AndieCrafts

Me: Hello. I’m Andie.
Everyone else: Hi Andie.
Me: I’m, uhmm, a university student. I used to be OK during my first few years in university. It all started going downhill when I discovered broadband internet. It was just like discovering cigarettes for smokers. It was the best drug I ever tasted, but eventually, I had to try some more. So just like many chain cigarette smokers moving on to pot for more excitement, I moved on to wireless broadband internet, which made my condition much, much worse. Just a few days of no internet connection would bring me shivering like a dog out on a winter’s night. After turning nights into days, losing any concept of sleep, and passing school papers terribly late, I realized I needed help badly. So here I am, telling everyone that I am a computer and download addict, and that I need help.

OK. So maybe this is one of those figments of my imagination that seem so real sometimes. I mean, who would dare say that this won’t come true in a few years of so? Maybe a group is already established somewhere that I don’t even know of. Considering the many types of Addictions Anonymous groups (substance addicts alone could account for a long list -  alcoholics, cigarette smokers, and other substance abusers) going on out there, who is to say that computer addiction will not merit the same kind of system? After all, Addictions Anonymous groups cater to the acceptance of harmful addictions and dealing with these addictions with some group support, which is seen best for those whose lives have been destroyed by their addiction. Albeit far from being truly harmful, my addiction is already starting to put me behind on some work that needs to be done and is sometimes preventing me from going out into the real world.

I’m sure a lot of other people are undergoing the same experience as I am right now. Recently, I’ve been relying too much on the internet on how to live my life as fully as possible, that I’ve forgotten how to truly be alive. This is not as simple as it sounds. In fact, this is a creepy realization to fall on. Twilight zone creepy. And I’d like to think that I’m not the only person who feels this way.

I’m really trying my best to be a better citizen here. And in order for me to do just that, I have to enumerate my mistakes just so something could be done about them. Now you know. And as a last point, I just want everyone to know that I’m downloading things that are getting creepier and creepier everyday. Here’s an example.

Coldplay’s X&Y

As everyone close to me probably already knows, I’m a big Coldplay fan. They’ve been my favorite band for almost 7 years now. I am one of those obsessive compulsive band lovers downloading entire albums of the group, in addition to buying their albums legally from music bars. Yesterday, in my boredom, I downloaded something of a remake of Coldplay’s music. Here’s its cover album:

Lullaby renditions of Coldplay’s most popular songs. Think drum beating and rad guitar solos turned chimes and xylophones. And see how the album cover matches that of X&Y’s.

According to the Rockabye Baby’s site, their music came with the need to make children’s music cool and enjoyable for both the kids and parents. I’ve listened to the album, and I should say it’s pretty good. Aside from God Put a Smile Upon Your Face (goodness, was this creepy!), everything else was really done well (if you don’t mind the the polyphonic-ish impression of some of the songs): I could sing along with all of the songs, and I think they’ll be successful lullaby-wise, though I wouldn’t for the life of me let my kid listen to this before they turn 8 (I’d rather have my kids listening to The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World… Ever! and The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the Universe… Ever! during the first years of their life).

I guess that’s enough addiction talk for today. I think I should reserve my other addictions for some other time (Oh, there’s more? You bet there’s more!!!).

Manaway ba naman sa kabaduyan sa lain. You know, the kind of behavior wherein you mock others for something you haven’t realize you also had? Upon realizing, however, it kind of gets to your nerves initially, right? I mean, who wouldn’t be pissed off by the mere thought of having been unfairly cynical at others’ behavior, when the joke really is on you? But eventually, you get to catch up with life and realize that maybe, if you can’t beat the traits you find so annoying out of your system, that you might as well embrace it. So here it is, people… I BRING YOU THE BADUY REVOLUTION (of which I happen to be a proud part!)!!!

It all started with simplest of things: Friendster shoutouts. I can’t believe just how cheesy people could get with their shoutouts. Click on your friends’ profiles and you’ll see what I mean: their shoutouts are either love quotes, lines from a cheesy song, or a special message for their significant other (and for the whole world at that) to see. Cynical, aren’t I? Well, it just so happened that my brother posted a shoutout that goes something like this:

“Will you give me a chance to know you? It’d make me really happy if you did.”

