I love writing. It's one of my favorite things to do. Mind you, this doesn't necessarily mean that I'm a good writer. Lots of people love doing things that they are not really that good at. So I guess this is my thing.
Last weekend I went up to the highlands and thought I'd be able to do some writing there. Unfortunately that wouldn't be the case. Got caught up in things and before I knew it, the weekend was over. Oh snap.
But anyway, it wasn't a total loss. I do love that city, and just having the time to relax and take in that cool mountain air was good enough of a getaway for me. Moving on...
*****
As promised, this blog is mostly about nothing. This is why I am able to get some posts in despite not having anything interesting to write about. I'm sure that most of you readers (all four of you) have grown accustomed to this nasty habit of mine and will inevitably click away from this page as soon as you get to this point. No worries, I will not hold that against you. Even I have trouble justifying why I posted some of the stuff that you will find here. But because of my love of spewing out whatever is in my mind on this screen, you and I will have to bear it, I guess.
*****
Was watching poker on the idiot box last night and suddenly had the urge to get myself onto a poker table. Perfect timing as I will be in the proximity of one in a few days time. This would be the Metro Poker Club in Mandaue City. The fact that it is within spitting distance from our office there makes for a very tempting opportunity.
Yes I have daydreams of winning it all, but the fact that I haven't held cards in my hand for months have tempered my excitement. Plus the fact that the last few games that I did play months ago have left me with a lighter wallet of course adds to my lowered expectations.
Oh great, Poker Face by Lady Gaga is on the radio... how apt.
*****
I realized right about now that my trip to Cebu City comes at a very opportune time. You see, I've no money left on me and the next payday comes in the second day of my business trip. This means that should something happen when I get there, say I get lost and the trip to the city costs more than what I have on me then it's going to be a very long walk. And then starvation sets in, and you will find me eating my shoes. This is the reason that I love my credit cards... the phrase don't leave home without it seems just about right.
*****
And talking about starvation, I could feel my tummy grumbling and realize that I haven't had dinner yet. It's way past the usual dinner time as of this writing, but having been so engrossed in playing scrabble the past hours have put me in this particular situation. Now I guess that I have no choice but to end this particular post in a few minutes and remember to grab a bite. I hope McDonald's is still open...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Sober thoughts
It's a Friday night and I find myself at the gas station playing Scrabble online. Usually I'd be rushing to get back to Manila to grab a couple (and more) of beers to celebrate the weekend. This isn't the case tonight, though. And it would seem like the start of a regular Friday pattern.
Since I stopped drinking, I've been finding more time doing things on weekends. Back when I used to drink (It may sound ancient, but it was only last month) half of the day used to be spent nursing a hangover. And then I'd be so lazy to be of any use around the house. My new-found sobriety has given me plenty of time now, in fact a lot more than I expected that I haven't been able to utilize the day as much as I probably could. Hence me playing Scrabble tonight.
Another side effect of being sober is that I have been able to save up a little more than I used to (if any at all). Beer costs money, so does bar chow. And beer goggles have made me oblivious of this fact until the next day. This craving for beer, though has been replaced by a strong urge for coffee or tea, but drinking a cup of coffee for an hour pales in comparison to consuming two or three bottles of beer in the same amount of time. Good deal if you ask me.
So how long do I keep this up? Well, I'm quite realistic that zero alcohol won't really last a lifetime. There are some instances when I have to drink... such as when treating out a client or having that glass of wine with the best steak dinner. There's just no easy way to get around it. I'm hoping that when this time comes, I'd be able to practice more restraint and not go back to being a drunkard. Oh well, we will just have to see...
Since I stopped drinking, I've been finding more time doing things on weekends. Back when I used to drink (It may sound ancient, but it was only last month) half of the day used to be spent nursing a hangover. And then I'd be so lazy to be of any use around the house. My new-found sobriety has given me plenty of time now, in fact a lot more than I expected that I haven't been able to utilize the day as much as I probably could. Hence me playing Scrabble tonight.
Another side effect of being sober is that I have been able to save up a little more than I used to (if any at all). Beer costs money, so does bar chow. And beer goggles have made me oblivious of this fact until the next day. This craving for beer, though has been replaced by a strong urge for coffee or tea, but drinking a cup of coffee for an hour pales in comparison to consuming two or three bottles of beer in the same amount of time. Good deal if you ask me.
So how long do I keep this up? Well, I'm quite realistic that zero alcohol won't really last a lifetime. There are some instances when I have to drink... such as when treating out a client or having that glass of wine with the best steak dinner. There's just no easy way to get around it. I'm hoping that when this time comes, I'd be able to practice more restraint and not go back to being a drunkard. Oh well, we will just have to see...
Attack of the Rent!
I got up pretty late this morning, and though a mild sense of urgency would surely be appreciated by my day job, I took my usual one-hour snooze before finally crawling out of bed. It is a Friday, a self-declared semi-holiday of mine and this justifies everything.
As I was scratching my belly, yawning while opening the refrigerator door, a small stick-on note caught my eye. Rent was due. I mentally computed how much money would be left until the next payday and I realized that I would well be below the poverty line this afternoon. Off to the bank I went, there was no escaping the rent. I cried a tear while filling up the deposit slip, why the heck didn't I just mooch off my parents? Everyone else was doing it, people who made a ton of money more than I did. Free board and lodging, your laundry magically re-appearing neatly folded and hung in the closet each week, coffee and breakfast greeting you when you got out of bed and most importantly no pesky utility bills.
I'll stop... no point in thinking about things that will never happen anyway.
*****
I've got another project in the works... a bed. The old metal frame that I've been using has at last saw the extent of my patience and needs to go. What I need is a sturdy, wooden bed.I visited a friend's pad recently and saw this spanking new bed frame. It did cost an arm and a leg but I could imagine how blissful sleep would be in it.
To begin, I had to choose some sort of design for the frame. I have been buying up old design magazines in hopes of finding the one that would suit my taste as well as my pad. Got a couple already in mind, but now comes the hard part, designing it myself. Besides drawing the thing up on paper, design also entails matching materials and quantities thereof to achieve the most economical proportions. I've decided on kiln-dried pine wood planks supported by a frame of 2x4s and 1x2s. The other alternative would be to buy a couple of whole ply-boards but the dimensions just won't match. I'd have to cut them up into planks anyway, and that takes more work and more time. Another consideration is how they would have to be put together. Since I do plan on moving out someday to another, more permanent residence, I'd have to make sure that I can readily take it all apart and put it all together again.
So when do I begin putting it all together? So far my weekends are booked until mid-August so that's my target date. Already bought a jigsaw and sent the broken impact drill for repairs.
Must say that I'm all excited about it. Been frequenting the hardware at the mall so I know what to get and how much it would all costs. So far the budget is at P5,000 but that's going to go up still considering that I'm also thinking of replacing my old mattress. To off-set the additional costs, have been tweaking my basic design, using angle bars instead some of the timber. Haven't finalized it yet, still need to do some work on it.
*****
Another long drive ahead to Baguio, the country's summer capital. Looking forward to the uphill drive on my new set of tires, should be better suited to the uneven roads though a lot heavier than my old ones. Am also scheduled to change the engine oil and adjust both alignment and camber, this trip should loosen the engine and suspension up so everything's nice and tight after maintenance.
Am also excited about hanging out and doing some reading and writing while up there. Need some relax time from the daily grind I've been up against these past few weeks. Maybe log in some kilometers jogging, too. I wonder how the weather there is this weekend.
As I was scratching my belly, yawning while opening the refrigerator door, a small stick-on note caught my eye. Rent was due. I mentally computed how much money would be left until the next payday and I realized that I would well be below the poverty line this afternoon. Off to the bank I went, there was no escaping the rent. I cried a tear while filling up the deposit slip, why the heck didn't I just mooch off my parents? Everyone else was doing it, people who made a ton of money more than I did. Free board and lodging, your laundry magically re-appearing neatly folded and hung in the closet each week, coffee and breakfast greeting you when you got out of bed and most importantly no pesky utility bills.
I'll stop... no point in thinking about things that will never happen anyway.
*****
I've got another project in the works... a bed. The old metal frame that I've been using has at last saw the extent of my patience and needs to go. What I need is a sturdy, wooden bed.I visited a friend's pad recently and saw this spanking new bed frame. It did cost an arm and a leg but I could imagine how blissful sleep would be in it.
To begin, I had to choose some sort of design for the frame. I have been buying up old design magazines in hopes of finding the one that would suit my taste as well as my pad. Got a couple already in mind, but now comes the hard part, designing it myself. Besides drawing the thing up on paper, design also entails matching materials and quantities thereof to achieve the most economical proportions. I've decided on kiln-dried pine wood planks supported by a frame of 2x4s and 1x2s. The other alternative would be to buy a couple of whole ply-boards but the dimensions just won't match. I'd have to cut them up into planks anyway, and that takes more work and more time. Another consideration is how they would have to be put together. Since I do plan on moving out someday to another, more permanent residence, I'd have to make sure that I can readily take it all apart and put it all together again.
So when do I begin putting it all together? So far my weekends are booked until mid-August so that's my target date. Already bought a jigsaw and sent the broken impact drill for repairs.
Must say that I'm all excited about it. Been frequenting the hardware at the mall so I know what to get and how much it would all costs. So far the budget is at P5,000 but that's going to go up still considering that I'm also thinking of replacing my old mattress. To off-set the additional costs, have been tweaking my basic design, using angle bars instead some of the timber. Haven't finalized it yet, still need to do some work on it.
*****
Another long drive ahead to Baguio, the country's summer capital. Looking forward to the uphill drive on my new set of tires, should be better suited to the uneven roads though a lot heavier than my old ones. Am also scheduled to change the engine oil and adjust both alignment and camber, this trip should loosen the engine and suspension up so everything's nice and tight after maintenance.
