Curiosity Is A Curious Thing

To my friends who are curious about my "Endings Are Beginnings" post:

• Yes, I'm okay. These are simply random musings I put down on paper, triggered by something random as well. They may come across as forlorn or somber, but they don't necessarily reflect my current state. So, no need to worry about me! ;)
  
• No, these are not lovelife matters hahaha
• No, you're not one of those "friends" who take me for granted...If you were, we wouldn't be friends anymore. Hahaha ANO BE!
  
• No. 2 is about finally learning how to drive! Not knowing how is turning out to be very inconvenient and unwise. But I'm really afraid, eeek! I think everyone on the road should be afraid of me, too. I don't know if I'll ever really acquire the skill, even if I tried :'(
  
• One day I just felt like writing again...Maybe it was just a matter of time before I posted an entry. I honestly didn't expect anyone would get to read though, or that I'd be writing THIS entry afterwards hahaha

Endings Are Beginnings!

I know I'm supposed to have already closed down the blog, but I'm writing anyway because I need to and I want to! At any rate, I'm pretty sure no one would be visiting, so here I am, giving my thoughts SEMI-free rein (just in case somebody DOES happen to stumble upon this hehe).

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1. I dislike not being in control, being helpless when not-so-good things happen. I realize this is a futile thought because I know I can never be in control of everything. Still, it irks me, and it makes me sad. It pains me to be reminded time and again that certain things will never be the way I want them to be - no matter how hard I try, how much I pray, hope, or wish.

2. Of late I've been contemplating on doing something I haven't really thought about in a long while (maybe because I've been too preoccupied). But events seem to be nudging me to seriously consider it. Perhaps it's time!

3. I always try my best not to take people for granted. Sometimes it's easy to fall into the trap, especially if you know the other person has always been and will always be there for you. But I don't ever want to be like that; I know how disheartening it can be. Sadly, I've my share of "friends" who are like that. I'm really not outwardly affectionate, but I do hope that in my own simple way, I'm able to make those who are important to me feel that I value them and that I'm just here for them.

So there!

Endings

It's been 1 year and 10 days since Nobody Said It Was Easy was born.

It has served me well.

Now, it's time to say goodbye.

The blog may be no more, but the good times will definitely continue to roll!

Frayed & Frazzled!

Typhoon Ondoy has wreaked so much havoc. I can't even begin to imagine the terrible pain people who lost their homes, their belongings, their security, their loved ones, are going through. Their lives have been turned upside down, and nothing is the same.

I've been high-strung ever since calls and text messages from distressed employees and worried managers started pouring in last Saturday morning. I still am. I haven't had decent sleep due to the steady stream of communication received and sent, even during the wee hours. I'm all keyed-up, I'm tired, I'm sad.

But this is nothing compared to the ordeal other people are experiencing. I'm just grateful my family and friends are safe, and our home, intact. This way I could focus my energy on others.

I'm worried that we're not doing enough, that I'm not doing enough. I feel like I'm overlooking so many things I should be on top of. I was rummaging my closet earlier picking out items my sister and brother-in-law could bring to the Ateneo relief center... It was surreal. I don't even recall what I plucked out of my closet hehe.

I can only hope and pray we'll be able to provide the kind of assistance that truly matters, give real comfort during a most difficult time, and in so doing, help people attain some semblance of normalcy amidst the displacement.

Road Trip!

Yay! We're going on a road trip!

Road trips are tricky. Enjoying one hinges a lot on who your companions are.

Just imagine being cooped up in a vehicle for hours, traveling miles and miles with the wrong bunch...it's sheer torture! Really, I'd rather gallivant alone (or not at all) than be stuck like that.

On the flip side, picture traversing the long and winding road with folks whose company you truly enjoy -- time will fly for sure, because you'll be having so much fun fun fun! Effortlessly, even!

After a couple of instances of foolishly going on road trips with people I wasn't all that keen on being with, I vowed never to put myself in such a sorry plight again.

This particular trip, though, I'm definitely going to enjoy! :)

Plays, Plays, Plays!

Jack & The Beanstalk (Repertory Philippines)

Aug 8-Dec 10, OnStage Greenbelt 1
www.repertory-philippines.com


N.O.A.H. (Trumpets)
Sep 18-27, Meralco Theater
trumpetsinc@gmail.com


Spring Awakening (Atlantis Productions)
Sep 25-Oct 18, RCBC Plaza
www.atlantisproductionsinc.com

Look Who's Coming To Town!

