my best friend's wedding

The bride insisted that I drive her to the wedding.

On a beautiful Friday afternoon, Jen and Daniel exchanged wedding vows in front of loving friends and family, in an unconventional ceremony that is nonetheless wonderfully romantic and remarkably memorable.

To Daniel and Jenny, all the best!

in the mail

Sweet. Enzo sent me and Broody letters for Christmas before he left for the States. 

Too bad the mailman decided to leave the letter clipped on Halle's wiper. Too bad I left the house when it's already dark. Too bad it was a cool enough night I had to use the wipers when driving out for midnight lunch.

Ayun, nabasa ang sulat ni Carlos bago ko nabasa. And the purple ink used is the type that easily washes off with water, buti na lang makapal ang envelope. 

To Enzo, many many thanks too, for being such a good friend! Have fun this Christmas!

a mistress and a frigid lady

I know that the iPhone is one of the coolest gadgets around, and after weeks of agonizing over it I finally decided to take it for a spin. A test drive that's more like a crash test. Three days and I gave up on it.

Frankly, what does not work for me is the lack of openness and interoperability. It's like wearing a straightjacket. It might be cool on the outside but the iPhone is one frigid lady I can sleep without.

It's good, therefore, that the Xperia X1 from Sony Ericsson is out in the market. Soon as I opened the box I knew I made the right choice.

I've known for a while now that Sony Ericsson makes the best smartphones, ever, with the Symbian OS at the heart of its previous models. However, for the X1 it's Windows Mobile 6.1. While not a fan of Microsoft, it's not so bad. I just wonder how much better the X1 could be with Symbian?

The X1. It's like coming home to a mistress when you're not even married.

making my day

are short love letters like this one:

"I love you today just like any other day. But moreso because as I woke up this morning, for reasons that seem insignificant now, I was wishing that the day be over and done with. We were texting and I remembered that this was the day, months ago when we met. And this was when you gave me one day in every month to celebrate. Thank you for giving me stillness to live this day with a smile. "

and long ones:

Am so looking forward to the weekend of cuisines :-)

don't even know what day it is

On my way to the gym when I realized it's Friday and I couldn't go to that gym. *sigh* what's up with banning cars from the road one day a week anyway? It's not as if Metro Manila traffic is light any other day.

It's getting worse. When you had to look at a calendar entry just to find out what day it is you're in, you're dead. Yesterday (was it yesterday?) I drank vodka straight up right after waking up, thinking it was water. Weird coffee should have raised the red flag, but I was too sleepy to care.

Watching TV now, reruns of Will & Grace over at Velvet. Will gym at Alabang instead, on my way to work. Interesting FF branch, I tell you. And oh, I discovered Northgate for midnight lunch. Whew.

Now am awake. It's Friday. 

remember this, young grasshopper...

One day does not a workweek make, much less a career. 

aaawww

This is closest to getting a yes...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAmtCunl8eQ

the tragedy of open windows

The night before, I was so amused with my Horoscope that says this-

Sometimes, your dreams are just silly and weird plays that your subconscious performs at night -- not visions of what your future holds. So if disturbing images have been keeping you tossing and turning lately, don't worry too much about it. This is just a phase and will be over soon. Turn your attention away from your dreams, because you can't control them. Instead, start exerting more power over your waking hours. Then you'll start to see things change.

- that I resolved to remember my dreams before I went to sleep. I also took some sleeping aid to guarantee me some good night's sleep. Did all my nightly rituals including a short chat session with friends abroad, text sessions with friends in town, flirted with Broody a bit, carefully set the alarm on my mobile and put all three on the upper right corner of the bed, for easy access in case someone shoots an email, then I went to sleep.

Good sleep, but I woke up to a nightmare. A real one. I've been burglarized. All my phones stolen. Only my mobile phones, the burglar using an open window to gain access in an otherwise secured room. At first, because of the above horoscope, I thought I was dreaming. But the open windows, the displaced curtains, and the "subscriber cannot be reached" prompt on all the numbers, they all tell me this is real. So I called security.

After the commotion that ended with the security personnel taking all the details to generate a report, I realized that the burglar also tried and almost successfully broke into the house using the front door. If not for last night's afterthought to use the double locks. I should have thought of closing the windows, too (but I like the simoy ng hangin pag magpapasko). I should have just left the phones on the table, away from the windows. I should have just used the A/C. I should have done this, done that. 

Then realization hits: it could have been a more tragic incident. The burglar could have broken in and took more, and maybe, melatonin notwithstanding, I could have woken up and things could have gone ugly. 

All through the day things aren't sinking in as fast as they should. I am on autopilot. Have never been burglarized before, my entire life, for real. Sure when I was a kid I could hear my parents talk about someone trying to break in the night before, but we had fierce guard dogs then nobody would have success in stealing anything from our house. 