Am also excited about hanging out and doing some reading and writing while up there. Need some relax time from the daily grind I've been up against these past few weeks. Maybe log in some kilometers jogging, too. I wonder how the weather there is this weekend.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Letter from the credit card company
I marinated a whole slab of pork belly. That was 2 days ago. I wonder what it'll taste like. Probably would give me a mild (hopefully) dose of food poisoning. This is what usually happens when I marinade stuff and then don't make time to actually cook it. I should be home searing it and stuffing it in the oven, but I'm 30 kilometers from home still and by the looks of it, that piece of belly meat is going to sit still for a while, probably until the weekend.
But wait, am I not supposed to go up a mountain this weekend? Oh crap, this would probably mean that as soon as I get home I'll have to fry that sucker. It's a thick slab, probably take hours to cook through. So I'm looking at another late night. Why didn't I just get good old smoked bacon instead?
*****
I've been finding myself short of time recently. Not that I don't have time, it's just that I haven't been spending it more efficiently. All this thanks to a bout of flu coupled with a chronic laziness that is legendary. The obvious outcome is me rushing to do everything all at once and end up not finishing anything at all. Oh woe is me.
*****
Had a meeting this morning with both bosses. It went pretty well, this talent of mine for amplifying the most ho-hum of achievements is cutting me a lot of slack at the office. After the meeting, however I was grilled about something that I was totally unprepared for: my health (or recent lack of it)
Big Boss: You've been sort of sickly recently. Why is that? (I could've sworn he said 'sickening')
Hap: Been over-exerting myself, I guess.
Little Boss: Jogging?
Hap: Yes.
Little Boss: And you're still on that diet?
Hap: Yes.
Big Boss: You know, I used to jog regularly too.... blah blah blah.
Hap: Nod... nod... nod...
Little Boss: Have you seen a doctor about that diet of yours?
Hap: Uh, not really...
Big Boss: There's the problem! You're making up your own methods... (Which pretty much defines how I assess myself at work)
Little Boss: You should see a doctor before you go an a weight loss program.
Big Boss: Or even a dietician...
A lot of blah after, I was forced to admit that I was stupid and will make sure to see a doctor yesterday. Yeah, that'll happen.
As a Filipino male, I only go see the doctor when something is about to fall off. That's the only acceptable time to do so. Otherwise, there's nothing that a lot of water, google and television can't handle. Antibiotics? They're for sissies! Not me, of course. And if you must seek medication, only hard core meds will do! None of that mild stuff thrice a day. Unless it says industrial grade... don't bother prescribing it, doc.
*****
Got another credit card bill today and was sort of amused that they slipped in a letter. It basically said that they notice I haven't been using my card lately. They offer to give me not one, but two movie passes if I use my credit card five times in a month.
Number one, I haven't been using my credit card (one of them, anyway) because I can no longer afford to! The interest rates are killing me, and if that keeps up, say goodbye to this awesome hand-to-mouth existence that I currently am reveling in. Number two, I don't really go to movies. No big deal, no big temptation. Third, they spelled my name wrong, bunch of morons.
But wait, am I not supposed to go up a mountain this weekend? Oh crap, this would probably mean that as soon as I get home I'll have to fry that sucker. It's a thick slab, probably take hours to cook through. So I'm looking at another late night. Why didn't I just get good old smoked bacon instead?
*****
I've been finding myself short of time recently. Not that I don't have time, it's just that I haven't been spending it more efficiently. All this thanks to a bout of flu coupled with a chronic laziness that is legendary. The obvious outcome is me rushing to do everything all at once and end up not finishing anything at all. Oh woe is me.
*****
Had a meeting this morning with both bosses. It went pretty well, this talent of mine for amplifying the most ho-hum of achievements is cutting me a lot of slack at the office. After the meeting, however I was grilled about something that I was totally unprepared for: my health (or recent lack of it)
Big Boss: You've been sort of sickly recently. Why is that? (I could've sworn he said 'sickening')
Hap: Been over-exerting myself, I guess.
Little Boss: Jogging?
Hap: Yes.
Little Boss: And you're still on that diet?
Hap: Yes.
Big Boss: You know, I used to jog regularly too.... blah blah blah.
Hap: Nod... nod... nod...
Little Boss: Have you seen a doctor about that diet of yours?
Hap: Uh, not really...
Big Boss: There's the problem! You're making up your own methods... (Which pretty much defines how I assess myself at work)
Little Boss: You should see a doctor before you go an a weight loss program.
Big Boss: Or even a dietician...
A lot of blah after, I was forced to admit that I was stupid and will make sure to see a doctor yesterday. Yeah, that'll happen.
As a Filipino male, I only go see the doctor when something is about to fall off. That's the only acceptable time to do so. Otherwise, there's nothing that a lot of water, google and television can't handle. Antibiotics? They're for sissies! Not me, of course. And if you must seek medication, only hard core meds will do! None of that mild stuff thrice a day. Unless it says industrial grade... don't bother prescribing it, doc.
*****
Got another credit card bill today and was sort of amused that they slipped in a letter. It basically said that they notice I haven't been using my card lately. They offer to give me not one, but two movie passes if I use my credit card five times in a month.
Number one, I haven't been using my credit card (one of them, anyway) because I can no longer afford to! The interest rates are killing me, and if that keeps up, say goodbye to this awesome hand-to-mouth existence that I currently am reveling in. Number two, I don't really go to movies. No big deal, no big temptation. Third, they spelled my name wrong, bunch of morons.
I'm going to hell for sure now
I missed my favorite gas station. Lately it's been invaded by a group of yuppies using the (only) outlet and free wi-fi for their counter-strike tournament. They have displaced me as the resident parasite in this joint and this has been the reason for the disruption of my somewhat regular posting schedule.
As it turns out, there are specific places where I could blog. Too bad my pad is not one of them. My blog-brain has identified some 'hot-spots' where the connective ether from thoughts to post is at its most efficient, otherwise the connection is pretty choppy and my prose is in a giant mess. Gas stations with free wi-fi seems to be the best places for posting blogs, thus my long hours logged at several of these spots.
Fortunately, the group seems to have left early today and I am left to my favorite devices.
*****
I'm not religious. Fact is, I don't have one, but I'm stopping short of saying I'm an atheist because believe me, I'm not. To round up my non-devout religious past life, I spent about 6 conscious years in the INC faith, lived through a decade of catholic school and 2 years attending christian worships.That's a lot of years being told to be both very guilty and very thankful about my existence. (which is basically what religion is all about, I daresay)
So imagine me playing scrabble here at the gas station when a nun approaches me. At first I anticipate some manner of soliciting donations in the works, but then she asks if I was online. My mind races for the "right" answer. Mind you that the right answer excuses me from entertaining more questions at the same time saving my soul from eternal damnation. ("Sorry sister, but I don't give a damn" equals an express lane to hell) "Yes." I manage to squeak. Turns out that their vehicle went kaput and they were looking for some way to contact a mechanic. Mechanics can be reached through plurk or facebook, sure. I give my most innocent look and shrug my shoulders, looking very apologetic and exasperated. Sister turns away, probably to hide her middle finger from view.
So I try to extricate my soul from hell, I reach out for my wallet and fish for my AAP card. (Free towing, expired membership, though.) I tell her they could contact the numbers at the back. They ask how much they charge... I tell her, and she gives me that look (uh oh, I sense a donation coming...). Thankfully one of their companions (a non-cleric) points out the fact that coverage is only within Manila and since we were well beyond city limits, help from that end seems unlikely. Whew.
Waitaminute... you might ask what's bothering me about helping my fellow man? Well, I did mention a game of scrabble in the works, didn't I? That's a timed game and going overtime gives the opposing person the chance to force forfeit me. It's happened before and I'm sure it'll happen again, particularly in this instance. After the other player forfeited me, I was in no mood to be charitable, specially not to the bothersome representative of His Holiness. (Yes, the pope. Until the hour of revelation unveils the clergy as being the Supreme One's voice on earth, I prefer to think of them as papal puppets)
So what happened to the unfortunate nun and her flock of non-mechanics? They politely excused themselves from my face and bothered the next person. Clearly I was not the good samaritan from parables of old. I see someone phone for a mechanic and excused himself. After half an hour, the mechanic came but no parts were available. The owner of the gas station then arrives, without much help. Then someone recommends a tow truck service. By this time I was so deep into my next game that I am clueless as of this writing what became of the penguin. (Shame on me!)
Well anyway, that little episode confirms that indeed, I am going to hell if there is one. I wonder if there's a game of scrabble there? Probably yes, but without any vowels in play.
As it turns out, there are specific places where I could blog. Too bad my pad is not one of them. My blog-brain has identified some 'hot-spots' where the connective ether from thoughts to post is at its most efficient, otherwise the connection is pretty choppy and my prose is in a giant mess. Gas stations with free wi-fi seems to be the best places for posting blogs, thus my long hours logged at several of these spots.
Fortunately, the group seems to have left early today and I am left to my favorite devices.
*****
I'm not religious. Fact is, I don't have one, but I'm stopping short of saying I'm an atheist because believe me, I'm not. To round up my non-devout religious past life, I spent about 6 conscious years in the INC faith, lived through a decade of catholic school and 2 years attending christian worships.That's a lot of years being told to be both very guilty and very thankful about my existence. (which is basically what religion is all about, I daresay)
So imagine me playing scrabble here at the gas station when a nun approaches me. At first I anticipate some manner of soliciting donations in the works, but then she asks if I was online. My mind races for the "right" answer. Mind you that the right answer excuses me from entertaining more questions at the same time saving my soul from eternal damnation. ("Sorry sister, but I don't give a damn" equals an express lane to hell) "Yes." I manage to squeak. Turns out that their vehicle went kaput and they were looking for some way to contact a mechanic. Mechanics can be reached through plurk or facebook, sure. I give my most innocent look and shrug my shoulders, looking very apologetic and exasperated. Sister turns away, probably to hide her middle finger from view.
