bits & pieces of my existence...

telling the world

2011-08-02T17:14:00.000-07:00

there's been a lot going on lately, so i'll stick to song lyrics muna, hehehe... this song makes me happy lately, so i decided to post... =)

Telling The World
by: Taio Cruz

Every part in my heart I'm giving out
Every song on my lips I'm singing out
Any fear in my soul I'm letting go
And anyone who asks I'll let them know

She's the one, she's the one
I say it loud
She's the one, she's the one
I say it proud

Ring a bell, Ring a bell
For the whole crowd
Ring a bell, Ring a bell

I'm telling the world
That I've found a girl
The one I can live for
The one who deserves

To give all my light
A reason to fly
The one I can live for
A reason for life

(Repeat)

fix you

2011-07-25T20:56:00.001-07:00

Fix You
by: Coldplay

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face
And I

Tears stream down your face
I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face
And I

Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

if i fell

2011-06-07T09:40:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite songs of all time...

==========

If I Fell
by:The Beatles

If I fell in love with you
Would you promise to be true
And help me understand
'cause I've been in love before
And I found that love was more
Than just holding hands

If I give my heart to you
I must be sure
From the very start
That you would love me more than her

If I trust in you, oh please
Don't run and hide
If I love you too, oh please
Don't hurt my pride like her
'cause I couldn't stand the pain
And I would be sad if our new love was in vain

So I hope you see that I
Would love to love you
And that she will cry
When she learns we are two
cause I couldn't stand the pain
and I would be sad if our new love was in vain

so I hope you see that I
would love to love you
and that she will cry when she learns we are two.

If I fell in love with you

on life and TV/movies...

2011-01-04T13:08:00.000-08:00

your life is like your personal movie or TV show --- you are the main actor/actress and you may have a romantic interest, a lovable sidekick, a supportive best friend or family member, a reliable inner circle or maybe even a resident villain or two. you also have people who are one-time or recurring guest stars (some wanted, some not-so-wanted), and a lot of extras along the way.

for most of my life, i was wrapped up in scoping out the perfect leading man, establishing the "right" inner circle, laughing with the sidekicks, and trying to be a worthy bida of my personal movie.

it took me a while to realize that i am also a one-time/recurring guest star, a potential leading lady, and of course, an extra in countless other "movies".

now, i don't just want to be the perfect "protagonist" of my personal movie. i want to be a memorable and worthy potential leading lady, recurring/one-time guest, and inner circle member in someone else's chick flick/soap opera/documentary/insert-your-preferred-genre-here. who knows, i might start out as an "extra" or occasional guest in someone else's movie and we eventually become a permanent fixture in each other's lives... =)

here's to hoping our personal movies/TV shows will have the happy endings that we wish for! =)

2011!

2011-01-02T18:49:00.000-08:00

i've been an absentee blogger lately. i wish i can just say that i was too busy having a life to update, but it was more a mix of living it up and being too tired and lazy during my downtime.

that said, i will try to update more often. at least four times a year, song lyrics not included =P

looking back on 2010, i guess what i've learned is that in life, you really do win some and lose some. just try to win the ones that matter and gain some perspective from the ones that don't.

it was a pretty good year though. it went by too fast, but i guess that's what happens when you're "living in the moment" most of the time ;)

i'm feeling extra hopeful for 2011. i hope it's gonna be a great year. happy new year!!! =)

isip-isip

2010-03-06T23:24:00.000-08:00

sometimes, life is like a computer game... just when you think you've mastered something, you find out that a new challenge awaits you.

on one hand, it means you are probably equipped enough for the "level up". on the other hand, it can also mean you have to start from scratch all over again. all you can do is hope that you can apply what you have previously learned to some aspects of this new challenge...

as the pinoy catchphrase goes, go lang ng go!

of fairy tales and happy endings...

2010-03-04T18:05:00.001-08:00

i think i've gotten to the point where i truly realize that in life, nothing is cut-and-dried... that said, i still like listening to taylor swift, because it brings me back to the more innocent days when being noticed by your boy-of-the-moment was a big deal and i still believed in (idealistic) happy endings... =)

-----

Today was a fairytale

Today was a fairytale
You were the prince
I used to be a damsel in distress
You took me by the hand and you picked me up at six
Today was a fairytale

Today was a fairytale

Today was a fairytale
I wore a dress
You wore a dark gray t-shirt
You told me I was pretty when I looked like a mess
Today was a fairytale

Time slows down when ever you're around

But can you feel this magic in the air?
It must have been the way you kissed me
Fell in love when I saw you standing there
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale

Today was a fairytale
You've got a smile that takes me to another planet
Every move you make everything you say is right
Today was a fairytale

Today was a fairytale
All that I can say is now it's getting so much clearer
Nothing made sense until the time I saw your face
Today was a fairytale

Time slows down whenever you're around

But can you feel this magic in the air?
It must have been the way you kissed me
Fell in love when I saw you standing there
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale
It must have been the way
Today was a fairytale

Time slows down whenever you're around
I can feel my heart
It's beating in my chest
Did you feel it?
I can't put this down

2009

2009-12-30T23:16:00.001-08:00

it's almost time to say goodbye to 2009! since i promised myself i will spend most of tomorrow cleaning up (my room, car, laptop files, etc.) to semi-superstitiously make sure my 2010 will not be "messy", i'm gonna post my last blog entry for this year.

2009 was mostly my "just do it" year. i told myself that when it comes to things i want to try/do, if it's worth it, i should rein in my over-analyzing tendencies and just go ahead and pursue it. it has worked out for me quite well, so hopefully, i will be able to keep this up even when 2009 has come and gone. i sort of have a resolution for 2010, but i'll keep that to myself for now, since i haven't finalized it yet, hehehe!

so, to pick up where i left off (which was september), i flew to the east coast during the labor day weekend to see a couple of college friends. new york was my first stop, boston was next.

new york was AWESOME! i would love to go back there and see more places that i wasn't able to see due to the time constraints. it was great seeing the landmarks, watching a broadway musical and witnessing the US Open (too bad i missed federer and nadal, hehehe)!!! i hope i get to visit again next year =)

i was looking forward to seeing boston too, so i can catch up with my thesis partner and check out the top-notch universities it is known for. i really liked the architecture of the city buildings and the slower pace was a welcome change (especially after NY, where the itinerary was very hectic). big thanks to DD for showing me around and patiently taking lots of pictures with me =)

two months later, i went to chicago over the thanksgiving weekend to see some college friends again. i was surprised how clean the downtown area was, especially for an urban city! the deep-dish pizza (among others) was YUMMY. the people were nice (and very well-dressed). our "host family" was very warm and welcoming. it's definitely a city worth checking out! =)

this month, i opted to stay in the bay area during the christmas holidays, mainly to save more vacation days next year and some moolah, of course. it feels so nice to look back on this year and realize that i've explored new places and seen familiar faces along the way. i hope there will be more of that next year as well. a few unpleasant things also happened, but i learned from those experiences, so i hope i will be better equipped for similar situations in the future too.