It's been arranged. We're definitely watching! Come hell or high water! Reschedule all previously-set appointments! Woohoo!

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FINGERPRINTS by Katy Perry
Voted most likely to end up on the back of a milk box drink
Looks like I'm letting them down
Cause $7.75 isn't worth an hour of my hard work and time
When you can't afford half the shit they advertise
Oh I'm worth more than an X
More than a toe-tagged generation full of regrets
Oh I won't settle no oh, oh I can't settle

I wanna break the mold, wanna break the stereotype
Fist in the air, I'm not going down without a fight

It's my life and I'm not sitting on the sidelines
Watching it pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints on you

Representing you and me
Don't you wanna go down in history?
Rather then end up begging on the streets
Trading under table favors for a place to sleep
Cause I'm worth more than this
So stop writing prescriptions for my Ritalin
I can focus my attention

I wanna break the mold, wanna break the stereotype
Fist in the air, I'm not going down without a fight

It's my life and I'm not sitting on the sidelines
Watching it pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints

Don't give up
But don't give in
Build your house on the rock
Oh not in the sand, in the sand, in the sand

It's my life and I'm not sitting on the sidelines
Watching it pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me

It's my life and I'm not sitting on the sidelines
Watching it pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
Cause I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints, in the end

Alyona!

I am so happy for Ailenne and Estre, who are awaiting the birth of their baby boy Andre. I do hope they will consider our suggestions for Andre's second name...But then again, given the suggestions, I'm thinking they most probably won't hehe :p In any case, we're all looking forward to the arrival of the newest member of the sosyalan gang!

Ailenne has always been a favorite person of mine, and it's a joy seeing her experience all these wonderful things - love, family, motherhood. I know that with this change in state she most likely won't be able to join our spur-of-the-moment (a.k.a. kaladkarin) activities as frequently, but it's simply great being part of these milestones in her life. Cheers to you, Alyona!

Cebu Hilton, November 2008

For Good

I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a skybird
In a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good

And just to clear the air
I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for
But then, I guess we know
There's blame to share
And none of it seems to matter anymore

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood

Like a ship blown from its mooring
By a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a bird in the wood

Who can say if I've been
Changed for the better?
I do believe I have been
Changed for the better

And because I knew you
Because I knew you
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good

From the musical play Wicked

Inglourious Basterds

During World War II, a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “the Basterds” are chosen to spread fear throughout the Third Reich by scalping and brutally killing Nazis. They join forces with a German actress and undercover agent to take down the leaders of the Third Reich. The Basterds soon cross paths with a French-Jewish teenage girl who runs a movie theater in Paris and is out for revenge against the Nazis.

Just got back from watching this new film by Quentin Tarantino (last-minute gimik hehe). I loved it, it's a must-see! It's not for the faint of heart, though :)

The villain, Col. Hans Landa a.k.a. "The Jew Hunter" (played by veteran Austrian actor Christoph Waltz) really stole the show....He was charming, he was sinister! I liked him, I despised him! He made me laugh, he made me cringe in disgust! (He totally eclipsed Brad Pitt hahaha)

It's interesting to note that this film also has a scene that displays Quentin's famous foot fetish.

The movie runs for approximately 2.5 hours...I was thoroughly entertained!

Tutto a te mi guida

Mom and I are flying home tomorrow night and will be in Manila Friday morning, YIPPPEEEE!

Huge thanks to the following people back home:

• Vinchi, Migs, and Grace - for so ably taking care of the team the past three weeks. I'm returning to work fully-charged and armed with a different perspective. I owe you lots.
• My sisters - for running important errands for me while I was out. I shopped till I dropped just for you girls!
• Javi (for the 2nd time around) and Lizzie - by simply being available, you took away the 'sick' in homesick. Hahaha you know what I mean!
  

I would've treated you guys to an out-of-this-world vacation had I won big bucks in Vegas, but since I lost everything I bet, I said a little prayer for you instead :)

This getaway has been loads of fun, but I'm happy, happy, happy to be going home :D

Some Photos Taken While Gallivanting

The Strip...Where I gambled and lost it all! ($3 lang naman hehe)

We watched Cirque Du Soleil's Criss Angel: Believe at the Luxor.
It was ok, entertaining enough, but nothing to rave about.


San Francisco Public Library - a haven!
Below is where a scene in the film City of Angels was shot.


We queued for 1 hour just to have brunch at this well-acclaimed dining spot in SF. Yummy!


International Orange is actually the color of the Golden Gate Bridge, not gold. After debating on which color to use, they settled on this as it contrasts and blends with the backdrop beautifully. No idea why the bridge was named that way, though.