Being the cynic, I posted a comment saying “What’s with the baduy shoutout, dude?” My brother’s just in high school, and what a shame would it be for him if his friends saw his sister post something like that. Just a couple of hours after me posting the comment, he took down my comment and changed his shoutout. By the time he got home, he told me this:

“Kinsa ra ang baduy sa atuang duha? At least akua, tao ang akuang trip. Ikaw, imong computer!” (For those who are curious, my shoutout said: Fitz, you are mine! And I’m yours, forever!)

It wasn’t a major fight really. In fact, everything said and done was in jest, and we simply got to laugh about it. But what he said really hit me hard: Sheesh, bai, BADUY KO!!! BADUY KO!!! WAAAHHHH!!!

Looking back on the things I have done, I was trying to be someone! (Sounds family?) I was just mocking my own kind! As a form of apology, though, here are my favorite movie and song lines that currently serve as a confirmation of my kabaduyan.

1. The Awful Truth

Lucy Warriner: You’re all confused, aren’t you?
Jerry Warriner: Aren’t you?
Lucy Warriner: No.
Jerry Warriner: Well you should be, because you’re wrong about things being different because they’re not the same. Things are different except in a different way. You’re still the same, only I’ve been a fool… but I’m not now.
Lucy Warriner: Oh.
Jerry Warriner: So long as I’m different, don’t you think that… well… maybe things could be the same again… only a little different, huh?

The Awful Truth starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne is my favorite movie of all time. The hilarious twists and witty script makes me laugh each and every time. It’s timeless, and if you still haven’t seen the film, and it so happened to be that you’re into romantic comedies, I suggest you see this one.

2. The Lady Eve

Jean Harrington: See anything you like?

This line is one simple line, but it got me all tingly after hearing it. With this film, you’ll see the girl making the moves. I love Jean. I adore Jean. But I don’t think I’ll be anything like her, though. Asa ka, pamatay pick-up line na bai! See anything you like? Dang!

3. City of Angels

Nathaniel Messinger: Seth knows no fear, no pain, no hunger, he hears music in the sunrise. But he’d give it all up, he loves you that much.
Maggie Rice: I don’t understand.
Nathaniel Messinger: He can fall, he can give up his existence as he knows it, he can give up eternity and become… one of us.

I hate this movie so much. It makes me cry and laugh and feel along with all of the characters. If someone’s going to give up their life as they know it for me, just like what Seth did for Maggie, that’ll be the day!

And these lines aren’t all. I’ve watched possibly every romantic comedy on cable TV, and I’m still going back way, way far as Cary Grant during the 1930s. So I’m a sucker, aren’t I? A big, damned sucker for cheesy lines and stories. Told you I’m baduy. And I’m loving it.

To find myself fully in my kabaduyan, I had to look for comrades. My brother’s in. And so is my sister (with her pamatay Friendster shoutout “With this spark I’ll keep on smoldering your senses…” Asa ka!). Then Kuya N-N, the school bus. I got the following conversations from Mujik’s blog (Him happens to be the school bus).

CONVERSATION 1:

Him and Her were sharing an umbrella one rainy night.

Him: So, when are we getting married? (Di pa gani mo uyab!)

CONVERSATION 2:

Her was eating palabok and Him telling Her what he did the day before.

Him: *Chit-chat-whateverloo*… we played
Her: Why do you waste your money on games?
Him: I’m not wasting my money. I’m paying the internet cafe to waste my time…
Her: I have a suggestion… Why not pay me, then I’ll waste your time?
Him: Hahaha! That’s impossible!
Her: Why?
Him: You can never waste my time… Being with you is not a waste of time.
Her: ummm… 0_o ok… (dang! there goes my money)

Isn’t that just cheesy? But it’s so cute… I LOVE IT!!!

To end my documentation of the baduy revolution, let me end with some IM status messages.

JP Abrina: Matututunan mo lamang maghinagpis pag natutunan mo nang magmahal.

Andie: Mahal na kita, pero ‘di pa tayo nagkikita.

Red: Pipitasin ko ang mga tala sa langit upang magsilbing ala-ala sa kislap at ninging ng iyong mga mata. (Am I right, Red? Please correct me if otherwise.)

That’s it people. One last thing, though. Are you part of THE BADUY REVOLUTION? If you are, prove it!

In a way, my current feeding habits can put me in a category of patay-gutom. Especially during those nights (including this) wherein I’m sacrificing the little sleep I have left just to get a few steps ahead in my schoolwork (last sem na bai, i-95 na tanan!), and sneak in a few moments for blogging. I usually scavenge the entire kitchen and dining room for something decent (and not so decent) to eat. It just so happened that tonight is cup noodles night. Hoorah for the patay-gutom Andie!