so... here's to what will hopefully be a pleasantly memorable 2010! i hope there will be more to learn, more to be thankful for and more to be happy about. cheers! =)

"enlightenment"

2009-12-13T23:06:00.000-08:00

it just hit me tonight that 2009 will probably go down as one of those years that i've kind of grown up. i won't go into too much detail, but this has been the year where my outlook has evolved in a lot of things.

i've become less "bitter" and more accepting about (and not merely resigned to) some things that i could not change.

i've learned to distinguish when to keep working on something ["it's worth it"] and when to let it take its course and not force the issue ["it's not worth it"] (less eager to please! less "drama"!).

i've learned to recognize slight changes in my mood and attribute that change to the right trigger/catalyst.

i've gotten less defensive on sensitive subjects [mostly because i have identified what my sensitive subjects are], which helped in handling touchy situations more effectively.

i've learned to embrace change more gracefully, rather than resist it, delay it or be in denial about it.

even my BS radar has improved by leaps and bounds, just because i don't let myself get in the way of how i perceive things around me anymore, or at least not as much as i used to.

in general, i feel like i'm more "at peace" and that i have acquired a little more of that "happy balance" that i aim/wish for.

i still over-analyze and over-think petty (and not-so-petty) stuff and there are still some things that are lacking in so many ways, but it's nice to know that i learned a thing or two over the past few years.

let's see na lang how it goes after i have a few more years in me =)

september

2009-09-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

it was a pretty weird month.

i was anxious most of the time and it took its toll on my sleeping, eating and working habits. i just felt "off" the whole time, but i did my best to keep things on an even keel thinking that things will eventually go back to normal if i acted that way.

it's september now and in a way, i'm glad another month is here. i hope this will be a good month... and the months after that, of course.

looking forward to my East Coast trip! i think this trip will give me that much-needed break. i'm looking forward to see some friends too. hopefully, i will feel renewed and get my mojo back after this trip =)

[happy birthday to my ate and good luck to HIM in the US Open!]

take 2!

2009-08-30T15:56:00.000-07:00

meet my new friend. it looks a little different, but it's still blue. yes, i have a thing for pretty blue things =)

somehow i feel like the blue shade of the previous one had more personality and had a more carefree vibe, but i guess it's just apt that the shade of the new one, although just as pretty, is not as "happy".

the steering and handling of the first one was more responsive, whereas this one is smoother... the interior of this car is nicer too. although, shempre, safety is now higher on my list.

ayan, new car, i'm a little more jaded, but i'll take good care of you. i hope you take good care of me too... i hope this will last me a little longer than the other one... *crosses fingers*

my first car

2009-08-11T21:48:00.000-07:00

i remember being so happy the day it was officially mine. i thought we would still have each other for a few more years, but i guess it was not meant to be.

we were together almost every day and i remember looking forward to seeing it after a long day at work. i also remember perking up whenever i spot it for the first time after going on a vacation for a few days or weeks.

marami rin kaming pinagdaanan, and for those two and a half years, my car was worth every penny. i know that i owe it a lot on that fateful day, so i will always be grateful for that.

i saw it for the last time earlier today. i wanted to take a picture, but i didn't want to remember it that way. i came to get the last of my belongings and looked back for the very last time before silently saying goodbye.

it's time to move on because things aren't the same anymore since that day. hopefully, the next one will make me as happy and will mean just as much as my first.
---

i didn't know i could get so attached to an inanimate object. thanks for the memories... you are sorely missed and will always be remembered.

yay!!!

2009-07-27T01:08:00.000-07:00

i went skydiving yesterday! (well, actually it was the other day since it's past 1AM already...)

SO MUCH FUN! i wanna do it again! not anytime soon, but maybe someday...

one thing crossed off my bucket list! hayyy, ang saya =)

emote!

2009-07-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

i think i'm a relatively happy person in general, pero when i feel melancholic or reflective, i have this bout of restlessness...

all in all, i think i'm nice enough, friendly enough, smart enough, cute enough (i sure am not tall enough!), sweet enough, sassy enough, polite enough and level-headed enough...

i think i'm happy enough, good-natured enough, professional enough, practical enough, understanding enough, informed enough, adventurous enough, thoughtful enough, maybe i'm not rich enough but it's okay since i'm young enough...

i think i'm wacky enough, but also serious enough... i think i'm cool enough, but also dorky enough...

but sometimes, i don't think it's good enough..... is this normal?

july post

2009-07-22T21:26:00.000-07:00

i guess it's time for another round of random thoughts in my own little place in cyberspace. here we go!

i just got back from new orleans! i had a mini-reunion with my relatives on my mom's side and had a lot of fun! it's been 13 years since i saw most of them so it was great catching up =)

it was also an experience taking in the night scene with the bar-hopping and walking down bourbon street, since i was still 11 when I last went there. it makes me wonder if i should check out mardi gras one of these days... all in all, good place, good company, and good food! (it just reminded me how i should really learn how to cook if i want live up to my full foodie potential, tsk tsk tsk...)
---

i was "blog-surfing" earlier and read some interesting posts, they know who they are since i left pretty lengthy comments in their blog, hehehe... one mentioned that he likes being in airplanes a lot because it makes him think of things... since i'm still experiencing a "vacation hangover", i thought i'd touch on this.

i like riding on airplanes too, mainly because it means i'm going on a vacation or i'm going to see family, friends and/or relatives. some people get antsy and anxious and can't wait to get to their destination, but i'm pretty patient when it comes to flying. it's probably because i got the hang of it from flying back and forth back in college that i'm generally well prepared (i usually bring my laptop, my trusty DSlite, some leftover sudoku sheets of paper, and maybe a book if it's a long flight to keep the boredom at bay).

i usually get thoughtful when i ride on planes, i end up thinking about life in general, how my family is doing and also the friends that i just said goodbye to or the friends I'm about to see. i usually start out wishing i worked for a travel or lifestyle channel so that i can explore more often... then i think about my other dream jobs, which leads me to think about my actual job and how i've been doing and so on.

i look out the window (i like the window seat) and think about other things in my life... maybe it's because you see the wide expanse of land or sea beneath you and it seems like for a few hours time stops (contradictory ba?), since you're kind of in a limbo, suspended up in the sky... you get the chance to entertain some thoughts pushed to the back of your mind due to the hustle and bustle of daily life.

