Nothing much...
So nothing much happened today on the account of us recooperating from the previous night's festivities. Nothing 'cept that we did the grocery (at Rustan's Makati) which hardly seems noteworthy aside from the 3 liter jug of Harvey's Orange Juice we got. (Don't see alot of that.) Oh! And I did it in one of my scragliest of shirts which maybe a little pisspoor but it's real comfortable to sleep in. We were too much of on an "up and at 'em" mode to notice that one particular detail. (Who dresses up for grocery duty anyway?) Aside from that, nothing. Nothing but that 2nd scrumptious trip to that JT's chicken place (Changed my shirt this time.). There was actually a running debate on whether we were gonna or notta. It started when Ken cancelled on us (This was what the original simpler version of what his birthday was gonna be like, which, turned out, didn't work well with visionaries such as ourselves.), and Helen said that she wanted to go anyway, but Jorick thought Helen hadn't gotten much sleep much, which is when Ate Pots said let's go, let's go, let's go, let's...and before any of us (Ken too who couldn't fight the flood.) knew it we were enjoying our bar-b-q'd fowl. We took a ride from Makati to a place further away from Greenhills on a Saturday which only goes to show you how delightfully delicious their chicken is. Ate Pots foot the bill on this one (Bless her soul.) which made the dinner that more tasteful (Reference: Corrollation of Treat to taste.) So we pretty much ended our hohum day with a wonderfully satisfying dinner on nothing much. (and a couple of smiles in our sleep.)

Ken you feel the love tonight...
Through the combined efforts of the village we were able to pull off Ken's surprise party. (To certain degrees. Not a slam dunk but a nice hook shot anyway. Next time, total media blackout. And maybe a faster runner. Hehe.) Food was good. Place was good. Guests were good aside from the fact that the combined drinking power of the lot couldn't consume the measely 3 cases of bree we had reserved although Ken's college friends did put up a good fight. (Sinong nag-placing?!?) Ken probably chugged down a sizeable percent amount of the booze we did drink up. He was still with the hangover and crapping the whole day afterwards. Your basic symptoms of your average partied hard man. (According to his dad: "Kenji like that. Him drink alot and then shit the next day.") And what was the guest list like? Well, there were of course a few "attached" hotties, but for the most part, total weiner party. (Which is a good thing the wet Tshirt party idea didn't push through.) I will remember those last few moments right before the party. (First hand accounts from multiple sources, pieced together to bring you the true story.)

ETD from the apartment was at 2030H, when Birthday Boy appeared, who according to him was expecting a party then and there. All he got was a couple of my friends ready to paint the town red and a sister just about ready for work. (We were so totally faking it.) Unbeknownst to Ken, we had several props well hidden in our set. The cake on top of the cabinets. Gifts under the beds. Some party favors hidden in plain site. When we gave him the idea we were leaving (He couldn't possibly any of us since we previously set it up that his friends would come pick him up for their supposedly regular Friday night netgames.) he asks us if he can just hang out instead. Helen gets the bright idea to call their older sister to call Ken and ask him to run upstairs to fix a PC problem which (for the love of...) WORKS! And we make it past the apartment and unto Libis with our party thingies right after he leaves. Leaves us with that look of disappointment only seen as a direct result of making a grown man cry. That look of a seven year old child who didn't get that GI Joe Amphibious Tank WARTHOG with 2 detachable SILO missles plus Sgt. Slaughter action figure included for Christmas. Or at 12 when you didn't get that cool Trapper Keeper everyone else was sporting at school. Then at 15 when every other Joe had a pair of Joe-ordan 12's. (Except you.) and at 21 when all you wanted was to join their lame, stupid, dumbass college organization but they were all like "You can't join! You're not an BS Home Economics student majoring in Textiles and Clothing!" That just ain't right. That IS messed up.

Anyhoo, the party was a blast as life is a BLAST. So go on and have a blast. We all deserve it. Sometimes...

