crossing the bridge to terabithia

Catching up on old movies that I missed out on: The Bridge to Terabithia

A deceptively fantasy-filled trailer turns out to be a sweet treatise on the joys of childhood--a totally fantastic and compelling film, bearing testament to friendship and the wonders of childlike imagination. After the plethora of buzz-boom-zing fantasy movies, this laid-back gem will warm your heart and touch your soul. The overall conceptualization and the reined-in use of CGI makes the story pop, be true to itself. Wonderful performances from the child leads and the adult support cast as well.

shaping up to be the Worst. Christmas. Ever.

senseless, yet again

The pilot killed after a brawl outside Embassy bar at the Fort the other day was the brother of my high school classmate and friend. He was not even the target of the incident--and even if he was, what was so imperative, what was their grave concern that the suspects thought it fit to maul Mr. Castellano and his friend, seven to two? What is the cost of a human life? A trivial slight, a minor bump?

It's the Christmas season--it was supposed to be a night of "happy-happy" but instead, these people chose to ruin the holidays not just for the victims' families, but their own; and they have scarred the Castellano family, traumatizing the holidays for them for many a year to come, just like any monstrous cold-blooded killer's act would hound a victim's family. I only hope that Carlo's killers will be brought to justice--as it is, they are currently declaring their innocence... and their lawyer's main argument is that, hey, they were all drunk. Eh?!

The guilty should not go scot-free. Times like these, I wish we had crime scene units and procedures similar to the US. I hope that the police were able to swab the suspects' hands and clothes for evidence, and that the case will remain a high-profile one so that the criminals cannot just slink out of the picture and go unpunished.

Meanwhile, Embassy Bar seems to be a hotbed of high-profile hot-headed activity. The last time it was significantly in the news was when a male model/presidential grandson beat up another guy. I was just a tad perturbed by the bar management's statements saying that they sought justice and sympathized with the family of the victim, but anyway the incident did not happen in the immediate vicinity of their bar, but in the common parking lot... and so on. The fact of the matter remains that both victims and suspects came from their bar, and the originating incident occurred inside. And I'm sure they cannot dispute the fact that in that area, Embassy Bar is the nightspot of choice, the flagship of the Fort Strip. I'm just wondering how much a little added security, a roving guard or plainclothesman (if possible with tazer)--how much would this dent their nightly earnings? Should bars that serve alcohol have a greater responsibility to keep their patrons safe?

sometimes i really love cold case

Tonight's episode of Cold Case ("Wishing") starts off with the familiar strains of These Are Days (ah, 10,000 Maniacs--I absolutely adored them, and still do), then Natalie Merchant breaking into song. I love Cold Case, but today's episode is in the running for Best. Episode. Ever. The Maniacs' Trouble Me is also played later, as are some other songs from my adolescence, including Plush by the Stone Temple Pilots. Nice.

When I was a wee bit of a girl, I wanted to be like Nancy Drew--a sleuth. Only people don't use that word anymore. If I were a little girl now, I think I would want to be a CSI. Although these Cold Case people and all their going around talking to people--may be somewhat tedious. Ahh, umiral ang katamaran. Hee.

all that glitters

When I was done wrapping I realized that I was making shoddily fake gold bullion. Haha. Although you can't help but lurrve the gold tissue from that Japan Home Store. Too bad it's all used up. A bit pricey though--P55 for 4 sheets, I believe? Or was it eight. I forget. 6 days before Christmas and overtime can make you a Scrooge.

caveat emptor

I recently bought a wedding magazine (which shall not be identified) for P150, much cheaper than the current P350 of Wedding Essentials. Well, I guess you really get what you pay for. However, the Weddings at Work primer is only being sold for P75, and is actually given free during wedding fairs. And it contained a whole lot more information than this "magazine", which is actually a supplier listing with press releases masquerading as "articles". Oh well. Forgive me, I know that some people are into this sort of thing, but some of the gown ads were downright funny--and some were even scary. One gown looked like a dust ruffle and another looked like a cake. However, some of the ads were interesting, including one atelier which is just a few blocks away from us. But still. Would not pay P150 for that information.

waiting for this one, now

to Dust thou shalt return?

Inquirer reader warns against The Golden Compass

I agree, the books should probably be PG, especially for really young yet inquiring minds. Granted, I read The Golden Compass when I was 18. It was an enthralling read, if not for the adventure but the whole concept of Dust, metaphoric for innocence and comparable perhaps to Jedis' midichlorians, intrigued me. The second and third installments though, much like the Matrix series, only served to disappoint.

I did not lose any of my faith by reading this book. Yet my faith is not strong--it has waivered and sometimes waivers until now. But I guess the tenets are too ingrained in me that something like this, or the Da Vinci Code comes up and I am entertained but not ready to renounce the wonderful guilt-ridden world of Catholicism.

But the movie looks very polished and good. And its website is fun!

Head over to The Golden Compass official site and take the daemon quiz--which is basically Myers-Briggs only the results are in daemon form. Here's mine:


-oOo-

ETA: That's what I get for posting when I'm half-asleep... I originally posted "to Dust though shalt return"... err? What the heck?!

a post a day

Am going to try to discipline myself into doing a post a day. I have to get started writing again if I am going to write the great Filipino Gen-X coming of age novel. Or that other one I'm toying around with. In any case, today's post is:

a siegel sighting

Dropped by PowerPlant before going home to pick up some stuff. I figure it would be easier to take a cab from there rather than Glorietta, this being the height of Christmas shopping (even if it is a Monday). I was right, of course. I had to take the jeep--the jeep ride to PowerPlant costing P8, part of which is my former route to the rented place in Brgy Valenzuela. Wasn't that bad--at least it wasn't raining. Or in the heat of summer.

Anyway, saw one of the Siegel siblings. Well, saw a tall beanstalk of a guy at the Nokia store across from True Value. Then he turns and I'm like, this guy is totally familiar. Well, even if I haven't followed the PBA in about ten years. He's the cuter brother, I believe, so that makes it... Danny? Hee. I wouldn't know. I don't think I can tell them apart. The SO would know, I'm sure.

