under the weather

i've had colds the last couple of days and at the rate i'm goin', i may very well be in the verge of having a flu.

my nose and throat are still sore from constant sneezing (yes, even the softest kleenex can irritate huhuhuu) and my whole body feels as if i just had an entire day of workout.

that being said, you'd think i'd stay in and be done for the night. but no! i'm off to meet up with april for a weekend of cocktails and dvds at her pad.

it's the end of the week. it's the end of the month.
more importantly, i just got my paycheck.

so, before i start hearing christmas carols (i don't like 'em), runny nose and all, i'm headed out to have a fun time. all the while keepin my fingers crossed that all the alcohol would kill whatever virus i have.

happy weekend everyone!

Josh Groban tickets

so i called Ticketworld today (for the nth time) and much to my dismay, tickets are still not on sale.

bad news is that only 3,000 tickets will be sold. more bad news, it's gonna be the only show in Asia. and the worst news is, ticket prices are ridiculously high!

so now i'm thinkin, do i love him enough to spend 10K for 1 friggin show????

argh! if only money grew on trees!

career move

finally, the much awaited promotion was made official today.

woohoo! from this day on, i WILL NOT have to deal with my boss anymore!

cheers! cheers! i'm free!

3-day bum

today marks the first movable holiday mandated by Republic Act No. 9492.

while most people opted to go out of town or be somewhere else, for me, it meant catching up on sleep and just basically a chance to bum around.

dressed in my jammies and armed with a remote, a laptop, several DVDs and a good book, that is just what i did. and boy did i have a blast. well at least on the first 2 days.

now on my last day, anxiety is slowly creeping up on me. i suddenly realized i haven't been out of the house in 3 days! it's not that i don't mind being home, i mean, i love spending time with my parents. but i have to admit, i'm not built to just stay home and lay like brocolli.

being a weekend couch potato (minus the lazy boy and the chips), while fun to do once in a while, isn't something i'd wanna do often.

one good thing that came out of this though, i can't wait to go back to work tomorrow.

josh groban live in manila

i first saw josh in an episode of Ally McBeal and i've loved him eversince.

his voice is simply magical that everytime i hear or watch him sing i always end up with goosebumps.

to say i'm such a HUGE fan is an understatement. baduy and cheesy na, i don't care. i love him.

