Lately I’ve been eyeing MP3 players. After years of being told that MP3 players aren’t supposed to be used in school, I find that at the becubicled reality of work, they’re something of a necessity.
I’ve been using my mom’s 128MB Music Stick, a gift from Tita Susan. It’s a nice little gadget, but I wish it had more memory and a rechargeable battery. I was shocked at how quickly an alkaline AAA dry cell got drained with the amount of listening I did. Also, I’ve had a long-running fetish for headphones (I never liked earphones) and I really want the most comfortable pair I can find. Those spiffy DJ-style headphones would be right up my alley, although expensive.
===
Jho, Gerald and I were surprised last Thursday when Robert, our manager, said we were supposed to be at PSE Tower One for Application Testing training instead of at Cybergate. No one had informed us though our newly acquired email addresses, so we got there three hours late.
Jho and I got into one group composed of fellow new-joiners Carla, Jon and Chester, and long-time member Dio. We named ourselves the “Pata-Team,” and throughout the activities of the training session we had amassed the most number of points. Some of them were working at UBP and at Cybergate too. I would love to meet these guys again.
Our seasoned programmer instructors Fiel and Mario were entertaining despite a potentially heavy topic. It was nice listening to their stories, both successes and failures, and from them I got to understand a little about how the IT world works. Thanks to them and their seminar I finally understood my work and had an idea of how it really is to be a tester.
===
Weekends so far have been opportunites for me to grab some shut-eye. Instead of getting up to watch Detective Conan, I slept very early on Saturday night. Instead of playing badminton this afternoon I slept right through the expected 1:45pm departure time. Sheesh. It’s got to be the heat.
I just hope I don’t sleep right through next weekend’s company outing. That’d be a big waste.
about the talking fish
- JM
- 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.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Sunday, April 30, 2006
A random song on a random day
Even though she’s on my mind
Even though she’s hard to find
Even though, there’s always something with you
Even though she’s right on time
Even though she’s always lying
Even though, there’s always something with you
I know we don’t talk about it
I know that that’s true
I know we don’t talk about it
I’m so scared when I’m losing you
Even though she just stopped trying
Even though I can’t stop crying
Even though, there’s always something with you
I know we don’t talk about it
I know that that’s true
I know we don’t talk about it
I’m so lonely away from you
Even though, even though
Even though, there’s always something with you
— Sugar Ray, “Even Though”
Even though she’s hard to find
Even though, there’s always something with you
Even though she’s right on time
Even though she’s always lying
Even though, there’s always something with you
I know we don’t talk about it
I know that that’s true
I know we don’t talk about it
I’m so scared when I’m losing you
Even though she just stopped trying
Even though I can’t stop crying
Even though, there’s always something with you
I know we don’t talk about it
I know that that’s true
I know we don’t talk about it
I’m so lonely away from you
Even though, even though
Even though, there’s always something with you
— Sugar Ray, “Even Though”
Week 1 of (at least) 104.
It’s been my first week at work and I haven’t really been able to do anything much except read training materials. It seems the HR people haven’t given me and my fellow new-joiners Gerald and Jho some necessities for us to work, so we’ve been relegated to observation and reading for now as we can’t even access the computers on our desks. HR seems to have a lot on its hands.
Although the first three days at Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1 have been rather boring, I feel lucky this was the project I was rolled into. Without disclosing anything that might get my neck in trouble at super-secretive Accenture, my first project deals with financial services, so it’s familiar turf for my parents as they were/are employees of banks. From first impression, my coworkers are a nice bunch of people. Paolo Jaucian introduced us on our first day and he immediately told us we were “too uptight” and we needed to loosen up—I guess that says a lot about my officemates already.
Every Thursday they had a regular meet going on at Sheridan Badminton and so I joined in. I’m glad there are quite a few of us who are skilled, so I can play the same way I did in Villamor Air Base. One of my senior team leaders, Trinity, was inviting me for a trip to faraway Ilocos over the extended Labor Day weekend, and they were leaving on Friday night. I was frankly surprised to be invited at such short notice. I couldn’t take them up on the offer, but I did promise to come along on the coming company summer outing on the 13th in Batangas.
I’ve been driving my way to Cybergate since Wednesday, and so the issue of parking made itself known early on. Fortunately, Robinsons Pioneer (which is literally the next building to ours) has an ongoing promo where you can park for free when you get receipts worth PhP300, and my officemates just so happen to have something in place to collect receipts. I’m glad parking costs won’t be an issue for a while. I hope I can stretch my fuel tank to two weeks, though. With gas prices as they are these days, I might be forced to commute soon enough.
Overall I’m really glad to be at Accenture so far. At this point I’m actually itching to do some hands-on work, which I got a sampling of last Friday. It’s not the most thrilling of jobs, but it’s at least something I understand and can probably do well. I’m taking it in stride for now. I hope things stay like this. If I’m going to be here at least two years I might as well enjoy.
Although the first three days at Robinsons Cybergate Tower 1 have been rather boring, I feel lucky this was the project I was rolled into. Without disclosing anything that might get my neck in trouble at super-secretive Accenture, my first project deals with financial services, so it’s familiar turf for my parents as they were/are employees of banks. From first impression, my coworkers are a nice bunch of people. Paolo Jaucian introduced us on our first day and he immediately told us we were “too uptight” and we needed to loosen up—I guess that says a lot about my officemates already.
Every Thursday they had a regular meet going on at Sheridan Badminton and so I joined in. I’m glad there are quite a few of us who are skilled, so I can play the same way I did in Villamor Air Base. One of my senior team leaders, Trinity, was inviting me for a trip to faraway Ilocos over the extended Labor Day weekend, and they were leaving on Friday night. I was frankly surprised to be invited at such short notice. I couldn’t take them up on the offer, but I did promise to come along on the coming company summer outing on the 13th in Batangas.
I’ve been driving my way to Cybergate since Wednesday, and so the issue of parking made itself known early on. Fortunately, Robinsons Pioneer (which is literally the next building to ours) has an ongoing promo where you can park for free when you get receipts worth PhP300, and my officemates just so happen to have something in place to collect receipts. I’m glad parking costs won’t be an issue for a while. I hope I can stretch my fuel tank to two weeks, though. With gas prices as they are these days, I might be forced to commute soon enough.
Overall I’m really glad to be at Accenture so far. At this point I’m actually itching to do some hands-on work, which I got a sampling of last Friday. It’s not the most thrilling of jobs, but it’s at least something I understand and can probably do well. I’m taking it in stride for now. I hope things stay like this. If I’m going to be here at least two years I might as well enjoy.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Goodbye bumhood...with a bang.
Yesterday was a rather special occasion.
It was another one of Honda Club Philippines’ monthly general EBs, and it coincided with the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards, much in the same way last month’s EB coincided with the Ford Focus Rally Experience. Both events meant a host of test drives was in order. It was even better now because this time there were so many manufacturers offering test drives, whereas Ford was the only one last time round.
HCP had its own open display there among the manufacturers’ glitzy tents. We celebrated the four generations of Civics that made it to our shores—the boxy EF of 1988-1991, the iconic EG of 1992-95, the low-riding EK of 1996-2000, and the mature ES of 2001-05. No one had yet taken possession of a brand-spanking-new FD, which was the highlight of Honda Cars Philippines’ booth and test drives.
There was a queue of people wanting to get behind the wheel of the sole FD Civic demonstrator, a cheapest-spec 1.8V. While I awaited my turn behind the FD1’s wheel, I decided to apply for a test drive of the Mazda 6 2.3.
The 6 was good for its size, and it felt like its bodywork shrank around my steering and throttle inputs—always a good thing for a driver’s car. The automatic gearbox’s manual mode was less laggy than the Focus 2.0 hatchback, too, and there was a way of learning to lessen the lag on upshifts (let go of the gas momentarily at upshift). My only complaint was with the brakes. For such a driver-oriented car, this thing has snatchy anchors that can be difficult to modulate at times. I had a feeling the transmission was performing downshifts at the same time.
When I got out of the mature-but-sporty 6 (and parallel-parked it pretty damn well), there were still five or so people in line for the Civic before my turn. Since the GD3 Jazz 1.5 CVT wasn’t seeing that much action, I signed up for that test drive as well, my previous test too ridiculously short to gauge anything.
Like the 6, the gray GD3 was also a nippy number. Though slightly unintuitive, the CVT’s 7-speed manual mode and its rocker switches kept the little VTEC engine on the boil as I drove it at a fast cruise around some of the Fort’s back roads. There’s more verve from down low compared to my City, too. My main gripe is with the electrically-assisted steering. While it’s faithful and accurate enough, it really does feel like driving in an arcade machine as there’s zero feedback from the wheel. No unpleasant kickback comes through and there’s gains in fuel economy, but I’d really rather have a hydraulic helm. It’s easier to park than the 6.
My turn finally came up for the silver FD1 Civic, and thank heaven it had a proper manual gearbox and three pedals. While early on I judged heel-and-toe shifts impossible to do on this car’s drive-by-wire throttle pedal set too low, it was also early on that I learned to trust this car with the kind of fast-clip driving I usually do on my old SX8 City. Major kudos to that.
The steering wheel is a revelation. While passengering Mikko, Emi and Patrick were navigating me through the bumpier but sweeping back roads of the Fort, I was having fun rowing through the gears and carrying confident speed. The small-radius, flat-bottomed, hydraulic-assisted tiller was more alive with information than either of the two previous cars and it delivered even better feedback than my City, and I could forgive the hardness of its plastic. The gearbox isn’t quite as intuitive, but it snicked into gear with gusto paired with feather-light clutch action. The R18A i-VTEC engine’s urge was very linear, delivering un-Honda-like pull from the sort of low RPMs that my City’s D15B7 would shudder in its engine mounts from. Not seeing the end of the hood is a challenge at first but I found it didn’t get in the way of visibility all that much. It’s just a matter of getting used to the broad upward-sloping dashboard, as I parallel-parked it still with ease.
Later I passengered in the 2.0S FD2 Civic that Mikko loaned from Honda Cars Philippines officer Mr. Peren, this time to test the ride quality and space behind. This had an electronic tiller in place of the FD1’s hydraulic-boosted steering wheel, but former circuit racer Mikko attested the electric steering assist was way better than the Jazz’s. It’s as if the steering was hydraulic.
Mikko floored the throttle in second gear all the way to redline and 101 km/h. The K20A3 i-VTEC engine emptied its guts in a powerful, linear surge, pinning Emi, Patrick and I to the rear bench. He was considerably more lead-footed than I was. At the back, we were pretty comfortable and the ride was very supple, considering the kind of driving Mikko David was doing. When he tested the ABS in a full-bore stop from 80 km/h, he remarked on the refinement of the stoppers’ imperceptible pumping action. It was as if the car had simply locked up its brakes, but didn’t.
No points for guessing that I was most thoroughly impressed by the new FD-series Civic, then. That amount of driving fun for just PhP767,000? My appetite’s whetted already.
===
That evening we went to Aruba Bar in Metrowalk, Ortigas Center, to watch the San Marino Grand Prix with the rest of the F1 Club of the Philippines guys. Eva and a much-missed Angiela were screaming their lungs out with glee when Fernando Alonso trailed Michael Schumacher over 30+ laps in a tense battle for the lead. Former HCP president Juno was chanting “come back my money!!!” when he placed his bet for the top 3 finishers of the race. He wailed “der goz my money!!!” when he lost out on the betting, as Alonso slipped behind Schumacher 5 laps from the checkered flag.
Capping it all off was a relaxing high-speed cruise along C5 on the way home. Damn, that day was fun. It was a fitting end to my final day as a bum.
===
Today was my first day at work, which is basically part of a two-day orientation not far from Accenture’s Libran House HR office in Makati. Meeting my fellow “new joiners” was very nice and most of them were a fun bunch. By Wednesday a few of us would be starting at Cybergate and Makati Stock Exchange.
I wonder what this job has in store for me...
It was another one of Honda Club Philippines’ monthly general EBs, and it coincided with the Auto Focus People’s Choice Awards, much in the same way last month’s EB coincided with the Ford Focus Rally Experience. Both events meant a host of test drives was in order. It was even better now because this time there were so many manufacturers offering test drives, whereas Ford was the only one last time round.
HCP had its own open display there among the manufacturers’ glitzy tents. We celebrated the four generations of Civics that made it to our shores—the boxy EF of 1988-1991, the iconic EG of 1992-95, the low-riding EK of 1996-2000, and the mature ES of 2001-05. No one had yet taken possession of a brand-spanking-new FD, which was the highlight of Honda Cars Philippines’ booth and test drives.
There was a queue of people wanting to get behind the wheel of the sole FD Civic demonstrator, a cheapest-spec 1.8V. While I awaited my turn behind the FD1’s wheel, I decided to apply for a test drive of the Mazda 6 2.3.
The 6 was good for its size, and it felt like its bodywork shrank around my steering and throttle inputs—always a good thing for a driver’s car. The automatic gearbox’s manual mode was less laggy than the Focus 2.0 hatchback, too, and there was a way of learning to lessen the lag on upshifts (let go of the gas momentarily at upshift). My only complaint was with the brakes. For such a driver-oriented car, this thing has snatchy anchors that can be difficult to modulate at times. I had a feeling the transmission was performing downshifts at the same time.
When I got out of the mature-but-sporty 6 (and parallel-parked it pretty damn well), there were still five or so people in line for the Civic before my turn. Since the GD3 Jazz 1.5 CVT wasn’t seeing that much action, I signed up for that test drive as well, my previous test too ridiculously short to gauge anything.
Like the 6, the gray GD3 was also a nippy number. Though slightly unintuitive, the CVT’s 7-speed manual mode and its rocker switches kept the little VTEC engine on the boil as I drove it at a fast cruise around some of the Fort’s back roads. There’s more verve from down low compared to my City, too. My main gripe is with the electrically-assisted steering. While it’s faithful and accurate enough, it really does feel like driving in an arcade machine as there’s zero feedback from the wheel. No unpleasant kickback comes through and there’s gains in fuel economy, but I’d really rather have a hydraulic helm. It’s easier to park than the 6.
My turn finally came up for the silver FD1 Civic, and thank heaven it had a proper manual gearbox and three pedals. While early on I judged heel-and-toe shifts impossible to do on this car’s drive-by-wire throttle pedal set too low, it was also early on that I learned to trust this car with the kind of fast-clip driving I usually do on my old SX8 City. Major kudos to that.
The steering wheel is a revelation. While passengering Mikko, Emi and Patrick were navigating me through the bumpier but sweeping back roads of the Fort, I was having fun rowing through the gears and carrying confident speed. The small-radius, flat-bottomed, hydraulic-assisted tiller was more alive with information than either of the two previous cars and it delivered even better feedback than my City, and I could forgive the hardness of its plastic. The gearbox isn’t quite as intuitive, but it snicked into gear with gusto paired with feather-light clutch action. The R18A i-VTEC engine’s urge was very linear, delivering un-Honda-like pull from the sort of low RPMs that my City’s D15B7 would shudder in its engine mounts from. Not seeing the end of the hood is a challenge at first but I found it didn’t get in the way of visibility all that much. It’s just a matter of getting used to the broad upward-sloping dashboard, as I parallel-parked it still with ease.
Later I passengered in the 2.0S FD2 Civic that Mikko loaned from Honda Cars Philippines officer Mr. Peren, this time to test the ride quality and space behind. This had an electronic tiller in place of the FD1’s hydraulic-boosted steering wheel, but former circuit racer Mikko attested the electric steering assist was way better than the Jazz’s. It’s as if the steering was hydraulic.
Mikko floored the throttle in second gear all the way to redline and 101 km/h. The K20A3 i-VTEC engine emptied its guts in a powerful, linear surge, pinning Emi, Patrick and I to the rear bench. He was considerably more lead-footed than I was. At the back, we were pretty comfortable and the ride was very supple, considering the kind of driving Mikko David was doing. When he tested the ABS in a full-bore stop from 80 km/h, he remarked on the refinement of the stoppers’ imperceptible pumping action. It was as if the car had simply locked up its brakes, but didn’t.
No points for guessing that I was most thoroughly impressed by the new FD-series Civic, then. That amount of driving fun for just PhP767,000? My appetite’s whetted already.
===
That evening we went to Aruba Bar in Metrowalk, Ortigas Center, to watch the San Marino Grand Prix with the rest of the F1 Club of the Philippines guys. Eva and a much-missed Angiela were screaming their lungs out with glee when Fernando Alonso trailed Michael Schumacher over 30+ laps in a tense battle for the lead. Former HCP president Juno was chanting “come back my money!!!” when he placed his bet for the top 3 finishers of the race. He wailed “der goz my money!!!” when he lost out on the betting, as Alonso slipped behind Schumacher 5 laps from the checkered flag.
Capping it all off was a relaxing high-speed cruise along C5 on the way home. Damn, that day was fun. It was a fitting end to my final day as a bum.
===
Today was my first day at work, which is basically part of a two-day orientation not far from Accenture’s Libran House HR office in Makati. Meeting my fellow “new joiners” was very nice and most of them were a fun bunch. By Wednesday a few of us would be starting at Cybergate and Makati Stock Exchange.
I wonder what this job has in store for me...
Friday, April 21, 2006
Too damn hot in here.
I met with my old friend Paolo today and got to see his girlfriend too. We met over my very old tripod, which their group borrowed last month and for some reason got broken at the gear connected to the crank to raise or lower its head. One of the gear’s sixteen teeth got totally stripped and two got bent out of alignment.
Both of us were starting work pretty soon, with me ahead by three weeks. He was going back to Zobel, as I thought, on May 15th as a computer science teacher for the high school seniors. His monthly salary’s much higher than mine, though, which is really great and I’m happy for him. When I met him he was doing last-minute preparations for a sportswriting seminar he was holding.
As for me, I have no plans of going back to Zobel ever again. The thought of returning as a teacher crossed my mind, but it’d be best if I left that school altogether and burned it out of my memories as much as possible.
I can say now that I was never truly happy in Zobel. I spent too long in that fishbowl largely as a misfit. Looking for my happiness took too damn long and too much of my energy from what I should really have been doing.
===
After the trouble of getting my NBI clearance, getting an NSO-authenticated birth certificate was a walk in the park. I am very glad the National Statistics Office, through its E-Census facility (http://www.e-census.com.ph), gives you the option to apply for any documents of theirs you need online.
Application is straightforward, though it could be a little more intuitive. It’s paying for your request that could pose some problems. The e-mail E-Census gave me said any Equitable PCI Bank and Union Bank branches can accept payment of the request. However, when I went to Equitable’s branch in DLSU, the manager didn’t know what to make of the acknowledgement e-mails I had with me.
