Thursday, July 16, 2009
sigh.
it's almost midnight, the air is cool, the rains have stopped, and my bed awaits. yes it's good to be home.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
the devil and the deep blue sea
with the world in an almost panic over swine flu, articles on the disease abound. as i was looking for articles that would explain the symptoms, and the treatment, i came across an article with this headline:
since i live in a place that was previously ground zero for meningococcemia, i was naturally intrigued.
i read the article and found myself going back to this paragraph:
excuse me?
how could the meningo death not be cause for panic? the weird thing is that the paragraph immediately preceding said this:
again, death within 24 hours after onset. it's meningo, not swine flu. don't panic. 'cept it'll kill you within 24 hours.
weird, di ba? la lang.
source: http://inquirer.net
'Meningo' death alarms hospital staff
since i live in a place that was previously ground zero for meningococcemia, i was naturally intrigued.
i read the article and found myself going back to this paragraph:
Peralta stressed that there was no cause for panic as Lopez’s death was believed to be due to meningococcemia and not swine flu.
excuse me?
how could the meningo death not be cause for panic? the weird thing is that the paragraph immediately preceding said this:
The symptoms of meningococcemia are high grade fever, rashes, weakness, seizures and internal bleeding. Death usually occurs within 24 hours after onset.
again, death within 24 hours after onset. it's meningo, not swine flu. don't panic. 'cept it'll kill you within 24 hours.
weird, di ba? la lang.
source: http://inquirer.net
Monday, April 20, 2009
neglect
my blog is a victim of neglect. not that there wasn't anything worthwhile to write about. it's just that the moment passes, and then something else comes along.
it's been crazy at work and at home. there's just too much going on.
on the upside, i'm getting a new phone soon that has handwriting recognition. so maybe i can blog from it. maybe the writing will keep me sane.
wish me luck.
it's been crazy at work and at home. there's just too much going on.
on the upside, i'm getting a new phone soon that has handwriting recognition. so maybe i can blog from it. maybe the writing will keep me sane.
wish me luck.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
an elephant never forgets!
early this afternoon i received a message from birthday alarm, informing me that my ex, w, will be having his birthday on tuesday. i stared at the message and blinked. several times. in disbelief.
i had completely forgotten.
i never forget birthdays. wait let me rephrase that. i remember birthdays. i remember the birthdays of people- my family, my friends, and yes, the birthdays of my exes.
so when i realized that i had totally forgotten, i just sat and blanked out. it's strange, you know, and a little disturbing.
but then again, after everything i've been through, i suppose it's comforting to know that yes, i can forget.
but since i got reminded already, happy birthday, i guess. :)
i had completely forgotten.
i never forget birthdays. wait let me rephrase that. i remember birthdays. i remember the birthdays of people- my family, my friends, and yes, the birthdays of my exes.
so when i realized that i had totally forgotten, i just sat and blanked out. it's strange, you know, and a little disturbing.
but then again, after everything i've been through, i suppose it's comforting to know that yes, i can forget.
but since i got reminded already, happy birthday, i guess. :)
Sunday, March 01, 2009
memories of aristocart
i used to live in the dorm, way back in college. i lived on the weekly allowance i was sent, and budgeting the allowance was always an exercise in creativity, particularly when unexpected school expenses came up.
when money was pretty okay we'd find ourselves eating at rodic's (where you eat your best) where back then meals cost something like 65-75 pesos. or casaa, where the cost was somewhat the same.
beach house was also a cheap and yummy option, but only if you made it early enough to skip the lines. if not, you'll be late for class.
as money got tighter, however, meals at rodic's, casaa, and beach house became rare. eating at these places became "things to do" when the next allowance installment arrived.
so this is where the aristocart came in. i have no idea who coined the term aristoCART but it gave these eating places some sort of elegance, even though the food was, as the name states, found in carts.
the aristocarts were found in several places, mostly near the dorms. there was one behind the engineering building, one near narra, one near sampa, i think. meals went anywhere from 15 to 30 pesos. extra rice was at 2 pesos.