and you bet your asses imma watch that concert come october 18 at the PICC.

~~~~

8:52PM

called Ticketworld today and much to my dismay, tickets aren't on sale yet. grrrr!!!

the fuzz over a piece of doughnut

Krispy Kreme is finally in manila and people are lining up!

the branch at bonifacio heights was no different as we waited for our turn last night. kinda like how it was when Go Nuts Donuts came into town. i remember people going all the way to The Fort and waiting in line just to have a piece. even limiting sales to 1 box per person. these days however, sales aren't as high.

and as i bit into my fave melt-in-your-mouth original glazed, i thought, after all the fuss and ooohhss and aahhhs have died down, is it goin to be like the others? something that's so popular until a new one comes along?

imma just have to wait and see. for now, i'm just glad to have a new place where i can get my sugar fix.

small price to pay

tropical storm Chedeng hits Metro Manila

waist deep. that's how much water got inside our basement kitchen.

knee deep. that's how much water was on the streets on my way to work.

mile long. that's how terrible the traffic was on the road.

small inconveniences if they meant a few centimeters of water level increase in our major water reservoirs (Angat, Ipo and La Mesa dams).

our kitchen is a mess.
i was late for work.
my shoes are wet.

still, i have no right to complain.

on hobbies and passion

i've always loved talking to ayi. he makes sense. he doesn't judge. he listens. he does not give unsolicited advice. for years, he has been the designated dalai lama of the group. we go to him if we want to make sense out of anything. and the best part is, we listen.

this weekend however, it was my turn to listen. while pam, jacky, dennis and the rest of the new diving friends went to explore the open sea of anilao, ayi and i opted to just stay in the resort, a book each in hand - his, Warrior of the Light by Paulo Coelho, mine, Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic Ties the Knot.

a good hour or so and a few pages later, he sat down and said "i feel sad as i still don't know what my passion is". this not a new topic for us as we had the exact same conversation 3 years ago. only then, his question was "do you think i'm passionate?" of course, that time, i knew where he was coming from. he and april were still together and anyone who knows april would agree that she epitomizes what passion is about.

now, three years later, he is in that place again. only this time, his reasons aren't the same. he wants something that can make a difference and not just a hobby to while away the time.

a hobby is one that you do for yourself. passion is when you use that hobby as a tool to help or make others aware and in doing so, gives you a certain satisfaction that no amount of money can buy. it is when you take that extra step in the hope that at least one person is touched.

it is when scuba divers go out and clean the reefs; when bikers ride for cancer patients; when fashionistas and models walk the ramp to raise funds for AIDS; when teachers see the first sentence a student writes; when writers influence the way their readers think or take them places they've never been to; when musicians sing their heart out to feed the hungry; when actors and film makers bring tears and laughter which, for a brief moment, make the audience forget about the everyday drama of their lives.

when hobbies affect and inspire not just you, it becomes passion.

towards the end of the conversation, we both agreed that while for some, passion comes oh so naturally, it may not be the same for the rest. it doesn't come with a deadline like reports and budget proposals. nor does it come with a blueprint or manuals on how to's.

it happens when one is ready and while still in pursuit of it, there is no need to beat yourself up.

if marriages are made in heaven

"Papa Jesus, pa-expedite naman po yung sa kanya" (arms pointing at me)

i almost fell off 5 flights of stairs laughing as soon as mye blurted those words.

but then, come to think of it, if marriages are indeed made in heaven, what's taking so long for mine to be made? are there still papers needed to be signed? release clearances to be accomplished? heck, did i even place an order or fill out a form?

not that i'm in any hurry or anything. it's just nice to know that somethin's brewing for me. and when it's finally complete, i'd have the perfect fit.

still, it won't hurt to say, "Papa Jesus, pa-expedite naman po yung sa akin".

6 weird things about me

april tagged me so here goes...

1. i don't eat mangoes. ripe mangoes to be exact. and i'm talkin about anything that has the slightest hint of ripe mango in it...cakes, ice creams, crepes, shakes, candies. if there's ripe mango in it, i ain't touchin it.

2. i love goin to the beach but i hate saltwater.

3. i eat slow...very slow...i don't think it's weird but my friends say otherwise

4. i can't talk when i'm texting nor can i entertain anyone else when i'm on the phone...one at a time please! but when it comes to work, i can multitask.

5. i'm the eldest of three but my mom still calls me her baby...argh!

lastly...and probably the weirdest and most embarassing, if i may add...

6. the first thing i do when i wake up...right before i get off my bed, i FART! and i'm not talkin about a "lady" fart, but more like the oh-my-god-i-can't-believe-that-came-from-me kind.