A lot closer to home, I finally got to pay at Union Bank Bicutan. No questions asked, they accepted my payment. What’s more, I received the birth certificate I applied for this afternoon, in the mail. That sure beats going to the NSO’s Times St. building and waiting in line in the sweltering heat.
Now why can’t more government agencies act like that?
===
Ever since I recovered from my last fever and headache, I find the summer heat has been oppressive. My condition’s fine for the most part, but strangely I still have hints of dizziness and light-headedness hounding me. Once it hit me while driving home with my sister and our pug Cooper on board because I felt uncomfortably heated.
I’m trying to avoid salty food and lack of sleep to remedy this, and I’ve been drinking like a camel these days too.
Now if only something can be done about the other nasty thing summer seems to bring: lots and lots of lousy, stupid drivers with no lane courtesy whatsoever. Goodness.
Both of us were starting work pretty soon, with me ahead by three weeks. He was going back to Zobel, as I thought, on May 15th as a computer science teacher for the high school seniors. His monthly salary’s much higher than mine, though, which is really great and I’m happy for him. When I met him he was doing last-minute preparations for a sportswriting seminar he was holding.
As for me, I have no plans of going back to Zobel ever again. The thought of returning as a teacher crossed my mind, but it’d be best if I left that school altogether and burned it out of my memories as much as possible.
I can say now that I was never truly happy in Zobel. I spent too long in that fishbowl largely as a misfit. Looking for my happiness took too damn long and too much of my energy from what I should really have been doing.
===
After the trouble of getting my NBI clearance, getting an NSO-authenticated birth certificate was a walk in the park. I am very glad the National Statistics Office, through its E-Census facility (http://www.e-census.com.ph), gives you the option to apply for any documents of theirs you need online.
Application is straightforward, though it could be a little more intuitive. It’s paying for your request that could pose some problems. The e-mail E-Census gave me said any Equitable PCI Bank and Union Bank branches can accept payment of the request. However, when I went to Equitable’s branch in DLSU, the manager didn’t know what to make of the acknowledgement e-mails I had with me.
A lot closer to home, I finally got to pay at Union Bank Bicutan. No questions asked, they accepted my payment. What’s more, I received the birth certificate I applied for this afternoon, in the mail. That sure beats going to the NSO’s Times St. building and waiting in line in the sweltering heat.
Now why can’t more government agencies act like that?
===
Ever since I recovered from my last fever and headache, I find the summer heat has been oppressive. My condition’s fine for the most part, but strangely I still have hints of dizziness and light-headedness hounding me. Once it hit me while driving home with my sister and our pug Cooper on board because I felt uncomfortably heated.
I’m trying to avoid salty food and lack of sleep to remedy this, and I’ve been drinking like a camel these days too.
Now if only something can be done about the other nasty thing summer seems to bring: lots and lots of lousy, stupid drivers with no lane courtesy whatsoever. Goodness.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Things I learned this week
- Intense midday heat + midnight cold + exhaustion - willingness to sleep = sickness.
- Driving can cure a recurring headache and fever.
- Planning to get an NBI clearance certificate? Bring a fan, water, spare shirts and lots of patience.
- Oh, and make sure you’ve eaten. You don’t want to faint while in line, trust me...and the NBI Carriedo center has long ones.
- In the Philippines at least there is a world of difference between government offices and private ones. Requesting and paying for a certification in DLSU took no more than 15 minutes. Doing the same for an NBI clearance meant 2 hours in oppressive heat and very long lines.
- When thinking of commuting death sentences to life imprisonment, first think of just how crowded (ergo potentially unhealthy) our country’s jails are.
- Laughter really is the best medicine. I was laughing at the antics of WWE WrestleMania 22 last night and my confused temperature actually dropped 0.3 degrees Celsius.
- Everything really is better in the morning.
===
This Holy Week was a lot more special than all that preceded it because I was in the company of my friends in the choir.
It’s easy to brush off Holy Week as an expensive irrelevance where the Church can strut its stuff when you don’t participate in all the celebration. Whether it was getting lost driving to seven churches or singing in the Easter vigil, this time around I was immersed in everything and for once, Easter felt definitive and very real.
===
I should cut down on my diet. I’m not getting any thinner and frankly I feel a little stupid these days.
- Driving can cure a recurring headache and fever.
- Planning to get an NBI clearance certificate? Bring a fan, water, spare shirts and lots of patience.
- Oh, and make sure you’ve eaten. You don’t want to faint while in line, trust me...and the NBI Carriedo center has long ones.
- In the Philippines at least there is a world of difference between government offices and private ones. Requesting and paying for a certification in DLSU took no more than 15 minutes. Doing the same for an NBI clearance meant 2 hours in oppressive heat and very long lines.
- When thinking of commuting death sentences to life imprisonment, first think of just how crowded (ergo potentially unhealthy) our country’s jails are.
- Laughter really is the best medicine. I was laughing at the antics of WWE WrestleMania 22 last night and my confused temperature actually dropped 0.3 degrees Celsius.
- Everything really is better in the morning.
===
This Holy Week was a lot more special than all that preceded it because I was in the company of my friends in the choir.
It’s easy to brush off Holy Week as an expensive irrelevance where the Church can strut its stuff when you don’t participate in all the celebration. Whether it was getting lost driving to seven churches or singing in the Easter vigil, this time around I was immersed in everything and for once, Easter felt definitive and very real.
===
I should cut down on my diet. I’m not getting any thinner and frankly I feel a little stupid these days.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Not of this earth.
What Planet Are You From?
this quiz was made by The Autist Formerly Known As Tim
"The Ever-Structured Saturn. I am the law and boundry. I hold chaos in my hand and tell it where to go."
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Gone to the dogs
Lately our entire household has turned dog-crazy, when previously it was solely Bianca who was adamant about her love of dogs. I guess the catalyst for all this was Cooper’s arrival.
The little brown bundle of joy has managed to win over the hearts of my parents. My mom fawns over the pug every day. Nowadays we set aside money for brand-name dog food and dog treats so Cooper can be comfortable running amok in our house. Thanks to Bianca’s efforts he even knows how to fetch things—granted, it’s the only trick we’ve taught him so far, but it’s a start. Now that we’ve taught tricks, I’m surprised how smart dogs can be. To my biggest surprise, even my dad has taken a liking to the little runt, actually letting him inside the house from time to time.
The attention to Cooper hasn’t left our old mutt Tango out in the cold. Tango shares Cooper’s benefits of dog food and treats and my mom’s affection. He was never really a hard dog to love, after all—just not the kind you can teach tricks to because of his fear of balls. In the heat of the summer, nothing is more welcome for him than a long nap inside the dining room. Tango actually outdoes Cooper because he’s housebroken. In contrast, Cooper the “pooper” can be all too eager to leave his mark on the dining room floor.
Soon I’m told there’ll be another addition to our dog family apart from the slobbering Cooper. Our next door neighbor wants to sell off their Shih Tzu puppies. Since we’re simply next door and they could always check with us, they decided to give one to us.
The little brown bundle of joy has managed to win over the hearts of my parents. My mom fawns over the pug every day. Nowadays we set aside money for brand-name dog food and dog treats so Cooper can be comfortable running amok in our house. Thanks to Bianca’s efforts he even knows how to fetch things—granted, it’s the only trick we’ve taught him so far, but it’s a start. Now that we’ve taught tricks, I’m surprised how smart dogs can be. To my biggest surprise, even my dad has taken a liking to the little runt, actually letting him inside the house from time to time.
The attention to Cooper hasn’t left our old mutt Tango out in the cold. Tango shares Cooper’s benefits of dog food and treats and my mom’s affection. He was never really a hard dog to love, after all—just not the kind you can teach tricks to because of his fear of balls. In the heat of the summer, nothing is more welcome for him than a long nap inside the dining room. Tango actually outdoes Cooper because he’s housebroken. In contrast, Cooper the “pooper” can be all too eager to leave his mark on the dining room floor.
Soon I’m told there’ll be another addition to our dog family apart from the slobbering Cooper. Our next door neighbor wants to sell off their Shih Tzu puppies. Since we’re simply next door and they could always check with us, they decided to give one to us.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Before I go to work...
Before I go to work the HR department had a list of requirements I had to accomplish and submit. One of the standard ones was the medical exam.
After submitting the forms for a new bank account that will collect my payroll, I drove off to Patient First Medical Center in Glorietta 3 for the medical exam. I ran into my old college acquaintance Mark Hizon there and found out he was also due to work for Accenture in a BPO position. Due to the long wait and the longer lines of people (the clinic should have been called Patience First, ha ha!), he and I eventually spent the better part of the morning and the afternoon together. We were both sick of bumming around and suffering cabin fever in our houses, and we swapped stories of the college life we left not so long ago.
A token step of the medical exam was the obtaining of urine and stool samples. Being new to all this, and not really being fond of excrement, Mark and I constantly made fun of the fact that we were supposed to shit into a little cup and bring it to the lab within two hours. We also jabbed about the girls in the line taking considerably longer to fill a small bottle with piss than most of the guys.
It’s nice knowing I won’t really be alone in my first job, even though Mark is in BPO. He said his first assignment was in Cubao’s Gateway Mall, and I told him reportedly the “bench” for new programmers was somewhere in Cubao as well, so we might bump into each other in the future.
===
I have a few more documents to secure before I can start on the 24th. I’ll be a little busy.
===
I was excited about getting my HG 1/100 Gundam Airmaster Burst model kit from After War Gundam X back in 1996. After building it I came off very, very disappointed.
The limbs are the fly in the ointment. The arms are shockingly weak, consisting of only a polycap-to-polycap connection at the elbow which has me dubious of its longevity. The legs are hollow and very weak at the knees, where any effort to pose the back-heavy model results in falling on its shoulders. Ultimately, the Airmaster Burst’s design is its biggest demon. Because of the MS design and its transformation, most of its weight (wings, cannons and intakes) is on its shoulders and oriented rearward.
I really should have kept the money and saved a little harder for an ultra-posable MG God Gundam. Now I have a little promise to myself not to buy kits older than 1999—unless they’re MGs.
After submitting the forms for a new bank account that will collect my payroll, I drove off to Patient First Medical Center in Glorietta 3 for the medical exam. I ran into my old college acquaintance Mark Hizon there and found out he was also due to work for Accenture in a BPO position. Due to the long wait and the longer lines of people (the clinic should have been called Patience First, ha ha!), he and I eventually spent the better part of the morning and the afternoon together. We were both sick of bumming around and suffering cabin fever in our houses, and we swapped stories of the college life we left not so long ago.
A token step of the medical exam was the obtaining of urine and stool samples. Being new to all this, and not really being fond of excrement, Mark and I constantly made fun of the fact that we were supposed to shit into a little cup and bring it to the lab within two hours. We also jabbed about the girls in the line taking considerably longer to fill a small bottle with piss than most of the guys.
It’s nice knowing I won’t really be alone in my first job, even though Mark is in BPO. He said his first assignment was in Cubao’s Gateway Mall, and I told him reportedly the “bench” for new programmers was somewhere in Cubao as well, so we might bump into each other in the future.
===
I have a few more documents to secure before I can start on the 24th. I’ll be a little busy.
===
I was excited about getting my HG 1/100 Gundam Airmaster Burst model kit from After War Gundam X back in 1996. After building it I came off very, very disappointed.
The limbs are the fly in the ointment. The arms are shockingly weak, consisting of only a polycap-to-polycap connection at the elbow which has me dubious of its longevity. The legs are hollow and very weak at the knees, where any effort to pose the back-heavy model results in falling on its shoulders. Ultimately, the Airmaster Burst’s design is its biggest demon. Because of the MS design and its transformation, most of its weight (wings, cannons and intakes) is on its shoulders and oriented rearward.
I really should have kept the money and saved a little harder for an ultra-posable MG God Gundam. Now I have a little promise to myself not to buy kits older than 1999—unless they’re MGs.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
A new chapter beckons
I haven’t been updating my blog as often as before and yes I’m aware of that. There is only so much I can write when I am mired at home, aimless and bored.
The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. After applying, taking their test 9 months ago, Accenture finally gave me a job offer as junior software engineer.
I was at their Libran House office (the HR center) last Wednesday and they presented me with a rather thick-looking contract, peppered with confidentiality clauses. I didn’t get to read everything, but I did a quick skim of the contents and I understood the gist of it. (Damn, I wish I asked for a reference copy.) Basically it’s a computer programming position and they’ll train me for it, which makes sense since my degrees have absolutely nothing to do with programming. If I do decide to accept it, I’ll have to stay with them until 2008, exactly two years from now.
My dad says it’s a good enough offer; I should think of it as taking a master’s degree while being paid. What is a couple of years, he reckons. Jajah and Aileen have showed their support as well, but they cautioned me about frequent overtime sessions.
As it is I’m on the brink of giving them a yes. I do wonder about how well I’d cope in the environment, though. I can probably learn to like my job and my potential teammates. Sacrificing the numerous pending applications I’ve submitted comes to mind, but at this point in time I simply cannot stand stagnating at home. I feel bad about freeloading off my parents, sure, but more than anything I’ve never really been a fan of long vacations. Although it’s technically just three months after my graduation, in reality it feels like I’ve been stagnant for a very, very long time.
I simply hope I’ll do well and I get to like what I do. Two years isn’t quite a short time, but perhaps it’s manageable enough.
===
Auntie Nellie and Auntie Doris were here from San Francisco, and they went over for my mom’s birthday today. It’s very nice seeing them again. They were always asking me when I’d be able to go back to the West Coast...I just told them nothing’s set in stone. They seemed happy I was finally going to be employed (soon enough, anyway). Apparently, programmers earn a lot in the United States...
===
Looking back, it’s a wonder my blog has lasted as long as it has. I’ve constantly wondered how much time and effort I’d be able to devote to writing my random mumblings on this little piece of online real estate. (Online real estate? Now that’s an oxymoron.) Somehow my love of writing has always pulled through.
Now that I’ll be working though, I’m not sure if I’ll have the luxury of extra time and effort to invest here. I’d love to keep on going, but I’m not sure if writing about the everyday inanity of the working world will be as, erhm, “inspiring” as my halcyon college days. I’m pretty sure those confidentiality clauses in my contract will restrict me somehow, too.
I guess whatever will be, will be. I’d like to thank my readers and visitors in advance, in case I suddenly disappear and never get to write again (heaven forbid). I just hope you enjoyed the five years of life I’ve put on this page.
The good news is it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. After applying, taking their test 9 months ago, Accenture finally gave me a job offer as junior software engineer.
I was at their Libran House office (the HR center) last Wednesday and they presented me with a rather thick-looking contract, peppered with confidentiality clauses. I didn’t get to read everything, but I did a quick skim of the contents and I understood the gist of it. (Damn, I wish I asked for a reference copy.) Basically it’s a computer programming position and they’ll train me for it, which makes sense since my degrees have absolutely nothing to do with programming. If I do decide to accept it, I’ll have to stay with them until 2008, exactly two years from now.
My dad says it’s a good enough offer; I should think of it as taking a master’s degree while being paid. What is a couple of years, he reckons. Jajah and Aileen have showed their support as well, but they cautioned me about frequent overtime sessions.
As it is I’m on the brink of giving them a yes. I do wonder about how well I’d cope in the environment, though. I can probably learn to like my job and my potential teammates. Sacrificing the numerous pending applications I’ve submitted comes to mind, but at this point in time I simply cannot stand stagnating at home. I feel bad about freeloading off my parents, sure, but more than anything I’ve never really been a fan of long vacations. Although it’s technically just three months after my graduation, in reality it feels like I’ve been stagnant for a very, very long time.
I simply hope I’ll do well and I get to like what I do. Two years isn’t quite a short time, but perhaps it’s manageable enough.
===
Auntie Nellie and Auntie Doris were here from San Francisco, and they went over for my mom’s birthday today. It’s very nice seeing them again. They were always asking me when I’d be able to go back to the West Coast...I just told them nothing’s set in stone. They seemed happy I was finally going to be employed (soon enough, anyway). Apparently, programmers earn a lot in the United States...
===
Looking back, it’s a wonder my blog has lasted as long as it has. I’ve constantly wondered how much time and effort I’d be able to devote to writing my random mumblings on this little piece of online real estate. (Online real estate? Now that’s an oxymoron.) Somehow my love of writing has always pulled through.
Now that I’ll be working though, I’m not sure if I’ll have the luxury of extra time and effort to invest here. I’d love to keep on going, but I’m not sure if writing about the everyday inanity of the working world will be as, erhm, “inspiring” as my halcyon college days. I’m pretty sure those confidentiality clauses in my contract will restrict me somehow, too.
I guess whatever will be, will be. I’d like to thank my readers and visitors in advance, in case I suddenly disappear and never get to write again (heaven forbid). I just hope you enjoyed the five years of life I’ve put on this page.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Waiting for tomorrow
Today the new FD-series Civic was launched in the Philippine market. I have to say I’m rather excited about it, more so than the painfully bland ES-series of five years ago.
To date, what I know about the FD is that it comes with two four-cylinder engines: a brand-new 1.8-liter SOHC i-VTEC unit called the “R18A,” good for 140 BHP and good fuel economy; and the mainstay “K20A” 2.0L DOHC i-VTEC unit good for 155 BHP. Both engines are mated to either a 5-speed manual gearbox (hurray!) or a 5-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shifters as manual override. With the FD comes one of the most radical interiors I’ve ever seen on a car of its class, with a genuinely useful split dashboard. On sale now, it can be yours from PhP780,000 to a high of PhP1.1 million.
Like many Hondas of recent past, the only real nitpick I have on the FD is its rear styling. The brake lights are too big and round; they could have been stolen from a Chevy Impala.
===
My car now needs a fresh rear brake/park light. The right one seems to have burnt out its 21W filament. Add to that a new air filter and oil filter as part of my 60,000-kilometer periodic maintenance check.
I might as well take this chance to drop by the Honda dealership tomorrow and see the FD in the metal.
===
Speaking of tomorrow, Migs of MP is delivering me my next Gundam model kit, a 1/100 HG Gundam Airmaster Burst from “After War Gundam X.” It’s been 3 months since my last kit and I can’t wait.
To date, what I know about the FD is that it comes with two four-cylinder engines: a brand-new 1.8-liter SOHC i-VTEC unit called the “R18A,” good for 140 BHP and good fuel economy; and the mainstay “K20A” 2.0L DOHC i-VTEC unit good for 155 BHP. Both engines are mated to either a 5-speed manual gearbox (hurray!) or a 5-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shifters as manual override. With the FD comes one of the most radical interiors I’ve ever seen on a car of its class, with a genuinely useful split dashboard. On sale now, it can be yours from PhP780,000 to a high of PhP1.1 million.
Like many Hondas of recent past, the only real nitpick I have on the FD is its rear styling. The brake lights are too big and round; they could have been stolen from a Chevy Impala.