Slowly, rage set it. At first I was cursing the person who did this, wishing them more pain in life than they could ever take standing. Then I stop myself every time the rage would manifest with a clenched fist or a crushed paper, and wonder what pain could drive that person to do such thing. It gives me little relief to imagine their life, and towards the end of the day I think I was able to pray that they find something good in life that one day may lead them to not do it again. 

Then paranoia set in. I've heard of worse things happening to people, but I couldn't stop myself from thinking, what if someone really used force to break in? What's stopping someone to just break the window and point a gun at me? Or what's stopping someone from walking up to me from behind as I am opening my door? Overnight my fear and paranoia has grown to the extent that all doors and windows are now locked even when I am inside. I miss the cool breeze at night but the alternative scares me so.

So this is how it's to be from now on. Locked doors, closed windows. No wonder people aren't talking to neighbors that much anymore. And also I wonder, had we grown so desperate and poor that petty crimes are just as common and normal as EDSA traffic or pay-day mall-wide sales?  

hitting the breaks

I feel like I am at a pace that's bound to end in a crash. I hope not, and ever mis-optimistic that I am I also feel that this too shall come to an end. This being the dizzyingly crazy phase at work that's been happening lately. No complaints, mind you, but oh boy I could use some downtime and some time at the gym. And it's barely midweek!

Let's put it this way. I am enjoying my work, loving it. But it's driving me to the other end of the scale, tipping the balance to a place I wouldn't want to find myself in. So I'm hitting the breaks, saying no to some things I should say no to, and focus on getting the job done. 

At the end of the day, it's just work. It's not my life, but an integral part of it. And life is what happens even when you're too busy working for it. 

even if i don't vote

may the universe conspire

that the US elect a new president Obama

and may Californians vote NO to Prop 8

M going, will M be back?

Am looking forward to the weekend. It's Regol & Broody's cookout and we're (the boys) guaranteed a feast of seafood and more.

It's also M's last weekend with the boys of sorts - he's leaving, off to a place nobody had thought of ever going to, for work at least, first because we had some misplaced idea where we should be based at to be considered successful, second because at the time we were in college there's only a handful of first-world countries we can think of to migrate to. Not that he's migrating, but it's usually the first step.

And now I wonder, with M gone, will the boys ever be the same again? When I left years ago, the question never crossed my mind - I always assumed the boys will be alright with or without me around. But M's different; you could say he's the cohesive force that kept us together all these years.

Truth be told, I don't want him to go. Because M gone will leave a space at the dinner table that usually doesn't seat everyone.Because M gone will mean one less birthday to celebrate, one less excuse to leave our own decidedly old lives and escape, even for a weekend, to a place and time where we can be in college again. Because M gone is a reminder that things have changed much since then, yet we haven't, at least those left behind.

Or have we?

because of miriam

I missed AC360, dropped my workout plan and ditched my hardware trip  this morning. 

As my usual morning routine goes, I went channel surfing each time CNN goes on commercial break. What caught my attention was Senator Miriam's posturing on the senate hearing on the Moscow Incident. While no fan of telenovelas nor televised senate hearings, I couldn't take my eyes off the screen nor press the remote back to CNN.

It hit me, that we need someone like Miriam to ALWAYS stay on the offensive, and ALWAYS be on the opposition. I hated her guts really, especially when she aligns herself to those in power, but when she goes opposition she's, WUNNERFUL.

So I pray, for one of my Christmas wishes, that she goes against Gloria all the way thru 2010. 

Message to Santa: If that's not possible, my alternative wish is to get Gloria outta heaven and into hell. Before 2010. 

before i brunch

weekend's here, finally. Addida's King of whatever's happening tomorrow, some people i know are running but i'll spend that extra few hours sleeping. brunch with broody and clint's the perfect way to start my day.

but there's the possibility of a short trip to the office, to check on something that's happening overnight, some contract that needs to be revised or something. no worries there, if i don't get the message i'm supposed to get by the time i had to be at brunch, then i'm signing off. fair enough.

I miss the Blackberry.

PLDT myDSL sucks. PLDT sucks. No internet at home for 2 weeks. I also blame Smart Bro for their client retention program - they don't care about you once your lock-in period expires.

The curtains are ready, the Clits aren't. *SIGH*

Anyone has a powerdrill?

timeout

So I had 4 days of a weekend. It's a much needed time out from the rush that's followed the longest vacation I've had. That vacation is both a blessing and a curse,making me to realize (once more) how much the universe had been allowing me to coast through life without the usual fare it exacts from other mere mortals. I guess a big thank you is in order, and a promise that I'll do better from now on.

I've also been kicking myself for some gaffes at work lately. Maybe these aren't noticeable, but hey, I knew. Thats the most important thing, that I know. So there, one more kick. And a promise to do better.