right before take-off or through turbulent conditions, i wonder if i will be at peace if the plane ride goes wrong... then I think that maybe you know you've led a good life if you still feel peaceful by then...of course i always wish for a safe flight, so i get another chance to muse on a plane, hehehe...

i also like being in airports. i like seeing the variety of people who are about to fly for different reasons. you see a family struggling to contain their kids' unending energy and enthusiasm; you see a couple eagerly awaiting a romantic getaway; you see people in suits striding purposefully while talking or texting on their smartphones, and a group of friends about to go on their vacation. it's fascinating to see the contrasts between these people (and of course you fantasize about bumping into or sitting beside a cute stranger, HEHEHE)

anyway, wala lang, i wish i get to travel more, hehehe...
---

in other news, my #1 celebrity crush finally got Grand Slam #15! shempre, I'm very happy for him... i hope the birth of his first child will go well (and i hope he wins a few more slams, hehehe).

i've been neglecting the DVDs i borrowed lately due to the Roland Garros-Wimbledon double whammy, which was followed by the travel arrangements for the New Orleans trip... i hope i get to watch them and some summer movies as well...

i finally got to try Pilates too... i liked it a lot... it's very low-impact, but very effective, since i didn't expect to see faint definition in my core in just a few weeks... i'm definitely going to borrow some of the moves one of these days when i feel motivated to exercise again.

i haven't seen some people here in the Bay Area for a while, i hope i get to catch up with them before the summer is over... you know who you are! =)

i'm also hoping i can finally see the East Coast this summer... i'm crossing my fingers that it will happen.

oh yah, i turned 25 almost a month ago... time flies fast! i feel like i'm so isip-bata (childish) in so many ways that i can't believe i'm in my mid-20s already! hopefully, it will be another good year... =)

anyway, that's all i can think of at the moment, i will just post some pictures to end this post.

[ my mom is pretty noh? she's 61 and still looks good! i hope i inherited her good genes and age just as gracefully =) ]

confessions of a FedKAD

2009-06-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Roger Federer for winning his 14th Grand Slam and a career Slam at that!

It was rough being a FedKAD this year, especially during hard court season when people were saying his best days are behind him (with him losing to the rest of the "Big 4", a baby on the way, younger players breaking through, inconsistency in his strokes, etc.)...

Even I felt that his dominant days were probably over due to stiffer competition, but I think that he still had what it takes to win a few more Grand Slams. I was prepared to be patient and I didn't expect too much coming into clay season (although I was admittedly reluctantly excited when he defeated an exhausted Nadal in Madrid going into the French Open).

I was hoping for a fourth consecutive final (presumably against Nadal, of course), but that was pretty much it. When his "typical" threats got eliminated, I couldn't help but feel like this was his best chance to finally win the French Open, and after surviving some tight matches along the way, win he did!

It's time to look forward to grass season in a couple of days. I suppose it would be asking for too much to hope for #15 right away, but you know who I will be rooting for if he gets to another Grand Slam final =)

clay juju

2009-06-04T15:38:00.000-07:00

CLAY JUJU, COME ON!!!!!!!!!!

pinoy pop culture flashback

2009-05-21T17:49:00.000-07:00

This goes out to all my "homegrown" pinoy friends:

Do you remember watching Magmaman and Ultraman in the afternoon (or was it weekends?) on TV during your childhood?

Do you remember the X-Men and Ewoks cartoon shows on Fridays in the early to mid '90s?

Do you remember Marimar and Maria Mercedes (and the subsequent spawn of telenovelas) in the mid '90s?

Do you remember those dubbed anime shows in the late '90s? Do you remember T.G.I.F. and Gimik?

Do you remember FREAKING F4 and Meteor Garden in the early '00s? Do you remember F4 songs virtually taking all the top spots in the MYX daily countdown? Oh, and that hairstyle craze that they spawned in straight (and not-so-straight) men???

I remember thinking I was too "cool" for these trends back then. As "pop" as I am, I never really got into telenovelas, anime shows and F4/J-Pop/K-Pop.

I also remember feeling a little embarrassed for secretly feeling "kilig" when watching the loveteam movies of yore. Nowadays, that's all I rent whenever I get a chance to go back to the Philippines.

My OPM knowledge is now extremely lacking as well. The last popular OPM act I was keenly aware of was still Kitchie Nadal and MYMP.

Are there still Kapuso vs. Kapamilya network wars?

Ano na ba ang uso sa 'pinas nowadays? Ano na ang jologs?

Do people still use the word jologs? I MISS PINOY POP CULTURE!!!

on a personal note...

2009-05-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

I sometimes find it hard to acknowledge a friend's weaknesses to myself because I feel like I'm somehow betraying my friend by allowing myself to entertain negative thoughts about him/her.

I think it stems from my "fear" that if a friend notices a weakness of mine, I might be criticized about it behind my back and that person will think less of me.

Over the past year, I think I have finally learned that nothing is wrong with acknowledging a weakness of a good friend because that doesn't mean that you think less of him/her.

In fact, that is a good sign of your friendship because you embrace that person for who he/she really is, instead of just embracing the positive traits and trying to ignore the weaknesses. It strenghtens your bond because you are still fond of them, in spite of their faults. It means you love them, flaws and all.

---

It's a lot similar with my past refusal to acknowledge my "doubts", when I give someone or something the benefit of the doubt.

I used to think that entertaining those doubts means that you're already casting your judgment, when actually that is why the word 'doubt' was in the phrase in the first place. You are giving the benefit of the doubt because there was something that made you doubt what you have perceived.

I guess this was also because I wanted people to give me the benefit of the doubt in less than ideal situations. I'm still learning to finetune my BS detector because of this.

---

I think these tendencies of mine are based on that golden rule. They are based on good intentions but I guess I just took it a little too far.

I'm still learning a thing or two about moderation in some aspects of how I think and there should be a balance.

Yeah, this just occurred to me today... maybe it's my little nugget of wisdom that I have acquired before I turn 25... =)

[Yes, this realization of mine might seem obvious to you, but it took me a long time to be "enlightened", hehehe]

the pursuit of happiness (a fond recollection of my last 2 1/3 years)

2009-04-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

I remember an older friend mentioning that the mid-20s is a good time in your life. I just started working then and I was still in my early 20s, so I asked him to elaborate. (We were working in similar fields, so I assumed he knew what I was about to go through employment-wise.)

He said that at that stage, you're young enough to still have youth on your side, but old enough to have saved some money (assuming you got a job right after college and stayed employed, of course).

I'm finally understanding what he meant.

