Lavender & Coffee Stains

Mukhang nawili yata ako ah. Buong week last week ako naka-leave. Wala lang, trip ko lang at may consent naman ang boss ko. A week before that, I took 3 consecutive days of sick leave. I had absolutely, madly abused the capability of my eyes. Sobrang naging red and teary to the point that I couldn't wear my contacts anymore. I went mountain climbing with some friends during that weekend at Mt. Lobo in Batangas. OMG! It was blazing hot and honestly, I was not physically-prepared. Actually, it was not that hard but I lacked 3 days of good sleep and my body totally forgot what exercise was all about. I am the type of person who gets drunk at the hotness of the weather. Despite drinking liters of water and literally bathing my head and neck of water found in water sources along the trail, I really could not wave off the dizziness enveloping me. I felt so tired and a lot of times, I took a rest despite the enforcements from our sweeper-organizers.

Going back to my story, I feel sad that tomorrow's Monday already. Actually, I spent my 1-week vacation productively. Well, at least somehow I did.

May 14-Saturday: I went out to have a medical check-up. Supposedly, I was scheduled to have a neck mass ultrasound to determine if I got goiter or not. My blood tests (which I have been taking since college) always yield negative results but it still bothers me that people take notice. Unfortunately, they informed that the check-up must be done at the head office in Ortigas. Lech! Why inform me now? Kainis. Anyway, I followed up my darn urinalysis results. Hello! Since last year, I always get this paper result with the 20-25 something and you think I am some medical person who can read what that means? Layman terms, please. It is just a matter of saying if I got UTI or not. Last urinalysis test that I took was the 3rd time the clinic asked me to have because they don't take notice of my medical complaint. Good thing that the doctor was in and he just gave me prescriptions and a recommendation so I could see him next weekend for the test result. Bad thing, I forgot to buy the meds so I have to re-sched next week.

After which, I grabbed a McDo meal and headed to Dex's flat and off we went to SM Sucat to check the telecom centers since I am planning to acquire a new mobile phone. We canvassed the possible prices. I could not yet decide if I would take postpaid or prepaid.

Samsung E600 - This might not be the latest Samsung model but I really want something small.

I also bought a new pair of pants since I don't have one anymore that fits me. In short, I am really getting fat these days. Ang hilig ko kasi kumain eh. Hehehe.

After that, we went home and watched Hide and Seek. Hay naku, walang kwenta pero Dakota Fanning rendered a credible acting performance. For me, she did.



May 15-Sunday: Laundry all day and watched DVD, anything I could lay my hands on.

May 16-Monday: This was the start of my real vacation. Hehehe. I woke up at 5:15 in the morning thinking of pursuing my travel plans in Bohol. I texted a travel-freak like me at 5:30am and unexpectedly, she replied. I got some info and decided to rise up. I did my morning ritual (a necessity, of course), booted on my pc, got connected with the wide web and had my first cup of coffee. I went surfing for more information, checked available flights, Bohol destinations and had gulped my second cup.

Satisfied, I booted off and started the day. Everybody left already - my mom and my sister for work. My brother (who only comes home during the weekends) left late Sunday night and my dad now lives separately from us in our small house in Cavite. Anyway, I sweeped and mopped the entire house. If somebody was there that day, he/she would see the long line of plastic bags and a big sack - full of trashes and unwanted stuff. I am really sentimental about some things but not to the point that I would keep everything. If I see no urgent and further use of an item, garbage you go. That's exactly one of the hundred differences between me and my mom. After which, I washed the dishes, wiped the table, cleaned the sink and the bathroom. It was almost 3pm when I had my real food intake. Then I watched vcd copies of NCIS and when I got a text message from Jovee, I decided it was time to take a bath since I would be having dinner with some good friends. I was a little late and I found Jon, Jary, papa Kerwin, Jovee and Sally waiting for me. We had dinner at Teriyaki Boy and it was my first time to dine there. I was actually dreading to eat there because of some reasons but I found my order: Chasyu Don very appetizing and filling. It was a very big serving.