On the flip side, been getting used to the routine now, morning workouts never worked for me before so this is new. It's getting enjoyable as well, working out with the mommy crowd. Oh you should see the mommies dancing!

before Jen created her wedding playlist

The past 2 weeks are brutal; it's been raining everyday and it feels like i have Death on the passenger seat each night I drive home along the wet and slippery expressways. 

***

Got inadvertently outed over steak and ribs. To total strangers. For the first time I didn't blush. For the first time I didn't struggle for words. It felt good. I should do it more often.

***

Slowly getting used to the idea of the move. Will never get used to the stress of any moves. Occassional evening dates, pabaon lunches and late night snuggles helped. Weekends are beggining to be extra special, and every time has become quality time.

***

Had to show my fangs lately. Soon they'll know I bite, too.

***

WDF

Few things jolt me from my indifference to the state of consumer affairs in this country.

This is one of them.

rising up to the challenge ...what challenge?

I've officially become the sounding board of wish lists and grand plans, and everytime I hear dreams I think "how are we going to do all these?". I reluctantly would agree that everything is possible, that with the right allocation of resources we can make things happen.

Still, the glaring yet unmentionable fact is that I will have to drive most of this. It's like God himself, when he made heaven and earth, was commanding someone, right? Like when he said "Let there be light" there's someone out there waiting to scratch a match.

Feels like I am that one holding the match. Now I need a sounding board of my own.

lost kid i marry

And i've been falling in love with you more each passing day.

Today of all days a simple yet grand gesture, Iimagine you braving the commuting jungle that is Metro Manila, asking kind old ladies and brusko bus conductors for directions. I can imagine you waiting for me as the coffee shop is about to close, wondering where to go next, walking in the rain to the nearest 24-hour fastfood you swore not to eat in. 

Of course, I'll ask that you imagine me inside Halle, cringing each time a huge bus would pass by and fearing that the final tidal wave of muddy flood water would reach high enough to stall her. I'll ask you to wait a bit longer, praying to all the gods to suck out the flood and stop the rain. 

In the middle of all this, I remember why I proposed the first time. And I remember why there's no deadline at all. 

Because when all my prayers have been answered and I've found the best treasure I could have in the whole world, it would be petty to measure time in terms of how long we've waited or how much we're wasted looking for it.

You simply were worth it.

bahay-bahayan

Went out househunting with Enzo today. I wanted a small house, with a small lawn wide enough for a cat and a dog to run around. We found several candidates, mostly painted pink, and we ended up rejecting them for the paint.

Until we found one nice corner townhouse along Lovely Street. Broody would approve. It's a bit larger than what I need but heck, I could convert one bedroom into a closet, right?

The jury's still out, though. Need one last viewing with Broody and the boys perhaps. Still, my mind's already busy thinking about transforming the place into a home. 

Hmmm. Beats moving to Los Angeles, that one I am sure of. 

genio award for being last

One Friday night with the boys, it was a pleasant surprise to find out that M crossed the finished line ahead of me. Way ahead, like one year and a half ahead. 

And that led me to realize that I came in LAST. Never before had I felt so good about being last. I just wished I've known earlier. 

Pat on the back. Give out the genio award. This one gives new meaning to the phrase "saving the best for last."

meet my first

 Desktop, that is. Yes, my very first.

You see, I've never owned a desktop, ever! The very first PC I owned was an IBM Thinkpad, and the mobility that notebooks offered was the primary consideration for my subsequent choices.

However, something happened that made me reconsider this criteria. It's a collection of events and factors, really.

First, last weekend, on one of the semi-regular Sabado nights with the boys, my ever-reliable, almost-6-year-old Toshiba notebook failed. From what I gathered from the boys who are using it at that time, they're just playing some "movies" and kept on jumping back on some "scenes", when the screen went black and nada.

So, on the eve of our road trip to Putipot Island in Zambales, we had to bring the laptop to a techsupport center and have it diagnosed, and hopefully, get it fixed. 

Long story cut short, the motherboard is dead, HD retrievable (oh the porn! the porn!) and a new computer needs to be purchased. Segue: techsupport lost my bag, and given the notebook is worthless and the bag is a Samsonite,  can you blame me for wanting it back?

So, a choice has to be made: on such short notice (I already missed 3 days of work for not having a computer), which computer to buy? The expensive Mac Air seems a stretch. The inexpensive Asus the size of a pocketbook seems inadequate. Somewhere in the middle lies the answer, but do I want an affordable notebook that I wouldn't be so keen on using at coffeeshops because of its bulk? Not really.

After going around Cyberzone a few minutes, I came across this Dell package, and I liked it the first time I saw it. It took Jen and Manny to seal the deal. Plus a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts and 3 cough-syrup-flavored chillers. 

