Bookworm Adventure

I have this sudden interest in going back to reading books and suddenly losing interest in glossy fashion magazines that has somehow given me frivolous ideas on material possessions. Probably that sense of guilt when our son asked if the book he was holding was mine, to which my husband replied. “That’s daddy’s book. Mommy only has ONE book.” Beep-Beep! What-the-@#**#@!!!! I found myself justifying the lack of literary interest, “excuse me but I just had a child. I don’t have the luxury of time. I don’t spend hours inside the bathroom to finish 10 chapters. I’d rather spend my money for worthwhile things than spend on something I don’t have time for. Etc. etc.”

You “have one book is equivalent to”, you don’t read. You’re not feeding your mind. It’s static. Immobile. It has become just plain gray matter. Meatball that has turned to mush.

Or has pregnancy and hormonal changes made me more sensitive and emotional?

Months ago I have started on a handful of titles by Stephen King and Tom Clancy. I got bored, I was distracted, I stopped reading and wasn’t able to finish any of them. Unusual since I love the mystery and suspense of espionage and bizarre frightening stories of once lovable pets coming back from the grave. When I was younger I used to love my Agatha Christie mystery novels, I was a sucker for good ole reference books that my dad brought home from his trips abroad. I owned a shelf-full of Nancy Drews, graduated from that and went through a Stephen King phase. Misery, The Shining, Pet Sematary, and Carrie were the first titles sold at National Bookstore.

Patience is only a virtue for me if it entails waiting for my husband to down a few SMB rounds with the boys. But it’s not exactly a personal trait. Which means big thick paperbacks with titles like, Star, Mysterious Love, The Love Affair, are a turnoff. Ergo I go for short stories with political undertones, mysteries and haunting tales from F. Sionil Jose to Alfred Hitchcock. I’m not a big fan of Anne Rice but I wouldn’t be caught dead reading anything with Danielle Steele’s glittery embossed name on the front page. That movie ‘You’ve Got Mail’ didn’t even make me read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. But I’ve read all 3 Tolkien series of The Lord of The Rings to fully understand the 3 movies I was about to watch. Even the first 2 Harry Potter series. I read “Band of Brothers” by Stephen Ambrose, real life WWII story that follows E-Company, a young group of paratroopers from Normandy to Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. Simply because I love war stories and the HBO movie had a good looking bunch of men in uniform. Just my type.

“You’re never going to finish that book” are his disheartening words that has pushed me to a chapter to chapter marathon until my eyes resemble a symptom of rubella. I’m down to 10 chapters of John Le Carre’s ‘A Constant Gardener’, and I will finish it.

Move on to Hannibal Rising or that new title from Nick Hornby. They say reading not only improves your comprehension, vocabulary and cognitive skills. Psychologists say it creates a sense of clarity and inner peace. Now I don’t know about that inner peace but, at least something up there is still moving. I’ll find that peace once I finish the story. LEVEL UP!

Sweet Revenge

I just saw him. Sitting like an old blob at the lobby of this high-end mall a block away from my office. This guy was a classmate back in the college. Well, he was in most of my classes. For whatever lame reason he is so fit to be taking Sociology. He'd usually sit at the back of the enthusiastic bunch and sometimes near the windows where he would sit and gaze at nowhere. He was the school jock who walked tall, talked like nobody's there and deliberately exuded a sense of superiority over the rural beings in this acclaimed university. My friend who sat beside me asked him a question and he just walked passed us like we were cockroaches hanging from the ceiling. Now, 15 years later, maybe he turned out to be that successful executive of a multinational bank driving a flashy beamer. Who cares? He has become the closest relative Jabba the Hut about to wait for Han Solo's execution. Abnormal abdominal bloating. Flat warts the size of 7 continents. I know, this is too much. But the point of all these is... You'll never know what the future brings, so be nice to your classmates? Be a nice chap for you may someday turn out to be a creature from Star Wars.

Getting to Know me...Getting to know all about me!!