if you were near the dorm it was okay because you can just buy the food (packed in plastic bags) and eat in your room. if not, you can buy the styrofoam packaging and plastic spoons and forks for an additional 3? 5? pesos, which was crazy because you're on a budget and you can buy extra rice with that!
so what we did (at least what my then boyfriend w taught me), was we'd take the plastic bags to a table. they had a tambayan near narra with kiosks and tables. we'd go there and eat. it was an amazing process.
first he'd blow into the plastic bag with the rice, shake it up so nothing sticks to the plastic. (at this point i'd blow into mine).
then he'd open the plastic bag along the seam, spread it along the table, and make a square plate. if we had water he'd dampen the corners so the plastic sticks to the table.
depending on the ulam, the other plastic bags would be opened in the same manner or just positioned beside the "plate" half open for easy access.
then we'd eat with our hands. :P if you don't want to get your hands messy, you can ask for an extra plastic bag to eat with. just slip your hand into it, and use your hand as if it weren't covered.
:) i don't know how many people did it this way, but we did. and it was fun, and creative, and i always enjoyed the meals. some of those aristocart people can really really cook. i just wish i had pictures to post here.
it's been years since i've done it, and i miss it. maybe one day, even when money isn't tight, i'll visit an aristocart and eat there. but i think this time, i'll pay for the spoons.
when money was pretty okay we'd find ourselves eating at rodic's (where you eat your best) where back then meals cost something like 65-75 pesos. or casaa, where the cost was somewhat the same.
beach house was also a cheap and yummy option, but only if you made it early enough to skip the lines. if not, you'll be late for class.
as money got tighter, however, meals at rodic's, casaa, and beach house became rare. eating at these places became "things to do" when the next allowance installment arrived.
so this is where the aristocart came in. i have no idea who coined the term aristoCART but it gave these eating places some sort of elegance, even though the food was, as the name states, found in carts.
the aristocarts were found in several places, mostly near the dorms. there was one behind the engineering building, one near narra, one near sampa, i think. meals went anywhere from 15 to 30 pesos. extra rice was at 2 pesos.
if you were near the dorm it was okay because you can just buy the food (packed in plastic bags) and eat in your room. if not, you can buy the styrofoam packaging and plastic spoons and forks for an additional 3? 5? pesos, which was crazy because you're on a budget and you can buy extra rice with that!
so what we did (at least what my then boyfriend w taught me), was we'd take the plastic bags to a table. they had a tambayan near narra with kiosks and tables. we'd go there and eat. it was an amazing process.
first he'd blow into the plastic bag with the rice, shake it up so nothing sticks to the plastic. (at this point i'd blow into mine).
then he'd open the plastic bag along the seam, spread it along the table, and make a square plate. if we had water he'd dampen the corners so the plastic sticks to the table.
depending on the ulam, the other plastic bags would be opened in the same manner or just positioned beside the "plate" half open for easy access.
then we'd eat with our hands. :P if you don't want to get your hands messy, you can ask for an extra plastic bag to eat with. just slip your hand into it, and use your hand as if it weren't covered.
:) i don't know how many people did it this way, but we did. and it was fun, and creative, and i always enjoyed the meals. some of those aristocart people can really really cook. i just wish i had pictures to post here.
it's been years since i've done it, and i miss it. maybe one day, even when money isn't tight, i'll visit an aristocart and eat there. but i think this time, i'll pay for the spoons.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
my philippine bucket list
abigail tagged me on FB re: things i've done. this is my local bucket list. i've done most, and i'm sure there are other things that you guys think should be part of it. so, i'm appending my bucket list to the list abigail tagged me to do, and i'm tagging you!