So I try to extricate my soul from hell, I reach out for my wallet and fish for my AAP card. (Free towing, expired membership, though.) I tell her they could contact the numbers at the back. They ask how much they charge... I tell her, and she gives me that look (uh oh, I sense a donation coming...). Thankfully one of their companions (a non-cleric) points out the fact that coverage is only within Manila and since we were well beyond city limits, help from that end seems unlikely. Whew.
Waitaminute... you might ask what's bothering me about helping my fellow man? Well, I did mention a game of scrabble in the works, didn't I? That's a timed game and going overtime gives the opposing person the chance to force forfeit me. It's happened before and I'm sure it'll happen again, particularly in this instance. After the other player forfeited me, I was in no mood to be charitable, specially not to the bothersome representative of His Holiness. (Yes, the pope. Until the hour of revelation unveils the clergy as being the Supreme One's voice on earth, I prefer to think of them as papal puppets)
So what happened to the unfortunate nun and her flock of non-mechanics? They politely excused themselves from my face and bothered the next person. Clearly I was not the good samaritan from parables of old. I see someone phone for a mechanic and excused himself. After half an hour, the mechanic came but no parts were available. The owner of the gas station then arrives, without much help. Then someone recommends a tow truck service. By this time I was so deep into my next game that I am clueless as of this writing what became of the penguin. (Shame on me!)
Well anyway, that little episode confirms that indeed, I am going to hell if there is one. I wonder if there's a game of scrabble there? Probably yes, but without any vowels in play.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Thoughts on the 7th Floor
I found myself on the 7th floor of a hospital at midnight waiting for Paul’s father to be resuscitated by a team of doctors and nurses while our friend Paul was crying in his mother’s arms. Nolan, Jundel and I had unwittingly found ourselves in the same situation and none of us talked much throughout the ordeal. The uncomfortable silence of it all gave me a headache and I felt nauseous both from the smell of the hospital as well as the tension that was in the air.
It started when I received a text message from our fraternity brother, Paul, inviting me for coffee. He was at the hospital looking out for his dad who was scheduled for another surgery. There was no immediate concern on my part, every month or so I would get the same message from him as he would fly out to Manila with his father, cancer meant that he would periodically find his way back to the hospital to be there with his dad for a check up and observation.
I’ve met his dad on several occasions, all prior to the time he was diagnosed. The first time was during my college days during one of the many functions of our fraternity. He was also a member and quite active in its affairs throughout the years. Both his sons were also members, and Paul, the youngest I got to spend time with during college so it was inevitable that I would meet him one way or another. Engr. Andoni Dumlao was a man who had done a lot for his profession, fraternities, college and country. Well regarded by all those who knew him, respected by peers in the industry and dearly loved by his friends and family.
After college, I found myself at their home in Surigao City, being invited by Paul to spend the night at their home. I was in Davao for work and sought out Paul one weekend for some drinks. Before I knew it I had let myself be dragged on a 6-hour road trip to Surigao for dinner at their house. The next day, Paul and I visited his office where his many achievements hung from a wall. Citations, diplomas, awards and many others somewhat made me cringe in the presence of someone who seemed larger than life in terms of what one could possibly achieve. Though I had to get on a bus back to Davao that morning, he had somehow persuaded me to have lunch with them and I was treated to many stories and tales from another time.
The last time I saw his dad prior to that night was at Paul’s wedding. He was a picture of a happy man, with nothing more to ask.
The next day after the three of us excused ourselves from the hospital, Jundel got a message from Paul, Engr. Andoni Dumlao died early that morning.
Rest in peace, brother.
It started when I received a text message from our fraternity brother, Paul, inviting me for coffee. He was at the hospital looking out for his dad who was scheduled for another surgery. There was no immediate concern on my part, every month or so I would get the same message from him as he would fly out to Manila with his father, cancer meant that he would periodically find his way back to the hospital to be there with his dad for a check up and observation.
I’ve met his dad on several occasions, all prior to the time he was diagnosed. The first time was during my college days during one of the many functions of our fraternity. He was also a member and quite active in its affairs throughout the years. Both his sons were also members, and Paul, the youngest I got to spend time with during college so it was inevitable that I would meet him one way or another. Engr. Andoni Dumlao was a man who had done a lot for his profession, fraternities, college and country. Well regarded by all those who knew him, respected by peers in the industry and dearly loved by his friends and family.
After college, I found myself at their home in Surigao City, being invited by Paul to spend the night at their home. I was in Davao for work and sought out Paul one weekend for some drinks. Before I knew it I had let myself be dragged on a 6-hour road trip to Surigao for dinner at their house. The next day, Paul and I visited his office where his many achievements hung from a wall. Citations, diplomas, awards and many others somewhat made me cringe in the presence of someone who seemed larger than life in terms of what one could possibly achieve. Though I had to get on a bus back to Davao that morning, he had somehow persuaded me to have lunch with them and I was treated to many stories and tales from another time.
The last time I saw his dad prior to that night was at Paul’s wedding. He was a picture of a happy man, with nothing more to ask.
The next day after the three of us excused ourselves from the hospital, Jundel got a message from Paul, Engr. Andoni Dumlao died early that morning.
Rest in peace, brother.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Reference for a Rainy Thursday
Have you ever been made a reference by someone looking for a job before? This morning while driving to a client for a meeting, someone called me up asking about someone I worked with in the past. This is the first time I've been put down as a reference. Felt somewhat awkward, should I bash the person or give them praises?
I'm not a mean guy, of course I gave the person high regards, definitely more than was deserved. But then again, I couldn't find any way this would come back to me so it was easier to lie. Hopefully this won't be a regular thing or I would need to cross check references myself.
*****
I got to the meeting on time, actually 10 minutes early despite the typhoon. I got there, changed into uncomfortable sneakers and waited. Then waited some more. After replaying a whole episode of "House, M.D." in my head, I decided to call it quits. I went to the receptionist and informed them that I had another urgent meeting to get to and will have to reschedule the appointment. (I lied, there was no other meeting except for a quick bite and coffee) She acknowledged, made a note and gave me back my shoes.
I drove out of that office and just as I parked at the mini-mall 5 kilometers away, my client called to inform me that she had just arrived and is available, could I come back to her office? Of course I said no, there's personal dignity and pride to look after, not to mention a growling stomach and free Wi-Fi. So I promptly told her that we'd have to reschedule and that my "assistant" (no I don't have one, but it does make me sound so important, wouldn't you say?) would contact her to catch the details. Then I paid for my burger.
*****
It's been raining all day today and everyone at the office is guessing how heavy the traffic in Manila is today. Why do they seem so scared and uncomfortable? Whereas I will be driving through all the traffic, they would be seated comfortably in their seats and watching things move ever so slowly through tinted windows of the shuttle service. They moan, they groan, they tear their hair out and gouge their eyes from its sockets. It gets kinda irritating after the first 5 people who ask you how heavy the traffic is. Then 20 more ask, assuming perhaps that I have a traffic monitor built into my system.
*****
Everywhere I look, everyone seems to be afflicted with Harry Potter hysteria. Makes me feel a little ashamed that I haven't a clue what it is all about. To begin with, I haven't read any of the books. I have watched 2 of the previous movies but this was on HBO, and there was nothing else on. I guess I'm just not into fantasy, I'm afraid.
Speaking of books, I've found myself stumped on the current book I've been reading. It's an autobiography on Malcolm X. It's a good read, but lately I've been too tired to read it before bedtime. An effect that I'm blaming on too much caffeine. This week, I've averaged around 5 cups of coffee (black) in a day. That's one when I get up in the morning, another around 10am, coffee break at 4pm then the rest when I get home or stop at the coffee shop for a proper brew. (all the ones prior are the instant variety) I suspect that overdosing my body with caffeine generally burns it out at the end of the day, thus not giving me enough energy to catch a few pages. Must find some time to finish the darn thing!
*****
And speaking of time... some new found friends of mine are going surfing this weekend and have asked me to tag along. They know I don't surf but also know I don't mind. Apparently, the person who introduced me to all these people isn't coming so I'm practically going with people that I don't know that well. In a past life, I wouldn't even consider going, but the prospect of getting some time off and being left alone is quite attractive for my reading and writing backlog.
Well, I haven't really said yes just yet, but am seriously considering it. I've nothing planned for the weekend except for the dinner that Tatcee will owe me (yes dear, 2 more days!) and that's on Sunday, just when the group plans to come back. The only hindrance that comes to mind is the cost. I estimate that I would need to spend around Php1,000 for the trip including meals, not that big an amount but am closely monitoring my spending no thanks to my credit card bills. I've got until tomorrow to decide, hopefully I'll know by then.
*****
Oh, and by the way, the person who put me down as reference is the recent ex.
I'm not a mean guy, of course I gave the person high regards, definitely more than was deserved. But then again, I couldn't find any way this would come back to me so it was easier to lie. Hopefully this won't be a regular thing or I would need to cross check references myself.
*****
I got to the meeting on time, actually 10 minutes early despite the typhoon. I got there, changed into uncomfortable sneakers and waited. Then waited some more. After replaying a whole episode of "House, M.D." in my head, I decided to call it quits. I went to the receptionist and informed them that I had another urgent meeting to get to and will have to reschedule the appointment. (I lied, there was no other meeting except for a quick bite and coffee) She acknowledged, made a note and gave me back my shoes.
I drove out of that office and just as I parked at the mini-mall 5 kilometers away, my client called to inform me that she had just arrived and is available, could I come back to her office? Of course I said no, there's personal dignity and pride to look after, not to mention a growling stomach and free Wi-Fi. So I promptly told her that we'd have to reschedule and that my "assistant" (no I don't have one, but it does make me sound so important, wouldn't you say?) would contact her to catch the details. Then I paid for my burger.
*****
It's been raining all day today and everyone at the office is guessing how heavy the traffic in Manila is today. Why do they seem so scared and uncomfortable? Whereas I will be driving through all the traffic, they would be seated comfortably in their seats and watching things move ever so slowly through tinted windows of the shuttle service. They moan, they groan, they tear their hair out and gouge their eyes from its sockets. It gets kinda irritating after the first 5 people who ask you how heavy the traffic is. Then 20 more ask, assuming perhaps that I have a traffic monitor built into my system.