===
My car now needs a fresh rear brake/park light. The right one seems to have burnt out its 21W filament. Add to that a new air filter and oil filter as part of my 60,000-kilometer periodic maintenance check.
I might as well take this chance to drop by the Honda dealership tomorrow and see the FD in the metal.
===
Speaking of tomorrow, Migs of MP is delivering me my next Gundam model kit, a 1/100 HG Gundam Airmaster Burst from “After War Gundam X.” It’s been 3 months since my last kit and I can’t wait.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Surprises...more pleasant ones please
This has to be the coldest summer I recall having. True, the sweltering heat has always been present, but the past couple of days were visited by unexpected dark clouds and rainshowers. It’s a big change for me not to prefer running my car’s aircon because it gets too damn cold and I quickly need a piss while driving.
It’s one of those pleasant surprises, I gather. If only there were more of them. Most surprises that come my way subscribe to Murphy’s Law—those of the “if it can go wrong, it will” variety.
===
Went to Toyota Motor Philippines today in Santa Rosa for a preliminary job interview and an exam. Er, make that a battery of exams.
Today was pretty much as screwed up as things could get. I woke up longing for more sleep, grew irate due to the unusually slow southbound traffic, got confused and irritated by guards who told me to park in 3 different places, and drained of my energy from all the exams. By the time I reached the interview phase I bet I was an incoherent mess.
I think I screwed up that one big time. Oh well.
It’s one of those pleasant surprises, I gather. If only there were more of them. Most surprises that come my way subscribe to Murphy’s Law—those of the “if it can go wrong, it will” variety.
===
Went to Toyota Motor Philippines today in Santa Rosa for a preliminary job interview and an exam. Er, make that a battery of exams.
Today was pretty much as screwed up as things could get. I woke up longing for more sleep, grew irate due to the unusually slow southbound traffic, got confused and irritated by guards who told me to park in 3 different places, and drained of my energy from all the exams. By the time I reached the interview phase I bet I was an incoherent mess.
I think I screwed up that one big time. Oh well.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Past, present, future
If you aren’t fazed by spicy dishes and want to try something different, I suggest you go into a Thai restaurant and order a bowl of tom yum goong. It’s a clear soup with mushrooms, shrimp and vegetables, but brace yourself and your palate for the first sip.
I love how it goes down your throat and clears it with pure heat—without the hangover of tequila.
===
Even before earning my first paycheck, I already have plans for my money.
My first real project is repairing my Honda. I’m very aware my little blue machine needs suspension work, particularly on the rear dampers, and recently I’ve been hearing intermittent chirping noises somewhere in the right front wheel area when I’m committed into turns.
If I have money left over, I’d like to give it a good paintjob to get rid of all the scratches and dents. I’ve left them alone for far too long.
After that, I’m still torn between a few things. One option would be saving up for that Tamiya Spray-Work basic airbrush and compressor set, to finally get started with painting my models. Hmmm. Maybe that should wait.
Another option would be to dress my car up just a little. I’m looking at a nice set of 15” alloy wheels. Then again, maybe that’s frivolous. Besides, it’s not exactly my car...not yet, anyway.
Perhaps I should stop at that for now. Grander plans than these might just leave me disappointed. There’s no use crying over spilt milk, as some say. Sigh.
===
Twenty-three years old, that’s how old I am. Gee.
I’m actually beginning to think of my future. I’d love to have a family, but only when I’m financially stable. Where would they live, I reckon? How many kids do I want? Where are they going to study? When’s the proper age to get married and have kids? Do I have kids early so there isn’t much of a generation gap, or do I have them later so I can be sure I can support them? How would I be as a father? It seems pretty overwhelming right now.
Time is not on my side after all. Maybe I should focus all my effort on staying away from getting anyone pregnant by mistake. Lord knows, the last thing the Philippines needs are kids whose parents can’t afford to support.
I’m also slightly jealous of my old college friends who have jobs. I seem to be the only one who’s still a bum, and it’s pretty demoralizing. Bums don’t attract girls, I figure. I’m beginning to question the wisdom behind taking a double degree in DLSU. It looks good, but I’m not exactly young anymore and I’ve let go of some opportunities because I took too damn long in school (including taking seventh grade). I have slight regrets of not being more of a leader back in my college days, as many of the companies I’ve tried applying to prioritize leaders.
Sigh. I wonder how my life’s going to turn out?
I love how it goes down your throat and clears it with pure heat—without the hangover of tequila.
===
Even before earning my first paycheck, I already have plans for my money.
My first real project is repairing my Honda. I’m very aware my little blue machine needs suspension work, particularly on the rear dampers, and recently I’ve been hearing intermittent chirping noises somewhere in the right front wheel area when I’m committed into turns.
If I have money left over, I’d like to give it a good paintjob to get rid of all the scratches and dents. I’ve left them alone for far too long.
After that, I’m still torn between a few things. One option would be saving up for that Tamiya Spray-Work basic airbrush and compressor set, to finally get started with painting my models. Hmmm. Maybe that should wait.
Another option would be to dress my car up just a little. I’m looking at a nice set of 15” alloy wheels. Then again, maybe that’s frivolous. Besides, it’s not exactly my car...not yet, anyway.
Perhaps I should stop at that for now. Grander plans than these might just leave me disappointed. There’s no use crying over spilt milk, as some say. Sigh.
===
Twenty-three years old, that’s how old I am. Gee.
I’m actually beginning to think of my future. I’d love to have a family, but only when I’m financially stable. Where would they live, I reckon? How many kids do I want? Where are they going to study? When’s the proper age to get married and have kids? Do I have kids early so there isn’t much of a generation gap, or do I have them later so I can be sure I can support them? How would I be as a father? It seems pretty overwhelming right now.
Time is not on my side after all. Maybe I should focus all my effort on staying away from getting anyone pregnant by mistake. Lord knows, the last thing the Philippines needs are kids whose parents can’t afford to support.
I’m also slightly jealous of my old college friends who have jobs. I seem to be the only one who’s still a bum, and it’s pretty demoralizing. Bums don’t attract girls, I figure. I’m beginning to question the wisdom behind taking a double degree in DLSU. It looks good, but I’m not exactly young anymore and I’ve let go of some opportunities because I took too damn long in school (including taking seventh grade). I have slight regrets of not being more of a leader back in my college days, as many of the companies I’ve tried applying to prioritize leaders.
Sigh. I wonder how my life’s going to turn out?
Friday, March 24, 2006
Not young anymore...
Ever since I was around nine years old I’ve had this prominent mole on my lower right lip. Before long it became my main identifying mark, as well as the butt of some harmless jokes.
What I didn’t notice was that this mole was growing in size without my knowledge. Other people could notice it somehow, but not me. I never gave it any thought. Apparently I had inherited my grandfather’s “living mole” gene too and it was growing on my lower right lip.
Fast-forward to a year ago, and like many guys I shave my facial hair. Unfortunately my beloved little mole had some hair follicles on it too, and I’d try taking it off with my razor. At this point in time, it had grown in both diameter and height that scratching it with my razor and bleeding on my towel was unavoidable.
I guess it’s about time I should have it removed...
===
I tried answering an invitation for Sun Life Financial today. It turned out that they wanted me as an insurance sales agent and financial planner.
I’ve been dissuaded by Aileen and a number of other friends from entering a career in sales, so I had to turn them down despite the friendliest interview I’ve ever had (thanks to Mrs. Annie Kimseng). However, I’m now more aware of planning for the future.
To be honest I’m the kind of guy who lives life one day at a time. Plans in my opinion add an unnecessary amount of stress if and when what you’ve planned doesn’t come into fruition. With things as they are now, though, perhaps I can’t afford to live so lackadaisically anymore. That’s where insurance comes in.
It’s very interesting how just saving a few thousand bucks right now could mean me driving my own car in as early as 6 or 7 years via the power of compound interest. I guess it just takes that sort of discipline to keep from spending your allowance or salary away now in order to get something bigger in return much, much later. I’m not much of a numbers kind of guy, but I did learn from FINAMA2 in college and from recent newspaper clippings that saving now could mean earning a lot more in the future.
Perhaps it’s about time I started planning out my life. When do I want to have kids? When am I going to own my own car? It dawns on me that I’m not exactly young anymore. It sounds like a bleak reality, but that’s life for you.
===
I’m going to end up buying insurance and other financial vehicles at this rate, rather than selling it. Heheheh.
What I didn’t notice was that this mole was growing in size without my knowledge. Other people could notice it somehow, but not me. I never gave it any thought. Apparently I had inherited my grandfather’s “living mole” gene too and it was growing on my lower right lip.
Fast-forward to a year ago, and like many guys I shave my facial hair. Unfortunately my beloved little mole had some hair follicles on it too, and I’d try taking it off with my razor. At this point in time, it had grown in both diameter and height that scratching it with my razor and bleeding on my towel was unavoidable.
I guess it’s about time I should have it removed...
===
I tried answering an invitation for Sun Life Financial today. It turned out that they wanted me as an insurance sales agent and financial planner.
I’ve been dissuaded by Aileen and a number of other friends from entering a career in sales, so I had to turn them down despite the friendliest interview I’ve ever had (thanks to Mrs. Annie Kimseng). However, I’m now more aware of planning for the future.
To be honest I’m the kind of guy who lives life one day at a time. Plans in my opinion add an unnecessary amount of stress if and when what you’ve planned doesn’t come into fruition. With things as they are now, though, perhaps I can’t afford to live so lackadaisically anymore. That’s where insurance comes in.
It’s very interesting how just saving a few thousand bucks right now could mean me driving my own car in as early as 6 or 7 years via the power of compound interest. I guess it just takes that sort of discipline to keep from spending your allowance or salary away now in order to get something bigger in return much, much later. I’m not much of a numbers kind of guy, but I did learn from FINAMA2 in college and from recent newspaper clippings that saving now could mean earning a lot more in the future.
Perhaps it’s about time I started planning out my life. When do I want to have kids? When am I going to own my own car? It dawns on me that I’m not exactly young anymore. It sounds like a bleak reality, but that’s life for you.
===
I’m going to end up buying insurance and other financial vehicles at this rate, rather than selling it. Heheheh.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Job offer #1
After so many interviews and exams I got my first definite job offer today. I’m not sure if I should take it though. My heart seems to be inclined towards pursuing my ten or so other applications out there.
The interviewer told me I should be ready with my response by Sunday...
===
Happy birthday Tita Vik!
The interviewer told me I should be ready with my response by Sunday...
===
Happy birthday Tita Vik!
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Saturation
You claimed that you and I were cut from the same cloth, the same piece woven in different eras. For a while I was happy for that. I delighted in listening to your stories, giving me your advice and being open with me. I even managed to convince myself I had fallen for you.
How wrong I was.
Have you ever given some thought to why I have changed so much whenever I face you? To be short and direct, I actually got sick and tired of listening to you all the time. You monopolized every one of our conversations, talking the time away, never letting me get a word in, nor realizing that maybe it would be good for me to have my quiet time once in a while. To be totally honest, I’ve had it up to my neck with you and your emotional baggage. Call it a case of saturation. I have it so bad, I actually dread seeing you because I already know what I should expect—even more of the saturation I don’t want.
I want to thank you for everything, but at the same time I have to tell you I am purging you out of my system. Perhaps I will be better off with someone who isn’t so similar to myself. I am freakish enough already—I do not need to be reminded of what I can become ten years from now.
===
Another day, another interview. Despite graduating with two degrees I’m starting to get scared of not landing a job. Badminton can only keep me distracted for so long.
I feel slightly jealous of Tantan and Rachel, who are now working at least. Maybe I’m just being too picky with the sort of job I want, with the sort of competition I have to go up against. Then again there are jobs I will definitely not consider, such as call centers. The moment I land a position in one, I know I will definitely wreck my health and my sanity.
On the flip side, I am reminded of Eka. Hers was an unfortunate fate, really. I believe she was able to graduate but she wasn’t able to make use of her acquired knowledge because her fuse ended short. I suppose I’m still lucky.
===
While I’m blogging I might as well write about the Justice League.
I never thought this animated series would grab me like it did. It was a pleasant surprise seeing how American animators and screenwriters can put together something as deep, coherent and memorable as this. I grew up watching Batman: The Animated Series (the first of the DC animated universe series by Bruce Timm) way back in 1994 and I was introduced to the great risks WB took by portraying Batman/Bruce Wayne as darkly as in this series. The 1930s film-noir-like feel was very good, but it got too thick at times.
In comparison, Justice League is just as superb but betters Batman: TAS in places. The series is still episodic, but most are done in two parts to further flesh out the story. For all the strength and talent of our band of seven superheroes, each is still without their pitfalls and humanity (though J’onn J’onzz is technically a Martian). Unlike the earlier series, JL is more balanced.
I love Justice League so much I want to get the complete DVD set. I just saw the finale last night and it was spectacular.
===
You can probably see a pattern emerging here. I rarely watch movies nowadays because I’m usually too lazy to watch them, or I’m sick of knowing what to expect. Animated series are way different in the sheer possibility the medium promises and it’s really unfair how “cartoons” have been demoted by Americans to things only kids should watch. Bruce Timm and his team changed that outlook at WB for good.
I might as well look for DVDs of Justice League Unlimited and Batman Beyond, two similarly good Timm series.
How wrong I was.
Have you ever given some thought to why I have changed so much whenever I face you? To be short and direct, I actually got sick and tired of listening to you all the time. You monopolized every one of our conversations, talking the time away, never letting me get a word in, nor realizing that maybe it would be good for me to have my quiet time once in a while. To be totally honest, I’ve had it up to my neck with you and your emotional baggage. Call it a case of saturation. I have it so bad, I actually dread seeing you because I already know what I should expect—even more of the saturation I don’t want.
I want to thank you for everything, but at the same time I have to tell you I am purging you out of my system. Perhaps I will be better off with someone who isn’t so similar to myself. I am freakish enough already—I do not need to be reminded of what I can become ten years from now.
===
Another day, another interview. Despite graduating with two degrees I’m starting to get scared of not landing a job. Badminton can only keep me distracted for so long.
I feel slightly jealous of Tantan and Rachel, who are now working at least. Maybe I’m just being too picky with the sort of job I want, with the sort of competition I have to go up against. Then again there are jobs I will definitely not consider, such as call centers. The moment I land a position in one, I know I will definitely wreck my health and my sanity.
On the flip side, I am reminded of Eka. Hers was an unfortunate fate, really. I believe she was able to graduate but she wasn’t able to make use of her acquired knowledge because her fuse ended short. I suppose I’m still lucky.
===
While I’m blogging I might as well write about the Justice League.
I never thought this animated series would grab me like it did. It was a pleasant surprise seeing how American animators and screenwriters can put together something as deep, coherent and memorable as this. I grew up watching Batman: The Animated Series (the first of the DC animated universe series by Bruce Timm) way back in 1994 and I was introduced to the great risks WB took by portraying Batman/Bruce Wayne as darkly as in this series. The 1930s film-noir-like feel was very good, but it got too thick at times.
In comparison, Justice League is just as superb but betters Batman: TAS in places. The series is still episodic, but most are done in two parts to further flesh out the story. For all the strength and talent of our band of seven superheroes, each is still without their pitfalls and humanity (though J’onn J’onzz is technically a Martian). Unlike the earlier series, JL is more balanced.
I love Justice League so much I want to get the complete DVD set. I just saw the finale last night and it was spectacular.
===
You can probably see a pattern emerging here. I rarely watch movies nowadays because I’m usually too lazy to watch them, or I’m sick of knowing what to expect. Animated series are way different in the sheer possibility the medium promises and it’s really unfair how “cartoons” have been demoted by Americans to things only kids should watch. Bruce Timm and his team changed that outlook at WB for good.
I might as well look for DVDs of Justice League Unlimited and Batman Beyond, two similarly good Timm series.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
On a hot Sunday...
Watched the start of the 2006 Formula 1 championship season with the Bahrain Grand Prix. Though the cars now run 2.4-liter V8 engines in place of the old 3.0-liter V10s, the racing is no less exciting. The season shows promise by providing a very even playing field among teams and drivers, and a standout rookie driver named Nico Rosberg scoring two points at seventh place on his maiden race.
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Happy birthday, Jajah.
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I met a little girl also named Jaja in my other regular badminton place, Whackers World. The little nine-year-old girl was absolutely crazy about wrestling. Apparently it came from her dad.
I was surprised she remembered seeing me in SM Bicutan hogging the Dance Maniax machine. I guess you already know I tend to play five games straight because I don’t play all that often anymore. Still, I felt bad for being so selfish.
I’m thinking of buying her a few tokens to make up.
===
Happy birthday, Jajah.
===
I met a little girl also named Jaja in my other regular badminton place, Whackers World. The little nine-year-old girl was absolutely crazy about wrestling. Apparently it came from her dad.
I was surprised she remembered seeing me in SM Bicutan hogging the Dance Maniax machine. I guess you already know I tend to play five games straight because I don’t play all that often anymore. Still, I felt bad for being so selfish.
I’m thinking of buying her a few tokens to make up.
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Watching and learning
Lately I’ve been watching badminton tournaments on late-night TV. The Yonex All-England Cup 2006 and the Denmark Masters 2005 are the sort of events where we can see greats work their magic with the racket and shuttlecock, like Peter Gade, Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark; Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms of England; Pi Hongyan of France; and Gao Ling, Zhang Jun, Lin Dan, Zhang Ning and Xie Xingfang of China.
Watching these people play, I can see how I trail them in terms of technique. The professionals always mix up straight and cross-court (i.e. diagonal) shots and play the deception factor regularly. This forces their opponents to be on their toes all the time, as it takes a lot more effort and space to chase a cross-court smash to the back court.
I decided to go to Whackers World (my alternate badminton venue) without a feverish Aileen last Sunday. That was where I tried out these cross-court smashes and net shots, and it was interesting how they’re supposed to be done—in some cases, with as little wrist power as possible. This is a whole new side of racket control I never bothered with before. With my playing thus far, I’ve used mostly straight shots, kills and smashes, with power from my arm and wrist, never really giving thought to how the ball should fly other than “immediately downwards” as in a well-placed smash.
While at Villamor this afternoon I tried to use this newfound knowledge of cross-court shooting. It’s quite hard at first. I can’t do the near-horizontal underhand cross-court net shots that are the hallmark of better players. At least I’m trying the whole philosophy out and I wholly see the point of doing so. I just think I’ll need more time and practice.
Now I found another weakness of mine: I need to develop my stamina. At Whackers I was exhausted at my third game, my leaden legs and burning feet preventing me from moving quickly. At least I’m not alone; I can take solace in the fact that Nathan Robertson lost the 2006 All-England Open mixed doubles final because of lack of stamina. Then again, maybe it’s all down to playing style: Jump smashes look good but are usually unnecessarily tiring.