PERSONAL HERO

Ninoy Aquino. The Filipino is worth dying for. My Dad. There should be an element of personal sacrifice in heroism. Though It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to die on the tarmac or thru firing squad. It’s selflessness. Generosity. My Dad is that kind of person. Putting others forward before himself.



CAN’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT
My Cellphone. The convenience of this gadget has made me overly dependent on it. My wallet of course.

WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY
My husband. My son. Family. My friends. Christmas.

FAVORITE PIECE OF CLOTHING
Right now…probably my straight jeans.

FAVORITE SLEEPING POSITION
I sleep on my back when really tired. But I’m usually lying on my side, especially when it’s me, my husband and our son on the bed. Likot matulog ng mga boys!

LAST BOOK READ
Band of Brothers – Stephen Ambrose.

BOOK OR MAGAZINES
Magazines. I’m a magazine freak. I have tons in my bathroom. I find them irresistible in the coffee shops.

MUSIC PLAYLIST
Absolute Beginners – David Bowie; The Man who sold the world – Nirvana unplugged; I Will Follow You – Death Cab for Cutie; Brick – Ben Folds Five; U2 – Stay; Tears – The Chameleons; This woman’s work – Maxwell;

LATEST DOWNLOADED SONG
Blister in the Sun – Violent Femmes

WATERLOO
Math

5 PLACES YOU’D LIKE TO VISIT
5 isn’t enough actually…
1. The Louvre

2. Great Pyramids of Egypt
3. Venice
4. Florence, Italy

5. Machu Pichu

ON MY WISH LIST
1. Eat pasta in Rome and seafood in Venice. Try out the best cheeses & meat produce.
2. Bring my son & hubby to visit the Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
3. A date with my husband to corregidor on our anniversary. One of our common interests.
4. A week in a beautiful beach like Boracay or Palawan.
5. Climb the Inca trail to the ruins of Machu Pichu.
6. Visit the World War II beaches in Normandy and Bastogne memorial in Belgium.
7. Look at the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel.
8. See all the moaui stone statues in Easter Island.
9. Ok see all of of Europe.
10.

THINGS I’D LIKE TO SEE & EXPERIENCE…NO MATTER HOW IMPOSSIBLE
Not in order of importance…
1. The Aurora Borealis in the North Pole
2. King Penguins huddled together in a snow storm (still in the North Pole)
3. Touch a sperm Whale.
4. Meet the Pope.
5. A chat with Conan O’Brien.

FAVORITE SUBJECT IN COLLEGE
Humanities 2. Social Psychology.

FAVORITE DRINK
Brewed coffee in the morning and ice cold Coke.

LATEST PURCHASE
Haay! Columbia Triad computer tote, TKO hand wraps and Nike Air Max.

BEST DAY/S OF MY LIFE
My wedding day and the day our son was born.

DREAM PROFESSION
Comic artist. Storyboard writer for Sponge Bob Squarepants.

CREEPIEST NIGHTMARES
Anything with slimy worms, maggots, caterpillars.
Creepy aliens from The Sign and Martians from War of the Worlds
Running away from a Tornado.
Fire storm and lava floods like the end of the world.
Tsunami or tidal waves.

WHEN I TURN ON THE TV I ALWAYS SWITCH TO…
HBO or Discovery Travel & Living

SHOE SIZE
Size 6 or 7.

Visual DNA

Received this email from a colleague few weeks ago.

Just keep picking the pics that appeal to you, one screen at a time, and in the end it will give you a profile of yourself... Have fun !!! http://dna.imagini.net/friends/


Personality profiles are fun. It’s fun to read them over and over…even if its all about you and realize how truthful it can be. Elicits the …”oohs..aahs..and oh yeah definitely” reactions.

Fave Eats

I have a weird mix of food cravings... It may depend on the weather, my mood, probably even my hormones. Something sweet, salty or spicy. Something fried, overly deep fried and oily. Something hot and comforting like chicken macaroni soup. The taste of parmesan on pasta, the greasiness of Chinese fried dumplings and noodles, the spice of Pad Thai, the weird taste of burned pig intestines on a stick.