The trip was not very fruitful, though. The two items I was searching for were not available--a single plug with a switch (for the Christmas lights) and a single RCA to earphone switch. At least I was able to buy baking soda. And Cheese Clover Chips--can you believe Cash and Carry didn't have them?

holiday thoughts

Rather, thoughts on "The Holiday". Formulaic, tongue-in-cheek, but utterly entertaining. Great performance from Jude Law, you can almost forgive him his infidelities. Almost. Kate Winslet is utterly adorable as the Brits trounce the Americans. Watched it a year after its cinematic release, but for me it seems around nine years late:

Iris says: "I understand feeling as small and as insignificant as humanly possible, and how it can actually ache in places you didn't know you had inside you, and it doesn't matter how many new haircuts you get, or gyms you join, or how many glasses of chardonnay you drink with your girlfriends... you still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong, or how you could have misunderstood, and how in the hell for that brief moment you could think that you were that happy. And sometimes you can even convince yourself that he'll see the light and show up at your door. And after all that, however long all that may be, you'll go somewhere new, and you'll meet people who make you feel worthwhile again, and little pieces of your soul will finally come back. And all that fuzzy stuff, those years of your life that you wasted, that will eventually begin to fade."

don't think we can pull something like this off

But it was so much fun watching! Haha!

http://view.break.com/403233 - Watch more free videos

nakakatuwang journalist, and the pen is back

ABS-CBN reporter (I forget who, Pinky Webb, Ces Drilon or Charo Logarta), who was walking with Trillanes to Manila Pen: "I can't believe it! The streets are clean! Usually it's rush hour at this time! There's no traffic!" Anchor back at the studio heartily agrees.

Errr, guys... hate to burst your awestruck bubble, but if I were a motorist along Makati Ave at that time, seeing men clad in army fatigues brandishing heavy firearms on the streets in front of me, I wouldn't move my car an inch. No. Frickin'. Way.

Apparently your aerial shots missed the traffic buildup caused by this, as Jane mentions in her blog.

-oOo-

At least, the Pen is back. I haven't read any news about whether they plan to sue... Trillanes? Yes, add a civil suit to his counts of rebellion and other felony charges, why not?

-oOo-

Sige. No more comments about Trillanes except--what was he thinking?

-oOo-

Read about G's "gah!" moment, the one about the Park N Shop plastic bags. I reckon if that was implemented here, Pinoy shoppers would also raise a terrible hue and cry about it, especially since the plastic bags double as trash bags, multipurpose bags and what-not. It's a step in the right direction, but maybe a little change management could have been had--maybe something in parallel first (the rebate for non-plastic users but free plastic bags still for those who ask)? Yes, additional work, but then, saving the environment wouldn't be easy, or else it would be done by now.


Last Song Syndrome : Amber - 311 (watched 50 First Dates again!)

earthquake

Just a few minutes ago. Fun at the 46th floor. Hee.

casual scrapper

My scrapsite is up and about, although still just in the throes of infancy. Visit here.

my new toy

Thanks to Princess Cookie, was able to get this from SG. I've been looking for one for the longest time. In case you can't make it out, it's a corner rounder for pictures and scrapbooking. This particular one is from EK Success, which makes it a bit pricey, but I figure I'll be using this one a lot!

takot ako

Medyo lang ha.
Opposition eyes tandem of Jinggoy, Binay in 2010

-oOo-

Back to regular blogging in a bit. It's been a while, and I've missed much.

not funny

My new jacket crown is in place, but the dentist bills have run into the five digits. No laughing matter. Remind me never to delay dentist visits or ignore a toothache again.

-oOo-

For every step pointing towards an accidental explosion at the Glorietta blast, there are experts still saying not to discount the terror angle. Where is this going?

-oOo-

Executive clemency. Presidential pardon.

-oOo-

Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition.

-oOo-

Caught a scene in That's My Doc (?) where Angel Locsin runs after Bayani Agbayani with a two-by-two. When he returns to speak with Aga Muhlach, he looks unhurt, until he speaks and then (fake) blood spurts out of his mouth. When did this become humorous? This fails to amuse me, horribly. Please watch what your kids are watching.


Last Song Syndrome : How To Save A Life - The Fray

requiem

In response to inkblots' call for e-flowers for the Glorietta victims.

ruminations on glorietta

knee-jerk
What the hell...?!
The latest on the Glorietta blast as of this writing

jolt
I could have easily been there. The past few days, I've been joining my officemates for lunch at Glorietta more often. Someone I know could have been there.

thanksgiving
A moment of prayer for the deceased and the injured and their families. A lifetime of thanksgiving that for a myriad of reasons, we were not there. Thanksgiving that Y and M were on leave and therefore there were less reasons to go out, that C was swamped so she could not go to Glorietta to pick out a Halloween costume for her kid, that the officemates (especially one pregnant one) who did go for lunch were able to get out safely. Thankful that the SO works all the way in Cavite (although he was totally oblivious until I called him).

despondence
Maleen and I were jointly hit with a wave of melancholy while talking about Glorietta. We've shared a number of coffee nights in the Starbucks that was destroyed by the blast, strolled along the corridors of Glorietta 2 on countless occasions. The Glorietta mall is one of my
favorite places, sometimes a haven, and it pained me to see the destruction wrought there.

perspective
Blasts also rocked Benazir Bhutto's parade in Karachi, Pakistan. More than 130 were reportedly killed. I'm not saying we shouldn't be shocked, but still I feel a bit blessed to not be living in that part of the world. Despite talks that this could be part of a plan to start on martial law, or to destabilize the government--our people have been resilient, and somehow, the Filipino people always pull through.

As I told my friends before I left the office yesterday, we have to be thankful and at the same time we have to treat life the way it should be--as something precious that can be snatched up at any moment. Best live it, then, with purpose, with dignity, with compassion, with love. I can't say that I am ready to die tomorrow because I have so much that I want to accomplish, but I do hope that if God has an early and sudden parting planned for me, I should leave happy.

life goes on
The Glider are meeting later, but at Serendra. Most of the other parts of Glorietta are open again, but I don't know when I can go. Tomorrow, grocery shopping will be done at Cash and Carry, because I'm not sure about the situation at Landmark. Life goes on, but with a sense of thanksgiving, a desire to seek purpose, and a whole lot of love.
Last Song Syndrome :Ooh Child - Beth Orton

it's been a while

Going through a rough patch.

Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own
I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus take the wheel

a day without a bed(frame)

The bedframe was taken away to be fixed because Stephanie Trading sells inferior furniture that isn't fully treated. Tsk tsk. Apparently, there was a case of bukbok (I do not know the English translation) starting on my less-than-one-year-old bedframe (Mom's birthday gift last year). The all-around wunderkind Mang Hesus treated the bed with Solignum (I believe it was called) and fixed a drawer (yes, my bed has drawers, as all the trinkets and acquisitions need homes). It's since been returned, but last night, it was like Zen-time. Hee. Just was a little disconcerting getting up this morning.

farewell, dragon

Suddenly, the seemingly frivolous, egocentric post I had planned for today paled in comparison to this dire news: Robert Jordan, acclaimed author and high fantasy master, passed away yesterday. The blog post, written by his "Brother/Cousin" Wilson, is here.

Unfortunately, the supposedly last book in the Wheel of Time series, A Memory of Light, has not been completed yet. His widow, Harriet, will ultimately decide if the book can be pieced together from notes and drafts. The Wheel of Time Philippines, the Philippine fan organization/mailing list for the Wheel of Time series, can be accessed and joined here.

I am a recent convert to The Wheel of Time--but I am glad I made that decision to open that first book. I couldn't help myself from keeping it up until I had Crossroads of Twilight, and then, just recently, Knife of Dreams. The ta'veren had me hooked and I became engrossed in the rich tapestry and deep mythology of the world of the One Power, the Aes Sedai, and the Dragon Reborn. At its heart, it is simply a story of good versus evil, but the many conflicts and complications and the credibility and motivation of the characters, make each tale a wonderful page-turner.

In a sad week that also saw the passing of beloved Madeleine L'Engle, we can only say that the torch is being passed, but these authors' greatness and their legacy are immortalized in their timeless tales--be it of the Murrys or the Two Rivers ta'veren.

Robert Jordan/James Oliver Rigney, Jr.: May the last embrace of the Mother welcome you home.

fare thee well

It is, after all, an acceptable time.

One of the zeester's and my favorite authors, Madeleine L'Engle has passed away at 88. The series of books about the Murry children (frail Charles Wallace, the twins, bookish but underachieving Meg who ends up with the cute, troubled jock Calvin) had us hooked since "it was a dark and stormy night" and Mrs Whatsit burst into their lives. Initiating us into the mysteries of the tesseract as well as the nephilim (in the biblical-themed Many Waters), Ms L'Engle piqued my curiosity and helped unleash imagination.

Ms L'Engle reportedly resented being called a children's author, and deservedly so. Her stories, although about children and written in simple prose, are deep, and far-reaching into Christian and mythological themes. Although JK Rowling and Harry Potter will always be close to my heart for the total entertainment and escapist value, Madeleine L'Engle's books will always be part of my soul.

In this fateful hour
I call on all heaven with its power
And the sun with its brightness,
And the snow with its whiteness,
And the fire with all the strength it hath,
And the lightning with its rapid wrath,
And the winds with their swiftness along their path,
And the sea with its deepness,
And the rocks with their steepness,
And the earth with its starkness,
All these I place
By God’s Almight help and grace
Between myself and the powers of darkness

current pet peeve

Ladies at the School Supplies section of UniMart. First, I wait and wait and wait for someone to come over to the far side of the counter opposite the cash register, where the item I want to buy (dressmaker pins, don't ask) are located. No, both of them are busy servicing the customers at the cash register even if one of them would do. So, I fall in line with the people paying, and of course, when I reach the register, they have to give me the item, right? But Ms Register lady of course, doesn't wait for her assistant/alipores to hand me the item, instead, she moves on to the next customer. Who bought a number of items. Whom I had to wait to finish, bagging and heat-sealing and all. [Sigh, National doesn't heat-seal anymore. You can reuse the plastic bags.] When I could have finished before her. I wasted a good ten minutes of shopping time there!

R.I.P. Ramon Zamora

Ramon Zamora, veteran action star, the Bruce Lee of the Philippines, whose name is synonymous to Philippine kung fu, died last night of a heart attack.

Most other celebrities would not warrant this treatment from me, but Mr. Zamora saved my life once. This is not a joke.

When I was three months old (many, many moons ago), I contracted salmonella, and was hospitalized for a month, complete with dextrose tubes going into my head since none of my other veins could be tapped. As part of my treatment, I needed a certain type of imported milk called EL-110.

Unfortunately, at the time, EL-110 supply was running short in the Philippines. My parents and their many relatives and friends called all retailers in Metro Manila as well as the provinces, but there was no EL-110 to be had. One retailer said that his last box had just been bought by the action star, Ramon Zamora, for his own child.

My father steeled his nerve and went to the Zamora residence, and asked if he could have even just one can of milk. Good man that he was, Mr. Zamora allowed my father to purchase four of the precious cans from him, which was enough to tide me over until the next batch of imports came through (and then there was an oversupply due to our created demand).

For years, we have been ever grateful for this deed. I'm sure that this was just one of the helpful things that he has done for others. I'm sure he's received the warmest of welcomes in heaven.

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
'Cause anyone can start a conflict
it's harder yet to disregard it
I'd rather see the world from another angle
We are everyday angels
Be careful with me 'cause I'd like to stay that way

maayo man lawas nila, macho man...

Funniest. Dub. Ever. I can imagine one of my cousins speaking Benj's part, ka-boses ni Manong Ramil. Hahahaha!

a shiver in my bones just thinking...

about the weather...

Like the Weather
10,000 Maniacs / In My Tribe
Words/Music by Natalie Merchant

The color of the sky as far as I can see is coal grey.
Lift my head from the pillow and then fall again.
With a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my lips as if I might cry.

Well by the force of will my lungs are filled and so I breathe.
Lately it seems this big bed is where I never leave.
Shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
Quiver in my voice as I cry,

"What a cold and rainy day. Where on earth is the sun hid away."