We visited Gov. Arnold in Sacramento but he didn't come out of his office for lunch...I think he had baon hahaha!

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have them as pets?

Alcatraz Photos

"It's good to be back home!" - Sam and Bing :p

Clothing Storage and Shower Room


Prison Block and Standard Prison Cell


Solitary Confinement Unit a.k.a. The Hole


The Hole (where darkness is total) vs. The Sunniest Corner of the Building (where the most sought-after cells are)


For Recreation and Sharpening the Saw


Prison Control Room and Visitation Area


Hmm...the problems sound familiar!


Whoa - can be corporate guidelines too, hahaha! ;D


The Perfect Soap Ad


Note: The complete set of pictures to be posted in Sam's Facebook soon!

Snippets: SF w/ Sam & Rye

We waited roughly 1.5 hours before we were seated for brunch at Mama's on Washington Square, a Zagat Restaurant of Distinction awardee and one of the best dining spots in San Francisco. Fluffy omelettes and pancakes, homemade jam, and fresh baked breads keep tourists and locals lining up. Definitely worth the long wait!

We're watching the play Wicked tomorrow night, woohoo! This Tony Award-winning Broadway and West End musical is the untold story of the witches of Oz long before Dorothy's arrival: Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda the Good. Pictures of The Good and The Wicked below...who is who? Heehee.

Tomorrow is also Alcatraz day, yipeee!

As I Lay Me Down To Sleep

Why is it that I always get homesick when I travel to far-off places? This trip is no exception. Tsk tsk. I miss the rest of my family, I miss friends back home. And this despite the series of activities keeping us occupied day in, day out! Aaaarrggh. Speaking of days, the days are literally very long. I can't believe it's just Thursday; it seems like ages since we landed Sunday.

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Next week, I'll be returning to San Francisco for a few days (on my own this time) to meet up with Sam and Rye. This'll be my last opportunity to see Sam before she flies to Spain. I'll also carve out some me-time, which is absolutely essential in fulfilling the real purpose of this trip. I've had to suppress my anti-social side since we arrived and it's just raring to get out! I'm looking forward to quiet moments with just me, my book, and the city. Note: The book I brought with me is turning out to be quite an interesting read -- The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks, Book 1 of the Night Angel Trilogy.

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Excerpt of text message exchanges between Sam and myself the other night (I've had to resort to text messaging for the most part due to the unreliable connection in the house) :

BING: Sam, I'm planning to go to Alcatraz! If you want to experience a touch of macabre, do come with!
SAM: Sige sige GAME! Let's go on a day tour!
BING: You're the best, Sam! It will be the crowning moment of this trip -- visiting our fellow-hardened criminals' former abode! :D
SAM: Wahahaha funny kaaaaa!

I'll miss this girl.

I Want To Go Here

Macabre, historic, creepy, and imposing all at the same time! So intriguing. I hope Sam/Rye will agree to go. In any case, I think I've made up my mind ;)

After Breakfast Musings

My grandparents have been married for almost 50 years. It's a feat, especially in this day and age where divorces are a dime a dozen, where many marriages don't make it beyond the proverbial 7 years.

My grandfather is the quiet, soft-spoken type, while my grandmother is a dynamo. He's gentle and doting, while she's a force to reckon with (...and this is why I couldn't worm my way out of the gala night cum charity ball slated for Saturday, huhuhu). They have very different personalities, but they complement each other quite well and are so alike in values (which is what matters most, ultimately). Watching them banter and go down memory lane during breakfast, I can see the quiet affection they have for each other -- still strong and genuine even after half a century! Their partnership is just amazing.

Bread On My Bed

Everyone in the house knows that eating on my bed is a big NO-NO. My sisters and niece like to hang out in my room even when I'm not around, and it's ok as long as they observe this Cardinal Rule. I don't like lying down on a bed of crumbs!

So when I arrived home one night to find this on my bed, my first thought was, somebody blatantly broke the Cardinal Rule!! A piece of bread on my bed!! Grrr...

It looked like one of those items you can get at Breadtalk. However, when I took hold of it to put it away, I realized with a jolt it was a keychain of some sort, designed to LOOK like a piece of bread! It even smells like one!

Somebody played a trick on me! And until now, no one has 'fessed up!

My List of 10 Saddest Fiction Books (Part 2 of 2)

A couple of people asked me how I define "saddest fiction books." Simply put, these books either made me feel markedly sad, depressed me with their depiction of the deplorable side of life/human nature, or maybe moved me to tears just a wee bit.

