I'm home sick.
Not homesick.
Sick at home.
Threw up and everything.
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
an ennui towards cinema
I realized that I don't watch movies all that much anymore. The last movie that I watched in the cinema was Finding Nemo. I used to watch movies at least thrice a month, but now the numbers have definitely gone down. It's probably that I don't have a constant companion to watch all the movies, and partly it's the work; but generally I think that I'm experiencing a pronounced boredom towards the movie industry.
Lately there haven't been many movies that I've wanted to watch. Matrix Revolutions came out and everything but I didn't feel an intense urge to go and watch it. I haven't watched Under the Tuscan Sun, which is probably the one that I would be most inclined to watch among the movies currently showing in the Ayala cinemas. I wouldn't be disappointed to just catch Intolerable Cruelty on cable.
So there. On one hand there's been a dearth of must-see cinema, at least for my personal tastes. Nothing has come up of great entertainment value (or any other value for that matter) since Nemo, except maybe PotC: The Curse of the Black Pearl--ah, referring to it in anticipation of the "franchise" it's aiming to become.
Then of course, there's that hypothesis that because I'm not in a relationship, I've no one with whom to watch movies, but then that's not quite the case because I'm still able to go out with my friends, only I haven't been really excited to see any movies. I thought that I had to watch Matrix Revolutions but it turned out it was good enough on (pirated) DVD. [Don't tell pareng Bong.] By the way, I also watched Pirates of the Caribbean at home.
There are some movies whose showing I'm anticipating quite eagerly, though, first and foremost being, obviously, the last of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King. There is also the next Harry Potter--am just wondering what difference Alfonso Cuaron is going to make in the series, because I wasn't quite satisfied with Chris Columbus' retellings. I'm also looking forward to Crying Ladies, with Sharon Cuneta and Angel Aquino. [Jologs side surfaces.]
So what is it? Maybe I'm just really getting bored with escapism. And that really makes me sad, because movies are to us today what the gladiator arenas were in the time of the Roman empire--the opiate of the masses. Hollywood is the new Colosseum, but lately it just seems that the entertainment hasn't been good enough to eclipse the drudgery and uncertainty of daily life. Where have all the good movies gone? Or am I just too preoccupied to see?
is that her?
I just saw the new Carefree commercial. One of them definitely looks like Natasha, my high school classmate. I haven't spoken with that girl in ages but we spent four years in the same class and were on relatively good terms. But I don't know if we'd actually get to talking if we saw each other on the street or something. I know. That's weird.
You can imagine how it is with the people that I didn't really get close to? I really won't make the first move when we meet up; while I'm sure that they, too, would think twice before saying hi. I feel bad that I feel that way, but I guess I don't want to risk a raised eyebrow and a "do I know you?" Sad but true.
Lately there haven't been many movies that I've wanted to watch. Matrix Revolutions came out and everything but I didn't feel an intense urge to go and watch it. I haven't watched Under the Tuscan Sun, which is probably the one that I would be most inclined to watch among the movies currently showing in the Ayala cinemas. I wouldn't be disappointed to just catch Intolerable Cruelty on cable.
So there. On one hand there's been a dearth of must-see cinema, at least for my personal tastes. Nothing has come up of great entertainment value (or any other value for that matter) since Nemo, except maybe PotC: The Curse of the Black Pearl--ah, referring to it in anticipation of the "franchise" it's aiming to become.
Then of course, there's that hypothesis that because I'm not in a relationship, I've no one with whom to watch movies, but then that's not quite the case because I'm still able to go out with my friends, only I haven't been really excited to see any movies. I thought that I had to watch Matrix Revolutions but it turned out it was good enough on (pirated) DVD. [Don't tell pareng Bong.] By the way, I also watched Pirates of the Caribbean at home.
There are some movies whose showing I'm anticipating quite eagerly, though, first and foremost being, obviously, the last of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King. There is also the next Harry Potter--am just wondering what difference Alfonso Cuaron is going to make in the series, because I wasn't quite satisfied with Chris Columbus' retellings. I'm also looking forward to Crying Ladies, with Sharon Cuneta and Angel Aquino. [Jologs side surfaces.]
So what is it? Maybe I'm just really getting bored with escapism. And that really makes me sad, because movies are to us today what the gladiator arenas were in the time of the Roman empire--the opiate of the masses. Hollywood is the new Colosseum, but lately it just seems that the entertainment hasn't been good enough to eclipse the drudgery and uncertainty of daily life. Where have all the good movies gone? Or am I just too preoccupied to see?
is that her?
I just saw the new Carefree commercial. One of them definitely looks like Natasha, my high school classmate. I haven't spoken with that girl in ages but we spent four years in the same class and were on relatively good terms. But I don't know if we'd actually get to talking if we saw each other on the street or something. I know. That's weird.