(x) Walked in a flood
(x) Eaten balut (and penoy)
(x) Eaten kambing (goat), ( ) aso (dog) or ( ) bayawak (giant lizard) or (x) wild boar or (x) wild deer or () palaka (frog)
(x) Eaten adidas (chicken feet), ( ) helmet (chicken head) (x) or isaw (chicken intestine)
(x) Rode a Tricycle
(x) Rode a caritela
( ) Rode a trolley by the houses along the riles (railroad)
(x) Been to the Rice Terraces
( ) Been to Star City
(x) Been to Enchanted Kingdom
(x) Been to Shooting the Rapids
(x) Eaten with your fingers from banana leaves
(x) Eaten taho (soft bean curd with caramel sauce peddled in the street by vendors)
(x) Eaten aratiles or macopa - straight from the tree
(x) Attended Simbang Gabi ( Midnight Mass )
(x) Played patintero
(x) Played Tumbang Preso
(x) Played Piko
(x) Played Sungka
(x) Played with Spiders (Gagamba derby)
(x) Played Chinese Garter
(x) Played Chinese Jackstones
( ) Climbed a coconut tree
(x) Danced the Tinikling or any other native dance (itik-itik!)
( ) Got on a Jeepney where you had to stand (sabit)
( ) Rode top load on a jeepney (mayroon niyan sa probinsiya)
(x) Got on a jeepney
(x) Rode in a banca
( ) Caught fish in the canal during a rainy day
( ) Participated in Ati-Atihan
(x) Had a salagubang (beetle) for a pet
(x) Eaten fish head
(x) Got drunk from Lambanog (coconut wine)
(x) Attended/participated in any religious procession (e.g. flores de mayo, block rosary, salubong, etc.)
(x) visited an inmate at Bilibid prison
(x) Attended an inuman (drinking session)
(x) Gone to the beach in summer
(x) Gone to Baguio
( ) Gone to Sagada
(x) Gone to Palawan
(x) Gone to the the Visayas
( ) Gone to Mindanao
( ) Gone to Angkor Wat in Cambodia
( ) Gone to see The Grand Canyon in Arizona
(x) Lived in any other part of the Philippines, other than hometown
(x) Cut class (OF COURSE!)
(x) Told manananggal, aswang, capre stories during a brownout or rainy night
(x) Slept under a mosquito net
(x) Slept on a banig (mat)
(x) Polished the floor with coco husk (bunot)
(x) Tasted durian
(x) Eaten pandesal filled with condensed milk
(x) Dunked pandesal into hot coffee
( ) Rode a kalabaw
(x) Took a bath under a "poso" or by the "ilog"
(x) Took a bath in the rain
(x) Used a pumice stone when taking a bath,
(x) used gugo for shampoo
(x) Tumulay sa kawayan (walked on a bamboo pole)
(x) Kept Vigil at the Cemetery for Nov. 1st
( ) Had their first date in Luneta
( ) Gone inside Malacanang Palace
( ) Gone shopping at 168 Divisoria
( ) Was punished by kneeling down on rock salt or monggo beans
(x) Gone shopping in Quiapo
(x) Eaten champorado with tuyo
(x) Eaten Dirty Ice Cream,
(x) fish ball sa kalye
( ) Watched horse races at the karerahan
(x) Rode horses at Wright Park in Baguio
(x) Drank Batangas barako coffee
(x) Cordillera coffee
(x) Eaten pinasugbo, (x) otap, or (x) piaya, (x) buko pie,
(x) Greeted your grandparents or elders by kissing their hand or having them touch your forehead
(x) Seen Taal Volcano
(x) Called anyone "pare/mare", "tol", or "bos/bossing"
(x) Watched the sunset by Manila Bay
my very own places to visit and things to do:
()go to batanes
()spelunking in sagada
(x)go to the underground river in palawan
(x)visit callao caves in tuguegarao
(x)make a pilgrimage to manaoag
()join the sinulog in cebu
()go to pahiyas in quezon
(x)swim in the hot springs in calamba
(x)go rafting in pagsanjan
()go rafting in cagayan de oro
(x)strawberry picking in la trinidad, benguet
(x)have coffee in the cafe by the ruins in baguio
