God, Why Do You Put These Cars On The Road???
Saturday, August 28, 2004
I always go home late and by late, I mean somewhere between 10:30 PM- 1:00 AM on work nights. Some people say it's dangerous for me to travel at this hour as there are a lot of fast "psycho" drivers on the road. What they don't know is-- I'm one of them.
I like traveling at these hours because there are hardly any cars on the road and therefore, I could zoom down Edsa and easily swerve from one lane to another, going as high as 80- 90 kph (uhh, I'm not sure if I got the unit right.. :p). This way, I could leave the trails of turtle- paced cars behind me. I guess I like speeding when I can, not because of the thrill, but because I get to my destination right away and in that way, I have more time to do whatever it is that needs to be done. (Sounds impatient? Hey, Tintin! Can you relate? I read your 100 Things) Hey, no MMDAs out to catch me anyway.
Tonight, the gods of EDSA were against me. All the lanes were occupied by slow cars. It was difficult for me
to overtake them. You think they were sightseeing and going through a guided tour of EDSA. Look! a pothole! Take my picture, take my picture! Oooh, a car hogging two lanes! Picture, picture! Hey, why is it traffic? Oh look, everybody wants to see who got hurt at the accident! Me too! Picture! And when, I finally did. Another set of slow cars was ahead of me. By the time, I got to the underpass of Edsa, there were two trucks occupying two lanes and that made everybody slow down. Some cars were convoying and had their hazards on. You couldn't tell if there was an emergency or not because they were driving so slow. And in the middle of it all, I exasperately said, "God, why do you put these cars on the road???"
When I got to Corinthians, i was finally able to get past all the slow cars and the long, wide road was mine. I slowly downshifted gears as I approached the stoplight, preparing to take a left to White Plains. Only one car was waiting for the green light at the stop light. As I approached, the light changed from red to green. The car ahead of me began moving and in the middle of turning left, he stopped. Do you wanna know why he stopped? Do you freakin' wanna know why the idiot stop??? Do yah??? It's because he saw a car fast approaching from the other direction about to run the red light! The stupid idiot had the right of way and he gave way to a car that was running a red!!! God, why do you put these cars on the road??? Oh, but that's not all. The car drove real slow. Occasionally stepping on the brakes when there were not even a single sign of potholes or road bumps. What is wrong with you? It's strike two for you, driver!
When I got to Katipunan Extension, the intersection had no traffic lights. It was a cross at your own risk kind of thing. Since there was a construction for an underpass (or is it an overpass?), everyone was careful. I was surprised to see a man standing in the middle of road directing traffic. He was making waving gestures as if he really was directing traffic and then I noticed that the cars behind him would go even if he wasn't telling them to go. And then, I realized. The man wasn't directing traffic! He was guiding the crane operator across from him! I looked out of my windshield and there it was, the crane was moving according to the direction the man was pointing at. God, why do you put these people on the road???
I like traveling at these hours because there are hardly any cars on the road and therefore, I could zoom down Edsa and easily swerve from one lane to another, going as high as 80- 90 kph (uhh, I'm not sure if I got the unit right.. :p). This way, I could leave the trails of turtle- paced cars behind me. I guess I like speeding when I can, not because of the thrill, but because I get to my destination right away and in that way, I have more time to do whatever it is that needs to be done. (Sounds impatient? Hey, Tintin! Can you relate? I read your 100 Things) Hey, no MMDAs out to catch me anyway.
Tonight, the gods of EDSA were against me. All the lanes were occupied by slow cars. It was difficult for me
to overtake them. You think they were sightseeing and going through a guided tour of EDSA. Look! a pothole! Take my picture, take my picture! Oooh, a car hogging two lanes! Picture, picture! Hey, why is it traffic? Oh look, everybody wants to see who got hurt at the accident! Me too! Picture! And when, I finally did. Another set of slow cars was ahead of me. By the time, I got to the underpass of Edsa, there were two trucks occupying two lanes and that made everybody slow down. Some cars were convoying and had their hazards on. You couldn't tell if there was an emergency or not because they were driving so slow. And in the middle of it all, I exasperately said, "God, why do you put these cars on the road???"
When I got to Corinthians, i was finally able to get past all the slow cars and the long, wide road was mine. I slowly downshifted gears as I approached the stoplight, preparing to take a left to White Plains. Only one car was waiting for the green light at the stop light. As I approached, the light changed from red to green. The car ahead of me began moving and in the middle of turning left, he stopped. Do you wanna know why he stopped? Do you freakin' wanna know why the idiot stop??? Do yah??? It's because he saw a car fast approaching from the other direction about to run the red light! The stupid idiot had the right of way and he gave way to a car that was running a red!!! God, why do you put these cars on the road??? Oh, but that's not all. The car drove real slow. Occasionally stepping on the brakes when there were not even a single sign of potholes or road bumps. What is wrong with you? It's strike two for you, driver!
When I got to Katipunan Extension, the intersection had no traffic lights. It was a cross at your own risk kind of thing. Since there was a construction for an underpass (or is it an overpass?), everyone was careful. I was surprised to see a man standing in the middle of road directing traffic. He was making waving gestures as if he really was directing traffic and then I noticed that the cars behind him would go even if he wasn't telling them to go. And then, I realized. The man wasn't directing traffic! He was guiding the crane operator across from him! I looked out of my windshield and there it was, the crane was moving according to the direction the man was pointing at. God, why do you put these people on the road???
Puppy Names and Doggie Anecdotes
Friday, August 27, 2004
Another being has entered and became part of our Brady Bunch-eresque family. A being in the form of a Half- Golden Retriever, Half- Belgian Malanoise, offspring of bomb sniffing parents, puppy named Sarge. He looks like our former dog, Chester, a black as night labrador, who moved back in with my uncle and his family, except with a longer and narrower snout. Here's a pic of him missing his parents, curled up against the leg of a rolling chair (I just realized, he's a humongous puppy!):
My siblings weren't keen with the name Sarge but I was okay with it. I found it appropriate , considering his background. And so, my siblings spewed names into the air- some deep, some downright idiotic, some funny- for fun.
My siblings weren't keen with the name Sarge but I was okay with it. I found it appropriate , considering his background. And so, my siblings spewed names into the air- some deep, some downright idiotic, some funny- for fun.
- Shadow
- Dilim
- Anino
- Chaba (name of the storm brewing outside when we got him)
- Rain
- Bagyo
- Storm
- Col. Captain Lieutenant
- Sniffer
- Athens
- Olympus
- Doug (pronounced as dog, but in reference to Doug Kramer, an Ateneo Blue Eagle Basketball Player)
- Sky (As in night sky)
- Midnight
- Muttley (as in Muttley the Dog of the Wacky Car Races cartoons)
- Yahoo! (pronounced as YYYYAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!! in a very loud voice, just the way the yahoo icon says it)
- Our Dog
Since there's no name yet, we still call him Sarge. Just yesterday, as I parked my car in the garage, he suddenly sat up upon seeing my car and barked. When I stepped out of the car, I greeted him "Hi Sarge!" and he tilted his head and just looked at me. It was just soooo cute. He really reminds me of Chester, who I fondly call Chessie Wessie (I bet if he was human, he'd hung down his head in shame) in an always cheerful, sing-song-y voice. Here's a pic of Chester, before leaving for the vet:
Chester actually belongs to my uncle. He let Chester stay with us because he didn't have space in his tiny apartment whereas we have a humongous garden for him to roam around. A time came where we couldn't take care of him so he stayed at my uncle's mother in law's house. A few months later, we moved into a different house inside a compound with a huge "garden" (it's an empty lot). One night, we were burglarized. My dad decided it was time to get Chester back. Sometime this month, my uncle just moved in into his new house, which included a garden for Chester to roam and so Chester went back to his family.
Chessie Wessie is a huge dog. People were scared of him but what they didn't know is that he was a quiet, gentle pet (actually, he really is just lazy). He never harms the little boys no matter how much they, especially Xavier, pestered him. One time, during the summer, the kids were swimming inside their plastic, inflatable pool. My dad decided to let him loose and the first thing Chester did was jump into the pool! (We forgot labradors love the water). The kids were surprised, of course, and ran out because the dog was just occupying all the space.
(Let's take a commercial break: Reminds me of my childhood days swimming in my grandma's pool with my little cousins. We had a German Shepard back then named Cairo. We would try to push him into the pool. Once, my uncle tried to carry him and throw him into the pool. Often times, he'd make Cairo chase him and they'd run and run around the perimeter of the pool and in the last minute, my uncle would jump into the water. Cairo would always have fast reflexes and would brake in time. But there was one incident, my uncle was successful. Cairo slipped and fell. All of us cheered. Poor Cairo swam to shore and when he got up, he shook his body dry, sprinkling all of us with water. Good doggie memories! I'm sure he's up in dog heaven now, God rest his soul. Back to regular programming).
I always looked forward to seeing Chessie Wessie upon arriving home though it bugged me that he kept barking cuz he was waking up my parents (and the neighbors), therefore, they knew what time I got home. Sometimes I felt that Chester was such an ineffective guard dog because there were times I'd come home and he was asleep. I would walk past his nose and he wouldn't wake up. Until one night, I was walking up to our door with A trailing a few meters behind me. The moment my shoe made a loud snapping sound on the tile floor, Chester was startled awake that he immediately ran to A to attack him, thinking a stranger trespassed. Luckily, A was alert enough to back off and even luckier was that Chester had his leash on so his attack was cut short. A stayed away from Chester for awhile.
Chester is actually a dirty dog. It is my brother's responsibility to make sure that he is taken care of- baths, toothbrushes, no fleas, etc- but my brother, being the irresponsible person that he is, forgets sometimes and more often than not he smells and has fleas (Chester, not my brother). That's why I never got around to hugging him or petting him often but whenever I felt like it, I would rub his tummy with my foot (Hey, he doesn't mind it!) I don't use my hands for fear that fleas will get stuck in my long nails- gross!
I realized one night that Chester wasn't just a lazy, smelly dog to me when one night while it was raining so hard, I went out to the garage. I saw him trying to reach the floor mat by the door with his paw and I realized that he wanted to lie on the mat because it was cold. Ah, who cares if my mom gets mad? And from then on, when it's raining and I happened to go out to the garage, I make sure that his mat is rolled out and within his reach. I miss that dog! I missed him already the moment he rode the van to go to my uncle's house. I wonder how's he doing. I wonder how he feels knowing there is a new dog in our life that kinda looks like him. Very Single White Female.
Notes (added at 2:10PM): The second choice for Sarge's name was Shadow. While it is a cute and befitting name, I was opposed to it because I couldn't morph his name like Chessie Wessie or Sargie Wargie.
Very Slick, A
A few days ago, I sheepishly admitted to A that I wanted to watch Princess Diaries 2: The Royal Engagement. Knowing A never cared for teeny boppy movies (Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan and the rest of the Teen Queens), I knew he would say "eeeeyyyuucckkk!!!"
Me: (Pleading) Please, babe! Let's watch the movie!
A: I don't want! We might break up!
Me: (Looking confused) Wha-?! Why???
A: Remember, you and (insert name of ex boyfriend) watched the first Princess Diaries when you guys were together? That must be the reason why you guys broke up.
Very slick, A!
