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!!!

two weeks without a blog

How do the days zip by like that--so inconsiderate of people like me, who seem to be treading water, on the verge of drowning, in the deluge that is "real life". And I don't know where the time goes, it can't be only to work. For an avid multitasker like myself, it's like I'm doubling up but still running out of time. Even my leisure activities are multitasked (think Jeopardy! on TV while doing scrapbooking or surfing the net). But still time seems too short. It could be because I get tired more easily now that I have no form of exercise whatsoever. It could be because, sadly, I am getting old. Or is it really just a state of mind?

Last night I went through my old planners to check friends' birthdays--I do that. I'm a greet-you-on-your-birthday sort of person. I like to celebrate people. I believe that birthdays are happy occasions, not just milestones for getting older, but thanksgiving markers for another year of blessings, another year that you were happy, or could have been happy. On my birthday I am both retrospective and jubilant. But I've stopped counting, of course.

Then there is the matter of strange luck. I've forgotten almost all of Jeffrey Archer's novels and short stories that I've read, but spurred on by a snippet of First Among Equals, I stumbled upon an Author of the Month quiz on the web. Well what do you know, I was sure of only two answers but I got 6 of 10 correct. That is so strange. On some it was sheer blind luck. Or lucky guesses. Well. That's where most of my Jeopardy! answers come from anyway. Perhaps there is a strange repository locked away in my brain. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. Unfortunately, it is the strangest things I remember, and some important things I forget.

Will be playing badminton for the first time in five months later. Pray for me. Haha!

Last Song Syndrome : Ch-ch-ch-changes sung by Storm Large on Rock Star: Supernova

con come and gone

The Con came and then was gone.

The problem with having priorities is, you have to follow them or else, well, what was the use of setting priorities in the first place? Unfortunately, my priorities for last weekend were servitude to the parentals, necessary purchases of victuals and other supplies, servitude to the corporate master, and New Worlds, in that order. I was no longer able to make time for either the work I brought home or the annual science-fiction and fantasy convention. Alas, the love for Buffy must take a back seat to filial duty and of course, survival through items bought in Cash and Carry.

My consolation was that the small 3 Musketeers bars are back. For the life of me, I cannot consume an entire 3 Musketeers regular size bar in one sitting anymore. And I always have to have water on hand. But man, it still is good.

My life, my life, wherefore art thou, my life?

just like breathing when it's true

Flowers from Mang Boy and experiments in PaintShop.

-oOo-

Last Wednesday
At this height, rain is pelting the glass windows from the side, and for a while I was entranced by the almost horizontal water patterns splattered onto the windows. Unlike usual droplets hitting the window at a slight angle, theirs was an extended dribble, almost like they were rubbing onto the building, with a strange sound akin to fingers drumming a lonely rhythm on a formica tabletop.

-oOo-

Last Song Syndrome : Free In You - Indigo Girls

And I don't know
How you show
Such gentle disregard
For the ugly in me
That I see
That for so long
I took so hard
And I truly believe
That you see the best in me
I'm in love
We all love
And that thought
Sets me free

Free in you
Got no worries on my mind
I know what to do
That's to treat you right
And love you kind
Thank you ever on my mind
Love is just like breathing
When it's true
And I'm free in you

sleigh bells ring

Three Christmas gifts were bought yesterday. Right on schedule, because I usually start buying Christmas gifts in July and just stock them until I need them. When I see something I like for one of my friends or relatives, I snap it up right away. Of course, the downside is, sometimes (very rarely) I find something better, and the a few gifts bought usually end up in storage longer than usual or going to someone else. But it helps to be prepared. Less stress and all. And at least I can say that I really took advantage of the sale season. A Divisoria day will be scheduled in September, before the Christmas rush. Then I must decide on the color scheme and/or wrappers for the said gifts. Lots of cute stuff at the Wrap Shop. Hee! Second half of the year na!

bea: the omen

The malevolent glint in her eyes and her hand cupping my face. Isn't it just adorable? Hehehe!

-oOo-

Signs
Tesla/The Five Man Electrical Band

And the sign says "Long-haired freaky people need not apply"
So I put my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said you look like a fine outstanding young man, I think you'll do
So I took off my hat, I said "Imagine that, huh, me working for you"

[Chorus:]
Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs
F@ckin' up the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign

And the sign says "Anybody caught trespassing will be shot on sight"
So I jumped the fence and I yelled at the house
Hey! What gives you the right!
To put up a fence and keep me out, or to keep Mother Nature in
If God was here, he'd tell it to your face, man, you're some kind of sinner

[Chorus]

Oh, say now mister, can't you read
You got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
You can't watch, no you can't eat, you ain't supposed to be here

And the sign says "You got to have a membership card to get inside" - uh!

And the sign says "Everybody welcome, come in, kneel down and pray"
But then they passed around a plate at the end of it all
And I didn't have a penny to pay
So I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own f@ckin' sign
I said, "Thank you Lord for thinking 'bout me, I'm alive and doing fine"
Oh

there's no day like today

And I feel, so much depends on the weather
So is it raining in your bedroom?
And I see, that these are the eyes of disarray
Would you even care?
- Plush, Stone Temple Pilots