(x)eat pinikpikan (hehehe. apologies to animal lovers)
(x)watch a canao
(x)visit the banawe rice terraces
(x)swim in hundred islands
(x)horse back riding in wright park, baguio
(x)go to the chocolate hills
(x)touch a tarsier
(x)take the loboc river tour
()surf in siargao
()visit the pearl farm in davao
()go house to house and eat with strangers in a fiesta
(x)snorkeling in palawan/boracay/bohol
(x)sleep in a bahay kubo
()tabon caves in palawan
(x)have your picture taken with a crocodile in palawan
(x)watch the sun set in any of the beaches in the philippines
()take the taal lake boat ride
()ride topload on a jeep
()sumabit sa jeep
()ride a skylab
()ride a pugpog/kuliglig
(x)hang a sampaguita on your rear view mirror
(x)ride a boat in burnham
(x)ride a bike in burnham
(x)go to tam-awan village
()swim with dolphins/whales in camarines
()climb mt. pulag
(x)visit banahaw
()wind surfing in boracay
(x)go up taal basilica
(x)go to enchanted kingdom
(x)watch the silent drill in PMA
places and things to eat:
(x)royal bibingka in laoag
(x)vigan longganisa
(x)pastel from camiguin
(x)curacha from zamboanga
(x)sisig in pampanga (along da riles)
(x)puso or rice in banana leaves in leyte
(x)drink barako coffee
(x)have bulalo in tagaytay
(x)butterscotch and pinasugbo in iloilo
(x)batchoy in iloilo
(x)fishball/isaw/kwekkwek sa kalye
(x)balut (pati sisiw ha, pero minsan lang. nahilo ako)
(x)taho
(x)pan de sal and star margarine with sugar
()tuba in the south
(x)lambanog from quezon
(x)basi from ilocos
(x)tapuy from the cordilleras
---i'm sure i missed out on a lot, so please feel free to append. WOW PHILIPPINES, sabi nga. :)
(x) Walked in a flood
(x) Eaten balut (and penoy)
(x) Eaten kambing (goat), ( ) aso (dog) or ( ) bayawak (giant lizard) or (x) wild boar or (x) wild deer or () palaka (frog)
(x) Eaten adidas (chicken feet), ( ) helmet (chicken head) (x) or isaw (chicken intestine)
(x) Rode a Tricycle
(x) Rode a caritela
( ) Rode a trolley by the houses along the riles (railroad)
(x) Been to the Rice Terraces
( ) Been to Star City
(x) Been to Enchanted Kingdom
(x) Been to Shooting the Rapids
(x) Eaten with your fingers from banana leaves
(x) Eaten taho (soft bean curd with caramel sauce peddled in the street by vendors)
(x) Eaten aratiles or macopa - straight from the tree
(x) Attended Simbang Gabi ( Midnight Mass )
(x) Played patintero
(x) Played Tumbang Preso
(x) Played Piko
(x) Played Sungka
(x) Played with Spiders (Gagamba derby)
(x) Played Chinese Garter
(x) Played Chinese Jackstones
( ) Climbed a coconut tree
(x) Danced the Tinikling or any other native dance (itik-itik!)
( ) Got on a Jeepney where you had to stand (sabit)
( ) Rode top load on a jeepney (mayroon niyan sa probinsiya)
(x) Got on a jeepney
(x) Rode in a banca
( ) Caught fish in the canal during a rainy day
( ) Participated in Ati-Atihan
(x) Had a salagubang (beetle) for a pet
(x) Eaten fish head
(x) Got drunk from Lambanog (coconut wine)
(x) Attended/participated in any religious procession (e.g. flores de mayo, block rosary, salubong, etc.)
(x) visited an inmate at Bilibid prison
(x) Attended an inuman (drinking session)
(x) Gone to the beach in summer
(x) Gone to Baguio
( ) Gone to Sagada
(x) Gone to Palawan
(x) Gone to the the Visayas
( ) Gone to Mindanao
( ) Gone to Angkor Wat in Cambodia
( ) Gone to see The Grand Canyon in Arizona
(x) Lived in any other part of the Philippines, other than hometown
(x) Cut class (OF COURSE!)