hahahha so much for makin a good impression huh?

i'm tagging monay, frodo, ate bing, pau, shawie and mike

if you can fake it, why not?

no, this isn't going to be about sex. sorry to disappoint. i'll save that for another entry.

this is one of those things that us women do if what we have just isn't what we want or if it needs a tad bit of help.

plastic surgery, liposuction, breast implants, nose jobs, face lifts, tattoos to name a few. not to get you excited, i didn't have any of those drastic moves. mine were all simple and very common.

faking it #1
being the chinita that i am, i wasn't blessed with to die-for lashes. imagine my excitement when eyelash extensions came to manila. i couldn't wait to have mine done.

so i did.

and boy, it was sooooo worth it!

faking it #2
since Topher, my stylist, is MIA once again, i had no choice but to look for another one. today, finally, i found him! his name is Dexter and he's my hair's new best friend! he gave me highlights and did a wonderful job with the cut.

so now, i not only have fake lashes, my hair color is fake as well.

what can i say? if you gotta, and you can, why not? right? all for the sake of fashion.

Sex and the City

lo and behold! the ladies are back!

and they're off to the big screen!

finally, a movie about my all time fave gals is in the making.

oooohhhh i can't wait to see it!!!

the blues no more

turns out i just needed a good old fashioned cry-a-thon.

so i did. i didn't go to work yesterday as i didn't wanna be around people (didn't want the bug to spread). i didn't even leave the house my room except when i had to pee or eat.

shit happens. yesterday was my turn.

and if i may borrow a few lines from the great B.B. King....

You've got to laugh a little
Cry a little
Until the clouds
Roll by a little
That's the story of
That's the glory of love

thanks to monay and april who tried their darnest best to cheer me up ;)

the blues

it's 4AM and i still can't sleep.

i'm having a terrible terrible case of the blues.

after a few tosses and turn, i decided to just get up and blog about it.

i am sad. no, i am very sad.

i guess it's one of those times when i realize that at 31, i am alone. and for the very first time in a long time, i felt it. but that's not even the reason why i feel sad. it's the thought that i will never find it in my heart to start believing that i can be happy with someone in my life again. that i could have what my mom and dad have.

it saddens me to know that as early as now, i feel like i have given up. it's not as if there isn't anyone out there. believe me, there have been oppotunities put to waste just because i wasn't interested enough. or maybe i was too scared and foolish to have let them slip. either way, i just can't bring myself to trust and have faith in men again.

what does that make me? a man hater? i hope not. as i know i don't hate them.

if only one could erase a memory. if only one can forget how painful it was. if only.

it is not the universe's job to protect us from getting hurt, i know that. if only it works that way.

if only. then i would be fine.

on obsessive, self-deprecating EXs

i'm on the 3rd season of the L Word and i just can't get over the first few episodes. well actually, i can't get over the idea that my used-to-be (emphasis on the USED TO BE) favorite character, Alice, played by Leisha Hailey, a once perky and happy, self-made writer/DJ in seasons 1 and 2, turned into an obsessive, doesn't-have-a-clue-that-her-ex-is-over-her, pathetic, self-destructive girl.

sure, she fell in love and her heart got broken. true, that it was her best friend turned lover who did that to her. but it's been half a year. get over it already! i'd like to think her character is smarter than that.

even the best fall down sometimes as a song goes. in matters of the heart, even the smartest of the smarts turn into self-deprecating individuals. sadly, that doesn't just happen on TV.

we go through that at least once in our lives i guess. blaming ourselves when things don't turn out the way we wanted them to be. i did too when i was young. i asked questions such as was i not good enough? was i not pretty enough? are my boobs not big enough? to name a few. silly, i know. but that time, i didn't think so.

of course now, lookin back, i wanna kick my self right in the ass! i mean, i should've known myself well enough to think otherwise.

as a wise man once told me, "it isn't always about you, you know?" and it's true. it doesn't have to be ALWAYS about ME.

and so, i learned when to give my head a good shake and tell myself "stop this foolishness you bitch!".

Life is too short. Live it.

Cyma after dark II

i have to say, it wasn't as fun as our visit last wednesday. while food was still great (we ordered 4 Saganakis!) and the cocktails simply wonderful, the music was B-A-D! i have nothing against reggae music but i think it wasn't the place for such. add to that the constant skipping of the cd which could be due to the fact the DJ was at his wits end tryin to mix. oh well, could be his first day at work.

so, after a good two hours, we decided to leave. but not before we try yet another array of alcoholic concoctions. flavors of the night being: Hurricane (same as Hard Rock's version), Electric Jam (like Hurricane, but instead of the grenadine, they used blue curacao) and Cosmopolitan (sady, a really disappointing take on my fave drink).

