That Guy Next Floor...

2009-01-27T16:10:00.003+08:00

FROM MARIA AIMEE YUSI SANTOS-LYONS...

let me tell you something...sometimes, we just get it right.

i realize that the oft repeated description of this phenomenon is that
change has come to america. but when i sit still and reflect on how
this moment feels
to me, it feels instead as an america coming
to....its senses? its possibilities? its own humility? its restored
humanity?

let me backtrack a bit.

having lived here for nine years now, and through my work having had
many diverse conversations with a range of ordinary americans, i get
the sense that there has always been a growing understanding that the
USA has not been living up to its ideals (aka rhetoric of itself).
american bluster through a series of humiliating events has been
slowly dwindling into confusion...disorientation...a scramble for
renewal and restoration. to finally push through with its long delayed
and unfinished project for racial justice. to weave together its
multiple strands for social justice. to finally make itself coherent
by matching its actions with its words. for generation joshua to shed
its ancestral prejudices and re-write the scripts and scriptures of
our
century.

having been laid low, and losing its perch, america has been stripped
of its pretensions and its ambitions. the fundamentals of how it saw
itself, and of how it projected itself onto the global map, have been
proven to be bloated, overreaching and simply untenable...that it was
the convergence and ascendancy of  all things arrogant, cruel and
indifferent in america. perhaps inevitably, what happened next was a
come-to-jesus moment, when ordinary americans realized they had
abdicated their power for far too long. that it was time. to live up
to their shared values, to reclaim the control and governance of their
lives, to do right what had been such a long and complicated history
of racism and oppression. that is, to elect barack obama not because
he was black, but to refuse to allow their discomfort with his
black-ness and other-ness from realizing that he had the best
credentials for the job, which
as well included his racialized
personal history.

sa madaling salita, ito nga ang EDSA ng amerika.

a singular moment where the citizenry rose to its feet, stopped the
piped in pied piper music and began to think and act for themselves.
and instead of having the assassination of a national martyr be its
awakening point, they saw instead an opportunity to build a hero.
sarili nila.

finally, they have breathed life into all the slogans and poetry that
they invoke at their rallies - we are the change we are waiting for.
be the change that you see in the world. i'm going to start with the
man in the mirror ....i see in this moment ordinary folk understanding
their extraordinary ability to be engaged, to voice dissent, to see
amongst themselves a shared struggle and a shared humanity.

it is easy i know to mythologize this moment, to get carried away and
allow the euphoria to deplete our
hypercynicism below healthy levels.
but so be it. i am giving myself permission to celebrate. to weep. to
be inspired. to be intimidated. to be humbled. to be dazed. to not
have to comprehend the true profundity of this moment. and above all,
to fall in love with america.
yes, a colonial master. yes, a continuing aggressor and capitalizing
colluding implerialist.but also now a people lost searching for
equilibrium. for the sake of my family, my neighborhood, my friends
and community, for my home country and the world which is increasingly
home to friends not strangers, whatever talent and skills i have,
doesn't it now make sense to offer them in service of this new vision?
this new era? in my time here truth be told, i have benefited from the
generosity of conscientious americans, as they have from my friendship
with them. they have broadened my insight, they have held me up when
my knees buckled, they stood by
me when i've been questioned, they
have supported my dreams when i imagined i had a farther reach than i
was born with. they lit candles both when it was my darkest night and
when i was aglow with new love. i must and do allege both faith
solidarity and support to these new friends. and it brings me to tears
that these new friends, and now my family have the leader they
deserve. one who reflects their generosity. one who affirms their
whole selves. one who has their grace, their love for their small
towns and their love affair with the wide wide world. how is this
possible...that one man could embody such disparate affections and
understandings. "that power emanates from the justness of their cause,
the force of their example and the tempering qualities of their
humility..." totoo ba to? tama bang narinig ko? nanggaling ba to sa
isang amerikanong presidente? justice and humility in the same
sentence?

if
only for having raised the standards of the White House, am I
pledging loyalty and offering to work for Obama. y'know barack will
need friends. very soon he will disappoint someone somewhere. he
already has. it will be a testament to his character how steadfast and
committed to his vision he can be, under duress under pressure under
criticism. he will need not only vast amounts of goodwill but
similarly, folks with constancy. people who may disagree with him but
people who won't walk away knowing that disengagement would be
conceding the ground to haters. and i am feeling very protective of
this sacred ground we are now treading and these small tentative
steps.

aaayy and let me tell you about that day...