Watching these people play, I can see how I trail them in terms of technique. The professionals always mix up straight and cross-court (i.e. diagonal) shots and play the deception factor regularly. This forces their opponents to be on their toes all the time, as it takes a lot more effort and space to chase a cross-court smash to the back court.
I decided to go to Whackers World (my alternate badminton venue) without a feverish Aileen last Sunday. That was where I tried out these cross-court smashes and net shots, and it was interesting how they’re supposed to be done—in some cases, with as little wrist power as possible. This is a whole new side of racket control I never bothered with before. With my playing thus far, I’ve used mostly straight shots, kills and smashes, with power from my arm and wrist, never really giving thought to how the ball should fly other than “immediately downwards” as in a well-placed smash.
While at Villamor this afternoon I tried to use this newfound knowledge of cross-court shooting. It’s quite hard at first. I can’t do the near-horizontal underhand cross-court net shots that are the hallmark of better players. At least I’m trying the whole philosophy out and I wholly see the point of doing so. I just think I’ll need more time and practice.
Now I found another weakness of mine: I need to develop my stamina. At Whackers I was exhausted at my third game, my leaden legs and burning feet preventing me from moving quickly. At least I’m not alone; I can take solace in the fact that Nathan Robertson lost the 2006 All-England Open mixed doubles final because of lack of stamina. Then again, maybe it’s all down to playing style: Jump smashes look good but are usually unnecessarily tiring.
Friday, March 03, 2006
In memoriam: Ecatherine Balagso
I met Eka in GENDERS class.
There was an activity there called “Cyber Peek-a-Boo” where we were supposed to get new usernames on Yahoo! and partner with someone within the class we didn’t know—of course our identities were kept secret till the very end of the course. That’s when we met.
She was tall, dark, had a nice smile and an easygoing way of talking. After GENDERS ended we met on a few isolated occasions, greeting each other hi and asking how we were doing in our respective degrees. We weren’t much of anything except acquaintances in good terms with each other, and we just so happened to share friends.
Imagine my surprise when Denise posted the news on the LC24ID101 e-group. Eka had died last Sunday and today was her burial. I had trouble imagining it, as she was normally a sprightly girl and didn’t seem to exhibit anything out of the ordinary. I’m not quite sure of the details but Den told me she was comatose and died within that state, and she may have died of either meningitis or some kidney problem. For many of my friends, it’s the first time they’ve experienced someone their age dying.
The first thing that came to mind: I wish I could have known her even just a little better. The few times I talked with Eka it was mostly about schoolwork, which admittedly isn’t the best thing to talk about. I know precious little about her as a person. Perhaps if we met in some other circumstance more conducive to small talk...such “what ifs” are all we have left now that she’s gone.
For me and my friends, this is a grim reminder of our mortality as human beings and just how fragile our lives are.
Ecatherine Balagso, rest in peace. No doubt, you will be missed.
There was an activity there called “Cyber Peek-a-Boo” where we were supposed to get new usernames on Yahoo! and partner with someone within the class we didn’t know—of course our identities were kept secret till the very end of the course. That’s when we met.
She was tall, dark, had a nice smile and an easygoing way of talking. After GENDERS ended we met on a few isolated occasions, greeting each other hi and asking how we were doing in our respective degrees. We weren’t much of anything except acquaintances in good terms with each other, and we just so happened to share friends.
Imagine my surprise when Denise posted the news on the LC24ID101 e-group. Eka had died last Sunday and today was her burial. I had trouble imagining it, as she was normally a sprightly girl and didn’t seem to exhibit anything out of the ordinary. I’m not quite sure of the details but Den told me she was comatose and died within that state, and she may have died of either meningitis or some kidney problem. For many of my friends, it’s the first time they’ve experienced someone their age dying.
The first thing that came to mind: I wish I could have known her even just a little better. The few times I talked with Eka it was mostly about schoolwork, which admittedly isn’t the best thing to talk about. I know precious little about her as a person. Perhaps if we met in some other circumstance more conducive to small talk...such “what ifs” are all we have left now that she’s gone.
For me and my friends, this is a grim reminder of our mortality as human beings and just how fragile our lives are.
Ecatherine Balagso, rest in peace. No doubt, you will be missed.
The reviews I've written
I've been writing reviews on a number of things, mainly anime and my collection of Gundam plastic models. Here I'm sharing links to three of them I've written so far.MG 1/100 MSZ-006 "Zeta Gundam" Ver.2.0
MG 1/100 XXXG-01W(E) "Wing Gundam" Ver.Ka
MG 1/100 MS-06F-2 "Zaku II F2"
I've also written close to 20 reviews over the years for Beia's site, The Otaku Fridge, which started life as "Anime Okashi."
Please visit them, and I hope you enjoy what you read.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Alive again
I don’t remember why I decided not to return to Villamor Air Base and the Philippine Air Force Badminton Club for a year. The only explanation I can fudge up is it’s got something to do with school work.
The past couple of weeks were instrumental in reminding me why I love badminton so much. True, I was frustrated with shattering my old racket’s head, not being able to move as quickly on the court as I should and having every one of my smashes fail horribly. But that was there to remind me of the ongoing effort I have to keep in order to play well. Like Tina Aboitiz-Juan said, you do not engage in a sport to keep fit; first you have to be fit to engage in a sport.
The fruits of my labor, exhaustion, self-loathing and frustration fell off the tree this week. Today I played my best badminton ever since I left. Sweaty, tired, hot and high on adrenalin, a primal exhilaration welled up in my heart, the same do-or-die derring-do that would usually require me to expend fuel and harrass other drivers or pick a fistfight. Blood pumping through my legs, nerves on the alert, tension in my arm and wrist. To my pleasant surprise, the more tired and exhausted I got, the faster I ran, the quicker I reacted, the more efficient I was in placing the shuttlecock and the more lethal I was in smashing.
Why on earth did I ever give this up?
The good news is, ever since I left Villamor, things have actually gotten better. The referees’ high chairs now have better equipment to help keep better track of serving sides and serving players—more important in badminton than anywhere else, as only those who serve can score. Gone are the courts of rubber-painted cement, which ate up my old shoes in left-foot drags, caused tremendous ankle shocks on landings and movements, and gave me cuts and scrapes on my knees whenever I went for my signature last-ditch returns. Now, more forgiving Taraflex means that when I crash and burn on the court, I get only bruises.
Best of all, I still pay peanuts for all this and the chance to play against some of the best players around.
The past couple of weeks were instrumental in reminding me why I love badminton so much. True, I was frustrated with shattering my old racket’s head, not being able to move as quickly on the court as I should and having every one of my smashes fail horribly. But that was there to remind me of the ongoing effort I have to keep in order to play well. Like Tina Aboitiz-Juan said, you do not engage in a sport to keep fit; first you have to be fit to engage in a sport.
The fruits of my labor, exhaustion, self-loathing and frustration fell off the tree this week. Today I played my best badminton ever since I left. Sweaty, tired, hot and high on adrenalin, a primal exhilaration welled up in my heart, the same do-or-die derring-do that would usually require me to expend fuel and harrass other drivers or pick a fistfight. Blood pumping through my legs, nerves on the alert, tension in my arm and wrist. To my pleasant surprise, the more tired and exhausted I got, the faster I ran, the quicker I reacted, the more efficient I was in placing the shuttlecock and the more lethal I was in smashing.
Why on earth did I ever give this up?
The good news is, ever since I left Villamor, things have actually gotten better. The referees’ high chairs now have better equipment to help keep better track of serving sides and serving players—more important in badminton than anywhere else, as only those who serve can score. Gone are the courts of rubber-painted cement, which ate up my old shoes in left-foot drags, caused tremendous ankle shocks on landings and movements, and gave me cuts and scrapes on my knees whenever I went for my signature last-ditch returns. Now, more forgiving Taraflex means that when I crash and burn on the court, I get only bruises.
Best of all, I still pay peanuts for all this and the chance to play against some of the best players around.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Middle-class
This is something I got from my choir’s Yahoo! Group. You know what? I agree with everything on it.
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Ako ay isang middle class Pinoy, isang officer sa isang malaking korporasyon at may sawa...dalawa anak. Di na importante pangalan ko kasi parepareho naman tayong mga middle-class....trabaho 9-5, inom konti tapos uwi sa pamilya, laruin si baby, itutor si ate/kuya tapos tulog na, pag wala na pera intay nalang ng sweldo. Sa nangyayari ngayon sa ating bansa, lahat nalang ng sector ay maingay at naririnig, tayo lang mga middle-class, tax paying at productive Pinoys ang di naririnig. Subalit, buwis natin ang nagpapaikot sa bansang ito. Pag may mga gulo na nangyayari, tayo ang tinatamaan. Kaya eto ang liham ko sa lahat ng maiingay na sector na sana makagising sa inyong bulag na pag-iisip.
Sa Mga Politiko:
Diyos ko naman, sa dami na nang nakurakot ninyo di na ba kayo makuntento kelangan nyo pa ba manggulo.
Sa Administrasyon:
Hayan ayus na ha pinatawad na namin ang pandaraya nyo sa eleksyon, pruweba dito e di kami umaatend sa mga panawagan ng people power, kaya sana naman gantihan nyo kami ng magandang serbisyo at magaling na pamumuno at malaking bawas sa kurakot naman please para kahit papano maramdaman naman namin na may napupuntahan ang binabayad naming buwis.
Saka Madam GMA, step down ka na pag parliamentary na tayo sa 2007, tignan mo, i-announce mo mag-step down ka kapag parliamentary na tayo, resounding YES yan sa plebiscite at tigil pa ang mga coup at people power laban sayo. Try mo lang...
Sa Oposisyon:
Di nyo pa ba nakikita na dalawang klase lang ng tao ang nakikinig sa inyo....isa ay bayaran na mahihirap kungdi man ay tangang mga excited na reporter na parang naka-shabu lagi....mga praning e at naghahallucinate. Bago man lang kayo maglunsad ng kilos laban sa administrasyon, pumili muna kayo ng magiting at nararapat na ipapalit sa liderato ngayon. Hirap sa inyo paresign kayo ng paresign wala naman kayo ipapalit na maayos. Advise lang galing sa isang middle-class na syang tunay na puwersa sa likod ng lahat ng matagumpay na People Power, magpakita muna kayo ng galing bago nyo batuhin ang administrasyon. Wala na kaming narinig sa inyo kundi reklamo, e wala naman kayong ginagawa kundi magreklamo....para kayong batang lagi na lang naaagawan ng laruan.....GROW UP naman...sa isip sa salita at sa gawa.
Please lang gasgas na rin ang pagrarally nyo na katabi nyo ay mga bayaran na mahihirap, magtayo nalang kayo ng negosyo at iempleyo ang mga rallyista para maging productive silang mamamayan. Sige nga, pag nagrarally kayo yakapin nyo nga at halikan yang mga kasama nyong nagrarally!! Nung People Power namin nagyayakapan kami lahat nuon.
Wala naman mangyayari sa mga rally nyo nakakatraffic lang, kami pang middle-class ang napeperwisyo. Di nyo kayang paghintayin ng 3 araw ang mga rallyista nyo kasi kelangan nyo pakainin at swelduhan ang mga yan. Kung gusto nyo tagumpay na People Power kami ang isama nyo....pero pagod na kami e, sori ha.
Sa Military:
Alam nyo lahat tayo may problema, pati US Army may problema, 2,000 plus na patay sa kanila sa Iraq na parang walang rason naman, pero nakita nyo ba sila nagreklamo? Wala diba kasi professional sila na sundalo.....yan dapat ang sundalo di nagtatanong sumusunod lang. Kasi may mga bagay na di kayang maintindihan ng indibidwal lamang, at ang mga nakatataas lang ang nakakaintindi ng kabuuan, kaya ito ang panuntunan ng lahat ng military ng lahat ng bansa. Pero parang military natin yata ang pinaka-mareklamo. Sabi nga sa Spiderman "with great power comes great responsibility".....kaya maging spiderman kayo lahat at protektahan ang mamamayan. Sa totoo lang natatakot kami kapag nagrereklamo kayo, kasi may baril kayo at tangke, kami wala.
Wala ako comment sa mga mahihirap, di naman kasi sila maingay na kusa e, may bayad ang ingay nila. Saka wala rin naman silang email.
Kaya paano na tayong mga middle-class?? Eto hanggang email nalang tayo kaya ikalat nyo na ito at magdasal tayo na umabot ito sa mga dapat makabasa nito at makiliti naman ang kanilang mga konsyensya.
Signed,
Isang Middle-Class Pinoy na walang puknat na binabawasan ang sweldo ng Buwis!
===
Ako ay isang middle class Pinoy, isang officer sa isang malaking korporasyon at may sawa...dalawa anak. Di na importante pangalan ko kasi parepareho naman tayong mga middle-class....trabaho 9-5, inom konti tapos uwi sa pamilya, laruin si baby, itutor si ate/kuya tapos tulog na, pag wala na pera intay nalang ng sweldo. Sa nangyayari ngayon sa ating bansa, lahat nalang ng sector ay maingay at naririnig, tayo lang mga middle-class, tax paying at productive Pinoys ang di naririnig. Subalit, buwis natin ang nagpapaikot sa bansang ito. Pag may mga gulo na nangyayari, tayo ang tinatamaan. Kaya eto ang liham ko sa lahat ng maiingay na sector na sana makagising sa inyong bulag na pag-iisip.
Sa Mga Politiko:
Diyos ko naman, sa dami na nang nakurakot ninyo di na ba kayo makuntento kelangan nyo pa ba manggulo.
Sa Administrasyon:
Hayan ayus na ha pinatawad na namin ang pandaraya nyo sa eleksyon, pruweba dito e di kami umaatend sa mga panawagan ng people power, kaya sana naman gantihan nyo kami ng magandang serbisyo at magaling na pamumuno at malaking bawas sa kurakot naman please para kahit papano maramdaman naman namin na may napupuntahan ang binabayad naming buwis.
Saka Madam GMA, step down ka na pag parliamentary na tayo sa 2007, tignan mo, i-announce mo mag-step down ka kapag parliamentary na tayo, resounding YES yan sa plebiscite at tigil pa ang mga coup at people power laban sayo. Try mo lang...
Sa Oposisyon:
Di nyo pa ba nakikita na dalawang klase lang ng tao ang nakikinig sa inyo....isa ay bayaran na mahihirap kungdi man ay tangang mga excited na reporter na parang naka-shabu lagi....mga praning e at naghahallucinate. Bago man lang kayo maglunsad ng kilos laban sa administrasyon, pumili muna kayo ng magiting at nararapat na ipapalit sa liderato ngayon. Hirap sa inyo paresign kayo ng paresign wala naman kayo ipapalit na maayos. Advise lang galing sa isang middle-class na syang tunay na puwersa sa likod ng lahat ng matagumpay na People Power, magpakita muna kayo ng galing bago nyo batuhin ang administrasyon. Wala na kaming narinig sa inyo kundi reklamo, e wala naman kayong ginagawa kundi magreklamo....para kayong batang lagi na lang naaagawan ng laruan.....GROW UP naman...sa isip sa salita at sa gawa.
Please lang gasgas na rin ang pagrarally nyo na katabi nyo ay mga bayaran na mahihirap, magtayo nalang kayo ng negosyo at iempleyo ang mga rallyista para maging productive silang mamamayan. Sige nga, pag nagrarally kayo yakapin nyo nga at halikan yang mga kasama nyong nagrarally!! Nung People Power namin nagyayakapan kami lahat nuon.
Wala naman mangyayari sa mga rally nyo nakakatraffic lang, kami pang middle-class ang napeperwisyo. Di nyo kayang paghintayin ng 3 araw ang mga rallyista nyo kasi kelangan nyo pakainin at swelduhan ang mga yan. Kung gusto nyo tagumpay na People Power kami ang isama nyo....pero pagod na kami e, sori ha.
Sa Military:
Alam nyo lahat tayo may problema, pati US Army may problema, 2,000 plus na patay sa kanila sa Iraq na parang walang rason naman, pero nakita nyo ba sila nagreklamo? Wala diba kasi professional sila na sundalo.....yan dapat ang sundalo di nagtatanong sumusunod lang. Kasi may mga bagay na di kayang maintindihan ng indibidwal lamang, at ang mga nakatataas lang ang nakakaintindi ng kabuuan, kaya ito ang panuntunan ng lahat ng military ng lahat ng bansa. Pero parang military natin yata ang pinaka-mareklamo. Sabi nga sa Spiderman "with great power comes great responsibility".....kaya maging spiderman kayo lahat at protektahan ang mamamayan. Sa totoo lang natatakot kami kapag nagrereklamo kayo, kasi may baril kayo at tangke, kami wala.
Wala ako comment sa mga mahihirap, di naman kasi sila maingay na kusa e, may bayad ang ingay nila. Saka wala rin naman silang email.
Kaya paano na tayong mga middle-class?? Eto hanggang email nalang tayo kaya ikalat nyo na ito at magdasal tayo na umabot ito sa mga dapat makabasa nito at makiliti naman ang kanilang mga konsyensya.
Signed,
Isang Middle-Class Pinoy na walang puknat na binabawasan ang sweldo ng Buwis!
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
"With a little help from my friends..."
I didn’t have any real expectations when I parked up my car at nearby Lamoiyan Corp. for a job interview and testing session yesterday, so you can imagine my surprise when I saw Denise’s name on the applicant list. She had arrived just minutes ahead of me and we were both applying as sales trainees.
In all the interviews and test sessions I’ve had so far, this was pretty much the first time I strolled in and saw someone familiar with me. A batchmate of ours, Ivan, was also there, having already been given the preliminary interview.
Anyhow it was as if Den and I hadn’t been away for a month. It was nice chatting with her again.
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My friend Aileen just returned from Jakarta and Singapore. I missed her too. I want to play badminton with her again.
===
Thanks to my friend Israel, I now have DVDs of Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team. This is pretty much the closest anime can get to replicating epic war films such as “Platoon” and “Full Metal Jacket” and it was a blast to watch. Short but powerfully complete, it’s one of the best Gundam anime ever made.
In all the interviews and test sessions I’ve had so far, this was pretty much the first time I strolled in and saw someone familiar with me. A batchmate of ours, Ivan, was also there, having already been given the preliminary interview.
Anyhow it was as if Den and I hadn’t been away for a month. It was nice chatting with her again.
===
My friend Aileen just returned from Jakarta and Singapore. I missed her too. I want to play badminton with her again.
===
Thanks to my friend Israel, I now have DVDs of Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team. This is pretty much the closest anime can get to replicating epic war films such as “Platoon” and “Full Metal Jacket” and it was a blast to watch. Short but powerfully complete, it’s one of the best Gundam anime ever made.