I just realized that all the books in the list are bestsellers. Here's the rest of it:

6. The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough (my Mom's book). This details the private lives of three generations of Clearys, but at its heart is the ill-fated romance of Meggie Cleary and Fr. Ralph de Bricassart, a Roman Catholic priest. The book likens humans to a thorn bird, which, from the moment it is born, searches for a thorn tree, impales itself upon a thorn, and sings among its branches until it dies. Translation: we knowingly inflict pain upon ourselves with certain choices we make...Still we do it!

7. The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards (bought it out of curiosity). Dr. David Henry delivers his own twins, keeps his perfectly healthy boy, asks his nurse to take the girl away to an insitution when he realizes she has Down's syndrome, and tells his wife that their baby girl died. He does this for what he thinks are right reasons. Imagine being burdened with this terrible secret your whole life -- the guilt and regret permeating and slowly eroding your marriage.

8. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James (I collect her novels). 22-year old Cordelia Gray recently inherited a detective agency. For her first case, she is hired by a famous scientist, Sir Ronald Callender, to shed some light on his son's suicide a few weeks earlier. This is my favorite of all of P.D. James' murder mysteries: grounded, restrained, realistic, but so impactful.

9. Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (borrowed it from my sis). Mitch rediscovers his college professor from nearly 20 years ago in the last months of the old man's life. This chronicles Mitch's Tuesday visits with Morrie during his dying days, where they would talk about love, life, and what truly matters. (Not sure if this book is categorized as fiction, but I included it in my list anyway.)

10. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffeneger (borrowed it from my sis). Henry is afflicted with "Chrono Displacement Disorder": at random times, he suddenly disappears and finds himself in the past or future, and he never knows where he will turn up. Clare is his wife - they first met when she was 6, and he in his 40s! It's poignant and beautifully-written. However, I definitely would NOT want to be a time traveler's wife. It's just like being in a long-distance relationship, but infinitely more complex! :p

A Day in the Life

I've started watching Season 7 of 24 on DVD. While its storyline is not as heart-stopping as previous seasons', it's gripping enough to keep me glued to the TV for hours on end.

I wonder - is there a person alive who is just like Jack Bauer?? One thing's for sure, anyone would want Jack Bauer around when in mortal danger and there seems to be no way out. He's able to bring to safety just about anyone he sets his mind to save! Talk about having 9 lives (or more).

It's not easy to be President of the United States. So many tough decisions to make, decisions that could ultimately mean life or death, misery or redemption for millions of people around the world. Being the leader of the most powerful nation on earth is a tremendous responsibility! I don't think I'd ever want to become US President. Hehehe, as if :p

Meanwhile, I continue to watch a day in the life of Jack Bauer. I'm just grateful my days aren't that long haha.

(Weekends are just too fleeting though.)

My List of 10 Saddest Fiction Books (Part 1 of 2)

In no particular order:

1. She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb (given to me as a gift). An Oprah Book Club selection, it covers 31 years of Dolores Price's life: divorce, mental illness, violence, self-image problems, obesity, loneliness, physical and emotional abuse. I found this book downright depressing!

2. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (recommended by an officemate). Teenager Susie Salmon is the narrator. She's dead -- raped, hacked, and buried by a seemingly harmless neighbor. She narrates how the crime was committed, and how her family and friends dealt with the tragedy. The book is written so subtly yet so powerfully, it affected me so much that I gave my copy away.

3. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (given to me as a gift). Set in Afghanistan, this is the story of Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children, the boys are inseparable, like brothers, until one unspeakable event alters everything forever. It's beautiful, heartbreaking, and moving. I've never re-read it though. I also didn't watch the movie.

4. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (bought it because I loved his other book). It focuses on the tumultuous lives of two Afghan women born a generation apart - Mariam and Laila -- how they are brought together by war, loss, and danger, forming a most unlikely friendship and an enduring bond. This and The Kite Runner cemented Khaled Hosseini's position as one of my favorite authors!

5. A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks (lent by a friend). This is the love story of Jamie, a shy sweet girl dying of leukemia, and of Landon a rich, typical teenage boy. Though the novel is very well-written, I'm not too keen on love stories where the boy or girl dies. The movie didn't do the book justice at all - it didn't even depict the "walk to remember" properly!

Part 2 to follow...

The Fantasticks

We're set to watch this Repertory play tomorrow!