The cup noodles aren’t mine, but the rightful owner has no right to get angry at me for taking her food. I asked! Although I seriously doubt she (Abi, my sister who’s also an adik like me, still awake at this hour, while she has a class at 9:15 tomorrow. She’s luckier than I am though. I have a class at effing 7:40, which I’ve been late coming to 4 times already!) listened. Her fault, not mine!

Anyway. Back to the point of this post. I love cup noodles, as they are fast hunger fixes, relatively cheap, and easy to steal if someone at home has stocks and I happen to be hungry and there’s nothing decent (or not so decent) to eat. Oh, but this time, I didn’t steal it OK?!?! I effing asked, man! Anyway, as I’m sure many others enjoy cup noodles more, as much, or even less than I do, I think we ought to put some variety on this thing. Here’s how I enjoy my cup noodles, and hopefully, it can give you ideas on how to enjoy yours in the future.

STEPS ON HOW TO ENJOY YOUR CUP NOODLES:

1. Stolen cup noodles are the best cup noodles to enjoy because of the sheer thrill of it. The adrenaline rush brought about by the awareness of the possibility of being caught stealing cup noodles (nyaha!) is equalled only by the adrenaline rush brought about by the awareness of the possibility of being caught stealing forks from the cafeteria because you hated the plastic forks being stowed away in a drawer at the Kalasag office. But that’s not my point. Actually, I have no point, but here I am writing, nonetheless. My almost point (seeing as I do not have a point to make) is that for maximum enjoyment, try getting your cup noodles as illegitimately safe as possible. Illegitimately safe, OK? Ayaw gyud intawon ko ninyo pasanginla kung kulatahon mo pag masakpan mong mangawat sa tindahan sa kanto! Palihug lang gyud!
2. If you are in patay-gutom mode, as I am right now, do not follow the line! You know how they put this line on the inside of the cup to serve as a hot water level limit? Don’t follow it. In my book, MORE SABAW = MORE ENJOYMENT. A good technique would be to put the noodles in a bigger mug and proceed with the regular instructions minus the line. And if you wait for 5 minutes, instead of 3, you’ll observe that your noodles get pretty softer and bigger, thus the appearance of more. More noodles (at least the appearance of it) and more sabaw is definitely heaven for a patay-gutom like me.
3. Make sure that what you’re opening is cup noodles with soup, not yakisoba, or pansit, or other types of dry noodles. I don’t know how you see it, but as for me, I feel like I’m being duped by these dry noodle varieties. They tend to be a bit more expensive, but they seem to have a smaller yield compared to the soup noodle varieties. Other than that, opening the dry noodle variety while treating it like soup noodles may not always be the best idea. Although yakisoba-tasting soup noodles might not really make a big difference, especially in patay-gutom mode, I would still rather have my yakisoba as yakisoba and my soup noodles as soup noodles during normal mode (which might not be too normal for others). Although I should say that the soup noodles taste good yakisoba-style, this method isn’t exactly my cup of tea. Remember: MORE SABAW = MORE ENJOYMENT.

I guess that’s it for now. Better finish my noodles and my ethics bulletted (or bulleted, I am not sure) essay for Engineering Ethics later today. Jajaja!!! Essay na naka-bullet! Saya!

You know how it is with certain things: some you find easy, some you find difficult. It’s just that recently, a lot of the things I need to do become much more difficult to accomplish. Is it just me, or is it because I need to let go of these things and focus instead on the things that truly matter to me?

First off, I’m known to be anti-social. And this is not just fiction. And I’m not trying to do anything to change this. Yes, I am anti-social, and for some good reasons. One of those reasons is that I just love staying at home. Maybe because I’m too lazy, or simply because I desire the company of people who truly deserve my attention (and these people happen to be fewer than 20. Don’t get me wrong, these people are not exceptionally smart, good-looking, or even popular. Quite simply, these are the people who’ve cared greatly for me, and whom I care greatly for. What can I say? I guess I have my own sentimental side as well.). But recently, I have been enjoying going out. It used to take every ounce of my strength to get prepped up for a night out, or even just for coffee. But now, I seem to enjoy even just the thought of going out. I enjoy taking the time to look nice and feeling this genuine joy for spending time with real people. People who might not care much about me, but nonetheless people who have taken the time to sit down and talk. I guess I have been becoming more of a robot recently, that I’m craving some human interaction to remind me that I was born human. Coolness.