1. I looovee lots of ice on my Halo-Halo. Best for hot sticky days at home.

2. The dreaded Isaw. Frederick's BBQ in Marikina (San Roque) still has the best Isaw. I'll give another thumbs-up to that orig BBQ stand along Panorama St. in SSS Village.





3. Sbarro's Baked Ziti. Ok, so Sbarro is fast food and it's not really one of those classy Italian restaurants. But the taste of hot baked mozzarella with parmesan on top of fresh tomato sauce is just heaven.



4. Haw Flakes. A weird but favorite snack. Brings back childhood memories.


5. Salmon sashimi. Yes I eat 'em raw and I can eat platefulls until I eventually breathe underwater. Best bought fresh from Farmers Market in Cubao. If there's an alternative, of course it's Tuna.

6. Oysters. Yes, I'm a self-confessed talaba monster. Once in Pangasinan, I ate 2 kilos. So I'm after those places like, Oyster Boy, Seaside, Marina, Fresca, Something Fishy etc. I don't like them with cheese or anything else. Just plain fresh oysters.

7. Tummy Ticklers at 4th Level Shangri-La Mall (just outside kiddie clothing store Big & Small) has cute bite-size hotdogs dipped in cornflour mix and deep fried. Sort of like a mini corn dog. Yum!

8. Inihaw na pusit a/k/a Grilled Squid at JayJs. It's just below Elorde's boxing gym, so its the best meal after a workout.

9. The best value meals are found at KaBero's, Teachers Village (a few blocks away from Bayantel office). They serve 2 sticks of grilled squid, garlic rice & rich sinigang broth for P75. The friend Tilapia meal is also priced the same, and the Tilapia is huge. Best with their inihaw na talong (grilled aubergines) and bagoong (shrimp paste).

10. Fried addidas (chicken feet). Best at Rasa Singapura. I don't think the resto still exists though.

11. Best Tacos at Pancake House. Yes aside from the Roast Beef, I go back for the Tacos.

12. Clams.. or Halaan. My mom used to buy giant Halaan, we'd put half a teaspoon of margarine on top, with minced garlic and onions, then place them on the grill. Superb!!!

13. Beef Enchilada plate (with rice and salad) at Mexicali. It's a good meal after a hard day's work when you feel like pigging out.

14. Cajun (Baby) Potatoes. Pre-boiled potatoes, olive oil, tons of paprika, crushed pepper, salt.

15. Smoked Salmon. Expensive, yes. But one should at least try it once. Smoked salmon+blue cheese+crackers. Smoked Tanigue at Pen Manila is delicioso.

16. Crostini and spinach pesto at Pasto. My son Ethan loved it. Takes after mommy. hahaha!

Where did the colors go???.... Elmo's Coloring Book

Our son Ethan had a blast. He's a big Elmo fan and mommy's a big Ernie fan. My hubby was just happy that we're enjoying the show. hehehe. He wanted to make sure Ethan would have a good view of the show so he bought front row VIP tickets, a whopping P1,891 each. But hey, anything for our one and only...It was all worth it after seeing Ethan's face light up as the Sesame Street gang went on stage. It was a great musical performance, mostly never-heared songs except for a piece of the Sesame Street anthem and a rendition of Cindy Lauper's True Colors. It was expected though since the musical was all about Elmo's Coloring Book. The gang also went down to the center aisle to interact with the kids. It was a bit bitin though, and after the show there was blast of confetti that the kids kept as souvenirs. My son was clenching it like hanging on to dear life. I was kinda expecting balloons or tokens to be given out to the kids. Well... anyway, Ethan brought home the experience...plus a box of happee toothpaste.