Friday, February 24, 2006
I know what you're thinking
I’ve been pondering about just how predictable people can actually be.
It’s surprising how often I can correctly finish other people’s sentences when I can discern their train of thought. All that’s necessary is to put in the caboose. Maybe it’s just that we’ve gotten all so cliched, everything we say is basically a repetition of what someone else has spoken some other time ago that only God knows when. If that were true, I can’t believe how boring and unoriginal we’ve all become.
Apply it to something else. “Discerning trains of thought” is something kidnappers and carnappers do very well. They’ll need that knowledge to know when exactly to strike, which is when you are simultaneously most vulnerable and most convinced there’s nothing out of the ordinary that will happen. It appears sticking to a predictable routine will land you into all sorts of trouble.
Funny it seems then that those who are free of predictability are either entrepreneurs or loonies. Go figure.
===
Too much of technology nowadays is an answer to a question no one asked.
It’s surprising how often I can correctly finish other people’s sentences when I can discern their train of thought. All that’s necessary is to put in the caboose. Maybe it’s just that we’ve gotten all so cliched, everything we say is basically a repetition of what someone else has spoken some other time ago that only God knows when. If that were true, I can’t believe how boring and unoriginal we’ve all become.
Apply it to something else. “Discerning trains of thought” is something kidnappers and carnappers do very well. They’ll need that knowledge to know when exactly to strike, which is when you are simultaneously most vulnerable and most convinced there’s nothing out of the ordinary that will happen. It appears sticking to a predictable routine will land you into all sorts of trouble.
Funny it seems then that those who are free of predictability are either entrepreneurs or loonies. Go figure.
===
Too much of technology nowadays is an answer to a question no one asked.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Off-day
I don’t quite understand why things aren’t going my way recently.
The whole time I played badminton in Villamor, I kept losing because my smashes went too deep or too shallow and I kept missing the shuttle by mere inches. While driving on the highway and overtaking the hordes of slowpokes, I actually made a couple of potentially dangerous mis-shifts. Yet I’m pretty sure I do well in both driving and badminton.
I don’t get it. Why is this happening?
The whole time I played badminton in Villamor, I kept losing because my smashes went too deep or too shallow and I kept missing the shuttle by mere inches. While driving on the highway and overtaking the hordes of slowpokes, I actually made a couple of potentially dangerous mis-shifts. Yet I’m pretty sure I do well in both driving and badminton.
I don’t get it. Why is this happening?
Sunday, February 19, 2006
New and old
After Nanay’s 80th birthday lunch at The Good Earth Tea Room, we went to Moonwalk to claim Bianca’s new pug puppy.
We arrived at Rowie’s house and spotted Cooper out of the litter of puppy pugs. All of them were feeling lethargic due to the effects of their recent vaccine, and Cooper was especially groggy. He was pretty small at two months old—no bigger than a desk telephone—and he ain’t no eternal beauty next to our 7-year-old dog Tango, but that didn’t stop Bianca from fawning over our new housemate.
I’ll see how Cooper grows up. He’s cute in his own way.
===
I find myself returning to HCP nowadays. I guess for all the misgivings the forum currently has, it still feels nostalgic enough to return to and I’ve carved out my own little niche in the now-huge community.
I’ve returned to Villamor AFB too after more than a year away from its badminton courts. The rough rubber-painted cement courts now have welcome Taraflex matting on top of them, but most of the games I played had me partner with virtual turtles—the kind who don’t run after the shuttle. Now my legs hurt from playing a losing game of fetch.
We arrived at Rowie’s house and spotted Cooper out of the litter of puppy pugs. All of them were feeling lethargic due to the effects of their recent vaccine, and Cooper was especially groggy. He was pretty small at two months old—no bigger than a desk telephone—and he ain’t no eternal beauty next to our 7-year-old dog Tango, but that didn’t stop Bianca from fawning over our new housemate.
I’ll see how Cooper grows up. He’s cute in his own way.
===
I find myself returning to HCP nowadays. I guess for all the misgivings the forum currently has, it still feels nostalgic enough to return to and I’ve carved out my own little niche in the now-huge community.
I’ve returned to Villamor AFB too after more than a year away from its badminton courts. The rough rubber-painted cement courts now have welcome Taraflex matting on top of them, but most of the games I played had me partner with virtual turtles—the kind who don’t run after the shuttle. Now my legs hurt from playing a losing game of fetch.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Celebration's over
The house party went pretty well, although unfortunately some choir people weren’t able to make it due to other plans. Although Monser arrived late, he served up a pretty mean grilled squid, as well as great chopsuey, while most of them also approved of Mom’s cooking. Overall, it was a good afternoon for everyone.
Sated with food and exhausted by the heat, I napped out for 45 minutes, waking up for badminton with Aileen and Miggy. We pretty much figured we’d need to burn all the food we’d eaten over the past three days, so today’s session was a start. Besides Aileen might not be able to play while she’s in Jakarta for the next couple weeks.
I think it’s about time I made my comeback to Villamor Air Base too. Since I’ve returned to badminton it might be a good idea to check up on my old badminton mates. I might as well keep myself fit while I’m unemployed—at least I won’t be bored.
Sated with food and exhausted by the heat, I napped out for 45 minutes, waking up for badminton with Aileen and Miggy. We pretty much figured we’d need to burn all the food we’d eaten over the past three days, so today’s session was a start. Besides Aileen might not be able to play while she’s in Jakarta for the next couple weeks.
I think it’s about time I made my comeback to Villamor Air Base too. Since I’ve returned to badminton it might be a good idea to check up on my old badminton mates. I might as well keep myself fit while I’m unemployed—at least I won’t be bored.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Happy birthday to me.
This weekend’s been full of eating.
Yesterday Aileen treated me and her work friends to a despedida from her old job at DPC. Today, Mom got Papa and I to go to Antonio’s in Tagaytay for a heavy and sumptuous lunch, which was topped off by Matthew’s birthday dinner party tonight.
And it doesn’t end there. Tomorrow Monser and I will be having a post-graduation bash at my place for the choir.
Aileen and I will need a lot of badminton to work off this food.
===
Thanks to all those who gave me presents and greeted me today.
Yes, I turn 23 today. Crap, I’m old. I hope tomorrow’s house party works well.
Yesterday Aileen treated me and her work friends to a despedida from her old job at DPC. Today, Mom got Papa and I to go to Antonio’s in Tagaytay for a heavy and sumptuous lunch, which was topped off by Matthew’s birthday dinner party tonight.
And it doesn’t end there. Tomorrow Monser and I will be having a post-graduation bash at my place for the choir.
Aileen and I will need a lot of badminton to work off this food.
===
Thanks to all those who gave me presents and greeted me today.
Yes, I turn 23 today. Crap, I’m old. I hope tomorrow’s house party works well.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
HR = stupid!
The HR departments of the companies I’ve applied to so far are all rather stupid.
Why on earth do they have to always, always give me last-minute notice of a job interview?
Why on earth do they not take advantage of the fact that I have a cellphone that they can inform me with? Why on earth do they insist on using only my landline and complain that it’s always busy?
There just has to be a better way of doing this. I feel indignant. I may be unemployed and looking for a job, but I deserve better respect than this.
Why on earth do they have to always, always give me last-minute notice of a job interview?
Why on earth do they not take advantage of the fact that I have a cellphone that they can inform me with? Why on earth do they insist on using only my landline and complain that it’s always busy?
There just has to be a better way of doing this. I feel indignant. I may be unemployed and looking for a job, but I deserve better respect than this.
Monday, February 06, 2006
A bullet for my Beloved
Beloved,
There are only so many places I can follow you into. I’m sick and tired of wanting to fit into your world, one dictated by the iron grip of your idiosyncrasy, because I know I will always stick out like a sore thumb and you will never look at me anyway because I do so.
I’ve given up following you. Can you please go away?
Oh, yeah, that’s right: You were never truly here in the first place.
Shoo.
There are only so many places I can follow you into. I’m sick and tired of wanting to fit into your world, one dictated by the iron grip of your idiosyncrasy, because I know I will always stick out like a sore thumb and you will never look at me anyway because I do so.
I’ve given up following you. Can you please go away?
Oh, yeah, that’s right: You were never truly here in the first place.
Shoo.
Bon voyage Auntie
Auntie Carole left for America at 8am today, after a two-week stay at our house. We woke up at 4am this morning to pack her stuff and fetch her to the airport three hours early.
I feel slightly guilty that I wasn’t able to spend more time with her. In the span of the two weeks she was here, I was busy with graduation matters, badminton and job-hunting while she was with Mama and Bianx going to such places as Antonio’s in Tagaytay, Market! Market! and Baguio City. Even more, she’s a genuinely likable fellow, along with Uncle Butch and their kids Czasha and JB in South Pasadena—and I rarely find genuinely likable people in any branch of my family, to be honest.
There will be other times, I suppose. Right now I just wish her a safe trip going back home.
===
I sang the high-pitched tenor part for “Awit ng Paghilom” yesterday unassisted by other fellow tenors as I was the only one there. I felt the pressure to deliver a loud part, and it wasn’t all nice—after the song I felt I had gone wrong somewhere and felt it took a toll on my throat. Ate Nessa was kind enough to back me up.
Judging from how the others reacted I think I did well though. Thanks.
===
Job-hunting has proved interesting so far. No real results yet though. Sigh.
===
Lately I’ve been brushing up on my Initial D skills, now with the “eraser” technique, on time trials along the Akina downhill route. It does work, and my times confirm it (shaved a massive 4 seconds), but it takes a lot of time to perfect using it. Too often I end up one gear too high and kissing the barriers because I failed to downshift into the proper gear after doing the eraser. Also I think I’m doing eraser backwards.
I feel slightly guilty that I wasn’t able to spend more time with her. In the span of the two weeks she was here, I was busy with graduation matters, badminton and job-hunting while she was with Mama and Bianx going to such places as Antonio’s in Tagaytay, Market! Market! and Baguio City. Even more, she’s a genuinely likable fellow, along with Uncle Butch and their kids Czasha and JB in South Pasadena—and I rarely find genuinely likable people in any branch of my family, to be honest.
There will be other times, I suppose. Right now I just wish her a safe trip going back home.
===
I sang the high-pitched tenor part for “Awit ng Paghilom” yesterday unassisted by other fellow tenors as I was the only one there. I felt the pressure to deliver a loud part, and it wasn’t all nice—after the song I felt I had gone wrong somewhere and felt it took a toll on my throat. Ate Nessa was kind enough to back me up.
Judging from how the others reacted I think I did well though. Thanks.
===
Job-hunting has proved interesting so far. No real results yet though. Sigh.
===
Lately I’ve been brushing up on my Initial D skills, now with the “eraser” technique, on time trials along the Akina downhill route. It does work, and my times confirm it (shaved a massive 4 seconds), but it takes a lot of time to perfect using it. Too often I end up one gear too high and kissing the barriers because I failed to downshift into the proper gear after doing the eraser. Also I think I’m doing eraser backwards.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Some stuff I'll miss when I'm working already
After visiting the Job Expo, doing the rounds of the company booths and application forms and deciding to call it a day around noon, I decided to go to Glorietta.
There I decided to have my badminton racket re-strung at Toby’s Sports; I’ve been playing with Aileen and Mabel for a couple Sundays now and I plan on playing regularly again. They said I’d get it back by 3:30. Great, I had a few hours to kill.
===
Aware of my need for more exercise (having my present waistline is a total bummer), I decided to expend my free games on Dance Maniax and hone my skills on Initial D—the usual. A couple of young hotshots were on the Initial D machines and they seemed to know their stuff really well. MAMMY and D4 (the guys’ nicks on their game cards) were tearing up Akina’s downhill on back-to-back time trials, applying the exotic techniques I’ve only read about on the Internet (such as “eraser” shifting) to shave the last possible tenth of a second out of their time records.
MAMMY had a school uniform on, and he was unbelievably fast on a heavy R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R—a car not known for agility in the game. D4 ran a GDB Subaru Impreza and he was equally impressive on it as he was on his “D1” card, an AE86 Toyota Trueno. Figuring I could get some practice laps, I got into the other machine and ran my Mazda RX-8 for a few rounds against computer opponents.
MAMMY asked if I wanted to race. Why not, I thought. Predictably, I lost by a huge margin which got smaller (though I’m not sure how much I clawed back by my skill alone), but it was my fault as I screwed up at the start.
I asked MAMMY how he and his friend did the “eraser” technique, and the two of us got into a fairly involved conversation. They were regulars on the game and played almost a year; I’ve played for longer but more irregularly. The two hotshots gave me a few handy tips about how I could extract more speed out of my Mazda as well.
D4/D1 had to split to light a few smokes and we amicably parted ways. It was nice meeting them, knowing that there are genuinely friendly Initial D players still around today. Since they seem to frequent the area, I’m looking forward to seeing them again some time.
While I’m at it I might as well ask them what their real names are...
===
I went back to Toby’s and they told me they didn’t start tensioning the string because they found a crack on the frame of my racket. Taking a closer look it had gone almost all the way through. They offered to continue at my discretion. Since I already paid for the stringing and the labor, I changed my mind and said I might as well get a new racket and have that strung with the strings I already bought.
Fortunately there were a few rackets they were selling at a discount and I got a graphite Slazenger for PhP1,500, complete with towel grip and a gorgeous free badminton bag. The damn thing accepts higher maximum string tension, too; I had mine strung at 22 lbs. I can’t wait to try it out.
===
Just a couple hours ago I received belated graduation presents from Tita Vik and Nanay. Thank you so much!
There I decided to have my badminton racket re-strung at Toby’s Sports; I’ve been playing with Aileen and Mabel for a couple Sundays now and I plan on playing regularly again. They said I’d get it back by 3:30. Great, I had a few hours to kill.
===
Aware of my need for more exercise (having my present waistline is a total bummer), I decided to expend my free games on Dance Maniax and hone my skills on Initial D—the usual. A couple of young hotshots were on the Initial D machines and they seemed to know their stuff really well. MAMMY and D4 (the guys’ nicks on their game cards) were tearing up Akina’s downhill on back-to-back time trials, applying the exotic techniques I’ve only read about on the Internet (such as “eraser” shifting) to shave the last possible tenth of a second out of their time records.
MAMMY had a school uniform on, and he was unbelievably fast on a heavy R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R—a car not known for agility in the game. D4 ran a GDB Subaru Impreza and he was equally impressive on it as he was on his “D1” card, an AE86 Toyota Trueno. Figuring I could get some practice laps, I got into the other machine and ran my Mazda RX-8 for a few rounds against computer opponents.
MAMMY asked if I wanted to race. Why not, I thought. Predictably, I lost by a huge margin which got smaller (though I’m not sure how much I clawed back by my skill alone), but it was my fault as I screwed up at the start.
I asked MAMMY how he and his friend did the “eraser” technique, and the two of us got into a fairly involved conversation. They were regulars on the game and played almost a year; I’ve played for longer but more irregularly. The two hotshots gave me a few handy tips about how I could extract more speed out of my Mazda as well.
D4/D1 had to split to light a few smokes and we amicably parted ways. It was nice meeting them, knowing that there are genuinely friendly Initial D players still around today. Since they seem to frequent the area, I’m looking forward to seeing them again some time.
While I’m at it I might as well ask them what their real names are...
===
I went back to Toby’s and they told me they didn’t start tensioning the string because they found a crack on the frame of my racket. Taking a closer look it had gone almost all the way through. They offered to continue at my discretion. Since I already paid for the stringing and the labor, I changed my mind and said I might as well get a new racket and have that strung with the strings I already bought.
Fortunately there were a few rackets they were selling at a discount and I got a graphite Slazenger for PhP1,500, complete with towel grip and a gorgeous free badminton bag. The damn thing accepts higher maximum string tension, too; I had mine strung at 22 lbs. I can’t wait to try it out.
===
Just a couple hours ago I received belated graduation presents from Tita Vik and Nanay. Thank you so much!
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Commencement
It’s strange.
Graduation has come and gone and it wasn’t as nerve-wracking an experience as I feared. If anything it was actually a little anticlimactic.
When it all boiled down to it, graduation was really nothing more than a boring march, boring speeches and watching the boring process of seeing 691 other souls walking up to Bro. Armin Luistro FSC and getting a mock diploma. My friend Martin Bañez’s speech was rather moving though, not least of which because to many eyes he looked like on the edge of tears (when he wasn’t). Adding to the anticlimax was the fact that it was simply another day with my beloved blockmates and friends, although we were all dressed like the obnoxious savants of “Beat the Geeks.”
What’s more, after graduation, I didn’t find myself in an expensive restaurant eating at a buffet. No, no, none of that pompousness—that afternoon I was doing grocery shopping and singing in the choir, and that evening I brought and fetched Bianca to and from Mari’s graduation house party. A very ordinary day indeed it was, one without any extraordinary tension or excitement.
Perhaps it just hasn’t struck me yet, the realization that I will not see these wonderful people who are my batchmates again—at least until we organize block outings or come together in some batch reunion so many years later. Or perhaps it’s just that I am more mature and nonchalant about these things—that yes, there are people whom I simply have to see again indefinitely later, because at this point in time I have to meet even more new faces.
Either way, I’m going back to school tomorrow and the rest of the week—this time as an alumnus looking for a job. I’ve got a job interview tomorrow in Makati too—one I’m not really taking all that seriously, but will be helpful anyway as practice.
Sobering, isn’t it?
Graduation has come and gone and it wasn’t as nerve-wracking an experience as I feared. If anything it was actually a little anticlimactic.
When it all boiled down to it, graduation was really nothing more than a boring march, boring speeches and watching the boring process of seeing 691 other souls walking up to Bro. Armin Luistro FSC and getting a mock diploma. My friend Martin Bañez’s speech was rather moving though, not least of which because to many eyes he looked like on the edge of tears (when he wasn’t). Adding to the anticlimax was the fact that it was simply another day with my beloved blockmates and friends, although we were all dressed like the obnoxious savants of “Beat the Geeks.”
What’s more, after graduation, I didn’t find myself in an expensive restaurant eating at a buffet. No, no, none of that pompousness—that afternoon I was doing grocery shopping and singing in the choir, and that evening I brought and fetched Bianca to and from Mari’s graduation house party. A very ordinary day indeed it was, one without any extraordinary tension or excitement.
Perhaps it just hasn’t struck me yet, the realization that I will not see these wonderful people who are my batchmates again—at least until we organize block outings or come together in some batch reunion so many years later. Or perhaps it’s just that I am more mature and nonchalant about these things—that yes, there are people whom I simply have to see again indefinitely later, because at this point in time I have to meet even more new faces.