Another thing that seemed to undergo some difference in my life is writing. I am enjoying it more than ever. I’ve realized that I’ve been absent from the writing scene (aside from school papers and our God-forsaken feasibility study) for quite some time, and honestly, the past year hasn’t been exactly the friendliest time for me to write. I will not deny that writing for the past year seemed like a chore to me 90% of the time. And it’s not because I don’t have the time to write. I really don’t know what happened, but that’s just how things have gone. As for now, I’m writing, and I’m loving it. I’m really just wishing, though, that I get to have the chance for some formal education with regard to writing. It would be great to have some classes in journalism or creative writing. If I can manage to swallow the bitter pill that is my current Theology class (I’m sorry, but I care better for my own crap than for the class), which happens to be an effing requirement, then how nice would it be to take some writing classes for the heck of it?

As for the difficult, this has become an entirely long list for me recently. Aside from studies and my affiliations, keeping some focus and establishing priorities are becoming taxing tasks for me. My mind seems to wander a lot recently, which I think makes it easier for me to write, but more difficult for pretty much everything else. My priorities have also become extremely jumbled up. Just 7 months ago, I was so intent on getting myself a scholarship which will enable me to get a good job in a reputable company right after graduation. Which I did, thank God. But now, I’m not so sure of my plans. I currently want to be a Physics teacher at Pisay for a year, just for the heck of it, and maybe even take some writing classes while I’m at it. And this happened to be a source of conflict for me and my mom recently. I don’t know. What am I supposed to do, really? If I didn’t teach, would I regret it at a later time, maybe when I’m at the peak of my career while working for my current scholarship sponsor? I still have a few months to think things through. Maybe my mom’s right. Maybe this is just a current whim that might go away in time. I really do hope that the next few months will be a witness to me discovering not only the career path I will not regret taking, but also some clarity of mind leading to better focus and a clearer view of the things I really need to prioritize. God, these things weren’t so difficult for me to do before. Why now, when I need the ease to do them the most?

For now, I need to work on my Engineering Ethics class. I like the class. It’s making me think more of things that aren’t set in stone. Like my life plans. Hopefully, this class will be able to help me in deciding and thinking things through for the next 4 months of my college life.

-This is a pointless post. Do not read if you fear for the premature death of your brain cells.-

You know how it is with some people and certain food items, right? You must know someone who avoids certain foods because it makes them go funny in the tummy? I know someone who can’t eat Durian every time she’s in Davao, and it’s not because she hates the smell, which is a major turn-off for about 95.28% (buot-buot) of all people who hate Durian: in fact she loves Durian so much. So much so that when she’s in the mood for some Durian loving, she has to contend with 5-minute-apart trips to the room of comfort (the comfort room!), for a duration of 3 hours. Even more tragic is the story of a friend who cannot eat chocolate. She pretty much undergoes the same things with my Durian friend, but people, we’re talking about chocolate here!!! Isn’t that just tragic?

As for myself, I’ve just discovered my food waterloo: cake. And not just any cake! Thank God, because if it were, my life purpose of eating as many sweets as I possibly can would have been defeated. Now that’s a real tragedy-a whole new Romeo and Juliet at a much more star-crossed level, and consequently merits suicide (on my part, unfortunately) more. Anyway, I digress, but that’s how attention-deficit people are, really. Again, not just any cake, but chocolate cake with meringue icing!

So how did I come up with this conclusion? My formal education has taught me that the best way to arrive at correct and sound conclusions is by observation! That is unless your observation is against what the theories in the books say, therefore needing some doctoral powers on your part to raise your grades, which is truly the most beneficial thing for everyone to do under the principle of utilitarianism: you get your good grade, and your instructor/teacher/mentor/professor does not have to contend much with some work of crap. Again, i digress. As far as my observation is concerned, chocolate cake with meringue icing makes me do the 5-minute-apart bathroom visits for three hours. Definitely not a good thing to do if you’re not at home where a room of comfort is readily accessible.