Me: (Pleading) Please, babe! Let's watch the movie!
A: I don't want! We might break up!
Me: (Looking confused) Wha-?! Why???
A: Remember, you and (insert name of ex boyfriend) watched the first Princess Diaries when you guys were together? That must be the reason why you guys broke up.
Very slick, A!
Twilight Zone
Thursday, August 26, 2004
I just realized now that I crossed the twilight zone a few hours ago without knowing it.
Cami and Enzo, who are usually slackers in school and absolutely rejoice whenever classes are suspended said, "Sana may pasok na bukas! (I hope there's school tomorrow!)"
Meanwhile, Ara, our studious sister, who's always in school for projects and extra-curricular activities said, "Sana wala pang pasok bukas! (I hope there's no school tomorrow!)"
Uhh, what's wrong here? Wait lang ha? I have to scratch my head.
Cami and Enzo, who are usually slackers in school and absolutely rejoice whenever classes are suspended said, "Sana may pasok na bukas! (I hope there's school tomorrow!)"
Meanwhile, Ara, our studious sister, who's always in school for projects and extra-curricular activities said, "Sana wala pang pasok bukas! (I hope there's no school tomorrow!)"
Uhh, what's wrong here? Wait lang ha? I have to scratch my head.
Finally, Finally, Finally!!!
Finally! I got my new template up! It took me 4 hours to work on it and I was close to giving up! I'm getting tired of the republish blog button. I know 11PM is an awful time to give my blog a makeover but my goodness! Had the internet connection stop conking on me, I would have started eons ago!
The rain and wind is still raging outside, it's actually scary. I usually love the rain but the storm outside is scaring me. I didn't go to work today because it was too flooded outside and I'm scared to drive. Everyone (my dad, driver and brother) advised me to stay at home. I was feeling torn because our weekly manager's meeting was scheduled for today. Luckily, my boss decided to cancel it so I worked from home.
Aside from working at home, I watched Ella Enchanted on DVD, bloghopped, went to the grocery and bought my stash of junkfood (P550 worth?!? Can you say oink, oink???), went to National Bookstore to buy office supplies (dang it! I should have brought more money! I found a book there that any Power Books branch ran out of stock!), hung out with my siblings, thought of names for the new puppy (who wouldn't stop crying-- poor thing!), had a Bop It competition (Cami and Ara took advantage of my turn on the toy by eating up my can of Planters Cheez Curls- I was concentrating so hard that I didn't bother telling them to leave some for me!), and bugged my brother incessantly to do something about the Internet and wireless connection, and finally, finally, finally, worked on my template, and of course, updated my blog.
I feel so bad though. Because of my determination to change my template, I hardly SMS-ed A! I'll make it up to him. Once again, I put my blog first before him. Hehehe!
The rain and wind is still raging outside, it's actually scary. I usually love the rain but the storm outside is scaring me. I didn't go to work today because it was too flooded outside and I'm scared to drive. Everyone (my dad, driver and brother) advised me to stay at home. I was feeling torn because our weekly manager's meeting was scheduled for today. Luckily, my boss decided to cancel it so I worked from home.
Aside from working at home, I watched Ella Enchanted on DVD, bloghopped, went to the grocery and bought my stash of junkfood (P550 worth?!? Can you say oink, oink???), went to National Bookstore to buy office supplies (dang it! I should have brought more money! I found a book there that any Power Books branch ran out of stock!), hung out with my siblings, thought of names for the new puppy (who wouldn't stop crying-- poor thing!), had a Bop It competition (Cami and Ara took advantage of my turn on the toy by eating up my can of Planters Cheez Curls- I was concentrating so hard that I didn't bother telling them to leave some for me!), and bugged my brother incessantly to do something about the Internet and wireless connection, and finally, finally, finally, worked on my template, and of course, updated my blog.
I feel so bad though. Because of my determination to change my template, I hardly SMS-ed A! I'll make it up to him. Once again, I put my blog first before him. Hehehe!
Who's The Bomb???
Monday, August 23, 2004
I was chatting this morning with A on Yahoo Messenger.
Me: Hey, guess what? We're getting a puppy from Tito Boygie. He's giving out pups. It's half - Golden Retriever, half Malanoise. But it looks like a labrador. A black lab.
Me: Both its parents are bomb sniffers.
A: Wow! Cool!
A: Baka tahulan ka! (It might bark at you!)
Me: No, it's still a puppy so we can train it not to bark at us.
A: No, cuz you're the bomb!!!
Me: Hahahahaha!!!
Me: Babe!!!
Me: Ang baduy mo talaga! (You're so corny!)
Me: Hahahaha!
A: :p
A: Yung kabaduyan made you fall in love with me! (The corniness made you fall in love with me!)
Me: Hahahahahaha!!!
Me: Hey, guess what? We're getting a puppy from Tito Boygie. He's giving out pups. It's half - Golden Retriever, half Malanoise. But it looks like a labrador. A black lab.
Me: Both its parents are bomb sniffers.
A: Wow! Cool!
A: Baka tahulan ka! (It might bark at you!)
Me: No, it's still a puppy so we can train it not to bark at us.
A: No, cuz you're the bomb!!!
Me: Hahahahaha!!!
Me: Babe!!!
Me: Ang baduy mo talaga! (You're so corny!)
Me: Hahahaha!
A: :p
A: Yung kabaduyan made you fall in love with me! (The corniness made you fall in love with me!)
Me: Hahahahahaha!!!
Dramatics of A Teenage Kikay Queen: Part 3
Sunday, August 22, 2004
On Virginity:
Back when Cami was around 7 years old, she and my stepmom, who was civilly married to my dad and pregnant with her first child, had a "talk." I was 17 then and minding my own business.
Cami: Mom, what's a virgin?
Mom: (Not knowing what to say to an innocent six year old) Uhm, somebody who hasn't been kissed?
Cami: Oh, okay! Cat, are you a virgin???
Me: (Shocked at the question) Mo- om!!! (Though I was a virgin, sadly, I was never kissed yet. I was a virgin in both accounts)
On Marriage:
Probably a year after, 8 year old Cami was playing with her Barbie doll. She stuffed clothes into her doll's dress, particularly at its midsection area, to make her look pregnant. She showed my stepmom.
Mom: So who's the father (of the baby of the doll)?
Cami: Her boyfriend.
Mom: (Shocked at the incorrect values of an 8 year old girl) No, that's not right. A girl has to get married in church first before she gets pregnant by her husband.
Cami: (Confused) Eh, why you (got pregnant first before dad married you)?!
Mom: (Dumbfounded) Err... uhh.. that's why it's wrong!
On Doug Kramer's inability to make shots and score points:
"Nag-away kami eh!"
On LA Tenorio's inability to make shots and score points:
"Break na kami so wala na siyang inspiration!"
On Doug Kramer making shots and scoring points:
"Tinext ko na siya eh! Inspired na siya!"
On Mac Cardona's nose:
"Argh! Mac Cardona's nose is haunting me! It's stuck in my head kanina pa!!!"
Back when Cami was around 7 years old, she and my stepmom, who was civilly married to my dad and pregnant with her first child, had a "talk." I was 17 then and minding my own business.
Cami: Mom, what's a virgin?
Mom: (Not knowing what to say to an innocent six year old) Uhm, somebody who hasn't been kissed?
Cami: Oh, okay! Cat, are you a virgin???
Me: (Shocked at the question) Mo- om!!! (Though I was a virgin, sadly, I was never kissed yet. I was a virgin in both accounts)
On Marriage:
Probably a year after, 8 year old Cami was playing with her Barbie doll. She stuffed clothes into her doll's dress, particularly at its midsection area, to make her look pregnant. She showed my stepmom.
Mom: So who's the father (of the baby of the doll)?
Cami: Her boyfriend.
Mom: (Shocked at the incorrect values of an 8 year old girl) No, that's not right. A girl has to get married in church first before she gets pregnant by her husband.
Cami: (Confused) Eh, why you (got pregnant first before dad married you)?!
Mom: (Dumbfounded) Err... uhh.. that's why it's wrong!
On Doug Kramer's inability to make shots and score points:
"Nag-away kami eh!"
On LA Tenorio's inability to make shots and score points:
"Break na kami so wala na siyang inspiration!"
On Doug Kramer making shots and scoring points:
"Tinext ko na siya eh! Inspired na siya!"
On Mac Cardona's nose:
"Argh! Mac Cardona's nose is haunting me! It's stuck in my head kanina pa!!!"
Tiny Talks: Part 1
From here on, any conversation with my little brothers (Xavi, 2; Don, 5; Judo, 7) will be entitled TINY TALKS.
While on the way home, my stepmom asked Xavi about this girl in his school who has a crush on.
Mom: Xavi, who's Bea? Is Bea your classmate?
Xavi: (nods his head)
Mom: Is she your seatmate? Does she sit beside you?
Xavi: (nods his head)
Mom: Is she your girlfriend?
Xavi: (nods his head) Yeah!
Mom: Really??? Did you kiss her already?
Xavi: (nods his head)
Mom: How?
Xavi: (Smacks his lips and kisses the air)
Mom: Do you hold hands?
Xavi: (nods his head) Yeah!
Mom: Really??? How?
Xavi: (puts his hand out as if to offer a hand shake, mom holds his hand)
Mom: What does she look like?
Xavi: Like mommy!!!
Mom: (Smiles widely, obviously touched) Really??? (Then jokingly) You mean she's ugly???
Xavi: Yeah!!!
Mom: (Sarcastically) Thanks a lot!!!
While on the way home, my stepmom asked Xavi about this girl in his school who has a crush on.
Mom: Xavi, who's Bea? Is Bea your classmate?
Xavi: (nods his head)
Mom: Is she your seatmate? Does she sit beside you?
Xavi: (nods his head)
Mom: Is she your girlfriend?
Xavi: (nods his head) Yeah!
Mom: Really??? Did you kiss her already?
Xavi: (nods his head)
Mom: How?
Xavi: (Smacks his lips and kisses the air)
Mom: Do you hold hands?
Xavi: (nods his head) Yeah!
Mom: Really??? How?
Xavi: (puts his hand out as if to offer a hand shake, mom holds his hand)
Mom: What does she look like?
Xavi: Like mommy!!!
Mom: (Smiles widely, obviously touched) Really??? (Then jokingly) You mean she's ugly???
Xavi: Yeah!!!
Mom: (Sarcastically) Thanks a lot!!!
Weekend Run Down
Another great weekend has passed. Here's a rundown of things A and I did:
FRIDAY
FRIDAY
- Met up on Friday night for an hour and a half to have dinner together at 10PM
- Went home as he was weak from too much work, while I was weak from sneezing from an allergy and wiping my runny nose the whole day
- Spent the rest of the night watching cable
SATURDAY
- Woke up at 130 PM on Saturday
- Surfed the Internet while waited for A to pick me up at home
- Passed by work to make last minute bilins
- Got a peach rose from A, who bought from the street vendor (I tried not to get kilig but the squeal of delight escaped my lips!)