on the upside, i got to try their molten chocolate cake. served with vanilla ice cream and roasted chestnut sauce, it is by far the best dessert i've had in years. sinful, yes but definitely worth the extra calories. hehehhe! (april is so gonna kill me!)

way too cool a film to miss

in the age where entertainment options are unlimited, this movie kinda made growin up in the 80's not so bad. yes, i belong to a generation limited to what afternoon television offered in local channels. tv choices were few so i grew up watching every kid my age was watching.

that being said, TRANSFORMERS is way too cool a film to miss. seeing Optimus Prime beat the crap out of Megatron in 3D left everyone in awe. people were clapping. i did too. baduy na kung baduy!

the graphics were good. the story was simple - earth in danger from the Decepticons wanting the All Spark and the Autobots came to the rescue, with the help of course, of a teenage boy named Sam. there was humor in most scenes which i didn't mind but other hard core fanatics might find repulsive (doubt it though). however, not all robot characters were given enough exposure besides Optimus Prime, Megatron and Bumblebee.

bottomline, it's a film that people SHOULD see in theaters and not one of those which you can pass for a DVD copy.

and, while it's not Oscar material, it was simply brilliant.

Cyma after dark

april and i usually have margarita nights on wednesdays. a fave hangout is Cena in Greenbelt 2 where margarita is reallllyyy cheap and the ambiance ain't that bad.

last week, however, we decided to try something new. since my friend wanted to check out Cyma, a relatively new Greek resto/bar, also in Greenbelt 2, we ditched Cena for the week.

i have dined there once before and, being a Greek food lover myself, i loved their menu. their best-seller, pastisado(osso buco) - beef shank stew served over pasta is to die for.

another favorite, and i must say, crowd pleaser is Saganaki or flaming cheese served Opa! style. cheese freaks like moi will want more than one order of this deeee-lish appetizer!

while dining at Cyma is an entirely delightful experience, wait til the sun sets and the party music starts.

Cyma after dark is one helluva place for cocktail hours. the second floor was turned into a bar where people can chill and be with friends. the interior is simple and cozy. equipped with top of the line sound system and the DJ plays fab fab music.

add to that, an AWESOME and i mean really AWESOME and impressive cocktail menu. with over a hundred choices from shooters to beers to wine to vodka and tequila. name it, and i'm pretty sure they got it.

it may be a bit pricey compared to Cena or Masa's but it's W-O-R-T-H it!

personal faves are bikini (vodka, white rhum milk, sugar & lemon juice) and blue sex (midori, blue curacao, tequila & triple sec)

Cyma sure can make one scream Opa! and i can't wait to go back and try 98 other cocktail drinks on the list!

is it Friday yet?

10 Things

1. my stylist is MIA once again so i can't get a decent haircut.
2. i'm a certified DVD freak! i'm on the second season of The L Word and i have to say, i'm surprised i like the series. i love shane but i adore alice' character more. hmn...does that make me a lesbian??? hahahha my friends are so gonna freak out!
3. NO i'm not a lesbian.
4. i can't wait for season 4 of grey's anatomy
5. i'm back in the gym. thanks to april, i'm on my second week. woohoo!!!
6. april and i have a new fave cocktail place - Cyma in Greenbelt 2 (i'll make a separate entry just for this later)
7. i got to use my dream cam in one of our tagaytay trips. no, i have yet to buy one but my dear friend dennis let me use his.
8. i'm still waiting for my promotion as my boss talked to me about it last week
9. i'm sorta kinda slightly scared of it. what if i can't do the job? what if i don't get it???
10. it's 1 am and i'm still at work.

father's day weekend

i feel like i have so much to say but i can't seem to find the perfect words to do so. i need the perfect words as this weekend was that, PERFECT.

spent it with my whole family on a road trip to lian, batangas to attend to my cousin's funeral. i know, it's ironic that one of the happiest weekends of my life is the same weekend that my cousin was laid to rest.

as they say, it's the journey, not the destination that matters. and in this case, the journey was simply awesome.

it was the first time in a long time that my family got to spend an entire weekend away from the hustle of the metro. and while the drive took almost 4 hours, we all didn't mind.

we talked, we ate, had coffee @ starbucks, we laughed and reminisced. we had fun.

it was like those weekends when my dad would drive from laguna where we used to live, to go visit my lola in bulacan. i felt like a kid when my parents were the most awesome people in the world and both my siblings felt the same.

on the way back, we stopped by Leslie's to have a late lunch and the view was breathtaking. it just stopped raining and the sky was the perfect backdrop. we took pictures of course but i know we all felt that no camera can capture how happy we all are.

it's been almost 24 hours and i still have a hangover. and alcohol has nothing to do with it.