You can imagine how it is with the people that I didn't really get close to? I really won't make the first move when we meet up; while I'm sure that they, too, would think twice before saying hi. I feel bad that I feel that way, but I guess I don't want to risk a raised eyebrow and a "do I know you?" Sad but true.
as promised
Maleen's table with some scant "welcome back" decor.
The side board with the note tacked to it belongs to me. Oh well.
I'm still testing out the camera that comes with the phone. Apparently you can set it to a higher-quality picture.
The side board with the note tacked to it belongs to me. Oh well.
I'm still testing out the camera that comes with the phone. Apparently you can set it to a higher-quality picture.
Monday, December 08, 2003
welcome back maleen!
Maleen is back at work today after three weeks of recuperation for her dislocated kneecap. I'll post a picture of her "welcome back" workarea with balloons and stuff later. I took it on my
new phone
I did get a new phone, the Nokia 6220, as previously mentioned. Okay, so I blew my performance bonus on it. Satisfying, though. I don't know. I figure the optimum length of a phone with me should be two years, and the 8310 had been with me for around that much time too. Was able to sell it to my officemate for P4k.
new phone
I did get a new phone, the Nokia 6220, as previously mentioned. Okay, so I blew my performance bonus on it. Satisfying, though. I don't know. I figure the optimum length of a phone with me should be two years, and the 8310 had been with me for around that much time too. Was able to sell it to my officemate for P4k.
Friday, December 05, 2003
wondering
If I died tomorrow, how many people would come to my funeral?
playing in my head
Kenny Loggins' Conviction of the Heart
"How long must we wait to change
This world bound in chains that we live in
To know what it is to forgive,
And be forgiven?"
meetings
Am in a whole-day meeting for system support for our new product. I believe that meetings sap the life out of people, especially meetings that last for more than one-and-a-half hours. Suffice to say that I do my bext work in front of a PC, and not in front of other people. But since most of our projects are cross-departmental (duh, we're in business processes, so we check the processes and systems of other departments), then we can't do the work alone and need their input. Sigh. These are times when I relish my 'writing time'.
playing in my head
Kenny Loggins' Conviction of the Heart
"How long must we wait to change
This world bound in chains that we live in
To know what it is to forgive,
And be forgiven?"
meetings
Am in a whole-day meeting for system support for our new product. I believe that meetings sap the life out of people, especially meetings that last for more than one-and-a-half hours. Suffice to say that I do my bext work in front of a PC, and not in front of other people. But since most of our projects are cross-departmental (duh, we're in business processes, so we check the processes and systems of other departments), then we can't do the work alone and need their input. Sigh. These are times when I relish my 'writing time'.
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
blessing
Office blessing was today. It's similar to a house blessing and if you don't know how a house blessing goes in the Phils, well... there's a priest who prays over the place, people are holding candles, the priest goes all around anointing the place with holy water, and then the homeowners (in our case the directors) throw candy and coins around and people jostle to get them. Relatively funky.
I got three candies and four bucks. They say you shouldn't spend the money because it's "lucky". In any case I will just keep it handy here in the office for when I won't have money for a jeepney ride going home. Now if they meant to ward off the evil spirits and such: why am I still here?
i wonder how far gone i would be to do this
Man Burns Life Savings, Fails Suicide Bid
I got three candies and four bucks. They say you shouldn't spend the money because it's "lucky". In any case I will just keep it handy here in the office for when I won't have money for a jeepney ride going home. Now if they meant to ward off the evil spirits and such: why am I still here?
i wonder how far gone i would be to do this
Man Burns Life Savings, Fails Suicide Bid
literature + alcohol
= Ernest Hemingway, but here's a take on it that's closer to my heart:
Tequila Mockingbird
2 oz tequila
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 tsp white Creme de Menthe
Shake the ingredients with ice in a shaker and strain into a cocktail glass.
Toast to more good times at Cocktail Times.
update on my credit card
Talked to one of their "customer support specialists". Apparently my updated balance is Ps.8.89, because there were retroactive VAT charges. Am fine with that. Their phone service updating sucks. Oh well. At least I don't owe Ps.6,000 more than I should.
Tequila Mockingbird
2 oz tequila
1/2 oz lemon juice
1 tsp white Creme de Menthe
Shake the ingredients with ice in a shaker and strain into a cocktail glass.
Toast to more good times at Cocktail Times.
update on my credit card
Talked to one of their "customer support specialists". Apparently my updated balance is Ps.8.89, because there were retroactive VAT charges. Am fine with that. Their phone service updating sucks. Oh well. At least I don't owe Ps.6,000 more than I should.