*****
Everywhere I look, everyone seems to be afflicted with Harry Potter hysteria. Makes me feel a little ashamed that I haven't a clue what it is all about. To begin with, I haven't read any of the books. I have watched 2 of the previous movies but this was on HBO, and there was nothing else on. I guess I'm just not into fantasy, I'm afraid.
Speaking of books, I've found myself stumped on the current book I've been reading. It's an autobiography on Malcolm X. It's a good read, but lately I've been too tired to read it before bedtime. An effect that I'm blaming on too much caffeine. This week, I've averaged around 5 cups of coffee (black) in a day. That's one when I get up in the morning, another around 10am, coffee break at 4pm then the rest when I get home or stop at the coffee shop for a proper brew. (all the ones prior are the instant variety) I suspect that overdosing my body with caffeine generally burns it out at the end of the day, thus not giving me enough energy to catch a few pages. Must find some time to finish the darn thing!
*****
And speaking of time... some new found friends of mine are going surfing this weekend and have asked me to tag along. They know I don't surf but also know I don't mind. Apparently, the person who introduced me to all these people isn't coming so I'm practically going with people that I don't know that well. In a past life, I wouldn't even consider going, but the prospect of getting some time off and being left alone is quite attractive for my reading and writing backlog.
Well, I haven't really said yes just yet, but am seriously considering it. I've nothing planned for the weekend except for the dinner that Tatcee will owe me (yes dear, 2 more days!) and that's on Sunday, just when the group plans to come back. The only hindrance that comes to mind is the cost. I estimate that I would need to spend around Php1,000 for the trip including meals, not that big an amount but am closely monitoring my spending no thanks to my credit card bills. I've got until tomorrow to decide, hopefully I'll know by then.
*****
Oh, and by the way, the person who put me down as reference is the recent ex.
Dealing with Dinosaurs
I woke up this morning to find a dinosaur asleep on my couch. What the heck it was doing there, I still have trouble figuring out. Of course, I didn’t bother to disturb it, I would hate to have to clean up after it right before I left for the office. I left it alone in its slumber while I tiptoed my way around the house.
Having a dinosaur is kind of a hassle. You only need to imagine your pet iguana, then blow it out of normal proportion until its dump is the size of your refrigerator. Plus the fact that its appetite is a sight to behold, with a dump that big, can you imagine just how much chow it can gulp in less than a minute? Under normal circumstances, I would never ever let a dinosaur invade the privacy of my home, but since its already there, I guess I don’t have much of a choice.
A quick tip should you ever find myself in a similar situation, dinosaurs are not that easy to get rid of. They keep coming back and back because the warmth of your home is a necessity for its cold-blooded nature. The best way to get rid of a dinosaur is to strand it somewhere far far away then change the locks. Better yet, move to another apartment, these reptiles have a knack of being cagey and clingy.
Hmm, I got a message from the dinosaur. It would seem that it is hungry, and would like to open some food I have stocked. Though it would be my human right to say No and preserve the little means of sustenance that I have for myself, no one ever said No to a dinosaur before. I would not want to be the first.
Another hassle of having a dinosaur around is that you can’t really tell whether it is coming or going. For example, right now I don’t know if it would still be there when I get back home or has left the apartment in search of new prey. And when you do find it gone, you have to give it a week’s time before you can be sure that you have rid yourself (temporarily) of the beast.
Despite all the downsides of having a pet dinosaur, I can’t seem to extricate myself from such a precarious situation. I’m guessing the solution is quite simple, booby trap your apartment so that this thought-to-be-extinct creature gets a hint, but I just can’t find it in me to do so. Well anyway, as with all the challenges thrown my way, I’ll probably be learning how to deal with such a pre-historic bother for a few days to come.
Having a dinosaur is kind of a hassle. You only need to imagine your pet iguana, then blow it out of normal proportion until its dump is the size of your refrigerator. Plus the fact that its appetite is a sight to behold, with a dump that big, can you imagine just how much chow it can gulp in less than a minute? Under normal circumstances, I would never ever let a dinosaur invade the privacy of my home, but since its already there, I guess I don’t have much of a choice.
A quick tip should you ever find myself in a similar situation, dinosaurs are not that easy to get rid of. They keep coming back and back because the warmth of your home is a necessity for its cold-blooded nature. The best way to get rid of a dinosaur is to strand it somewhere far far away then change the locks. Better yet, move to another apartment, these reptiles have a knack of being cagey and clingy.
Hmm, I got a message from the dinosaur. It would seem that it is hungry, and would like to open some food I have stocked. Though it would be my human right to say No and preserve the little means of sustenance that I have for myself, no one ever said No to a dinosaur before. I would not want to be the first.
Another hassle of having a dinosaur around is that you can’t really tell whether it is coming or going. For example, right now I don’t know if it would still be there when I get back home or has left the apartment in search of new prey. And when you do find it gone, you have to give it a week’s time before you can be sure that you have rid yourself (temporarily) of the beast.
Despite all the downsides of having a pet dinosaur, I can’t seem to extricate myself from such a precarious situation. I’m guessing the solution is quite simple, booby trap your apartment so that this thought-to-be-extinct creature gets a hint, but I just can’t find it in me to do so. Well anyway, as with all the challenges thrown my way, I’ll probably be learning how to deal with such a pre-historic bother for a few days to come.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Drunken Anthropology
Had a late night last night, one which extended till the morning. Actually got home with the sun on my back. Rats. However, I was able to resist the temptation of alcohol despite a lot of bottles sitting right in front of me. I should be proud of myself!
So I woke up sluggish for work. Well, nothing new there, except that this time it was 10am, pretty late considering that call time at the office is at eight. Well, quite alright, I did put in a lot of hours at the office the past two weeks and figured they kinda owed me this laziness. I finally got going right before the lunch hour and had my usual breakfast along the expressway. Pretty irresponsible start to the Wednesday, I guess.
*****
I bought some onions and garlic last Monday on my way home from the business trip up north. This was garlic and onion country, after all and saw it fit to buy two garlands of garlic and half a kilogram of red onions. This wasn't the kind of produce that I usually pick up at the supermarket as these were quite fresh and they didn't stick in that rotten one as they do with the pre-packed ones that I always get. I got home and sauteed for myself some canned tuna for dinner. Nice.
*****
Now for some fun, since I've stopped drinking, I've started to observe people who drink around me. I particularly watch out for that point when they transcend the boundaries of being buzzed to being drunk. Turns out this is not so easily spotted, but watching the subject intently, you'll realize that exact moment comes so suddenly. Take loud-mouth for example, his voice changes to a raspier tone and higher pitch, and the volume increases, not to mention the amount of words he belts out without his noticing it. Then there's hand-gesture guy, you'll be able to gauge the specific alcohol content by the magnitude his hand gestures. Over beer time, he seems like a fascist dictator delivering a speech with all gusto. Pretty remarkable is quiet-guy, his voice lowers and fades to a whisper until you don't hear from him at all unless spoken directly to. But my favorite would have to be Don-Juan-guy, his game goes up a notch with every additional bottle over and above his saturation point.
Note that these observations were culled on a single weekend, imagine what discoveries I may uncover in the coming weeks ahead! The only problem is that I may soon lose this opportunity. My friends have already accused me of treason, and have threatened not to invite me to their regular stops and watering holes. I must admit, it does seem quite awkward to be drinking around some non-drinker. If I had been in their shoes, I would probably have threatened likewise. This gives me motivation to find new friends (or subjects) to observe and study. But where do I find them?
According to the Discovery Channel, most beasts will most likely wander around a watering hole. However, thanks to my experience from last weekend, it is worth noting that you need to stay a distance from these animals as they might perceive you as a threat and either distance themselves from you or charge right at you. Either does my research no good. I have to develop a strategy to get close to them without posing myself as a threat or an outsider. I've thought of hiding behind a bottle of beer myself but this is way dangerous given my alcoholic tendencies. The best I've come up with so far is to pretend I'm on anti-biotics, the perfect excuse not to drink. This should afford me a great opportunity to live amongst my subjects without arousing any suspicions.
Next on the agenda, which species do I stalk? Preferably, the opposite sex is the ideal target. However, thanks to a lifetime of trying, I conclude that these species are quite elusive and, let's face it, way way smarter than I. But there is a way to get around this, by applying the law of averages. How's that, you ask? By approaching a mixed group of both species, the collective IQ level thus evens out when mob mentality is introduced. Probably the perfect opportunity to stalk your prey. This would also give me a great source of data to work with, having a mixed species to observe. I should be able to arrive at a working conclusion in no time given such an ideal situation.
To be able to conduct this study, however, I realize that I should be equipped with enough resources. Judging from my current cash flow, I am in need of a sponsor. Of course, being a sponsor entitles someone to share the credit with me on this thesis. I totally don't mind, as long as my name is first. I foresee this study to be of great importance to society, possibly changing the way that it functions as well as impacting it much the same way Darwin's findings on the theory of evolution did.
I wonder, how do I sign up for the Nobel Prize?
So I woke up sluggish for work. Well, nothing new there, except that this time it was 10am, pretty late considering that call time at the office is at eight. Well, quite alright, I did put in a lot of hours at the office the past two weeks and figured they kinda owed me this laziness. I finally got going right before the lunch hour and had my usual breakfast along the expressway. Pretty irresponsible start to the Wednesday, I guess.
*****
I bought some onions and garlic last Monday on my way home from the business trip up north. This was garlic and onion country, after all and saw it fit to buy two garlands of garlic and half a kilogram of red onions. This wasn't the kind of produce that I usually pick up at the supermarket as these were quite fresh and they didn't stick in that rotten one as they do with the pre-packed ones that I always get. I got home and sauteed for myself some canned tuna for dinner. Nice.
