the beds only when there were new bedsheets. That's our little boy!

Nins was crying almost non-stop the whole of Tuesday. We've scoured an area of 10 blocks from our house but apparently he had too much lead time. We've visited the dog pounds. We're putting up posters today but I don't think it's going to help much. We can only hope that he's safe somewhere and hasn't gotten run over; we can only hope that he gets enough to eat.

It isn't too much to hope, is it? In the two-hour season finale of Charmed, there were mirror worlds that were the exact opposite (the Charmed ones were evil, and demons were good). Barbas, the demon who sowed fear and was a constant adversary of the Charmed ones, was, in the alternate dimension, the demon of hope. Hope seems to be the antithesis of all evil--going all the way back to Pandora's Box. We're hoping to get Paavo back someday. Much like we're hoping that something good will actually happen to the Philippines.

Last Song Syndrome : Mr. Clay - Bamboo

the eating of the posts

Have just experienced "the eating of the post" as described by LibrarianJessie. Longish post was posted but 'Publish Post' button resulted in an error. Fie upon you ISP of StingyCo!

meanwhile...

cheers for the bespren!
Bespren J. is one of the members of the Philippine contingent for the international Marlboro Adventure Race. She was one of the Top 5 from a field of 25 finalists, cut from a field of more than 100,000 applicants. Brilliant, this friend of mine. She is the most athletic person I know, perfect foil to my sedentary self--among the sports she's tried out and excelled in are swimming, basketball, fencing and dragonboat rowing. For the race she went through driving a 4x4 and an ATV, orienteering, rapelling, swimming, and a boat race that included tipping an overturned boat. It's an inspiring story that showcases how good things come out of doing something with spirit and spunk.

sweet, syrupy short-term memory loss
Finally watched 50 First Dates. Comments here at The Casual Watcher. Teared up a little and was generally ready to turn in for a peaceful night's sleep until...

paavo went missing
Son of a b!tch (literally) slipped out the gate momentarily left open and ended up ten blocks away near the covered court. Thank you, thank you, barangay tanods. Nins' eyes were now swollen from both 50 First Dates and Paavo's Night Out. Sigh. Wasted gasoline looking for him, and then at midnight, prices went up. Brilliant.

Last Song Syndrome : Flood - Jars of Clay

slowly i become one with the mud