(x) Told manananggal, aswang, capre stories during a brownout or rainy night
(x) Slept under a mosquito net
(x) Slept on a banig (mat)
(x) Polished the floor with coco husk (bunot)
(x) Tasted durian
(x) Eaten pandesal filled with condensed milk
(x) Dunked pandesal into hot coffee
( ) Rode a kalabaw
(x) Took a bath under a "poso" or by the "ilog"
(x) Took a bath in the rain
(x) Used a pumice stone when taking a bath,
(x) used gugo for shampoo
(x) Tumulay sa kawayan (walked on a bamboo pole)
(x) Kept Vigil at the Cemetery for Nov. 1st
( ) Had their first date in Luneta
( ) Gone inside Malacanang Palace
( ) Gone shopping at 168 Divisoria
( ) Was punished by kneeling down on rock salt or monggo beans
(x) Gone shopping in Quiapo
(x) Eaten champorado with tuyo
(x) Eaten Dirty Ice Cream,
(x) fish ball sa kalye
( ) Watched horse races at the karerahan
(x) Rode horses at Wright Park in Baguio
(x) Drank Batangas barako coffee
(x) Cordillera coffee
(x) Eaten pinasugbo, (x) otap, or (x) piaya, (x) buko pie,
(x) Greeted your grandparents or elders by kissing their hand or having them touch your forehead
(x) Seen Taal Volcano
(x) Called anyone "pare/mare", "tol", or "bos/bossing"
(x) Watched the sunset by Manila Bay
my very own places to visit and things to do:
()go to batanes
()spelunking in sagada
(x)go to the underground river in palawan
(x)visit callao caves in tuguegarao
(x)make a pilgrimage to manaoag
()join the sinulog in cebu
()go to pahiyas in quezon
(x)swim in the hot springs in calamba
(x)go rafting in pagsanjan
()go rafting in cagayan de oro
(x)strawberry picking in la trinidad, benguet
(x)have coffee in the cafe by the ruins in baguio
(x)eat pinikpikan (hehehe. apologies to animal lovers)
(x)watch a canao
(x)visit the banawe rice terraces
(x)swim in hundred islands
(x)horse back riding in wright park, baguio
(x)go to the chocolate hills
(x)touch a tarsier
(x)take the loboc river tour
()surf in siargao
()visit the pearl farm in davao
()go house to house and eat with strangers in a fiesta
(x)snorkeling in palawan/boracay/bohol
(x)sleep in a bahay kubo
()tabon caves in palawan
(x)have your picture taken with a crocodile in palawan
(x)watch the sun set in any of the beaches in the philippines
()take the taal lake boat ride
()ride topload on a jeep
()sumabit sa jeep
()ride a skylab
()ride a pugpog/kuliglig
(x)hang a sampaguita on your rear view mirror
(x)ride a boat in burnham
(x)ride a bike in burnham
(x)go to tam-awan village
()swim with dolphins/whales in camarines
()climb mt. pulag
(x)visit banahaw
()wind surfing in boracay
(x)go up taal basilica
(x)go to enchanted kingdom
(x)watch the silent drill in PMA
places and things to eat:
(x)royal bibingka in laoag
(x)vigan longganisa
(x)pastel from camiguin
(x)curacha from zamboanga
(x)sisig in pampanga (along da riles)
(x)puso or rice in banana leaves in leyte
(x)drink barako coffee
(x)have bulalo in tagaytay
(x)butterscotch and pinasugbo in iloilo
(x)batchoy in iloilo
(x)fishball/isaw/kwekkwek sa kalye
(x)balut (pati sisiw ha, pero minsan lang. nahilo ako)
(x)taho
(x)pan de sal and star margarine with sugar
()tuba in the south
(x)lambanog from quezon
(x)basi from ilocos
(x)tapuy from the cordilleras
---i'm sure i missed out on a lot, so please feel free to append. WOW PHILIPPINES, sabi nga. :)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
what recession?
amid all the doom and gloom of the "global recession" i would have expected that all newspapers would have headlines related to it. but no. this made me grin so wide i almost split my lip:
again, what recession? :)
again, what recession? :)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
bucket list (tagged by bernadette on FB)
Things you have done during your lifetime:
( )Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been on a helicopter
(x) Been lost
(x) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang Karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch.