(Oh yeah. And it was this blog that spilled the beans and ratted us out to begin with.)

cdO2...
Today was an early celebration of Ken's birthday with the arrival of our new housemate for the week, the eldest of the Inukai siblings, Ate Pots (+1 friend Czar.). Shacking up shouldn't be a problem at all since Helen and I both burn the midnight oil so they can have the place at night. And, bless her soul, offerings she did bring, in the forms of them famous CDO treats, lechon de leche CDO style and my personal request, Pastel. (sunfully...good.) Helen got a treat herself when her dad passed on to her the new O2 xda II mini PDA phone. So she's been using it for a night and from what I can tell she's as baffled by its complexity as her dad was the night before which, I'm guessing, pre-empted the passing on to begin with. Some folks either don't want, need or aren't meant to have that many functions in a phone anyway. But DAMN, that's still a pretty sweet phone! On Ken's end, we've been trying to keep everything on a low key for the birthday hoorah that's really tomorrow and its lookie like he suspects nothing. (What a maroon..hehehe.) Boy is he in for a treat. Last day of work. Relief...

A Day in the Office life of...
I've been set up to take over one of our customer service accounts, Sears Potrait Studios Appointments. (I'm hoping a promotion will come with it. There have been signs.) This'll happen sometime in August which is rearing its ugly head. So, instead of taking up Bart's invitation to "take time off", I've decided on the right thing to do. Get to work. So it's crunch time for me and my poor underdeveloped twin cerebrals. AND seeing as no one's planned out how I'm to accomplish any of this I've taken the liberty of planning my own hostile takeover. (Though it would appear all the hostility is coming form the other side.) It's always a little bit of everything whenever I come out of my comfort zone and take on a project that's got risks. There is of course some fear. I haven't been in the best shape in the work place. Which is to say I'm getting by with what's expected, no more no less. So that's just another dog I'll have to shave... (Pardon the expression.)

Stronger at 29 and Alot of Aloy's Associates...
Her birthday is actually still on the 27th, but seeming as its smack in the middle of the week she thought it better to party on the weekend to fit most everyone's schedules. And only Aloy can pull off her own birthday celebration on a potluck budget. Many folks must like my sister alot 'cause the food and friends were near endless. Helen and I brought a bucket of Neopolitan Ice Cream as contribution. The theme was wholesome (at first) since some of our friends have started families already. There was face painting. (which is the gunk on Aloy's face in the pix. Helen had already washed her fairy-esque paint design off.) Also, I would like to mark today as our 29th month together (that's 2 years and 5 months), Helen and I and we're just perfect. (We've been keeping score for 2005 on who can remember and greet the other first. Score is 6:1 in my favor. Still the possibility of a tie.) The day ended with a simple dinner at Terriyaki Boy, Libis. (One of our fav jap food place. Besides Helen's dad's own cooking.) In the area, we passed by Firefighters to finalize and put down a deposit for Ken's surprise party of Friday. So that'll be another one this week. Fun on Friday.

Mooks by the gram...
The story continues, after a few hours of sleep with one straight from the night shift (Helen) as we (Jonas & Ghia, +Bart), like zombies, forage thru Market Market at the Fort. Here we are at Cookies by the gram where we've purchase some kilograms worth of scrumptiously sweet cookies.
A very long day it seemed, which was followed by an equally long sleep. Nothing like a long nap to celebrate your days off. Somebody stop time before I have to get back to work... Sigh.

Freeloaders...
We got an invite today to meet a few friends (Jonas & Ghia + Bart) to check out a launch for a condo project. (Helen & I are at that stage where we're checking out options. We very well don't want to be paying rent for the rest of our lives.) Place seems reasonably priced. Just seems a little too far. Another thing about the launch...launch PARTY. They had the works. Food, refreshments, dance and booze. And we had them all. All for free!!! Afterwhich, our band of merrymen headed for our place (although by this time Helen had already grudgingly gone to work.) in Windsor and got lost in LOST. (Put that on the recommended list of TV shows.) Until the wee hours of the morning...