How sure am I that chocolate with meringue icing is my bathroom trigger? Well, I’ve tried eating chocolate cake with butter icing, plain chocolate cake, chocolate cake with chocolate glaze (this is HEAVEN), chocolate cake with custard, chiffon cake with meringue icing, mocha cake with meringue icing, orange cake (chiffon cake + Royal true orange) with meringue icing, stand-alone meringue icing (this is LOVE), and a hell lot of other items not involving chocolate cake and meringue icing together, and I’ve never had any bowel problems. I’ve observed this problem before, but I never took it as seriously as I do now. Just imagine the horror if I had to go to some fancy party and they served some chocolate cake with meringue icing? As with dessert, I would have stuffed my face with the thing. Oh the horror afterward!!! THE HORROR!!!

Anyway, as I am lucky that this situation pretty much doesn’t make a dent to my dessert life, I’m not that worried. Just wanted to write it down just in case I forgot. If I did, and it so happened I’m with you when I forgot, my advanced condolences to you, my friend, for all the suffering you would have to go through.

This is me being rabid. Damn you, Sophie!!!

After a month and a half with my baby Fitzwilliam, here I am smothering him with some baby love. You are my baby love, my baby love! (*ligthning sound effects*). If this isn’t obsession, then I don’t know what is.

Looking forward to a newer MacBook on my grad. My dad says he’s buying a new one, the one with the fancy and über sexy aluminum unibody. Yummy. I really do wish they’d have those new Aluminum babies in black, just like the Nanos. If they’d be able to do that in 4 months, then my iPod Nano and MB will finally be a perfect match!

I was just browsing through the photos we took using PhotoBooth. By we, I mean friends, Kalasagers, family members, classmates, pets, and sometimes, random strangers. I’ll post ‘em up as soon as my big lazy butt is up to the challenge.

Anyway, just a random post for today. I’m still pretty disappointed with the ISP. If this goes on, I think I’ll commit suicide. Only Fitz will be able to stop me. Oh God, I’m definitely dead meat.

This bed sheet is one of my favorite bed sheets, and also happens to be made by my mom. She sewed an entire set of bed sheet and pillow cases from the same kind of cloth which I chose from the textile shop. This bed sheet is of a copper orange color, with white swirls that sometimes look life C and G clefs. The hole is as big as my thumb, and upon seeing it, I had absolutely no idea what happened.

I had to cut a lock of my own hair because something orange-y was stuck to it. Hmmm, wonder where that came from?

Two seemingly separate cases. How am I to solve these crimes in just one day?!?!

But lo and behold! By simply donning my Sherlock Holmes hat, I was able to find the culprit in no time.

See that little red spot that looks like rust? That is no rust! That’s my bed sheet!

In an attempt to look nice for future events, I tried my luck with curling my hair. A few months ago, I borrowed this curling iron from Mcoy, and never had the chance to return it. Since today was boredom day, I came up with a spontaneous thought: Why don’t I curl my hair?

So I took the iron out of its cave and ironed away. Since I don’t have my own vanity table, I tried curling my hair using my bed for a table. It was all going fine until I discovered that a part of my bed sheet was gone. Out of habit, I ran my hand through my hair and discovered something was stuck there. I tried removing the stuck thingy, but it wouldn’t budge: apparently, it was burned onto my hair. When I looked at the curler, it had a rust-colored spot on one side. I tried smelling it, and it smelled like burning flesh. Definitely not rust. Just look at the picture (last one): on the rightmost part of the spot, instead of being rust-colored, it’s white. definitely my bed sheet there!

As of this moment, the rusty spot on the curler is already gone. The part of my bed sheet burned by the iron has been reduced to a plastic-like substance, which is a bit depressing. My hair is a bit shorter in one area, although you can never tell (neither can I, actually). Lastly, the HOLE!!! OH, THE HORRIBLE HOOOOLLLE!!!!!

I’ve learned my fair share of lessons for today. First, is to style your hair on a real table. The probability of getting something burned on a stable table (nice rhyme!) is smaller than that on a wobbly bed. Second, is that karma works in mysterious ways. If you never return something to its rightful owner, that thing is going to work against you. Lastly, I have to buy a better curling iron. If a cheap iron could do that to my bed sheet, how much more to my hair?!?!?

How do you think you’d feel if you had to constantly tell yourself, “If only…” I have always held on to a belief that regrets are a regular part of life, and people who claim that they have never felt regret are either stupid, forgetful, or just plain old pompous asses. Regret allows for one to learn the lessons needed to be wiser, and is by no means bad. What is bad is wallowing in these regrets. Of all the mistakes I have made in my life, it seems as if I have compensated best for those I regretted the most. If people truly did not have any regrets, how else they are to compensate satisfactorily for their mistakes, I have no idea.