In a clever reverse of the Romeo and Juliet story, two fathers put up a wall between their houses to ensure that their children fall in love, because they know that children always do what their parents forbid. After the children do fall in love, they discover their fathers' plot and they each go off and experience things in the world. They return to each other and the love they had, having learned from the world, bringing to life a funny and quite touching story of innocence, and of knowledge.

The Fantasticks is one of the longest-running musical shows in the history of American theater. Created by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, the original production opened in May 1960 at a small theater in New York’s Greenwich Village. The musical tradition lives on -- The Fantasticks continues to be staged to this day, and is in fact now on its 50th year. That's over 17,000 performances since it opened, wow!

More than anything, I look forward to listening to the songs, which include timeless pieces like "Try To Remember," "They Were You," and "Soon It's Gonna Rain."

Yay!

Ice Age 3-Triggered Musings

We watched Ice Age 3 last Friday -- I enjoyed it thoroughly, it made me laugh so hard! I didn't get to watch 1 and 2, but I think I would've liked them as well.

This blog post is not about the movie though. It's about things I didn't use to do that I now find myself doing and enjoying, thanks to the influence of family and friends. Here are some of them:

1) Watching certain kinds of movies. Generally, I'm not into films where ordinary objects come to life, where living things which are not supposed to talk actually talk (don't ask me why because I have NO IDEA). The ones I do like I like mostly because of their musical score (Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, The Little Mermaid -- I know all the songs by heart). I'm also not a fan of sci-fi films. But nowadays, I find myself watching such movies (e.g. Ice Age, Wall-e, Star Trek, etc.) - and actually liking them a lot.

2) Eating certain kinds of food. Salads and steaks are not really my thing, but I've grown to appreciate them as a result of the influence of the Friday gang. I'm yearning to go back to Elbert's where I had a delectable steak experience (it's my favorite steakhouse by far), to Antonio's Tagaytay, and to Wagyu Stone Grill in Eastwood. And I have to say Old Vine's 'Tessie Tomas Salad' and Lolo Dad's 'Only for the Rich Salad' are simply scrumptious!

3) Reading fantasy books. I wrote about this in a previous entry. It's all thanks to my sister's friend Jay who keeps on recommending these gripping novels. (Sam, if you're reading this, Jay is recommending this fantasy series about a group of modern-day assassins. Interesting! I'll give you the details as soon as I have them).

4) Listening to other types of music. This is quite refreshing! In this area, my biggest influencer is my 11-year old niece Zoe. It all started this one time I borrowed her iPod and started listening to her kind of music. Some songs grew on me after several repeats. Others I liked on the spot. I also found out she actually composes, and I listened to her compositions as well -- WOW! Every now and then I borrow her iPod to listen to songs she's recently added.

It's always nice to expand one's horizon, and to discover that one can actually take delight in things or experiences one didn't really pay attention to before. I guess the same thing can be said for people...but I think this merits an entirely separate discussion :p

Happiness!

Just this morning - a few days after the hustle and bustle of securing approval for a 3-week leave, ensuring my mom is given a clean bill of health for travel, and buying tickets - I realized that I am so looking forward to my US vacation this August, and I am sooo ready for it. It suddenly dawned on me that I'll actually have three weeks of bumming around, no work, and all play! Three weeks! YIPEEE!

I'm happy to take time off from work, and I feel reassured with Vinchi, Migs, and Grace around to take care of the team.

I'm especially excited to get together with my relatives, spend time with old friends, shop at my favorite stores, try my luck (again) at the casinos (a.k.a. slot machines), and just frolic about! The only thing I'm not too keen on is going to this charity ball that my mom and grandmother are expecting me to attend. Hmm...I'm already piecing together an escape strategy hehehe.

There's a caveat to this vacation though: I might enjoy myself too much that I wouldn't want to return hahaha.

Woohoo!

Wifi Body 4

It's Wifi Body season once again!

Wifi Body is an Independent Contemporary Dance Festival held annually.

This year's theme is "The Evolving Body" and it is being held, like before, at various venues at the CCP from June 25 to July 5. Wifi features the country's Contemporary Dance Companies with events such as dance concerts, new choreographers competition, dance workshops, dance film competition, photo exhibits, a showcase of emerging talents, among others.

Airdance is participating, and I'm watching them perform in "Unspoken" on June 28, 6pm, at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) Stage. The show will feature new choreographies by Airdance teachers Ava Maureen Villannueva, Rhosam Prudenciado Jr. (woohoo!), and Avel Bautista.

Wifi Body Festival: www.geocities.com/wifibody
Airdance: www.airdance.com.ph