And the mobility of notebooks? I've set my sights on the Mac Air, but until Apple gets it right (until this Christmas, at least) the Vaio still stands a chance. Or the 15-inch Mac Book pro. But until I get back to that coffee-shop work style that I'm so used before my work-at-home gigs, I'm staying put with my desktop. My first.

looks trump talent

The ironies of the Beijing Olympics never stop. This time, using an ordinary-looking girl's great vocal talents and having a beautiful one lip-synch to it. Wunnerful! wunnerful!

Of course, there's my bias to begin with. Beijing should have never been given this Olympics or any other for that matter, until China improves its HR record (that's human rights, stupeeed)....

*Sigh* 

hi-tek

Distant, disconnected, disoriented. 

This is what happens when you ride the wrong elevator - you end up where you started - on the ground floor.

Plus points for the nice 360-degree view of the industrial park, the cuties in suits (that includes me!) and the office suites. Nice. Nice. Nice.

Plus points for the Skyway. And the wonderful, almost 2-hour conversation. Overall, net positive. If only. If only.

the weather channel

Four in the last 4 weeks. That's a lot. It's raining Californians :-)

pandas' greetings

me and the mmda

On a Friday afternoon not too long ago, Broody witnessed me negotiating with an MMDA the amount of bribe it would take for him to let me off the hook for beating the red light. Never mind that the intersection is impossibly congested and that the traffic light goes green for about a minute before going red for the next ten. Never mind that there are other cars who did the same. I was the last one to cross and there's nowhere to go anyway. 

Today, on another Friday afternoon, same congested intersection. Same MMDA person. Different violation - coding day and it's way past my driving window. For a split second I thought I'd stop and bribe him again...but only for a second. As the road before me cleared, I sped off. There, I ran away from the MMDA. 

A briber and a fugitive. 

too long ago

It's a bit amusing how my Present, who has always advocated me staying friends with my pasts, found one particular Past's maneuverings irritating. Amusing in a nice, sweet kind of way. 

And two and a half years ago, this was written:

Anyway, this is just my way of coping with your being gone and away. I will let go only when it is time to let go of my feelings for you. For now, I will hold on with what I feel for you, as long as I can. I have no expectations, just hopes. Hope that we will both be happy with our lives, together or apart. Hope that we will continue to be friends, and keep in touch from time to time. Hope that the lessons we learned will stay with us forever, and will help us in our future relationships.

Gasp. We hardly kept in touch. We barely communicate. But for whatever it's worth, we each found our happiness. 

it's not that bad

Turning a corner, that's how it feels. An emotional corner. It looks like the countdown is ending with a surprisingly enlightened turn of events. Of course, last minute surprises can still upset the results. Gosh am starting to sound like one of those market commentators on Bloomberg.

Broody, as usual, provided the calm. So Zen.

becoz

because it ain't over 'till the fat lady sings....or something to that effect. 

if that's the case

...then why am I still counting?

funnity from grad school

erwin:

"when i was working for an investment bank, i go to Hoovers. 

now in VA, i go to Hooters."

sandy:

"La Salle policy does not allow 'go to hell" as a curse."

more sandy:

"La Salle policy does not allow certain words that start with 'F', such as 'Failed' "

and another sandy:

"No fistfights allowed. That's only for the Parliaments of Taiwan and Korea."

funnity from grad school

erwin:

"when i was working for an investment bank, i go to Hoovers. 

now in VA, i go to Hooters."

sandy:

"La Salle policy does not allow 'go to hell" as a curse."

more sandy:

"La Salle policy does not allow certain words that start with 'F', such as 'Failed' "

and another sandy:

"No fistfights allowed. That's only for the Parliaments of Taiwan and Korea."

funnity from grad school

erwin:

"when i was working for an investment bank, i go to Hoovers. 

now in VA, i go to Hooters."

sandy:

"La Salle policy does not allow 'go to hell" as a curse."

more sandy:

"La Salle policy does not allow certain words that start with 'F', such as 'Failed' "

and another sandy:

"No fistfights allowed. That's only for the Parliaments of Taiwan and Korea."

funnity from grad school

erwin:

"when i was working for an investment bank, i go to Hoovers. 

now in VA, i go to Hooters."

sandy:

"La Salle policy does not allow 'go to hell" as a curse."

more sandy:

"La Salle policy does not allow certain words that start with 'F', such as 'Failed' "

and another sandy:

"No fistfights allowed. That's only for the Parliaments of Taiwan and Korea."

funnity from grad school

erwin:

"when i was working for an investment bank, i go to Hoovers. 

now in VA, i go to Hooters."

sandy:

"La Salle policy does not allow 'go to hell" as a curse."

more sandy:

"La Salle policy does not allow certain words that start with 'F', such as 'Failed' "

and another sandy:

"No fistfights allowed. That's only for the Parliaments of Taiwan and Korea."

will lightning strike the pool

I forgot the answer, am sure one of my natural sciences geek friends had provided the answer to this in gradeschool, probably Dax or Bong...so i ask again, will lightning strike me while swimming at the pool?

