Today I give myself full marks.
-10 points for showing up at the badminton court. Just deciding to NEVER NEVER GIVE UP merits full points, of course!
-10 full points for trying to run despite the fact that I feel so heavy. Run,chubby, run! Ha-ha-ha
-10 art of seduction points for getting second glances from guys at the court. May asim pa...but wait, there's more! Must be the short Mesuca shorts that I keep pulling down.. Ha-ha-ha.
- again, full marks for sweating a ton and completing (yes) the 2-hour workout despite the fact that I was willing to throw in the towel after 30 minutes. You see, you get more points for perseverance
- finally, i give myself 10 more points for believing I CAN DO IT. Game NOT over, no siree!
-10 points for a productive and brief meeting with ops. We're winning them over
-another 10 points for getting coke and pepsi working together for our customers. We get the best from the competition.
-10 full points for an exciting Slurpee campaign. Watch out for it!
-10 full points for showing up at work before 930 AM. Ha-ha-ha!
-10 points for showing up at the derma and tolerating the pain in the name of beautification.
These days after the weekend late nights, the beers, the carbonara eating, the nuts, the cakes, all the meat, the eating like a boy, I'm tempted to LET GO. Stop becoming this maintenance girl--stop the waxing, the pulling, the rebonding, the whitening, the trimming, the finger painting, stop all these efforts.
But I look at L's friends, in their 20s, with the beer bellies, and I look at my fashion magazines, and my beautifully-textured Zara clothes and the many dresses I still want to buy and I make a swift decision.
I'm a girl after all. And I still want to wear that 2-piece suit, remember?
It will take time, but my goal is realistic. Lose ten and keep it off.
A productive day, tomorrow we start again.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Men Are From Mars
While watching ETC channel, Mirriam Quiambao pops on the screen, extolling the virtues of the new Olay.
Mirriam Quiambao:"I can't imagine any moisturizer na better pa than Olay...Pero meron pa palang mas maganda!"
Me (thinking): "Her headshot on this TVC is the best so far; she has this wonderful body contour, I thought when I saw her at an Ayala Museum event, but her face has many unflattering angles. In some magazine shots her lips look too awkward, in her Lactacyd commercial she didn't look good enough to be a model with her pink lipstick totally not agreeing with her morena complexion."
Mirriam: "I rerecommend ko sa mga friends ko na mahilig magpatreatment! Only Olay can replace Olay!
Me (Still thinking):.."But in this commercial, I couldn't get over the fact that they got it right this time. I was surprised that she looked unblemished,(probably airbrushed), soooo white, (lighting and some software magic), but she had the right colored-lipstick, the right angle facing the camera and so basically she looked like a beautiful swan with her long neck and polished look... "
All these thoughts on a 30-second commercial.
Louie (aloud, taking one look at the commercial then going back to his stuff):Ah, ulul!
Mirriam Quiambao:"I can't imagine any moisturizer na better pa than Olay...Pero meron pa palang mas maganda!"
Me (thinking): "Her headshot on this TVC is the best so far; she has this wonderful body contour, I thought when I saw her at an Ayala Museum event, but her face has many unflattering angles. In some magazine shots her lips look too awkward, in her Lactacyd commercial she didn't look good enough to be a model with her pink lipstick totally not agreeing with her morena complexion."
Mirriam: "I rerecommend ko sa mga friends ko na mahilig magpatreatment! Only Olay can replace Olay!
Me (Still thinking):.."But in this commercial, I couldn't get over the fact that they got it right this time. I was surprised that she looked unblemished,(probably airbrushed), soooo white, (lighting and some software magic), but she had the right colored-lipstick, the right angle facing the camera and so basically she looked like a beautiful swan with her long neck and polished look... "
All these thoughts on a 30-second commercial.
Louie (aloud, taking one look at the commercial then going back to his stuff):Ah, ulul!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The Garden of Obuse
Remember my Ikebana phase in Nagano, Japan?
I was a naive 19-year old hanging out with women twice my age and they taught me ikebana, tea ceremony, social grace, friendship and the appreciation of nature. Now I find I still prefer the company of older women who now teach me the way to the top, relationships and how to relax. (Cie and I have coffee with Tita Vickie and Tita Carmina who are all too eager to flash out their senior citizen cards whenever we're out having coffee).