---

On my first year as an employed person, I was still figuring out the work environment and the general American culture. I was still getting used to waking up every morning and going to the same place and seeing the same people for 8 hours. I was basically just internalizing what life would be like after graduation and after moving yet again to another country.

I barely travelled that year; I was still thrilled at the concept of earning a salary and knowing that everything I buy was from my own money and not an allowance from my parents or from a scholarship. I bought a car for commuting, got to know some people and familiarized myself with the area around work and where I live.

There were definitely some necessary adjustments here and there, and I was still discovering the intricacies of the "working life" (as opposed to the "student life"). I still have not made a lot of friends then, so I didn't really go out much.

---

The second year was a little different -- I travelled a little bit more. I went to a couple of different states around the Christmas holidays as I have already saved some vacation days (and a little money). I was able to see some of my relatives in another state and spent the New Year with them.

As for "working life", I was starting to get the hang of it and I was learning to deal with personal and professional "break-ups". As with all things relating to friendships and relationships, I took them really hard. I remember a friend telling me that the next "break-ups" in my life will be just as hard, but that I will be more skilled in dealing with it because of that experience.

Socially, I was able to get to know some of my co-workers more. I grew closer to some of them. Some of them love to snowboard. After promising a couple of them that I would go on at least three snowboard trips before I make up my mind about it, I was hooked! I also discovered how much I love Japanese food and how much I liked trying out new restaurants. I rediscovered my love for the awesome combo of heavily buttered popcorn and summer blockbuster movies.

At the end of my second year (well, it was technically the start of my third year), I finally flew back to the Philippines to spend Christmas with the rest of my family. It was VERY expensive, but it was worth it. I think I'm pretty good at saving some money, so flying home was a good reward of sorts. I was also able to see some of my high school and college friends!!! I also attended a wedding of a co-worker who has become a very good friend. I had a really good time, even if my vacation lasted for only about two weeks =)

---

I'm now on the third year of my working life. Needless to say, I feel very fortunate to have a job, especially when the economy is not doing so well. I am also glad that I have saved enough vacation days to go on a couple of short trips.

I went to L.A. with a couple of "tennis buddies" (even if I don't really play tennis, hehehe) and got to see some tennis stars and my biggest celebrity crush! (He has not been doing as well lately, which makes me sad, but that's another story.) I was also able to catch up with some friends and classmates from grade school! We had REALLY good ramen and I was able to snowboard in South CA too! I was also able to meet up with my cousin, who showed me around the area.

A couple of weeks ago, I also went on another snowboard trip to Mammoth Mountain! It was SO MUCH FUN! My legs gave out later that day, but I kept snowboarding even when I kept falling like a rag doll since I couldn't really bend my legs anymore. I was with good company, so that just made the trip more memorable. I also learned a new Japanese card game, hehehe...

---

I'm not saying everything is great all the time. For instance, a couple of months ago, I got pulled over by a cop for a "California stop" on a stop sign. I was having a really bad day that time so I actually teared up while I was talking to him. I completed my traffic ticket requirements though, so that's over and done with. =)

I had my wisdom teeth removed too. I was really dreading it, but it wasn't so bad. I was prescribed some Vicodin for the pain, so it was interesting to be able to somehow relate to Dr. House, hehehe...

---

I was thinking of taking some classes this year, but it seems like my schedule right now is not permitting it. I might be just lazy, but I'll think about it again one of these days. I finally tried taking some yoga classes and I tried wall-climbing for the first time a couple of days ago. I really liked it, so I hope I get to do it again.

I'm thinking of visiting a couple of my college friends in the East Coast in a few months. It would be nice to see them again after 2 years! I will probably start making plans later next month, just to check which days are most convenient for everyone involved so that we can coordinate our schedules somehow.

Materialistically (is that a word?) speaking, I'm still debating whether I should get a new laptop and a new digicam. I haven't been saving as much as I wanted to (mainly due to the wisdom teeth extraction and the trips I just took recently), so maybe I'll put that on hold for now.

I can't complain much about my job either. First of all, I'm employed, which counts for a lot. Second, I get along well with my co-workers. Third, I've been lucky enough to feel challenged with my tasks from time to time.

As for my social life, well, most of my friends are still my co-workers. I hope I get to meet some new friends while I check out a couple of activities, but let's cross the bridge when we get there.

---

So yeah, those were last 2 1/3 years of my life in a nutshell... I was originally planning to just post some updates on my L.A. and Mammoth Mountain trip, but I realized how thankful I am about how my life is going right now, so might as well write about those things. Count your blessings, ikanga.

My New Year's resolution for 2009 was to STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR MYSELF, so I've been trying to tell myself that if I want to try something, JUST DO IT and stop overthinking. This is the perfect time to do that because I think I still have time on my side and I have been working long enough to have saved some money and be able to afford the things that I want to do (and buy). I'm still trying to save more money of course, so I'm still trying to be reasonable about my spending habits. I have to admit, it's really nice to be experiencing the things that I've been saving my money for (i.e. snowboarding, travelling, eating good food, seeing Roger Federer in the flesh, etc.).

I'm still 24 and will be turning 25 in a few months. I guess my friend was right, the mid-20s *is* a pretty good stage in your life.

---

We usually dwell on the negative side of things, so I thought I should write about something that focuses on the positive.

So yeah, the pursuit of happiness... it's still ongoing, but it's good to know that it looks like I'm on the right track =)

filler post

2009-03-04T15:13:00.001-08:00

this is rumored to be kelly clarkson's second single off her new album... it's catchy, but i like the song mainly because i can relate to the content =)

(i can't cook too, although i want to learn how to do that... eventually, hehehe)

---

I Do Not Hook Up
by Kelly Clarkson

Oh, sweetheart put the bottle down
You've got too much talent
I see you through those bloodshot eyes
There's a cure you've found it
Slow motion, sparks, you caught that chill
Now don't deny it
But boys will be boys, oh yes, they will
They don't want to define it
Just give up the game and get into me
If you're looking for thrills then get cold feet

Oh, no
I do not hook up, up
I go slow
So if you want me, I don't come cheap
Keep your hand in my hand
And your heart on your sleeve

Oh, no
I do not hook up, up
I fall deep
Cause the more that you try
The harder I'll fight to say goodnight

I can't cook, no, but I can clean
Up the mess she left
Lay your head down and feel the beat
As I kiss your forehead
This may not last but this is now
So love the one you're with
You wanna chase but you're chasing your tail
A quick fix won't ever get you well

Cause I feel the distance between us
Could be over with a snap of your fingers

Oh, sweetheart put the bottle down
Cause you don’t wanna miss out

---

updates: i'm going to Southern California next week! i'll be seeing some friends and my cousin! we'll be watching the indian wells tournament too! i hope i get to see HIM, hahaha =P

i'm also done with my taxes and took care of the traffic ticket... naks, productive! =D

so little time... so much to do...