- Went to Makati Cinema Square to buy DVDs (a total of 7 films for me, 3 for A)
- Went to Glorietta and met up with my college kabarkadas, Cel, her boyfriend TJ, Riz and her new date
- Visited the Nokia 7610 exhibit and looked at Quark's entry
- Passed by Powerbooks and bought two books (Victoria and The Rogue by Meg Cabot and Bookends by Jane Green)
- Tried out Moo Moo Paradise, had dinner and catched up with each other's lives
- Ran to Greenbelt 3 for our 9:50 PM movie (We lost track of time. Good thing Ichecked my watch. It was friggin' 9:30 PM already and we haven't paid the bill yet)
- Had a little Sex and the City moment while crossing the street (Cel and I were semi- running in our heels while crossing a busy street; Laughed at A who was running and holding his pants to keep them from falling-- YES! He's losing weight!)
- Kissed our boyfriends good bye as we separated ways. A and TJ watched Aliens Vs. Predators, Cel and I watched Stepford Wives (Found it funny, by the way. There were parts where Cel and I couldn't stop laughing!!! Luckily, the audience was laughing along with us. You gotta try out the Washing Machine exercise! Oh, and Nicole Kidman is so pretty with long blonde hair!)
- Hung out in Seattle's Best and ordered a Strawberry Milkshake (I say, Brother's Burgers' Strawberry Milkshake is still the best!)
- Brainstormed on the way home for A's work
- Went home to watch 13 Going 30 again, with A this time
- Played Bop- It with A
- Most importantly, A and I had great fun!
SUNDAY
- Went to my grandmother's house after a long, long time
- Had a great lunch (Prawns, Lechon Kawali, Ensaladang Mangga, Mangga't Bagoong- I'm salivating just enumerating what I ate!)
- Watched the local noon time shows, criticized the actors/ actresses who can't sing, dance, or even perfect lip syncing, made fun of girls who wore funny outfits on tv
- Got a foot spa
- Rushed home to catch the ADMU vs DLSU games
- Cheered my head off whenever Ateneo scored and La Salle missed a basket (Ateneo lost though.. boo!)
- Went to Church
And now, here I am...
The Lunch Table
Friday, August 20, 2004
This post was inspired by Jeane's entry entitled "Our Lunch Table", the table I shared with her for two years.
Back in high school, everybody had a special hang out place to call their own. Everyone knew that that certain spot belonged a certain group of people. Some spots are passed on to a new batch of kids once graduation rolls around. In my school, it was The Wall, a wall on the side of the school's ampitheater. The Fil- Am and Am kids hung out in Batibot, aptly named after the tree, where everyone hung out, in the local kiddie show of the same name. The conyo kids, who were composed of not very rich, but beautiful girls and handsome guys hung out in a spot where nobody claimed before, the shaded area between the tennis courts and the high school gate entrance. They named the spot after their group. The junior popular crowd hung out at the Batcave, the other side of the ampitheater. Couples hung out at Lover's Lane, the cemented strip dividing our two football fields. To everyone else who was just a face in the crowd, they hung out either in the theater, the library, the front steps or lobby of the high school building, or the immensely huge canteen.
But to me and my high school barkada, we had our lunch table. Our table was the second table on your right upon entering the high school entrance to the cafeteria. I don't exactly remember how we got that table back in junior year but I do know it had something to do with my high school obsession, whom I shall (A are you reading this?! If you are, I suggest you click on the little X button on top of this page!) fondly call "Ridge." You see, my bestfriends, Glady and Jeane used to be drifters. Until one day, the stalker in me wondered where Ridge and his gang had lunch. I asked my little spies to find out and a day later, I knew. They sat on the second table on the right. From then on, we would always get the third table on the right, that was right behind their table.
In the middle of third year, our group merged with a group of senior guys. We formed a new barkada and to this day, we still hang out and meet each other at parties. We had so much fun and we'd always end up with tears of laughter. We'd pick on each other, joke around, run around the cafeteria. We'd send people (aka Jeane) to another table if they were too slow to get a joke. We'd play Uno cards and gang up on each other. We stayed even after the first warning bell rang and would only come in when Mang Joey began closing the cafeteria gate going to the high school building. After school, we'd meet up at the lobby and we'd hang out at the gym while eating fishballs. Sometimes we'd hang out at the canteen where I could watch Ridge during soccer varsity practice. (My favorite part would be whenever he took off his jersey!) We waited for our cars to pick us up by the front steps of the high school building.
When Senior year rolled around, the guys were no longer there. It was just the four of us hanging out. Glady, Jeane, Me and Yummy. We took over Ridge's table because little Ms. Obsessed missed a certain someone. (I was thisclose to hugging the table!) We spent lunch time clowning around and gossiping but it wasn't the same when we still had the boys over. We also used our lunch hour to rush our homeworks or study for tests.
Whenever I reminisce of my high school days, the lunch table is there. It holds so much great, fun memories that if only the lunch table could talk, it would have a lot of stories to tell. One of these days, Jeane and I will return to our high school alma mater and we would do nothing but sit on the same table. The second to the right.
Back in high school, everybody had a special hang out place to call their own. Everyone knew that that certain spot belonged a certain group of people. Some spots are passed on to a new batch of kids once graduation rolls around. In my school, it was The Wall, a wall on the side of the school's ampitheater. The Fil- Am and Am kids hung out in Batibot, aptly named after the tree, where everyone hung out, in the local kiddie show of the same name. The conyo kids, who were composed of not very rich, but beautiful girls and handsome guys hung out in a spot where nobody claimed before, the shaded area between the tennis courts and the high school gate entrance. They named the spot after their group. The junior popular crowd hung out at the Batcave, the other side of the ampitheater. Couples hung out at Lover's Lane, the cemented strip dividing our two football fields. To everyone else who was just a face in the crowd, they hung out either in the theater, the library, the front steps or lobby of the high school building, or the immensely huge canteen.
But to me and my high school barkada, we had our lunch table. Our table was the second table on your right upon entering the high school entrance to the cafeteria. I don't exactly remember how we got that table back in junior year but I do know it had something to do with my high school obsession, whom I shall (A are you reading this?! If you are, I suggest you click on the little X button on top of this page!) fondly call "Ridge." You see, my bestfriends, Glady and Jeane used to be drifters. Until one day, the stalker in me wondered where Ridge and his gang had lunch. I asked my little spies to find out and a day later, I knew. They sat on the second table on the right. From then on, we would always get the third table on the right, that was right behind their table.
In the middle of third year, our group merged with a group of senior guys. We formed a new barkada and to this day, we still hang out and meet each other at parties. We had so much fun and we'd always end up with tears of laughter. We'd pick on each other, joke around, run around the cafeteria. We'd send people (aka Jeane) to another table if they were too slow to get a joke. We'd play Uno cards and gang up on each other. We stayed even after the first warning bell rang and would only come in when Mang Joey began closing the cafeteria gate going to the high school building. After school, we'd meet up at the lobby and we'd hang out at the gym while eating fishballs. Sometimes we'd hang out at the canteen where I could watch Ridge during soccer varsity practice. (My favorite part would be whenever he took off his jersey!) We waited for our cars to pick us up by the front steps of the high school building.
When Senior year rolled around, the guys were no longer there. It was just the four of us hanging out. Glady, Jeane, Me and Yummy. We took over Ridge's table because little Ms. Obsessed missed a certain someone. (I was thisclose to hugging the table!) We spent lunch time clowning around and gossiping but it wasn't the same when we still had the boys over. We also used our lunch hour to rush our homeworks or study for tests.
Whenever I reminisce of my high school days, the lunch table is there. It holds so much great, fun memories that if only the lunch table could talk, it would have a lot of stories to tell. One of these days, Jeane and I will return to our high school alma mater and we would do nothing but sit on the same table. The second to the right.
Another Filipino on US TV
Im watching an episode of Starting Over on ETC. Did you know that one of the women in the house is a Filipina?
From what I gathered, she has a probleming saying no to anyone. Even if she's totally pressured planning and organizing her wedding, she'd still say yes to everything her housemates asked of her, even if deep inside, she really wants to say no.
Today's episode involves her talking to her parents about her issues, including allowing her to have the wedding the way she and her husband- to- be wants it, and not the traditional way her parents insist on having.
Hmm, sounds very Filipino to me.
From what I gathered, she has a probleming saying no to anyone. Even if she's totally pressured planning and organizing her wedding, she'd still say yes to everything her housemates asked of her, even if deep inside, she really wants to say no.
Today's episode involves her talking to her parents about her issues, including allowing her to have the wedding the way she and her husband- to- be wants it, and not the traditional way her parents insist on having.
Hmm, sounds very Filipino to me.
Friends
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
I just finished watching Friends on Oprah. I downloaded the 8 parts of the episode and I finally got it all today. I just love that show though I never really got to watch it regularly on the local channel. So when pirated DVDs of the series were being sold, I bought them all right away! Yup, I've got all from Seasons 1- 10! Now, whenever I need a laugh, I just pop one into the player. During the interview of Oprah, there were so many emotional moments that I almost got teary eyed (but didn't because my swollen eyelid prevented me from doing so!)
I can't wait to buy their book entitled Friends Till The End. I even had one reserved in Power Books. I'll really miss those guys! Over the last 10 years, we have grown with them and they have become virtual friends to us. We laughed, cried and laughed some more with them. I'll miss Phoebe's ditsy-ness and Joey's stupidity, Monica's obsession to make everything perfect, Ross's awkwardness and even his being a bore, Chandler's sarcasm and clumsiness and Rachel's feminine wiles. If I had a tv barkada I could hang out with, it would be the group from Friends. It makes you wonder what happens next.
Oprah couldn't have said it any better when she said "It is the end of an era!"
I can't wait to buy their book entitled Friends Till The End. I even had one reserved in Power Books. I'll really miss those guys! Over the last 10 years, we have grown with them and they have become virtual friends to us. We laughed, cried and laughed some more with them. I'll miss Phoebe's ditsy-ness and Joey's stupidity, Monica's obsession to make everything perfect, Ross's awkwardness and even his being a bore, Chandler's sarcasm and clumsiness and Rachel's feminine wiles. If I had a tv barkada I could hang out with, it would be the group from Friends. It makes you wonder what happens next.
Oprah couldn't have said it any better when she said "It is the end of an era!"
The Born Again's Way
I remember when I bumped into Aubrey in Eastwood, in the middle of our conversation and catching up, she said something that was not so related to our conversation. Actually, it is one of the funny things about her.
Aubrey: Uy! Alam mo ba na ang hostya ng Born Again ay Skyflakes? (Did you know that the Born Again uses Skyflakes as hosts (for communion)?)
Me: (Not really knowing what to say) Ah talaga?! (Really?)
Aubrey: Hinahati pa nila sa gitna yun ha para lumiit! (They even cut it right down the middle to make it smaller!)
Me: (laughing)
Aubrey: Tapos ang wine nila grape juice! (And their wine (as a substitute) is grape juice!)
Me: Paano mo nalaman? (How did you know?)
Aubrey: Sabi ng friend ko! Sabi ko nga eh bakit hindi na lang Hearty Flakes* ang gamitin nila? Sabi niya, "Minsan!" (My friend told me! I told her, "Why don't they use Hearty Flakes instead?" She said, "Sometimes!")
Weird yet informative. I don't know if this is true though.
*Hearty Flakes is a brand of crackers that is smaller in size compared to Skyflakes.