May 17-Tuesday: Home, sweet home. I watched NCIS all day but latter in the afternoon, I tidied up my cluttered room. Evening came and I cooked dinner for mamu and sis.

May 18-Wednesday: This was the day that I woke up with a heavy, frustrated heart - I had a good night sleep and satisfied with what I was doing for the past 2 days. When I opened my eyes, a sudden realization hit me. I will be turning 27 in a few days and I could not say anything worthwhile about what I had done for myself after graduation (that was 5 years ago). It is like I wasted 5 years of my life. What first came to mind was to contact Alma. She was a college orgmate and I knew before she was taking a master's degree in public governance. I am interested to take that one, as well as Environmental Science. I have long given up Economics. As I was searching for her number in all my phonebooks, I could not find a way to contact her. Then I realized that she posted somewhere that she had changed numbers and that time, I thought it wasn't so important since I could reach her by email. One thing I learned that morning: make sure that you jot down contact information of the people you know, even though they are just mere acquaintances. You'll never know when will be the next time you will correspond with them. Good thing, I had Malen's number and I asked Alma's. After a few minutes, I got a feedback from Alma about my inquiries. I contacted TJ (former colleague who's taking her master's degree in Peyups) and Jeni , (a co-volunteer in Pahinungod who's also taking her MA in UP Manila but working in UP Diliman's School of Economics). With all the information that I need, I got ready - took a bath, packed my new bag (I just bought it and I really, really liked it a LOT) with all the necessary things I have to bring. I headed first to my alma mater in UP Manila to acquire my fresh set of TOR and after which, I hit UP Diliman. Tell you what, the trip from home to the Manila campus to Diliman was an annoyingly-hot tour for me. It had been a long time since I commuted in Taft Avenue. It was so polluted, bitingly-hot and the streets and establishments were so different from the one I used to see then. In short, I almost got lost with the changes in the city. After I boarded a jeep from Faura, my head was racing for ideas how I could be at Quezon City before the clock hits 4pm. The traffic jam was so unbearable. I was thinking of Buendia but that's taking the Ayala MRT and going back to Quezon Avenue. Waste of time. Then I remembered the jeepney that I used to take when I was a new kid on the labor force. I got off at Pedro Gil and asked around where the Guadalupe-route jeepneys were stationed. I went there and boarded to Guadalupe, not knowing where the hell it would turn me up. Viola! I found myself walking a few steps away from the Guadalupe MRT station. Whatta relief it was to feel cool in this cursed heat (I thought). Before boarding the jeep that would take me to UP-landia, I dropped by at 7-11 to buy a can of dalandan soda since I need something to quench my thirst. At 4pm, I was on-board the UP Campus jeep and since I wasn't so familiar with the location of colleges in UPD, I told the driver to drop me off at the College of Art and Letters. Actually, I was heading to the College of Sciences to inquire about their MS Program for Environmental Science. Anyway, I got there in time but unluckily, I did not reach their deadline of submission. Huah! Whatta disappointment. They told me to inquire early next year. Next year? As in 2006? I can't wait that long. Anyway, I didn't have time to check NCPAG anymore. They have a website and my priority is EnviScie. I called Jeni if I could drop by at School of Econ and see her. As usual, chikahang walang katapusan. Ang lowlah, blooming and I know she is happy with the way her life is going. Siempre, self-pity ulit at inggit ako. Well, she deserves it for what she had gone through. She's emotional but she knows how to beat this life's injustice.

Anyway, I had to cut our 'chisms' short since I had to rush back to Shangri-la and took dinner with Jon and Jary. Unfortunately, papa Kerwin couldn't make it. We dined at Kenny's and chatted about anything. Hindi kasi binigay ni Jon yung POV niya about Jary's query eh. *toink* After dinner, I begged off if we could drop by at National Bookstore. I wanna check new titles and see if the travel guide book I have been looking for is already available. Still, no stocks.