2009-02-12T23:13:00.000-08:00

i feel like the past few weeks have been busy, but it seems like i didn't accomplish much of anything at the same time...

i've been out snowboarding and catching up with friends (and eating good food!) and looking for evening classes that i want to take...

i've had a couple of dental appointments (almost missed one earlier today) and i'm gonna have my wisdom teeth removed next week, so i guess that counts for something...

i FINALLY got my board waxed too (i'm supposed to pick it up this weekend), so i hope that makes a difference when we go on a snow trip again...

BUT... at the same time, i have yet to file my taxes (must do this weekend!) and i have a TON of new music to listen to and DVDs to watch and return...

i also got pulled over by a cop in our neighborhood a couple of weeks ago for not stopping completely at a stop sign, so i have to take care of that eventually as well... (nowadays, everytime i see a car behind me when i park my car in front of the house, i freak out a little bit...*sigh*)

i have to organize my files in my laptop too... and decide whether i have to buy a new laptop and a new camera as well (it's almost time to "upgrade", but i don't know if it's a good idea to buy new gadgets during a recession.....)

i've been looking into trying wall climbing and yoga too... maybe just a session or two, to see how much i will like it...

GOSH, SO LITTLE TIME, SO MUCH TO DO!

on the bright side, we got to watch Pete Sampras on a tennis exhibition earlier this week... PETE SAMPRAS! man, his killer instincts are still intact, his serving still spectacular (aces galore!) and he knew how to ham it up for the crowd too... that was so great to see!

...and i finally updated my blog!!!

this is better than not having anything to do and end up getting bored... but man, i wish i can get all this stuff done, but also get some time to breathe and relax!

oh well, wish me luck! =)

"yes, we can"

2008-11-04T22:27:00.000-08:00

so, Barack Obama was announced as the president-elect of the USA...

i feel honored to be a US resident and that I was able to witness this historic moment in this country tonight...

good luck to him and i hope this nation will head towards a better direction =)

help!

2008-10-21T16:03:00.000-07:00

I can't stop borrowing DVDs from the library!!!

I've made a list of DVD movies that I wanted to borrow and I've been putting DVDs on hold at an insane rate so I could watch as many movies as possible.

My sleeping hours have been compromised and I've been feeling a lot more sluggish at work lately...

I've been checking my library account online every few hours too to view the status of the DVDs I have on hold...

This should settle down in a few weeks after I get to watch most of the movies...

In the meantime, not a lot of sleep for me..... tsk tsk tsk...

on love and relationships

2008-08-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

as happily single as i claim to be, i have moments of weakness too... i have my days when i wonder if there is someone out there who could be a partner and a best friend who i'm also attracted to (and vice versa, of course).

today is one of those days. i am not wallowing, however... not right now at least. i managed to get the wistfulness out of my system by googling about love and relationships...

here's the thing... i have a theory that the ingredients of a successful relationship are chemistry, compatibility, compromise (a recent addition) and commitment.

needless to say, i googled those four words and stumbled upon this page:

http://www.azcameron.co.uk/2008/05/22/knowing-if-they-are-the-one-for-you/

ha, i thought my relationship theory was kinda original until i found this sentence: "You and your partner need 3 things to mske your relationship work - chemistry, compatibility and commitment. If you do not have all 3 in your heart and as your intention, your relationship will fail."

hehehe, i don't necessarily agree with everything in there, but it's a good read, methinks =)

thoughts of a people pleaser

2008-08-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

sometimes, certain circumstances make things awkward between you and a person. sometimes it can get to you if things used to be normal, even fun between the two of you.

sometimes, things get back to normal and the world is a happy place again. sometimes, things just don't go back to the way they used to be, no matter how hard you try.

you have to realize that it is okay if the latter happens and that sometimes, maybe it is for the best.

you can't get someone/everyone to like you, just as you can't get yourself to like someone/everyone.

it is what it is. life's like that.

oh well... =)

insignificant thoughts and updates

2008-08-05T23:17:00.000-07:00

- very sad that Roger Federer will soon relinquish his #1 ranking after a record 237 weeks... i hope he bounces back in the Olympics and/or US Open... i really want him to win at least a couple more slams (okay maybe at least 3, if you're a tennis fan you'll know why, hehehe) =(

- been playing A LOT of ping pong... sometimes i think i'm playing a little too much... a sign of oversaturation? we'll see...

- i'm still mildly interested with U.S. politics and have been reading a lot of Decision '08 news articles... i have to admit that, like other people around my age, Obama has captured my attention (which i think is good since it helps the young people be more aware of current events and the like)... ha! this coming from someone who considers herself politically jaded, hehehe

- seems like we've run out of exciting summer movies to look forward to... we had an AWESOME summer movie season by the way, with Iron Man, Wall-E and The Dark Knight as my top 3 picks =)

- i think i'm entering a "stay at home and watch movies" phase... hopefully this means that i will be able to return all the DVDs that i borrowed by the end of the month =D

- i need to read more books, even just to make sure that my mind is not stagnating...

- still digging my DS Lite (completed Picross Level 10! YEAH!) =D

- still deliberating on which iPod is most appropriate for me: iPod Touch (if only it had a camera this would have been a no-brainer), iPod Classic (do I really need a lot of memory?) or iPod Nano (should I just go with the standard mp3 player?)... or should i just wait for the next generation release (again)?

- as always, i want to save more money, lose some weight and get some exercise...

- i wish there will be more summer activities to look forward to the next month or so...

facebook, friendster and blogs

2008-07-21T00:42:00.001-07:00

i'm a fan of facebook and friendster because it gives me the opportunity to somehow keep in touch with the people i know and see how they are doing from time to time. i can be very lousy when it comes to replying to messages and e-mails though, so i apologize if i end up responding a few months too late, hehehe...

i am also a voracious reader of blog entries, especially the blogs of people i know...

if you're reading this, then i probably know you and vice versa... so add me up on friendster and facebook so we can kind of keep tabs on each other... let me know if you have a blog too, so i can indulge my ~~nosy~~ curious tendencies =P

some of you already have a blog that i know of, but haven't updated in ages!!!!! update naman kayo dyan, hehehe!

oh yeah... comments, people! feel free to leave a comment in my blog... i like reading comments, it makes me feel loved! don't worry, if you have a blog, i'll drop by to return the favor and leave a comment too ;)

okay, end of shameless facebook/friendster/blog advertising =P

practical grown-up stuff...