One summer in 2000, the gates of Obuse Flower Garden was opened to the public. I was working in Tokyo and took the shinkansen (bullet train) to the lovely town of Nagano, where my Japanese friends took me in during the summer holidays. Takizawa-san, our adopted otoosan (mother), who was also the one who introduced us to Ikebana, took me and Cie to the Obuse Gardens.
Oh I love Nippon. I remember walking from work to our apartment, we would pass by rows and rows of apple trees, with red, plumpy, juicy Fuji apples that are to die for. It was so ubiquitous that it was almost too tempting to just pluck the apples right out of somebody's yard, but we never did. There was too much respect for the land and the people. I think I tasted a bit of heaven in that place.
I was a naive 19-year old hanging out with women twice my age and they taught me ikebana, tea ceremony, social grace, friendship and the appreciation of nature. Now I find I still prefer the company of older women who now teach me the way to the top, relationships and how to relax. (Cie and I have coffee with Tita Vickie and Tita Carmina who are all too eager to flash out their senior citizen cards whenever we're out having coffee).
One summer in 2000, the gates of Obuse Flower Garden was opened to the public. I was working in Tokyo and took the shinkansen (bullet train) to the lovely town of Nagano, where my Japanese friends took me in during the summer holidays. Takizawa-san, our adopted otoosan (mother), who was also the one who introduced us to Ikebana, took me and Cie to the Obuse Gardens.
Oh I love Nippon. I remember walking from work to our apartment, we would pass by rows and rows of apple trees, with red, plumpy, juicy Fuji apples that are to die for. It was so ubiquitous that it was almost too tempting to just pluck the apples right out of somebody's yard, but we never did. There was too much respect for the land and the people. I think I tasted a bit of heaven in that place.
Aha!
I get it.
(referring to my previous post) http://hellotigerkitty.blogspot.com/2008/01/tokyo-nostalgia.html
It was that same feeling, that of being independent, alone in a small room. It was 8 years ago but I remember the feeling. I was living alone in a tatami mat-sized apatoo (apartment), with very scanty furnishing. I was paying P35,000 per month for rent in that room and on hindsight, it was pretty shabby. Not pretty. Not shabby chic. Just shabby.
Upon entry, you see the sofabed; to the right is my bathroom which consists of a tub where you stand up to shower and sit down if you want a hot bath, a toilet bowl and a wash basin.
Next to the bathroom is the small sink with electric griller and rice cooker for one.
My bed is right next to this, and facing my bed is the TV (terebi)and my books.
Every Saturday I would go up to the laundry room, at the top of the building and wash my dirty clothes. Different machine for colored clothes, different for the whites. On the same floor, I hang my almost dry clothes and use the sinampay to hang my laundry, yes even the undies, and no, they didn't get stolen.
I remember one time looking out the building and thinking to myself, what was I doing in a foreign land?
The great thing about my apatoo was that it has a very nice Izakaya (sake bars). I love eating grilled mackerel while sipping cold Kirin bar here.
So now, 8 years later I find myself in a tiny apartment, with a tiny kitchen, and a bed facing the television.
But it's not that. I'm not complaining. I love my space.
It's the feeling that's the same. That it's time to move on.
(referring to my previous post) http://hellotigerkitty.blogspot.com/2008/01/tokyo-nostalgia.html
It was that same feeling, that of being independent, alone in a small room. It was 8 years ago but I remember the feeling. I was living alone in a tatami mat-sized apatoo (apartment), with very scanty furnishing. I was paying P35,000 per month for rent in that room and on hindsight, it was pretty shabby. Not pretty. Not shabby chic. Just shabby.
Upon entry, you see the sofabed; to the right is my bathroom which consists of a tub where you stand up to shower and sit down if you want a hot bath, a toilet bowl and a wash basin.
Next to the bathroom is the small sink with electric griller and rice cooker for one.
My bed is right next to this, and facing my bed is the TV (terebi)and my books.
Every Saturday I would go up to the laundry room, at the top of the building and wash my dirty clothes. Different machine for colored clothes, different for the whites. On the same floor, I hang my almost dry clothes and use the sinampay to hang my laundry, yes even the undies, and no, they didn't get stolen.
I remember one time looking out the building and thinking to myself, what was I doing in a foreign land?