May 19-Thursday: Usual house chores and surfing. Got ready and went out to meet Dex at Glorietta. We had a reservation for the movie, Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. All I can say it was superbly great. Idol talaga si Yoda. It even merited a number of big applause from the audience. Akala ko tuloy, I was watching a play. Lol!



May 20-Friday: TGIF! Bahay lang. Mini-word war with my mom. I really don't understand her. Patas lang, she doesn't understand me, too. Hmp.

May 21-Yesterday: Surfing all day. But when Dex arrived later in the afternoon with a half-gallon ice cream and a box of big pizza (thank you very much), we watched the movie, Sahara. This is one of the movies based on novels that did not make me disappointed. It was like the book and the movie were nothing but one. Very engaging.



May 22-Today: I checked emails, surf, blog, checking for new blogskins (I'm getting tired of my current skin). I checked Friendster and I already got a number of advance greetings on my impending birthday. To those who greeted me in advance, Thank you.

Before I forgot, belated greetings to these people: Jon (May 12), Lhen-tot of ATMC (May 21), Portia {schoolmate in WHS} - (May 20). Also, advance happy birthday to my Vietnamese colleague, Khanh Le (May 23).

And today, somebody important in my life just lied to me. I had the notion last night but I did not push it; because I might be wrong. Narrow-mindedness and assumptions that you actually know me won't build your case as a justification for what you did. Whatever, you lied to me and I feel so betrayed. You just don't know what thousand things go on in this head of mine.

I never liked Renee Zellweger but I found myself watching her Bridget Jones' Edge of Reason film again. Nice touch, I guess and pretty hilarious.



Sometimes I get jealous, too (how much I even try to deny that I don't). But I really cannot imagine (for the life of me) myself sneaking at my amore's flat, checking if he has another girl. Unlike Bridget, it would be incredible if I climb rooftops, sneak amongst bushes - just to prove to myself those rumors weren't true. Sugod ng sugod, so to speak. The urge to laugh out loud was so strong when she fell down from her boyfriend-might-have-another-babe-sleuthing act.

And why is this so true? "Friends - they spent years trying to find you a boyfriend but the moment you got one, they instantly tell you to dump him." Well, because they are friends and friends really want you to be happy but the moment they see you feel bad about the men in your life, they think they aren't good enough for you. And yes, our friends SOMETIMES advice us without the benefit of checking out if the other party is committing a romantic blunder of whatsoever. Friends really come and go and the ones that stay behind are treasures in this life one must forever keep - whether they are a combination of a groupie, gay, hippie or even a goth.

Feelings of insecurity about one's self also triggered harboring feelings of jealousy. Bridget felt inadequate upon meeting her boyfriend's drop-dead gorgeous, always-says-the-right-thing new colleague who was actually a lesbo. Nyahaha. Who wouldn't be? I would be a hypocrite if I deny feeling the same way as Bridget did. Sometimes, I know that my bf takes a second glance at tall, slim, long-legged bimbos (sorry). Yeah, I do feel bad, insecure why I am petite and not as tall as those bimbos. Sometimes when I try to dwell on such thought, I really felt so rotten about it and petty quarrels are sure to come next. Of course, it is really a guy's nature to appreciate the beauty around him.

There was another scene in the movie where I felt 'kilig'. Before separating to attend to each his own daily grind, they kissed and bid each other goodbye. Bridget, feeling so heaven came to a halt and started texting him with the I-miss-you line. Nyahaha. Kinikilig ang bruha habang nagte-text, yun pala sumunod si papa Darcy sa kanya. Habang feel pa niya ang pagiging in-love, biglang may nagsalita sa likod niya na miss na rin niya si Bridget. Nakakatawa talaga siya. Bangenge talaga.