Either way, I’m going back to school tomorrow and the rest of the week—this time as an alumnus looking for a job. I’ve got a job interview tomorrow in Makati too—one I’m not really taking all that seriously, but will be helpful anyway as practice.
Sobering, isn’t it?
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Countdown to graduation
Yesterday I felt the first indications of how close our impending graduation was. We were in school to pay for our picture-taking, rent our togas, attend the baccalaureate mass and recognition ceremonies, and rehearse the motions for the commencement exercises on Saturday.
In previous terms we could only wonder how those odd folks walking the halls in semi-formal attire and togas felt, only knowing that we’d have our chance at graduation someday. Now that it was finally our turn to do so, it felt a little bit strange and surreal. My blockmates and friends Monique, Anj and Ces didn’t seem to mind; they were making a lot of noise about our being graduates smack dab in the middle of the amphitheater where everybody could see us. We certainly didn’t feel bashful about getting into our togas in public either.
After all my time in DLSU I finally got acquainted with Anj’s friend Ces, whom we “adopted” into our block of CAM-MMG graduates as she was the only OCM-MMG graduate this term. We were all products of the Communication and Marketing departments after all.
Kate and Ces were recipients of the Honorable Mention award, an honor which eluded at least Tantan and I. Still, they had murmurs of discontent as they got bronze medals and a cheap organizer as a token of recognition, while I had a mug and a bronze-and-green medal as Loyalty awardee (DLS-System’s way of saying “thank you for 18 years of making us richer”). Yeah, something was definitely off in that picture.
Of the batchmates I know personally, Veron Bacani got cum laude, while Mica and my old friend Martin Bañez will graduate magna cum laude. Congratulations to all of you guys!
===
The graduation rehearsal was a paragon of forward planning and good event management, to be honest. It’s as if the Office of the University Registrar and the Office of Career Services got together seamlessly to not only make sure the graduation proceedings go well, but also that we fresh graduates have a crack at job-hunting literally the whole week after we graduate at the Job Expo. They gave us five free tickets to the event too.
They even made sure to include a Request for Documents form in our Graduation Package in case we wanted to obtain transcripts (as I’m sure most of us will), as well as a Graduate Information Sheet so companies can look for us on the OCS’ roster if they’re considering hiring any of us.
It’s the stuff of genius. Mr. Gutierrez, my Events Marketing prof, would have been mighty proud.
===
Ces just started work at Universal Robina Corp last Friday as a brand assistant and it seems like an interesting marketing-related job to gain experience from. While I was asleep this afternoon, she sent me a message (apparently getting my phone number from KD) about whom I should e-mail my resume to.
That was real nice of her. I think I might as well give it a chance. Thanks Ces.
===
My mom was asking me if I wanted to invite anybody to the lunch or dinner after graduation. I don’t really have any plans yet. Whom exactly should I invite anyway, apart from my family?
It would be great if the whole block could get together and have lunch as one long, happy, noisy table, but that might be asking for too much and some of us may have plans of their own.
In previous terms we could only wonder how those odd folks walking the halls in semi-formal attire and togas felt, only knowing that we’d have our chance at graduation someday. Now that it was finally our turn to do so, it felt a little bit strange and surreal. My blockmates and friends Monique, Anj and Ces didn’t seem to mind; they were making a lot of noise about our being graduates smack dab in the middle of the amphitheater where everybody could see us. We certainly didn’t feel bashful about getting into our togas in public either.
After all my time in DLSU I finally got acquainted with Anj’s friend Ces, whom we “adopted” into our block of CAM-MMG graduates as she was the only OCM-MMG graduate this term. We were all products of the Communication and Marketing departments after all.
Kate and Ces were recipients of the Honorable Mention award, an honor which eluded at least Tantan and I. Still, they had murmurs of discontent as they got bronze medals and a cheap organizer as a token of recognition, while I had a mug and a bronze-and-green medal as Loyalty awardee (DLS-System’s way of saying “thank you for 18 years of making us richer”). Yeah, something was definitely off in that picture.
Of the batchmates I know personally, Veron Bacani got cum laude, while Mica and my old friend Martin Bañez will graduate magna cum laude. Congratulations to all of you guys!
===
The graduation rehearsal was a paragon of forward planning and good event management, to be honest. It’s as if the Office of the University Registrar and the Office of Career Services got together seamlessly to not only make sure the graduation proceedings go well, but also that we fresh graduates have a crack at job-hunting literally the whole week after we graduate at the Job Expo. They gave us five free tickets to the event too.
They even made sure to include a Request for Documents form in our Graduation Package in case we wanted to obtain transcripts (as I’m sure most of us will), as well as a Graduate Information Sheet so companies can look for us on the OCS’ roster if they’re considering hiring any of us.
It’s the stuff of genius. Mr. Gutierrez, my Events Marketing prof, would have been mighty proud.
===
Ces just started work at Universal Robina Corp last Friday as a brand assistant and it seems like an interesting marketing-related job to gain experience from. While I was asleep this afternoon, she sent me a message (apparently getting my phone number from KD) about whom I should e-mail my resume to.
That was real nice of her. I think I might as well give it a chance. Thanks Ces.
===
My mom was asking me if I wanted to invite anybody to the lunch or dinner after graduation. I don’t really have any plans yet. Whom exactly should I invite anyway, apart from my family?
It would be great if the whole block could get together and have lunch as one long, happy, noisy table, but that might be asking for too much and some of us may have plans of their own.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
On the cheap
My first real bit of spending for the year saw me buying a gray fine-tip enamel Gundam Marker for panel lines, a black acrylic Gundam Marker I bought by mistake, a 0.01mm black technical pen, a Creative Modem Blaster internal modem, and a pair of Bench cargo denims—on sale for only PhP400.
Now that I’ve resolved not to buy any more Gunpla for the time being, it’s pleasantly surprising to see all the stuff I can buy with my money.
===
It’s not everyday one gets a couple of Benjamin Franklins in an envelope as a gift. Thanks Tita Dani and Tito Bobby.
It’s not everyday one gets an Cross ballpen engraved with your name, too. Thanks Tito Kiko.
===
Damn, my body is sore from badminton. That didn’t stop me from hauling the computers around the house and cleaning out all their dust though.
===
“Gulong ng Palad” claims it is a soap opera that goes back to basics.
The way I see it, “back to basics” means seeing the same old rich-boy-falls-for-poor-girl plot rehashed to kingdom come. Ewww. And you wonder why I don’t watch local TV.
Now that I’ve resolved not to buy any more Gunpla for the time being, it’s pleasantly surprising to see all the stuff I can buy with my money.
===
It’s not everyday one gets a couple of Benjamin Franklins in an envelope as a gift. Thanks Tita Dani and Tito Bobby.
It’s not everyday one gets an Cross ballpen engraved with your name, too. Thanks Tito Kiko.
===
Damn, my body is sore from badminton. That didn’t stop me from hauling the computers around the house and cleaning out all their dust though.
===
“Gulong ng Palad” claims it is a soap opera that goes back to basics.
The way I see it, “back to basics” means seeing the same old rich-boy-falls-for-poor-girl plot rehashed to kingdom come. Ewww. And you wonder why I don’t watch local TV.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
The smashing choir-boy
This weekend had the Sun Valley Music Ministry practically written all over it.
Last night after mass we rehearsed a bit for the upcoming “concert,” then headed out to SM Bicutan for dinner at Tokyo Tokyo with Aileen, Mabel, Leejay, Jajah and Denz. I was practically interrogated by Jajah over dinner, and I was a bit uncomfortable with it, but I suppose she meant well. We were there long enough to see SM Bicutan close down at a disappointingly early 9 pm, at which point I had trouble looking for an open restroom.
Today I skipped the trip to Hagonoy to sing in the mass. Since no one was going to be home, I thought of tagging along with Aileen and Mabel to SM Bicutan again for lunch and the odd bit of grocery shopping. I picked them up again with Matthew at 1:30pm for badminton at nearby Whackers World, where surprisingly there was also a television set following Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s rematch against Erik “El Terrible” Morales. After badminton and watching Aileen and her son Miggy train, we headed back to Mini Stop for an afternoon snack before going home.
Until I met these guys, I confess I wasn’t the type to hang out in places particularly close to my village. I was always at Makati or Alabang probably because of my mom’s influence, never in Bicutan—probably why I had only a few friends in the village. If anything, I’m thankful to them now that I got to appreciate the suburban charm of that little part of the world closest to home. Besides, Aileen, Mabel and Matthew are really nice to hang around with.
===
I seem to be singing a lot better now too.
===
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has stopped Erik “El Terrible” Morales in the tenth round of their rematch.
While it’s a really big—almost fanatical—deal for most Pinoys I know, I’m simply happy he won. There’s much to be said about stopping someone as durable and as long-limbed as Morales is. Minutes after watching the replay of the bout, I can say Manny absolutely owned the ring.
Looks like Manny did practice a lot more than his vocal chords after all.
===
Auntie Carole just arrived this morning at 2:10am, and she was game enough to head on to Hagonoy around 9 hours later and to Baguio for 3 days at a supposed 6am ETD tomorrow morning.
===
It’s nice finally being able to play badminton again. I didn’t notice how much I missed playing, smashing and sweating it out until now. I really do hope I keep playing for a good long while.
Last night after mass we rehearsed a bit for the upcoming “concert,” then headed out to SM Bicutan for dinner at Tokyo Tokyo with Aileen, Mabel, Leejay, Jajah and Denz. I was practically interrogated by Jajah over dinner, and I was a bit uncomfortable with it, but I suppose she meant well. We were there long enough to see SM Bicutan close down at a disappointingly early 9 pm, at which point I had trouble looking for an open restroom.
Today I skipped the trip to Hagonoy to sing in the mass. Since no one was going to be home, I thought of tagging along with Aileen and Mabel to SM Bicutan again for lunch and the odd bit of grocery shopping. I picked them up again with Matthew at 1:30pm for badminton at nearby Whackers World, where surprisingly there was also a television set following Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s rematch against Erik “El Terrible” Morales. After badminton and watching Aileen and her son Miggy train, we headed back to Mini Stop for an afternoon snack before going home.
Until I met these guys, I confess I wasn’t the type to hang out in places particularly close to my village. I was always at Makati or Alabang probably because of my mom’s influence, never in Bicutan—probably why I had only a few friends in the village. If anything, I’m thankful to them now that I got to appreciate the suburban charm of that little part of the world closest to home. Besides, Aileen, Mabel and Matthew are really nice to hang around with.
===
I seem to be singing a lot better now too.
===
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has stopped Erik “El Terrible” Morales in the tenth round of their rematch.
While it’s a really big—almost fanatical—deal for most Pinoys I know, I’m simply happy he won. There’s much to be said about stopping someone as durable and as long-limbed as Morales is. Minutes after watching the replay of the bout, I can say Manny absolutely owned the ring.
Looks like Manny did practice a lot more than his vocal chords after all.
===
Auntie Carole just arrived this morning at 2:10am, and she was game enough to head on to Hagonoy around 9 hours later and to Baguio for 3 days at a supposed 6am ETD tomorrow morning.
===
It’s nice finally being able to play badminton again. I didn’t notice how much I missed playing, smashing and sweating it out until now. I really do hope I keep playing for a good long while.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
On the soapbox today...
Like many Filipinos nowadays, I don’t like how our country is progressing and I’m tired of it.
I’m sick of all the politicking. It’s so blatantly obvious that many of our politicians are interested in advancing their own interests, not those of the electorate that put their hallowed asses up there in the first place. Pressing issues like education and reforming the electoral system are pooh-poohed in favor of foreign debt servicing (which isn’t a bad thing), looking for kickbacks and the endless bickering on political matters (which are).
Solutions are presented left and right, such as Constitutional or Charter change to allow for a parliamentary or federal system, and the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. While I’m no fan of Arroyo’s, I’m against ousting her. That said, the Charter change proposed by her and her partymates is not a solution to any of the Philippines’ political ills. I can’t believe how these politicians don’t see this. Seeing how fractured and disunited the major players of the political landscape are, having a prime minister in this country beholden to a finicky Parliament will be the day political instability rules the roost permanently. While the federal system sounds good on paper, with the volume of our national debt it’s just silly even thinking about it.
The solutions being offered by our present politicians are half-hearted at best because they stink of the political ambitions and power-grabbing we Filipinos have become so sick of. What we need to change is blatantly obvious but ignored.
We need to change our electoral system, and make sure that voting is as straightforward as it gets. There ought to be no vote-buying, vote padding and shaving (dagdag-bawas) and certainly none of the election-related violence. We had such huge chances to reform this but we failed so many times.
We need to put more money into the educational system. Our politicians should stop treating it as a haven or excuse for liquidating corruption. Just how greedy or stupid can they be to short-circuit the nation’s only real chance of improvement?
We need to change they way we do social welfare. I’m not immune to this but I’ve been responsible for my fair share of doleouts to the poor. It’s easy to do doleouts, true, but that’s a short-sighted solution at best. It’s better to teach men how to fish instead of giving them fish all the time—more than simple skill, empowerment is the name of the game. Besides, just how many of us feel empowered? Precisely. It’s this empowerment that will also address another of our long-standing social ills, abject poverty.
The last things we need are more half-hearted solutions, more politicians wasting even more of our time bickering to high heaven, and more People Power revolutions.
I’m sick of all the politicking. It’s so blatantly obvious that many of our politicians are interested in advancing their own interests, not those of the electorate that put their hallowed asses up there in the first place. Pressing issues like education and reforming the electoral system are pooh-poohed in favor of foreign debt servicing (which isn’t a bad thing), looking for kickbacks and the endless bickering on political matters (which are).
Solutions are presented left and right, such as Constitutional or Charter change to allow for a parliamentary or federal system, and the ouster of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. While I’m no fan of Arroyo’s, I’m against ousting her. That said, the Charter change proposed by her and her partymates is not a solution to any of the Philippines’ political ills. I can’t believe how these politicians don’t see this. Seeing how fractured and disunited the major players of the political landscape are, having a prime minister in this country beholden to a finicky Parliament will be the day political instability rules the roost permanently. While the federal system sounds good on paper, with the volume of our national debt it’s just silly even thinking about it.
The solutions being offered by our present politicians are half-hearted at best because they stink of the political ambitions and power-grabbing we Filipinos have become so sick of. What we need to change is blatantly obvious but ignored.
We need to change our electoral system, and make sure that voting is as straightforward as it gets. There ought to be no vote-buying, vote padding and shaving (dagdag-bawas) and certainly none of the election-related violence. We had such huge chances to reform this but we failed so many times.
We need to put more money into the educational system. Our politicians should stop treating it as a haven or excuse for liquidating corruption. Just how greedy or stupid can they be to short-circuit the nation’s only real chance of improvement?
We need to change they way we do social welfare. I’m not immune to this but I’ve been responsible for my fair share of doleouts to the poor. It’s easy to do doleouts, true, but that’s a short-sighted solution at best. It’s better to teach men how to fish instead of giving them fish all the time—more than simple skill, empowerment is the name of the game. Besides, just how many of us feel empowered? Precisely. It’s this empowerment that will also address another of our long-standing social ills, abject poverty.
The last things we need are more half-hearted solutions, more politicians wasting even more of our time bickering to high heaven, and more People Power revolutions.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Jaded, sober, keeling over
I might have finally become jaded with my hobby...at least by a little.
Model making is expensive, that I already know. The high expense of priming, painting, sanding and bonding all of these plastic parts is obvious; however I haven’t even painted most of the kits I have. Rather, I’m put off by the expense of the kits themselves not being commensurate to the satisfaction I’d expected.
Many of my bigger 1/100 Gunpla models are startlingly imperfect considering how much I shell out for them. For all the engineering greatness of the MG Zeta Gundam ver.2.0 kit, for instance, it hasn’t stopped me from breaking its left middle finger made of ABS plastic. The Gundam Astray Red Frame isn’t as posable as its joints and construction promise it would be. The MG Strike Rouge has disappointingly weak legs and feet, while the MG Zeta Plus A1’s crotch-leg plates have inexorably come loose.
While this probably won’t turn me off from the hobby altogether, I guess this is a welcome wake-up call from the power of Bandai’s marketing machine. Couldn’t have come at a better time, really.
Maybe I should seriously consider selling some of them off.
===
Edith told me that I was too much of a perfectionist, and indirectly I could sense she thought I was being too hard on myself.
I gave it some thought. Apparently, all my life I have had trouble grasping this concept of “being human”—people cannot be expected to totally avoid making mistakes, nor can they be expected to fulfill their roles to the letter all the time. If foul-ups happen, we should just laugh them off.
This is one of those cases where I am pretty sure my biggest enemy is myself. I don’t know what happened to my psyche growing up, but I developed the mindset that people should be at their best 100% of the time; conversely I should be too. As a result I had put tremendous pressure on myself and on others, and I didn’t even know it. I treat mistakes harshly, and if they’re mine I take them to heart; I am uncomfortable letting my bad experiences slide.
Looking at myself now, I wonder how I became such a self-loathing neurotic. I wonder how I could bring myself to be otherwise. It’s sickening how I’m this tightly coiled spring all the time, especially in times when I simply don’t need to be high-strung.
One of my favorite movies, “EDtv,” has this ending song lyric:
If you wanna be somebody else, change your mind.
It’s a lot easier said than done. Knowing what my problem is is only half the battle.
===
One of those things that keeps me high-strung: clocks and watches.
Growing up as a kid I couldn’t imagine life without wearing a watch. To be honest, though, I feel nowadays they’re nothing more but invisible fetters. And the stupid thing is, I can’t help but look at them. I can’t break myself out of the shackles of time.
Model making is expensive, that I already know. The high expense of priming, painting, sanding and bonding all of these plastic parts is obvious; however I haven’t even painted most of the kits I have. Rather, I’m put off by the expense of the kits themselves not being commensurate to the satisfaction I’d expected.
Many of my bigger 1/100 Gunpla models are startlingly imperfect considering how much I shell out for them. For all the engineering greatness of the MG Zeta Gundam ver.2.0 kit, for instance, it hasn’t stopped me from breaking its left middle finger made of ABS plastic. The Gundam Astray Red Frame isn’t as posable as its joints and construction promise it would be. The MG Strike Rouge has disappointingly weak legs and feet, while the MG Zeta Plus A1’s crotch-leg plates have inexorably come loose.
While this probably won’t turn me off from the hobby altogether, I guess this is a welcome wake-up call from the power of Bandai’s marketing machine. Couldn’t have come at a better time, really.
Maybe I should seriously consider selling some of them off.
===
Edith told me that I was too much of a perfectionist, and indirectly I could sense she thought I was being too hard on myself.
I gave it some thought. Apparently, all my life I have had trouble grasping this concept of “being human”—people cannot be expected to totally avoid making mistakes, nor can they be expected to fulfill their roles to the letter all the time. If foul-ups happen, we should just laugh them off.