I hear the sound of a noon bell chime.
Now I'm far behind.
You've put in 'bout half a day
while here I lie
with a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my lip as if I might cry,

"What a cold and rainy day. Where on earth is the sun hid away?"

Do I need someone here to scold me
or do I need someone who'll grab and pull me out of this four poster dull torpor pulling downward.
For it is such a long time since my better days.
I say my prayers nightly this will pass away.

The color of the sky is grey as I can see through the blinds.
Lift my head from the pillow and then fall again
with a shiver in my bones just thinking about the weather.
A quiver in my voice as I cry,

"What a cold and rainy day. Where on earth is the sun hid away?"
I shiver, quiver, and try to wake.

our family name and the cane toad

Was listening to Kim Atienza on Umagang Kay Ganda yesterday morning. Apparently, the cane toad is known in the vernacular as palakang (insert-our-family-name), having been brought over by our rich hacienda-owning relatives to curb pests in the sugarcane fields. Well and good, if it weren't extremely poisonous! Gahh. Our family name is associated with an extremely poisonous (and rather fugly) toad.


Last Song Syndrome : Umagang Kay Ganda

shelf matters

Since I'm down with the flu (been quite sickly lately, not enough vitamins?), I fixed the shelf in my room. This is my "current" stack, while the rest of the books are in the library/guest room/mahjongg room:

The Time Travelers' Wife by Audrey Niffenegger - Rea just returned it before she left for Dubai so I'm seriously considering re-reading the Detamble tale

The Faery Reel (Tales from the Twilight Realm) ed. Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling

The Green Man (Tales from the Mythic Forest) ed. Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Roget's Thesaurus - hee! I tell it as it is

Knight Fantastic ed. Martin H. Greenberg & John Helfers

Pharaoh Fantastic ed. Martin H. Greenberg & Brittiany A. Koren

Secrets of the Ancient Goddess by Brenda Gates Smith

Departures by Harry Turtledove - "Persia has conquered Greece" hooked me in. Besides I got it at 80% off at a Goodwill clearance sale.

Dragons of Time Dragonlance Anthology

Hmmm, more than half are anthologies of short stories... much has to be said about my lack of focus on things right now. But then, I finished the Deathly Hallows in eight hours straight. Jonathan Strange, you're next.


Ambient Noise : Skeleton Key on HBO

rain, rain on my face

Nice, nice weather.

Overcast but not rainy, and more importantly, cool and breezy. I just realized that I hadn't turned on my fan yet.

Oh well. We did pray for rain. Err. And were we then supposed to pray for it to stop? Hee.

As befits the season:

Downpour on my soul
Splashing in the ocean, I'm losing control
Dark sky all around
I can't feel my feet touching the ground

But if I can't swim after forty days
and my mind is crushed by the thrashing waves
Lift me up so high that I cannot fall
Lift me up

uncle ben on fire drills

Someone once wisecracked that how come in elementary when you were tasked to line up during a fire, the line had to be by height, with the tall kids in the back--did the tall kids burn more slowly? [Insert canned laughter here.]

Maybe because I'm older--definitely not wiser--but I think we know the answer to that question now, right? It's because no one should be overlooked or left behind, and if the tall kids were in front, smaller kids could be overlooked in the confusion. I guess to be tall in elementary is like to wielding power in the real world. Uncle Ben Parker always comes to mind: "with great power comes great responsibility". In short, the big kids should look out for the little ones, give way so that those who aren't as gifted as they are would be safe first. It isn't really the way things are, but isn't that the way it's supposed to be?

Ah, idealistic me. That's why I get so sad and disappointed sometimes.


Last Song Syndrome : Spice Up Your Life - sorry, just saw a feature on the Spice Girls' reunion tour

rain on me

I got hooked on The Dawn early. Beyond the Bend days, thanks to JC, who wasn't just my Natural Science teacher but also my rock music guru. Some of my favorite songs of all time, but most of them were not commercial successes unlike the San Miguel anthems Salamat or Iisang Bangka Tayo. Some of the songs that I still sing in my head to this day that I cannot find anywhere else are Rain On Me and Hey Isabel, aside from the more popular Beyond the Bend and Little Paradise.

I always thought that I had a copy of Beyond the Bend in CD format (because I do know I had a tape copy, along with the Menudo tapes, hee), but a quick check of my "assets" yields no black and gray Beyond the Bend. I fairly recall having a copy of this, but (a) I could have been dreaming and confused it with the OPM Timeless Collection of The Dawn; or (b) I could have lost it during the move. I'm leaning more towards (a), so if you would know where I can get a copy of this album, please please PLEASE let me know.

-oOo-

Gahd, was I really just dreaming about owning this CD?

red-orange

Errr... I seem to really like drinks in the same color family.


Last Song Syndrome : Prince Ali, fabulous he... (was looking for Aladdin backgrounds for Ali's scrap page)

a-shoppin' i went

This made all the sorting through the second-hand piles all worthwhile. It's hardbound and in almost-mint condition. And papa Neil Gaiman supplies the title story.

Also, got a P90 hardbound version of The Historian. Not bad at all.


Last Song Syndrome : I'll Be - Edwin McCain on MTV Rewind

pink, and snape

I did not mean for this to happen, but apparently, I was in a pink mood yesterday. I usually buy drinks from the supermarket and then just pack them and bring them to work since 7-11 is ridiculously overpriced. These were the last two drinks in my stash yesterday (those are a Gatorade Pink Lemonade and a C2 Strawberry green tea drink), and that is me, in the matching shirt. Well.

Found out that JP from Geeks-for-Hire is from Bacolod, land of my father and his forefathers. When he found out about our Negros roots though, he kept on mentioning our rich relatives who practically own a portion of Quezon City. Well. We are the poor relations after all (the parentals actually met and hooked up while working for them).


Last Song Syndrome : It's still "Snape, Snape, Severus Snape"

just like the good old days

Acute tonsillo-pharyngitis. Three days of sick leave. Sigh. Am not happy. But I really could not go to work, was too weak. Was easier back in StingyCo when unused sick leaves were not convertible to cash. Hate that I am always susceptible to this sickness. I wonder if there's a psychological or mystical reason for this.