When you thought and you really feel in love, you could not help yourself but think (dream and drool) about the heavenly-romantic future life with that special someone. You may think about it, other people will ask about it - ding-dong bells ringing. Marriage is such a big step for anyone but it would be much better if the man in your life would even consider talking about it and not act dumb like he doesn't know. Are men really that dumb? I have the notion that you really must spit and spell it out for them to comprehend what the hell you are prattling about. Bridget really depicted this act well and sometimes you wanna smack her to reality. I experienced this, too and I still do. Only there's one catch: never get this thought in your head for the longest time because you're surely bound to get hurt. As Bridget said, "one minute you're close to someone else in the whole world and the next minute, you're never gonna see him again."

Funny it may seem but it is really heartwarming to hear a guy say I love you for the first time, especially if you feel they really mean it.

Remember the skiing city-getaway of Bridget and papa Darcy? It was supposed to be just the 2 of them but Bridget took the notion that it would only be the 2 of them, spending the holiday together. It turned out that their getaway was everybody's reunion. I could not recall how many times it had happened but it really pissed me big-time to trail with anybody, everybody when it was supposed to be a time for just the 2 of us. I just learned then that: never, ever try to presume that THAT will be the case.

I felt gloomy in the scene where Bridget thought she was preggy and papa Darcy was with her waiting to confirm if she would be growing bigGER in the next few months. What was supposed to be an exciting suspense turned out to be a mini-word war of varying parent child-rearing styles between Bridget and her boyfriend.

Unlike some girls, Hugh Grant doesn't come to me strong, enough to make me giggle BUT in this movie, he was really cunningly cute and fun. But he was an asshole in the movie just the same.

Just a thought: how do men's minds really work? They appear like they are prepared to lose you but deep inside, they cannot live without you. Is it really hard for them to say it? And what about us girls? It is true that sometimes we don't want to ask the right questions because we don't want to hear the wrong answers.

By the way, the soundtrack of this movie is really very apt. As they say, 'swak na swak'.

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I really felt envious of Bridget in this act. Being lost in yourself in the beach. Hahay.

Everyone's leaving! I'm still stuck here. Kristina, who was my co-trainee in the overseas staff training in Tokyo had resigned from her post in the Toronto office. She said she would be transferring to Ernst and Young. Good for her.

I also heard from a buzz that a few of my batch trainees had left the org for good. I can deduce that they are not satisfied anymore with what the org can offer.

Where's my life going anyway? Sorry, I really feel depressed today.

I used to be a chat-aholic. YM seemed to be indispensable for me since my university days. I got acquainted with the virtual electronic world through chatting. If you only what it was and how I had been then, you would find the tale incredible.

But then chatting through any IM mode hold no excitement for me anymore. In the office where it was forbidden and which was uninstalled by our MIS, I did not even complain or blab about it. Neither did I install it the moment our MIS wackos were gone; unlike my officemates who will run the YM program into their respective desktops the second our MIS peepz stepped out.

Read me: I got bored.

Anyway, thanks to the advantages that emailing has to offer. Sending my messages through email has created a relaxed atmosphere for me. I can chat the day and night away through email. Unlike in IM where one uses any messenger program, I don't have to feel bad about sending and replying messages to my co-chataholics. Using YM has many downsides compared to emailing. Well for one, I don't have to watch my back if my boss is pacing like a caged animal and that it endangers me when he sees the small, squared yellow-orange colored window appears everytime I have to reply to a prior message. Second, I won't feel obligated to reply ASAP when the person in the other part of the virtual world expects me to return his/her message a few seconds after he has hit the Enter key. Third, I won't feel so guilty leaving my chatmate without even saying a mere goodbye when 'emergency' meeting calls.

Those are the reasons why I love email. For the past 3 weeks, I have been constantly changing email correspondences with my Brazilian co-trainee Sandra Kaneko, senti & hopeless romantic pal from UP Oblation Corps - Milky, a close friend from PEx's basketball Gray Team - Gerald, former colleague Rachelle and to one of our company's 'contracted' lawyer - Atty F.

