stupid, stupid

I am, by far, the most stupid person with an IQ of a bit above average this world has ever seen. Work starts at 5:30 in the morning. We are usually asked to come in at least 15 minutes before the time, just so we could prepare for our classes. But imagine what I did? I came in an hour early!!! That would not have been much of a big deal had it been any other time but in the wee hours of the morning.And even worse, still, is the fact that I was sweating like a pig, thinking that I was going to be late for work!

Stupid. I have nothing more to say.

decaffeinated and back (part 3)

Yesterday’s issue with coffee went so bad, I wasn’t able to do anything that made sense save take a picture of the culprit*: a BIG mug of muddy, bittersweet, goodness that is everything but good. What made the entire episode end up becoming so bad was that coffee was the only thing I had for breakfast. I went out of the house bringing my mug and bread. The humanitarian in me was the reason why I reached the office with everything I left with - minus the bread**. I guess that that was the only good thing that happened to my morning yesterday***. Anyway, after four days of relying on something that didn’t work, my eyes were opened all because of my friendster horoscope: something about ditching a bad habit.

Well, it took 4 days and a horoscope forecast (none of which I have ever taken seriously before) for me to realize that I was killing myself, so I decided to try and eat something healthy for breakfast. My mom and I bought some lettuce yesterday (that’s the green one on top of the plastic container), and I convinced her to buy me a new water container which made me remember how I used to love Marvin the Martian. So my breakfast was composed of: a tuna sandwich made with wholewheat bread, low-fat mayo, lite tuna, and lettuce (the kind I like since it does not cause any flatulence problems) and water. I still am sleepy (seeing as I never sleep well), but at least I can still think straight. And I’m not hungry!

Our flight to Manila is scheduled at 2:30 PM today. I still haven’t packed, and I have this weird prediction that after work, I’ll end up sleeping my butt off, then just cram all of my belongings into a bag 2 hours before the flight. But then, I have never had ANY clairvoyant episodes before. If this should be the first, then I expect my butt to get a good serving of slaps from my fellow editors. If otherwise, I guess I’ll be sleeping my butt of in the airport, instead.

*SIGH*

I have so many issues to deal with, with no room to deal with them. I remember Miguel Villanueva telling me back in high school that he thinks I am very much like comic books: too many issues which make them very difficult to understand in the long run. Oh well. Welcome to my life.

I better get some sleep, and finish this sandwich off.

That’s me enjoying my sandwich. Yum!

*Does this make any sense to you? I better reassess my values.
**I gave the bread to the subdivision hobo.
***My morning wasn’t as bad as you might think.

decaffeinated and back (part 2)

There’s nothing worse than being the sleepiest person on earth who had to wake up at three in the morning for work, with only two bananas and a big mug of coffee that could not keep you awake for breakfast. That is, if you consider spilling some of the coffee on your only plain white blouse as a negligible addition to that, then yes, there’s nothing worse.

Yesterday, I pasted this conversation that was going on in my head. That conversation was actually taken from one of my best-liked conversations between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, who are, by far, the fictional characters closest to my heart. Their original conversation was actually centered on the power of poetry to drive away any affection short of true love. Whereas my rendition is focused on the power of coffee in inducing sleep. I guess that closes the topic.

I am still having this dilemma of whether or not to proceed to Kalasag right after work. I brought a pillow with me, and, how could I forget, my business ed files. I’m not sure if there’s still some work for me to do (work meaning paperwork), but I believe there’s no harm in trying to be prepared, although I should be allowed to say that the files are beginning to take toll on my poor back and backpack.

Today is Kuya Mcoy’s birthday (present EIC). Aside from his birthday surprise, they set up a meeting for 6PM tonight, and I actually planned on going home, sleep, and just go to the office in the afternoon (after I have had my fair share of sleep). But seeing as I have predicted that laziness will overcome the better of me, I might as well stay at Kalasag for the whole day (well, there’s the answer to my dilemma!). Good thing I brought a pillow with me.

Other than that, I still have some other businesses to attend to. My sister and I are going to have our uniforms made today, plus McDonald’s has managed to misplace the receipt I so desperately need for the liquidation of the Photography Seminar affair. Thinking of these things make me twice as tired as I already am. Surprising, really, that I was able to write something this long despite my situation.