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't.
(x) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies by yourself
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
( ) Lived in more than one country
(x) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(x) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( )Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
( ) Traveled by motorcycle
(x) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco CABLE CAR
( ) Been to Disneyland OR Disney World
(x) Truly believe in the power of prayer
(x) Been in a rain forest
( ) Seen whales in the ocean
( ) Been to Niagara Falls
( ) Ridden or petted an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
( ) Been water-skiing
( ) Been snow-skiing
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
(x) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
( ) Been to an NBA game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
( ) Been on a TV show
( ) Sang for a meal
( ) Seen Jerusalem
(x) Learned a foreign language
(x) Shot a gun
( ) Kick Boxed
( )Water skied or Gone tubing
(xxxxx!) Had your heart broken by a failed relationship
( ) Written a book.
(x) Gotten in a fist fight
(xxx!!) Driven over 100 MPH
( ) Been arrested
(x) Been in a Car accident
( ) Been to the Desert
(x) Been on a Mountain top
( ) Drunk from a mountain stream
(x) Spoken publicly
( ) Gotten a Tatoo
hmmm. this list is distinctly american. must make a local bucket list. but must work first.
( )Gone on a blind date
(x) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
( ) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been on a helicopter
(x) Been lost
(x) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang Karaoke
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch.
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't.
(x) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Danced in the rain
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies by yourself
( ) Been deep sea fishing
( ) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
( ) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
( ) Lived in more than one country
(x) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(x) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( )Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
( ) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
( ) Traveled by motorcycle
(x) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco CABLE CAR
( ) Been to Disneyland OR Disney World
(x) Truly believe in the power of prayer
(x) Been in a rain forest
( ) Seen whales in the ocean
( ) Been to Niagara Falls
( ) Ridden or petted an elephant
( ) Swam with dolphins
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
( ) Been water-skiing
( ) Been snow-skiing
( ) Been to Westminster Abbey
(x) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
( ) Been to an NBA game
( ) Been to a National Football League game
( ) Been on a TV show
( ) Sang for a meal
( ) Seen Jerusalem
(x) Learned a foreign language
(x) Shot a gun
( ) Kick Boxed
( )Water skied or Gone tubing
(xxxxx!) Had your heart broken by a failed relationship
( ) Written a book.
(x) Gotten in a fist fight
(xxx!!) Driven over 100 MPH
( ) Been arrested
(x) Been in a Car accident
( ) Been to the Desert
(x) Been on a Mountain top
( ) Drunk from a mountain stream
(x) Spoken publicly
( ) Gotten a Tatoo
hmmm. this list is distinctly american. must make a local bucket list. but must work first.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
you talking to me?
hmmm. so one day i was waiting at the bus terminal, killing time before i had to take the bus home. i got a call from my sister and she informed me that i had a notice of hearing from the dotc, for allegedly hitting a car, and driving without a license AND driving an unregistered car.
heyng?
how is that even possible? 1-- i NEVER drive without a license (i feel naked, for some reason) 2-- i NEVER drive an unregistered car 3-- the car they said i was driving was kojak (my ever beloved kojak), whom i have not seen, much less driven in almost 2 years.
of course i was pissed. who wouldn't be? i called my dad since he was the one who sold the car. and then he made calls and then those idiots who bought my car said they couldn't register it for some reason or another. argh!
well i fixed it. i would show them wall-sized copies of my passport to indicate that i was not even in the country when the thing happened!
oh well. i eventually got my temper under control, and let it pass. and then yesterday, while i was checking mail, i got mail from a website asking to confirm my email address. it was addressed to JENNIFER Q.
again, HEYNG! if i were to use a pseudonym it would not be jennifer. no offense to the jennifers out there, but do i look like a jennifer to you?
thought so.
so who the hell would be using my email address? i accessed the account and changed the password. let her figure out how that happened.
it just bugs me. i'm sure it would bug you too.
all i ask is that they let me be me. if they want to be me? well too bad, tough sh*t.