This is one of those cases where I am pretty sure my biggest enemy is myself. I don’t know what happened to my psyche growing up, but I developed the mindset that people should be at their best 100% of the time; conversely I should be too. As a result I had put tremendous pressure on myself and on others, and I didn’t even know it. I treat mistakes harshly, and if they’re mine I take them to heart; I am uncomfortable letting my bad experiences slide.
Looking at myself now, I wonder how I became such a self-loathing neurotic. I wonder how I could bring myself to be otherwise. It’s sickening how I’m this tightly coiled spring all the time, especially in times when I simply don’t need to be high-strung.
One of my favorite movies, “EDtv,” has this ending song lyric:
If you wanna be somebody else, change your mind.
It’s a lot easier said than done. Knowing what my problem is is only half the battle.
===
One of those things that keeps me high-strung: clocks and watches.
Growing up as a kid I couldn’t imagine life without wearing a watch. To be honest, though, I feel nowadays they’re nothing more but invisible fetters. And the stupid thing is, I can’t help but look at them. I can’t break myself out of the shackles of time.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
burn in hell, bitch!
Thanks to one of Bianca’s friends, I was able to watch the first season of “Project Runway” on DVD. From the title, you can tell this reality show is focused around fashion. Twelve fashion designers take on challenges, which revolve around designing, creating and modeling an outfit based on the theme for each episode. It’s a lot like “Iron Chef America,” only here both the designer and their selected model are up for elimination with the judges’ decision. Three finalists from the original twelve get to create their own fall-season collection for the Olympus Fashion Week, where one will ultimately be judged the winner.
Okay, fashion to me is normally the kind of high-budget nonsensical folly I merely tolerate but never really try to understand. However I found this show rather interesting—enough to sustain my interest in it to stay up until 5am watching the episodes in a marathon. In those hours I spent in front of the TV, I gained at least a little understanding of what designers and the fashion world look for. Yes, they do look for wearable and flattering outfits, not simply nonsensical avant-garde clothing mishmash that looks good on the runway but is pretty ridiculous everywhere else.
“Project Runway” also highlighted the lengths some people would go to just to win, and the pressure can get so elevated it’s no longer entertaining. This was personified in Wendy Pepper, the “longshot” of the final three designers—she was the most unlikely to succeed, as she was a 40-year-old mother with inconsistent results, coming close to elimination so many times.
What she obviously lacked in talent, she made up for with sheer tenacity.
A slowly but surely warping Wendy literally fought off every one of her rivals, backstabbing them, humiliating them and throwing her weight into the judging to make sure she wouldn’t be eliminated. The woman obviously has no taste—or one that is incompatible with what the show was looking for. So many of her competitors had a lot more talent than her, but got eliminated. Age isn’t a factor either: heavy favorite Kara Soun was just three years her junior but had overwhelming amounts of creativity and fashion sense. It’s horrible watching Wendy survive all that way and in my opinion it is just correct that she should not win “Project Runway.”
I am so glad one of my favorite contestants won, a real character whom I didn’t expect win at first but bowled me over with his lovable personality and unique fashion sense. Jay McCarroll absolutely deserved it.
===
Ten things I currently hate
1. Wendy Pepper of “Project Runway.”
2. Infocom Warpspeed and its eternally busy dialup number. And I thought PLDT owned this?!
3. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and its misguided “urban renewal projects.”
4. The sickening traffic along Aurora Boulevard.
5. My monitor, which shows me everything in a twitchy blue tinge.
6. My 56K modem, which works no faster than 19.8K.
7. Peter Chung’s 1995 MTV animated series “Aeon Flux.” What was the point of it all?!
8. Unemployment. Rather obvious, this.
9. The overeager ants in my house.
10. My noisy next-door neighbors. Turn your goddamn stereo down!
===
Ten things I currently like
1. The Sun Valley Music Ministry.
2. PLDT Vibe post-paid. Expensive and slow, but a good stopgap when in between prepaid Internet cards.
3. Sleep. Believe it or not, I actually like sleeping more now.
4. Driving...now that I don’t get to do enough of it.
5. A good Dance Maniax workout with no one to make fun of me. Five games or longer.
6. Austin Scarlett, Kara Soun and Jay McCarroll of “Project Runway.” Likable, they seem. Talented, they are.
7. Ely Buendia’s jingle “Watcha Lukin 4?” for Aileen’s pet project, the Mobile Yellow Pages.
8. Junk food. Yes, yes, I should be eating healthier, I know.
9. Talking to my Leyteña “fwend” Cher again over YM after so long.
10. SM Megamall and its cheap Initial D ver.3 machines. Play more.
Okay, fashion to me is normally the kind of high-budget nonsensical folly I merely tolerate but never really try to understand. However I found this show rather interesting—enough to sustain my interest in it to stay up until 5am watching the episodes in a marathon. In those hours I spent in front of the TV, I gained at least a little understanding of what designers and the fashion world look for. Yes, they do look for wearable and flattering outfits, not simply nonsensical avant-garde clothing mishmash that looks good on the runway but is pretty ridiculous everywhere else.
“Project Runway” also highlighted the lengths some people would go to just to win, and the pressure can get so elevated it’s no longer entertaining. This was personified in Wendy Pepper, the “longshot” of the final three designers—she was the most unlikely to succeed, as she was a 40-year-old mother with inconsistent results, coming close to elimination so many times.
What she obviously lacked in talent, she made up for with sheer tenacity.
A slowly but surely warping Wendy literally fought off every one of her rivals, backstabbing them, humiliating them and throwing her weight into the judging to make sure she wouldn’t be eliminated. The woman obviously has no taste—or one that is incompatible with what the show was looking for. So many of her competitors had a lot more talent than her, but got eliminated. Age isn’t a factor either: heavy favorite Kara Soun was just three years her junior but had overwhelming amounts of creativity and fashion sense. It’s horrible watching Wendy survive all that way and in my opinion it is just correct that she should not win “Project Runway.”
I am so glad one of my favorite contestants won, a real character whom I didn’t expect win at first but bowled me over with his lovable personality and unique fashion sense. Jay McCarroll absolutely deserved it.
===
Ten things I currently hate
1. Wendy Pepper of “Project Runway.”
2. Infocom Warpspeed and its eternally busy dialup number. And I thought PLDT owned this?!
3. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and its misguided “urban renewal projects.”
4. The sickening traffic along Aurora Boulevard.
5. My monitor, which shows me everything in a twitchy blue tinge.
6. My 56K modem, which works no faster than 19.8K.
7. Peter Chung’s 1995 MTV animated series “Aeon Flux.” What was the point of it all?!
8. Unemployment. Rather obvious, this.
9. The overeager ants in my house.
10. My noisy next-door neighbors. Turn your goddamn stereo down!
===
Ten things I currently like
1. The Sun Valley Music Ministry.
2. PLDT Vibe post-paid. Expensive and slow, but a good stopgap when in between prepaid Internet cards.
3. Sleep. Believe it or not, I actually like sleeping more now.
4. Driving...now that I don’t get to do enough of it.
5. A good Dance Maniax workout with no one to make fun of me. Five games or longer.
6. Austin Scarlett, Kara Soun and Jay McCarroll of “Project Runway.” Likable, they seem. Talented, they are.
7. Ely Buendia’s jingle “Watcha Lukin 4?” for Aileen’s pet project, the Mobile Yellow Pages.
8. Junk food. Yes, yes, I should be eating healthier, I know.
9. Talking to my Leyteña “fwend” Cher again over YM after so long.
10. SM Megamall and its cheap Initial D ver.3 machines. Play more.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
"Nazakenaii...!"
For all the experience, talent and skill I have, I found out that I can still lose my self-confidence with disturbing ease. That sliver of self-loathing and doubt lurks at the back of my head, always ready to strike, debilitating me, reducing me to the sniveling 12-year-old with low self-esteem I was.
Only this time, I am stuck in a twentysomething’s body and the world will accordingly be less accommodating. The world will not show compassion for my self-pity, nor wait for me to regain my self-confidence.
Yes, I am afraid, nervous and unsure.
===
Am I such a droolin' fool
That all I ever think of is you?
And am I such a ludicrous girl
To make you the center of my world?
Springtime has come and gone again
When my phone rings, I'm hoping it's you
Although I shouldn't want it to
Because you, you are my greatest flaw
And I'm so ashamed to say
I'll do it again everyday
You, you are my greatest flaw
I know that I am smart;
Can somebody tell my heart?
I want to see you, then I don't
I'll drag you to the feelings, I won't
And when I do you're wasting my time
Trashing what is left of my spine
Summer is playing its greatest hit
Every Friday I hope that we meet
Although I shouldn't wish for it
Because you, you are my greatest flaw
And I'm so ashamed to say
I'll do it again everyday
You, you are my greatest flaw
I know that I am smart;
Will somebody tell my heart?
Didn't I tell you so?
Didn't you even know?
Didn't I tell you so?
Yes I know, know, know,
You're my greatest flaw because you...
And I know that I am smart;
Will somebody tell my, somebody tell my heart?
You, you are my greatest flaw;
I'm so ashamed to say
I'll do it again everyday
You, you are my greatest flaw
I know that I am smart;
Will somebody tell my heart?
Somebody tell my heart...
—D’Sound, “My Greatest Flaw”
Only this time, I am stuck in a twentysomething’s body and the world will accordingly be less accommodating. The world will not show compassion for my self-pity, nor wait for me to regain my self-confidence.
Yes, I am afraid, nervous and unsure.
===
Am I such a droolin' fool
That all I ever think of is you?
And am I such a ludicrous girl
To make you the center of my world?
Springtime has come and gone again
When my phone rings, I'm hoping it's you
Although I shouldn't want it to
Because you, you are my greatest flaw
And I'm so ashamed to say
I'll do it again everyday
You, you are my greatest flaw
I know that I am smart;
Can somebody tell my heart?
I want to see you, then I don't
I'll drag you to the feelings, I won't
And when I do you're wasting my time
Trashing what is left of my spine
Summer is playing its greatest hit
Every Friday I hope that we meet
Although I shouldn't wish for it
Because you, you are my greatest flaw
And I'm so ashamed to say
I'll do it again everyday
You, you are my greatest flaw
I know that I am smart;
Will somebody tell my heart?
Didn't I tell you so?
Didn't you even know?
Didn't I tell you so?
Yes I know, know, know,
You're my greatest flaw because you...
And I know that I am smart;
Will somebody tell my, somebody tell my heart?
You, you are my greatest flaw;
I'm so ashamed to say
I'll do it again everyday
You, you are my greatest flaw
I know that I am smart;
Will somebody tell my heart?
Somebody tell my heart...
—D’Sound, “My Greatest Flaw”
Saturday, January 14, 2006
| You Are 20 Years Old |
 Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax. |
Friday, January 13, 2006
Yawn
It is with slight disappointment that I learn our block trip to Zambales is postponed indefinitely. Apparently not enough of us are free tomorrow, or on any other weekend within the month. Sigh.
This means I rot at home again...doubtless to the glee of my mother.
I am bored, very bored.
===
Within the sickening morass of call center and sales positions I see in my Jobstreet e-mails and classified ads, I’m surprised there are actually people out there who are looking for writers and graphic artists—precisely the kind of work I wouldn’t mind taking up. It was all a matter of knowing where to look, and PinoyExchange was pretty helpful.
Still, I was foolish enough to consider scheduling an interview with some customer service or technical support company—precisely the kind of work I want to avoid. Oh well. I might as well go to the interview and just see how I do.
===
I wonder how true it is that I will get mail and called for job offers immediately after my graduation? It’s just two weeks away.
===
In the sea of useless tests out there, this one is worth taking. I got this from Dana.
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
This means I rot at home again...doubtless to the glee of my mother.
I am bored, very bored.
===
Within the sickening morass of call center and sales positions I see in my Jobstreet e-mails and classified ads, I’m surprised there are actually people out there who are looking for writers and graphic artists—precisely the kind of work I wouldn’t mind taking up. It was all a matter of knowing where to look, and PinoyExchange was pretty helpful.
Still, I was foolish enough to consider scheduling an interview with some customer service or technical support company—precisely the kind of work I want to avoid. Oh well. I might as well go to the interview and just see how I do.
===
I wonder how true it is that I will get mail and called for job offers immediately after my graduation? It’s just two weeks away.
===
In the sea of useless tests out there, this one is worth taking. I got this from Dana.
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
"No Ordinary Morning"
If there was nothing that I could say
Turned your back and you just walked away
Leaves me numb inside I think of you
Together is all I knew
We moved too fast but I had no signs
I would try to turn the hands of time
I look to you for the reason why
The love we had passed me by
And as the sun would set you would rise
Fall from the sky into paradise
Is there no light in your heart for me
You've closed your eyes you don't longer see
There were no lies between me and you
You said nothing of what you knew
But there was still something in your eyes
Left me helpless and paralysed
You could give a million reasons change the world and change the time
Could not give me the secrets of your heart and of your mind
In the darkness that surrounds me now there is no piece of mind
Your careless words undo me, leave the thought of us behind
You could give a million reasons change the world and change the time
Could not give me the secrets of your heart and of your mind
In the darkness that surrounds you now there is no piece of mind
Your careless words undo me, leave the thought of us behind
If there was nothing that I could say
Turned your back and you just walked away
Leaves me numb inside I think of you
Together is all I knew
We moved too fast but I had no signs
I would try to turn the hands of time
I look to you for the reason why
The love we had passed me by
And as the sun would set you would rise
Fall from the sky into paradise
Is there no light in your heart for me
You've closed your eyes you don't longer see
There were no lies between me and you
You said nothing of what you knew
But there was still something in your eyes
Left me helpless and paralysed
— Chicane and Maire Brennan, “No Ordinary Morning”
Turned your back and you just walked away
Leaves me numb inside I think of you
Together is all I knew
We moved too fast but I had no signs
I would try to turn the hands of time
I look to you for the reason why
The love we had passed me by
And as the sun would set you would rise
Fall from the sky into paradise
Is there no light in your heart for me
You've closed your eyes you don't longer see
There were no lies between me and you
You said nothing of what you knew
But there was still something in your eyes
Left me helpless and paralysed
You could give a million reasons change the world and change the time
Could not give me the secrets of your heart and of your mind
In the darkness that surrounds me now there is no piece of mind
Your careless words undo me, leave the thought of us behind
You could give a million reasons change the world and change the time
Could not give me the secrets of your heart and of your mind
In the darkness that surrounds you now there is no piece of mind
Your careless words undo me, leave the thought of us behind
If there was nothing that I could say
Turned your back and you just walked away
Leaves me numb inside I think of you
Together is all I knew
We moved too fast but I had no signs
I would try to turn the hands of time
I look to you for the reason why
The love we had passed me by
And as the sun would set you would rise
Fall from the sky into paradise
Is there no light in your heart for me
You've closed your eyes you don't longer see
There were no lies between me and you
You said nothing of what you knew
But there was still something in your eyes
Left me helpless and paralysed
— Chicane and Maire Brennan, “No Ordinary Morning”
Monday, January 09, 2006
Trust...or the lack of it.
This is nuts.
Just because she’s not comfortable with my driving, my mom has no trust in me doing so from here to Zambales and back.
Bullshit. I know my limits. I know when I should be full-throttle and when I should feather it. But the way she talks to me is insulting. I feel like a kid! It’s as if I’d never driven to Tagaytay for Beia’s wedding two years ago.
Trust will never develop until you give it a chance to grow.
Just because she’s not comfortable with my driving, my mom has no trust in me doing so from here to Zambales and back.
Bullshit. I know my limits. I know when I should be full-throttle and when I should feather it. But the way she talks to me is insulting. I feel like a kid! It’s as if I’d never driven to Tagaytay for Beia’s wedding two years ago.
Trust will never develop until you give it a chance to grow.
Belly blues
All this partying and excess has taken a toll on my body and it’s not funny. My belly’s grown and I’m having difficulty wearing my pants. It’s about time I worked this off.
After a couple weeks away from the machine, I plan on returning to my regular exercise habit of Dance Maniax at SM Bicutan. Nothing fancy, just four or five games in succession at Wild difficulty and 1.5x speed, just the way I usually do it. Of course, “fancy” is a relative term, and my playing style might be fancier than most, as I use my whole body to play Dance Maniax where others use purely their arms, their legs coming into play just as a third limb on a few songs.
I’m not impressed by people who play the familiar songs at 2.0x, 2.5x or even 3x speed, but use only their hands. What I’m after is the total body workout, not to show off the difficulty of keeping up.
It felt good getting back on the machine this afternoon. Unlike lifting weights, which I don’t really enjoy, I can see myself playing Dance Maniax over and over, kicking, punching, jumping, shaking my hips and waving my arms to the beat. I could say the same for badminton, but the trouble with that game is you need four to play a doubles match (and I suck at singles). Then again, Aileen did try to invite me to play with them at nearby Whackers World yesterday. Given how bored I was with the house party, I should have gone with her, at least to shake off the rust from my legs.
===
After the five-game workout, I dried off, changed shirts and spent my last PhP500 SM gift check. Nothing big: just a pair of relatively cheap Panasonic headphones and a 48-CD wallet, which I direly needed to rid my room of some clutter. From the looks of things, I’ll be needing another one of those.
After a couple weeks away from the machine, I plan on returning to my regular exercise habit of Dance Maniax at SM Bicutan. Nothing fancy, just four or five games in succession at Wild difficulty and 1.5x speed, just the way I usually do it. Of course, “fancy” is a relative term, and my playing style might be fancier than most, as I use my whole body to play Dance Maniax where others use purely their arms, their legs coming into play just as a third limb on a few songs.
I’m not impressed by people who play the familiar songs at 2.0x, 2.5x or even 3x speed, but use only their hands. What I’m after is the total body workout, not to show off the difficulty of keeping up.
It felt good getting back on the machine this afternoon. Unlike lifting weights, which I don’t really enjoy, I can see myself playing Dance Maniax over and over, kicking, punching, jumping, shaking my hips and waving my arms to the beat. I could say the same for badminton, but the trouble with that game is you need four to play a doubles match (and I suck at singles). Then again, Aileen did try to invite me to play with them at nearby Whackers World yesterday. Given how bored I was with the house party, I should have gone with her, at least to shake off the rust from my legs.
===
After the five-game workout, I dried off, changed shirts and spent my last PhP500 SM gift check. Nothing big: just a pair of relatively cheap Panasonic headphones and a 48-CD wallet, which I direly needed to rid my room of some clutter. From the looks of things, I’ll be needing another one of those.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
House parties
The Sun Valley Music Ministry had its post-Christmas party last night at Jaja’s place—the first occasion I would be seeing these guys outside of church. They were a relaxed bunch of noisy and happy people, and they weren’t as square as I thought, which helped me get comfortable with them. If anything I was the quietest of the group by a long shot.