On the StingyCo front: of the original group of eight friends there, only Lorny remains steadfast. I've just found out that Mr. and Mrs. DJ and Mama Leah have also filed their respective resignations. I was the first one to leave. It's sad, this. I hope we can stay in touch. Of the Samahang Kyut, our department as of mid-2004, only four "originals" other than Small Big Boss remain. Unfortunately, our former company can't seem to curb the high turnover. Ah, but that's their problem, not mine.


Last Song Syndrome :

sevens

On the elevator going up to work:
7:17
7/17/7

Freaky fun.


Last Song Syndrome : still Sinnerman. I blame Thomas Crown Affair ads.

the phoenix flies

My favorite book in the series remains Prisoner of Azkaban (hence the homage to Sirius in this image URL), but this film has personally been the most engaging and "real" film of the past five. The whimsy and delight of the first films have been replaced by a sense of foreboding brought about by both magical and bureaucratic nightmares. And there is no Quidditch in this movie, the filmmakers opting to spend their time and energy on other scenes that move the plot along at a faster pace, resulting in the shortest film in the series, but also the most absorbing. No bathroom breaks!

As Harry experiences his first kiss ("It was wet," not the way you might think though), he has to come to terms with general disbelief at his claims that Voldemort has truly returned. Add to this the Ministry of Magic's interference in Hogwarts affairs, as manifested by the delightfully wicked Dolores Umbridge, played to perfection by Imelda Staunton, as the Ministry sees headmaster Dumbledore and Harry's claims of You-Know-Who's return as a means to take over the Ministry. The Weasley twins' antics, meanwhile, are a welcome breather from the general heaviness of heart and ill-portent of the majority of the film and provides the modicum of mirth needed in the story.

The young actors are all blossoming, in particular Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint (despite playing a decreased role in events). The veterans hold their own, especially Gary Oldman and Alan Rickman, who makes the most of his short screen time by being deliciously creepy and ambiguous. Sometimes loony but otherworldly wise Luna Lovegood is a welcome addition to Harry's posse. And for those who've already read Half-Blood Prince, it is nice to note Ginny Weasley's behavior in this movie.

Who is David Yates again? Well after this movie, he may well be remembered as the person who megged the best Harry Potter film to date. This Harry Potter movie cannot make it as a standalone film--there are too many references to past events--yet it stands out as the essential link in the chain, that turnaround point that could be construed as an analogy of leaving carefree days of childhood and entering the cusp of adulthood. For Harry it's been a long time coming. This time he brings his friends for the journey, and what a journey it is.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince comes out in 18 months, and David Yates is once more at the helm. If he could do this with Order, what more could he do with Half-Blood Prince? Anticipation!

Last Song Syndrome : Sinnerman - Nina Simone

aliiiive

Sick.
But Alive.


Last Song Syndrome : Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield

on the fountain and metaphysical trips (into overtime)

I tried to watch this while answering emails, which made it truly difficult to watch. Aside from the metaphysical eklavu meanderings, there were moments of fine acting, visuals that had you traversing the middle of a nebula, and a whole lot of mumbo-jumbo. Hugh Jackman plays conquistador to Rachel Weisz's queen (Izzi-bella haha), (mad) scientist searching for a cure for his wife's (Weisz again) cancer, and then he becomes a bald astronaut zipping around in space.

Ahh, Darren Aronofsky. I think I see what you wanted to do. It's an ambitious project, and you succeeded in some level, although the edges could have been tied more securely, and some of the mythos handled more succinctly. It is a treatise about death, and time, and savoring the moment, and inevitability.

Comparisons have been made to Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Monolith vs. Tree of Life, eh?

More arthouse than mainstream, The Fountain is a visual feast that is a little hard to digest, and then, somewhere around the hour-mark, becomes quite tiring, even the beautiful non-CGI imagery (which were apparently macro views of items like bacteria culture). Hugh Jackman, Rachel Weisz (so lovingly lit by her director-domestic partner), and Ellen Burstyn were quite wonderful. Aw, you got me, I'm just really a sucker for some good Wolverine lovin'.

-oOo-

The SO's grandmother died last Thursday.

-oOo-

Have to work today! Wow. First time I've had to work on a weekend since starting at production support. Of course, we were no strangers to it during the development phase. What sucks is that I was only dragged included in the project, er, YESTERDAY. Just in time for the overtime today. Oh well. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I just have to be done by around two. Oh, and will take a break at 10am to meet up with y-slaybelle.

-oOo-

On a much livelier note: Bespren M arrives tonight!

they work, you know... and i'm getting old

My glasses work.

I got these as "protection" since GeeksForHire has an allowance for eyeglasses, being an uber-computer-intensive industry and all. I thought I could use them from time to time, as needed, but apparently, I really actually need them everyday--as my eyes get really tired when in front of the PC for hours at a time, but when I'm wearing them, it's not that bad. However, I take that as a bad sign of aging. Hee.

By the way, the picture's not all that bad... it's taken with a three-year-old 6220, imagine that.

-oOo-

Watched Legends of the Fall again earlier, since was on a sick day due to a bad case of the sh*ts. I so love this movie (and Tristaaaan with the bear and all, and a partly-paralyzed Anthony Hopkins/Col Ludlow with a shotgun, ahh brings back fond memories). Reading through the trivia, I can believe 1994-Johnny Depp was offered the role, but it would not have made as much impact (hee) as fafa Brad. With long blond hair and all (hmmmm I seem to have this thing for men with long blond hair... the Nelson twins and Legolas included). Another bit of trivia was that the movie was originally conceived as a starring vehicle for Sean Connery and Tom Cruise. Err. Err talaga.

Last Song Syndrome : Pinoy Ako, Pinoy Tayo, sung by the Slovenian exchange-housemate

sayonara sanjaya

Ah. In a result that for some was weeks overdue, Sanjaya Malakar is out of the running for this season's American Idol crown. Sorry, Fanjayas.