(and before you make any scathing remarks, it's my blog after all. :D)
heyng?
how is that even possible? 1-- i NEVER drive without a license (i feel naked, for some reason) 2-- i NEVER drive an unregistered car 3-- the car they said i was driving was kojak (my ever beloved kojak), whom i have not seen, much less driven in almost 2 years.
of course i was pissed. who wouldn't be? i called my dad since he was the one who sold the car. and then he made calls and then those idiots who bought my car said they couldn't register it for some reason or another. argh!
well i fixed it. i would show them wall-sized copies of my passport to indicate that i was not even in the country when the thing happened!
oh well. i eventually got my temper under control, and let it pass. and then yesterday, while i was checking mail, i got mail from a website asking to confirm my email address. it was addressed to JENNIFER Q.
again, HEYNG! if i were to use a pseudonym it would not be jennifer. no offense to the jennifers out there, but do i look like a jennifer to you?
thought so.
so who the hell would be using my email address? i accessed the account and changed the password. let her figure out how that happened.
it just bugs me. i'm sure it would bug you too.
all i ask is that they let me be me. if they want to be me? well too bad, tough sh*t.
(and before you make any scathing remarks, it's my blog after all. :D)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
update on the previous post
heads will definitely roll. it's been 4 days. tsk.
when we called, they said "ay, hindi pala 48 hours. 5 days"
when we called, they said "ay, hindi pala 48 hours. 5 days"
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
pwede ba sabunutan ko na lang sarili ko?
2 days without internet, and 2 days of making calls to the sec, bir, and rod. and of course, to the idiot phone company that cut our dsl.
the idiot phone company disconnected our dsl without notice, and without provocation.
called the manager and some idiot picked up the phone, put the headset on the table, and left. i put it on speaker and spent the better part of an hour listening to the manager try to explain to a customer why his phone got disconnected when he had no arrears whatsoever. i hung up (accidentally!).
finally got to talk to some customer service person and they claimed we had our dsl disconnected, then they said no, we didn't. our secretary had it disconnected. and then they said ah..., no, nobody had it disconnected, they're sorry, please wait 48 hours for reconnection. then when we called again, they said the building administrator went to their office to have OUR dsl disconnected, but they're sorry, please wait for another 48 hours.
48 hours! gardemet (as fams would say). we needed to research, and email, and print! yes, print. our office is wireless so we won't trip over wires that lead from one end of the room to the other. and there we were, slaves to the net, our office practically paralyzed.
to top it off, all the transactions we had with government agencies for the past two days went bust. arrrrrrrrrrgggggh!!!
i dread my phone bill.
as of this writing the thing is still disconnected. and if we don't have our dsl connected by tomorrow, heads will roll, with my sister wielding a very sharp, very heavy, very wicked ax.
the idiot phone company disconnected our dsl without notice, and without provocation.
called the manager and some idiot picked up the phone, put the headset on the table, and left. i put it on speaker and spent the better part of an hour listening to the manager try to explain to a customer why his phone got disconnected when he had no arrears whatsoever. i hung up (accidentally!).
finally got to talk to some customer service person and they claimed we had our dsl disconnected, then they said no, we didn't. our secretary had it disconnected. and then they said ah..., no, nobody had it disconnected, they're sorry, please wait 48 hours for reconnection. then when we called again, they said the building administrator went to their office to have OUR dsl disconnected, but they're sorry, please wait for another 48 hours.
