Not so usual holiday

Hopefully, since I should be leaving by end of January or early February for Switzerland, this shall be my last Christmas in what has been home for 24 years… at least until I get to go back in a few years or so.

Let me tell you, Manila traffic was once again hell for the last few days before Christmas! It takes me about 2 hours to get from what would normally be 20 to 30 minutes away – a nearby place, which becomes 20 minutes away due to “normal” traffic. But from December 23 onwards, it has been smooth sailing for us. I guess with the season, the tragedy and all that, people have been spending more and more time with their families and loved ones. Thus, Manila has been on heck of a smooth ride.

Anyway, I got as expected from the wrapping, a Clinique Happy - Yay! This is one heck of a cologne that I really love – and a Burberry Cologne, which I also like. And from the same person who gave me Clinique Happy, I got the best Christmas present yet. He got me a book from one of my most recently discovered authors, Arturo Perez-Reverte’s “The Nautical Chart”.

It was so unexpected. And it’s something that I really like getting – books. And for him to think of getting me one that has not come out in the Philippines yet… that’s really something! Of course the wrapping told me it was a book and I sound like a nerd getting all happy and whatnot over a dang book received as a Christmas present. But one thing I can never get enough of is book. The more the merrier!

Anyway, I have started buying thermal clothing and even got a nice looking jacket for less than Php 500 (less than $10)! And tomorrow, I’m supposed to finalize the trip to Malaysia and Singapore for January 13 and then finalize my stuff for Geneva (and shop!) once we get back here.

I’m dying of excitement.

make up and men

last saturday at 12 noon, the new helper gave me a postal notice that says i have a package that i need to pick up. the dang EMS courier wouldn't leave the package since i wasn't home last friday (burn in hell!!!! hee.) i had decided not to go thinking the courier was wrong about having office on a Saturday.

And so today, I went to pick up my parcel. I was so excited (since i love surprises and gifts and packages so much) that i woke up at 6am when i had slept at 12am. since i couldn't curtail my excitement, i decided to leave early to get the package.

when i got there, i was informed that i could have gotten it last saturday since the delivery and claims department is open on Saturdays. (dang! if only i knew then). i got my package and went on my very merry and happy and extatic way.

by the time i got the package, i was already seated on the sofa in my aunt's living room (since i had to drop something at their place).

here are the contents:
1. 3 Power Puff packages for my niece from the Power Puff fan club that my friend made her a member of (upon realizing that she loves PowerPuff Girls).
a. 2 Power Puff books
b. 2 Power Puff Books + PPG Calculator (the wonders of interntional trading system
for giving my niece a calculator made in China for a US firm sent to the Phils)
c. 2 PPG Books + PPG sunglasses

2. 2 gift wrapped stuff for me for Christmas

3. 2 Dark Angel Books entitled After the Dark for me and 1 for another friend in the
Phils. who share my passion for Michael Weatherly... este Dark Angel pala!

3. 1 botique bag containing some stuff.

the humor in all this is that 1 botique bag. it wasn't wrapped, which meant that i can open it before Christmas. and open it, i did.

See, the one who sent me the package is this guy that everyone knows likes me (even i know he likes me. kapal ko noh?!). heee. i also like him, but let's not go into the details. he's baseball buff who actually likes Sleepless in Seattle, which still amazes me whenever i think about it.

Back to the story... I opened the botique bag and saw dark bluegreen pouch inside. this of course made one eyebrow go up. i opened the pouch and inside was a huge closed plastic containing... no less than a mascara, 1 lipstick, 2 lipglosses, 1 powder and all sorts of other stuff from Clinique! Stunned is too mild a word to describe how i felt. And then I read his letter that was enclosed with the package.

He himself was having a hard time explaining all these things he had sent me since they're really a lot and well, they're not just for Christmas so I like have some stuff open and i can start enjoying them now and I still have some stuff to open on Christmas day.

This is what he wrote about the Clinique make up kit:

"But there's that one that was kind of extra and not wrapped except in the bag that i was given to carry things home in... The sles girl said to me, 'It's all inside.' Well, I can't explain it very well without giving it all away, but it's still nothing that I would have a need or use for."

heee! the thought of him getting some make up from the sales girl is enough to send me to the floor with laughter! LOL.

I am so mean!

and he was so sweet. hahaha!

past few days

it's been more than a week with no updates yet.

if you wanna know what's happening, you can try spending the Christmas break in Manila. The traffic is so horrible it takes me practically 1 hour to get to the main road! But nonetheless, I love the Manila weather at this time with its summerlike sunshine combined with cold wind. I love it!

Oh and I watched Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King last 20 December. ROTK is definitely one movie to watch out for! and to all my friends who keep insinuating the slash relationships among the Hobbits... there are loads more scenes to snicker at. heee. I think I shall watch the premier again with my mom and niece at Eastwood. God is soooo good! heee.