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
FGD
I participated in a small focus group discussion for a market-research company last Friday night. It was at a posh hotel in Makati, very convenient; we had free dinner (which was relatively good--I always like lamb chops, although I am particular to Cafe Mediterranea's version) and got some gift cheques from Rustan's (which I promptly turned over to my mom and told her it was my contribution to noche buena -Christmas Eve- dinner).
I'm not really a talkative person but I think the person that conducted the field interview with me and some of my officemates a couple of months ago had good timing and found me in my element. Last Friday night, I wasn't all that comfortable, especially since I was mostly with a bunch of pretty and sosy girls. The moderator was veering us towards trends and everything, and that made me a little uncomfortable because I've never been a trendy person. However, I saw that I was also into some of the stuff that they considered trends.
They considered badminton a trend, because it's just gaining popularity now; but then I've been playing badminton for quite a while already. Friendster was included in the trends; as well as bars with ambience and acoustic bands. So I figured I was still in the loop. Got thrown a curve when they asked about clothes and accessories, though, because heaven knows I think that Ps.1,500 is too much to spend on an item of clothing unless it is a gown. So with all their answers about Mango, Nine West, etc., I just said, "Hey I get my clothes from Greenhills." With a wide grin.
Apparently, the target market for whatever product they were researching is an upscale one; of which I'm just on the outskirts. I don't consider myself as really upscale although thanks to my friends I'm a little trendy because they introduce me to a lot of stuff--like nicotine, videoke, and those nifty bars in Salcedo and Legaspi Villages. I've developed a taste for West Ice, Tequila Rose, Mediterranean cuisine and Starbucks.
I've realized that if I were more of a hermit (read: antisocial), I wouldn't be into most of this stuff. I'd be pretty much the same way I was in most of Grade School and High School, either with my nose buried deep in fiction or typing away. I know that I've been able to juggle work, play and my literary apetite, but lately I haven't been giving the books much of a chance. I've had to experience being a social animal and witness the sordid underbelly of the Pinoy middle class life for myself and not have to read about it. And that's fine with me. I still don't buy my bags at Coach, or Kate Spade. I still only have ten pairs of shoes (for a woman my age, sadly below the lower limit). I still don't consider myself trendy. And I still yearn for a couple of hours uninterrupted when I can continue reading the next novel on my list. But at least I know I'm not clueless.
Posted to riannesravings@yahoogroups.com.
I'm not really a talkative person but I think the person that conducted the field interview with me and some of my officemates a couple of months ago had good timing and found me in my element. Last Friday night, I wasn't all that comfortable, especially since I was mostly with a bunch of pretty and sosy girls. The moderator was veering us towards trends and everything, and that made me a little uncomfortable because I've never been a trendy person. However, I saw that I was also into some of the stuff that they considered trends.
They considered badminton a trend, because it's just gaining popularity now; but then I've been playing badminton for quite a while already. Friendster was included in the trends; as well as bars with ambience and acoustic bands. So I figured I was still in the loop. Got thrown a curve when they asked about clothes and accessories, though, because heaven knows I think that Ps.1,500 is too much to spend on an item of clothing unless it is a gown. So with all their answers about Mango, Nine West, etc., I just said, "Hey I get my clothes from Greenhills." With a wide grin.
Apparently, the target market for whatever product they were researching is an upscale one; of which I'm just on the outskirts. I don't consider myself as really upscale although thanks to my friends I'm a little trendy because they introduce me to a lot of stuff--like nicotine, videoke, and those nifty bars in Salcedo and Legaspi Villages. I've developed a taste for West Ice, Tequila Rose, Mediterranean cuisine and Starbucks.
I've realized that if I were more of a hermit (read: antisocial), I wouldn't be into most of this stuff. I'd be pretty much the same way I was in most of Grade School and High School, either with my nose buried deep in fiction or typing away. I know that I've been able to juggle work, play and my literary apetite, but lately I haven't been giving the books much of a chance. I've had to experience being a social animal and witness the sordid underbelly of the Pinoy middle class life for myself and not have to read about it. And that's fine with me. I still don't buy my bags at Coach, or Kate Spade. I still only have ten pairs of shoes (for a woman my age, sadly below the lower limit). I still don't consider myself trendy. And I still yearn for a couple of hours uninterrupted when I can continue reading the next novel on my list. But at least I know I'm not clueless.
Posted to riannesravings@yahoogroups.com.
seething
I just checked my outstanding balance for my credit card and it's much larger than what I expected. I was actually expecting a zero balance, but their call-in service says that my balance is 6k. Hmmmm. And here I was priding myself on managing my credit card wisely. And of course all their operators weren't available. Wonderful.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)