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.

Reading the Stars

I'm fond of reading horoscopes just for the simple fun of it. I love reading descriptions of my Aries/Monkey personality and learning who I'm compatible with. Like everyone else I guess, I like knowing what the future holds for me. I mean I don't consult it before I make any big decisions, I'm more of a 'selective' believer. I only believe it when it gives me good news. =)

So just for the heck of it, I'm posting here what will happen to me this year. Let's see if they will come true.

Here's what the Western horoscope has in store for me in 2011:

Year 2011 Overview
Out with the old matrix and in with something totally different -- with trailblazing Rams leading the way as usual. It's all about the new in 2011. Others will take their cues from you especially when Uranus follows Jupiter into Aries in March. You won't have a second to forget that you're the consummate pioneer of the zodiac. With Jupiter and Uranus tag teaming it in your constellation, much new ground needs breaking in 2011. You'll barely have a second to rest and process all the brand spanking newness that has become part and parcel of your everyday life. Long-distance travel, philosophy, higher learning and experimentation are all par for a very exciting course as this mighty year unfolds.

Expect a birthday season to remember with lucky Jupiter and life-changing Uranus working wonders in your fiery stars. Your innate go-getter instincts are off the charts. As the spring season gets underway, life hits maximum speed (sleep, what's that?) May Day alert: Circle May 1 on your calendar with a big red sharpie, Rams! An explosive amount of Aries planetary energy abounds as six -- count 'em, six -- planets traverse your incendiary corner of the zodiac simultaneously. This includes Moon, Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Uranus all rallying for your cause. Age of Aquarius themes pop up as Jupiter in fact does align with Mars on this very powerful day. Every second counts and actions speak infinitely larger than words.

Summertime brings Jupiter's jackpot in your money sector. Expect a nice fattening of the piggy between June and December with incredible opportunities to make the big bank. Love, pleasure and romance hit a high note in late September. Venus brings the beauty and love to your partnership sector while Mars simultaneously brings the sparks to your romance sector. Long-distance travel and adventures galore take precedence in November. While in December professional responsibilities will demand the majority of time and energy. But if you're willing to go the extra mile, your status could easily skyrocket.
And here's what the Chinese have to say:

Monkey Overview
If last year was a whirlwind, you might need to hang on for another wild ride. In the Year of the Metal Rabbit, things will probably ebb and flow without much warning. You'll have to buckle down and do some serious planning in order to get the most out of 2011, and you might be in for a challenge. You have plenty of ingenuity and flexibility, so call on those strengths when things get sticky. The Rabbit favors peace and order, which could clash with your love of fun and games. Use your favorable months to get ahead and lay low during the unfavorable ones. You might not have a blockbuster year, but there are lessons to be learned. Seek out the moral of the story and try to live by it.

Monkey Career
If other things are shaky this year, work might be a solid foundation to stand on. While I wouldn't recommend rocking the boat, stay proactive at the office and offer to take on more. You might have to put in overtime, but your dedication won't go unnoticed. Try to stay put for now, even if you're restless. Can you make your cubicle more entertaining? Bring some headphones to work and get inspired by some tunes. Buy donuts and bagels for your co-workers. Chummy up with your colleagues at office outings. Anything you can do to make work more fun will probably help you stay productive.

Monkey Relationships
The land of love may be rife with conflict this year. The Rabbit loves to be adored and indulged, while you think such things are a bit frivolous. Your partner might have a laundry list of demands that seem ridiculous. Are you just going through a rough patch or are your differences too much to handle? Consider compromise before you go making any rash decisions. It could be you need to be more sensitive this year. Your jokes and Monkey antics aren't understood by all. If you're single, someone might feel like getting serious with you. Are you ready? Make a pros and cons list before you go signing any marriage licenses or mortgage papers.

Monkey Health
Remember that children's song about monkeys jumping on the bed? You might be the first one to fall off this year, so make sure you don't bonk your head. Take care of your health so you don't end up missing out on play time. Are you putting off a doctor's visit? Do you need a teeth cleaning? Better to get it out of the way now rather than wait until it gets worse. The Rabbit's fondness for staying home might not sit well with your active nature. Make sure you get outdoors enough. Stale indoor air can be ridden with germs, so open plenty of windows and clean your surroundings with eco-friendly products. Take up tap dancing or salsa lessons to spice things up when you're in a funk.