barack nailed it when he said this was the winter that would test
us....granted he was talking about the economy but it felt like the
right wing forces had mustered their last ounce of evil magic to
keep
everyone from going: from the bone-penetrating cold that dissuaded the
other 2 million who would have joined us, the metro accident the
stopped the trains in their tracks to the long lines that tested
people's patience, and the barricades at every turn. yet no matter
what barrier they put in front of us, the crowd surged forth, with
faith and perseverance singing and laughing believing at the next
corner they would get in to the promised land. by the third hour, 10
minutes away to the start of the inauguration, joseph wanted to give
up and find a warm cafe to watch the ceremony. buti na lang pinoy ako.
ano ba naman ang isa pang kilometrong layo? kahit nababaog na kami sa
bigat ng mga bata sa likod namin, sugod pa rin. the eternal ususero,
hindi ako nadismaya at hindi ako nagpabali.  and indeed, when we
turned the corner there it was, the washington monument, majestic and
gleaming on this bitter january day,
a throng of people greeting us
with their cheers. and on cue, Diane Fienstein begins the
inauguration.

it took my breath away. stuck somewhere between my head and my heart,
between my imagination and that place where life turns a corner,
between an individual solitary experience and a truly massive
collective zeitgeist-shifting ego-altering experience...the sights to
behold were too many i felt my heart was going to burst: miyka running
around with the other children
born to this moment of an america with an african-american president,
Gabriel climbing a tree to get a better look and taking pictures of
the throng, ordinary americans filling in bright yellow posters saying
Mr. President I hope for......, everyone taking pictures of each other
with their bright yellow posters, dazzling smiles on strangers' faces,
the sea of people parting to reveal carina and her family....a country
and her citizens for one
singular moment looking in the same
direction, clasping the same prayer in their hearts, wishing well of
each other and understanding that their individual fates/ faiths are
interdependent.

i did not resent the 2 hour trek on foot to carina's sister's house.
the warmth of the gathering thawed the chill from the streets, the
feast toti prepared fed the body that was running on euphoria, the
children's laughter and the grown-up conversation decorated and
animated the night.

and as i went to sleep early the next morning, for the first time in
ever so long, there was no rage in me. there was no fear, there was no
uncertainty. worms of anxiety transformed into winged excitement. some
people call it hope.

2008-12-22T09:34:00.005+08:00

DONE!...

7:53 AM MLA Time, December 22, 2008. Jorick kicked some Venom Donkey Ass! Yeah! (And just so you have a visual idea of what that means, the humungous, nasty thing on the left of the pix is Venom and the little idle figure on the right, is me as Spiderman.) And that, ladies and gents is, historically, my first ever finished Xbox 360 game.

There was a great deal of disappointment with the PS2 version of Spiderman: Web of Shadows, as the PS2 version is NOTHING like the Xbox 360 or PS3 versions! In fact, it is SOOO nothing like the Next Gen Console versions that it shouldn't even be given the same game name title. (Actually, the PS2 ver. does have "AMAZING ALLIES EDITION" on it which would still make things confusing.) So, for those of you who, like me, are still clinging to their PS2, thinking, the powers that be (Those evil genius game developer gods) will still be releasing PS2 versions of those cool games anyway, STOP LIVING IN DENIAL.

2008-11-16T09:14:00.004+08:00

Up-GRADED!...

I can't even begin to count the hours of contemplation and research and calculations and budgeting and frustrations that came into making this decision. And, oh, that I were just doing it to myself it would've been...better.

BUT after every-all-of-it, I made it and I did it...SOoo, on the 16th of November, 2008, after 2 dancepads, a rock band set, 4 trivia game pads, an eyetoy, a light gun, 3 gamepad replacements, 1 of which is wireless, and exactly 397 game titles in collection, I, Jose Ricardo Yusi Santos, have finally upgraded from a Playstation2 to, my ultimate choice for a next generation console, a decision which I can only hope and pray won't come around an bite me in the ass, an...XBOX 360.

My first game will be...Spiderman: Web of Shadows!

2007-05-12T23:11:00.000+08:00

Mr. & Mrs. Carlo and Leah Santos...

Today, I put on the pause on the remote control of my life. Today, the world is reserved for Mr. & Mrs. Carlo and Leah Santos. My big brother's wedding day. And just like that they're husband and wife. Introduced to the family last November, married May the next year. (Yes, THAT fast.) And that's probably what many might think. But I think they're wrong. If you saw them today, if you saw them look at each other with all the love, care, faith and affection with an intensity that you sometimes wonder if you'll ever have, you couldn't possibly think that way about them. Because maybe the truth is, we should all be so lucky. Lucky to find that person we're absolutely crazy about and just can't wait to start the rest of our lives with. It's probably not the same road many of us would consider or take. Which makes these two the exceptionally lucky, crazy and madly in love. Times a hundred. To the infinite power. These guys are just wonderful.

And the wedding was....beautiful.

2007-05-05T15:51:00.000+08:00

You find the best things when you look through old files...

This I want to share with you. As I was going through our library collection at my folk's place I chanced upon an old copy of “the Little Prince” which I could tell hadn’t been touched in ages. As I skimmed through it’s pages a folded brown piece of paper fell off and had written on it a very short story that I found highly amusing and in some ways moving. The story, by the looks of the paper must have been at least a few to 5 years old. The author to me was not revealed.