Still an hour left before work’s over. I’ll try to catch a few winks first, so goodbye, farewell, for now.

decaffeinated and back

I haven’t been caffeinated for the better part of last week. Unfortunately, I can no longer stand the lack of it in my system, so I started to bring my mug to work yesterday, and drink some coffee while working (long story really. I would normally drink coffee before going to work, but since I couldn’t get up early enough, I had to drag my mug to work with me). Yesterday, I dropped dead tired right after finishing an entire mug of the tasty brown thing. I thought that was an isolated case, but having it happen twice makes me think otherwise.

Today, I brought a bigger mug with me. You know, the type of mug which is actually a hybrid between a mug and a bowl? Anyway, I drank more coffee today (logically, since I had a bigger mug, I used two sachets of the perky drug), partially hoping that yesterday’s incident wouldn’t be repeated. Could I be any more wrong?

Although I didn’t drop as dead as I did yesterday, man, do I feel tired! I feel like I have been cheated by the coffee manufacturer. Oh well…

I just recently had this conversation in my head, and it’s actually funny how a sleepy mind manages to work. Here goes…

“And so ended his state of being awake,” said Elizabeth impatiently. “There has been many a one, I fancy, overcome in the same way. I wonder who first discovered the efficacy of coffee in driving away consciousness!”

“I have been used to consider coffee as the drink for alertness,” said Darcy.

“Of a fine, stout, healthy alertness it may. Everything nourishes what is strong already. But if it be only a slight, thin sort of awareness, I am convinced that one good cup will drift it entirely away.”

This statement is copied and altered from one of my favorite novels, Pride and Prejudice. And before I explain any further, I better get some sleep.

goodbye cruel world

Imagine falling in love with a shirt. Maybe not much of a surprise for hopeless romantics. But if you knew what was printed on that shirt, maybe you’d think I’m sick. Yup. That photo (–>) is a pathetic likeness of what was printed on that shirt.

Some might think it’s funny, but my current state can be pretty much captured by the print. Freedom can be taken away in ways more than one. Mine was just taken.

I am not much of a freedom bird. Clip my wings, and I’ll be just fine. Wound me, and I’m sure to heal. I can survive everything. But put me in a cage, and I’m sure to die.

There are so many things I want to do in this life. I could barely think of things I would not want to do. Funny thing is, I am being forced into doing those few things I so despise. It’s either me, or that’s just how life works. Painfully, I think it’s the latter.

It doesn’t matter who strikes the match, and brings it to the wick. As long as it’s done, the dynamite’s sure to blow up. I’m beginning to wonder who between the two of us is luckier. He has the choice of ending his suffering, even if the end is, well, morbid. As for me, I doubt if I have much of a choice.

There is always a choice. Or so they say. At the rate things are going, though, I am starting to lose the doubt that I might be an exception.

on being a business editor and how I hate paperwork

One of the many reasons why I decided to take up an engineering course is that engineers always have a piece of the action. Engineers are either on the field or brewing up some ideas that make the world a better place. Yes, they have their fair share of the unspeakable obstacle that is paperwork, but it is either filled with Einsteinian and other what-have-you-geniuses’ equations, proposals of the most mind-boggling kind, or designs from which the world’s latest technologies and most useful and ingenious creations are borne. It’s a shame to admit that I might never come up with something that could change the world in this lifetime, but it is a teeny-wee bit more embarrassing to admit that I am reduced to making paperwork that includes none of the aforementioned. Again, life and its sarcastic-beyond-all-reason ironies.

I am not complaining (well, maybe a little). I never wanted this responsibility. But seeing as I don’t have much of a choice here, I might as well do my best. I was just finished browsing through the files Ate Star (Kalasag 2007 Business Editor) just gave me, and it is nothing short of a miracle that my migraine has managed to keep at bay. Money is such a messy and, well, messy (pardon me for the lack of a better word) business, and there’s absolutely no way I could express my dislike (understatement of the century here!) for the paperwork (massive would be a runner-up understatement) that involves it. If this is what it’s like to hold money (Kalasag has lots of it), then I wish I will never get rich*.