No. Having regrets do not bother me at all. In fact, I welcome them, stupid as that may sound. Should something go wrong, feeling enough regret should either make others realize that I’ve learned my lesson, therefore cutting me some slack, or make me realize that I have to do something to feel better. What truly bothers me about regretting things is if I had regrets because someone else did not support what I had initially set my heart and mind out on doing.

People may not realize it, but other people’s opinion can get to me pretty bad. Scrap strangers’ opinions regarding my looks and all that jazz. I’m referring to opinions as to life choices and other similar decisions, especially if these came from the people who matter most to me. I remember a saying that to those who matter, it doesn’t matter. This does not hold true for me, especially when it comes to the two people whose opinions matter the most to me. Every major decision I make seem to aggravate them into an anger or a stupor of some kind. I always thought they’d support me, but upon a little evaluation, they only did if my decisions would make me a socially advanced person, or if it shielded them from further inconveniences.

The only way I can truly be fulfilled in life is if I start living it on my own. I do not just want a life consisted of getting a good job, achieving higher education, and reaching the top of the corporate ladder as it’s peak. No. I want a life wherein my creativity will be used. I want a life wherein I can create as much as I can. I don’t want to work forever. I want to be able to make other people happy with what I create. But God help me, where am I to start?

As I’m at a point in my life wherein I’m looking for happiness, I have managed to establish this much more grateful outlook in life. I mean, in comparison to the cynic I usually used to be (she still comes out sometimes, but she’s better behaved. Good thing those obedience classes paid off. Murag iro!), I tend to be happy with more things, no matter how small, and disappointed in fewer things. So here’s a short list of the things (not people, people! People are greater than things, therefore they do not deserve to belong in the same list as things!) I love and hate (and how I cope with the hate).

The loves that make my world go round…

I. iTunes on shuffle (mode, not the iPod) + F9 (Next) key on my MB (or the Next button on my Apple Remote) + Abi’s Next Base Speaker (Bluetooth enabled), the one she won from a raffle at SM.

Before my dad left for work, I copied all of the songs from his 3 or 4-year old iPod. Before I had my own iPod (got mine last year), I used to hog his iPod. Since my dad only knows how to put songs into his iPod (and barely, at that), and has no idea how to remove those songs I love so much, he still has MY SONGS!!! Imagine, he still has the song Sunburn by Fuel! I have forgotten how much I loved that song! Anyway, since my dad doesn’t have a bad taste in music either, I copied all of the songs onto my Fitzwilliam. Now, Since all of the songs were around 10GB, alangan naman akuang isa-isahon kung unsa gyud ang akong gustong paminawon, diba? So shuffle mode! If I happen to not like the song, that’s where the Next button comes in! Imagine the surprise of finding a song I used to love but have forgotten! It’s definitely yesterday once more (by the way, this is my most favorite song from The Carpenters). And of course, I’m listening to my songs on Abi’s amazing speaker. Honestly, I feel much happier just listening to the songs. Nostalgic, dramatic, and emo at times, but nonetheless, grateful and happy. I  (for those who can’t read this, it’s the Apple logo) music!!!

II. eBay.ph

I just love window shopping. I’m sure many other people do. But when I go window shopping, I often carry with me a long list of pet peeves, which include, but are not limited to:

• Walking. I prefer to be asleep.
• Salespeople. I have nothing against their jobs, really. But then it does get a bit awkward if a sales person keeps on following you all throughout the store, right? I mean, lady, give me a break! I’m just window shopping, for crying out loud! And you know why, huh? You know, you know why? ‘Cause I have NO MONEY!!!
• The lack of spontaneity. Scenario: You were just walking along the fashion district of the mall, then suddenly, a spontaneous thought came up: I always wanted to have an HD Camcorder. Unfortunately, the shop selling camcorders happens to be on the other side of the mall, and the only way you’d ever get there would be by walking. I prefer to be asleep. Honestly. Then and there, I would have lied down on my back and snored as loudly as I possibly could.

eBay is simply the best way you could ever go shopping, just like Google is now becoming the best way to stalk someone (*wink*wink*). No walking, no lurking salespeople at every corner, and definitely more spontaneous. Plus window shopping on eBay could also get a bit inspirational, savings-wise, so I get to save a bit before buying. How cool is that for poor people like me, huh?