And news for me, I now have a favorite: Jordin Sparks. I listened to the opening bars of I'm All Right which the Idol contestants sang on today's results show, and it was heavenly (I'm a sucker for "a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll"). So even if Melinda is the odds-on favorite, I'm absolutely loving Jordin, even if I'm not actively watching American Idol this season. Hmmmm. I think maybe now with Sanjaya gone...

Last Song Syndrome : Something to Talk About - lethargically sung by Sanjaya
"Let's give 'em something to talk about... other than HAIR..."

-oOo-

Rest in peace, Virginia Tech victims, especially you, Livio Librescu. May your soul continue to sing.

-oOo-

Got a 50-ml bottle of Tommy Girl from Minnesota Tita. Not bad at all.

lito lapid is within spitting distance of our windows

Perils of the campaign season.
And we are still awake because of this, inane campaign jingles, emotional speeches and all.
I wouldn't vote for someone who purposefully caused my lack of sleep. Seriously.

icon and i will

Taking a break from homework (as in work brought home), the catharsis that is Zuma, and trying to fix the room a little at a time while there is still a lack of furniture--I stumbled upon this icon while surfing around. It's me. Totally.



Last Song Syndrome : Kiss Kiss - Holly Valance <-- only because I saw her on Prison Break

the remains of the drive

Blogging was put on hold for the past few weeks because of so many little things that added up to... well, no blogging.

This is the first:

The laptop hard drive crashed. As in, blue screen of death and all. Irrecoverable errors. The problem was with the drive itself and not the OS (which would have been easier to handle).

Technician at HP could only smile sympathetically and say, "we cannot assure you ma'am that we can recover the data", although they will replace the HDD unit as it was still within warranty. Fortunately.

Am still hoping that the data can be retrieved but I have to brace myself for the possibility that it will be gone. Unfortunately, the last backup was done Jan 1, 2007, so I'm going to have to say goodbye to nice pictures from Pacific Malayan visit, the lisianthus picture that I was so loving and wanted to place on notecards (the version on flickr is low-res), the wedding pictures of Mandy+Allan, Julius+Erica, and Pam+Jonathan (aaarggh--I was pretty in these pictures!!! especially the Julius+Erica)... Also gone would be Dallas v2's baby pics, Zeester#1's Palawan trip (aaaarrgh, so many nice pictures there!), and all the scrapbook kits that I downloaded from Jan 1 to the present which I wasn't able to back up yet. Some of them I had to watch for everyday! And for them to be gone, in a wink.

One of the pictures whose high-res copy I am bound to lose:


It's like the past three months have just been erased, just like that. I feel like crying but I can't.

Sigh.

The tragedy of it all was that I was indeed scheduled to do a backup (at least of all pics and scrap-related stuff) around mid-March.

I was not able to backup because lately I've been focused on putting up the wireless network (which is temporarily useless now that the laptop is out of commission) and resurrecting the Duron, which Donnell was able to do, bless his soul and his alternate life as a computer technician...

Since the Duron was resurrected last weekend, I was planning to transfer all my files to the Duron hard drive, which, IMHO, would be more stable, and easier to retrieve. Unfortunately, Nins was so busy the past few days and our schedules didn't work out, so I was not able to reserve a chunk of time to copy the files. Besides, the long weekend was coming, and I would have all the time in the world...

And then, horror of horrors, the blue screen of death descended upon us. Sigh. I want to turn back the hands of time (Superman? Flash?) and just pull an all-nighter to copy everything. Alas, I do not live in the DC universe. Neither the Marvel one.

And so, a lesson learned: Always backup, don't wait until you can do a one-time backup that would fill one CD because you never know. I waited until the pictures could fill up one CD. So wrong. Of course you can append files to CDs.

It's the same with life, right? Don't wait to do things that will make you happy because you never know. Hee. Tama ba namang haluan ng metaphysical eklavu.

Sigh.

-oOo-

Because I was feeling tremendously down when I left HP, I treated myself to a Razon's halo-halo, which is just across the street from HP's service center along Jupiter. This was the first time I had a Razon's halo-halo. It was absolutely divine, I tell you, divine.

Doesn't make up for a crashed hard drive, but it was a wonderful picker-upper.


Last Song Syndrome : Jumper - Third Eye Blind

sanctuary

calla
Originally uploaded by brightblade.

Eventually, I want to get married.

Eventually, I want to get married in this church.

But I don't want to spend half a million to just get married. I don't even want to spend anything. I believe that a lifelong commitment can be made without bells and whistles, designer gowns and a chocolate fountain.

And yet, I am resigned to my fate--white gown, calla lilies, and all. Because. It. Is. What. Is. Done.

I've loved throwing parties, but as the years went by, they became smaller and smaller ones, and I've found that the most meaningful ones are those spent with only my best friends. The thought of throwing one for 200 or so people, about a third of whom I do not know, frankly, daunts me. So is finding the perfect dress, the perfect caterer, the perfect coordinator. A less-than-perfect wedding doesn't mean a bad marriage, after all; neither does the wedding of the year/decade/what-not set the stage for a good marriage. Hello, Charles and Di, anyone?

What's important is that N. and I will be starting our life together on that day, whenever that will be. What's important is that the people who matter, the people we care about and who care about us, will be there to witness it. To heck with personalized napkins and onsite AVPs. For now.

congratulations, pam and jonathan!

centerpiece
Originally uploaded by brightblade.

Even if we had to wake up super early and still were late for the processional... we had a wonderful time at your wedding. At last... :)

happy birthday, jenny

It's The Obnoxious Levin's birthday today.

Check out the collage I made for her here. This was done while being (1) irritated with an episode of Sana Maulit Muli where Kim Chiu is crying althroughout and (2) irritated during Maging Sino Ka Man with the "dramatic pause" effect when Eli (aka John Lloyd Cruz) decides to accompany his forced bride Jackie (aka Bea Alonzo) on the vacation with her cousin Celine (aka Anne Curtis). I mean, honestly, would you be standing there staring at each other for the whole of two minutes?!?! Grrr. These writers.

