Big Hamster

More or Less Alive...

2010-07-07T22:46:00.001+08:00

Things have been ... hectic.

I have been to Korea, China, Thailand and Japan, with several travels to Manila and Cebu in between, in the last six months. All work related, sad to say.

The company that I work in is on the verge of opening two or three more stores this year. We had just opened Cebu branch a couple of months back.

My in-laws house is in the process of renovation and I have been helping out somewhat when I have the time.

Internet connection has been fuzzy these last couple of months (30mb torrent download: 1yr 7mo 3hrs...arrrgh).

On the bright side, I still get to read on the wee hours of morning when the voices in my head are too loud for me to get any shut-eye.

Still, that's something I guess.

On the reading list:

Haruki Murakami "Dance, Dance, Dance".
Kazuo Ishiguro "Nocturnes"
Ryusonuke Akutagawa "Rashomon."
Dan Abnett "Gaunt's Ghost Omnibus: The Lost."
Terry Prachett "Unseen Academicals"
Robert Kirkman "The Walking Dead."
John Scalzi "The Ghost Brigades"
Bill Willingham "Fables: War and Pieces"

On the must watch list:

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
A Dangerous Method
Inception
Green Hornet
Red

New Games:
Dragon Age Origins (PC)
Dawn of War II (PC)
Runebound (Boardgame)
Arkham Asylum (Boardgame)
Legend of the Five Rings (CCG)
Vampire: the Eternal Struggle (CCG)
A Game of Thrones (LCG)

For now, I'm more likely to update my status at Facebook (Add me up if you like) than here. I'll get back to blogging once my workload comes clear next month ... hopefully.

I need a time stop.

State of Mind: Blurred Vision (where are my glasses?)
Book of the Week: The Walking Dead by Robert Kirkman
Song of the Day: "Billionaire" B.O.B. (shoot me now).
Looking for: R.E.S.T.

Curiouser and Curiouser...

2010-03-07T02:29:00.000+08:00

:::Down Again into the Rabbit Hole:::

Despite misgivings, I actually like Tim Burton's Alice in the Wonderland. While the plot is so-so, I always understand that Alice in the Wonderland is a character driven story, from the detached Cheshire Cat to the insane Mad Hatter; to the diabolical Queen of Hearts to the enigmatic Caterpillar. What stole the scene in the movie though was the Knave of Hearts. The instant you see him in the screen, your mind immediately registers "evil bastard". And this confirms your suspicion after he gave false promises to the bloodhound in return for tracking Alice.

I always like Helena Bonham Carter as an actress, especially if she stars in any Tim Burton film. Being the Queen of Hearts was a joy to watch, and just as I imagined her from the book: overbearing, paranoid and power mad hungry. I think the nearest correct interpretation was the March Hare, who undoubtedly is much more insane than the Mad Hatter. And as I said before, the Knave of Hearts was pretty cool to watch, and Crispin Glover delivers another solid role. Creepy Thin Man strikes again!

There were a couple of slightly weird voices though. Alan Rickman gave his voice as the Blue Caterpillar, but you shake that feeling that it's actually Prof. Snape high on drugs and giving you weird advice ("Follow me to the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, Potter ... I mean Alice, sorry"). And it was surprising to discover the Jobberwocky has Christopher Lee's voice, and almost wished that he had Nazghul as back-up for his final fight with Alice. NOW that would have been a battle scene.

The movie is not a remake from the old Disney cartoon, nor it is adapted from the book; rather it is the imaginary continuation of the two books that Lewis Carroll's books, a what-if story if you will, in this case Alice going back again for the last time. If there's any gripe in the story, I could say that since it was an original script, it could have gone longer, thus improving the plot and story more. The last battle looks a little hurried for my taste. But then again, this is a Disney film, and with today's kids small attention span, I think they made it just right for their target audience. Here's hoping for a Director's Cut with extended scenes.

Slightly Off Topic Rant: Can people at least please learn to shut up in the theater when the movie is on? I really don't need your varied opinions as to why Johhny Depp is more cuter in another movie, or hear a blow-by-blow account on what's happening on the screen. Good lord, as I didn't want to get into a fight because I'm with my wife and sister-in-law, this is the first time I have to move three times to find a spot that's relatively quiet. Have you people no shame?

:::The Dead Jungle Book:::

Stephen always writes some very powerful stories, but for most of his stories you have to have your mind clear. Which not advisable after several grueling days in the office. I think I got as far as Chapter 7 till I lost track on the varied characters. So I sadly shelved the Stand and took out a book with an almost similar genre: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

I always like Neil Gaiman as one of my favorite authors, and reading The Graveyard Book reaffirms that. Loosely based on Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book, it revolves around the story of Nobody Owens, who survives an assassination attempt as a baby. He then grows up in a graveyard and has the ghosts of the area as his teachers, mentors, friends and family.