Because I wanted to practice...while I have the time. So while I wait for the weather to clear up a bit I put on that DVD of Brothers and Sisters and started with the first season. It's so full of drama I wonder why I even bothered to re-watch QAF when I have this juicy bit of a primetime soap.

Anyway, had brunch with two of the boys today. While waiting for K to arrive at that Powerbooks in Megamall, me and M tried to browse at the selections of specialty books, M doing the rounds of Design (because he's a RULER) and me going the Pinks (because I am a PROTRACTOR). I can't believe there's so many, until I realize they're from just a few authors. 

I picked one of Louie Cano's..reading the first few articles of his Brusko Pink and actually liking it. Until I realize someone's been passing by three or four times with a knowing smile on his face. No, knowing smile doesn't really describe it. It's more like a sneer or a look-down smile. From where I was standing it was insulting, so I looked back and returned a sneer.

An "o, ano tinitingin-tingin mo" look is more like it. Natakot ang loko...

Back to Brothers & Sisters. Ang drama-drama naman....but I know I'll be hooked. I just know.

townclownbrowncountdown

t - 31

and the timer starts NOW!

*got tons of books to read - Salinger, Hull, Albom, Lowry, Laquian-Laquian, Porter*

*two new skills to learn - swim, Spanish*

*more DVDs to watch and re-watch*

*three drawers and a box to organize*

* and I got time on my hands I do not intend to waste while "waiting"*

*as my dear horoscope said, this time it's extra-routine but not extra-boring*

*oh and I get to do regular brunch with the boys, drinky-drinky with the "friendship" and regular watermelon dates with Broody*

*although I am worried by this: "new things become old things, and then they are gone -- and you might miss them.." 

hmmmmm...

patience (not so) young grasshopper

It is a virtue I sorely lack these times, but I concede that I need more of it if I were to make the best out of this situation I find myself in. 

It's good to have a deadline, so I take one and stick to the game plan. After all, it is not as if I can pack my bags and fly out of here tomorrow...maybe two days from tomorrow, if I get too technical about it. No, I mean making the right decision at the right time. 

I believe.

kung fu fanda (or things i wanna say but won't because i can't)

"yes, i am staying put. i figured the ground around me is shaking so badly it wouldn't help if i keep on moving my feet. so i stay put, on that tiny slab of ground that refuses to disintegrate because my feet are planted on it."

"Broody asked me not to give up on YOU. i said I won't. i am not. i haven't. but YOU seem to have given up, and so i cross my fingers and hope for the best while preparing for the worst. i figured there's nothing wrong in keeping options available, no matter if i don't intend to exercise them yet. but if there's one thing about options i've learned in school, it is that they have strike prices and expiry dates, and the closer you are to that date, the lower your option value becomes. true for finance, true for everyday life."

"i am the last person who should be judging you. i knew how it is, that nagging feeling that he's not the one, that no matter how close he is to the ideal, no matter how much you try to fit the ideal to him, he's only just close enough. so you hang on while keeping your eyes open. that's fine, but please be fair, please be kind, and please be honest. you may deserve more, but he deserves as much."

AND THIS:

"Mopey, the evil kids took all the pandas...promise me you'll get me my pandas...promise?"

two daddies and a doggy

...is how i would have named this film if movie titles are based on their endings...at least that's what i jokingly said to Broody after we watched it tonight.

Shelter indeed is an instant classic, as OUT magazine puts it.

I can say so many things about this film, on why i loved it, but i'll limit myself to this: i did relate to it, and if i write a love story, it will be something like this.

it's that time of year

no, not another wedding blog, but i wonder if June really is the wedding month? 

it's that time of year when my lease expires and I'm house-hunting once again. it seems like a yesterday lang when I moved...and it's moving time again. it's stressful and fun at the same time. my wise wise old friend geo advised the obvious - go get your own place and stay put. yep maybe i will pare....

the interesting part is that i usually move in with the minimum of stuff with me, mostly personal effects as i tend to choose fully-furnished one, and i usually just needed my luggage and i'm all set to live in..but when i move out, it looked like i furnished the place. i accumulate so much clutter in a year's time i'd need to call in reinforcements and sometimes even do a garage giveaway (yep, giveaways exclusive to those who have been helping me move in and out for years, members of the gang). this time it's not going to be any different (except for the extra hands 

another interesting part: it looks like i'm set to lease my same old pad in Salcedo...so far those i've surveyed do not know of any superstition about living in the same place you left behind way back. but then again, i haven't heard from my mother 

besides, the upside wins. plus i get yet another excuse to buy that new LCD TV i wanted...

walrus washed up the shore

Sometime ago, our ringbearer came. We hoped he'd stayed longer. To Ate Jon, goodluck on your new assignment. Until we meet again..