2008-07-20T22:33:00.000-07:00

i hate it when i start worrying too much about money... it usually means i've been spending a little too much or stressing about the future... ah, the realities of being a grown-up...

anyway, the last two paychecks have not been very good to me... nothing dramatic took place, but the rising gas prices are starting to take its toll on my budget...

soo... it's time to eat out less... it's time to resist buying popcorn when watching a movie... it's time to minimize the indulging habits (minimize shopping and food tripping, ESPECIALLY food tripping!)

i think i've been eating less healthy too... hopefully, the eating out less would help improve the quality of my food intake...

do not neglect your health, so make sure to get some regular exercise...

it's also time to stop procrastinating... that means i have to:

1) finalize my December trip
2) organize files in my laptop (pictures, videos and music, ESPECIALLY music)
3) sort out finances (at least improve my saving habits AND seriously look into the investing part)
3) map out a clear vision of my future (in terms of career, going back to school and being more independent)

yes, this entry serves as sort of a reality check... don't lose focus!

24

2008-07-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

so, yeah, i turned 24 last week.

it took me around 24 years to "accomplish" and realize some stuff... and yeah, it's about time...

i still have a lot of growing up to do, mind you... i guess it's just nice to sometimes feel like i'm on the right track somehow...

it felt like year 23 came and went by so fast, and all of a sudden i just turned another year older. i guess i don't want to feel that way again when another birthday rolls around.

here's to living each day to the fullest! cheers! =)

strings.....

2008-06-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

while we're at it...

2008-06-21T03:26:00.000-07:00

anyone who knows me well enough probably knows that i love vocal harmonies, so i thoroughly enjoyed this video... a tad silly, but enjoyable all the same =)

this video goes out to all my fellow da coconut nut "singers"... you know who you are =)

another music-related post

2008-06-21T01:08:00.000-07:00

i seem to be a sucker for songs about being secretly in love with your best friend (i.e. Don't by Kelly Clarkson)... not because i've been through that experience (thankfully), but maybe because i find it strangely romantic, hehehe...

here's another one of those songs... it's now one of my favorite Jason Mraz songs along with The Remedy and Geek in The Pink. I'm Yours is great too... anyway, this song is currently in constant rotation in my iPod, so might as well post the lyrics =)

If It Kills Me
by Jason Mraz

Hello, tell me you know
Yeah, you figured me out
Something gave it away
And it would be such a beautiful moment
To see the look on your face
To know that I know that you know now

And baby that’s a case of my wishful thinking
You know nothing
Cause you and I
Why, we go carrying on for hours, on and
We get along much better
Than you and your boyfriend

All I really wanna do is to love you
A kind much closer than friends use
But I still can’t say it after all we’ve been through
And all I really want from you is to feel me
As the feeling inside keeps building
And I will find a way to you if it kills me
If it kills me

Well how long, can I go on like this,
Wishing to kiss you, Before I rightly explode?
This double life I lead isn’t healthy for me
In fact it makes me nervous
If I get caught I could be risking it all
Baby there’s a lot that I miss
In case I’m wrong

If I should be so bold I’d ask you to hold my heart in your hand
Tell you from the start how I’ve longed to be your man
But I never said I would I guess I’m gonna miss my chance again

hmmm...

2008-06-06T09:43:00.000-07:00

I love food.... apparently, I am also a food parasite. I have a compulsive need/want to take a bite of food off a friend's plate if we didn't order the same thing. Let's put it this way, if I feel comfortable enough around you, there is a 95% chance I'm gonna ask to try your food. I might just grab some off your plate, if you have a history of not minding, hehehe... I am totally fine with sharing my food though, just to be clear.

I'd like to think it's mainly because I want to know what it tastes like so I might order it next time, but yeah, now that I think about it, I do it all the time.

A friend at work just pointed it out after watching House. Ironically enough, Dr. House is one of my favorite TV characters. I just never thought that we would have similarities (I like to think I'm pretty nice and easygoing =P)

I don't really know what to think of that, so I guess I'll just chew on that for a while... hehehe...

[ I'm gonna post a summer entry one of these days, I promise! =) ]

2008!

2008-03-12T22:49:00.000-07:00

hello 2008! i know it's 3 months into the new year, but i've been busy (and ultra-procrastinating) lately. well, as they say, better late than never =)

so, to recap, had a BUSY december last year... went to vegas, then LA, THEN indiana in 3 straight weekends... things became a little quiet (thankfully) for awhile after that...

2008 has been a good year so far... it's weird how i have more things going on, just when i gave up on working on my social life, hahaha =P

noteworthy updates:

- went to my first bachelorette party... not a bridal shower ha but a freakin' bachelorette party! it was... hmmm... let's just say it was the most memorable night of my life so far.. namulat ang mata ni justine (justine's eyes have been opened), hahaha! as i jokingly say, i am a woman now =P

- just got into snowboarding, shet, nakaka-addict!!! i promised a couple of friends that i would try it at least three times before i make up my mind about the whole thing. well, three trips later, here i am, eagerly awaiting the next snowboard trip. i bought some equipment already, even when i did my best to control myself from getting carried away... it's really fun though, i honestly didn't expect myself to get into this as much as i do =)

okay, i guess that's it for now....

before i go, gotta post the pics of course, hehehe:

hope the next few months will be just as fun! =D

Christmas 2007

2007-12-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

I had a surprisingly jam-packed December, where I go out of town for three weekends in a row. Will be flying to Indiana to spend New Year with my other set of relatives tonight... I was gonna post a new entry once things settle down, but thought that I should at least have a post-Christmas entry.

I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and may the year 2008 be a fruitful one for all of us! =D

Of course, here's a pic taken during Christmas day to tide you over, hehehe =P

Thanksgiving 2007 =)

2007-11-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

i went through a roller coaster of emotions the past 2 weeks, but i think things have finally settled down, just in time for Thanksgiving.

superficially, i am thankful for going through that emotional roller coaster because it made me lose enough weight to feel confident that i won't feel fat during the holiday season, HEHEHE =P

on a more serious note:

i am thankful for finally feeling like i belong with my extended family here in California.

i am thankful for (and scared of) the anticipation that i am about feel more challenged with my job.

i am thankful for still being in touch with my close friends in the Philippines and Singapore (shout-out to FACEBOOK!).

i am thankful for the awesome Filipinos in my company who warmly welcomed me with open arms (and made me embrace my geekiness, hahaha).

i am thankful for my wonderful non-Filipino co-workers-turned-friends, some of whom have left (or are about to leave) our Kyocera "family".

i am thankful for the wonderful people around me... you all know who you are =)

what doesn't kill you...