Enjoy.

Jorick Santos - This was sometime August 2001.

There once was a girl who never got out of her abode. Happily alone, all she wanted was some peace and quiet, and she got just that. Until one day, she realized that being alone did not make her happy at all. It happened when a boy passed by her window. The boy stopped and looked inside. She hid herself from his eyes but somehow she could not resist, and later found herself staring straight at the boy.

No one spoke a word……maybe they did not know what to say to each other or maybe there was simply no need for it. The boy stared. The girl stared back…and they saw that they both looked in, and they both looked out; and the girl didn’t care if it was raining outside. She was terribly afraid of thunder, but looking at the boy, fully drenched, she ran outside to meet him.

Everyday, he would pass by her window and they would both play outside, whatever the weather, whatever the season, it never bothered them…and the girl longed for his company as soon as she got home.

But one day, the boy did not see her, and she waited until the next day, and the next still. And she cried because she lost someone who has shown her the world outside….how to feel the sun in her face, the rage of heaven as it pours, the bruises from falling down small hills, the wind in her curly hair…and she felt real pain stab her inside, soon tears began to form and the girl fell to her knees and sobbed.

But eyes do run out of tears sometimes, and she got up, tired of crying and the girl started to get inside her lonely home again when she realized that hey, she could still feel the sun, the rain, the wind, the night, the mist…all she needed was to go outside…..and the boy simply led her the way.

Tears are probably the soul’s natural cleansers. People see a whole lot better after crying, she thought.

And though the girl never saw the boy ever again, she would always be reminded that the boy let her see through her window from different angles….and from opposite sides…

….and the girl continues to love the boy a lot; a whole – whole lot – lot.

*Still.

2007-04-16T14:57:00.000+08:00

Mr. and Mrs. Badillo...

So for the man who, in some ways, still feels he's still a kid in highschool, it's getting a little more apparent that he isn't. (to stir away any confusion, I'm that man.) Today, I witnessed another one of my oldest friends in life get married. (That makes 3. Or 2 and a half according to Momo. I guess Bart doesn't count as a whole point) And Tosi seems to be scheduled by the end of the year. And it's still not sinking in. That they're married. Or maybe I guess I've known Glen (groom) and Tina (bride) so long together that they've always seemed married to me and maybe the wedding was off cause it was so late. A good match those two.

As for the wedding of Mr and Mrs Badillo itself, the priest asked the groom if he had seen Jesus which he didn't quite know how to answer and it showed in his face, his right shoe still had a price tag on it, the priest frowned at the entourage for cheering on the groom everytime he said the words "I do" (Yeah you do!"), one of the entourage was late, and another one couldn't make it, but the bride was stunning, while the groom looked stunned. And as for the entourage, I'll have to admit, was successful in making the whole wedding look goooood. Oh, and the host at the reception was totally kickass awesome. (It was my 1st time to host one. Helen, God bless her soul, helped me prep.)

And after the party we found ourselves at a Starbucks on West Avenue with Mr and Mrs Badillo. Hanging out and laughing out loud in celebration of another milestone in our lives. (Yeah, we did!)

2007-04-02T13:00:00.000+08:00

100 bucks sez OR the Day of April Fools is Upon Us

So we DID end up having a meal in one of the best (and pricey-est) buffet places in the Manila area, Spiral (inside SOFITEL formerly known as Philippine Plaza). And the food there is damn straight GOOOOD. (What's that stomache?....GOOOD.) Because good people deserve something good in their lives. And the cost is just worth it. It is.

Now Helen and I, for example, are good people. (At least I'm pretty much sure Helen is.) And we deserve it. And Helen says that because she was working that day she didn't really get a chance to celebrate my birthday with me, and so, that was another reason. And last but not the least, which was pretty much the deal that landed us the deal of eating there today...the fact that I, the writer of this blog, a legend in my own mind...was right. RIGHT. As in correct. THAT there IS such a word as bifurcate. (Which meaning is available through the power of Google...sorry, I'm not about to give out any freebies. Ken looked up the word. You should too.) Which means that I didn't make it up. Which makes me the winner of a little bet that Ken was too much of a wuss to make and Helen was too foolish to have. (Let us not judge them to be this all the time my friends. I'm sure we all have our own moments of weaknesses and flaws.)

So we're out celebrating the four of us, Helen and I, with Master Kenji and their Dad. The food. GOOD. As was the company. Now Ken, with the influence of Ed, a kickass TV show that's been cancelled for sometime now, has tried to start this whole "I'll give you money if you do something stupid." kinda game. (Lookup: JACKASS the show) So, for 100 bucks (pesos) I dared him, full to the brim with buffet food and all, to run up the spiral steps (which the restaurant was named after) instead of taking the escalator like we did. And he did. And he earned his cash. Fair and square.