I also watched the UA&P Chorale compete with other groups both professional and amateur. I must sy that I once gain felt like I was floating as they sang. Although they didn't win (mainly because the judges were more into the pop culture than an appreciation of the Chorale's repertoire), I must say that they were beyond good. My mom even had an unending praise for the Chorale!

Egyptian Zodiac

another interesting email i got...

Ammon - God of Prophets
(January 1 to February 2)

Those born under this sign have a sure talent for recognising Mr./Ms. Right the first time they see him/her - for them it's often a matter of love at first sight. When this happens, usually at a chance meeting in public places like shopping malls or restaurants, you can attract him/her by radiating happiness. You'll find it will captivate him/her.


Suchos - God of the Sacred Nile
(February 3 to March 4)

Better known as the Crocodile god, Suchos guarded the treasures of ancient Egypt. Those born under this sign are attracted by beauty, and ancient wise men warned them not to be blinded by it. "Look beyond an attractive appearance and find the real man beneath" they warned, "Listen to your heart, instead of what your eyes tell you."

Osiris- God of Fertility
(March 5 to April 9)

If you were born under this sign, don't expect to fall in love at first sight. Those ruled by Osiris need time for love to put down roots in their hearts, but it will grow stronger until it blossoms into a romance that will last a lifetime.

Ptah God of Truth
(April 10 to May 2)

Ptah' s people are very sincere and have to be careful to avoid being hurt in romance. You'll find your Mr/Ms Right practically on your doorstep because you've known him/her for a long time. Because he's / she's a down-to-earth type who appreciates sincerity, he'll / she'll be attracted to you sooner or later, so don't be pushy when you recognise him /her.

Horus- God of Life
(May 3 to June 16)

The hawk-headed god rules a fickle sign - those born under it have roving eyes and a passionate nature. Life for them is finding a series of Mr/Ms Rights, and they have no trouble doing it. For true romantic happiness, you need a very strong, steady type of man/woman who can tame your restless spirit and still give you the excitement you crave.

Nephtaphis- Goddess of True Love
(June 17 to July 21)

Beautiful Nephtaphis watches over this most dreamily romantic of all signs. Her children are incredibly loyal to their lovers, and are actually capable of becoming one with them in body, mind and soul. For this reason they have to be careful to choose men/women as caring and considerate as themselves, or they will cruelly be taken advantage of.

Seti- God of Thunder and Lightning
(July 22 to August 18)

Like their turbulent guardian, those born under this sign have quicksilver temperaments and have to keep their thermostats lowered if they want their love lives to heat up. You need an even-tempered, understanding type who can put up with your occasional outbursts.

Anubis Protector God
(August 19 to September 21)

If you were lucky enough to be born under this sign, you can look forward to life-long romance that will never stop growing. Mr/Ms Right for you is the mystery man type who has a multi-faceted personality and will Forever be revealing new and fascinating aspects of himself/herself, Thereby continually giving you something new about himself for you to love.

Ra- Sun God
(September 22 to October 15)

You'll have no trouble finding Mr/Ms Right because you're what every man/woman is looking for - tender,understanding, passionate, and Intensely loyal. Men/Women will flock to you, so you can afford to be choosy. Pick the man/woman who is most deserving of the prize you are, and don't look back. Your only fault is a tendency to wonder if you made the right choices in the past, so keep your eyes peeled on the future.

Isis- Goddess of Miracles
(October 16 to November 9)

Those born under the sign of this ancient Egypt's chief goddess have a magic touch. With a smile, they can captivate any man/woman who attracts them. Finding Mr/Ms Right is easy for Isis' sons/daughters - they can spot him/her a mile off and snare him/her with their great charm.

Thoth- God of Light
(November 10 to December 3)

Thoth's children have a hard time displaying their feelings, especially the romantic ones. When you meet Mr/Ms Right, show him how you feel - don't keep him/her guessing.

Hathor- Goddess of Music and the Arts
(December 4 to December 31)

Hathor' s children are in love with love. They tend to fall head over heels in love with the first man that shows any interest in them, and they stick to them like glue. Keep a level head and be sure he's really Mr/Ms Right. Your type of man/woman likes harmony, and you have to show him/her that you're the one who can provide it.


***again, you rule your life. these things are fun to know though. it's a cultural exposure.

boyfriend no. 2

if you must know, i am quiet taken by my new bf no. 2!

we were driving along katipunan on a very peaceful sunday morning when lo and behold, my friend alerted me. I turned my head and I saw my baby!

OH. MY. BOY. LOGAN.

it was a yellow-orange Lotus cruisin' along Katipunan and I could not help but squeal my heart's delight while I braced myself as we ran after it! My heart did a back flip and made it's split and continued to race on to look at my precious baby!