*****
Now for some fun, since I've stopped drinking, I've started to observe people who drink around me. I particularly watch out for that point when they transcend the boundaries of being buzzed to being drunk. Turns out this is not so easily spotted, but watching the subject intently, you'll realize that exact moment comes so suddenly. Take loud-mouth for example, his voice changes to a raspier tone and higher pitch, and the volume increases, not to mention the amount of words he belts out without his noticing it. Then there's hand-gesture guy, you'll be able to gauge the specific alcohol content by the magnitude his hand gestures. Over beer time, he seems like a fascist dictator delivering a speech with all gusto. Pretty remarkable is quiet-guy, his voice lowers and fades to a whisper until you don't hear from him at all unless spoken directly to. But my favorite would have to be Don-Juan-guy, his game goes up a notch with every additional bottle over and above his saturation point.
Note that these observations were culled on a single weekend, imagine what discoveries I may uncover in the coming weeks ahead! The only problem is that I may soon lose this opportunity. My friends have already accused me of treason, and have threatened not to invite me to their regular stops and watering holes. I must admit, it does seem quite awkward to be drinking around some non-drinker. If I had been in their shoes, I would probably have threatened likewise. This gives me motivation to find new friends (or subjects) to observe and study. But where do I find them?
According to the Discovery Channel, most beasts will most likely wander around a watering hole. However, thanks to my experience from last weekend, it is worth noting that you need to stay a distance from these animals as they might perceive you as a threat and either distance themselves from you or charge right at you. Either does my research no good. I have to develop a strategy to get close to them without posing myself as a threat or an outsider. I've thought of hiding behind a bottle of beer myself but this is way dangerous given my alcoholic tendencies. The best I've come up with so far is to pretend I'm on anti-biotics, the perfect excuse not to drink. This should afford me a great opportunity to live amongst my subjects without arousing any suspicions.
Next on the agenda, which species do I stalk? Preferably, the opposite sex is the ideal target. However, thanks to a lifetime of trying, I conclude that these species are quite elusive and, let's face it, way way smarter than I. But there is a way to get around this, by applying the law of averages. How's that, you ask? By approaching a mixed group of both species, the collective IQ level thus evens out when mob mentality is introduced. Probably the perfect opportunity to stalk your prey. This would also give me a great source of data to work with, having a mixed species to observe. I should be able to arrive at a working conclusion in no time given such an ideal situation.
To be able to conduct this study, however, I realize that I should be equipped with enough resources. Judging from my current cash flow, I am in need of a sponsor. Of course, being a sponsor entitles someone to share the credit with me on this thesis. I totally don't mind, as long as my name is first. I foresee this study to be of great importance to society, possibly changing the way that it functions as well as impacting it much the same way Darwin's findings on the theory of evolution did.
I wonder, how do I sign up for the Nobel Prize?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
The Disappearing Act
My contribution to Tova's 'awkward' game:
A week before graduating from high school, during a lull from graduation practices, my friends and I decided to spend a weekend out of town. We were headed for different universities and thought spending a last weekend of fun together was a fitting highlight for our memories of high school. We cramped ourselves in our friend's SUV and drove to the ridge of Taal Volcano (smallest volcano in the world, I think). We checked-in, opting for a room with a view, but owing to our meager resources, signed in only 4 people while actually being 5 in the group. We figured we'd just sneak the other person in and no one would notice.
We had it all planned out, should room service or any of the hotel's staff come knocking at our door, one of us (that would be me) would hide himself somewhere out of sight, thus preserving our 'discount'. I checked around the room, looking for the best hiding place. Turns out just outside the glass window was a ledge that was perfect for the purpose. I would just jump out of the window and sit on the ledge until the coast was clear. I purposely left the window open and tried this technique out a couple of times with much success. Pleased, we had all settled in and started with our under-age drinking session.
Eventually, we ran out of beer and had dialed room service for another round of booze. Anticipating my diappearing act, I took a leak just in case my exile on the ledge would take a while longer than expected and came back ready for action. After 5 minutes or so, the expected knock on the door came and I immediately sprang to action. With a chair conveniently set in place as my launching pad, I leapt at full speed for the window expecting to vanish to the other side.
Splat!
As it turned out, the sliding glass window was shut. The window was so clean that I didn't notice the difference until after my face was flattened by the tempered glass. I bounced back onto the floor and while still dazed and wondering what went wrong, my friends were in shock for precisely 5 seconds before bursting in laughter. At that point the knocking came again and I immediately gathered my bearings and slid open the window, disappearing to the ledge.
While I was in the restroom, one of my friends thought it wise to slide the window shut lest the cool air from the a/c escape. Climbing back into the room, all four of them were still rolling on the floor laughing, and while sliding the window back into place, I could make out a portrait of my face on the glass, locked in a grimace of pain.
Through the years, my friends never made me forget this story and has found it a convenient ice-breaker to tell all their other friends. I on the other hand, have learned never to clean my windows too well.
A week before graduating from high school, during a lull from graduation practices, my friends and I decided to spend a weekend out of town. We were headed for different universities and thought spending a last weekend of fun together was a fitting highlight for our memories of high school. We cramped ourselves in our friend's SUV and drove to the ridge of Taal Volcano (smallest volcano in the world, I think). We checked-in, opting for a room with a view, but owing to our meager resources, signed in only 4 people while actually being 5 in the group. We figured we'd just sneak the other person in and no one would notice.
We had it all planned out, should room service or any of the hotel's staff come knocking at our door, one of us (that would be me) would hide himself somewhere out of sight, thus preserving our 'discount'. I checked around the room, looking for the best hiding place. Turns out just outside the glass window was a ledge that was perfect for the purpose. I would just jump out of the window and sit on the ledge until the coast was clear. I purposely left the window open and tried this technique out a couple of times with much success. Pleased, we had all settled in and started with our under-age drinking session.
Eventually, we ran out of beer and had dialed room service for another round of booze. Anticipating my diappearing act, I took a leak just in case my exile on the ledge would take a while longer than expected and came back ready for action. After 5 minutes or so, the expected knock on the door came and I immediately sprang to action. With a chair conveniently set in place as my launching pad, I leapt at full speed for the window expecting to vanish to the other side.
Splat!
As it turned out, the sliding glass window was shut. The window was so clean that I didn't notice the difference until after my face was flattened by the tempered glass. I bounced back onto the floor and while still dazed and wondering what went wrong, my friends were in shock for precisely 5 seconds before bursting in laughter. At that point the knocking came again and I immediately gathered my bearings and slid open the window, disappearing to the ledge.
While I was in the restroom, one of my friends thought it wise to slide the window shut lest the cool air from the a/c escape. Climbing back into the room, all four of them were still rolling on the floor laughing, and while sliding the window back into place, I could make out a portrait of my face on the glass, locked in a grimace of pain.
Through the years, my friends never made me forget this story and has found it a convenient ice-breaker to tell all their other friends. I on the other hand, have learned never to clean my windows too well.
Car wash blues
Okay I'm sober now. Have been for more than a week. RJ asked me the other night til how long I plan to be sober. I told her for good, though now that I think about it, I guess that would be a tad bit difficult given that I surrounded myself with weekend drinkers. (Including a spattering of alcoholics, I might add)Archie proposes that instead of quitting alcohol altogether, why not try to control it? Well, tried that and it just doesn't work. How does the saying go, 'like a fat kid to a doughnut'?
Truth is, I just don't have too much confidence in my self discipline once I get started. A beer seems innocent enough, but after you've tried it, you just need to have that second bottle. Then you'll want more, of course, and announce that it's your last. Yeah right, you're sure it's your last, after that next bottle. Then your addition skills go bonkers and soon you'd lose count. But who's counting anyway? Now you're a blabbering idiot who just can't stay away from the bottle.
I figure that total abstinence from alcohol is the best approach to this. This way, there's no first step to begin with. Well, hope this works!
*****
It's raining. The humidity here feels like it's in the 300% region. Not much of a problem though it does feel kinda sticky. In contrast with this morning, the sun was a real scorcher. Just lighting a cigarette while in the shade, I could feel the sun's heat boring down on me, weighing me down and forcing me to discard the cigarette halfway through and seek the cool embrace of the air-conditioning.
I remember something my mom always concluded, that the hotter the mornings, the more chances of rain in the afternoon. I've always wondered if there was a science behind it or a mystic force that not everybody understood. Well, today she's proven right once again. Actually, it does happen quite a lot during this time of the year. Guess she's on to something.
*****
Had a massage last night. It was the first time I tried the home service massage that some of my friends have recommended. To tell you the truth, I have no idea if it was good or bad, but I woke up late this morning despite going to bed early, I guess it was quite relaxing.
The masseuse was a petite girl, yet her touch was quite heavy for her size. Guess she's strong or I'm a real wimp. Whatever the case, it did seem to relax me though I had to ask her to ease up a little on certain occasions.
So will I be doing this on a regular basis? Probably not. Despite the convenience, I am not a fan of massages. My idea of a relaxing time is just plopping myself on the sofa with the remote in hand. Of course, there's also a good book or a dvd. Notice physical exertion is absent from this list, unless its....
*****
It's a boring Tuesday, not much going on. Well, there's a lot to do in the office but after my weekly meeting with the bosses, decided to let my mind take the afternoon off while I searched the net for just about anything that comes to mind. I did have to do some work late in the afternoon, though as I had a 4pm appointment with a client. It went well, I think and so here I am at the gas station juicing up my laptop and using their free wi-fi.
Out of boredom, struck up a conversation with a driver who was seated at my favorite table by the power outlet. I found it convenient to befriend the sucker as I could position myself at the only available outlet at the station. He was alright, didn't mind that I heaped my laptop, coffee, food and certain other items on the table while he occupied the smallest of spaces. He just came from Naga City, around 300 or so kilometers away and was resting before making his final push to Manila. He was driving for a couple of med graduates who were reviewing for the board exams. Tomorrow he makes the journey back.
It struck me that with my love of driving to far away places, this could be an alternative career of mine. The only downside is that I have no control over when and where I stop. Not worth it. I love wasting time on the road, and with some backseat drivers pestering me it just wouldn't be any fun.