Aubrey: Uy! Alam mo ba na ang hostya ng Born Again ay Skyflakes? (Did you know that the Born Again uses Skyflakes as hosts (for communion)?)
Me: (Not really knowing what to say) Ah talaga?! (Really?)
Aubrey: Hinahati pa nila sa gitna yun ha para lumiit! (They even cut it right down the middle to make it smaller!)
Me: (laughing)
Aubrey: Tapos ang wine nila grape juice! (And their wine (as a substitute) is grape juice!)
Me: Paano mo nalaman? (How did you know?)
Aubrey: Sabi ng friend ko! Sabi ko nga eh bakit hindi na lang Hearty Flakes* ang gamitin nila? Sabi niya, "Minsan!" (My friend told me! I told her, "Why don't they use Hearty Flakes instead?" She said, "Sometimes!")
Weird yet informative. I don't know if this is true though.
*Hearty Flakes is a brand of crackers that is smaller in size compared to Skyflakes.
Party Weekend and a Book Review
Monday, August 16, 2004
It was a busy weekend for me.
Thursday found me at the bar I work in with A's college buddies for a despedida of yet another kabarkada leaving this damned country in search of greener pastures.
Friday found me in Peligro for my high school kabarkada's birthday party. It was a good place actually in the sense that it had an advantage over the other night spots in Manila. If you prefer watching live music entertainment, you stay downstairs. If you wanna dance and mingle, you go upstairs. The party was upstairs. At 11:00PM, the upstairs was not so crowded. By 12mn, it was packed!!! A got so annoyed by the number of people and I told him, "What are you complaining about? You enjoy this stuff!", pertaining to his night outs with his friends to Temple, Halo or wherever the crowd is at after taking me home on a Saturday. He realized that when he and his friends go out, they don't really stay inside the bar. More like, hang outside and just smoke away with their bottles of beer. And oooh, I saw this guy, who happened to be the best friend of my high school obsession. I even saw my uncle and aunts there! It was so weird!
Saturday found me first in Eastwood, watching The Village with A. I bought a book at National Bookstore where I bumped into 2 blockmates of mine, Aubrey and Pong, separately. We had dinner at Jack's Loft at The Fort in Bonifacio Global City while waiting for the rain to stop. When it mellowed down, we crossed over to Jimmy's Fort Grill (former Dencio's) for A's reunion with his grade school friends (Hi Quark!).
Sunday found me at home, just surfing the net, reading my book, and watching the ADMU vs. UST game. ADMU won but half way through the game, I brought out my book and began reading Mr. Maybe by Jane Green. I got bored because there was no thrill in the game. ADMU was leading by as much as 12 points and for so long, UST couldn't catch up.
Monday found me at home, nursing a swollen eye. I've been putting hot compress on it and taking Benadryl with anti- histamine (though I don't know if it helps) in hopes that the inflammed part would subside. I hope it dies down already. I wanna go to work tomorrow!
BOOK REVIEW:
Mr. Maybe is my first book by Jane Green. Another great chick lit. Libby is a PR specialist who is on the quest to find Mr. Right by dating around. She meets Nick. Funny, sweet, gorgeous, down to earth, jobless Nick with no strings attached, who becomes her fuck buddy. She meets Ed. Wealthy, okay looking, somewhat annoying and clueless Ed who is totally smitten with her and treats her like a queen. The dilemma: Should she stick it out with the guy who is sweet, funny, gorgeous, down to earth but is jobless and doesn't want to commit? Or the guy who she has no chemistry with in and out of bed but can make all her dreams come true?
Read it! It's fun!
Yes!!! It's almost 9PM! I can finally get to watch Queer Eye For The Straight Guy for the first time ever!
Thursday found me at the bar I work in with A's college buddies for a despedida of yet another kabarkada leaving this damned country in search of greener pastures.
Friday found me in Peligro for my high school kabarkada's birthday party. It was a good place actually in the sense that it had an advantage over the other night spots in Manila. If you prefer watching live music entertainment, you stay downstairs. If you wanna dance and mingle, you go upstairs. The party was upstairs. At 11:00PM, the upstairs was not so crowded. By 12mn, it was packed!!! A got so annoyed by the number of people and I told him, "What are you complaining about? You enjoy this stuff!", pertaining to his night outs with his friends to Temple, Halo or wherever the crowd is at after taking me home on a Saturday. He realized that when he and his friends go out, they don't really stay inside the bar. More like, hang outside and just smoke away with their bottles of beer. And oooh, I saw this guy, who happened to be the best friend of my high school obsession. I even saw my uncle and aunts there! It was so weird!
Saturday found me first in Eastwood, watching The Village with A. I bought a book at National Bookstore where I bumped into 2 blockmates of mine, Aubrey and Pong, separately. We had dinner at Jack's Loft at The Fort in Bonifacio Global City while waiting for the rain to stop. When it mellowed down, we crossed over to Jimmy's Fort Grill (former Dencio's) for A's reunion with his grade school friends (Hi Quark!).
Sunday found me at home, just surfing the net, reading my book, and watching the ADMU vs. UST game. ADMU won but half way through the game, I brought out my book and began reading Mr. Maybe by Jane Green. I got bored because there was no thrill in the game. ADMU was leading by as much as 12 points and for so long, UST couldn't catch up.
Monday found me at home, nursing a swollen eye. I've been putting hot compress on it and taking Benadryl with anti- histamine (though I don't know if it helps) in hopes that the inflammed part would subside. I hope it dies down already. I wanna go to work tomorrow!
BOOK REVIEW:
Mr. Maybe is my first book by Jane Green. Another great chick lit. Libby is a PR specialist who is on the quest to find Mr. Right by dating around. She meets Nick. Funny, sweet, gorgeous, down to earth, jobless Nick with no strings attached, who becomes her fuck buddy. She meets Ed. Wealthy, okay looking, somewhat annoying and clueless Ed who is totally smitten with her and treats her like a queen. The dilemma: Should she stick it out with the guy who is sweet, funny, gorgeous, down to earth but is jobless and doesn't want to commit? Or the guy who she has no chemistry with in and out of bed but can make all her dreams come true?
Read it! It's fun!
Yes!!! It's almost 9PM! I can finally get to watch Queer Eye For The Straight Guy for the first time ever!
Dramatics of A Teenage Kikay Queen: Part 2
Sunday, August 15, 2004
On Asking A Favor and Wanting Something:
I was on my bed talking to my brother who was standing at our door. When suddenly, I heard a thud beside me. I looked and was surprised to find Cami, kneeling beside me with a "I-need-a-favor-please-say-yes" look on her face.
Cami: Let's watch the Hoobastank concert! Puhleez?? Puhleez???
Me: (With a mixed confused and "I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about-and-getting-at" look on my face)
Cami: (Sheepishly) It's Globe- sponsored (Cheekily grins)
Me: (Rolls my eyes)
She knows that if I wanted, I could ask for tickets from my contact in Gentxt. But I'm not gonna abuse her (my contact's, not Cami's) kindness.
On her first "I-Love-You":
Back when she was in nursery, a 3 year old boy named Gio professed his love for her by saying, "I love you"
Cami: (burst into tears and runs away) WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On lingerie:
When I came home from the United States, I bought her a pair of panties with Princess Jasmine prints on it. I told her I couldn't get her a bra to go with it.
Four year old and very much flat chested Cami: (bursts into tears and cries silently)
On seeing a girl wearing ugly shorts:
(In a fake conyo voice) Yuck! I wouldn't get caught patay in those shorts!
On the lack of supply of Mang Tomas Lechon Sauce in the house:
Nag- day off si Mang Tomas? (Is Mang Tomas on a day off?)
On my accidentally sneezing on her:
Do I have a "Sneeze On Me" sign on my forehead???
Excerpts from her blog:
On her boredom:
The world could have exploded and we could get obliterated by black hole and it would still be as boring as wallpaper here...
On her priorities:
Since the world is about to end anyway might as well watch a movie.
On Mary Kate Olsen's anorexia:
She's pretty and filthy rich... She already has a reputation in Hollywood as being sweet, innocent and whatever... If she gets fat, she's still going to be the same sweet, innocent, pretty, and filthy rich Mary Kate that people used to know. If I were her, I'd quit the act and just eat and eat and eat... EAT HER WORRIES AWAY!
On her hyperness:
I think McDonalds put some drugs in my food which caused me to be like this.
Trust me, Honey, It's not!
I was on my bed talking to my brother who was standing at our door. When suddenly, I heard a thud beside me. I looked and was surprised to find Cami, kneeling beside me with a "I-need-a-favor-please-say-yes" look on her face.
Cami: Let's watch the Hoobastank concert! Puhleez?? Puhleez???
Me: (With a mixed confused and "I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about-and-getting-at" look on my face)
Cami: (Sheepishly) It's Globe- sponsored (Cheekily grins)
Me: (Rolls my eyes)
She knows that if I wanted, I could ask for tickets from my contact in Gentxt. But I'm not gonna abuse her (my contact's, not Cami's) kindness.
On her first "I-Love-You":
Back when she was in nursery, a 3 year old boy named Gio professed his love for her by saying, "I love you"
Cami: (burst into tears and runs away) WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On lingerie:
When I came home from the United States, I bought her a pair of panties with Princess Jasmine prints on it. I told her I couldn't get her a bra to go with it.
Four year old and very much flat chested Cami: (bursts into tears and cries silently)
On seeing a girl wearing ugly shorts:
(In a fake conyo voice) Yuck! I wouldn't get caught patay in those shorts!
On the lack of supply of Mang Tomas Lechon Sauce in the house:
Nag- day off si Mang Tomas? (Is Mang Tomas on a day off?)
On my accidentally sneezing on her:
Do I have a "Sneeze On Me" sign on my forehead???
Excerpts from her blog:
On her boredom:
The world could have exploded and we could get obliterated by black hole and it would still be as boring as wallpaper here...
On her priorities:
Since the world is about to end anyway might as well watch a movie.
On Mary Kate Olsen's anorexia:
She's pretty and filthy rich... She already has a reputation in Hollywood as being sweet, innocent and whatever... If she gets fat, she's still going to be the same sweet, innocent, pretty, and filthy rich Mary Kate that people used to know. If I were her, I'd quit the act and just eat and eat and eat... EAT HER WORRIES AWAY!
On her hyperness:
I think McDonalds put some drugs in my food which caused me to be like this.
Trust me, Honey, It's not!
Rantings and Ravings of A Perpetual "Girl" "Friend"
Friday, August 13, 2004
Warning1: All Tagalog words will not be literally translated into English as it may lose its meaning. Searching for context clues is adviced.
Warning2: Long post ahead. For the easily bored, skip this entry.
_____________wrote:
just to let it out of my system... ________, i know sawa kana dito..
"what's up with guys not considering girl friends as potential
girlfriends???? lagi nalang ganyan.. guys like the girl but since she's
a good friend.. wag nalang ligawan. grrr... i'm always the "good
friend", hmpf! don't guys know that friendship is the best foundation
for any relationship?? pfft!
wala lang, pang love notes na ata ang mood ko... ;-)
okay guys proceed with your lives.. i just miss you all!!!