III. Caress Nail Color

I love getting my nails colored. And since I wasn’t trained to be a manicurista, klaro lang na pagkabala gyud nako magmanicure. Thus, the specific brand. Caress is much easier to apply and more user friendly, especially for eternal manicure noobs such as myself.

IV. Ice Cream (Coffee Crumble of Selecta, to be exact)

Yummy. Need I say more?

V. BooksI

love reading. And traveling! Since I don’t really have the money to travel, I do my own little travelling to different places, others’ lives, or a different time by reading books.

As I was thinking, there were other things that could have made this list, too. Like my tech toys, for example. They make me happy. But the reason why I haven’t particularly pinpointed to them as being loves that make my world go round is that I think I can live without them. The items on my list are things which can provide me with the greatest joy for so little in exchange. No need to spend a lot, no need to bother someone else, and heaps of other annoying things just to be happy. And I believe that’s what happiness is all about.

As for the hates that also make my world go round…

I. Spammers

Good grief! Pila lang ko ka semana nawala, naabot man ug 5000 comments nako! Malipay na unta ko, sa dihang! 200 ra gud ang nabilin sa tanan-tanang comments nakuha nako! Ang uban, puro spam! Ginoo ko! (Translation: After a few weeks of being gone from the blogging world, I discovered my comments have reached 5000. I was so happy, but then! Of all the comments, only 200 were left! All the others were spam! My God!)

I just had to write that down in Bisaya. I was that horrified by the 4800 spam comments on my site. The worst part about this is that I have no idea how to put a captcha on my site. But I guess I can consider this a blessing in the skies (mwahahaha)! This would mean that I have to check my site constantly for problems. And honestly, it wasn’t that difficult to remove all those spam comments.

II. ISP

Been having lots of problems with my ISP lately. If this continues, I think I will have to move on. However, ISP problems should not be enough to destroy my day. I mean, other people are suffering just as bad as, or even worse than, I am, ISP-wise, so why should I fret about it much more than I should?

I think it’s good that I’m evaluating myself in this manner. At least I now have a better idea of the things I should be associating more with, and the things I should focus less about. Right now, I’m listening to Over my Head by The Fray, and I’m happy. Unusually happy, considering everything that has been happening for the past few months.

Told you! Guys I’m attracted to are either gay or taken! I thought gay! With just a bit of googling yesterday, I discovered he’s TAKEN! I would have gone for gay any day. At least there’s still a chance for conversion. But then him being taken by a pretty lady isn’t too bad. I mean, better that than another gay guy whom I will most likely fall head over heels for as well. Oh well. Now to look for a guy who’s neither taken nor gay. This shall take another 5 years. Oh well, by that time, I’ll be 26. Marriageable. If that fails, I’ll take anyone. Anyone who can derive the kinematics equations, that is. Hey, that’s a low enough standard in my book! I mean, COME ON people!?!?!?! KINEMATICS EQUATIONS!!! High school Physics, damn it!

As for today… I got my last pair of shots for the dog bite I got from Sophie. Puppy bite. Super small, you’d barely notice. They’d disappear, and you’d never know I was bitten by a dog in my life. That is until I start foaming at the mouth and barking like an… effing rabid dog (what else could you possibly expect?) because I failed to get my shots. Oh, but that wouldn’t happen, no. You know why, huh?!?! You know, you know why?!? ‘Cause I got 4 shots on my left arm, 4 shots on my right, and 1 on my butt (this one hurt the least) to kill all ‘em rabies virus thingies crawling to get to my brain. As if my brain wasn’t messed up enough.

This is me and Sophie the day she was added to our family. A little over a week before she bit me. I’m telling you, the dog has friggin’ ADD, man! Just like me!

So why would a barely 2-month old German Shepherd puppy bite me? You know, a cup of ‘em Pedigree Beefies could taste really good! Even better than beef caldereta! Ikaw daw beh, kawatan ka ug pagkaon, dili ba gud ka mamaak? Hehehe, atik lang!