Monkey Wealth
Money matters might look brighter than other areas of your life in 2011. Your sign's element is Metal, which bodes well for you in a Metal year. There will be a lot of Triple Metal days to look forward to, which means the element of our year, month and day all align. Mark those on your calendar. While you might not see the tangible rewards yet, your efforts now will bear fruit later. Make sure you're saving a percentage of each paycheck. You could meet with some unexpected expenses this year. Try not to spend on frivolous things. Create a working budget and do your best to stick to it.

By the way, both were taken from the Yahoo! astrology page to get a good comparison. But it seems that the only common denominator is that I'll get loads of money in 2011. I can't complain to that. Bring it on! =)

Mind Your Manners

I'm sure most of us have known these things since we were little kids. But apparently, some people grew up in the jungle together with Tarzan, that they need to be taught these few basic rules:

1. When you cough, sneeze, or burp, please learn to say 'Excuse me' and always cover your mouth! It's bad enough that you're making those disgusting noises. Don't shower us with your germs, too.

2. Always say 'Thank you'. And this should be replied with, 'You're welcome'. Say 'I'm sorry' when you bump into someone or accidentally step on their foot. Don't pretend like nothing happened. 'Thank you', 'You're welcome', and 'I'm sorry' -- Learn these words by heart.

3. Don't talk when your mouth is full. No, that's not multi-tasking when you chew and speak at the same time. We really don't want to see how efficient your incisors and molars are in grinding food.

4. Don't be a litterbug. If you throw something on the street, a housekeeping fairy won't clean up after you and make your trash magically disappear. The world is not your own personal garbage can, so stop acting like it is.

5. Practice some elevator courtesy. Let those getting off the elevator (or lift, if you want to be all British) pass first before you go barging in. There's nothing scarier than being met by a mob in a tiny, enclosed space.

6. If you can help it, never be late for anything. Who wants to be a lady-in-waiting? No one.

That's all for now. But you bet I'll add more to this list in case I bump into those people who have either been raised by wolves or grew up in a bomb shelter.

And They're Back!

I have always been a Jamiroquai fan, from the moment I heard (and saw the MTV of) Virtual Insanity. Love Foolosophy, You Give Me Something and Alright are just some of my favorite songs of theirs. Their music is just so cool! You just can't help but groove to the beat.

And now, just a couple of hours ago, I read in the airline magazine that they've released a new album. Two of the songs are White Knuckle Ride and Blue Skies.

So I listened to White Knuckle Ride first, and I go 'Yup, this is them alright.' It's unmistakably Jamiroquai but a bit more mature. And it's a good thing, like catching up with an old friend you haven't seen in a long time.



Then I listen to Blue Skies. Now, this one really surprised me because it sounded more pop and ballad. Ish. A little different than what we're used to hearing from them, but still very nice.



I'm just so happy they're back and hopefully they're here to stay.

01-01-11

As this is the first day of the year, I will start it right by writing my 2011 year-end goals:

1. Weighed X lbs lighter. It's a yearly promise but I intend to keep it this time as I'm not getting any younger or healthier.

2. Saved at least PhpX,000. This is for my future studies and European tour. Of course this would also mean I've already zeroed out any outstanding credit.

3. Read more. Books, magazines, newspapers- anything to prevent brain atrophy.

4. Wear more make-up. Or more specifically give more attention to my appearance. I've never been a girly girl or been really fussy about how I look, but I guess it's time that I start becoming one. I refuse to sport the 'Stressed Out Spinster' look this year. Or ever.

5. Be more adventurous. In my career and in love. I suppose I've always been a passive spectator to my own life, but not anymore. I need to grow up and take charge of my own life if I want anything great to happen this year.

That's all. I won't promise more than I can keep. I'll go back to this list at the end of the year and see if I was able to do all of them. =)

Hope this year brings everyone much love, peace and happiness that they deserve!

Farewell 2010, Hello 2011!

My 2010 was very eventful and memorable, to say the least. In the last few moments of the year, I find myself wistful recounting those memories and looking back to the year that was. So, here is my Best in 2010 list in pictures:

Best ka-bonding: My brother, Carlo. Manila would've been much more unbearable without him.


Best vacation: Bohol! Got to do lots of crazy things with the best travel buddies.