See Broody's kawawa face begging you to stay :-)

tick tack tick tack

A few more hours and what Broody calls a honeymoon of sorts begins. We've been planning to go to the beach ever since we met each other a little more than a year ago. By then summer's ending, the lightning and thunderstorms have become more frequent, and I've come to witness and write about Broody's fright of thunder. We've been to the beach on our 6th month together but nothing like this - this time around we get to do all the things that we playfully imagined as a couple.

Like then, a new chapter in our lives is beginning - work, school, relationship...this time around it's clearer, more certain, and yet new uncertainties uncover themselves. Like then, excitement to learning what's in store for us create a link between happiness and sorrow, between letting go and loving anew. Things are different, things are the same. 

There are endings and there are beginnings. There is happiness and there is sorrow. We can only hope that as we experience any and all these things we grow as human beings. 

This journey has been, and still is, the best gift this universe blessed me with. 

Cheap and crap

Yep they go together. Cheap = crappy.

That's how I'd call budget airlines. That's how I would call Cebu Pacific. They may offer zero or 1-peso airfares around this country, and if you're lucky you'll really enjoy the cheap part. It's the crappy part that you'd better pray won't happen along with the cheap.

Am not talking delayed flights - worst delay I've encountered so far is an hour, which is apparently "standard" everywhere nowadays. No, delayed flights are the least of my gripes. 

I'm talking long lines and frequent "system" changes that this airline seems to have in store for you all the time. Their flyers say "avoid the line, go online.." but guess what? That's what I did and I ended up wasting 5 hours of my life getting things done. Five hours which should have been spent packing (I only need half for Christ'ssake)...

First they tell me, (twice!), that the ticket office near my place is authorized to handle my booking changes. Then 2 days before our departure, ticket office tells me their system changed, that I have to transact at their main office. On my way there,  a call center agent calls me informing me they've changed my return flight. Then, at the main ticketing office in Galleria, you wouldn't believe (or you would) how long the line is. Thirteen counters, 12 agents (is that what they're called?) ... and they are all serving - ONE person at a time??? Wadapak?

Yes, that surely would set anyone off to get a bomb and detonate the place along with himself. Sana nga ganun na lang. But it's Broody and Mopey's first Boracay vacation as a couple, and while this do-it-yourself booking has gone from heavenly click-and-pay to a murderously wait-all-you-want-we-don't-care affair, I'd better hold on to whatever patience left in me and suffer this ordeal. They'd better not have delayed flights!

Anyway, long line (este, story) short, I got the re-booking hoopla fixed. While waiting for my turn with the cashier, I overheard an old lady arguing with another counter agent about how she's being made to pay extra re-booking charges for the agent's mistake. Apparently, a few minutes ago, she wrote her desired flight schedule on a piece of paper to guide the ticketing agent in booking her family (they're traveling separately). The agent, finding some dates closed (and too lazy to check things out, I suppose), apparently decided to book them under one flight notwithstanding the old lady's written instruction. When the old lady realized the error, she called the agent's attention and ask that she change the booking, to which the agent responded that to do so the old lady will have to pay for re-booking penalties. WADAPAK? 

Well, I guess it's too much to expect Cebu Pacific to at least have some redeeming qualities other than the P0-fare or P1-fare that's attracting customers to their side. I'm just thinking, rather than offer "savings" thru their budget fares, why not provide better service (at least better customer service) for regular fares? 

My take? The rhetorical "is it too much to ask" gets answered by the name of the conglomerate behind this airline. 

sometimes i wish i were

a spawn of the devil...

so that i wouldn't have to worry about whether i am being patient enough, being kind enough, or being charitable enough.

sometimes you see people for what they really are, and blood rushes to your head and lose your sanity momentarily, insane enough to stoop far below and hit back and draw blood...

but that's just it. you immediately regain yourself and realize it's not worth losing it. sometimes the best thing to do is just walk away. and another best thing is to stay away.

i am walking away.
i am staying away.

i command you

this time around, it wasn't a question. it was a command. a directive.

i got it wrong here. i realize my dad calls me twice a year to inquire about my life...once in January sometime around my birthday...another in May, around his. I would have thought this time he would have forgotten to ask.

technically it was I who called.
technically it was mom I called.
still didn't stop dad from delivering his "intermission" speech.

*sigh*

that's how I responded, btw....

bag yu

one wet summer.
one of many escapes.
typhoon signal # 3 making landfall while we're having dinner at Mario's.

we insisted on enjoying Baguio, anyway. Bagyu kung bagyo....

and on other news...my favorite US state made headlines this weekend. yey!

on why i've never told her

More than anything, because I know she'll never understand, she'll never accept, and she'll never forgive.

I love her. I know she loves me. I love her enough to spare her the grief, among many things. I know her enough to be afraid of her, for her.