So the moral I choose to take from this little story is that (mostly for Ken) a string of stupid things done in celebration of a great person's birthday may land you with a stomache full of good food, an extra 100 bucks and sitting breathless in front of a fancy hotel and almost, but not quite, about to hurl.

Next word: Concatinate. (opposite of Bifurcate. Google it. Go.)

2007-03-29T14:53:00.000+08:00

Dude, I'm 30...

No profound thoughts or introspections on my life (yet) for the turning of the year so I'll just start with a count of my day's highlights. So unfortunately, Helen had to work. (at 30 I am more understanding. To her credit she tried to get out of it and was bummed all the way through work that day that she couldn't.) We did have lunch at Sukiyaki where we inhaled Japanese food in like 30 minutes (not the way to go. it just isn't.) before Helen went to work. I got a pair of black leather Chucks (The I.Robot kind) from Helen. I planned a TMNT movie watch with family at the Gateway Mall (Although I wish it was the Laz-E Boy Theater). Master Ken and I ventured through the afternoon rush hour from Makati to the QC based mall with the 30 Rock (TV Show) inspired game "Kill-Boff-Marry" and its variations to entertain us. (Ken chose that Portman girl over the PussyCat Dolls together...sigh. I have failed you Ken. I am sorry.) And COWABUNGGA, that was a good movie for a kid's flick. I'm especially happy to have spent it with my nephew, Gabrielle before he heads back to the US. It was the best the turtles ever were. With the killer moves and the killer lines. Fun-nee. (At 30 I'm still a kid.) So we had dinner afterwards, ME the birthday boy, Ken, Gabrielle, Lovely my 8 year old aunt, my brother Kiko opposite Ate Cherry, and engaged couple brother Carlo and Lea. Super Bowl. Good enough food. The night was still young so Master Ken and I got a few mugs of brew at Chili's where we we joined, shortly after, by their dad. (Sir Aki) Chili's called last call so we headed to Saki Lab for a few more of mother nature's milk where we hung out. Like regular guys, drinking and talking about drinking and getting drunk and college and women. It was fun. At 30 it was fun.

2007-03-28T13:28:00.000+08:00

Twas the day before 30 at Mcdo...

My teammates Myra and Gaye are like the worst actors ever. I could smell the MO like it forcefully, loudly came out of my own ass. Which makes Potpot the worst texter when she missent me a text planning the event the week before. And Marco couldn't give a decent lie to save his life when I noticed him lounging around the hall heading out to the secret meeting place. And everybody else are really, really, REALLY bad at hide n' seek. Which leaves ME. The biggest sucker of 'em all. Who, despite all the giveaways and signs, did not, could not put 2 and 2 together.

Nevertheless, it was one of the biggest surprises I've had in my life. A really good one. I think, like most people, I have a tendency to face my birthday with a little bit of dread hoping to fade away into the background without notice until it's all over, secretly hoping someone would make a big deal out of it. (and I think that's normal. ) And THIS was a very big deal made. My first very own Mcdonald's Birthday Party. (and the wait is over.) It had everything, a very peculiar phalic shaped birthday cake, and birthday games, and birthday prizes, and a party host and my very own special birthday guest. Question: If all the other characters in McDonald's Land represent some form or food in the burger chain, what does Grimace represent? (Answer: Grimace is.. )

Good times.

Great taste.

At McDonald's. (hehe. Muchos Gracias Guys.)

2007-03-24T16:57:00.000+08:00

4 Years 1 month...

One thing about deep seeded relationships is (that show I'm incessantly watching "How I Met Your Mother" calls it...) the smurf penis. (Watch the show. You'll get it. But for those who dont have the time or a sense of humor...) It's those inside jokes you enjoy with your love person, the secret language only the 2 of you can speak fluently and understand and all the rituals, routines and notes that make the harmony of your 2 person orchestra. (That of course only you 2 hear.) Helen and I have made a little game of being 1st to greet during the monthsary, every 24th of the month. We started this game about 2 years ago. I've won twice. Fair and square. (Really.) And now on our 3rd year run the score be Helen: 1, Jorick: Zilch. Just the beginning. Game on.

And I love you hon.

2007-03-09T12:14:00.001+08:00

What Helen said...

It was at 6:30 in the morning when she said, what i think to be one of the cutest things. Helen had had probably about 2 hours of light sleeping, having finished work, when she stirred a bit as I suddenly said, without purpose of actual conversation, that I had filed Saturday off. To which she, being somewhere in the middle of awake and Never Neverland, said that it was good that I did and that she was bringing her Australian friends to Greenbelt that day. For the shopping. At which I reluctantly answered back the idea that maybe I could hang around McDonald's and read a book or something while they do their shopping.

Now, normally, I'm used to situations where saying something like this could get you into trouble and would probably lead to one those big fights over small things. Relationships are exageratingly bizaare sometimes. And this is something I had just realized after the words had already left my mouth. Tact is a word not often used in men's vocabulary.