Boxing at Elorde

I've observed a drastic change in my friend's figure after taking up boxing for a couple of months. Being asthmatic, she claims boxing has also improved her strength and stamina. An ex officemate also recommended it as the best exercise to trim down my bulky mid section. (wtf girl!) I figured boxing is a way to release stress and all angst and getting fit at the same time. Elorde boxing at Julia Vargas Ave., just beside Home Depot is the nearest fitness place and haven to boxing enthusiasts. The annual membership fee is P1,000 and P 200 per session. If you opt not to pay for membership, you have to pay P350 per session. This is a one-on-one training. If you are unsure about enrolling, you can try out one session. You fill up a form about yourself, indicating any health concerns. I don't think the trainers read your file though. Since my only form of exercise is walking to SM Megamall or walking nonstop inside the mall, my first boxing session was quite a shock. My trainer was too enthusiastic and too eager to find out how far I can go. The first few minutes were for warm ups. Stretching exercises etc. (Ok I was panting & catching my breath doing the jumping jacks). Then the footwork and punches. I never knew there's a method to this, just thought you just jab at the opponent anyway you can. I'm sort of good at choreography thus was able to get the movements quickly, then we were off to the ring. (Inaaaay!) But surprisingly I did love the punching. Love the contact of the sport. After a while we tried the huge punching bags. I was thrown off a bit from the weight. (Bigat pala pare!) The speedball was even harder. Of course nobody there expects you to be a pro on your first day. My trainer would always ask, "kaya mo pa?". Ako naman, yup! And he was giving me that look.. ah ganun kaya pala ha. I was subjected to more torture with 3 sets of 3 minutes each with the jumping rope. Then the most dreaded situps and abdominal exercises. Yes, I bought 2 boxes of salompas that weekend and I smelled of eucalyptus all day. It was the place to wear your most comfortable outfit. This is not fitness first where the place smells like perfume and cologne, and people wearing expensive gym outfits. This is going down and dirty. Hahaha! But is it worth it? Yes. Never mind that the place has no airconditioning. That once you step in inside, the place has the temperature resemblance of a sauna. Never mind that it is a long 15 minutes walk from my office. Never mind that you get the feel of JayJ's kitchen exhaust pipes when you go up and down the stairs from Elorde's main entrance. Yup it's worth it.
(Thanks Roly!!!)

The corrupt way of life....

I am gravely dispappointed at our law enforcement. Be wary when you ask for help or assistance. Things might just turn and work against you. This is exactly what happened months ago when we filed a police alarm against the sedan that hit our car and sped off.

Weeks after this incident, we received a complaint for a different hit&run incident that same night. This one involving a "pedestrian" who was crossing the same road and accusing my husband of reckless imprudence resulting to injury. Yes, asking for the sum of twelve thousand pesos in return. Fabricated evidences, circumstances patched together and a bunch of cops pushing conclusions.

12K isn't much compared to lawyers fees and all the time-consuming court hearings. I was even advised by a friend to just pay out and it will go like everybody has amnesia. That's the reality of life in the RP setting. What?! It is apalling to condone this practice. Principle? Yes. I was raised by a family of fighters. I was surrounded by ideas of freedom and political struggles. My relatives fought against something more than just a group of corrupt policemen, but the whole government and the powers that be. Times changed, and some have grown tired of fighting for corruption and greed and simply imbibed it as way of life.

There is a thin line between poverty and greed. On a tight fix, people would grab on to any opportunity to be able to eat or live. At the same time, people with power and authority would grab any opportunity to their advantage like milking a golden cow for a pail of gold coins. Is 12k enough? No...To add insult to injury, the disadvantaged are wrongly accused, humiliated and judged for something they did not commit. But hey, It's easy to jump off to the other line and say, heck I don't earn enough as a cop to feed my kids. In our case, there's always something darker behind it probably more than just a case of corruption. It may pull us down to something deeper. But what do we hold on to? Our principle. The things we belive in. The truth.

Can't Do Without...

I can't do without my family. Can't do without the 2 Marc's in my life (Marco Fernando --nope not a Latino hunk & Marc Ethan). Can't do without my friends. Can't do without God and Faith. Can't do without Love (oh yeah!), Can't do without many things, some even too superficial. But aside from the most importatnt people & beliefs in life, there are still small suerpficial things that make make my life run in smooth operation.