When she found out about my flirtations with seventh-day adventists, she deliberately changed the family menu to pork - all pork all week. When someone mentioned about that rumor about me going SDA, she almost hinted on me getting into drugs as an excuse.

No, I do not have a monster for a mom. It's just the way things are in my family. I've come to accept, even before I've come to accept myself.

sleepy happy

it sounds silly
but for someone who's never had an anniversary before this
forgive me for asking....

do you mark the date
or do you celebrate the day?




 

on a night like this

We found each other...

coz we're in the market for cats and dogs (and ducks and ponies)

katie's world

"In my world, everyone's a pony...and they all eat rainbows...and poop butterflies."

My clover, too

drive-thru

You know I'm desperate (either because of time constraints or because of a poorly stocked kitchen) when I resort to McDonald's by midnight for sustenance. Not that I haven't done fastfood but I've been reducing junk food and meat intake, as my goal for 2008 and beyond is to convert to pescetarianism.

My desperation for junk food aside, I can only say that McDonald's drive-thru service is sooooo slow I could have ordered from their store counter ala-takeout. Yes, sana nag-take out na lang ako...imagine waiting for 20 minutes on the drive-thru ramp for good old french fries and fried chicken, with no other customer but you?

Way to go McDonald's....and this is no isolated incident. Had the same experience at least twice before, one from the same branch in Ortigas.

Compare the drive-thru service of Krispy Kreme. You order, roll about 5 meters, pick up and pay your order in a under 5 minutes. And if you're lucky, you get freshly made donuts for free, handed out by a smiling crew.

Now that's service.

me thinks

been contemplating on going back to blogspot for my blogging needs. i've come to multilple forks in the road where my thoughts seem to diverge into different things that "tagging" may not be sufficient (for the record, i do not tag my posts)...

still, the matter requires lots of consideration...especially now that photography is once again calling me....

oh and this morning, i woke up with, uhmmm you know, "him" at the other bed. He didn't say a word. I got up instead to get some water (I was parched and sweaty)....and then I noticed one fixture that's not supposed to be there. Well, not really, it was supposed to be there but it's supposed to be positioned one way, and I specifically remember placing it that way last night because I decided to sleep on the other bed...suddenly, I felt a slight chill and the following thoughts came to mind, in order of their "appearance" :

*there's a ghost in my house.

**i was sleep-walking last night and run over the thing.

***a burglar came in, stole my porn HD, noiselessly ran over that thing

****laws of physics, specifically aerodynamics, caused the move...

That, my friends, was how my thought process worked it out...Occam's razor won by the way, and tonight I shall confirm my hypothesis...

hmmm

oh hell

I spoke to Death this morning and I complained about what I saw

and he said, "it's that time of year, young grasshopper"

and I asked...can't you just take them all now?

and he answered..."if I do, you'll be less angry yet less motivated to fight.."

but fighting I am not....

"yes you are...and you are better off for doing so..."

He's taunting me, I am sure. He just wanted me around because he has no use of me dead. Well, I have no use of me dead, either....

sell out

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will this ever pay up?

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a walkout and a bandwagon

Ok, while contemplating on a walk out from a late conference where the host is a quarter-hour late, I got to read gymcrush's blog...him mentioning anything is certain to elicit a google response from me, as always...so i googled "dj montano" and whatdoyouhave? the juiciest "tidbits" you can find in pinoy blogosphere to-date.

unfortunately, some blog entries are gone...sayang...would have made me stay a little longer, but that would mean me raising hell now (instead of tomorrow) for some people whose livelihoods hang on the balance.

so, gossip? or fact? who cares? it's pure entertainment! sali na!

on partner yoga and ugly sights

Sure, the photos looked good. so did shots of synchronized swimmers in the olympic albums. or ballet dancers for that matter...but partner yoga? Leave it to Fitness First to temporarily replace a perfectly okay yoga class with a totally boring and utterly useless partner yoga. About the only people who are happy February came are the fags and their hags. Am serious, aside from Winnie and her partner, no other "regular" was there. Well, maybe the regular fags and their not-so regular hags...

Anyway, after weeks of avoiding the partner class (i walked out the first time they had it, i thought it was another usual Ashtanga session. Winnie, seeing my expression when they announced about the changes, didn't attempt to convince me to pair with someone. I guess the only one who could have been my partner also walked out hehehe)...we're back to the usual..

And then i found this...http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/01/23/partner_yoga/ hahaha I am not alone.....

on migraine and 6am flights

Halfway through an unusually lengthy migraine attack, and the threat of being sent to Brunei during Holy Week, plus the panic and paranoia brought by delays with the launch of an online retail site being designed by a team chosen on the merit of friendship and not of competence, I stop and take a deep breath, and allow myself to be saddened even more by Foxy's seemingly unexpected departure this morning. It just seemed rushed and unexpected, though she announced it to me 2 weeks before (and sort of told everyone last Christmas, when she also announced her engagement).