Best day: My 30th birthday. Together with my 18th, this year's the best celebration ever!


Best healthy addiction: Running. Too bad I wasn't able to join any fun runs in the latter part of the year.


Best thing about my new job: Traveling around the country. I'd never have gone to these places in the last 4 months if not for my job. There really is a silver lining. Always.


Best place to relax and unwind: The beach. Hearing the sound of waves and seeing the blue waters immediately brings me to a good place.


Best Eureka! moment: Coming up with the First Things List. It made me get off my ass and try new things everyday.

Best discovery: New friends. They make the daily grind tolerable, and the boring days interesting.


Best scrapbook moment/s: Cementing old friendships. Like wine, friendships only get better in time.


Best fearless decision: Taking the FSO exam for the first time. Although I didn't make it past the 3rd stage, I'm proud to have made it that far.

Best 'Dear Diary' moment: Good to note that this year, I met someone I really like after a long, long time. Let's just leave it at that. =)


Best returning habit: Blogging. Old habits die hard, and I'm glad to be back writing about stuff here. This is one habit I'll definitely won't let go of next year.

That's just a few of the great (and not so great) things that happened to me this year. Here's to more wonderful and greater adventures in 2011! Cheers! =)

So Not Worth It

I can't believe it was absolute crap. I had my hopes up for this one, waiting for its release for a couple of months now, but it was such an absolute let-down. It was trying so hard to be an art film, and failing miserably.

The plot was pretty basic, but the (inexperienced) director dragged it on to an hour or so of snoozefest. They took a lot of artsy and close-up shots but the cast (especially the lead) didn't have the depth to be able to get away with scenes like this.

The costume design looks a bit off and they could do with a bit more research. And don't let me get started on the dialogues. I don't think people in the 20s uttered sentences like this: "Ang galing mo pala'ng mag-piano." Maybe, they said something like this? "Mahusay ka pala'ng tumugtog ng piano." But what should I know, I never lived in the 20s.

In short, I was sorely disappointed (and to think I have not seen the entire movie). I'm not so sure why the ratings board gave it an A.

If you're going to watch any movie for the Metro Manila Film Festival, just watch Tanging Ina. It's mindless entertainment and it doesn't pretend to be something more than that.

A Christmas Post

They say that Christmas is for kids, and I'd have to agree. Everything seems to be brighter and more joyful at Christmastime when you're a kid. Personally, most, if not all, of my best Christmas memories were from my childhood:

Hanging out with the gang. When we were very little and still living in Manila, we would go house-hopping during Christmas Eve. Our friends would come over our house and eat, then we would go to theirs and eat more food. That's at least 4 houses in one night, so it's one big food fest for us on Christmas Eve. After stuffing our faces, we would all hang out on the street and play with firecrackers. Oh yes, those were the days when we don't worry about getting our fingers blown off. Good times!

Go caroling with friends. We would make our own instruments- drums out of milk cans, and tambourines out of flattened bottle caps- and practice our Christmas repertoire days before our series of performances start. Of course, our 'repertoire' was limited to Ang Pasko Ay Sumapit, Joy To The World, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Santa Clause Is Coming To Town and then our grand finale: "Thank You, Thank You, ambabait ninyo, thank you!". We would go from house to house in our village, and torture our neighbors until they give us the much-desired coins...er, cash. I don't remember now what we did with our loot, but probably these were spent on candies and more fattening junk.

Writing our Christmas wish list for Santa. I remember my sister and I writing letters to Santa and placing them in our socks (we didn't have Christmas stockings, sob sob) hung by our door. Although I believed in Santa then, I recall wondering how he'd give us our gifts when our house didn't have a chimney!

Getting lots of presents. Of course, Christmas gotta be about the presents when you're a kid! I loved going from one godparent to another, looking oh-so-cute and angelic, to collect my gifts: Rainbow Brite bag, Sailor Barbie, snazzy pencil box with lots of buttons and compartments, and most importantly, cold hard cash!
We've also made it very hard for our parents to keep our Christmas gifts a surprise. Whenever they leave for work, we would search all over the house to check if they got us the gift we wanted. Yes, early manifestation of our low EQs.
One year, when the small battery-operated piano (and piano pencil boxes, for that matter) were all the rage, we found 2 of these (colored pink and blue) hidden inside the closet. My sis and I asked our mom if these are for us, but she said these were for her goddaughters. We were disappointed so we did what any normal jealous kid would do, we secretly played with the pianos when my parents were away. Oh how we envied them, so lucky to be receiving this wonderful toy. And then we got caught red-handed, so my mom just 'fessed up out of frustration and said that they were really for us. We didn't play much with the piano after that. What with the danger and excitement now lost.