*****
Am thinking of washing the car tonight. Not necessarily by myself, there are a lot of all day carwash joints in the area which I could choose from. But with the boredom I am currently engulfed in, I might as well have a hand in it.
Unlike car enthusiasts, I find it a bit ironic that while I love driving, I hate washing the car. When I learned how to drive, my dad had this condition that if I wanted to drive, I should wash the car everyday. Well, guess what that did for me in the present. Now I disdain washing the car and find it another of the many forms of torture known to man.
This attitude of mine used to tick off my dad, and now my boss has the same feeling as well. I reason that I simply don't have the time from working and commuting to and from work. She on the other hand, has a driver who takes care of that for her, no fair. Each time she brings automotive hygiene up, I ask for a driver of my own, to which she scoffs and rules it out altogether, thus justifying my laziness.
So why don't I visit the carwash more often if I'm too lazy to do it myself? It costs money, better spent on a cheeseburger or dimsum. And the office doesn't reimburse said amount back to me, another of my little demands which of course merits scoffing at. Okay okay, out of sheer boredom, I'm doing the deed tonight, promise!
Truth is, I just don't have too much confidence in my self discipline once I get started. A beer seems innocent enough, but after you've tried it, you just need to have that second bottle. Then you'll want more, of course, and announce that it's your last. Yeah right, you're sure it's your last, after that next bottle. Then your addition skills go bonkers and soon you'd lose count. But who's counting anyway? Now you're a blabbering idiot who just can't stay away from the bottle.
I figure that total abstinence from alcohol is the best approach to this. This way, there's no first step to begin with. Well, hope this works!
*****
It's raining. The humidity here feels like it's in the 300% region. Not much of a problem though it does feel kinda sticky. In contrast with this morning, the sun was a real scorcher. Just lighting a cigarette while in the shade, I could feel the sun's heat boring down on me, weighing me down and forcing me to discard the cigarette halfway through and seek the cool embrace of the air-conditioning.
I remember something my mom always concluded, that the hotter the mornings, the more chances of rain in the afternoon. I've always wondered if there was a science behind it or a mystic force that not everybody understood. Well, today she's proven right once again. Actually, it does happen quite a lot during this time of the year. Guess she's on to something.
*****
Had a massage last night. It was the first time I tried the home service massage that some of my friends have recommended. To tell you the truth, I have no idea if it was good or bad, but I woke up late this morning despite going to bed early, I guess it was quite relaxing.
The masseuse was a petite girl, yet her touch was quite heavy for her size. Guess she's strong or I'm a real wimp. Whatever the case, it did seem to relax me though I had to ask her to ease up a little on certain occasions.
So will I be doing this on a regular basis? Probably not. Despite the convenience, I am not a fan of massages. My idea of a relaxing time is just plopping myself on the sofa with the remote in hand. Of course, there's also a good book or a dvd. Notice physical exertion is absent from this list, unless its....
*****
It's a boring Tuesday, not much going on. Well, there's a lot to do in the office but after my weekly meeting with the bosses, decided to let my mind take the afternoon off while I searched the net for just about anything that comes to mind. I did have to do some work late in the afternoon, though as I had a 4pm appointment with a client. It went well, I think and so here I am at the gas station juicing up my laptop and using their free wi-fi.
Out of boredom, struck up a conversation with a driver who was seated at my favorite table by the power outlet. I found it convenient to befriend the sucker as I could position myself at the only available outlet at the station. He was alright, didn't mind that I heaped my laptop, coffee, food and certain other items on the table while he occupied the smallest of spaces. He just came from Naga City, around 300 or so kilometers away and was resting before making his final push to Manila. He was driving for a couple of med graduates who were reviewing for the board exams. Tomorrow he makes the journey back.
It struck me that with my love of driving to far away places, this could be an alternative career of mine. The only downside is that I have no control over when and where I stop. Not worth it. I love wasting time on the road, and with some backseat drivers pestering me it just wouldn't be any fun.
*****
Am thinking of washing the car tonight. Not necessarily by myself, there are a lot of all day carwash joints in the area which I could choose from. But with the boredom I am currently engulfed in, I might as well have a hand in it.
Unlike car enthusiasts, I find it a bit ironic that while I love driving, I hate washing the car. When I learned how to drive, my dad had this condition that if I wanted to drive, I should wash the car everyday. Well, guess what that did for me in the present. Now I disdain washing the car and find it another of the many forms of torture known to man.
This attitude of mine used to tick off my dad, and now my boss has the same feeling as well. I reason that I simply don't have the time from working and commuting to and from work. She on the other hand, has a driver who takes care of that for her, no fair. Each time she brings automotive hygiene up, I ask for a driver of my own, to which she scoffs and rules it out altogether, thus justifying my laziness.
So why don't I visit the carwash more often if I'm too lazy to do it myself? It costs money, better spent on a cheeseburger or dimsum. And the office doesn't reimburse said amount back to me, another of my little demands which of course merits scoffing at. Okay okay, out of sheer boredom, I'm doing the deed tonight, promise!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Staying Alive
I feel like celebrating! And no, alcohol is not involved.
Went on a long drive today to visit two potential clients. Got it! Convinced a competitor’s big account to switch to our company, am humming a nice melody on the drive home.
The day started out quite slow, woke up at around 4am and got my things together, including the post dated checks that I dropped off with the guard for my landlord. Wanted to be off by 5am, to steer clear of the school buses and hundreds of kids making their way to school. Of course that didn’t happen, I left the house at around 6am and had to gas up before anything else. Quite surprisingly, it was already pretty bright out by this time so it was a less stressful drive for the most part.
I was a bit hesitant to get on the SCTEx, site of the unfortunate rim-breaking events of the new year, but with classes starting and students lining both sides of the national highway, I didn’t have much of a choice. I nursed the car throughout the northern stretch of the highway and was quite pleased that it turned out uneventfully.
So I’m on the national highway, and by the time I got to Pangasinan, I had my doubts if I still remembered the way to the dam. Yes, the potential client was the dam, that which half a decade ago I was organizing protest rallies against. Talk about selling out. Turned out I still remembered parts of the way, but for some forks and intersections I had to rely on general directions and some strategically placed markers pointing in the direction of the adjacent town. I was still making good time, though, and was more or less relaxed while watching out for chickens, cows and goats crossing the roads. Got there right on time, and had a nice little conversation with their representative. No, this isn’t the great part yet.
Since I was way ahead of schedule, decided to take the more scenic, albeit traffic infested way back. It was alright, got a chance to drive through memory lane and note the changes that happened in the span of 6 years. The place wasn’t the same one that I wandered and lived in years ago, but of course, a lot of things still felt the same.
By the time I got back on the SCTEx, I was right on schedule and had to hurry up a bit. So I skipped my usual coffee and jumped right on the highway. This was a bad move, halfway through the highway I suddenly woke up and realized that I was a bit sleepy after my lunch. Uh-oh, at the wheel while doing 90kph with my eyes shut wasn’t really ideal any which way you looked at it. Opened all the windows, got the radio blaring (Michael Bolton was crooning, guess that hadn’t changed in this part of the region as well) and lit a cigarette. Short of slapping myself every minute or so, this was the best insurance that I could think of. Well it worked, and got my ass to Clark on time, and very much alive.
Picked up an office mate of mine on the way to the next client, needed some back-up for this job. Went there, listened and heard those sweet words: “Yes, you may start in August.” Ahh…
So how do I celebrate? Got myself a coffee at the nearest gas station. Being alive is all the celebrating I need right now.
Went on a long drive today to visit two potential clients. Got it! Convinced a competitor’s big account to switch to our company, am humming a nice melody on the drive home.
The day started out quite slow, woke up at around 4am and got my things together, including the post dated checks that I dropped off with the guard for my landlord. Wanted to be off by 5am, to steer clear of the school buses and hundreds of kids making their way to school. Of course that didn’t happen, I left the house at around 6am and had to gas up before anything else. Quite surprisingly, it was already pretty bright out by this time so it was a less stressful drive for the most part.
I was a bit hesitant to get on the SCTEx, site of the unfortunate rim-breaking events of the new year, but with classes starting and students lining both sides of the national highway, I didn’t have much of a choice. I nursed the car throughout the northern stretch of the highway and was quite pleased that it turned out uneventfully.
So I’m on the national highway, and by the time I got to Pangasinan, I had my doubts if I still remembered the way to the dam. Yes, the potential client was the dam, that which half a decade ago I was organizing protest rallies against. Talk about selling out. Turned out I still remembered parts of the way, but for some forks and intersections I had to rely on general directions and some strategically placed markers pointing in the direction of the adjacent town. I was still making good time, though, and was more or less relaxed while watching out for chickens, cows and goats crossing the roads. Got there right on time, and had a nice little conversation with their representative. No, this isn’t the great part yet.
Since I was way ahead of schedule, decided to take the more scenic, albeit traffic infested way back. It was alright, got a chance to drive through memory lane and note the changes that happened in the span of 6 years. The place wasn’t the same one that I wandered and lived in years ago, but of course, a lot of things still felt the same.
By the time I got back on the SCTEx, I was right on schedule and had to hurry up a bit. So I skipped my usual coffee and jumped right on the highway. This was a bad move, halfway through the highway I suddenly woke up and realized that I was a bit sleepy after my lunch. Uh-oh, at the wheel while doing 90kph with my eyes shut wasn’t really ideal any which way you looked at it. Opened all the windows, got the radio blaring (Michael Bolton was crooning, guess that hadn’t changed in this part of the region as well) and lit a cigarette. Short of slapping myself every minute or so, this was the best insurance that I could think of. Well it worked, and got my ass to Clark on time, and very much alive.
