about the talking fish

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Writer. Wheelman. Occasional DIY mechanic. Walking collection of hang-ups. Hopeless romantic. Old-school. Analog soul in a digital world. I am all of these things and more.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Met and interviewed Marge tonight for our MARKPRO final project: a product marketing plan. She happened to be another of Denise's many friends and I found her really nice, warm and hospitable. Even invited me to a little game of badminton one Saturday with friends.
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People averse to tape recorders while having interviews. This was new.

I found it rather odd, at the very least. Personally I felt it was great for getting the interviewee at ease, without having to contend with a writer scribbling away and not devoting his/her full attention to the subject at hand.

Apparently some people just aren't comfortable with hearing their voices on tape and how differently they sound...but hey, I was like that too. Took me a while to get used to listening to my voice through the air instead of rattling through my bones.

Whatever suits the interviewee, I say...

Sunday, March 20, 2005

After all our endless fretting over a successful major concert last Saturday night, it was time for Pops to finally let loose and relax over the spoils of the schoolyear. That would officially happen on the summer outing sometime in April, but Pops being Pops it was never too early to get started---which we did last Friday at Karen's 19th birthday party.

Thanks to that event, I got acquainted with two more Gundam fans in Pops, sampled some of the best tofu and mushrooms I've ever tasted, sang my heart out on old-school videoke with Pops alumni Oliver and Eric, and generally had a great time which unfortunately had to end too soon.

Lala informed me that the outing was tentatively scheduled around April 16-19 at Lake Caliraya. I hope the date doesn't change so I can catch up before leaving for Los Angeles on the 22nd. Can't wait.

At least I have a lot to look forward to this summer, after all the hassle of this term ends.
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Oddly, I didn't enjoy the HCP EB the next day all that much. I felt I would have rather just completed buying the things I need to make my dad's birthday present. Before going to Karen's I dropped by Special Toy Center in Festival Mall to buy an Academy pin vise...which was surprisingly expensive. It's a solid little thing made of steel, so it's probably a long term investment for serious modellers, although I couldn't fit the 1.0mm drill bit into the 1.0-1.5mm socket for some reason.

That evening I saw "Chicken Rice War," a Singaporean movie made in 2000. Having had some 'exposure' to Singaporean culture from former Autocar ASEAN hacks David Ting, Simon Hulber, Kwee Hon Jin and co. (where on earth are these guys now?!), I was delighted to see Singlish and 'talking cock' in action on the small screen. The movie's a simple one, obviously patterned on Romeo and Juliet, but it's endearing and cute enough to keep one entertained and laughing.

It's seriously cool, in its quirky kind of way.
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My car needs TLC and fast. I feel guilty for leaving it to 'rot' with worn tie-rod and rack ends, a faulty air-conditioner compressor and all these dents and scratches on the Sapphire Blue bodywork. I'm itching to get a cheap, decent amplifier and front separates too for the audio system. Then again I'm not privy to enough personal money to get these kinks repaired, and people know how I frown on asking money from my parents or anyone else. It doesn't help that my sales haven't been doing too good either.

What's a cash-strapped college dude to do? I guess I'll have to wait till I get employed.

Sunday, March 13, 2005

The major concert may be over and done (quite successfully I might say), but there are still so many things that need my attention within the next two weeks. Most of them are academic.

Quite frankly I've lost interest in finishing anything, at least for today. Lately it's seemed I've run out of steam and vigor for studying. I guess the culture of apathy and general laziness of my Marketing major classes has gotten to me.

To make a long story short, I generally don't feel all that great nowadays. I'm always pissed off, burnt out and fretting about so many things, and it gets to the point where I become confused as to what I should do. I need a break.
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You are a star, beautiful and bright
Shining magically on the jet black stage
You fill people's hearts with a myriad emotions
Glee, sadness, laughter and love
I have watched you all these years
How I longed to grasp your light
Be part of it and share it to a new age
Years have gone, and I am no longer fit
Now I am a part of you, yet I am also not
I toil and persevere to give you your chance
Yet I still just admire you from afar
Wondering how much have things changed
I still lie in the dark, watching
Bittersweet dreams never realized

Friday, March 11, 2005

This song is what my mind's been made of lately.

Wala na akong makita sa iyong mga mata
Dati rati'y isang tingin mo lang alam ko na
Bakit ngayon ika'y nababalot sa kulay ng hatinggabi
Nagtatanong, nangangarap na ika'y magisnang muli
Kung may bagyo o kung tag-araw
Sa iyong damdamin

Sana ay makilala kang muli, tulad ng dati
Halika at lumapit kang muli, tulad ng dati

Wala na akong maramdaman sa iyong mga kamay
Dati rati'y isang hawak ko lang, alam ko na
Alam ko na
Kung may bagyo o kung tag-araw sa iyong damdamin

Sana ay makilala kang muli, tulad ng dati
Halika at lumapit kang muli, tulad ng dati...


--- The Dawn, "Tulad ng Dati"

I wonder if they have a new album out? Been ages since I bought any new music CDs.
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I'd like to invite all of you guys to watch the DLSU Pops Orchestra's major concert, "Spotlight on the Red Carpet" featuring award-winning songs from major genres. It'll be at the AFP Theater, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, tomorrow night at 7pm. Tickets are priced at PhP180.

I promise you will not be disappointed. :D
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All our efforts in this final week seem to have amounted to nothing. Despite that Rachel was still her energetic, take-charge self...until our final committee meeting last Wednesday.

This was the first time I remember seeing her breaking down in tears, apparently something she seldom did. I felt that young as she was (she's almost three years younger than I am), Rachel had one of the most admirably strong personalities I've ever seen. She isn't one to buckle under pressure until it was totally, utterly hopeless. The dreadful thing is, all of us---myself included---contributed to that hopelessness. No matter how hard we tried, we couldn't secure anything.

Seeing her cry made all my fluttering misery feel infinitesimally small, yet the same message just pervaded my soul. I let her down.

She did not cry for long however. Within 5 minutes she was back, prodding us to think up ways of earning any extra money at the risk of turning the event into a fairground.

Rachel Quinto, simply because of your impeccable strength of character, you are my role model. I pray I can get anywhere near as patient and as tough as you are.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

I'm not an especially happy man right now.

All my efforts and I managed to raise nil for Pops' upcoming major concert. All my efforts and I still had to trade bumper paint with an overzealous passing truck's spare tire. All my efforts at lifting weights and trying to eat right but I'm heavier than I've ever been. All my efforts at trying to earn my own money and yet it always feels as if I never have enough because new expenses on my part crop up like bad fungi. All my efforts at trying to be happy and yet I've become so burnt out and maniacal that I've actually turned to the tarmac as the object of my anger.

What the hell do I have to do to turn things around?!
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