______________
Ah! The email that began creating noise in my college block's yahoogroups. After college, our once active yahoogroup, which served as a channel for our reviewers, copied assignments, group works, rantings and ravings, became dormant and would only be active once in awhile, whether to talk about reunions, jeering each other to organize reunions or show up in reunions, upcoming books and movies like HarryPotter and Lord of the Rings, job openings, and to chastise those who didn't go to the reunions.
Once in our life, we are caught in the same situation. We would fall in love (okay, that's too much!), like, a friend who possibly likes us back but is too scared to do something about it for fear of losing the other as a friend or ruining the relationship. As suspected, kindred spirits from my class spoke up too about their heart breaking, frustrating experiences. I had to speak up. And so, I wrote an email, that got lots of responses too:
Dear girlfriends (those- who- are- ranting- about- being- perpetually- just- "girl"- "friends"),
I was once caught in the same situation with A. He told his friends that he liked me but he doesn't know if he should court me because... all together now... "she's a good friend" and "I don't want to ruin our friendship." So what did I do?
Hinalikan ko nga! Eh di na-convince ko rin siya! Wala nang ligaw! Kami na agad!
But seriously, while it is true that friendship is a good foundation for a relationship, it is also really a big risk to get into a relationship with a friend, an especially good friend at that. I know some of our batchmates who were bestfriends for a couple of years and fell in love with the other secretly but didn't want the other to know for fear of ruining the friendship. Everybody told them to get together already but the guy was scared. Eventually, he couldn't hide his feelings anymore because what he felt was too much already that he told her what he felt and they finally got together. I know of another batchmate who got together with her best friend of 6 years but after a 2 year relationship, they broke up. To this day, they don't even speak to each other anymore. I had a friend whom I liked before and I felt he liked me too. I kept hinting and dropping signs that I liked him but he never did anything about it. Just last year, I found out that he didn't court me because he didn't want to ruin the friendship. In fact, he'd rather get into a relationship with an acquaintance than a friend! Ahh! The mysteries of the male mind.
It's not that they don't like you. Eng eng ba sila?! How can they not like you guys? Hindi naman kayo panget! Hindi naman masasama yung ugali niyo? Contrary to the last two statements, in fact! I guess they really are scared of losing you as a friend, of that security with you. Or it could be that they fear rejection because they're not sure of what you feel for them. Are you sure you guys are dropping signs and hinting to them that you like them? But bottomline is, guys can seem macho and tough and egotistic (or is it egoistic? ah, ewan!) but deep inside, they have this fear.
But let's turn the situation around, do you guys also want to get into the relationship with the guys you're talking about? Because you really, really like them and you see him in your future? Or is it for the sake of being in a relationship? Or because you miss having someone in your life? Do you think you can still be friends if it does not work out between you two? Is your friendship so important to you that you would fall apart if at the end, it doesn't work out between you? You'll never know. These questions might lead you to conclude that oo nga, I'd rather keep him na lang as a friend.
So, dear girlfriends, if you really, really like this guy who doesn't want to get into a relationship with you because he fears ruining the friendship, my advice to you is:
(1) be patient
(2) continue being friends as if nothing happened
(3) never EVER think that maybe it's you-- or there is something wrong with you.
(4) be yourself but continue showing him that you are a great person pero wag naman yung over at fake na ha!
(5) slowly accept that maybe it's not meant to be. after all, if God wanted you two together, he would let it happen
(6) don't lose the fighting spirit- pwede mong isipin na pinahihirapan ka lang ni God (you could think that God is giving you a hard time). :p
(7) last but not the least, halikan mo na lang!
Fozzy said that:
ang mga guys nga kasi kelangan ng tulak (kung minsan panulak) o batok (whichever works).
One guy, a well-loved classmate known to be torpe or shy, gave his point of view:
I dunno if I'm helping...
I sorta know a bit about a torpe guy's pov... ehem.
If your friendship is as close as I think it is, I can think of 2 possible reasons why the guy hasn't made a move:
1. He's comfortable with the way things are right now.That doesn't mean he doesn't want to go "Game Ka Na Ba: Next Level"... he's just a little scared to riskthe friendship. Give him a little more time... if he truly has feelings, he'll cave in. I know. Kung hindi,bugbugin natin.
2. He has a hard time understanding messages you'resending him. It's not that your saying/doing anythingwrong... It's just that we guys are a little thick...we're not really sure if you're saying what we thinkyou're saying, or if there is a deeper meaning, orwhatever. It's a bit complicated. Sometimes, maybe ablatant, clear "I like you" sign with large arrows andsirens, might help... If he still doesn't get it,bugbugin pa rin natin.
Another girl looked at it from a different point of view:
Good friends non synonymous with girlfriends? Well, based on experience (ehem ehem), matagal talaga before you can actually see the potential of good friends as boyfriend/girlfriend/lover/date. Once it happens, foundation is rock solid..kaya lang, its almost a now or never, but seemingly taking forever kind of development. No offense to you hunny, you know about this, but c'mon girls, you've had guys rin naman crush on you that you cannot imagine diba? How do you feel towards them? Maybe, just maybe, that with guys, baka talagang mas matagal silang mauntog! HAHAHAH.
And even agreed with me:
Hahahah, tama rin advice ni Cat...halikan niyo nalang. To share a personal experience again on a really good friend turning into more than a friend...T and I were really nothing but best of chums, in a non-showbiz way. When I realized that I was ready to take the jump...and he was being oh-so-slow...I just grabbed him and kissed him. Ang bagal eh!
But I just had to reply to shy guy's email:
Ah!!! Thanks, ______ , for the insight. It was extremely helpful and has added to my somewhat extensive yet still lacking knowledge of men. Allow me to comment on point no. 2.
The problem is, Pinoy guys are:
(1) Torpe-- which is not really a problem. that's how they really are.
(2) Dense-- they cannot read signs and hints... or they're too scared to read between the lines.
The problem is, once again, Pinays are:
(1) Pakipot-- gusto nila silang hinahabol.
(2) "Conservative" (forgive the lack of a proper term)-- they're scared to tell guys CLEARLY that they like them. As in scared to say out loud, "I like you!" because it would seem too forward or unlady-like of them. Now there are some girls who are less conservative. They aren't afraid to drop hints and signs. But then again, how clear are the hints and signs? Are they enough for the guy to pick up the signals?
Now, if you have the following equations:
Torpe guy + Pakipot girl = 0 results
Dense guy + Conservative girl = 0 results + confusion.
Does that make any sense? Do you find yourself in these situations? Yes??? I rest my case.
One friend compared it to a movie and drew the moral of the story from it:
Remember the movie “My Best Friend’s Wedding”? The best friend (Julia Roberts) was put in a “pedestal”. She became this “perfect” girl that is almost too good to be true for the guy. For sure he got scared and didn’t want to lose the friendship that they have, that’s why he settled for someone else (Cameron Diaz). Dang, they always don’t want to lose the friendship thing! (That’s because we’re much better friends than their guy friends. hehehe )But hey, in the movie, if you think about it, Julia was really the one at fault. She should not have agreed with the pact that they made. Dapat pinakasalan na agad niya, wala nang certain age pa na paghihintay. Like Cat said – halikan mo na!!!! Para hindi na mawala. Remember, an opportunity knocks but once. So grab it when you can! And if the relationship doesn’t last, and you guys don’t end up as friends uli, be cool with it. It’s fine. Afterall, MARAMI KA NA NAMANG FRIENDS, right? It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. . . .
And apparently, internationally, women experience the same problem:
How I wish I understood how "love" works in the non-Filipino way. I don't have much experience with Filipinos, much less any other guy. And here, "dating"... is as much a grey area as any other. Akala ko, dahil mas frank and straight to the point sila, mas clear.. pero hindiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.
So yeah, youre naive little college friend here has finally started 'dating'. First time.. haha and it is strange. Loooong story. But in essence, we are FRIENDS. I am the BEST FRIEND. Shiet. And everything is new to me. Hay ang lola mo. Lost in the wilderness.. kaya nga magpapaka-career girl nalang ako.. as always. By the way, I got what I've been wishing for.. he's French. haha.. BUT BUT BUT, we are only friends. friends who date. Whatever that means.
There are many ways to approach this kind of situation. It just depends on your personality and attitude towards it. But I must say to those readers who are caught in this situation to follow your instincts, your heart (or mind- whatever works for you), and to not do what is uncomfortable. It may take guts, it may take a miracle. But one thing is for sure: It will happen if it is meant to be.
Warning2: Long post ahead. For the easily bored, skip this entry.
_____________
just to let it out of my system... ________, i know sawa kana dito..
"what's up with guys not considering girl friends as potential
girlfriends???? lagi nalang ganyan.. guys like the girl but since she's
a good friend.. wag nalang ligawan. grrr... i'm always the "good
friend", hmpf! don't guys know that friendship is the best foundation
for any relationship?? pfft!
wala lang, pang love notes na ata ang mood ko... ;-)
okay guys proceed with your lives.. i just miss you all!!!
______________
Ah! The email that began creating noise in my college block's yahoogroups. After college, our once active yahoogroup, which served as a channel for our reviewers, copied assignments, group works, rantings and ravings, became dormant and would only be active once in awhile, whether to talk about reunions, jeering each other to organize reunions or show up in reunions, upcoming books and movies like HarryPotter and Lord of the Rings, job openings, and to chastise those who didn't go to the reunions.
Once in our life, we are caught in the same situation. We would fall in love (okay, that's too much!), like, a friend who possibly likes us back but is too scared to do something about it for fear of losing the other as a friend or ruining the relationship. As suspected, kindred spirits from my class spoke up too about their heart breaking, frustrating experiences. I had to speak up. And so, I wrote an email, that got lots of responses too:
Dear girlfriends (those- who- are- ranting- about- being- perpetually- just- "girl"- "friends"),
I was once caught in the same situation with A. He told his friends that he liked me but he doesn't know if he should court me because... all together now... "she's a good friend" and "I don't want to ruin our friendship." So what did I do?
Hinalikan ko nga! Eh di na-convince ko rin siya! Wala nang ligaw! Kami na agad!
But seriously, while it is true that friendship is a good foundation for a relationship, it is also really a big risk to get into a relationship with a friend, an especially good friend at that. I know some of our batchmates who were bestfriends for a couple of years and fell in love with the other secretly but didn't want the other to know for fear of ruining the friendship. Everybody told them to get together already but the guy was scared. Eventually, he couldn't hide his feelings anymore because what he felt was too much already that he told her what he felt and they finally got together. I know of another batchmate who got together with her best friend of 6 years but after a 2 year relationship, they broke up. To this day, they don't even speak to each other anymore. I had a friend whom I liked before and I felt he liked me too. I kept hinting and dropping signs that I liked him but he never did anything about it. Just last year, I found out that he didn't court me because he didn't want to ruin the friendship. In fact, he'd rather get into a relationship with an acquaintance than a friend! Ahh! The mysteries of the male mind.
It's not that they don't like you. Eng eng ba sila?! How can they not like you guys? Hindi naman kayo panget! Hindi naman masasama yung ugali niyo? Contrary to the last two statements, in fact! I guess they really are scared of losing you as a friend, of that security with you. Or it could be that they fear rejection because they're not sure of what you feel for them. Are you sure you guys are dropping signs and hinting to them that you like them? But bottomline is, guys can seem macho and tough and egotistic (or is it egoistic? ah, ewan!) but deep inside, they have this fear.