Before I start with what truly happened, let’s begin with a bit of a history. First and foremost, two of our dogs are known as cat killers. They have killed two cats (plus Piggy, the white mouse Kuya Winston gave me for Christmas last year) within a period of 6 months. And they’re not particularly social outside their circle of four. Members of this circle are (the notorious killers are labeled accordingly):

1. Florence. The first member of the pack, and Notorious Cat Killer No. 1. She’s 0.5 Askal and 0.5 German Shepherd. Named by Abi after Florence Nightingale.
2. Chuckie. Born on August 2004. Notorious Cat Killer No. 2. Original name is Cutie. Since it was too gay for me, I changed it to a Rugrat or a cursed doll (take your pick). His mom’s a Shih Tzu and his dad’s a Poodle. Has long, white, super unkempt hair. Think Albus Dumbledore without conditioner, shampoo, water, comb, or magic to help with the long white hair. Has so many issues he could create a whole comic book series with them, and would be very happy if he was the only dog in the world.
3. Swiss. Born on November 2004 to Florence and a Dachshund dad (I still remember the time they were being mated. Since the dachshund was too short for Florence, we had to prop him up on a short stool. Super funny.) Murag amang. But would bark really hard if the other dogs were barking, too. A very cute and sweet dog. She has these brown blotches on white fur that make her look like a cow. Thus the name Swiss (given by me). Loves her mom too much. Nagapa-baby pa kay Florence, paakon pa bitaw siya kay samuk man kaayo. This dog’s the most amiable in the pack.
4. Tommy. A Belgian Shepherd bought on December 2007. Named after a Rugrat. Para best friends daw sila ni Chuckie, wa man natinuod! Noob, but nice. Very sweet, but his sweetness is often unappreciated considering he’s too big for comfort. Uses our old car for a scratch post. Lastly, he’s the most good looking in the pack (love his paws!).

There. Remember, these are all relatively big dogs (except for Chuckie). Since Sophie was on a permanent time-out for the mess she did in the kitchen (don’t ask), she was made to stay in one of the dog cages (my Dad’s most recent project) instead of inside the house. Being a small dog, she was able to squeeze through the bars. Sadly, the other dogs were outside of their cages. So gibuhat siya’g siopao nila Florence ug Chuckie. Kay gabii man, wa sila kaklaro kung iro ba o iring ‘tong ilang ginapatay. Pagka na lang!

My brother, my sister, and I could only distract the dogs for so long, so we had to bring Sophie in for safety. My brother tried bringing her in first. He got bit but didn’t say so. I was wondering why he let go of the dog, but since time was of the essence, I tried bringing her in instead of asking. When I tried, she bit me. Ako pud, alangan nisyagit! “Crap! Gipaak ko bai!.” That’s when my brother declared he was bit, too. So guess what we did to get Sophie in? We simply opened the door to the house. After getting bit, that’s when we decided to use our brains. Haha.

This happened on November 9. And after a week and 2 days, I’m finally safe from any nerve-killing rabies. That is unless Sophie dies within the next three weeks, which means I would have to come back on December 11 for one last pair of shots. As for my brother, Chuckie bit him (on his ear) about 3 years ago. Since his bite was on the head, he got the full range of vaccines back then. He just had some booster shots on the unfortunate biting day. His vaccines should be OK for the next 2 years, even if a dog bit him on the head.

As for the dogs, my father finally saw my mom eye-to-eye on one thing my mom has been fretting about (as in the squealing, shouting and crying kind of fretting every time my dad brings home a new dog) : We have too many. So my dad gave Chuckie away first. Since he has social issues, my dad gave him to a friend who does not have any dogs and has time to spare for a Prima Donna dog. Now, he’s happy. Then Florence came next. I have no idea where my dad left her. To someone he knows, I’m sure. But to whom exactly, I guess I’ll know in 4 months. As for Swiss, she was so lonely when Florence disappeared. As in, luoy kaayo siya bai. Makahilak, kay sige siya ug pangita. My dad gave her to one of his cousins. I think she’s happy there, as well (but I bet she misses her mom terribly).

So from four dogs, to five, then down to two. All in a month. Hay, Ginoo ko. Pila’y pusta, ha? Pag-uli sa akuang Papa pagka March, mupalit na pud to siya ug iro ba!

Naa pa unta ko’y gusto i-share, pero murag daghan-daghan na man diay ko’g nasulat. So I guess this is it for today. Ciao for now!

P.S. As you might have noticed, I’m now mixing a bit of Bisaya in my writing. This is the way I truly think. A lot of English, A few Bisaya, and negligible Tagalog. I think it’s nice to write exactly the way you think. Para pud naay clue ang mga tawo sa imong tinuod nga ginahuna-huna ba.