The great thing about my apatoo was that it has a very nice Izakaya (sake bars). I love eating grilled mackerel while sipping cold Kirin bar here.
So now, 8 years later I find myself in a tiny apartment, with a tiny kitchen, and a bed facing the television.
But it's not that. I'm not complaining. I love my space.
It's the feeling that's the same. That it's time to move on.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Nostalgia Tokyo
I was trying to sleep the other night, restless and again wondering if I should take another gulp from the only contents of my ref, a bottle of red wine or Benadryl (for the drowsy effect,according to Christine) when another memory from my Japan stint flashed across my brain.
I can't remember now what it was, but for two consecutive nights, I had flashes of that era. Maybe by trying to recite these memories, those two that stood out will come to me.
***
It was one of those weekends when I was still exploring Tokyo, far from being homesick, I was still on a honeymoon stage with the city and I would take the JR line from Meguro to a destination of my choice. That weekend, my choice stop was Akihabara, the electronic town of Tokyo.
Instantly, the Akiba (its nickname) station greets you with blasting J-Pop music and promo girls wearing the ubiquitous crazy high heels and short skirts. They were promoting the new model of the NTT Docomo phone.
Across the station huge LCD screens greeted me like an old friend, while along the streets there are boxes of computer and phone accesories, batteries and anything electronic under the sun. I bought a G-shock military-inspired watch for L in 2000, and I remember small portable DVD players cost Y69,000 (about P35K in our money)and the Japanese were already using internet on their phone and were also already chatting, using their camphone with friends.
I had time to kill and so I scoured the block, which can be quite daunting because the entire street had thousands of electronic gadgets, gears; obscure or not, they have what you are looking for. I was fascinated, and even went to a basement which to my surprise, was not the place I was expected to be in. It was a manga place, and this manga is inhabited by geeks who escape in a fantasy world of sex and adventure. I was with my friend Cie who was in Tokyo for a business trip, and we were both stared at when we reached the basement of this particular shop. I browsed the pages of the books in front of me, and we ended up scurrying up, reaching for air before we laughed our ass of. We were stared at like we were invading their privacy, like walking in on someone who was mast_rb_ting.
****
I was in jeans and started wearing sneakers in Tokyo (I'm an open toe, sandals girl usually) because of the long walks within the city using the railway system, and I would often remark how fashionable the Japanese women were, wearing CK fitted trench coat that hung just a little below the knees and leather boots. I was supposed to hook up with an English magazine in Tokyo, I was interested to write articles as a gaijin (foreigner). I met this girl, your typical Japanese girl, fashionable in hair, clothes and shoes. She was clad in short shorts, had huge breasts that cling to her thin blouse and wedge sandals that are a mile high. I walked with her to the magazine's office, which turned out to be an apartment she shared with other young editors of the magazine. She spoke good English, and again typical to Japanese, was very polite. I wanted to write for them.
***
I also started looking for another job there and directions were quite confusing especially when my reading is limited to Hiragana. I asked a policeman for directions and yes, one of the reasons I love Japan is their people who work for the government are so darned polite and honest. The policeman spoke to me in Nippongo (of course they don't speak English), and when he realized I could not understand, he spoke slowly, and repeated the instruction until I finally said, "Wakarimashita. I understand. Domo Arigatoo Gozaimasu." I think he even went and saw me make my first turn.
***
I was in my favorite place in Tokyo, within the Omotesando area, which means it's the shopping district. At the Gap shop, I noticed a lot of photographers, and the young people would get photographed for what they were wearing. Street wear, if you may, and these would turn up in fashion magazines. I have one at home, it's title? CUTIE. Grabbed one beside the dirty manga in a local convenience store.
***
I make my monthly deposit at the Tokyo PNB bank, it's located within the financial district, and I do this on a Sunday, after I go to church. The church is memorable because I see a lot of Filipinos, and there would be kiosks set up outside the church where there were Purefoods TJ hotdogs, Chocolait and other well-loved Filipino foods. They would also sell pancit, dinuguan, lumpia and other traditional food.
After this, I remember walking somewhere, we were trying to look for a local Pizza hut that offered eat all you can when I saw an old man wearing a sign, it was in wood and painted with words filled up to the back. It was a menu of some sort. I asked Edsel what the menu was. Eddie told me it was a menu of girls. A sex menu.