But let's turn the situation around, do you guys also want to get into the relationship with the guys you're talking about? Because you really, really like them and you see him in your future? Or is it for the sake of being in a relationship? Or because you miss having someone in your life? Do you think you can still be friends if it does not work out between you two? Is your friendship so important to you that you would fall apart if at the end, it doesn't work out between you? You'll never know. These questions might lead you to conclude that oo nga, I'd rather keep him na lang as a friend.
So, dear girlfriends, if you really, really like this guy who doesn't want to get into a relationship with you because he fears ruining the friendship, my advice to you is:
(1) be patient
(2) continue being friends as if nothing happened
(3) never EVER think that maybe it's you-- or there is something wrong with you.
(4) be yourself but continue showing him that you are a great person pero wag naman yung over at fake na ha!
(5) slowly accept that maybe it's not meant to be. after all, if God wanted you two together, he would let it happen
(6) don't lose the fighting spirit- pwede mong isipin na pinahihirapan ka lang ni God (you could think that God is giving you a hard time). :p
(7) last but not the least, halikan mo na lang!
Fozzy said that:
ang mga guys nga kasi kelangan ng tulak (kung minsan panulak) o batok (whichever works).
One guy, a well-loved classmate known to be torpe or shy, gave his point of view:
I dunno if I'm helping...
I sorta know a bit about a torpe guy's pov... ehem.
If your friendship is as close as I think it is, I can think of 2 possible reasons why the guy hasn't made a move:
1. He's comfortable with the way things are right now.That doesn't mean he doesn't want to go "Game Ka Na Ba: Next Level"... he's just a little scared to riskthe friendship. Give him a little more time... if he truly has feelings, he'll cave in. I know. Kung hindi,bugbugin natin.
2. He has a hard time understanding messages you'resending him. It's not that your saying/doing anythingwrong... It's just that we guys are a little thick...we're not really sure if you're saying what we thinkyou're saying, or if there is a deeper meaning, orwhatever. It's a bit complicated. Sometimes, maybe ablatant, clear "I like you" sign with large arrows andsirens, might help... If he still doesn't get it,bugbugin pa rin natin.
Another girl looked at it from a different point of view:
Good friends non synonymous with girlfriends? Well, based on experience (ehem ehem), matagal talaga before you can actually see the potential of good friends as boyfriend/girlfriend/lover/date. Once it happens, foundation is rock solid..kaya lang, its almost a now or never, but seemingly taking forever kind of development. No offense to you hunny, you know about this, but c'mon girls, you've had guys rin naman crush on you that you cannot imagine diba? How do you feel towards them? Maybe, just maybe, that with guys, baka talagang mas matagal silang mauntog! HAHAHAH.
And even agreed with me:
Hahahah, tama rin advice ni Cat...halikan niyo nalang. To share a personal experience again on a really good friend turning into more than a friend...T and I were really nothing but best of chums, in a non-showbiz way. When I realized that I was ready to take the jump...and he was being oh-so-slow...I just grabbed him and kissed him. Ang bagal eh!
But I just had to reply to shy guy's email:
Ah!!! Thanks, ______ , for the insight. It was extremely helpful and has added to my somewhat extensive yet still lacking knowledge of men. Allow me to comment on point no. 2.
The problem is, Pinoy guys are:
(1) Torpe-- which is not really a problem. that's how they really are.
(2) Dense-- they cannot read signs and hints... or they're too scared to read between the lines.
The problem is, once again, Pinays are:
(1) Pakipot-- gusto nila silang hinahabol.
(2) "Conservative" (forgive the lack of a proper term)-- they're scared to tell guys CLEARLY that they like them. As in scared to say out loud, "I like you!" because it would seem too forward or unlady-like of them. Now there are some girls who are less conservative. They aren't afraid to drop hints and signs. But then again, how clear are the hints and signs? Are they enough for the guy to pick up the signals?
Now, if you have the following equations:
Torpe guy + Pakipot girl = 0 results
Dense guy + Conservative girl = 0 results + confusion.
Does that make any sense? Do you find yourself in these situations? Yes??? I rest my case.
One friend compared it to a movie and drew the moral of the story from it:
Remember the movie “My Best Friend’s Wedding”? The best friend (Julia Roberts) was put in a “pedestal”. She became this “perfect” girl that is almost too good to be true for the guy. For sure he got scared and didn’t want to lose the friendship that they have, that’s why he settled for someone else (Cameron Diaz). Dang, they always don’t want to lose the friendship thing! (That’s because we’re much better friends than their guy friends. hehehe )But hey, in the movie, if you think about it, Julia was really the one at fault. She should not have agreed with the pact that they made. Dapat pinakasalan na agad niya, wala nang certain age pa na paghihintay. Like Cat said – halikan mo na!!!! Para hindi na mawala. Remember, an opportunity knocks but once. So grab it when you can! And if the relationship doesn’t last, and you guys don’t end up as friends uli, be cool with it. It’s fine. Afterall, MARAMI KA NA NAMANG FRIENDS, right? It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. . . .
And apparently, internationally, women experience the same problem:
How I wish I understood how "love" works in the non-Filipino way. I don't have much experience with Filipinos, much less any other guy. And here, "dating"... is as much a grey area as any other. Akala ko, dahil mas frank and straight to the point sila, mas clear.. pero hindiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.
So yeah, youre naive little college friend here has finally started 'dating'. First time.. haha and it is strange. Loooong story. But in essence, we are FRIENDS. I am the BEST FRIEND. Shiet. And everything is new to me. Hay ang lola mo. Lost in the wilderness.. kaya nga magpapaka-career girl nalang ako.. as always. By the way, I got what I've been wishing for.. he's French. haha.. BUT BUT BUT, we are only friends. friends who date. Whatever that means.
There are many ways to approach this kind of situation. It just depends on your personality and attitude towards it. But I must say to those readers who are caught in this situation to follow your instincts, your heart (or mind- whatever works for you), and to not do what is uncomfortable. It may take guts, it may take a miracle. But one thing is for sure: It will happen if it is meant to be.
How My Dad Found Out About My Relationships
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
This post was inspired by Babygurl's post entitled The Lost Art of Letter Writing. (Well, not the part about letter writing but the part of her dad's SMS to her about her May- December relationship).
Four years ago, I was the "never been kissed" kind of girl. I was turning twenty but I have never been courted- or dated. But just liked any other girl, I wanted a boyfriend.
I was never courted because I was very picky. If a guy wanted to court me, I'd brush him away if I did not find him attractive. Sometimes, to the point of rudeness. I believed that in the begining, there should be attraction right away and not something that would just develop eventually. I believed in letting down the guy right away if you don't like him. After all, why make him hope, waste time and money on you if he had no chance to begin with? He'll realize later, when he moves on, that you did him a favor. In fact, I was such a segurista that I would only like, which is, by the way, different from crushing, a guy that could like me back.
But more than anything, the reason why I wouldn't let anyone court me is because I was scared to have any guy visit me at home. If a guy was a close friend or kabarkada, it wasn't a problem. But a guy acquaintance to an almost complete stranger, I wouldn't dare take home to mom and dad even if they were just that- acquaintances. You see, I'm the eldest daughter- and grand daughter. I was also scared of my dad. I would think that my parents would think (still with me?) any guy who visited me at home, even though was just a friend, was courting me. And naturally, they would grill me about it. Who is this guy? How old is he ? From what school? Where did you meet? Does he pray at night? Does he carry condoms? WHAT?! He carries condoms?! Why that---!!!
One day, I finally decided that if I wanted to have a boyfriend, if I wanted to know what it was like to love and be loved in return, I had to change my perspective and face my fears. Shortly, I was introduced to my ex boyfriend, who I shall not say the name since he's not worth it (no, I don't hate him), by one of my closest friends, Karla. A week after meeting him and talking for hours on the phone, I decided to invite him over so he could meet my parents. Well, my motive for this was because we were going to Karla's birthday party the next weekend and he was picking me up and I know for sure that my parents wouldn't allow me to go with a complete stranger. I was so nervous that I didn't finish the food on my plate. I found out later on that my dad was more nervous than I was!
Six months later, my nameless ex boyfriend and I got together. The first obstacle I had to overcome was to tell my dad about our relationship. It took me a week before telling him. Since I could never discuss anything openly with him, I decided to write him a letter and stick it in his lunch box where he would surely see it. I can't remember what I really said but I know it went something along these lines:
Hi! You're probably wondering why I'm writing you so I better say what I wanna say without beating around the bush. So here goes.... Kami na ni ________!!!
Uhh, hmm, ok? Did you get that? Do you wanna read that again? Do you wanna sit down? Do you wanna drink water? Don't forget to breathe, daddy, breathe!!!
I just want you to know that I thought of my decision for a very long time. I know what I'm getting into. I know that it entails limitations, expectations and responsibilities. I know that I can handle them.
But still, I'll be needing your support and guidance, dad. This is my first time in a relationship and I'll be learning new things. I hope that you will be there when I need your help.Please don't worry about me. I love you very much and always remember that you will always be the first man in my life.
When my dad read the letter, he SMSed me right away. He said:
I just read your letter. I'm happy if you're happy. Take care. I love you. PS. Soldiers cry too.
The last line brought tears to my eyes. I replied and said thanks and told him to eat his lunch already. To which he replied:
It was the worst tuna sandwich I've ever had.
A year and a month later, I was free from the clutches of my ex. My dad was out of town that time and when he came back, I gave him a big hug and told him that we broke up. His first question was, "Are you okay?" To which, I cheerily replied, "Oo naman!" I truly was.
Shortly, A and I started hanging out. We would go out on weekends as friends. Contrary to what everyone suspected, we were truly just that. Until one day, we realized that everyone was right. We fell for each other. It was a weeknight and A and I, after a night out , went home at 2Am, completely delirious with happiness. I was surprised to find my parents in the living room, working on the computer at that hour. As I closed the door, I had an idiotic smile on my face. My dad asked, "O! Bakit ganyan mukha mo? (Oh, why is your face like that?" I couldn't help but giggle and in my happiness and excitement, only uttered one word. "Boyfriend." They knew it was A. Who else could it be? My dad started giving me a lecture about the time I've been going home recently. But because I was so happy and so in love, I was just smiling widely at him as he lectured. He finally waved a hand in resignation and said, "Ahh! I'll talk to you in the morning! It's useless talking to you now!"
Yes, I've only had two boyfriends. It was difficult telling my father that his little girl has a boyfriend. He eventually got used to the fact and so on the second time around, it was a piece of cake.
Trivia: Did you know that a few days before I met my nameless ex boyfriend (NEB), I met A? Karla and A were kabarkadas, as with my ex. One day, while the three of them were hanging out, NEB asks them to find him a girl to set him up with. A remembers me and formulates a "brilliant" plan.
What Greeted Me As I Entered My Room Last Night
I got home last night at around 12:30 PM. I walked to my room and as I opened the door, cold air wafted out. Ah! Comfort! And then, a certain sight greeted me:
What in the world?! Lying against my body pillow were a pair of socks standing up. It wouldn't be so weird if the socks were lying down at the edge of my bed or balled up in a roll as if our laundrywoman forgot to put it in the closet. But standing up?! As if it was awaiting my arrival?! Almost like welcoming home?! Totally strange yet funny.