Despite my anxiety, she just closed her eyes and with a very satisfying smile in her face said, "No. You're coming with ME." And she turned in and floated off to sleep. I found myself, as I was walking past the bedroom door and headed off to work smiling.

2006-12-26T15:42:00.000+08:00

Christmas Txt Tnx!

Through the mid-holiday stretch I would just like to thank the following for spending credits to send their warm thoughts in this time of Christmas joy:

Paul Martinez
Michelle Molina
Monique Hilario
Charry Javillo
Natasha Reyes
Connie Japitana
Sir Yangco
Jandy dela Cruz
Maya Arizo
Romulo Sales
Jonas and Ghia Pineda
Luisito Marcel Herrera Garchitorena
Malou from Itouch Team Suave
Anjo from Itouch IT
Lawrence Sol Cruz
Joe Saucedo
Sir Marvin Sabado
Marco del Rosario
Mitch Depamaylo
Joey from Itouch Outbound
Cake from Orange Phoenix
Myra Bravo
Wil Escalona
Joe from UP OSSM
Hazel Castillo
Patrick Santos
Joey Evangelista
Honey Alfafara
Jay Soliven
Donna Javellana
Bird San Gabriel
Jhiens de Vera
Methel Conlu
John Tagle
Sir Gil Turgo
Chini de Vera
Tina Carillo
Hani Bautista
Mina Palisoc
Migz Zablan
Ybet Torres
Mel from 24/7
Jon Flores
QA Angel from RMH
Mylene Torres
Kayumanggi Guades
Sunshine Segunial
Whey from Infonxx batch 21
En Pimentel
Cecille Morales
Fluffy Ramirez
Joie Daguio
Maleen Jervoso
Bok Balagtas
Ronel
Matt Forones
Ruby Sison
Chito Lindo
Jayson Crisostomo
Angel Pantaleon
Emy Castro
CJ and Karl from Itouch
GI
Hernani Bautista
Jonet
Eloisa Maglacas

and especially to Helen Mae Chiong Inukai.

You are forever honored in my list for 2006 Merry Txtmas. May next year shower you with credits to text me with in the year to come.

2006-10-09T07:00:00.000+08:00

Damn dot...

Whether by stroke of luck or whatever (because Whatever should never EVER be taken lightly. It's powers are vast and strong.) I find myself at work, but not working. And just so you don't think of me as the type who compromises professional integrity, there is....a glitch (let us call it a glitch for simplicity's sake) that has directed me to this in order to save sanity. I have resigned myself to it, this glitch, after numerous efforts. I am "going with the flow". If anything it has given me time (a commodity they say shouldn't be wasted). And so the word for today is introspection.

Things are quiet. More quiet than usual. It is a Sunday afterall. Which means inside the office and out, it is quiet. More quiet than usual. (hehe) Which is good because it affords me my silence for contemplation. Perfect. And as I try to recall my day's events up to this point. I am not too bold to move farther back than today. Time is not that generous. All things are as well as to be expected. Everyone important in my life, I am led to believe, is more or less in good spirits.

I have on an orange shirt with a regular print design. It's a nice shirt. Feels ok. I'll be wearing this for some time. Old and torn it'll be something I'll use to sleep. One grows comfortable to these things. Somewhere along the front of it's clothe, along its print design is a black ink dot that happened when a pen slipped from my teeth from trying to do too many things at once. And mostly when I'm doing whatever it seems to be the farthest thing from the farthest thing in my mind. Everything's ok. And that's as far and deep as I seem to go today.

There's a friggin' dot.

"I dare do all that may become a man. Who dares more is none." - Shakespeare

2006-07-06T17:55:00.000+08:00

Normal Rico...(Maybe)

For the next 3 months or so, I will be in the day shift. I will be living as normal people do. I will be feeling that oh so sweet rejuvinated feeling of one who has had a good night's sleep. The operative word being "night" as the schedule for sleep as God intended it to be. One of many, if not the most relevant of perks of having this shift.

I accept this change without knowing what lies ahead of me. It is not what I had expressed as a choice. Far from it actually. I am the choice that has been chosen in actuality. I have been told it is for this and that and for this or that I have no complains. Only questions and wonders. Whose answers to, I know, I will only get in time (next week). I have adjusted to many things earlier than the start of this year. Adjusting still, makes no difference.

And with a new shift comes a new team. I will be letting go of my current team and, like my shift, will be assigned a new one. I must admit that will not be too easy for me. Especially since I feel I still have much to do with the my current roster. I have proven myself half of what I have set as my own expectations. Of myself. And now, I must start again. Which isn't to discount the sentimentality of my soon to be former roster. Not that anyone will be shedding any over anything.