Watching the Christmas display at C.O.D. Every December in the 80s, C.O.D., a now-defunct department store in Cubao, would mount a moving mannequin presentation about the birth of Jesus Christ. I remember sitting on my dad's shoulders looking up at the store's facade and watch the show with wonder and amazement.
I wish someone could bring this tradition back as it's not only a good way for kids to learn the lesson of Christmas, but it also brings families together even for just a while.

Christmas has somehow changed for me now. It isn't as magical as it used to be, but I guess that's okay. It's not about having fun and getting lots of presents anymore, but instead it means celebrating with loved ones and remembering the true reason for the season- Christ.

A blessed Christmas, everyone!

Still on The List

It's almost a year since I made the resolution to come up with a First Things list. I initially thought of doing 30 new things before I celebrate the big 3-0, but then I realized it's somewhat impossible. So I made it a year-long project. And, until now I haven't completed the list! Am I that boring that I can't even do 30 new things in a year? Sheesh!

Anyway, I still got a few days to go and less than 10 things to do. Who knows, I might get the chance to do new stuff while enjoying my Christmas holiday.

First Thing #21 - Go on a business trip.

Fortunately for someone like me who loves traveling, I've had the utter good fortune of landing jobs that required me to be stuck to a desk and computer.

But as luck would have it, I got moved to a different department that allowed me to travel to different places for work. For a couple of weeks, I basically lived out of a suitcase, moved from airport to airport, and stayed in different hotels. Sounds like hell? Nah! I remember thinking, "Ahhh, I can get used to this!"

One, I love packing. I've mastered the art of traveling light and have already developed a system that would put any packaging company to shame. Two, I love airports. I like watching people head off to some destination or come home from a long trip. And three, who doesn't like staying in a hotel??

So after that experience, I made up my mind that I will definitely have to get me job that involves lots of traveling. My goal now is to become a Travel Blogger. Can anyone hire me please?

First Thing #22 - Visit Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod and Dagupan.
I was able to go to these places because of the business trips mentioned above. Being Filipino and living here in the Philippines all my life, I can't believe I've never been to these places before.

So when I had the chance to go there, I felt like being an ambassador of the Pilipinas Kay Ganda campaign, taking note of the unique qualities in each so that I may spread the word and encourage everyone to visit these cities.

Downside though, is that I was only able to stay a day or two in each, so my my observations were limited and basically...irrelevant hehe. But I promised myself to go back very soon and experience everything these places have to offer.

First Thing #23 - See a Hedgehog.
OK, I know this has nothing to do with the first two, but then it's my first time seeing a hedgehog. I never thought I'd see one here in the Philippines, much less three.

They were small, cute and cuddly but I hesitated in touching them cos I'm afraid their "bristles" might hurt. They really look much like a toilet bowl brush.





So I still have 7 things to add on my list before I can say that this project is completed. If anyone has ideas on what else I can do, or if you can tag me along to one of your adventures, please let me know. You'll make one miserable old maid's Christmas and New Year, very happy.

The Best Game Show Ever!

I'm not sure if you folks are familiar with The Crystal Maze. It's a British game show that was popular in the '90s. I must say it's the most awesome gameshow ever invented!

Unlike the usual game shows, there's no audience to cheer the participants on. It's just the 6 players and the host, the crazy and witty Richard O 'Brien (he usually goes into a monologue when a player sucks and his outfits are the craziest!), who guides them through the 4 zones- Medieval, Aztec, Futuristic and Industrial- of the maze. They have to play Skill, Physical, Mystery and Mental games inside these zones to collect cystals that would give them more time inside the Crystal dome. The Crystal dome is like our local game where a player gets in a fanned cage and he has to 'catch' as much money as he can. But in the Crystal Maze, there are gold and silver foils. You have to catch at least 100 gold foils and if ever you catch silver ones, those will be deducted from the gold count.