I still have to find out if it was done on purpose. But I only have one culprit. Cami.
What in the world?! Lying against my body pillow were a pair of socks standing up. It wouldn't be so weird if the socks were lying down at the edge of my bed or balled up in a roll as if our laundrywoman forgot to put it in the closet. But standing up?! As if it was awaiting my arrival?! Almost like welcoming home?! Totally strange yet funny.
I still have to find out if it was done on purpose. But I only have one culprit. Cami.
Rejected!
Monday, August 09, 2004
When I arrived in the office, I was surprised to find a Citibank envelope addressed to me on my desk. I was ecstatic! My first credit card finally arrived!
Until I picked it up, of course, and noticed that the envelope was slim and I did not feel a rectangular shaped, hard, flat object in it. I knew it was a rejection letter.
I was sad, of course, because I knew and felt I was a shoo- in already, especially with the commissions I get.
What I don't understand is, why do their agents keep bugging and calling you to apply for their card and then they reject you?! In fact, A applied to them three times and got rejected twice! (His third application is being processed as of the moment). He actually told the call agent that they keep inviting him and then rejecting his application.
A comforted me by saying credit card companies don't usually approve applicants who do not have other credit cards or who are applying their first credit card with them. Funny. I thought the positioning of the credit card I was applying for was that it is a young professional's first credit card. Who else earns a minimum gross annual income of P180,000 (that's Php 15,000 a month) and has a lifestyle that involes clubbing, malling and going out with friends? Certainly a yuppie like me.
Oooh, damn it to hell and back! I know I'm just gonna blow off my credit card on books.
Until I picked it up, of course, and noticed that the envelope was slim and I did not feel a rectangular shaped, hard, flat object in it. I knew it was a rejection letter.
I was sad, of course, because I knew and felt I was a shoo- in already, especially with the commissions I get.
What I don't understand is, why do their agents keep bugging and calling you to apply for their card and then they reject you?! In fact, A applied to them three times and got rejected twice! (His third application is being processed as of the moment). He actually told the call agent that they keep inviting him and then rejecting his application.
A comforted me by saying credit card companies don't usually approve applicants who do not have other credit cards or who are applying their first credit card with them. Funny. I thought the positioning of the credit card I was applying for was that it is a young professional's first credit card. Who else earns a minimum gross annual income of P180,000 (that's Php 15,000 a month) and has a lifestyle that involes clubbing, malling and going out with friends? Certainly a yuppie like me.
Oooh, damn it to hell and back! I know I'm just gonna blow off my credit card on books.
Hallelujah, It's A Miracle (Not)!!!
NOTE: This post is a few days late.
My sister, Ara, has the uncanny ability to fall asleep in any position (once, she had her leg stretched out against the wall). In fact, she has the ability to fall asleep on the spot. Because of this, she usually falls asleep in the middle of studying. Sometimes, beside her laptop, rolling over her notebooks, her thick book as a pillow. Half of her bed is perpetually littered with school books, papers, school things and knick knacks. Therefore, she only has the top half of her bed to lie on. Again, which is not a problem for her, since she can fall asleep in any position. Nowadays, she sleeps with her head against the wall, her legs stretching out of her bed. Unlike you and me, who normally sleeps along the length of the bed, she sleeps perpendicularly to it. And so there are nights where I wake up and find myself staring at her blanketed feet, where I have to wake her up to lie properly so her feet wouldn't knock off the glass on top of the side table between our beds in the middle of the night for fear of water suddenly jousling me awake, where Iwake her up because her laptop just might fall off the bed. It is an accepted fact that you cannot make her sleep in the right position. Believe me, I've shared a room with her for so long, I know and I've stopped trying.
Imagine my surprise one night when I entered the room to find out that (1) she is sleeping in the right position, along the length of the bed; (2) her legs weren't sticking out; and (3) her laptop was nowhere in sight! Imagine my surprise again when the same thing happened the next night! Hallelujah!!! It's a bloody miracle, I tell yah! A bloody miracle!
But it was too good to be true. On the third day, she went back to her old routine.
Sigh.
My sister, Ara, has the uncanny ability to fall asleep in any position (once, she had her leg stretched out against the wall). In fact, she has the ability to fall asleep on the spot. Because of this, she usually falls asleep in the middle of studying. Sometimes, beside her laptop, rolling over her notebooks, her thick book as a pillow. Half of her bed is perpetually littered with school books, papers, school things and knick knacks. Therefore, she only has the top half of her bed to lie on. Again, which is not a problem for her, since she can fall asleep in any position. Nowadays, she sleeps with her head against the wall, her legs stretching out of her bed. Unlike you and me, who normally sleeps along the length of the bed, she sleeps perpendicularly to it. And so there are nights where I wake up and find myself staring at her blanketed feet, where I have to wake her up to lie properly so her feet wouldn't knock off the glass on top of the side table between our beds in the middle of the night for fear of water suddenly jousling me awake, where Iwake her up because her laptop just might fall off the bed. It is an accepted fact that you cannot make her sleep in the right position. Believe me, I've shared a room with her for so long, I know and I've stopped trying.
Imagine my surprise one night when I entered the room to find out that (1) she is sleeping in the right position, along the length of the bed; (2) her legs weren't sticking out; and (3) her laptop was nowhere in sight! Imagine my surprise again when the same thing happened the next night! Hallelujah!!! It's a bloody miracle, I tell yah! A bloody miracle!
But it was too good to be true. On the third day, she went back to her old routine.
Sigh.
Techie Tip
WARNING: Techie tip ahead. Just like the last post, some terms may not be understood by all audiences.
When somebody tells you, particularly a computer technician/ engineer tells you that, "yes, your files are all safe in your hard drive but no, it would be difficult to retrieve them- close to impossible," do not believe them.
When my old laptop (rest her soul), who, by the way, passed on due to a damaged system board, display panel and touch pad (yes, all three... i know. it hurt.), was in the service center, the guy said that my hard drive was safe. The skies cleared and the clouds parted. Bright lights came from above, angels sang a chorus of Hallelujah. But my rejoice was short lived when he said that they tried extracting the files but didn't pursue it anymore because a file was corrupted. I asked if it was possible to still extract it. You know, maybe transferring the hard drive into another computer? Well, basically, the response they gave me was nada- none- zip- impossible. Possible but close to impossible. Like trying to find another person who had the exact same laptop as I did, switch hard drives and back up my files. I asked if there were some shops who could somehow extract files from my disk using a device and well, there is but they don't know where. So much for service. Obviously, they wanted to keep the service- and money- to themselves.
But I found out it was possible. As easy as 1-2-3. Thanks to my techie of a brother, Enzo, he found out from his suki computer store that there is such a thing as a mobile hard drive. They take out the hard drive from your old computer, insert it into the device, screw it in place, attach the USB port into your new computer and presto! You've got all your files back! No difficult installments whatsoever! And for only P788! The best part is, one size fits all! Okay, I should stop. I sound like an ad here.
I've never been so happy to see my old files from work before- or the hundreds of pictures of A and me, which I was about to back up before the laptop died on me. I seriously hugged my (new) laptop right there at the computer store.
Definitely a happy ending for me.
When somebody tells you, particularly a computer technician/ engineer tells you that, "yes, your files are all safe in your hard drive but no, it would be difficult to retrieve them- close to impossible," do not believe them.
When my old laptop (rest her soul), who, by the way, passed on due to a damaged system board, display panel and touch pad (yes, all three... i know. it hurt.), was in the service center, the guy said that my hard drive was safe. The skies cleared and the clouds parted. Bright lights came from above, angels sang a chorus of Hallelujah. But my rejoice was short lived when he said that they tried extracting the files but didn't pursue it anymore because a file was corrupted. I asked if it was possible to still extract it. You know, maybe transferring the hard drive into another computer? Well, basically, the response they gave me was nada- none- zip- impossible. Possible but close to impossible. Like trying to find another person who had the exact same laptop as I did, switch hard drives and back up my files. I asked if there were some shops who could somehow extract files from my disk using a device and well, there is but they don't know where. So much for service. Obviously, they wanted to keep the service- and money- to themselves.
But I found out it was possible. As easy as 1-2-3. Thanks to my techie of a brother, Enzo, he found out from his suki computer store that there is such a thing as a mobile hard drive. They take out the hard drive from your old computer, insert it into the device, screw it in place, attach the USB port into your new computer and presto! You've got all your files back! No difficult installments whatsoever! And for only P788! The best part is, one size fits all! Okay, I should stop. I sound like an ad here.
I've never been so happy to see my old files from work before- or the hundreds of pictures of A and me, which I was about to back up before the laptop died on me. I seriously hugged my (new) laptop right there at the computer store.
Definitely a happy ending for me.
Say Hello To My New Friend
Friday, August 06, 2004
Say hello to my new friend. My new friend is not as slim and light as my old friend. He is, in fact, heavier and chunkier. He came with a printer and a digicam and that was one of the reasons why he was worth having aboard. My aunt (my boss's wife) got the camera right away, since she had first dibs on it and she told me about the promo. Check out his specs:
Intel Pentium 4 Processor 2.80 GHz
• 256MB PC266 DDR SDRAM
• 15.0" XGA TFT LCD Monitor
• ATI Radeon with 64MB DDR Shared Video Memory
• 60GB Hard Disk Drive
• Type II PC Card Slot
• 8x8x24x8 DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive
• Built-in Floppy Disk Drive
• Built-In Speakers
• 10/100Mbps LAN Controller
• Built-In AC97 Audio Controller
• 56Kbps V.92 Fax Modem
• S-Video TV-Out
• 3x USB 2.0 Ports, Firewire, IrDA
• Licensed Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Li-Ion battery pack
• Notebook Carrying Case
Free: HP PhotoSmart 435 Digital Camera & HP DeskJet 3535 Color Printer
Not bad, huh? Let's see what this baby can do!
Intel Pentium 4 Processor 2.80 GHz
• 256MB PC266 DDR SDRAM
• 15.0" XGA TFT LCD Monitor
• ATI Radeon with 64MB DDR Shared Video Memory
• 60GB Hard Disk Drive
• Type II PC Card Slot
• 8x8x24x8 DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive
• Built-in Floppy Disk Drive
• Built-In Speakers
• 10/100Mbps LAN Controller
• Built-In AC97 Audio Controller
• 56Kbps V.92 Fax Modem
• S-Video TV-Out
• 3x USB 2.0 Ports, Firewire, IrDA
• Licensed Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Li-Ion battery pack
• Notebook Carrying Case
Free: HP PhotoSmart 435 Digital Camera & HP DeskJet 3535 Color Printer
Not bad, huh? Let's see what this baby can do!
Death of A Friend
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
Let us all take a moment of silence as we reflect the life that has gone into the next world, particularly one that is very special to me.
Her life, though short lived, was a life of service. She worked hard and fast, making her a good co- worker, if not, the best. Not once did she let me down. She was there through good times and bad times, happy times and sad times. In times when I was alone and bored, she served as my entertainment. She kept me occupied with her songs and stories. In time, we became inseparable. Together, everyday, for 12 hours. I shall sorely miss her and I know that there will be no one like her. I doubt and fear that no one can show the same work skill and ethics as she. Others may come and go but she will forever be remembered.
