Full of (Hot) Air

OK, so this wasn't my 2nd to the last installment after all. But I wanted to post this lest I forget to do so. Besides, a post with the last 3 First Things seems a better idea.

First Thing #27 - See hot air balloons in person.

So we woke up really early on a Sunday to watch these hot air balloons take flight. Wait, scratch that. We didn't wake up early, we didn't sleep at all.

Since they were scheduled to take flight around 5:30am, my friend and I decided to watch a late night movie at 11:30 the previous night (we watched 127 Hours. Major eew!), pick up our other friends at 3am then head off to Clark.

Well, the Hot Air Balloon Festival didn't start promptly. Shocker! I think it's because it's still too dark and cloudy for them to fly the balloons? But that's just my theory. We were getting sleepy and hungry (the cool, early morning breeze didn't help), so when we heard the National Anthem blasting from the speakers, signaling the start of the fest, I felt a rush of excitement!

We didn't get to see the balloons up close since we're not too keen on squeezing our way through the huge crowd that showed up that day. But they looked good anyhow, from where we were standing. It's just a shame that for one to ride in one, you have to pay $150! Gosh.

Anyway, all in all it was a good way to spend a pre-Valentine weekend. Who wouldn't want to see Darth Vader up in the air?

2nd To The Last Installment

I hate that I've been really sluggish in completing this list. I've less than a month to go, and I need four more to reach the finish line!

First Thing #24 - (Willingly) sport bangs.

I say willingly because I've had bangs before, back when I was still a toddler and could be bullied into any hairstyle my parents feel like. I'm sure all girls (and some boys?) my age have had the 'apple' haircut at one time or the other. It was all the rage amongst us 80s kids.

Anyway, so last December, I decided to have my long-overdue haircut and instructed the Korean stylist to give me bangs. A new look for the new year, ika nga. I felt really queasy while he was cutting away my precious hair, because I was afraid to look like an ensaymada. Thankfully, I didn't and I thought it kinda looked good.

But now I've grown tired of the bangs and couldn't wait for my hair to grow back. I remember now why I didn't want one in the first place: my hair covering my face. A face like this needs to be seen! Harhar.

First Thing #25 - Codename: Pepino.

This one's sorta X-rated, so I won't expound. Let's just say this had something to do with a bridal shower. Eew.


First Thing #26 - Eat tempura.

Well, ebi (shrimp) tempura, that is. Since I'm allergic to seafood- shrimp, squid, crab- I've never tried eating it. People have always commented that I'm missing half of my life because the allergy, especially being born in a country with overflowing bounty of the sea. But I've never really felt that way because I've eaten seafood before (how'd you think I found out I was allergic?) and I don't recall going gaga over its taste.

However, when we tried this new Japanese restaurant last Monday, I decided to finally try the tempura. I was armed and ready with my Claritin and Coke Zero. I didn't expect much from it, but I was pleasantly surprised with the taste. It was very delicious, the shrimp meat was ultra soft that it kind of melted in my mouth.

After that wonderful experience, I will definitely eat tempura now. But probably only in that restaurant. For now. =)

Just My Luck

Q: What's worse than a jejemon?
A: A jejemon working in the government.

It's not a secret that government employees are not my favorite people. Let's just say that all of my experiences dealing with government offices have been downright nasty. They've all been very consistent in giving incredibly bad service, that the one time I sorta had an uneventful-bordering-on-pleasant experience, I nearly died of a heart attack.

Anyway, so today I had another memorable conversation with one of our esteemed civil servants. As a backgrounder, I asked a messenger to send some documents to this 3-lettered office. I addressed the envelope to an officer who previously received documents similar to the ones I was sending, a couple of days ago. The messenger returned in the afternoon, with an unopened envelope and a scribbled mobile number. He said that the guy was asking why I addressed the envelope to him, if I knew him, and that I should call him instead. So at this point, I was already somehow pissed because it was really important that the documents be processed today.

I dial the number, and the honorable officer answered, 'Eyo powz?' WTF!?! If I had someone read my blood pressure that very second, I probably would have made the medical journals.

So I tried my hardest to compose myself and ask him in perfect English if I could speak with Mr. So and So. He immediately reverted to a professional manner and I just continued to speak to him in English. I asked him why he had me call and if there was anything wrong with the documents I sent. He just said that he wondered why I addressed the envelope to him, and how come I knew his name. So I told him and also repeated my question about the documents. This is the killer answer: he doesn't know because he didn't check them. Before I could stop myself, I retorted, 'So you didn't open the envelope??'

I won't write here the rest of the conversation but you can already guess that I was fighting a losing battle. It's bad enough that he works for the government, he had to be a jeje too. So fun.

P.S. For those wondering who or what is a jejemon, here is a Wikipedia definition. I can't believe they made it to Wikipedia. Sheesh.