***
I love steak. Eddie brought me to this steak place near our work place, and I went with Kenji. This is their favorite secret place, and I can see why. People line up for this steak because it is cheap but so good. I ate with the guys and ate like a guy. It ranks as among my top steak experiences. The steak is so huge I think I gained 2 kilos in that one sitting, with my tenderloin, huge serving of mashed potatoes and terrific fries.
I can't remember now what it was, but for two consecutive nights, I had flashes of that era. Maybe by trying to recite these memories, those two that stood out will come to me.
***
It was one of those weekends when I was still exploring Tokyo, far from being homesick, I was still on a honeymoon stage with the city and I would take the JR line from Meguro to a destination of my choice. That weekend, my choice stop was Akihabara, the electronic town of Tokyo.
Instantly, the Akiba (its nickname) station greets you with blasting J-Pop music and promo girls wearing the ubiquitous crazy high heels and short skirts. They were promoting the new model of the NTT Docomo phone.
Across the station huge LCD screens greeted me like an old friend, while along the streets there are boxes of computer and phone accesories, batteries and anything electronic under the sun. I bought a G-shock military-inspired watch for L in 2000, and I remember small portable DVD players cost Y69,000 (about P35K in our money)and the Japanese were already using internet on their phone and were also already chatting, using their camphone with friends.
I had time to kill and so I scoured the block, which can be quite daunting because the entire street had thousands of electronic gadgets, gears; obscure or not, they have what you are looking for. I was fascinated, and even went to a basement which to my surprise, was not the place I was expected to be in. It was a manga place, and this manga is inhabited by geeks who escape in a fantasy world of sex and adventure. I was with my friend Cie who was in Tokyo for a business trip, and we were both stared at when we reached the basement of this particular shop. I browsed the pages of the books in front of me, and we ended up scurrying up, reaching for air before we laughed our ass of. We were stared at like we were invading their privacy, like walking in on someone who was mast_rb_ting.
****
I was in jeans and started wearing sneakers in Tokyo (I'm an open toe, sandals girl usually) because of the long walks within the city using the railway system, and I would often remark how fashionable the Japanese women were, wearing CK fitted trench coat that hung just a little below the knees and leather boots. I was supposed to hook up with an English magazine in Tokyo, I was interested to write articles as a gaijin (foreigner). I met this girl, your typical Japanese girl, fashionable in hair, clothes and shoes. She was clad in short shorts, had huge breasts that cling to her thin blouse and wedge sandals that are a mile high. I walked with her to the magazine's office, which turned out to be an apartment she shared with other young editors of the magazine. She spoke good English, and again typical to Japanese, was very polite. I wanted to write for them.
***
I also started looking for another job there and directions were quite confusing especially when my reading is limited to Hiragana. I asked a policeman for directions and yes, one of the reasons I love Japan is their people who work for the government are so darned polite and honest. The policeman spoke to me in Nippongo (of course they don't speak English), and when he realized I could not understand, he spoke slowly, and repeated the instruction until I finally said, "Wakarimashita. I understand. Domo Arigatoo Gozaimasu." I think he even went and saw me make my first turn.
***
I was in my favorite place in Tokyo, within the Omotesando area, which means it's the shopping district. At the Gap shop, I noticed a lot of photographers, and the young people would get photographed for what they were wearing. Street wear, if you may, and these would turn up in fashion magazines. I have one at home, it's title? CUTIE. Grabbed one beside the dirty manga in a local convenience store.
***
I make my monthly deposit at the Tokyo PNB bank, it's located within the financial district, and I do this on a Sunday, after I go to church. The church is memorable because I see a lot of Filipinos, and there would be kiosks set up outside the church where there were Purefoods TJ hotdogs, Chocolait and other well-loved Filipino foods. They would also sell pancit, dinuguan, lumpia and other traditional food.
After this, I remember walking somewhere, we were trying to look for a local Pizza hut that offered eat all you can when I saw an old man wearing a sign, it was in wood and painted with words filled up to the back. It was a menu of some sort. I asked Edsel what the menu was. Eddie told me it was a menu of girls. A sex menu.
***
I love steak. Eddie brought me to this steak place near our work place, and I went with Kenji. This is their favorite secret place, and I can see why. People line up for this steak because it is cheap but so good. I ate with the guys and ate like a guy. It ranks as among my top steak experiences. The steak is so huge I think I gained 2 kilos in that one sitting, with my tenderloin, huge serving of mashed potatoes and terrific fries.