2007-11-16T00:23:00.000-08:00

...only makes you

STRONGER.

ah, the irony...

2007-11-12T12:44:00.000-08:00

this has been my favorite song the past few weeks...

No One
by Alicia Keys

I just want you close
Where you can stay forever
You can be sure
That it will only get better

You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don't worry 'cuz
Everything's going to be alright
People keep talking they can say what they like
But all i know is everything's going to be alright

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you
Can get in the way of what I feel for you

When the rain is pouring down
And my heart is hurting
You will always be around
This I know for certain

You and me together
Through the days and nights
I don't worry 'cuz
Everything's going to be alright
People keep talking they can say what they like
But all i know is everything's going to be alright

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you
Can get in the way of what I feel

I know some people search the world
To find something like what we have
I know people will try try to divide something so real
So til the end of time I'm telling you there is no one

No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling
No one, no one, no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you

hai...

2007-10-21T22:13:00.001-07:00

what a sad way to end the day..... ..... ..... .....

i ain't no online shopping virgin no more...

2007-10-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

i finally bought something online for the first time... it was for a co-worker who became a really good friend of ours...

all the best natalie! we're gonna miss you!!! =)

[and yes, i finally got a wallet that i didn't return after a few days ;) ]

wallet

2007-08-31T10:20:00.000-07:00

my wallet's synthetic leather has been peeling off lately, so... i went on a quest to buy a replacement wallet.

i didn't really have a specific style in mind, i just wanted something small enough to fit in my bag yet roomy enough to fit all my cards in -- just like the wallet i'm carrying right now. (it's not like i have twenty cards naman noh, mga anim lang naman...i think, hehehe)

i also wanted something pretty yet practical, so i figured it shouldn't be too hard to find the "perfect" wallet after a little window shopping...

well, it's been a week and i found myself returning 4 wallets with still no replacement. the ones i bought either didn't comfortably fit my cards in or were too big (or too expensive or not pretty enough).

the bulimic shopper in me has come out in full force. hai, i just want a new wallet... why is that so hard to find?

oh yeah, i just bought another wallet last night. naturally, i intend to return that wallet after work today... *sigh*

(FYI, a bulimic shopper is someone who purchases some merchandise and finds himself/herself returning the merchandise within the same week due to buyer's remorse.)

SF gay pride parade 2007

2007-07-10T22:32:00.002-07:00

summer is here! (and yes, i do have the uneven farmer's tan to prove it...)
been a little busy with summer activities here and there... a definite highlight was the SF gay pride parade a few weeks ago... went with Edil to see what the parade was about (was a little disappointed -- only saw less than five naked people, HEHEHE).... had a wonderful lunch at the cheesecake factory, did a little shopping, got 2 CUTE tattoos (temporary lang po), had a lot of fun.... we were on our way home when Barry invited us to go bowling and eat at Gerry's grill afterwards... sarap ng food! (shempre, sobrang sira na ang diet ko, as expected...)

Hopefully, the rest of the summer will be just as fun, enjoyable and memorable... have a good one y'all! =)

(pictures from the parade can be found below...)

new pics!

2007-06-09T23:52:00.000-07:00

let's replace that previous cranky post with something a little cheerier...

Sometime last week(?) -- karaoke night with my frequent lunch buddies at work (B & Z):

Memorial weekend trip -- tree hugger (redwood yan! =D):

My cousin's grad night celebration (can you guess which ones were drunk? hehehe):

so far okay naman ako dito... minsan may mga minor reklamo here and there (kaya nga life can be a bitch, diba? malayo pa talaga ang boyfriend, hehehe)... but when you look at the big picture, i know how lucky i am... i live in one of the best places in the world, i have a great support system (thanks to my warm and caring relatives), i have a full-time job which pays well na rin, i work with people that i actually like, and i gained wonderful friends in the company pa. so diba? i'm in no mood to bitch right now...

today pala was my dad's death anniversary "gathering" (for lack of a better word). andaming pagkain!!! i got to invite my pinoy co-workers to my tita's house for the first time. masaya naman -- todo ang kain, chikahan at nagpoker pa konti. it really brightened my day so i want to thank them for coming =)

i also want to congratulate my juniors who completed another year in NTU, especially the upcoming graduates! woohoo! kain tayo sa labas pag bisita ko sa singapore ha? clubbing rin! parati tayong may plano di naman natutuloy (i'm looking at you derek, HEHEHE). i would like to welcome you all to the "real world" and i hope that this new chapter of your life will be fun, fruitful and full of blessings. congrats ulit! =D

ayan, this is the longest post i've written in a while. it's time to go now since i'm getting sleepy na.. goooooooood night!

*jussy --> *ka-poof!!!*

life can be a bitch

2007-05-20T13:20:00.000-07:00

hindi lang pala LDR...

*end of post*

LDR is a bitch...

2007-05-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

noh?

a lazy update

2007-03-25T00:15:00.000-07:00

Tagalog:

tinatamad akong magupdate kaya magpost na lang ako ng pics. halatang tumaba ako dahil mas bilog na ang aking mukha.

English:

i feel lazy updating so i'll just post a few pics instead. you can tell i gained some weight since my face is now round(er).

most recent pinoy bday party i attended (march 2007):

second most recent pinoy bday party i attended (march/feb 2007):

first and most recent night out with pinoy officemates (feb 2007):

you can probably tell, masaya na ako dito (i'm happy here now) =)

huhuhu

2007-03-13T09:36:00.001-07:00

gusto kong pumayat pero di ko magawa... huhuhuhuhu ='(

quiz time

2007-02-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

shet, i never knew how rusty my math was until i had to solve the fairly easy mental math questions in this quiz... ang bagal ko nang mag-isip!!! whaaaaa!!!!!

pimp my ride

2007-01-05T22:33:00.000-08:00

i LOVE my new car!!!

Happy new year!!!!! =D

Thanksgiving entry

2006-11-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

if you told me two years ago that I will be living with my relatives in California, I would not have believed you.

if you told me a year ago that I will get an engineering job in California, I would have laughed in your face.

if you told me two months ago that I will be working for a company only 20 miles away from where I'm living, I would have thanked you for trying to make me feel better. (I was still a full-time bum then who couldn't drive and there were times that I would feel sorry for myself for being so useless.)

if you told me one month ago that I will be working in a position that I actually like, for a company full of friendly people (and friendly Filipinos!), I would have thought you were crazy. (Nobody could be THIS lucky.)

I have been very blessed.