And the amazing thing is, the contestants aren't really playing for the coolest prizes. Even Richard himself says that they might win great or not-so-great prizes. So it's really fun seeing them go through these challenges with the possibility of going home with nothing but souvenir cystals!

Here's one of the 'interesting' players they've had on the show, and I'm sure all of you would say you'd do a better job than he did.

You Know You're Old When...

1. You look for fish and vegetables for your meals.
I'm sure we all went through childhood being force-fed our greens. I remember I hated eating ampalaya or bitter melon, because it's, well, bitter. I would eat it with lots of rice until I couldn't even taste it. But after years of being shoved down my throat, I got used to it and eventually loved it.

And now living on our own, eating fast food and unhealthy stuff, has made me long for home-cooked fish and veggies. I don't remember feeling this way 10 years ago. I guess the older your body gets, the more it will look for nutritious food that will nourish its old bones and joints.

2. You meet up with friends and all you talk about is politics and current events.
When have weekend get-togethers with friends turned from all-night partying in a club to all-night gab fest in a coffee shop? Worse, topics have turned into old people stuff- news, politics, the economy. But the weird thing is I have begun to really enjoy discussing them. I think some invisible line has been crossed here.

3. You find teenagers very annoying.
They're the group of kids who try to dress and act as if they're older. Wanting to look cool, but end up looking like fools. They come in groups and 'talk' boisterously like they own the place.

I'm so mean, as if I've never been a teenager myself. Sure, I had my baduy moments as a teenager but of course, I was never this rude and annoying.

4. You know what the Dewey Decimal System is.
For those who don't know (young or old) the Dewey Decimal System is what's used in libraries to oganize books accodring to category: General References, Religion, etc. I just miss hanging out in the library, browsing through dusty bookshelves, searching for a good read. If you want to do research, you'd have to browse through all those books before you find what you were looking for. Now there's the Internet and Wikipedia, and it has made things much easier for the plagiarists. Tsk tsk.

5. You start hanging out with your parents
Lazy weekend afternoons are now spent malling with the folks, or just hanging out in the backyard. You now have conversations instead of arguments. You swap stories and talk about anything under the sun.

And that's when you begin to see them as who they are and not as your parents.

6. You turn on the radio and hear noise instead of music.
You don't care for Justin Bieber nor his girlish looks. You start looking for 80s and 90s songs, and say, "Now that's music!"

7. You are home on a Friday night.
'Nuff said.

P.S. This post was more than a month in the making. Gosh, the new job and environment is really affecting my creativity! Haha, yeah right.

Soundtrack Sunday: With A Smile

After talking about songs of artists from different countries, I think it's right about time to feature something from my own.

The Eraserheads became cult favorites when I was in high school (I remember critics were describing them as the Pinoy Beatles). They were the epitome of cool and everything angsty in our generation.



It was election time for our student council board, and one student running for office sang this song as part of her platform! I can't recall now if she won, haha!

Soundtrack Sunday: Sweet Soul Revue

From K-Pop, let's go to J-Pop this week.

Pizzicato Five's Sweet Soul Revue hit the charts around the 90s. I remember I used to practice the dance moves non-stop. Even if I don't understand a single word in the song (except for 1, 2, 3...), it's very catchy that you want to get up and dance, and just make up your own lyrics!



Wakarimasen! Just dance along :)

Trike

Yesterday, after at least 10 years, I got to ride a tricycle-- not in the side car, but on the bike behind the driver. What an experience! I was scared of falling off during the entire trip, that my knuckles have turned white from gripping the handles very tightly.

It was different when I was younger because I used to enjoy it. It's more fun and dangerous that way-- in short it was kinda cool, for a girl to sit that way. And I've also always found sitting in the side car very suffocating.

But now, it's the opposite. I prefer to sit inside because I feel it's safer and it's more comfortable. (Yes, I know very lola-ish.)

And yet, last night's ride was nothing compared to what happened earlier. I had to ride behind the driver again, AND I was wearing a friggin' shirt dress! AND, the driver's side didn't have a roof over it (see picture) so I had to grip real tight on the side of the side car. If you can't picture me out in this scenario, it's because of the sheer awkwardness of this position. I had to hang on for dear life while making sure that my dress doesn't reveal anything the public doesn't want to see.