48 hours! gardemet (as fams would say). we needed to research, and email, and print! yes, print. our office is wireless so we won't trip over wires that lead from one end of the room to the other. and there we were, slaves to the net, our office practically paralyzed.
to top it off, all the transactions we had with government agencies for the past two days went bust. arrrrrrrrrrgggggh!!!
i dread my phone bill.
as of this writing the thing is still disconnected. and if we don't have our dsl connected by tomorrow, heads will roll, with my sister wielding a very sharp, very heavy, very wicked ax.
Friday, January 16, 2009
reality chomps
5 months of vacation out of the country, 2 birthdays, 2 weddings, christmas, new year, and a series of special non-working holidays that seemed (to me at least) unmatched, and you can imagine what state my brain was in. or is.
my brain is mush. i work so slow my fingers leave me behind and type their own thoughts. i have to pause to recall the last thought i thunk 5 minutes ago. i stop in the middle of talking because i forget what i was going to say.
i guess what they say is true. the brain atrophies. i tried to keep my brain active and busy while i was on vacation. but somehow twilight did not provide the much needed brain stimulation i craved. csi, ncis, the unit, and csi marathons did not help any.
unfortunately, work does not wait. nor is it a patient and lenient mistress. it takes out its whip and mercilessly slashes at you, the tip pointing at the clock with each swoosh. and yes, you must obey.
it's been a week since the last major non-work event took place. since then it's been a struggle for me to keep focused. but i try, and i manage. with a little luck the brain will be well-oiled soon, and the machinery more efficient.
till then, i guess it's whapakkkk!
my brain is mush. i work so slow my fingers leave me behind and type their own thoughts. i have to pause to recall the last thought i thunk 5 minutes ago. i stop in the middle of talking because i forget what i was going to say.
i guess what they say is true. the brain atrophies. i tried to keep my brain active and busy while i was on vacation. but somehow twilight did not provide the much needed brain stimulation i craved. csi, ncis, the unit, and csi marathons did not help any.
unfortunately, work does not wait. nor is it a patient and lenient mistress. it takes out its whip and mercilessly slashes at you, the tip pointing at the clock with each swoosh. and yes, you must obey.
it's been a week since the last major non-work event took place. since then it's been a struggle for me to keep focused. but i try, and i manage. with a little luck the brain will be well-oiled soon, and the machinery more efficient.
till then, i guess it's whapakkkk!
Monday, January 12, 2009
for all babies about to be born
wrote this after the september 11 twin tower incident. i just found it in my files while looking for another poem. :P so i'll just share it with the world and expectant mothers out there. :)
what will you see my little one
when you come to this earth
where terror is constant
from the moment of birth
a place where planes wreak havoc
and bring death from the skies
where land mines maim children
bullets end countless lives.
how can i protect you
from this race i call my own
how can i assure you
that someday you'll have grown
safe, unharmed
able to cherish life
able to embrace peace
able to scorn strife.
i dread your coming
but i welcome it more
i hope for the best
no matter what's in store.
but i promise you this
my dear little one
you shall know peace and love
while i walk this land.
what will you see my little one
when you come to this earth
where terror is constant
from the moment of birth
a place where planes wreak havoc
and bring death from the skies
where land mines maim children
bullets end countless lives.
how can i protect you
from this race i call my own
how can i assure you
that someday you'll have grown
safe, unharmed
able to cherish life
able to embrace peace
able to scorn strife.
i dread your coming
but i welcome it more
i hope for the best
no matter what's in store.
but i promise you this
my dear little one
you shall know peace and love
while i walk this land.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
feeling introspective
it's a brand new year. sometimes you just can't help but do some soul-searching. sometimes you find yourself standing in front of the mirror, taking stock of your life.
i found myself doing that yesterday, standing there after i flossed and brushed my teeth. i stared at myself in the mirror for quite some time.
i stared and stared and stared. after a while i came to a realization that really threw me.
syet. di pala pantay ang kilay ko.
i found myself doing that yesterday, standing there after i flossed and brushed my teeth. i stared at myself in the mirror for quite some time.
i stared and stared and stared. after a while i came to a realization that really threw me.
syet. di pala pantay ang kilay ko.
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