Friends, join me as I say a little prayer for the untimely and fateful demise of my very first laptop.
Her life, though short lived, was a life of service. She worked hard and fast, making her a good co- worker, if not, the best. Not once did she let me down. She was there through good times and bad times, happy times and sad times. In times when I was alone and bored, she served as my entertainment. She kept me occupied with her songs and stories. In time, we became inseparable. Together, everyday, for 12 hours. I shall sorely miss her and I know that there will be no one like her. I doubt and fear that no one can show the same work skill and ethics as she. Others may come and go but she will forever be remembered.
Friends, join me as I say a little prayer for the untimely and fateful demise of my very first laptop.
Dramatics of A Teenage Kikay Queen: Part 1
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
From here on, all entries pertaining to my sister, Cami, shall be called DRAMATICS OF A TEENAGE KIKAY QUEEN.
On Crushes:
One time, during dinner, my dad suddenly asked her, "Camille, may crush ka na? (Camille, do you have a crush already?)" She turned bright red. She couldn't believe that her father just asked her such a personal question. In an attempt to brush off the topic, she tried to distract everybody by changing the topic, or asking them to pass the Coke/ rice/ ketchup. But she knew that it was inevitable. She had to face her fears. Her dad looked at her expectantly. And so red faced, she looked up and boldly answered, "Meron! Tao lang din naman ako ah! (I have! I'm also only human!)"
On Pimples:
While staring intently at her face in the mirror, she whines, "Oh no! I'm growing another pimple!!! What is wrong with the world???"
On Periods and Menstrual Cramps:
While doubling over in pain, she passionately groans, "Oh, the horror! The pain! The agony!"
Excerpts from her blog:
On Missing the ADMU vs ADU game:
"UGH! Was I the only living human being aka homosapien on earth that DID NOT watch the ADMU vs ADU game last Saturday?! Damn everyone who failed to remind me there was a game!!! It was one of the best games there ever was in the history of basketball in humanity!!! Why?!! WHY WHY WHY!!!"
On The Way Ara and I Narrated The Game To Her:
On Crushes:
One time, during dinner, my dad suddenly asked her, "Camille, may crush ka na? (Camille, do you have a crush already?)" She turned bright red. She couldn't believe that her father just asked her such a personal question. In an attempt to brush off the topic, she tried to distract everybody by changing the topic, or asking them to pass the Coke/ rice/ ketchup. But she knew that it was inevitable. She had to face her fears. Her dad looked at her expectantly. And so red faced, she looked up and boldly answered, "Meron! Tao lang din naman ako ah! (I have! I'm also only human!)"
On Pimples:
While staring intently at her face in the mirror, she whines, "Oh no! I'm growing another pimple!!! What is wrong with the world???"
On Periods and Menstrual Cramps:
While doubling over in pain, she passionately groans, "Oh, the horror! The pain! The agony!"
Excerpts from her blog:
On Missing the ADMU vs ADU game:
"UGH! Was I the only living human being aka homosapien on earth that DID NOT watch the ADMU vs ADU game last Saturday?! Damn everyone who failed to remind me there was a game!!! It was one of the best games there ever was in the history of basketball in humanity!!! Why?!! WHY WHY WHY!!!"
On The Way Ara and I Narrated The Game To Her:
"It sounded like dolphins were telling me the story because everytime they would come to the great part of the story, they would "EEEEEE!!!!" in unison while clapping their hands!!!"
Bonfire Tales and Memories
When the Ateneo Blue Eagles won the championship last 2002, the entire Ateneo community celebrated its victory through a bonfire party at the Bellarmine Field. Students, families, friends, faculty, administration, fans and the alumni were all there. (I remember the alumni moving heaven and earth because of their love for their alma mater and its basketball team, i.e. Manny Pangilinan sending the Fort buses to shuttle people to Ateneo).
One of the reasons why I want Ateneo to win the championships is because of -- duh!-- the bonfire party. Not because I wanna party, party, party but because the bonfire party brings special memories-- please allow me this cheese.
At that time, A and I were only friends and I was 2 months fresh from my break up with my ex. A asked me if I wanted to go with him and I said yes. We had to park outside the campus and just walk. While we trekked to the field, we talked, joked around and laugh. As we neared the field, colorful lights burst in the sky. We were just in time for the fireworks display. We stopped to watch it. I remember saying to him, "Hahaha! Now I can tell Bri, 'You know, Bri, when I was with A, I saw fireworks!'" We both laughed. (Sorry, guys, inside joke.) We stepped on the field. My shoes slowly sinking into the mud. Eeewww! And I was wearing my open toed sandals! We finally Jim, A's close friend, his girlfriend, Jelen, and her gay friends. I couldn't stand the feel of mud beginning to seep in between my toes so I asked him to accompany me to the rest room so I could wash it off. Big mistake! Apparently, the other girls had the same idea. I felt hopeless. And then, we thought of buying bottled water and asking for tissue from the stalls as an alternative. Brilliant!
And so there I was a few minutes later, seated at the sidewalk, pouring ice cold water on my feet and wiping off mud from my shoes, partially embarrassed that a guy friend had to see me like this. But what's cute about it was that he was pouring the water over my toes and handing me the tissue paper as I wiped. It was just so sweet. I realized that night being in a relationship with my ex changed me to the point that I didn't know who I was. But that night, while I was just hanging out with A, I became the girl I used to be.
One of the reasons why I want Ateneo to win the championships is because of -- duh!-- the bonfire party. Not because I wanna party, party, party but because the bonfire party brings special memories-- please allow me this cheese.
At that time, A and I were only friends and I was 2 months fresh from my break up with my ex. A asked me if I wanted to go with him and I said yes. We had to park outside the campus and just walk. While we trekked to the field, we talked, joked around and laugh. As we neared the field, colorful lights burst in the sky. We were just in time for the fireworks display. We stopped to watch it. I remember saying to him, "Hahaha! Now I can tell Bri, 'You know, Bri, when I was with A, I saw fireworks!'" We both laughed. (Sorry, guys, inside joke.) We stepped on the field. My shoes slowly sinking into the mud. Eeewww! And I was wearing my open toed sandals! We finally Jim, A's close friend, his girlfriend, Jelen, and her gay friends. I couldn't stand the feel of mud beginning to seep in between my toes so I asked him to accompany me to the rest room so I could wash it off. Big mistake! Apparently, the other girls had the same idea. I felt hopeless. And then, we thought of buying bottled water and asking for tissue from the stalls as an alternative. Brilliant!
And so there I was a few minutes later, seated at the sidewalk, pouring ice cold water on my feet and wiping off mud from my shoes, partially embarrassed that a guy friend had to see me like this. But what's cute about it was that he was pouring the water over my toes and handing me the tissue paper as I wiped. It was just so sweet. I realized that night being in a relationship with my ex changed me to the point that I didn't know who I was. But that night, while I was just hanging out with A, I became the girl I used to be.
ADMU vs ADU
I am not an Atenean. But by the way I cheer, scream, or groan during their UAAP basketball games, you'd think I am (can you relate, babygurl?).
I wasn't able to watch last Saturday's game versus Adamson University from the start. I only caught the last 4 minutes and that was enough for me to conclude that it was a great game. It was their first game since they lost their star player, Larry Fonacier, to injury. In the beginning, according to my brother, Adamson had a huge lead against Ateneo. At one point, they had a 20 point lead. It was enough to dampen the high spirits of the crowd in blue.
But I don't know. Somehow I feel that the Eagles have a flair for drama and suspense. They intentionally lose, avoid scoring points, in the beginning and then dramatically catch up with the other team at the end. When I watched the last four minutes of the game, Adamson lead by just 1 point. I was at the bar watching with our DJ, my brother and A. The suspense was just killing me. I was hiding behind A, trying to supress my squeals of delight. Within 2 minutes, the score was tied, 55-55. I kept praying and praying, please let Ateneo score... or at least put us in over time. And when LA Tenorio made that amazing step forward- step back- shoot a 3 pointer move that lead them to the top, I didn't care. We all cheered, thereby distracting our clients. Great game, indeed.
Great spirit too, as the players wore Larry Fonacier's number on their jerseys. The crowd sported Larry Fonacier jerseys, shirts and banners. A footage of Larry Fonacier's mom crying with her fist raised in triumph was shown right after LA Tenorio made the winning shot.
It was so funny how the next day, while talking about the game, my sister, Ara, and I showed our elation the same way. While narrating to Cami the last few seconds of the game, describing how LA Tenorio made the shot, we both cheered. We looked at each other and shrieked, "EEEEEE!!!!!!!" while clapping our hands together, the exact same way. So funny and so weird.
I hope ADMU wins the championships again. I love their bonfire victory parties! (I saw you there last time, babygurl! Remember that? We were both crossing Katipunan!)
I wasn't able to watch last Saturday's game versus Adamson University from the start. I only caught the last 4 minutes and that was enough for me to conclude that it was a great game. It was their first game since they lost their star player, Larry Fonacier, to injury. In the beginning, according to my brother, Adamson had a huge lead against Ateneo. At one point, they had a 20 point lead. It was enough to dampen the high spirits of the crowd in blue.
But I don't know. Somehow I feel that the Eagles have a flair for drama and suspense. They intentionally lose, avoid scoring points, in the beginning and then dramatically catch up with the other team at the end. When I watched the last four minutes of the game, Adamson lead by just 1 point. I was at the bar watching with our DJ, my brother and A. The suspense was just killing me. I was hiding behind A, trying to supress my squeals of delight. Within 2 minutes, the score was tied, 55-55. I kept praying and praying, please let Ateneo score... or at least put us in over time. And when LA Tenorio made that amazing step forward- step back- shoot a 3 pointer move that lead them to the top, I didn't care. We all cheered, thereby distracting our clients. Great game, indeed.
Great spirit too, as the players wore Larry Fonacier's number on their jerseys. The crowd sported Larry Fonacier jerseys, shirts and banners. A footage of Larry Fonacier's mom crying with her fist raised in triumph was shown right after LA Tenorio made the winning shot.
It was so funny how the next day, while talking about the game, my sister, Ara, and I showed our elation the same way. While narrating to Cami the last few seconds of the game, describing how LA Tenorio made the shot, we both cheered. We looked at each other and shrieked, "EEEEEE!!!!!!!" while clapping our hands together, the exact same way. So funny and so weird.
I hope ADMU wins the championships again. I love their bonfire victory parties! (I saw you there last time, babygurl! Remember that? We were both crossing Katipunan!)
List of Damages (On My Wallet)
As I predicted, Friday would bring damages to my newly refilled ATM card. Here are the list of damages:
- A short white pleated skirt from People are People (P445)
- The Ayala Discount card (P250)
- Dinner at Teriyaki Boy (P350)
- Books from Power Books with 20% discount from the pre-sale sale (P1422)
- Parking Ticket (P55)
- Gas- a week's worth (P500)
I saved P150 cuz A treated me out to watch Catwoman. It sucked, by the way.
And as promised, here are the books I bought:
- Under the Duvet by Marian Keyes
- She Went All The Way by Meggin Cabot
- Mr. Maybe by Jane Green
- The Movie by Louise Bagshawe
I decided to buy one book each of authors I wanted to try out. Toni was right. Marian Keyes is good! Her books are just really expensive though.