Last Day Stretch...
I wonder if there's some scientific explanation (Physical, psychological or otherwise) as to why the last day of work chronologically becomes the longest. As adamant as I've become to making time pass faster, inspite of myself, it's moving in the other direction. Which maybe I shouldn't feel too negative about since it also results to greater efficiency for me in terms of work. So what else have I got to do in the days to come. A former boss of mine (and a good man too who's moved on to greener pasteurs.) told me once that the danger of being too highly efficient is that it leads to redundancy. Which is (I guess) partly the reason why it was easier for him to leave. Maybe his work was done. Maybe we'd become too efficienct for him that there was nothing left for him to do or little reasons or challenges to stay. (Of course there was the $$$ cha-ching $$$ of it too.) He lieft with wise words which will probably mean alot more to me someday. Or "Later in Life" as I like to say. So from the top right, Mark, Robin, Aih and Fel, 2nd row from the left: Moi, Chiqui, Joyce and JP, 3rd row from the left: Donna, Gina, Mia and Wil B and up front: Wil E and our expecting director Richee. Bunch of cookee folks I like to fight the good fight with 5 days a week. Damn. 2 more hours... (1 hour 59 minutes and 59 seconds...)

Murder on the tastebuds...
Like I've said I'm on medications with some pretty bad side effects. Most I can live with. But how bad would it be to have something like this around and not be able to taste it. Sigh. You can just imagine can't you? A couple more incidents like this and you'll be sure I'll be asking for the kill pills soon. Anyhoo, Happy Belated Birthday Donna! (Owner of the cake, whose birthday we celebrated today at work.) Woe is me!

I finished the book...(pant. pant.)
I think I need a hug. Stupid book. Stupid, stupid book. And I will say no more about the stupid (stupid) book in respects to my darling Helen who hasn't read the book yet, but frequently reads my blogs. So I shouldn't have to spoil it for her. I also had myself checked for asthma. (Finally!, Helen would say or said.) Got a few perscriptions too. A couple of meds, one of which has the effects of tremors, dryness in the mouth, shoots my tastebuds to hell, periodic drowsiness and turns my piss to the color of jello yellow. (I know, too much info.) I have an extra perscription for an inhaler just in case, cause the doc says I shouldn't have to get dependent on it. (It's a form of oppression! Hehe. Reference: Jorick's theory of why men are assholes...) I was conned (or maybe I was positively reinforced) into paying for a priviledge card for the Healthway clinic, which seemed like a good idea since my company hasn't ponied up the works for a new med card. Better a pix of my pills than my piss eh? (Just imagine jello yellow.)

Master Kenji, NOW WITH DSL!!!!
Breaking news, Kenji has now "leveled up" and upgraded his membership to the wonderful world wide web (wwww) by means of a DSL connection. Phase ONE is now complete. Now all we need now is a router, about 150 feet of LAN Cable, some rapelling gear, and a couple of brave souls...for PHASE TWO!!! Bwahahahahahha!!??!?!?!?!

With a dreamy, far off look and his nose stuck in a book...
The aftermath of the big launch has got my nose in a book. Still. (Speed reading was never one of my stronger suits.) At this point in the story I will say that its not as gripping as the previous ones. Several times I've afforded to put the "book" down and take a nap or have some lunch or a snack. Don't remember having this much "freedom" with the other books which, then again, might not even be this particular book's fault to begin with. By the end of the day, I've accomplish to move quite a distance in pages. Not bad. The story, I'm afraid, as well as not, goes on...(Hope I don't mess up my teams payrolll report while reading...)

Happy Harry Potter Day Aloy...
2 hours sleep and on the dot, sister dearest wakes me up to rush to PowerBooks (and this is effing 7 in the morning.) and get her her copy of Harry Potter book 6, which I promised as a birthday gift I would. Which I did, with some 200+ other Potter Crazy Fans. I bought Aloys book in that novelty shop beside the bookstore who were also selling minus the ridicilously long line. Found out the reservation fee I paid for my copy meant dickweed as the ridicilously long line made no distinctions, which I made Aloy get in line for. (hehe.) She was only too happy to do so as she was already emersed in the book as she stood in line. In the hour that it took to get my copy Aloy had already breezed through the couple of chapters and had already been commenting to fellow geeks in line how it started well. A McDo breakfast meal and a few hours of sleep (for me) later, at around 1:30 in the afternoon she'd already read halfway through the thing, but left grudgingly to attend her weekend Spanish class. But all in all she's happy. Which makes me happy. I'm just starting on mine and whatdyaknow...it does get into a good start.