In a few more minutes, I’ll be off to school (I’m still at work, by the way), and then Business Editorship will be the main agenda for the day. As much as I dislike being the Business Ed for Kalasag 2008, I just hope there’s a way to make this thing work. I’m not the type to quit, and as sure as the Fab Five guys are straight am I the type to slack on the job. I’m going to be the best Business Ed Kalasag will ever have (or maybe at least come in second… or third… well seventh isn’t too shabby, RIGHT?), even if the responsibility is not to my liking.

One thing’s for sure. If I’m still voted for Kalasag 2009 Business Ed, heads are going to fly.

*How come I have this überly strong feeling that I’ll be taking this wish back before you could spell M-O-N-E-Y?

payday!!! and pirates!!!

I just received my first full salary for 15 days. Happy am I that I am finally earning some cash, but I’m telling you, the sight of this money is giving me the creeps. Sheesh, my salary isn’t even that much. Maybe I have a minor case of Chrematophobia (fear of money). I wouldn’t consider that much of a problem though, seeing as I’m only the BUSINESS EDITOR of Kalasag for AY 2007-2008 (you know, the person who handles money and the matters concerning it?). I hate life. It has become much too ironic for my taste.

I’m not much of a spender. In fact, cheapskate would do more than just justice (tongue twister!) in describing me. I didn’t even spend all of the salary I got from last time (it was the salary for three working days, and after 15 days, I still have more than half of it left!). But for the past few days, I have been splurging (not quite the splurging others have in mind). Yesterday, I bought some dessert on the way home, and a yoga mat (though I was able to convince my mom to pay for this one. See? Cheapskate!). Two days ago, I went to watch a movie (Gray Matters). I even had this debate with myself whether or not to buy some popcorn, and guess who won?* Anyway, what I bought after the movie still strikes some guilt onto my silly being.

Two days ago was the first time that I single-handedly bought some pirated DVDs!!! I got a copy of the second season of Prison Break from Tron (my brother’s friend a.k.a. next-door neighbor) sometime last week, and was itching to get a copy of the first season. So after the movie, I went to Mantex (San Pedro), and bought a copy. A pirated copy! NOW I’M A PIRATE TOO!!! Even worse is the fact that instead of stopping at the Prison Break DVD, I bought a yoga and yogilates collection DVD. And WORST is the fact that had I not bought the pirated DVDs, I would not have felt the need to buy dessert (I ate it while watching Prison Break), and the yoga mat (logically, for the yoga DVD). I would have saved my last salary 100% had I not bought pirated DVDs!!!!! WHY!?!!? WHY DID I DO IT!?!?!

OK. I am going nuts. Yoga is totally not working on me…

SEE?!?!? I spent 65 bucks on the DVD and 399 bucks (on sale! And my mom paid for it!) on the mat, and it’s not even working on me?!?!!!

I better cut my caffeine intake. Or I guess waking up at 3 AM 5 days a week (for work) just does these kinds of things to you.

*The Cheapskate won.

Gray Matters

After watching the trailer for this movie months back, I was very much enticed to watch it. Maybe for sheer interest, or, well, self-diagnosis, I can’t quite say. But you don’t come around movies regarding homosexuality too often, so I decided to give it a shot. I can’t say I hated it, but it wasn’t as great as I expected it to be either (maybe the humor in the trailer led me to expect much more than I should).

Here is an excerpt from the movie summary (which leaves not much room for the imagination) that I got from their official site (www.graymattersmovie.com).

They finish each other’s sentences, dance like Fred and Ginger, and they’re all hearing wedding bells. All? No ménage-a-tois here - just siblings Gray and Sam (Heather Graham and Tom Cavanaugh), thirty-something New Yorkers so compatible they share a downtown loft, love to watch the same classic movies, jog together, look out for each other and, to their biggest surprise, wind up falling in love with the same woman.

First and foremost, the theme of the movie gets a little messy (especially if you have watched the trailer first). I first thought that the movie was about both Gray and Sam, and how they were going to overcome that twisted little obstacle of being siblings in love with the same woman (a unique approach to sibling rivalry, by the way). But then, it eventually strays to a path where Gray has to battle with her sexuality, almost alone (well, without her brother, that’s for sure). The movie also had a lot of fillers a.k.a. extenders* throughout its hour-and-half duration. Plus, the audio and lighting at Gaisano Mall of Davao Cinema 5 cut the entire movie experience a little above unpleasant. I’d say, after expecting so much from the trailer, I was a tad disappointed.