I don't mean to be to melodramatic about moving to a new shift. If anything is to be said of me of these last months it should be that I am resilient. I will miss the action of the night shift. Now, most of the action that will probably reach me will be only news of it. Which isn't to say that there won't be any action waiting for me in the day. It is the reason for this and that. I will also miss working with the fellows of the night, especially my asshole buddy Mark. We were in the habit of being men who stab each other in the front but defends each others back in the workplace. As to not to get ourselves in any unnecessary shit we couldn't shovel our way out of. It'll be different now that's for sure. The days are those of solitude I hear. One must get used to working in silence and contemplation. Fuck!

Que sera, sera I suppose.

2006-06-29T03:17:00.000+08:00

Don't mess with the "S"...

And I agree that one of the perks of living in the Philippines is that, normally, you get to watch the blockbuster movies before everyone else in the world ( by a couple of days for some or a few more for others .) I saw the 1st show on the 1st day with Helen and Ken. And I think he can fly higher than that.

I think the problem is that most people are too excited to see the big picture that they totally miss the big picture. (and I'll explain this.) A friend of mine at work told me when asked that the "S" was for sucks. Another said "S" was for special effects. Both agreed "S" was not for story. And I bet every geek and freak who saw the movie has their own list of nitpickings of how the movie doesn't quite cut it. Debates on this may go on and on. There was just too much expectation. And I don't blame them for this. Because ONE, it's freakin' SUPERMAN. He's like the ultimate icon for all generations. Someone not even all of the Power Rangers in the all of the universes could overthrow. TWO, they marketed it that way. What with the 19 years or so in waiting. With $120 million in budget. All the media hype. and THREE...(I'll come up with a THREE later in life.)...It's all LOTR's fault. Because they set the bar for movies like these. That feeling of content and excitement and entertainment one has coming out of the cinemas after the credits (because you stick around a little bit more to soak in it.)

But maybe it's LOTR bound. You don't just watch the FOTR. You watch all three installments which make it the one great story. The difference is (as well as the challenge) is that we knew LOTR had three parts. Maybe Superman too. (and three.) Maybe after a few more installments we'll appreciate the first one better. Or maybe not. At this point I don't know if I want to shellout another P120 to see it again. Only history will tell on both accounts. (2nd installment: Superman Stays...hehehe)

The rest I'll let you all continue to debate on...

"But when it was all over, something was missing. Oh, yeah. The fun." - Robert W. Butler (Kansas City Star)

2006-06-21T16:17:00.000+08:00

HOT in HEEEERRRRReeee....

The Miami Heat won the the NBA finals!

Which means Chris, Max and Jed...Pay up!!! 450 big ones each bay-beee!!!

Mark and Nana, quite a few quarter pounder meals for us.

2006-06-03T15:23:00.000+08:00

Greener Pasteurs...

This is MY Team. The Brown Cows. (Go ahead. We all had a healthy laugh at our team name. When your done, try to guess which ones are drunk and which ones didn't get any sleep at all. And the one in the middle is a Grizzly.) These are most of them at least. For as long as any of us remain decided in having our souls sold to the call center world, these are the people I work with. Day in. Day out.

We won the OT drive, won the cash prize and now we're spending it, here, at La Casa Linda. A Spanish style pool house somewhere in the outskirts of Cainta, Rizal. The place was very accomodating without the hassle of a 3-4 hour travel.

It would've been better if we could've spent a few days there instead of just an overnight stay straight from the night shift. (We're call center boys and girls afterall!) Maybe have some of those group activities set up, but lack of time and planning (and maybe a little bit of effort) didn't afford us much.

Which isn't to say we didn't make the best of it either. These Cows know a thing or two about partying ALL -friggin'- NIGHT - LONG... First let's just say that both food and booze were overflowing. There were Cows in the pool all day, Cows singing videoke all day, Cows eating and drinking all day and some Cows sleeping all day too. AND even when the storm hit us and we didn't even have electricity for a while the cows all gathered up for a batch of good old fashioned ghost stories. Which kind of scared the bejesus out of me a little. It was...fun.

If we can work as hard as we partied that night, the Cows will be grazing in greener pastuers for quite some time.

2006-01-11T18:14:00.000+08:00

The Lion , The Witch, The Wardrobe, Me...and a LAZ-E Boy

A week after New Year's day they had finally released to cinemas the movie I've been waiting for most to see this year. (Stupid annual Manila Filmfest moved the release to a later time than which should originally have been early December.)
And now, enter the enchanted wardrobe and into the magical land of Narnia, land of magic, talking critters, mystic evils and wondrous adventures.

Very nicely done. It was (in my opinion), in fact, dear C.S. Lewis' book come to life. (add a little wit and humor) Narnia was big in my childhood days. (For me and my family at least) So to see a tastefully done movie of one of my all time favorite books is definitely the shit for me. Definitely worth waiting for the original DVD to come along.