Long-not-so-lost friends 3 days delayed

Ever since I met with my friend whom I have not seen for 2 long years, I have had this craving to get her that eek! Halloween miniature stuffed bat from Starbucks (mainly because I really do not know what to give her for Christmas and she did mention that such a thing should be in her possession since she loves saying eek). And so off I went longing to get that thing-a-majig from every Starbucks in Manila since I couldn’t find one from the nearby one.

If there was one thing that kept my spirits alive during a meeting I attended at Starbucks Katipunan, it was seeing this black bat smiling his way into my wallet. And so, I finally had the chance to buy I as a Christmas present for a friend (have I ever told you that I avoid buying Christmas presents in December since I get my presents for everyone whenever I find something I think they’ll like at any time of the year at all?).

Then I sent her an SMS to ask whether she’s attending the novena for Dec. 8 in our school, though I knew she was going to. And so, I decided to meet up with her and have some coffee so I could give her my gift. But I had a wedding dinner to attend to at 9pm at Libis so instead of just hanging out in Starbucks in front of the school, we went to Seattle’s Best in Libis instead. And there I found out the rest of her life story of about 2 years back and she found out the rest of my life story of about 2 years back. With the power konking in on us at Eastwood, we went strolling along the grounds and caught up even more. So now we’ve got the Return of the King planned, wouldn’t you know it, she likes Orlando Bloom! And so I might get suckered into watching the ROTK premier.

But at 9pm, I had to bring her to the parking area so she would know where to get her car and I met up with my friends for the wedding dinner.

I went to Cable Car thinking I’ll see my college friends again. When I entered, I saw my two college friends, the bride-to-be and the groom-to-be and lo and behold! It was our long lost grade school friend, Nin!

See, the bride, my friend, has been my friend since 5th grade. You know? That time when everyone went berserk over their insecurities?! Heee. We went to the same kinder, elementary, high school and university – except for Nin who went to another university. We haven’t had contact with Nin for most of college life and even two years after college till now.

After waiting endlessly for the chicken I ordered, which cable car happened to catch strolling along the streets of Eastwood the minute I ordered for it, and all of them finishing their good meal and pointing out to May where her food so she'd knwo whose plate she's eating on, we got to talk about everything. We even managed to get some barista do his spiel on every coffe and tea available at their coffee place. Now THAT is customer service for you!

And now our friend is getting married and moving to New Jersey with her husband-to-be, another friend is stuck at law school, another one is gung-ho on this guy at work, I’m waiting for my Swiss visa so I could leave January or early February, and Nin is preparing her portfolio for Art school in Paris!

OH MY GOD!
She’s really living her dream. Heck, we’re all living our dreams! Dontcha just love it?!

gone on my editing mode

for the past few days, I have been tinkering and re-familiarizing myself with adobe premier, live motion, macromedia flash and director. I have been having a blast considering I had to learn how to use a Mac within 15 minutes or so.

It didn’t matter that I had to stay up all night until 5am to finish cutting the interviews and I was dead to the world afterwards. never mind the fact that the pictures do not show up well and now I need to have them scanned. never mind the fact that we’re practically running late on the deadline…

I am using a mac and having a blast with it. and to add icing on the cake, someone just told me he missed me without sounding so mushy.

Life couldn’t be this good!

dinner at via mare

I had dinner with a friend tonight at Via Mare. I actually have a lot of things to say, but I don't know what they are. I cannot believe that I cannot remember most of what happened while we were having dinner.

I met her at Fully Booked, which was a haven for booklovers like me. I was able to browse through my usual Arturo-Perez fiction to the Soccer Almanac 2004 to Photography in the Digital Age to the Basics of Sketching, Watercolor and Acrylics. After 2 years of not seeing her, I immediately recognized her.

Anyway, after haggling our way on who gets to choose the place to eat, she chose Via Mare and so off we went. She of course ordered her favorite baked oysters and some pasta while i preferred the lasagna.

I can certainly vouch that she has loosened up a bit. I think her 6-month trip to New York and exploration of NYU certainly did it's trick. There's her comment on how one of our friends would be enjoying her time "with the old ladies" instead of referring to them as "mature ones" as she normally would; there's her comment on how she told someone that give her the usual mabait, responsible guy who would make her happy and she'll marry him by tomorrow so long as he's good looking enough. Oh and she also clarified that she doesn't think she'll get married anytime soon at one minute and the next she's telling me how when she was leaving Bel Air a few weeks back, she saw a top-down Mercedes entering the village and until now she has not forgotten the features of the very handsome driver of that wonderful car. And then there's her cookie-jar Christmas gift concept when she asked for my opinion about it. After asking her what, aside from the gift inside the jar, she intends to do to the jar itself to make it more "Christmas-y", she shrugged her shoulders and replied, "oh I plan on buying the gift, not making it. Besides, the jar has a box! " I, of course, had to explain that it doesn't matter if the jar has a box, it has to have a good presentation. Oh and a classic one with me telling her I can't take coffee, but i wouldn't mind having tea. She nodded and commented, "that's right. you can't have coffee because of your... kidneys, right?! and so on and so forth.