1. My Sony Ericsson K500i. Simple phone, good enough camera & mp3 for my ringtones. It's cheap & yet has better features than it's Nokia counterpart. I know... it's time to upgrade. But so far, it serves its purpose.

2. Cherry Kiss Lip balm, gel foundation & Kohl eye pencil - A girl can't live without her makeup! 3 simple things that transforms a zombie-like complexion.

3. My 216x218mm Green Apple Notebook - It's not a fancy notebook with artsy hard covers & fillers. For 45 pesos, It's smooth & white enough to write all my daily reminders at work, notes and contact numbers. The neon green covers makes it easier to spot 10 feet away within a pile of papers & files on my desk.

4. Deodorant - Must I say why? It has always been a 'Secret' though.

5. Coffee in the morning. Doesn't matter whether it's brewed or instant.

6. Cable TV .... once you've experience cable, there's no going back...

7. Cocoa butter lotion - Smells like "latik", but it holds back nasty stretch marks. The cheaper ones from Lander can already work wonders.

8. Internet Connection. Used to be a priviledge. My first post paid connection was for P800 a month, 25 hours surfing time (+ 2 email addresses). My ISP, Quantum Internet. I'm hooked to the net all throughout my stay at the office. Nobody could function without the connection. Everybody is dependent on the emails, the system reports, the instant messaging services. It was the most convenient thing since the telephone.

8. My MP3s. Music moves, period. It may be U2, old 80's alternative (otherwise known as New Wave), The Clash, The Smiths, The Cure.

9. My 1995 Toyota Corolla GLi. My first car, my own car. It was my baby. Spent most of my savings in car accesories, new tires, the works. 55 series 16" Dunlops, Alpine stereo, 4 way speakers, viper security. Drove it to Baguio, up the demanding stretch of Kenon Road. Endless out of town trips. Nightouts with friends. Boy if this car could talk... it would reveal all my dirty secrets.

10. My new macbook. Yeeey! Finally! Thanks to my hubby, I have my own. Why a mac? Why not?

Elevator Blues Vol I.

Going to my office, I have to ride the elevator at least 10 times a week. From there you'll get to see the most exciting breed of people.

Call Center boys
guy1: Pare si Jason Webb tatakbo samin this election.
guy 2: Sheet pare, talaga. Daming barkadang goons yun.
guy 1: O nga pare. Pati si Roselle Nava, tatakbo din.
guy 2: Hahaha, talaga? E di iboboto mo yun?
guy 1: Hindi ah. Batukan ko pa yun.
chorus: hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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A Staff and senior employee from a prestigious culinary & hotel management school in our building.
Girl: (complaining in megaphone mode from the lobby to the elevator)
" And I'm like, hello? Don't you know how to say it correctly? I mean, it's like, so elementary really. "
Senior Guy: "uhm"
Girl: "They're like stupid terms in her report I can't understand it. Like she's trying to be smart or what but she's not really.. like she's a graduate of what school.. it's Ivy something whatever.."
Senior Guy: Ivy League?
Girl: Yah something like that. Is that even a school?
Senior Guy: smirking & shaking head.
Me & all passengers: eyebrows raised / eyes rolling (like..duh!)
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More Call Center boys:
Guy1: Man, I'm sooo thin.
Guy2: O nga pare. You're what the girls call it..anorexit?
Guy 1: O yeah.
(e baka Bulimit...)

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Pregnant employee from multinational shipping company and her co-employees at lunch time:

Guy: May bago ka nanaman baby. Last year kaka 1st birthday lang ng panganay mo, may bunso ka nanaman.

Buntis: Aksidente nga ako eh. Ewan ba ko ano nangyari.

Guy: Ganon? Tinanong mo ba asawa mo?

Buntis: Oo, sa phone lang. 2 years na sya sa Dubai e.

(huh???!!)

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More Call center dudes:

Guy with headphones, singing to Devo's Whip It.

"So wiff et, wifet gowd!!"

Sows! Accent training pa pls