And of course it's only fitting that I see this movie with family, as family is, of course, what it's all about. And so I did. And we did. And we (Helen and I) did overdo it. There couldn't have been a better excuse than Narnia to try out this LAZ-E Boy theater we've been hearing about. And so, with a lot of patience, a little creativity, some acting and available credit we ended up buying the whole theater out. (minus 2 seats.) We sold the extra tickets to friends at cost (Business minded we are not) and sat back relaxed and enjoyed the movie. (The pop corn and drinks are free and free flowing.) For future movie greats, this is where we're watching. Most definitely.

2005-10-18T18:51:00.000+08:00

In Good Company...
I guess it's only natural towards the end to think of what kind of exits we make. About how many lives we've touched, what kind of differences we've done or feats we've accomplished. It's all so self gratifying really, but maybe in the fog of corporate abyss it becomes your one moment of glory. To see that look of appreciation, respect and maybe a little beneath the surface sadness in the eyes of your colleagues that says "Thank you." (Then again it could be that tip off towards self-destruction and deppression going by completely unnoticed which makes the leave oh so much more easier when it's fueled by disappointment and anger. hehehe.)

I got a little something today that emphatically justifies me having stayed 3 years here. And it wasn't the red carpet or the grand spotlight or even a round of applause that I didn't get. None of that at all. More of a natural sun light, limited seating, donut shop, breakfast kind of thing with a bunch of wonderful people who've reminded me of why I've camped out here as long I have. It's the Good company. I stayed because of the good company. And thats something they don't put on your contract with the digits and the benefits and the incentives. It's a random factor of life that just is. And as luck would have it I struck gold here (and diamonds, and rubies and sapphires...). And I have my logical reasons for leaving too, but as I sit here counting the moments in between saying goodbye and hello I can only hope my luck for striking gold is still with me. And maybe, maybe it'll all have been worth it.

And so to all the people of Itouchpoint who've touched my life, made differences in me, and shared feats of accomplishments (and defeats) I appreciatively, respectfully and with alot beneath the surface sadness (and joy) in my eyes would like to say...Thank you.

2005-10-18T11:42:00.000+08:00

The Last of the SUAVES...

I guess in the back of my head I've always wondered. Professionally, if there was life outside of Itouchpoint. (Which of course there is, but most times it just doesn't seem that way.) Was there another place out there for me? And as much as I've tried to convinced myself I would see this through the end, in the end of it all I gave in. And now I'm moving on to that oh so scary place of uncertainty. Venturing into the dim and twisted world they call the "call center". (Sigh. Again.) Leaving my comfort zone. I'm getting a new job. (Look out world! Please don't step on me.)

2005-08-29T09:57:00.000+08:00

Out of Bounds and Heaven in UR Eggs...
Two very interesting things happened to me today. (as interesting and normal as anything in my suburban life these days.) The Expected and the Unexpected. The Expected was the Launch party for my Outbound Team at work. After a long week of work they deserved a chill out and relax. That's me and the team on ur right. (Ten points if you can point out all the drunk ones.) Thanks to Carlo Romano (not his real name.) for the floor space of festivities. These are a good, crazy bunch of people. I just hope I have what it takes to lead this account to success. For all our sakes. Ack, I've worried and bled myself in to a huge ditch as it is already over this account, so today, I let the booze take over. (Cheers guys! May the booze run out but not our lucks!) Helen was there as well for a bit (She scheduled a salon day with my sister Aloy and Ate Cherry, my brother Kiko's significant other.). I like introducing her to the people I work with. She thinks they're cool. As do I. I bet we're right.

Drunk (but not stinking drunk) and weary and just about to call it a day, when multiple attacks (via SMS) followed from that old highschool gang. They'd hung out from the baptism of one of the F2 babies (Reference: "F2" is the uninspired group name we used to carry in those days) As usual, a foray of slaps, gufaws, slanders and low blows before we came to the decision of trying out something new in the food and beverage delicacies department, "Heaven and Your Eggs" (minus the "your"). It was damn tasty! (Damn!) This one highly recommends the chicken steak. I can imagine Helen and I ordering this 60% of the time on our future returns. (40% of the time we like to try new stuff.) You have got to try it out. Ten thumbs up! I hear they have a 2nd branch in Glorietta. (It's about 150-500 pesoses per head.) Not to be done by way of Mcdonalds but a bullseye on the once in awhile.

2005-08-27T23:24:00.000+08:00

Almost a month and a few thousand bucks (and by "bucks" i mean pesos) later...
Finally, the long wait is over. Today, we commemorate the actuallization of a grand plan, schemed from the depths of pure inspiration some months ago by that great visionary (in his own mind) of our times...me. AND the internet is once again, as well as it should and always be, under the clicks of our thumbs. (or forefingers actually. Whatever, the net's our bitch now.) It's been a long ride to get to this point and I must give a hats off to those hard working administration guys who've painstakingly tried to wriggle a lan cable from the 2nd floor to the 6th of a very old apartment complex. It took them long enough, but credit where credits due of course. Also, in related domestic updates, the water heater is now operational which means, happy hot shower days are here again. Internet and the water heater. Those Meralco mooks must be smiling now. Anyhoo, CHEERS!