You can just imagine what I night I had!

Before we knew it, I had to leave since i needed to go with another friend to pick up someone from the airport.

I sure missed her and would look forward to many more of the same dinners in the future!

Great Truths

*another funny email*

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE, THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT LIFE, THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge . . .mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD:

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're downthere.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.

Dear God email

*This is an email from a friend*

A Nun asked her class to write notes to God.

Here are some they handed in:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:

I didn't think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset You made on Tuesday. That was cool.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't You keep the ones You already have?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
Maybe Cain and Abel would not have killed each other if they had their own rooms. That's what my Mom did for me and my brother.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
If You watch me in church on Sunday, I'll show You my new shoes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:

I bet it is very hard to love everyone in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I'm having a hard time loving all of them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
In school they told us what You do. Who does it when You are on vacation?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
Are You really invisible or is it just a trick?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:

Is it true my father won't get into heaven if he uses his bowling words in the house?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:

Did You mean for the giraffe to look like that or was it an accident?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
Who draws the lines around the countries?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
I went to this wedding and they kissed right in the church. Is that OK?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
Did You really mean "do unto others as they do unto you"? Because if You did, then I'm going to get my brother good.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
Thank You for the baby brother, but I think you got confused because what I prayed for was a puppy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
I want to be just like my Daddy when I get big, but not with so much hair all over.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
You don't have to worry about me; I always look both ways.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
I think about You sometimes, even when I'm not praying.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
Of all the people who worked for You, I like Noah and David the best.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
My brother told me about being born but it doesn't sound right. They're just kidding, aren't they?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
I would like to live 900 years just like the guy in the Bible.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear God:
We read Thomas Edison made light. But in Sunday school they said You did it. So, I bet he stole Your idea.

paintings made in heaven

I was in Megamall going my merry way along the fourth floor where the galleries are located and I was in heaven. I feel like this everytime I would pass by that place. It's just too surreal to be surrounded by such beauty and it's one whole area of galleries!

In any case, I was also being my usual self and looking into the paintings -absorbing the first impression it gives me and then moving nearer to get the details of the art work... and then of course I noticed something abotu a certain painting... and then another... then another and so on and on i went from one painting to another. appreciating their beauty ...and their flaws because beauty can never be such without its flaw.

But then, when I called out to my friend and budding artist to give my comments, she ran as far away from me as possible. I guess my one comment about the proper lighting of a certain painting of a person she knew traumatized her into staying away from me when I am ready to give my comment on such unimaginably beautiful pieces of work a man could ever create.

...and so I had to curtail my tongue and curtailing it meant that the beauty that i see in those minute details that others would see as flaws (because i do point out the flaws and proclaim the beauty despite it) stayed within me thus ruining my appreciation of the beauty for beauty that remains unshared curtails the happiness that ti gives.

but she did make up for it - she MORE THAN made up for it. she brought me to another gallery showing the works of Lani Ciani and by god is she wonderful! She has got to be the most gifted Surrealist painters I ahve ever encountered. She had uch attention to detail that the abaca ropes in her painting looks like the actual abaca that I use for my craftwork. Her foreplay with the hues and lighting produces such depth that combines realism, surrealism and the computer generated 3-D figures all in one work of art. Her work captures you into the realm of her painting with your hands and fingers almost feeling the rough burning texture of the ropes as you strum them. You ever feel almost afraid of touching the rope for the maple leaf might fall thus earning the artist's wrath.

OH. MY. GOD! I am in heaven!

passports

i went to the Department of Foreign Affairs today to get my passport for my trip to india. i was issued a letter by Cel from the National Youth Commission for me to get my passport in the best possible time ever from a government institution.

Because of that letter from the NYC, I was given the courtesy lane. I was done with all the documentation requirements and payment within 3 hours. Wow! what a great feat! and I ahve the NYC t thank for that.

But I do have to say that I got a tini-bit guilty when i went down to have my documents photocopied. there were a gazillion of people downstairs lining up for in the usual line that people wanting passports have to go through. i simply cannot believe that a lot of people would want to be a part of the system and get their passports!

...except when i think about FPJ running for presidency... hmmm... maybe these people all decided to elave the country after FPJ announced his candidacy?! heee.

anyway, i'm getting my passport on friday at 4pm. wish me luck!