Picked up an office mate of mine on the way to the next client, needed some back-up for this job. Went there, listened and heard those sweet words: “Yes, you may start in August.” Ahh…
So how do I celebrate? Got myself a coffee at the nearest gas station. Being alive is all the celebrating I need right now.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Driving with the Sound of Silence
For several years back in college, I drove a car that didn't have the benefit of a radio. A few years after I got a job, I was able to buy a second hand unit and this went well until a year after, when that radio went kaput in the big storm that sunk my car. That meant a few more years of driving in silence. Now the office gave me another car and this time it did have a radio, but the thing is that after a few months of tinkering and playing that radio to my heart's content, I now find myself getting comfortable with not turning the radio on.
There's just something about silence while driving alone that gives me satisfaction. Maybe it's just that I am able to meditate on the road, or it's more relaxing that way. I'm not quite certain, but I do feel a lot better about the silence in the car. Oh, and if you're thinking of a few minutes commute to the office and back, well that's just not the case. I live about 40 odd kilometers from the office, that means an hour commute on a good day and double that on those particularly rotten, traffic-infested nightmare. A lot of people I know can't even sit still for that long a time, and yet I am happily thinking a lot of thoughts to myself even in the midst of the heaviest of gridlocks.
Maybe its a psychotic defect of mine, or maybe old age. I can't stand the 'noise' of the radio, specially those long lulls in the programming when the deejay just rambles on and on about some topic that they decided to blabber about. Then you switch to the next station and the people there similarly decided to ramble. It's a conspiracy, I tell you.
Mondays are specially problematic. These people just talk and talk for 20 minutes at a time when all you want is to hear some song. I brought CD's into the car for that purpose, but then you soon get tired of the same old songs and want to hear something new that you never heard before.
Well, that's not a problem when you turn off the radio. It's just you and your thoughts, and of course the hum of the road underneath your tires. This is what I enjoy specially on those long drives of mine.
*****
Speaking of long drives, I've got one coming up on Monday. Going north up to Pangasinan to visit a prospective client, a 6 hour adventure. I can't wait to sample the highway there once again. I'm thinking of burning a special road trip CD for that purpose but with my 'procrastinative' tendencies I doubt if I'll ever get to do that at all.
There's just something about silence while driving alone that gives me satisfaction. Maybe it's just that I am able to meditate on the road, or it's more relaxing that way. I'm not quite certain, but I do feel a lot better about the silence in the car. Oh, and if you're thinking of a few minutes commute to the office and back, well that's just not the case. I live about 40 odd kilometers from the office, that means an hour commute on a good day and double that on those particularly rotten, traffic-infested nightmare. A lot of people I know can't even sit still for that long a time, and yet I am happily thinking a lot of thoughts to myself even in the midst of the heaviest of gridlocks.
Maybe its a psychotic defect of mine, or maybe old age. I can't stand the 'noise' of the radio, specially those long lulls in the programming when the deejay just rambles on and on about some topic that they decided to blabber about. Then you switch to the next station and the people there similarly decided to ramble. It's a conspiracy, I tell you.
Mondays are specially problematic. These people just talk and talk for 20 minutes at a time when all you want is to hear some song. I brought CD's into the car for that purpose, but then you soon get tired of the same old songs and want to hear something new that you never heard before.
Well, that's not a problem when you turn off the radio. It's just you and your thoughts, and of course the hum of the road underneath your tires. This is what I enjoy specially on those long drives of mine.
*****
Speaking of long drives, I've got one coming up on Monday. Going north up to Pangasinan to visit a prospective client, a 6 hour adventure. I can't wait to sample the highway there once again. I'm thinking of burning a special road trip CD for that purpose but with my 'procrastinative' tendencies I doubt if I'll ever get to do that at all.
Bye bye Chipmunks
Back in college, my last semester saw me on a non-airconditioned bus to the province. I was to spend roughly 4 months there, working for a non-government organization as part of the requirements for me to graduate. The village I was assigned to was deep in the ricefields, without running water, electricity, plumbing or decent roads. Each day I was there, I walked for hours to get to the adjacent barangay. It was typhoon season, interspersed with scorchingly hot days. On one occasion I almost drowned crossing a flooded river, on another got burned to the point of dehydration. Well, I survived, good for me.
One of my foster families there holds a special place in my heart. I lived at their house for a couple of days at a time and each time each time they had a lot of fun teaching me the local dialect (Ilokano). During lulls in our activities, they showed me how to gut a goat, plant rice, irrigate the fields and walked with me to discover new short cuts to the next town by foot. They always had a good laugh whenever I tried to speak their dialect, and I always had to try because no one there spoke Filipino, the national language save for maybe 5 people.
After 4 months, I can say that I really got close to them, and them to me. I visited their village for the last time and they gave me a present, a white polo shirt with little chipmunks all over it. I almost cried. This shirt was only worn by the village patriarch to special occasions such as weddings, his daugter's graduation and the like. So imagine the value that this person placed on this animated shirt, and he was giving it to me.
I got home to Manila, wearing the chipmunk shirt. As soon as my sister laid eyes on it, she rolled on the floor laughing. Why were chipmunks all over my shirt? I realized that these rodents did seem odd, but I still wore it anyway. It was my lucky shirt of sorts, I wore it to school and when I landed a job, donned those chipmunks every Tuesday, I think.
Then there came a time when I couldn't wear it anymore because I had grown fat and it wouldn't fit. I lovingly folded it up and kept it in the closet. Years would pass before I rediscovered the shirt, still folded neatly though already discolored with age and reeking of mothballs. Out of curiosity I tried it on again, apparently is now fits me, though sadly the discoloration and some holes made by moths have made it unfashionable to say the least. I folded it and returned it back into the closet, saying good bye to the chipmunks and all the lovely memories that they brought.
One of my foster families there holds a special place in my heart. I lived at their house for a couple of days at a time and each time each time they had a lot of fun teaching me the local dialect (Ilokano). During lulls in our activities, they showed me how to gut a goat, plant rice, irrigate the fields and walked with me to discover new short cuts to the next town by foot. They always had a good laugh whenever I tried to speak their dialect, and I always had to try because no one there spoke Filipino, the national language save for maybe 5 people.
After 4 months, I can say that I really got close to them, and them to me. I visited their village for the last time and they gave me a present, a white polo shirt with little chipmunks all over it. I almost cried. This shirt was only worn by the village patriarch to special occasions such as weddings, his daugter's graduation and the like. So imagine the value that this person placed on this animated shirt, and he was giving it to me.
I got home to Manila, wearing the chipmunk shirt. As soon as my sister laid eyes on it, she rolled on the floor laughing. Why were chipmunks all over my shirt? I realized that these rodents did seem odd, but I still wore it anyway. It was my lucky shirt of sorts, I wore it to school and when I landed a job, donned those chipmunks every Tuesday, I think.
Then there came a time when I couldn't wear it anymore because I had grown fat and it wouldn't fit. I lovingly folded it up and kept it in the closet. Years would pass before I rediscovered the shirt, still folded neatly though already discolored with age and reeking of mothballs. Out of curiosity I tried it on again, apparently is now fits me, though sadly the discoloration and some holes made by moths have made it unfashionable to say the least. I folded it and returned it back into the closet, saying good bye to the chipmunks and all the lovely memories that they brought.
Life and Death of an Icon
It feels a bit funny, icons that seemed immortal during my younger years now feeble and old, or dead. For my generation, Michael Jackson for example seemed ageless. My nickname was taken from a song that he and his siblings sang back in the late seventies, and every kid back then was familiar more or less with the 'moonwalk'. Then there's former president Cory Aquino who in 1986 was destined for the history books. We grew up having to listen to 'Reagan-omics' on the news and watched Lino Brocka films whenever I helped my mom carry stuff from the wet market.
Death or illness seems like a byword when you become an adult. But can you remember the first time that you were shocked with news of the death of a significant figure in history? I've been thinking back to that time and I guess that person for me was Annie.
Who is Annie? I don't know either. But I never failed to go straight home from school to watch her show. She played the sidekick of Alex, who transformed through cosmic powers into Shaider, battling overgrown monsters sent by aliens out to conquer Earth (Or Japan, these aliens always sent their monsters to Japan, exclusively to Alex's hometown). Now I'm sure Annie suddenly feels all too familiar.
Well actually, I'm not sure if she's dead. Back in elementary school, the rumor that Annie was dead came as a shock to all those pre-teen boys who always hurriedly came home to see if they could catch a short glimpse of Annie's underwear. The initial reaction? That we wouldn't be able to watch 'Shaider', nor Annie's underpanties again. That would be something more earth shattering than having alien monsters taking over the planet! So that day we all ran back to our living rooms and were relieved to find Annie still jumping over the cameras, doing somersaults and revealing her yellow or brown panties for all little boys to see. She would go on assisting Alex in their adventures for a few more years before the show went off the air entirely.
Then, the mysterious Annie became resurrected in high school, this time on the pages of a Japanese girly magazine. Of course no one in our class could read Nippongo, so we didn't really know if she was the famous sidekick. What mattered was that she was the spitting image of Annie, and that she did not have anything on. By the way, this isn't proof that Annie lives, it was an old magazine, years old. Probably around the time after the Shaider series was shot.
Fast forward to today, specifically 5 minutes ago. Of course I googled Annie. Found out she is a J-porn actress, still very much alive, yippee! Of course, the challenge of having to watch Shaider for a glimpse of her underwear is gone if and when I do get hold of any of her recent porn flicks. Sadly though, Alex is dead. Apparently, liver cancer did him in. Wonder who's taking care of the monsters now.
Yes, icons will die eventually, but the important thing is that we always remember them for what they did and what they stood up for. I know I'll always keep Annie in my mind. Time Space Warp, ngayon din!
Postscript:
So Zaido was descended from Shaider? Interesting...
Death or illness seems like a byword when you become an adult. But can you remember the first time that you were shocked with news of the death of a significant figure in history? I've been thinking back to that time and I guess that person for me was Annie.
Who is Annie? I don't know either. But I never failed to go straight home from school to watch her show. She played the sidekick of Alex, who transformed through cosmic powers into Shaider, battling overgrown monsters sent by aliens out to conquer Earth (Or Japan, these aliens always sent their monsters to Japan, exclusively to Alex's hometown). Now I'm sure Annie suddenly feels all too familiar.