Speaking of the Eli Roxas character, it's just funny because when I was in high school, my best guy friend was Mike Roxas and his best friend was Eli Santos. Haha. I know, I think of the strangest things.

beyond the wall of abs

I've always had a soft spot for the most famous last stand in history, the Battle of Thermopylae. I've always had a soft spot for Gerard Butler, since I first saw him on Lara Croft 2: The Cradle of Life. I have a soft spot for the droolworthy Rodrigo Santoro, since he emerged out of the water in Charlie's Angels 2: Full Throttle. And despite the portrayal of the mousy Carl in Van Helsing, I have a soft spot for David Wenham. And since I was introduced to Sin City, I've developed a high respect for Frank Miller. In short, I had high expectations coming in for 300, the movie. It did not disappoint.

Action, gore, sex. Breathtaking visuals. A wall of abs and a wall of the dead. Like Sin City, it was a comic book come to life. Never mind that it was historically inaccurate--no one gave a hoot that the award-winning graphic novel was historically inaccurate. Never mind that Rodrigo Santoro was unrecognizable as Bondage-Drag Queen-Xerxes. Never mind that unpleasant scene at Xerxes' harem/bordello. Never mind that the monsters were like two-bit copies of the Lord of the Rings ones. Never mind that portrayals were mostly two-dimensional.

300 was a fabulous trip. It hit the ground running and never stopped accelerating until the last moment. Frankly, if we weren't in Rockwell, I would have expected some moviegoers to get up and cheer. Heh.

I'm sure it's been lambasted by critics. It was awkward at times (err, director dude is famous for Dawn of the Dead!), and ear-splitting as well, what with a very modern metal score ala-We Will Rock You. It glorifies a tribe held in the highest regard by the Fuhrer himself, what with their infanticide and weeding out of the weak.

The movie was testosterone galore, a lot of shouting, a lot of killing, but definitely a whole lot of fun. After the movie, the SO and I were both smiling. It was a good end to the weekend. I brushed up on the details of Thermopylae again (the last I'd seen of it was a short docu on NatGeo). I'd want to read (but not buy) the comic. I'd watch the movie again. Totally.

adventures of the new dallas

adventures of the new dallas

Another addition to the clan. Meet Dallas, ver2.


The future bro-in-law got it for zeester#2 after a fight. He's mahogany/black/white, unlike old Dallas (Dallas version 1) who was, rather is, tan/black/white. Dallas v2 comes from a line of champions. Hee. Not like we're going to show him or anything.

We've had him for almost a week now. The parentals don't know a thing about it since they had already left for the province when he arrived. Now that they're coming back, zeester#2 has to find a way to keep the father-unit from tripping all over him (as the doggie is constantly nipping at someone's feet), and to keep the mother-unit from developing asthma.

Dallas v2 thinks Otto is his mom. The Yorkie, meanwhile, is warily eyeing him, sometimes he rams into the new arrival (poor puppy) and one time, Otto actually jumped over Dallas! Haha.


For those who can remember, this is Dallas, ver1. Dallas, by the way, is the FBIL's favorite NBA team.

i am...

You Are 54% Burned Out

You're fairly burned out, and it shows. You probably have been feeling a little rundown and irritable lately. If you can, drop a few of your minor responsibilities and focus on what's really important. You have too much on your plate, and it's catching up with you.

Are You Burned Out?

Last Song Syndrome : Merci Bon Dieu by Harry Belafonte - don't ask why, just know that I am singing it in my head as best I can

4:24am

This Neozep Non-Drowsy works a little too well.

evangelocales

I brought the camera, good and all, but unfortunately, I forgot to even take it out of my bag while traipsing around the Evangelista area in Bangkal, Makati. So, no photos of last Saturday's excursion. Err.

Ah, Evangelista. When I was in high school, we would go to Jesi Mendez or Hair 2000 on Evangelista to have hair and makeup done for special occasions, this aside from Hair Performer across from the Blue-and-White. Evangelista was Makati's Banawe, auto repair shops all in a row. When Mr. Z died and was interred at Magallanes, Evangelista was the route of choice going back to the Green-and-White after each visit to the wake.

I don't know when Evangelista became the segunda mano capital of Makati. All I know is it was featured in one of Real Living's first few issues in 2003 and I wondered, Evangelista? Where we used to go? Yes, one and the same.

Fortuitously (and fortunately), we ran into Vic and Marian, high school friends of the SO who help run Marian's family's two shops in the Evangelista/Hen. Hizon area. They walked around with us and then pointed us to other places outside the Evangelista/Hen. Hizon main strip which yielded some interesting finds. We then ate at Jolly Dopey a few blocks away (still on Evangelista), and found more-than-passable spaghetti. Marian said the owner/cook used to work at Pancake House. For me it was more like that eatery in that little alley in front of the Blue-and-White whose name escapes me at the moment, but which we frequented well into the Green-and-White years until it closed down.

Marian was selling her collection of bridal magazines at their store, too. Hee. People sell anything and everything in this little flea market haven. I saw Fire King cookware, Limoges porcelain, amber bowls, Troll dolls (!), and a newish copy of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time sharing display space with furniture of all shapes and makes, old narra aparadors, marble-topped console tables, and a hutch that looked like it was made of kamagong. There were carved wooden chairs with battered upholstery, two of which I was interested in buying--Marian agreed that they were very "boudoir" rather than dining table, but they were in quite bad shape. If they're still there during the next shopping trip, I'm haggling them down to 350 per (which is not bad for a nice frame) and having Mang Hesus fix them up.

Some stores sold delightful chandeliers still in great condition, one store had a paper shredder among its merchandise, and in one store, I saw a copy of Evolution, one of the Time-Life books that I grew up with. The saleslady was puzzled when I picked it up and searched for the dog family tree (how all dogs are descended from little Tomarctus or something). Reminiscing.

I was suddenly queasy about the baul though. I've always wanted a baul, but now that one was staring me in the face, great condition, smooth finish, and well within the budget (the lady was giving it at Php2,500 and seemed good for haggling), I was suddenly overcome with strange feelings of what-if-they-put-a-dead-body-inside-like-Desperate-Housewives. Oh well.

Carlos Celdran has an Evangelista tour which starts at Fat Michael's. I've never been to Fat Michael's myself, so maybe on the next shopping day (March 17 probably), we can start out or make a pitstop there.