It then tells the story of his life till he reaches young adult age, and all the while learning skills on both the living and the dead. Pretty nice story, and in the end, gives you a message that life is too short, enjoy it the fullest. Me likey.

:::The Great Wall:::

While I'm not really talking about that HUGE thing in China (although I'm going there in a couple weeks for my second visit), I'm talking about writer's block. It's always been a goal of mine to write for the Palanca Awards, and every year I get sidetracked as not having time to sit down and create something. This year though, though I think I'm finally free to do something about it, and now the next step crushes me like my brain being crushed after hearing the words "Hi! I crush you, you know."

Good lord.

Anyhow, what I meant to say is I have writer's block. Oh, yeah I have tons of ideas, for years now, but they don't go anywhere. Some start at the beginning and sputter to oblivion, other appear in the middle suddenly and just trail off somewhere. Still others, clearly have an ending, but the start and the middle.

It's becoming a bit of an obstacle, and hopefully my mind will just stop fighting, put down those guns and knives, settle down united on just ONE idea. Please, grey matter, violence is not an option.

State of the Mind: Fuzzy Thoughts

Song of the Day: Castaway by Franco

Book of the Week: Hellboy: Collected Stories by Various Authors

Want or Need: Several Days of Focusing.

Full Moon Sways, Gently in the Night of One Fine Day

2010-03-02T20:51:00.012+08:00

:::Blame it on Me:::

First of all, I blame visiting to Makati Square. Then, I blame Facebook.

I haven't been blogging much lately because of these two reasons. Permit me to expound. I decided to go to Makati Square to look for some interesting TV series to wile my nights away after the deary hours of office. Divine intervention intervened, and I found myself scrounging on the second level basement floor looking for some anime series. Suffice to say, I bought enough to last me three months of regular watching.

Meanwhile, I succumbed to insanity and began playing games at Facebook. Lack of good games to play (and with both my PC and Xbox 360 "disabled") made me take on the apps, and now I'm collecting cards over in Warstorm, playing king at Kingdoms of Camelot and exploring dungeons over at Dungeons and Dragons Mini Adventures. At the very least, I am NOT playing the abyss known as Farmtown. I saw my wife pick up this game and I literally seen her glued to the monitor, eyes never leaving the screen and whispering diabolical mantras like "...must farm strawberries..." I think there was a slight foaming in the mouth, but thatcould be just bad lighting.

At least my games take just a few minutes to play, just enough to get my gaming fix, and then watch an episode or two in the TV, and then spend the night reading. Nothing beats a good day when you're in the bed, reading a good book, eating a cookie or two, and listening to the unearthly screams of the wife who just found out that her harvest is ruined. Ah, married life is bliss.

:::Anime Countdown:::

I've finished Beck, an anime about a boy joining a rock. Not your typical hack and slash/romance/adventure series, it chronicles how rock bands are formed, what do they go through, and how do they survive to become mainstream stars. Not everyone's cup of tea I know, but I hold special reason to watch this since I used toplay bass guitar in a band, and I can empathize with they go through. Bad news is that it's only one season, but the good news is they're going to release a live action movie! Now I can't wait for that one.

After hearing so many good things about the series, I decided to watch next Gundam 00. And I must say, take away the mechas (read: robots) in the series, and you'll find a very political story. And it's all serious stuff. Wars are ugly, politicians backstabbing, lots of hidden agendas. If you like world wide politics, I can recommend these series to you. I'm finishing the last episodes of Season One, and will probably go into Season Two by the end of the week.

After that, I'll probably choose between Canaan (assassin story, amazing gunplay), The Tower of Druaga (fantasy like Record of Lodoss War) orValkyrie Chronicles (Special Operations Force). Life is good.

:::Saranghaeyo!!!:::

So me and the missus finally had a vacation in very cold Korea (-7C!!!) and had a lot of fun. We stayed there for a week, got to visit the DMZ (good lord you people are paranoid!), ate a lot of good food (what do mean we have to cook our food?!) and generally had a fun frolic in the snow. The Koreans over there are very polite, helpful, and generally no nonsense (not unlike the kids who come here to study in the Philippines; the tour guide explained to us those were country bumpkins and not "cultured"). The food is good, though generally it depends on how well you can cook. Most of the restaurants we went into have built in cooking pans, so most the Korean fare are either boiled, grilled or steamed.