I've known in advance, but I was still taken by surprise. Ngayon!? Now na? I thought it would happen pretty later,not sooner. The last time I saw her she needed to talk about the separation. I didn't think it would be as soon as 6am today.

I'll probably see her in a few months. Or maybe not. She left with no plans of coming back, what with the wedding and all other things in her mind. If she had her way she'll return only to visit. If she had her way she'll probably prefer that her friends visit her instead. She felt there's nothing keeping her here. In a different life I would have shared her views.

We don't see each other that often, mostly during holiday meetups and the occassional "I just need to talk..." moments that seemed to have become less frequent as we both settled in our own domestic bliss *wink*...but that doesn't diminish the sadness in realizing you have one less friend on the speed dial whom you can call when you badly need someone to talk to or listen to.

She'll probably read this tomorrow...or the day after. Am keeping my YM on, just in case she finds a way to chat while waiting for her connecting flight. Oh I miss her already.

Anyway, migraine's almost gone. They say coffee's bad for it but heck, I want my caffeine, so I'll load it up. Half dozen cups and a mope-y blog...i'll bitch about that website later and try to fight being thrown to that island below Mindanao. Nothing against the Sultanate but pleeez, not during Holy week...

guess the line

"it is hard to imagine how someone so beautiful could ever be lonely"

come on. tao rin naman sila ah...

bisikleta

in a few minutes i'll be attending my first yoga class in 2008 and my first class in like 6 months. not that I've not done occassional poses now and then, but I do it usually to cool down from my workout. so I am out of practice...


it's been a while since i've done some "marketing" work, 2 years to be exact...so am out of practice...

but heck...parang bisikleta daw yan. it will all come back to me once i start pedaling...yey!

such a geek

Hah! Found a way to run Skype on my mobile phone bypassing the costly date connection charges whenever I'm in a hot spot.

On my online path, I discovered a few other mobile solutions to cover my instant messaging anywhere there's WiFi or 3G.

Here they are:

iSkoot is my mobile solution for Skype, even without Windows Mobile (yes, Skype Mobile is built just for WinMobile, which sucks coz, who uses that anyway?)

Then there's EQO, another IM application for mobile phones. It's trickier, though, since your phone can be connecting via your network's internet service, bypassing free WiFi (and you'll get data connection charges to the tune of 15 centavos per kbps, which sums up to huge bucks if you stay online 24/7). Also, instant messaging is more like instant-messaging-later (haven't figured out how to accelerate this on my UIQ3) Oh btw, i found EQO on Multipy :-)

And finally, if only because of the cute mascot, I installed QQ on my notebook and hope to use it on my EQO. Well, QQ apparently is a South African app designed to create online communities in, guess where, South Africa!

I wonder.....

on a night like this

An old episode of Grey's Anatomy reduced me to tears. All because George's dad died and Izzie got too involved once again. All because there's a party down the pool and their sound system needs to be drowned by the show's soundtrack...All because of that song...Falling Awake.

Damn. Now am laughing. A good laugh. A really good laugh.

Okay, time to sleep but I need to laugh more. So there, another episode for me.

laugh (silently)

From the COO of a certain call center operator, on why the contract should be ignored:

"This have been agreed many many months ago. It is now mute and academic...."

Ano daw?

naman...

Dad: we need to talk...i'm coming over this weekend...

Me: about....?

Dad: you, what have you been doing with your life. when are you gonna settle down.

Me: whoa..uhmmm i have plans this weekend. how about next weekend?

Dad: ok, sige, next weekend. Delaying tactics yan pero sige, pagbibigyan kita...

Whoa. I thought it had stopped. This thing, these follow-ups on when I'm settling down. It used to be that he'd call me once a week just to ask about my plans. Then he stopped, for a year...and now, he's back with a vengeance.

Oh well, might as well tell him ;-)

money matters

Two things: one, you have to spend money to make money; two, time is money. Is it therefore correct to say that in order to make money, you have to spend time?

Yes?

Well, am trying to vent. I just cancelled a project after weeks of preparation because (a) someone is not "ready" to spend and (b) someone is not willing to wait longer than 2 weeks for their investment to pay off.

Heck, my business school classes would take this as their case for the course entitled: How to lose in business in 10 days...

and this made me dreamy

he really loves him :-) aawww

they may not know me, but i wish them the best...

this made me sleepy

the search for a new gymcrush is on....jon and broody on board, so we needed 3...

or do we?

it's NOT the content, stupid

i know you have a brain the size half of a rodent's, but the next time you say the word content i swear i'll spray Racumin all over your desk. please, leave the ideas to me. that is what you pay me for.

now, you really did not think a department store sells clothes by displaying Hallmark greetings at the window, instead of the clothes or images of people wearing those clothes, did you?

tenk yu, tenk yu