Ysabel's Lines
Brother in law emails me Ysabel's favorite lines:
Aykoyanpangetyaneh!!!
It’s toooooo big…
I wanna pink dress [with matching pose]
I wanna Barbie shoes, Barbie bag, Barbie, computer, Barbie chair, Barbie car…
Daaaaaaaaaad, are you okay?
Are you okay, Mom?
Papa, what’s your name?
C’mon let’s dance…
I’m done [pagkatapos kumain]
Mommy o, look at me… [while dancing or wearing a her favorite pink dress]
Wow! Awesome…
Me to L: I have nothing to do with her kakikayan ha
L to me: Hmnn.. You sure? Hahaha
Brother in law to me: Lumalabas na yung mga namana sa inyo ng Mommy niya habang lumalaki.
Me to L: Kainis!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Blast From The Past
This early, I have been to two wakes and one reunion. Last night was both a reunion (again) with elementary classmates from the accelerated class of 1986 and a wake for my friend Tetch's dad, an artist who passed away at 65, before he could paint my portrait. This time, we managed to bring in two new (old) faces, Jen, an IT professional working at the Fort and Vicki, who is set to return today to Ireland where she works as a nurse. Again, we tried to remember our special class lineup, and I admitted that I still could not remember some of the names of my former classmates. We were just 29, this special class, plucked from the many regular classes of Manila's public schools, to be placed in an accelerated class with a special curriculum and a whole day of schooling. At lunchtime, I looked up at the photo I grabbed from Roel (from where else, Friendster), and I still could not place the names of some of my classmates. We were also unable to trace some of our classmates, but our get togethers are becoming bigger, and soon, we hope we can get in touch with all.
Ok, Raffy and Tetch, you have to help me name names here:
Top row: May* (Alan remembers her), Riel, Sharon*, Cecil (flight attendant), Amor*, Bernadette (nurse in London), Masherry*, Bernardo (Seaman)
3rd row: Vicki (nurse in Ireland), Jen (IT, Philippines), X1* (I don't know her!), me (hahaha), Tetch (Marketing Manager, Dubai), Y1* (don't know him!)
2nd row: Y2* (whos this guy?), Roel (dakilang guro, our e-group moderator ahem),Raffy (Big Boss, US), Marcus (nurse, US), Alan (engineer), Clarence (in the US)
Front row: Jennifer*, Annaliza, Zenaida, Mrs. Nakpil, Ms. Maranan (wonderful teachers), Joy* (tama ba?), Mel, Rhoda* (in Brunei)
*- without a trace
Do you know what we talk about when we meet up?
That we had a happy childhood!
1.Do you sing as a class when you pass your papers? Apparently, we did.
2.Do you sing as a class when you change subjects? Apparently, we did!
3.Climb Every Mountain, an inspirational song from an inspirational teacher, di ba Raffy?
4.We had an art class,and we did an exhibit at the Children's Library Museum.
5.The boys spent saturday swimming at the YMCA with our alternate teacher.
6.Did you have the best teachers? We certainly did!
Photo taken from our last reunion a year ago: Alan, me, Riel, Tetch, Roel, Cecil.
Places That Inspire
This is the first time I didn't make new year's resolutions. Especially about the weight. On the other hand, I am making a list of places that inspire and I am planning to have my upcoming holidays, weekends and vacation leaves be inspiration-filled. It is time to upgrade my vision for a future. Do you have in mind a place that inspires? Please do share them with me.
1. Top of the list is Carlos Celdran's Intramuros Walk: This is again from my burgeoning interest in the past. The Philippine history is full of stories, and I love stories. I think that is my ultimate dream, to tell lots of stories.
2. New places in the Philippines to visit: Club Adventure made their list of 350 top places to visit in the Philippines, and this year I have my sights on finally visiting The Banaue Rice Terraces and Sagada, plus the route of Vigan, La Union and Pagudpod. Bohol with my elementary classmates, yes Riel? Roel? Tetch?
3. Serendra's High Street: My friend The Bossing heads Community Innovations of Ayala, and I am always inspired by their vision of a community. I like being in Fully Booked, love walking along High Street, and love the sights of the Serendra crowd. What that place gives me is not so much the ubiquitous sight of Louis Vuitton-clad ladies, but a wonderful vision of a beautiful place surrounded by the company of loving and fantabulous friends catching up, relaxing and sharing our own vision of the future.