Last Song Syndrome : the weird song someone keeps on humming here in The Hub (sa San Miguel daw yun)

ajar

ajar
Originally uploaded by brightblade.

Welcome to my abode...

belated happy birthday, you

carnation
Originally uploaded by brightblade.

I thank the Almighty for bringing you back into my life, older, wiser, more driven but still the same kid I knew. And loved. Twenty-seven years you've been walking this earth, and I'm glad to say that six of those (technically, four) were spent with me... and then there's forever to look forward to.

why i need furniture

Am selling a lot of old magazines, cameras and other stuff because of this and two other similar piles:


Selling would reduce the mess and at the same time finance the acquisition of new furniture. My old stuff were either water-damaged or too big... Granted, I only had three actual pieces of furniture before: a long worktable from my dad's old office, a bookshelf from SM, and a divider for my bed from the "sitting area" which was about 5 feet wide. The divider is too big for the new room and the airy feeling I want to accomplish. The worktable (which was a nice, functional piece) and the bookshelf were waterlogged (the bookshelf actually sprouted mushrooms!) because the last few weeks before we moved out, the gutter at the side of my room gave way and we didn't want to fix it anymore before moving out, so the furniture was ruined. Rather, we allowed them to go to ruin. I wish I had a picture of the mushrooms.

I searched high and low for a slim and simple computer table which could also serve as storage. Most that I saw were at least 50cm deep. My space can only accommodate something that's 38cm deep (thankfully, I was able to get a good LCD monitor on the cheap). So, I had trusty Mang Hesus (Jesus, the carpenter. Hah!) who used to work in a furniture shop put this together for me. Not bad at all.


I'm finding that having stuff made is not necessarily cheaper, but at least
This computer table though was made from scraps of a closet that we are no longer using, so total expenses here amount to about P500, including paint and handles. Not bad at all. And recycling is good.

To-do: Find an slim armoire for le TV. If Evangelista will not yield any significant finds on Saturday, then have Mang Hesus make one.

what, me tardy?

Today the big boss sent out tardiness reports. I was shocked at what I saw, really. According to the report, I had been tardy 7 times in November to December last year, and some days about two hours! There was something definitely wrong with this picture.

I live in Makati. I work in Makati. It takes me roughly ten minutes to get to work from my house, and even when we transferred temporarily to somewhere near the Makati City Hall, it would take me only 20 minutes to get to work, and that already encompassed both a trike ride and a jeepney ride, even traversing the traffic of Makati Avenue.

As I did a part-time stint last year, and also helped to handle the house, I requested the earliest shift so that by 4:30 I would be on the way to the Green-and-White already, or heading home to handle what-not for the mother-unit. I know that the most I've been late was a couple of minutes: but four days wherein I was late for about two hours each time?! That's plain unspeakable in my book, because I made it a point to come early as I didn't want it to be said that I couldn't handle the earliest shift and stand by what I requested. I knew then I could and I continue to do so; and I'm righteously indignant (heh) that I'm labeled as tardy when I haven't been.

The system, honestly, sucks. We have access cards, but the time in and out are still handwritten, the reports given by the guards who copy the times. Who's to say that Mr. Guard didn't read my 7:19 as 9:19 instead? So there, late by more than an hour, based on human error. And four fricking times??? The lady at HR said that I had one of the lowest tardy rates, I shouldn't worry. Grrr... It's not that! It's the principle! Gaahh.

I am a hollow reed. Trouble blows through me like the wind.

Last Song Syndrome : Dimming of the Day - The Corrs (Home album still playing)

oh what a beautiful morning

I am expired. Hey.

Rather, my LAN account at work is. I am currently using my co-worker's account on my PC, which, unfortunately, means that all settings are awry and I can't use all the basic Microsoft Office stuff without re-installing everything. And what a waste of time that is. So, while waiting for LAN boys to fix it, this be blogging as a result of that. Illegally.

But there was a good start to the morning: the neighbor across the street was either playing the piano or playing a classical music CD (errr I couldn't say which it was) at 5:30am. But then I had been awake for a full 45 minutes before that. It was nice to have that first thing in the morning, actually.

And then while having breakfast, I flip through the channels, and not wanting to hear anything more about Anna Nicole Smith on the delayed Top 10, I chanced upon Myx Live which featured one of the bands that was played a huge role in my upbringing, Asin. It was a joy to see Lolita Carbon and Pendong Aban performing, although I only caught the middle of Himig ng Pag-ibig, then Balita and Ang Mahalaga before the show ended. Bravo Myx for that feature. I think that even when I'm older I will cherish the haunting strains of Carbon's voice, the stable tone of Aban's, and the legacy of Saro Banares.

And then, this is what I did last night for Maleen:
Verna's birthday postcard, study 1


Verna's birthday postcard, study 2


Last Song Syndrome : Peggy Gordon - The Corrs (the Home album has been playing often in my room these days)

New beginnings

All things drape-y and swooshy
Originally uploaded by brightblade.

It's high time to start blogging again. The house is almost done, the wedding preparations are on hold, things are getting quite hectic over at the Hub again. Generally, it's a good time for catharsis, if only through photoblogs.

New beginnings are in order, and new curtains. The picture above is of the fabrics of choice for my Swedish-inspired, sky-themed bedroom. Yes, I have a blue bedroom. I think I've had enough of pastels after having a pink bedroom for about 20 years.

I made a rash decision a few years ago when I decided to paint my bedroom blue when I was in a funk--I only tried the neighborhood paint store, and then, I didn't test it either. The result was a shiny light blue which one of my officemates said was similar to the color of boys' bathroom at his high school. That was fun. I lived with that freakishly shiny blue for about two years. Now, the old bedroom/studio apartment is being converted into a shed of sorts, and some walls still retain the old paint. I cringe, honestly.

This time, I tried out various shades of blue from those computer-mixing stores, but I ended up with a pale blue-gray mixed up by the house painter the father-unit hired. It's really quite serene now, the only problem is, I just really feel like sleeping most of the time when I'm in my room.

So I end my first blog in eons talking about sleeping. Hee. Welcome me back!!!