Aside from the very bumpy road, what made this a very pleasant ride was the fact that the driver was driving too close to cars who were moving on the opposite direction! I had to keep my legs and feet real close to me (not too close or my I might lose my feet to the motor's wheel. Yikes!). All this time I was praying to the Lord that I don't die yet.

Not this way, at least. It's just too embarrassing.

Raj Raj Raj ah ah

I'm not gonna talk about Venus' major major almost-win, but instead, I'm going to talk about her fans (who I think are more popular than her now).

They rose to fame because of the very funny video they took of themselves while watching the Miss Universe pageant. They're gayer than gay, which is very entertaining to say the least. To those who have never seen it, here it is...



After becoming overnight Youtube sensations, they got invited to a local TV show!



And as if this was not enough, they now have their own commercial!



Goes to show how easy it is now to get your 15 mins of fame. Lucky bastards. Hmph.

And The List Gets Longer

First Thing #18- Pay my own rent
Yes, after 30 years, this is the first time I've paid for my own rent. Up until now I have always lived with my parents, basically living a free loader's life. Although I left home for college, I still lived with relatives so that's still not counted as living on my own.

When we (my brothers and I) first moved in to the apartment last week, I felt a sudden rush of pride, for doing something as mature as this. And yet when I handed the rent money to the landlady, I almost didn't let go haha! Well, I thought of it but I didn't really do it :) I guess it's just the newness and the reality of it all that scares me. Will I still be able to pay the rent next month?

I pray to God, yes!

First Thing #19- Do some housekeeping stuff
Connected to moving to my own place, I also had to buy home stuff like pillows, pails, broom, etc. These are the things I don't usually think about when I'm at home because they're just there. Now, I have to scour for these things and even have to go to stores where I can buy them cheap. (That's also a first time for me, budgeting) I have also learned to take my time in shopping, making the most practical and cost-efficient choice.

I also had to learn to do regular house-cleaning chores (but most of it I delegate to my brother, hehe), and be obsessive-compulsive when it comes to making sure that all our doors and gate have been securely locked.

Since we don't have a fridge and working stove yet, one chore I utterly dread would have to be learned much later. Whew! (If you must know, it's cooking)

First Thing #20- Repair an umbrella by myself
Sorry, I know this is kinda weird and somehow un-related to the first two.

Living and commuting here in Manila, it's mandatory that one should be armed with an umbrella always, since the weather is unpredictable- terribly hot now, then terribly wet the next. As such, the daily rigors of weather-changing has taken its toll on my poor umbrella. After only a month, it's been un-stitched at the ribs and tips.

So instead of bringing it to the repair shop and spend a couple of hundred bucks, I just decided to fix it myself. All I needed was thread and needle, and voila! It's now good as new!

Soundtrack Sunday: Nobody But You

Ok. Now that its popularity/notoriety has finally died down, I think I can finally post this.



Yes, I admit I've been one of those who went crazy over the Wonder Girls' Nobody But You. Crazy to the point of knowing the dance steps. And I blame this on my gay friends!

I first heard the song early last year, on our way to our Bantayan Island trip. Needless to say, it became the theme song for the whole trip and we looked like a bad Pinoy movie-- bursting into song and dance on the beach. So gay! Haha!

Next thing I know, you hear it playing in every street corner with kids and adults alike dancing to it's catchy (almost maddeningly irritating) tune.

So what's your memory of this song? :)

Love In The Strangest of Places

I'm wondering if things like this really do happen in real life. And if they do, how come it hasn't happened to people I know? Or even me?



But who knows? A friend said, lightning could strike. And I hope it does ;)

Soundtrack Sunday: Love Is All Around

I know it's not a Sunday, but since I've been behind my Soundtrack Sunday updates, I figured now's as good a time as, well Sunday.

Earlier today, while I was going home from work, it started raining really hard. Under my flimsy umbrella and trudging along a muddy street, I was soaking wet. That's when I remembered the 90s band Wet Wet Wet (what a connection!)

Then of course I started singing in my head their most famous hit, Love Is All Around. I think this was part of the movie soundtrack for Four Weddings & A Funeral, but I'm not so sure. (Of course, it was more recently used in another High Grant movie, Love Actually, where it was used as a Christmas song for the comeback of a rock has-been) All I remember was this was such a hit when I was in high school that I still remember the lyrics to the song. Sing with me!



What's your memory of this song? :)