Well actually, I'm not sure if she's dead. Back in elementary school, the rumor that Annie was dead came as a shock to all those pre-teen boys who always hurriedly came home to see if they could catch a short glimpse of Annie's underwear. The initial reaction? That we wouldn't be able to watch 'Shaider', nor Annie's underpanties again. That would be something more earth shattering than having alien monsters taking over the planet! So that day we all ran back to our living rooms and were relieved to find Annie still jumping over the cameras, doing somersaults and revealing her yellow or brown panties for all little boys to see. She would go on assisting Alex in their adventures for a few more years before the show went off the air entirely.
Then, the mysterious Annie became resurrected in high school, this time on the pages of a Japanese girly magazine. Of course no one in our class could read Nippongo, so we didn't really know if she was the famous sidekick. What mattered was that she was the spitting image of Annie, and that she did not have anything on. By the way, this isn't proof that Annie lives, it was an old magazine, years old. Probably around the time after the Shaider series was shot.
Fast forward to today, specifically 5 minutes ago. Of course I googled Annie. Found out she is a J-porn actress, still very much alive, yippee! Of course, the challenge of having to watch Shaider for a glimpse of her underwear is gone if and when I do get hold of any of her recent porn flicks. Sadly though, Alex is dead. Apparently, liver cancer did him in. Wonder who's taking care of the monsters now.
Yes, icons will die eventually, but the important thing is that we always remember them for what they did and what they stood up for. I know I'll always keep Annie in my mind. Time Space Warp, ngayon din!
Postscript:
So Zaido was descended from Shaider? Interesting...
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Solstice
This past week, I've been amazed at how early the sun has been rising and how late it has been setting. Solstice. The day is literally getting longer and longer, and this has been making me miserable for a variety of reasons.
For some reason, daytime has never held a soft spot in my heart. My mind seems to always be in disarray while the sun is up. Back in school, I've never been able to concentrate, most of my studying is done at night when no one else is awake. This is also the best time to be alone with my thoughts, such as a chess game or a good book. So imagine how distressed the longer days have been making me as of late. I also do best at work when preparing my reports in the wee hours of the early morning. By the time I get to the office, I'm reduced to the more mechanical aspects such as signing papers, getting people on the phone or stamping stuff.
In a way, the solstice is an excuse I have been making to justify why my mind is in such a boggle these days.
I imagine this is also a rotten time for vampires, werewolves, bats and other creatures of the night. They get less time to play, forage for food (Yes, I would imagine vampires are capable of foraging as well) and the prospect of staying out too late to face their doom is a very real possibility.
*****
Been playing a lot of scrabble lately, one of my latest fun discoveries on facebook. There's just something addictive about this game since I was a little kid, then again I also found chess to be a grand time, until the time that I knew Bernard.
Bernard is a smart kid who happens to be one of my closest friends back in high school. He liked chess as well and we'd spend many hours just playing with the old chessboard that we had back at home. Of course, him being the smarter of us (a LOT smarter, I might add), I don't think I ever won a game against him. That didn't stop me from playing though, up to the point when I'd curse and threaten him and throw the pieces all over the place.
Fortunately, this frustration of mine in chess didn't stop me from playing, and with that, losing as well. I soon realized that though I loved playing chess, I could never win against someone who had a more in depth knowledge of the science of chess. You see, I never bothered to memorize openings, much less know their names. That was the boring part. The fun that I experienced in chess is thinking, losing yourself in thought of the next 3 moves or so, the almost infinite possibilities. On computer chess, I'd pore hours on end just trying to predict the next moves. However, the competitive spirit just isn't in me, and I'd just as happily lose as long as I got to spend the better part of the game lost in my own thoughts.
Going back to scrabble, the same process is involved, only there are a much limited array of options available depending on the quality of the tiles that you have to play with. Probably the reason why I spend more and more hours at the gas station just thinking up the different possibilities for 7 vowels or 7 consonants that I happen to be stuck with.
I never bothered to publish the results of my games until today, yes I published at last. The reason? 404 points coming from back to back 'scrabbles'. Hmm, thinking about it, for 2 'scrabbles' 404 isn't really such a high score. But it was a real fun game that I played and I wanted to somehow 'immortalize' it by publishing it on my wall. (Oh yeah, like that's going to last)
*****
Bought a cookbook, a concise guide to cooking Filipino food. Though I do know how to cook I can't really say that I can whip up any of the traditional Filipino foods to the letter. To help me with this, I figured finally getting that cookbook and trying some of the recipes out should go a long way.
The problem now is when could I cook? Lately, between hanging out at gas stations, cleaning up after myself and getting myself to the office, I don't think I have time to prepare, saute, cook, simmer and eat any of these traditional fare. Filipino foods usually take a long time to prepare and cook. A good 2 hours is not that uncommon for a single dish. And to make matters even more complicated, local fare is best matched with steamed rice, which thanks to my no-carb diet is a no-no. So I'll either be paring down on the spices and taste or just substitute tofu for the rice.
*****
Hmm, thinking back to the current contents of my refrigerator, I haven't visited the local supermarket in quite a while. All that I have in the fridge are candies, mayonnaise, lots of water and juice. Seriously, there is hardly a morsel to eat at home. This explains my current diet of fried chicken from the nearby fastfood joint. Should I attempt to try out any of the dishes from my spanking new cookbook, I would need a visit to the grocer. Who has time for that?
*****
Finally, I've been seeing a reduction in my credit card bills. Have intentionally been avoiding paying with plastic for a good 3 months now and it's paying off. Though still a sizable sum by any standard, it has been cut in half almost, and I should be free from debt by the end of the year. Wait, funny I seem to remember having those same thoughts last year. What happened then? Oh right, I remember now. I still brought all my plastic and unavoidably used them for everything from gas to groceries. Even my coffee had to be charged. Surely not a very good idea when you want to rid yourself of all those pesky bills.
For some reason, daytime has never held a soft spot in my heart. My mind seems to always be in disarray while the sun is up. Back in school, I've never been able to concentrate, most of my studying is done at night when no one else is awake. This is also the best time to be alone with my thoughts, such as a chess game or a good book. So imagine how distressed the longer days have been making me as of late. I also do best at work when preparing my reports in the wee hours of the early morning. By the time I get to the office, I'm reduced to the more mechanical aspects such as signing papers, getting people on the phone or stamping stuff.
In a way, the solstice is an excuse I have been making to justify why my mind is in such a boggle these days.
I imagine this is also a rotten time for vampires, werewolves, bats and other creatures of the night. They get less time to play, forage for food (Yes, I would imagine vampires are capable of foraging as well) and the prospect of staying out too late to face their doom is a very real possibility.
*****
Been playing a lot of scrabble lately, one of my latest fun discoveries on facebook. There's just something addictive about this game since I was a little kid, then again I also found chess to be a grand time, until the time that I knew Bernard.
Bernard is a smart kid who happens to be one of my closest friends back in high school. He liked chess as well and we'd spend many hours just playing with the old chessboard that we had back at home. Of course, him being the smarter of us (a LOT smarter, I might add), I don't think I ever won a game against him. That didn't stop me from playing though, up to the point when I'd curse and threaten him and throw the pieces all over the place.
Fortunately, this frustration of mine in chess didn't stop me from playing, and with that, losing as well. I soon realized that though I loved playing chess, I could never win against someone who had a more in depth knowledge of the science of chess. You see, I never bothered to memorize openings, much less know their names. That was the boring part. The fun that I experienced in chess is thinking, losing yourself in thought of the next 3 moves or so, the almost infinite possibilities. On computer chess, I'd pore hours on end just trying to predict the next moves. However, the competitive spirit just isn't in me, and I'd just as happily lose as long as I got to spend the better part of the game lost in my own thoughts.
Going back to scrabble, the same process is involved, only there are a much limited array of options available depending on the quality of the tiles that you have to play with. Probably the reason why I spend more and more hours at the gas station just thinking up the different possibilities for 7 vowels or 7 consonants that I happen to be stuck with.
I never bothered to publish the results of my games until today, yes I published at last. The reason? 404 points coming from back to back 'scrabbles'. Hmm, thinking about it, for 2 'scrabbles' 404 isn't really such a high score. But it was a real fun game that I played and I wanted to somehow 'immortalize' it by publishing it on my wall. (Oh yeah, like that's going to last)
*****
Bought a cookbook, a concise guide to cooking Filipino food. Though I do know how to cook I can't really say that I can whip up any of the traditional Filipino foods to the letter. To help me with this, I figured finally getting that cookbook and trying some of the recipes out should go a long way.
The problem now is when could I cook? Lately, between hanging out at gas stations, cleaning up after myself and getting myself to the office, I don't think I have time to prepare, saute, cook, simmer and eat any of these traditional fare. Filipino foods usually take a long time to prepare and cook. A good 2 hours is not that uncommon for a single dish. And to make matters even more complicated, local fare is best matched with steamed rice, which thanks to my no-carb diet is a no-no. So I'll either be paring down on the spices and taste or just substitute tofu for the rice.
*****
Hmm, thinking back to the current contents of my refrigerator, I haven't visited the local supermarket in quite a while. All that I have in the fridge are candies, mayonnaise, lots of water and juice. Seriously, there is hardly a morsel to eat at home. This explains my current diet of fried chicken from the nearby fastfood joint. Should I attempt to try out any of the dishes from my spanking new cookbook, I would need a visit to the grocer. Who has time for that?
*****
Finally, I've been seeing a reduction in my credit card bills. Have intentionally been avoiding paying with plastic for a good 3 months now and it's paying off. Though still a sizable sum by any standard, it has been cut in half almost, and I should be free from debt by the end of the year. Wait, funny I seem to remember having those same thoughts last year. What happened then? Oh right, I remember now. I still brought all my plastic and unavoidably used them for everything from gas to groceries. Even my coffee had to be charged. Surely not a very good idea when you want to rid yourself of all those pesky bills.
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