4. Salcedo Market: It inspires because I like the community. It reminds me of the nights we spent at Alfaro Place, the tiny condo unit of Ime and those wonderful moments of our friendship, filled with laughter and talks that extend into the wee hours of the morning, and a wonderful Saturday market, the final end cap to our Friday girl's night in.
5. New countries to visit: I've always said that travel expands our horizon and the journey leaves something in me that expands my vision. This year, I have my eyes set in Cambodia's Angkor Wat with the lovely Irish bar/lodge M is talking about. But who knows what the world has in store for me?
6. Greenbelt 3,5, the Ayala Museum, Cafe M, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Max Brenner's and the new Chateau 1771. I just love this place, love having coffee at the CBTL with Divine, with Cie, with Tita Vickie and Fr. Ed, with L. This is my playground because I just love Makati on weekends. (Note: I don't shop here, it is just too pricey.)
7. Kingspoint: because the houses here are huge, I can see a huge expanse of the sky from Buboy's mansion; I like hearing the birds chirping at L's house, and I love King's Gate's sizzling tenderloin.
8. Manila's Best Kept Restaurant Secrets: yes, I love food. After all, I do this for a living. And yes, this book, released last December is worth it. All of those restaurants have their stories, and we have a plan to get inspired by their food and their stories, one by one.
1. Top of the list is Carlos Celdran's Intramuros Walk: This is again from my burgeoning interest in the past. The Philippine history is full of stories, and I love stories. I think that is my ultimate dream, to tell lots of stories.
2. New places in the Philippines to visit: Club Adventure made their list of 350 top places to visit in the Philippines, and this year I have my sights on finally visiting The Banaue Rice Terraces and Sagada, plus the route of Vigan, La Union and Pagudpod. Bohol with my elementary classmates, yes Riel? Roel? Tetch?
3. Serendra's High Street: My friend The Bossing heads Community Innovations of Ayala, and I am always inspired by their vision of a community. I like being in Fully Booked, love walking along High Street, and love the sights of the Serendra crowd. What that place gives me is not so much the ubiquitous sight of Louis Vuitton-clad ladies, but a wonderful vision of a beautiful place surrounded by the company of loving and fantabulous friends catching up, relaxing and sharing our own vision of the future.
4. Salcedo Market: It inspires because I like the community. It reminds me of the nights we spent at Alfaro Place, the tiny condo unit of Ime and those wonderful moments of our friendship, filled with laughter and talks that extend into the wee hours of the morning, and a wonderful Saturday market, the final end cap to our Friday girl's night in.
5. New countries to visit: I've always said that travel expands our horizon and the journey leaves something in me that expands my vision. This year, I have my eyes set in Cambodia's Angkor Wat with the lovely Irish bar/lodge M is talking about. But who knows what the world has in store for me?
6. Greenbelt 3,5, the Ayala Museum, Cafe M, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Max Brenner's and the new Chateau 1771. I just love this place, love having coffee at the CBTL with Divine, with Cie, with Tita Vickie and Fr. Ed, with L. This is my playground because I just love Makati on weekends. (Note: I don't shop here, it is just too pricey.)
7. Kingspoint: because the houses here are huge, I can see a huge expanse of the sky from Buboy's mansion; I like hearing the birds chirping at L's house, and I love King's Gate's sizzling tenderloin.
8. Manila's Best Kept Restaurant Secrets: yes, I love food. After all, I do this for a living. And yes, this book, released last December is worth it. All of those restaurants have their stories, and we have a plan to get inspired by their food and their stories, one by one.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Sorta
i guess its sorta, kinda this and that
no more floundering in my jargon, action and living.
" Never..never..never give in."
Sir Winston Churchill
no more floundering in my jargon, action and living.
" Never..never..never give in."
Sir Winston Churchill
Monday, January 07, 2008
To B
regular bold font- an actual letter to the ex of a friend who's being set up for a blind date
in italics- my spoof
To: b2002@yahoo.com
Hello, Jose Norman, aka B, aka the Lucky
Bastard who will get to date xxx,
Goodness, your address is so six years ago!