But it wasn’t entirely bad. A round of applause is due the cast (Heather Graham as Gray, Tom Cavanaugh as Sam, Bridget Moynahan as Charlie, Alan Cumming as Gordy, etc…,) and the debutant director, Sue Kramer. As her first film, I’d say it was a job done (notice the lack of well in that phrase). The cast made the entire movie more pleasant to both the ears and eyes, plus the way they delivered their lines made the audience feel the homey-ness of the film. What makes this film worth watching is the new points-of-view it offers on homosexuality, and the possibility of it being in our system without us knowing it.

If I were given the choice to buy the DVD, or to watch it again, I would say “pass” to that. But this review does not serve as a means of spoiling your viewing experience of the film (just in case you were still interested), and so I have made a list of suggestions to enhance your viewing experience of Gray Matters.

• If you haven’t watched the trailer yet, please, by all means, do not watch it.
• Find yourself a good cinema with good audio and lighting, even if it means splurging a little more than when viewing in a cheap cinema. The film has a lot of ‘dark’ scenes, which means going to a cinema with horrible lighting is a big no-no. Also, the punchlines would not mean a thing if you can’t hear them properly, so do yourselves a favor and do not do what I did.
• If you have friends to go with, please do so. It’s best to share the laughter with friends. And trust me, if you want a good clean laugh, then this movie is for you.

Here are some of my favorite scenes from the movie, so look out (if you still plan to watch the film):

• Gray and Charlie dancing that cute little dance in sync with the television in Sam and Gray’s downtown loft (notice that Gray and Charlie’s costumes were also in sync to those of the characters in the television)
• Gordy pretending to be a gay woman to get into a gay bar with Gray.
• The amazing kiss between Charlie and Gray (winner scene, by the way)
• “Take the R out of GRAY, and BINGO!!!” - Gray’s exact words when she revealed her gay situation to Sam
• Gray’s hallucination (a woman walking by in her underwear)

Hope you have fun watching!

* fillers a.k.a. extenders are those scenes that do not contribute to the story line at all. One good example would be when Gray, Sam, and Charlie were dancing in this Mexican restaurant, and you can’t see the point of the full minute (or two) inclusion of their dancing in the film (they don’t dance that well, and it’s not like you can see the “sibling rivalry” or Gray’s gay issue while they where dancing).

andie for sure

To those with a fast eye, you know as much as I do that there is no such thing as a PICKPOCKER. I was browsing through the photos taken during the Camiguin trip (by the way, I have been feeling extremely lazy for the past few days, so it might just take a few more days, maybe years, before I could get to write about the trip), and I came upon this. Whoever took this, or when it was taken, I am no wiser, but I certainly found it funny.

Which reminds me. I have been blog-hopping lately, and I found this hilarious blog. The blog is supposedly owned by a Romblon-born and raised maid, who, like any other maid, managed to find themselves in the arms of rich employers in the city. Her name is Chona Mae Banaag (”Chona for sure” ). Her blog has been nothing like I’ve ever read before. It’s humor is relentlessly merciless - death comes instantly to those who know not how to breath in between long bursts of laughter. The comments were equally interesting.

Here’s the link to her page : CHONA IN THE CITY

By reading the comments, one would realize that people really do not think alike. People expressed certain hatred for the blog saying so many things that do not even impose an important or meaningful idea (to me, at the very least). Well, here’s what I think.

The blog is a good way of making people place themselves in the shoes of their housemaids. Let’s face it: a lot of Filipinos work as housemaids - both within and outside of the country. And being who they are, they are not to be blamed if they did not receive the best of what education has to offer, and if it shows. But they are to be blamed if they did not make the best out of life even if they were shortchanged on a few things. Chona’s blog is a humorous point-of-view of something that many a luckier person would consider as an unfortunate event. Chona (she be real or otherwise), embodies a person with great gusto for living and a faith like no other. I see in her the things I like most about my countrymen, thus the attachment. She is as human as any of us could ever get (and maybe even more), despite her losing end.

To meet Chona Mae Banaag, Chona for sure, click HERE

This is Vikki Fe Albino y Doromal signing off…

…Oh, and by the way… That’s Andie, for sure.