These, my friends, are what I'm thankful for.

ang aming "noche buena" part 2

2006-10-09T21:46:00.000-07:00

( moved from a previous now-defunct blogger account, because the santa pics are too good to be sent to cyberspace oblivion... diba derek? =D )

Christmas 2005:

our very own personal Santa Claus... o, meron kayo nan? =D

of course, nagpa-pic ako with Mr. Santa =D ...

hehe, look at our Santa o, parang buang... hahaha =P

also, here's a pic of my first encounter with snow...

***** MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!! *****

peso vs. dollar

2006-10-09T18:06:00.000-07:00

one telltale sign of adjustment in a new country is when you don't compare each and every price of a merchandise against your local currency anymore.

i can still remember my first week in singapore when i didn't buy anything because everything seemed to be at least 200 pesos, when they should have cost me a third of that amount.

i found myself doing the same thing on my first few weeks here, not only because i have no money (i miss those days when i still had scholarship allowance), but also because i feel guilty asking my mom to spare me a couple of dollars since we are not dollar earners yet.

i still don't consider myself an official dollar earner right now but i don't feel alarmed anymore when i find a simple top (key word: simple) that costs about 20 dollars (that's 1000 pesos for you). that doesn't mean i'm gonna buy it, but i just might do that after i get a full-time job... =)

=)

2006-10-05T18:47:00.000-07:00

hehehe, i drove by myself to the grocery today. i bought some oranges and nectarines lang naman. i know it's not much but it meant a lot to me because this is the first time that i have driven alone in my entire life.

yun lang. yey, hehehe =)

i am now a licensed driver!

2006-10-04T11:13:00.000-07:00

HEE!

need i say more? =D

hehehe =)

2006-09-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

i saw a skunk today, hehehe...

at first, i thought it was a cat because it was really furry (plus, it was dark -- it was 10pm already that time). i saw the white stripe at its back a few seconds later...

i wanted to take a closer look, but i'm not ready to smell a skunk up close yet... =P

hehehe, that's all... =)

another pic! gasp!

2006-09-07T16:41:00.000-07:00

not everything in life consists of ups and highs, there will inevitably be some downs and lows along the way... pero let's not dwell on that, i am in no mood to dampen people's spirits with little troublesome things that will soon go away, no biggie.... =)

here's another pic taken a few days ago... decided to post it kasi ang ganda ng view... that small island in the background is Alcatraz, promise! hehehe =P

please don't get sick of my face yet, hahaha! 0=)

San Francisco Giants

2006-08-28T01:17:00.000-07:00

hehehe, that's the name of my new baseball team... =D did you know that the legendary Barry Bonds is in this team? if you don't know him Google him na =P

went to my first Major League baseball game the other night... had a lot of fun... our team won pa! =D

our picture after the winning game:

yes, that's me:flaunting our Giants sweaters (comes in different colors pa!):
also: still a bum (will start seriously applying for jobs this coming week though), still learning how to really drive (got my driving permit just last week), still somehow adjusting to the lifestyle here...

movies:

click -- surprisingly touching, adam sandler's sensitive not-so-stupid side is on full display in this movie...

my super ex-girlfriend -- okay lang... not as cute as I thought it would be...

john tucker must die -- cute teen flick =)

high school musical -- cute rin =)

ai tama, before i forget...

our picture after the convocation ceremony:family pic at the National Orchid Garden:

bowling on my last day in Singapore (hai... makamiss, hehehe):

hehehe that's it for now... take care y'all! =)

quote of the day

2006-08-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

"Never trust words of love whispered at a beach, or under the moon, or any romantic and beautiful place. Pero kapag na-flattan ang kotse mo sa gitna ng daan, at mainit na mainit ang araw, at masakit na ulo niya, nagkakapiconan na kayo, at sinabi niyang mahal ka niya, doon ka maniwala!" -- Jim Paredes c/o http://ala-ism.pansitan.net/.

hehehe makes sense diba? =)

hello ulit!

2006-07-13T00:19:00.000-07:00

hehehe just wanted to say na i changed the comment settings of my blog so that non-bloggers can also get to comment...

watched pirates of carribean 2 kanina with my cousin. i expected it to be bad since my cousin's co-workers said na pangit daw. but it was actually fun to watch. natatawa ako kay jack sparrow... may mga mala-bading moves pa, hehehe =)

after that, lumabas kmi pra magshopping konti. ang aking nabili:

a pair of warm striped socks ............................................. 29 cents!!!
lipstick (shade: red, pra pangparty kuno) ............................ 94 cents!!!
concealer (mahirap mghanap ng murang concealer stick) .... $1.59 !!!

o dba, mga 3 dollars lng naspend ko, pero dami ko nang nabili. wais! of course, all three items were on sale, hehehe =D

anyway, i'm off to bed. late na dto eh. comment kayo ha? para feel ko rin magblog! hee! =P

*jussy ----> *ka-poof!!!*

P.S. you guys update your blogs na rin! =D

helloooooooooo!!!!!

2006-07-07T23:53:00.000-07:00

wazzup wazzup? musta na kayo jan?
as for me, im just bumming around most of the time...
just wanted to update with a few pics lang... =)

my 22nd b'day:

my cousins tried to get me drunk. they failed though, but they came awfully close... nahilo ako, hehehe =P

pictures sa apartment ng pinsan ko:

4th of July:

went to the city again to supposedly watch the fireworks. we got there late though so labas na lang ulit with cousins. some of their friends joined us a bit later.

picture ulit before alis:

during the "gimik":

in other news...

movies ive seen: (yes, i have that much time on my hands)

1) the break-up (okay lang, not as nice as i thought it would be)

2) superman returns (worth watching sa sine, gwapo si superman.. HEHEHE)

3) the devil wears prada (better than i expected, a pretty good chick flick. galeng ni meryl streep!)

4) prime (too long for its own good, meryl streep can pull anything off, as usual)

5) the lake house (cute romantic movie, just dont take things too seriously.. alam mo naman... engineering minds, too rational... hehehe)

6) friends with money (good, if you like indie movies)

7) just my luck (okay lang, watch only when bored)

movies im looking forward to watching:

1)pirates of the carribean 2

2)my super ex-girlfriend!!!

miscellaneous:

1) trying to apply for jobs online

2) reading the california driver's handbook para matake ko na ang driving written test which is a prerequisite to the actual driving test...

3) usually nasa bahay lang since everyone here are busy with their respective jobs, kaya parati nanonood ng movies (thank goodness for the speedy internet)

4) usually nasa bahay lang ksi mahal lumabas (i.e. shopping, eating out) at wala akong pera dahil wala pa akong trabaho... waaahhhhh

5) marunong na akong magbilliards! woohoo! laro tayo ha kung kita tayo ulit? =D

hehehe yan lang muna for now... kayo? has the summer break been good to you? let me know! =)