We never actually have the chance to see each other anymore because except for Ge and Atty F, the rest are based overseas. Email keeps us in touch with each other's lives and frankly, an email from them makes me excited. We all talked about anything - from mundane to convoluted, from disheartening to outrageously hilarious.

Email works for me better than IMs. Which one yours?

Subject: Just my suggestion

Dear Ms. Ivan,

Always thank you.
It survives a variety of corresponding in fiscal year 2005.
When next week's liaison conference ends,
our team seems to be able also to do extra time for a while.
I suggest you will take a vacation around one week.

Please inform me, if you decided the schedule of vacation.

signed.

Whatever English my foreign superior had used, I absolutely understood one thing: I can take a 1-week vacation. Yahoo!

Bohol, here I come!

I was browsing at the Friendster and I got tempted to answer the questions that Enel, a co-Peyups Pahinungod volunteer had posted.

color of most clothes you owned
-----> light purple, purple and baby blue

number of pillows you use when your sleeping
-----> 2 - one for my head and the other, something to hug when Dexine goes astray

what were you doing 12AM last night?
-----> 12 midnight, you mean? I was reading Ludlum

how old will you be in 10 yrs?
-----> 36, ouch!

what do you think you'll be doing in 10 years?
-----> probably have achieved some of my 'time-consuming' dreams

are you paranoid?
-----> I admit that sometimes, I am


DESCRIBE

your wallet..
-----> it is black, rectangular and which I bought in Kyoto during my business trip. It is stuffed with money bills, IDs, some credit cards, photos, receipts, my business cards, my Fortune Medical card

your alarm clock?
-----> it is purple, round and it needs a new set of batteries.

your hair?
-----> short, wavy and most of the time, unmanageable!

tooth brush?
-----> colored purple with white handle and this question reminds me that it is time to change to a new one

what color are your eyes?
-----> black

piercing/tattoo?
-----> I already have a piercing in the ear but I don't mind having another one

first love?
-----> a schoolgirl's crush which was frustrating and in reality, turned out to be a dog-cat relationship

first enemy?
-----> my first love

first big trip?
-----> Kyoto

first played instrument?
-----> drums. I am a frustrated drummer

last good cry?
-----> I could not remember when

last movie seen?
-----> Hide and Seek by Dakota Fanning. This is one movie I did not guess right and Dex beat me to it =)

last person you yelled at?
-----> not a person but Sakura, my dog. She was trying to snuggle herself to my legs when I left the house tonight

last beverage drank?
-----> this refreshing iced tea from Teriyaki Boy. I like its taste, a little sour

last crush?
-----> if I reveal his initials, I'm dead! But if somebody dared me to tell it to his face that I like him, I am ready to do so.

last shoes worn?
-----> this beige, low-heeled shoes which is really comfortable of my feet. I wore it when I went out to have dinner tonight with some close friends of mine

last annoyance?
-----> an officemate's boyfriend. He really does not understand the meaning of NO!

last words spoken?
-----> Nite! Lav yah! Hehehe

last ice cream eaten?
-----> coffee crumble by Selecta. I devoured that cooler while watching DVD

last thing written by hand?
-----> a schedule in my planner. I have to because I tend to forget my commitments due to my exhausting work

last time wanting to die?
-----> a depressing word war with my mom. It hurt me a lot for being misunderstood

last time in-love?
-----> I am still in-love...with a better man!

I sent this message yesterday at the following addresses: planning@pawb.gov.ph, wrc@pawb.gov.ph.

To whom it may concern:

It was brought to our attention that a certain seller from Bidshot is selling endangered species of the Philippine eagle.

Please check this Bidshot link.

Hoping that your agency will take immediate and appropriate action regarding this crucial matter.

Thank you.

China recently released 7 Catholic priests who were arrested near Beijing while having a retreat. Hmm. I deduce that China is still against practicing Catholicism in its territory. I thought that this era has long been eradicated and China has already opened to the world. The papers did not say much but from my understanding, it seems like China strongly adheres to the policy of the Separation of the Church and the State. I concluded that thought based on the reason why those priests were released. China freed the priests; days after the Chinese government claimed its willingness to foster good relations with the Vatican under the new pope only if the Catholic Church will not meddle in its internal affairs and the conflicted ties with Taiwan. Well, these are my assumptions. Correct me if I am wrong.