2005-08-08T01:48:00.000+08:00

Where it all ends...
We, the currently financially challenged had put off our regular Sunday market day and had brunch on the 6th floor over some leftover Adobo ala Aki. (Helen's dad sure can cook.) We tested the router again just to make sure our Frankenstein moment wasn't really a vanilla sky one and thankfully it checked out. Later this day Helen and I took a little adventure on the accounting side to figure out the why's of our handicap. Sigh. Ignorance is definitely bliss.

2005-08-07T03:17:00.001+08:00

Day of the freeloaders...
Free massages are always welcomed in the house of Jorick, which is how I spent the early parts of today with the Inukai's at Fitness First, Fort Bonifacio. Ate Pots (Bless her soul!) wanted to use up all her gc's (gift certs) and treat us lot to some group physical therapy. (Damn! I miss hot showers.) Then Kiko and Cherry dropped by and (Bless their souls!) went to treat Helen and I and Esong (who stuck around) to a chopticks lunch at Komoro Soba at Glorietta where we strolled around and ended up buying a wire-full router at a really good cheapest price with longer warranty (phase 2 of the DSL master plan!) to freeload off of the internet on the 6th floor. 1st of our ranks to go down was Helen since she was up til 5pm this afternoon straight from the previous night's working shift. (the poor thing.) J-bird and his trusty sidekick Esongman proceeded to testdrive the router (after a guest appearance of Special K) and enjoyed their own personal Frankenstein moment. Now if we can only find a way to get the connection all the way down to the 2nd floor...(Next Attraction: Phase 3!)

2005-08-06T11:29:00.000+08:00

Boobs and Tubes...
Another fine day of rest and relaxation for me, but instead of rest, there was a clogged kitchen drain that I had to stay up for to wait for Mario and Luigi (not their real names) to come by and fix it, which they didn't do a very good job of so I guess I'm staying up another day in the week to see if it gets fixed at all. AND instead of relaxation I had Bart and Esong over where, again, we defied both time and space in that funfilled, chaotic mental state called the PS2. (We tried the multi player Xmen Legends, but those two just suck at it. I think they're more of the every man for themselves or what we like to call "forget our friendships" type of games. ) Yup, that was pretty much it... (I gotta get out more often. NOT this day since it was pretty much raining all day.)

2005-08-04T13:04:00.000+08:00

Hats off to Mr. Zablan...
Let the records show that at around 12:21 in the afternoon (in that stage between light sleep and "anything short of the earth splitting, fire hale and brimstone, actual end of the world could not wake me up") I got a call from Mighty Migz saying it was time. Let the records also show that it was found that he has not quit smoking like he had previously commited he would several times before and that he has accepted the futility of making such commitments that his weak, submissive, mortal will cannot backup. Add to the records that in 5 years Mighty Migz isn't doing too bad for himself and his family, which we all believed he would. (Let's see where the next 5 years gets us?) Document that all this information was acquired when we hung out, spent lunch (Mcdo) and dinner (Floating Island - You gotta try the Adobo Rice. Really. Tasty.) and waited for the...Last record to show that Mighty Migz and wife Rialet has (sometime around 8pm-10pm) opened the world to celebration of te birth of their new son (Our hats off to...) Mr. Marco Pocholo Zablan!

2005-08-01T11:42:00.000+08:00

Sunday Market...
There's this sunday street market ritual that started a few weeks back at a parking lot along our street that we never really thought would last, but somehow did. In fact, they keep adding more and more stalls in there. (I think this time Bollywood/Indian cuisine was a new addition.) Helen loves going there to do her vegetable groceries. Fresher, she says and I agree. I like the cooked food. (Market food is yummy.) We went down and had some brunch with Helen's dad, Ate Pots and Czar (A friend of Ate Pots.) Roast beef and pulled pork sandwiches and a little rain. (Nature's moisturizer!)

2005-07-31T10:25:00.000+08:00

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.)

2005-07-30T02:14:00.000+08:00

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.)

2005-07-28T23:23:00.000+08:00

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...

2005-07-27T03:17:00.000+08:00

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.)

2005-07-25T00:53:00.000+08:00

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.

2005-07-24T12:55:00.000+08:00

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.

2005-07-23T12:01:00.000+08:00

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...

2005-07-22T03:20:00.000+08:00

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...)

2005-07-21T06:55:00.000+08:00

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!

2005-07-20T02:11:00.000+08:00

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.)

2005-07-19T00:08:00.000+08:00

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!!??!?!?!?!

2005-07-17T23:46:00.000+08:00

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...)

2005-07-17T03:02:00.000+08:00

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.

2005-07-16T05:26:00.000+08:00

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...

2005-07-15T14:34:00.000+08:00

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.

2005-07-14T13:30:00.000+08:00

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...