Katamari and Friends...
Today was a day that started in the remembrance of our dearly departed Tito Mol. (God rest his soul.) Who almost ebbed me into a a career in the "be all that you can be" academy. Contemplating on the subject I realize I could've been a whole different person from the walking, talking gift of perfection I am now. (seriously.) There was a feast hosted by the Sales Clan at Something Fishy where I had the chance to see people I used to see on a daily basis during my highschool/college days. And Momo and the boys were there of course with our "usual" banter and laughter diatribes (a prolonged discussion). The meals left me with some take home (Bart, Jonas, Esong.) who, on the plus side, were gracious enough to did drive us all the way home to Makati and provided for some forms of entertainment for my 1st day off of the week. Another upside to is that some of my PS2 games see the light of action. (120+ titles and I figure I've really only played less than 20.) One particular game we'd seemed to collectively wrap our interests on was the substance abuse inspired, rollover and collect junk, KATAMARI DAMACY. (funny how that theme song just sticks to you..) No one more interested or obsessed than Bart who "rolled over", "felt the cosmos" and actually finished the damn thing. Towards the end Bart was already "rolling over" volcanoes, clouds and Gods! Half past midnght, halfday, Helen came home (poor thing was hyperacidic.) to help us heal some hunger pains at Hungree Burger. (burgers that were 8 inches in diameter. damn. really.) Burgers, beer, bunch of laughs and bed followed...

Buddies, Books and Breaks...

I'm seeing alot of my old "buddies" alot these days and not in the 6th "sense". Glen and Tosi during their training at night and Bart and Jonas during their job hunting in Makati at day. (In that order. Reference: My life as a call center creature...) PLUS me and Helen had breakfast in between with a cool lesbian couple this morning at Pancake House, Metrowalk. (Ladies and Gents, Ms. Richee Padre!! She says she's in love and good for her. And you can pick up your dropped jaws now.) All this meaning sleep came in increments. (a couple of hours here, a couple there.) Which has gotten Helen worried. (She's sweet and wonderful that way.) Well, she certainly did her part in helping by serving this wonderful fish fillet pasta in tomato sauce dinner which was mucho scrumptious to keep my energy up. (She put the tomato sauce there to keep me away from my mayo, bless her soul. Makings of an evil genius.)

Tonight, is my last shift for the week and its 2 days break from work and in to living the life i want to. The life that was meant to be. Hmm. Introspection tells me that maybe I should take more advantage of my free time and plant in some worthwhile activities in them. Maybe something involving sweat in the outdoors. (You're out of shape and you know it.) BUT, what I also know is that there's the new Harry Potter book which is gonna take the whole weekend to finish. Procrastination is the gift of time then. For the sweat stuff.

Rally, Harry and Firefighters...
So I'm up at around 6pm. I'd figure to put the blame on those hoots rallying in my backyard attempting to oust the president, but I've been up at around this time a few days now. Maybe its biological. Or nature calling which i guess would BE biological. Or maybe the thought of wanting to finish those damn Harry Potter books in preparation for the next one that's being released this Saturday. (note to self: try to remember and find that receipt for advance reservation of Harry Potter book. Good luck!) And it has been our (Helen and mine) personal project to plan some kind of surprise shindig for her brother dearest, kohai/padawan apprentice to me, Kenji's Bday. So we've run down some leads on party venues and it looks like we'll end up with Firefighters (that cool place with the buffalo wings.) instead of the pool houses (Sigh. And the wet Tshirt party idea fades away.). It looks like a good deal though. Our contact said he'd email the details so we'll see. We'll see. So the trip to Firefighters was a good excuse to satisfy one of Helen's hunger cravings of late, KFC. (which is right beside.) One of these days I'll come to ask about her affinity for cooked poultry...