I got to talk with Aileen and she told me about her career and a potential opening at her present company. It seemed like an interesting job given what I had going for me, and I told her I would be interested. I echoed her sentiments about sales jobs: I’d rather not be there.
Received a couple free pieces of pottery from Monser’s business; the striped blue mug was nice. I had a bit too much alcohol—given my weak resistance to it, I was tipsy until the time I got home and slept. It’s surprising how dry and alcoholic Philippine mango wine is.
Overall it was really enjoyable. I’d love to hang out with these people more often. Which reminds me, I have to sing with them again a little later.
===
A little later than that, we’ll be having the Geronimo clan over at our house instead of at Caloocan. Yeesh. It’ll be pandemonium here I guess.
I got to talk with Aileen and she told me about her career and a potential opening at her present company. It seemed like an interesting job given what I had going for me, and I told her I would be interested. I echoed her sentiments about sales jobs: I’d rather not be there.
Received a couple free pieces of pottery from Monser’s business; the striped blue mug was nice. I had a bit too much alcohol—given my weak resistance to it, I was tipsy until the time I got home and slept. It’s surprising how dry and alcoholic Philippine mango wine is.
Overall it was really enjoyable. I’d love to hang out with these people more often. Which reminds me, I have to sing with them again a little later.
===
A little later than that, we’ll be having the Geronimo clan over at our house instead of at Caloocan. Yeesh. It’ll be pandemonium here I guess.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Success: to labor or not to labor?
Fourteen hours of manual labor, cutting, sanding and snap-fitting almost 400 parts, was what it took to build my MG Zeta Gundam ver.2.0.
Yes, it was my most expensive kit ever. Yes, it hurt my fingers fiddling with tough ABS plastic parts. And yes, I lost sleep on the damn thing, working from 1 pm to 4 am, stopping only for dinner and progress photos—and I worked two more hours on the weapons when I woke up.
It was all worth it.
Why, I even beat Dalong.net to the punch, typing up a review of this kit literally the day I finished building it and posting it on MechaPinoy.net. I gave it 97 points; it deserves it as the best, most stable Zeta Gundam model kit ever at this price point. To beat it, you’d have to spend a lot more money on a Perfect Grade kit—enough to buy four of these new MGs.
You can tell I’m very enthusiastic about my hobby. Sigh. Like Shiro said, if only we could do Gunpla as work...
===
Last night Rachel invited me to attend this business opportunity overview thing at the Asian Institute of Management conference center. Along came Mao and Rachel’s parents.
I won’t say much, I will say that it’ll be better if people went to the orientation themselves and decided accordingly. Right now I’m unemployed, and I haven’t even had a job yet, so I don’t know how hard it is to earn my own money. This business opportunity promised a “pipeline” of wealth and success, and all I had to do was build mine.
I left the venue a bit apprehensive. This was something my parents didn’t approve of; they told me I had better things to do with my time. Frankly, it sounded too good to be true anyway—and these sorts of things usually are. Maybe I should experience bringing buckets for now.
Perhaps some other time, then.
===
It was nice seeing you again. It was just my good luck working when we crossed paths again, I guess.
Maybe it’s about time I decided that I should take the credit of seeing you again and not leave it up to Lady Luck.
Yes, it was my most expensive kit ever. Yes, it hurt my fingers fiddling with tough ABS plastic parts. And yes, I lost sleep on the damn thing, working from 1 pm to 4 am, stopping only for dinner and progress photos—and I worked two more hours on the weapons when I woke up.
It was all worth it.
Why, I even beat Dalong.net to the punch, typing up a review of this kit literally the day I finished building it and posting it on MechaPinoy.net. I gave it 97 points; it deserves it as the best, most stable Zeta Gundam model kit ever at this price point. To beat it, you’d have to spend a lot more money on a Perfect Grade kit—enough to buy four of these new MGs.
You can tell I’m very enthusiastic about my hobby. Sigh. Like Shiro said, if only we could do Gunpla as work...
===
Last night Rachel invited me to attend this business opportunity overview thing at the Asian Institute of Management conference center. Along came Mao and Rachel’s parents.
I won’t say much, I will say that it’ll be better if people went to the orientation themselves and decided accordingly. Right now I’m unemployed, and I haven’t even had a job yet, so I don’t know how hard it is to earn my own money. This business opportunity promised a “pipeline” of wealth and success, and all I had to do was build mine.
I left the venue a bit apprehensive. This was something my parents didn’t approve of; they told me I had better things to do with my time. Frankly, it sounded too good to be true anyway—and these sorts of things usually are. Maybe I should experience bringing buckets for now.
Perhaps some other time, then.
===
It was nice seeing you again. It was just my good luck working when we crossed paths again, I guess.
Maybe it’s about time I decided that I should take the credit of seeing you again and not leave it up to Lady Luck.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Reading.
Most of the reading I do is centered on my magazine collection—old issues of Autocar and Top Gear Philippines. Autocar I am particularly taken to reading because the ASEAN version which used to be sold here has all but gone from the newsstands, although I frequent their UK website. I guess you can say that re-reading has become a pastime for me.
I’m not in the habit of reading the newspapers because frankly much of what’s written there just goes over my head. My dad had other plans though.
Now that I had more free time, he said over dinner, I should read the business news. I should be listening to what the two dailies we subscribe to say about why the stock market and the peso exchange rate acted in a certain way. BusinessWorld and the Philippine STAR would have slightly different opinions, and over time I should observe which one was right. After a while of following the news, I should be able to make my own opinions. I suppose it’ll come in handy later on, when I have enough money to gamble on the stock market.
It’s just as well, I guess. Blokes like me who don’t have money ought to learn from those to make and handle gigantic wads of cash, the likes of which I can only imagine. Times like these, I think I should be brushing up on my old FINAMA1 and FINAMA2 lessons.
===
Some proof I’ve been reading: The Philippine peso is touted as the best-performing currency in Asia and the fifth best-performing in the world in 2005, according to BusinessWorld.
The STAR meanwhile reported that our humble peso now trades at 52.80 to a US dollar.
===
I am glad I have friends who truly do read my blog and appreciate what they read on it. Although they don’t make their presence felt via comments (which I’d welcome), they’re there.
Speaking of blogs...I’m not much of a bloghopper myself. Judging from the blogs I’ve linked to, however, I should really be spending more time reading them. A lot of my friends have good, insightful musings that are worth reading.
===
Despite my unbelief in the usual annual craziness the fortune-tellers and feng shui “experts” spout every New Year, there was one of them who had timely advice: clean out your rooms.
This was supposedly to improve the flow of chi in the house. Whatever, man.
In the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, I set about cleaning my room anyway. I knew for a fact that I had so many shirts I no longer wore, and pants that I had long since outgrown. I guess I kept them in the vain hope that I would fit in them again someday. Well, it’s about time I accepted reality and gave them out to people who would put them to better use than I.
In the perpetual fire hazard that is my bookshelf, I cleared out the little scraps of paper that had become inconsequential to me as they were part of the more mundane elements of school life. My pink plush microfiber towel was put to good use cleaning up the dirt and dust that had built up in my room. With the volume of dust in there, it’s surprising I’ve never had an asthma attack.
It felt good afterwards. Now all I need are CD organizers and probably a glass display shelf for my models (so they keep from attracting dust mite shit). I’ll probably have to toss some old magazines out, but they can wait.
===
Man. It’s not even my birthday yet but I’m so damn excited about finally bringing that MG Zeta Gundam ver.2.0 kit home. C’mon, Santa, I’ve been a good boy.
Dalong.net had just posted 150dpi scans of the assembly manual (well, this is a first), and while they took considerably more time to download, they were greatly detailed at high zoom levels. Shame they didn’t have finished photos and a final review/rating for the kit, though.
At the rate they’re going, I just might finish the build, write and publish my own review first.
I’m not in the habit of reading the newspapers because frankly much of what’s written there just goes over my head. My dad had other plans though.
Now that I had more free time, he said over dinner, I should read the business news. I should be listening to what the two dailies we subscribe to say about why the stock market and the peso exchange rate acted in a certain way. BusinessWorld and the Philippine STAR would have slightly different opinions, and over time I should observe which one was right. After a while of following the news, I should be able to make my own opinions. I suppose it’ll come in handy later on, when I have enough money to gamble on the stock market.
It’s just as well, I guess. Blokes like me who don’t have money ought to learn from those to make and handle gigantic wads of cash, the likes of which I can only imagine. Times like these, I think I should be brushing up on my old FINAMA1 and FINAMA2 lessons.
===
Some proof I’ve been reading: The Philippine peso is touted as the best-performing currency in Asia and the fifth best-performing in the world in 2005, according to BusinessWorld.
The STAR meanwhile reported that our humble peso now trades at 52.80 to a US dollar.
===
I am glad I have friends who truly do read my blog and appreciate what they read on it. Although they don’t make their presence felt via comments (which I’d welcome), they’re there.
Speaking of blogs...I’m not much of a bloghopper myself. Judging from the blogs I’ve linked to, however, I should really be spending more time reading them. A lot of my friends have good, insightful musings that are worth reading.
===
Despite my unbelief in the usual annual craziness the fortune-tellers and feng shui “experts” spout every New Year, there was one of them who had timely advice: clean out your rooms.
This was supposedly to improve the flow of chi in the house. Whatever, man.
In the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, I set about cleaning my room anyway. I knew for a fact that I had so many shirts I no longer wore, and pants that I had long since outgrown. I guess I kept them in the vain hope that I would fit in them again someday. Well, it’s about time I accepted reality and gave them out to people who would put them to better use than I.
In the perpetual fire hazard that is my bookshelf, I cleared out the little scraps of paper that had become inconsequential to me as they were part of the more mundane elements of school life. My pink plush microfiber towel was put to good use cleaning up the dirt and dust that had built up in my room. With the volume of dust in there, it’s surprising I’ve never had an asthma attack.
It felt good afterwards. Now all I need are CD organizers and probably a glass display shelf for my models (so they keep from attracting dust mite shit). I’ll probably have to toss some old magazines out, but they can wait.
===
Man. It’s not even my birthday yet but I’m so damn excited about finally bringing that MG Zeta Gundam ver.2.0 kit home. C’mon, Santa, I’ve been a good boy.
Dalong.net had just posted 150dpi scans of the assembly manual (well, this is a first), and while they took considerably more time to download, they were greatly detailed at high zoom levels. Shame they didn’t have finished photos and a final review/rating for the kit, though.
At the rate they’re going, I just might finish the build, write and publish my own review first.
Monday, January 02, 2006
the Moonville gang
9:30 am. Half an hour awake and I get a message on my phone.
Paolo was telling me he and Bong were going to school. I could come along and we could go somewhere afterwards. Cool, I said. What time do we leave?
Just like that, we were in my car puttering our way to school for their enrollment and adjustment. It had been a good while since we hung out with each other, and I was sick of rotting away at home.
It didn’t take long to get the school business done, although the school server had a tantrum and that meant we had to wait almost an hour before Paolo could get his receipt. We went to Glorietta without Bong, and by some stroke of luck Jared chanced upon us while we were eating lunch. And so, we headed on to Timezone and threw money away on the games.
We looked around, making side remarks on how ridiculously overpriced Nike is, being brushed off by sellers of expensive watches, looking for alternatives. Then we went to Goldcrest, and there waited the last MG Zeta Gundam ver.2.0 kit, selling for PhP3150. I couldn’t believe my luck; I had to reserve it now. Off I sprinted to the ATM, withdrawing the reservation amount and running back to reserve it for a month. Yay. This will be almost perfect timing as a birthday gift to myself.
We walked around and checked out musical equipment before heading home. At Paolo’s place we were all surprised to see his cousin Tad. It was a small reunion, really.
It’s been a long time since we’ve been friends, Paolo and I, and it all started with my sketches and his PlayStation. Although we don’t hang out as often as we would like, what time we do have together is quality time.
This was a great day, mainly because they were there with me.
Paolo was telling me he and Bong were going to school. I could come along and we could go somewhere afterwards. Cool, I said. What time do we leave?
Just like that, we were in my car puttering our way to school for their enrollment and adjustment. It had been a good while since we hung out with each other, and I was sick of rotting away at home.
It didn’t take long to get the school business done, although the school server had a tantrum and that meant we had to wait almost an hour before Paolo could get his receipt. We went to Glorietta without Bong, and by some stroke of luck Jared chanced upon us while we were eating lunch. And so, we headed on to Timezone and threw money away on the games.
We looked around, making side remarks on how ridiculously overpriced Nike is, being brushed off by sellers of expensive watches, looking for alternatives. Then we went to Goldcrest, and there waited the last MG Zeta Gundam ver.2.0 kit, selling for PhP3150. I couldn’t believe my luck; I had to reserve it now. Off I sprinted to the ATM, withdrawing the reservation amount and running back to reserve it for a month. Yay. This will be almost perfect timing as a birthday gift to myself.
We walked around and checked out musical equipment before heading home. At Paolo’s place we were all surprised to see his cousin Tad. It was a small reunion, really.
It’s been a long time since we’ve been friends, Paolo and I, and it all started with my sketches and his PlayStation. Although we don’t hang out as often as we would like, what time we do have together is quality time.
This was a great day, mainly because they were there with me.
Spoken while trying to keep out of a trance
Now that the holidays have ended, I feel the pressure building on me to make something of myself. I am unemployed, after all. Unless I do something I remain a bottomless well of expenses.
Soon it will be time for me to decide for myself if I want to be productive and proactive, or bored, stagnating and on permanent summer vacation. That’s not even a real choice. Still, I am mulling over my chances of getting employed. I dread the chances of landing in a job I do not enjoy.
Until then, I should be like my friend Julie from PETA, always on the lookout for new part-time gigs.
===
It’s 2 am in the morning and I want to sing my heart out. I can’t help it. I want to develop myself, to be as good as the singers of Hangad. Unfortunately my choir friends surely must be asleep.
The kudos has heaped on me. They were telling me how amazing it was that I was a fast learner, that I picked up notes quickly, that I had a good voice with volume, that with a little work I could be soloist in a few months.
While I appreciate and am thankful of all the comments, frankly I’d rather not hear them right now. I am new, I am untested, I have little of the confidence of the others (especially the sopranos). There is still so much I need to learn. Edith said I needed to develop vibrato or tremolo, and hoped that I could stay on for a long time—“we really need boys.”
The only thing I don’t like about this so far is that some “active” individuals in my parish whom I detest may think I joined in the choir because of their suggestion so many years ago. I have no love lost for them, and I joined this time simply because this time I truly wanted to. Forcing me into things will usually not work.
===
A happy happy birthday to my dear sister, Bianca.
===
I feel hollow. Hungry, even. I do not understand. I am yearning for something I cannot identify. The only thing I know for sure is the more I yearn for it, the more it is impinged into my psyche that I can never truly have it.
What is ‘it’ then?
I am sick of nights of half-baked sleep. Now as I type this post, staring into a malfunctioning monitor, I wonder how nice (and how wasteful) it would be to fall into a relaxing trance...
Soon it will be time for me to decide for myself if I want to be productive and proactive, or bored, stagnating and on permanent summer vacation. That’s not even a real choice. Still, I am mulling over my chances of getting employed. I dread the chances of landing in a job I do not enjoy.
Until then, I should be like my friend Julie from PETA, always on the lookout for new part-time gigs.
===
It’s 2 am in the morning and I want to sing my heart out. I can’t help it. I want to develop myself, to be as good as the singers of Hangad. Unfortunately my choir friends surely must be asleep.
The kudos has heaped on me. They were telling me how amazing it was that I was a fast learner, that I picked up notes quickly, that I had a good voice with volume, that with a little work I could be soloist in a few months.
While I appreciate and am thankful of all the comments, frankly I’d rather not hear them right now. I am new, I am untested, I have little of the confidence of the others (especially the sopranos). There is still so much I need to learn. Edith said I needed to develop vibrato or tremolo, and hoped that I could stay on for a long time—“we really need boys.”
The only thing I don’t like about this so far is that some “active” individuals in my parish whom I detest may think I joined in the choir because of their suggestion so many years ago. I have no love lost for them, and I joined this time simply because this time I truly wanted to. Forcing me into things will usually not work.
===
A happy happy birthday to my dear sister, Bianca.
===
I feel hollow. Hungry, even. I do not understand. I am yearning for something I cannot identify. The only thing I know for sure is the more I yearn for it, the more it is impinged into my psyche that I can never truly have it.
What is ‘it’ then?
I am sick of nights of half-baked sleep. Now as I type this post, staring into a malfunctioning monitor, I wonder how nice (and how wasteful) it would be to fall into a relaxing trance...
Sunday, January 01, 2006
New Year's morn
Everyone is asleep. The smoke and stench of gunpowder has not fully left, although there is less of it now than there was last year. ‘Tis a quiet morning, and I am awake, playing and singing to liturgical music.
I have woken up two hours too early. I will probably take a nap later. I am thinking of how the holidays have wrought their damage to my body. Yet more New Year’s resolutions to lose weight pop into mind—ones that most likely will not follow through. They will not do so precisely because they are New Year’s resolutions. Hahahaha.
For all the food and drink I have consumed just hours earlier, I am appalled that none of it was filling. I had eaten empty calories? Then again, perhaps alcohol had something to do with it. This was the closest I have ever been to getting drunk. Amazing it is how quickly I could consume red wine.
On the drive home at 2:30 am I heard my father singing along—for the first time in my memory. He was singing along to the Beatles in A Hard Day’s Night. It was disjointed, but unmistakable. Was this evidence of some alcohol left in his system?
In two hours’ time I will also be singing, back in the church where I had first sung as a tenor the night before.
Ba-dah, ba da...ba-dah, ba da...badadah ba da...
I have woken up two hours too early. I will probably take a nap later. I am thinking of how the holidays have wrought their damage to my body. Yet more New Year’s resolutions to lose weight pop into mind—ones that most likely will not follow through. They will not do so precisely because they are New Year’s resolutions. Hahahaha.
For all the food and drink I have consumed just hours earlier, I am appalled that none of it was filling. I had eaten empty calories? Then again, perhaps alcohol had something to do with it. This was the closest I have ever been to getting drunk. Amazing it is how quickly I could consume red wine.
On the drive home at 2:30 am I heard my father singing along—for the first time in my memory. He was singing along to the Beatles in A Hard Day’s Night. It was disjointed, but unmistakable. Was this evidence of some alcohol left in his system?
In two hours’ time I will also be singing, back in the church where I had first sung as a tenor the night before.
Ba-dah, ba da...ba-dah, ba da...badadah ba da...
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