(Gawd! This girl likes you. She really, really likes you!)
Anyway, as promised, i'm sending you your date's pic.
She's the girl in the brown collared blouse, next to
dude wearing a white and red blouse. . . este shirt
(sorry, the choker threw me off ;p). I told you she's
pretty.
(Translate: Brown, plain, bo-ring. Hair: no color, no stylist. Read: low maintenance gal. Timid, tentative smile, ay shy, dalagang Filipina. Hmnn, type? Pero wiz, beware of the friends she keeps (the choker dude). As my gay best friend once told me, "Wag mo palalabasin ang kaibigan mo na hindi ayos. It will reflect on you!")
Her name is XXX, she's working at the XXX now
but she used to work sa XXX. She's taking a master's
degree in Business Administration in XXX. She likes
to eat and she likes to read (i'm not sure if she does
both at the same time). She has read Lord of the Rings
and the entire Harry Potter series. She has a gifted
nephew who was able to read two novels in one day (so
you know her genes are very good ;p). I don't really
know if she likes walking on the beach during sunset,
I figure it's better if you be the one to ask.
(My gosh! B, pare, di ko alam important pala sa yo to have super duper genes. I have also read the H. Potter Series, The LOTR plus The Hobbit. Sometimes I read and eat at the same time, but I sometimes I also poop and read at the same time. (I think that's the best reading position, when one is full of intense concentration). But you know what, B, my friend D is so amazing and has the healthiest sense of self-esteeem there is, pramis! That means your kids will most likely be fabulous, no matter what size, shape and colour they turn out to be. And sos, you like walking on the beach during sunset pala? My friend D will even sing you songs acapella while walking along the beach holding hands at paswing swing pa! And since she will make partner na at The Firm, you can even select from the many beaches around the world! Bongga di ba?)
As a sign of good faith and ultimate transparency, i'm
cc'ing her so she can make the proper corrections to
the facts stated above.
Mwah to the both of you!
EXCITED NA AKO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
a friend
(Sos. If I knew you would be sending my blind date my picture, I would have chosen a really nice picture, preferably one taken with me wearing a tube top and pussy red nail polish. Duh!)
(P.S. O.M.G. She really, really likes you, this "friend". Pero hardsell, pare.)
Love is
Her love for him is so powerful it scares her. Being that close to someone, having that intense feeling during a tight embrace after a separation, the smiles that won't go away while they tell each other what their day has been like, all these mean each day risking rejection, suffering and loss. In her heart she didn't know if she was ready to get scarred again. Then it came to her one night; when uncertainty stared at her face and this time she was brave enough to look right back, she nodded in agreement. She closed her eyes and jumped into the cold, plunging into a ride where everything is exposed, everything is at risk. The winner in this race is the one who dares, and she does just that.
"Love is an end in itself..it can not betray because it has nothing to do with possession. It can not be held prisoner because it is a river and will overflow its banks. Anyone who tries to imprison love will cut off the spring that feeds it, and the trapped water will grow stagnant and rank. The all-devouring flame will always burn everything.
What is love? No definitions. Love and don't ask too many questions. Just love."
- The Witch of Portobello
"Love is an end in itself..it can not betray because it has nothing to do with possession. It can not be held prisoner because it is a river and will overflow its banks. Anyone who tries to imprison love will cut off the spring that feeds it, and the trapped water will grow stagnant and rank. The all-devouring flame will always burn everything.
What is love? No definitions. Love and don't ask too many questions. Just love."
- The Witch of Portobello
Thursday, January 03, 2008
I want a Starbucks 2008 planner
I want a Starbucks planner.
I like touching good quality paper, running my hands on the smooth, crisp paper. I think it was the Griffin and Sabine book that made me want it, and I have been collecting the Starbucks planner since it first came out, but started missing last year, when I think I wised up and cut down on coffee (I now brew my own blend remember?). But when I saw this year's simple elegant leather cover and green-striped strap bind, I was drooling.
My stickers won't be enough by Jan. 15 to complete the program. And now I want something that with high probability, I won't be getting. Unless..
Anyone?
Someone?