**********

Today is the scheduled preliminary investigation by the DoJ on the tax evasion case of actor Richard Gomez. Tell you what, I have no sympathies for the man. I saw him 2 weekends ago in a TV show and the man was simply oozing with sheer arrogance in relation to his case.



There were also rumors had it that the case of shoplifting against his wife Lucy may be true after all. No accusations here, just re-telling humors. Hehehe. I am so bad.

But I hope that BIR will also pursue tax evaders from the higher echelons of our society in their campaign to increase revenue collections. It should and must start from Malacanan down to the businessmen. Sometimes, fairness must rule the game.

**********

This one is so sweet. The title: "Jilted groom says he still wants to marry his runaway bride." Obviously, the bride-to-be got cold feet before her wedding.

"Just because we haven't walked down the aisle, just because we haven't stood in front of 500 people and said our I Do's, my commitment before God to her was the day I bought that ring and put it on her finger, and I'm not backing down from that," according to John Mason who was interviewed by Fox News. That's what you call true love, the kind of love that overwhelms even a stranger's heart.

**********

My history classes during my university days and even during my high school years were never boring. My professors may be but our rich history never fails to enthrall me. And it was during those classes that I got acquainted with Luis Taruc, former leader of the HUKBALAHAP during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines in 1942. He died earlier this week at 92.

Despite being considered as a communist, Taruc was more of a socialist.

Thinking about it, our history books rarely exemplify the goodness of some people who had become part of the richness of our history. Most often, these books relate about the nobleness and bravery of the likes of Rizal, Bonifacio, Mabini, Aguinaldo, etc. Maybe, this is the right time that our textbooks speak about the tales of Dagohoy, Magat Salamat, ethnic tribes that fought to maintain their freedom from conquest, unknown and unsung heroes during the Spanish, American and Japanese occupation and even the people who gave their time and effort in the latter days. It is time to enrich the minds of the youth about the olden and beholden days.

**********

In its effort to preserve its local treasures, theBohol Tourism Office developed 2 of the 1,268 mounds of the Chocolate Hills in Bohol. It has been provided with facilities like cottages, eateries and viewing decks meant for the convenience and pleasure of visitors.



I had been to Bohol once, which was a long time ago. Surely, I am raring to go and visit this paradise again. It is really overwhelming to think that here in the Philippines, paradise exists. Capping this in a song:

"Halika, biyahe tayo
Nang ating makita
Ang ganda ng Pilipinas
Ang galing ng Pilipino."

**********

Oh my goodness! Everything is getting expensive and costly - VAT rate increase making prices of commodities shoot up, oil price hike that in turn will increase transportation fare, etc. Pending review is the clamor of concerned citizens of a salary/wage hike. Employers said they are willing to increase wages only by about 25-30 pesos. Holy gulay naman! A regular burger McDo meal-fanatic like me could not even pay the cheapest meal with a mere 30 pesos!

**********

I am really enjoying reading the 2 series of articles about the adventures of these girls who are friends of Alex the Buntis and the other - Lucy, the "Chick".

...that Yahoo will increase its storage space this month from the current 100 MB to a whopping 1 GB! Wow. What does Gmail has to say to that? Hmm.

...that Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are officially on? Isn't Katie to young for Papa Tom? Well, that's Hollywood or maybe Katie isn't too young anymore.

...that my 2 admired Hollywood stars, Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie are an item (again)? What's the official score anyway?

Wanna know the number of links to your blog in the wide web? Here's mine: Link Popularity.com.

I checked my links in Altavista and it was a surprise to know that there were people whom I had never encountered in any way had added my site to their links' pages.

No big deal. I just found it nice. Hehehe.