Useless Numbers, Interesting Stories
Working for a convenience store has always elicited interesting questions from friends, family, and new acquaintances. Some of the most popular ones:
1. Saang branch ka nagta-trabaho? (Which branch are you assigned to?) Depending on my mood, I concoct different answers. " Sa Altura, kasi malapit kami dun.." "Store manager ako ng Boni branch.." It's always as interesting to watch their tentative faces as it is to create a spontaneous, quick reply, pulled out of a hat, like I've done this trick many times before.
2. Bakit may padlock pa kayo kung 24 hours na bukas? ( Why do your stores have padlocks if you say you're open 24 hours?) My answer is truly an only in the Philippines one: "Para pag may coup d'etat,o rally, safe ang store personnel.."
An interesting question cropped up today. Saang store pinakamabenta ang condom, some relative of an officemate asked. We had our hypotheses: I said in the Malate area where there are a lot of hotels and tourists, or maybe the one in P.Burgos in Makati. Xtin said the ones near the motels in Pasig, so most likely RFM along Pioneer. Alex said maybe the call center areas, because they are young, stressed and what better way to relieve stress?
We checked our POS (point of sale) data and it was surprising: 3 stores in Cubao, the ones near the many bars and beerhouses, top the list. We sell over 200 pieces of condom a month for each store.
"Ah...yung mga taga call centers kasi magaling sa withdrawal."
To which this was the reply: " So, mga taga Cubao ang pinakamal_b_g.."
Ha-ha-ha. That sums up our lunchtime conversation today.
Alex, Xtn and I are wired of the same generation, make and brand of humor.
1. Saang branch ka nagta-trabaho? (Which branch are you assigned to?) Depending on my mood, I concoct different answers. " Sa Altura, kasi malapit kami dun.." "Store manager ako ng Boni branch.." It's always as interesting to watch their tentative faces as it is to create a spontaneous, quick reply, pulled out of a hat, like I've done this trick many times before.
2. Bakit may padlock pa kayo kung 24 hours na bukas? ( Why do your stores have padlocks if you say you're open 24 hours?) My answer is truly an only in the Philippines one: "Para pag may coup d'etat,o rally, safe ang store personnel.."
An interesting question cropped up today. Saang store pinakamabenta ang condom, some relative of an officemate asked. We had our hypotheses: I said in the Malate area where there are a lot of hotels and tourists, or maybe the one in P.Burgos in Makati. Xtin said the ones near the motels in Pasig, so most likely RFM along Pioneer. Alex said maybe the call center areas, because they are young, stressed and what better way to relieve stress?
We checked our POS (point of sale) data and it was surprising: 3 stores in Cubao, the ones near the many bars and beerhouses, top the list. We sell over 200 pieces of condom a month for each store.
"Ah...yung mga taga call centers kasi magaling sa withdrawal."
To which this was the reply: " So, mga taga Cubao ang pinakamal_b_g.."
Ha-ha-ha. That sums up our lunchtime conversation today.
Alex, Xtn and I are wired of the same generation, make and brand of humor.
So How Did Your 2007 Go?
So how did your 2007 go?
I am tempted to say it was a lousy year for me, highlighted by frustrations, a broken heart, huge expenses and failing at a personal fitness program. On the other hand, 2007 was a most challenging year, bigger and the most exploratory. I've sunk through the depths of despair (and triumphed), traveled across the other side of the world (what a discovery), taunted my religion (went back), pushed my physicality (I can if I really want to)and explored my inner self (the joy of writing, history, creativity), in the end, coming full circle to where I was, and yet the circumference has changed. I am different, playing in a different field, ready for more.
I didn't know if I liked much of 2007, ok I think it was the best of times, and the worst of times, but I have no regrets. What the past year has taught me is that one can crash and burn, but there is always a chance to start over. Always.
Happy New Everything!
I am tempted to say it was a lousy year for me, highlighted by frustrations, a broken heart, huge expenses and failing at a personal fitness program. On the other hand, 2007 was a most challenging year, bigger and the most exploratory. I've sunk through the depths of despair (and triumphed), traveled across the other side of the world (what a discovery), taunted my religion (went back), pushed my physicality (I can if I really want to)and explored my inner self (the joy of writing, history, creativity), in the end, coming full circle to where I was, and yet the circumference has changed. I am different, playing in a different field, ready for more.
I didn't know if I liked much of 2007, ok I think it was the best of times, and the worst of times, but I have no regrets. What the past year has taught me is that one can crash and burn, but there is always a chance to start over. Always.
Happy New Everything!
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