The high point for me was watching Nanta, a world acclaimed cooking theather show, (kinda like Stomp, but in the kitchen). The low point was me forgetting my battery pack for my camera (epic fail on my part). The silver lining was looking for a replacement battery, and going inside a store full of old cameras. Like Mamiyas, Hasselbrads and Rolleiflexes! Seeing the price made me balked at buying one even though it uses medium format film, not the regular 35mm we have these days, just for collection purposes.

All in all, it was a good vacation, and made me want to visit Korea again, if only for just one day to visit that store again and get some good stuff. And definitely in the summertime.

:::Bookhunter Log 030210:::

The Stand by Stephen King, Complete and Unabridged.

Nightmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King

Conqueror's Pride by Timothy Zahn

The Frank Herbert Collection by Frank Herbert

This Year's Best Science Fiction, 6th Edition edited by Gardner Dozois

I'm starting The Stand tonight, and I've been waiting for the unabridged edition to come out.

The Frank Herbert Collection is a joy to buy, as the author of the critically acclaimed Dune has some very good stories to tell. I like Timothy Zahn ever since reading Icarus, and is probably the one who eased me gently to appreciate science fiction. All in all, a very good haul.

:::Percy Rant:::

I have raved about Percy Jackson series last entry, so it gives me great honor to say that the movie suck ass. Where is Clarisse? and Dionysius? and Annabeth's invisible cap? And how the hell Percy came out like a douche?

Ok, I understand that I was a little hype up and got disappointed, but in retrospect even if I lowered my expectations and standards, it still comes out idiotically at least. You don't leave out major characters, and Clarisse and Dionysius are very important characters. So important that Clarisse plays some major parts in the books! It's like leaving out C3po and R2D2 in Star Wars.

Again, don't watch this movie. Buy the book and enjoy.

State of Mind: Blurry Happy

Song of the Day: Moon on the Water by Beat Crusaders ft. Sowelu

Book of the Week: The Stand by Stephen King

Want/Need: Call of Cthulhu: Arkham Asylum

End of January, with Wishes

2010-02-01T00:23:00.003+08:00

:::Greek Mythology Kicks Ass:::

I've just finished the Percy Jackson series (5 books in 6 d

ays! It's that good!) and now looking forward to read again the original greek myths, from Kronos and his kids to Homer to even the small short stories of Demeter, Pan and Hestia. One thing I like about Greek mythology (I have been reading them since I was a wee boy) is that like the Norse, most of the stories are tragic, which in turn makes them lifelike and real. While I have a soft spot for Nordic Gods, nothing beats the Greek in massive scale and pure epic butchery ... and some of these battles are crafted in poems.

The most recent Nordic tale I followed was American Gods by Neil Gaiman, but that doesn't really count since all the gods in all myths are there as well (though Odin and Loki were central to the story).

The Percy Jackson books I can highly recommend to anyone who enjoys greek myths, youngblood stories, or both. Two thumbs here.

Now, if only the movie "Lightning Thief" wouldn't suck that bad ...

:::In The Grim Dark Future, There is Only War:::

One of the reasons I haven't been updating lately is that I trying to read all my

backlog of books I bought last year. Before the Percy Jackson series, I read Dan Abnett's E

isenhorn Omnibus (Xenos, Malleus, Hereticus) and

Ravenor Omnibus (Ravenor, Ravenor Returned, Ravenor Rogue). Both stories are a kind of continuation, but the first three covers the tale of Inquisitor Eisenhorn, and the second three continues with his disciple and former student Inquisitor Ravenor.

Without saying, this is one of the best science fiction yarns I have read in a long time (Ok, so one year ago it was Gaunt's Ghost, but it's also written by Dan Abnett). Without spoilers, if you're going to read this, get ready for a rollercoaster ride of treachery, deceit and hopelessness. Because the setting for story is Warhammer's 40K universe, suffice to say there are no fluffy bunnies.

The heroes don't fit your typical stereotype. Indeed, Eisenhorn is one of the most singleminded individual that I read about. There can be no compromise, even in the face of having your soul ripped out and considered a outcast, a pariah in your own order. Ravenor is also human, even if he crippled. As one of the most intelligent Inquisitors in that age, he can be blinded by duty.

Even if you don't know the 40K universe, I heartily recommend this book. While it might take a while for some people to understand the phrases (vox-channels, the warp, daemonhosts etc) the book comes alive on its own.

:::Plans for the Year:::

1. The Store!

2. Palanca Awards!

3. More time to write.

4. More time to blog.

5. More time to take photos.

6. Be more geeky as always.

7. READ MORE BOOKS.

8. BUY MORE BOOKS.

9. Have a kid. Really. Twins would be better.

10. Produce a game.

As it is, if I can just accomplish half, then I'm a happy man. A 30 year old man at that.

State of Mind: Abuzz With Thoughts

Now Reading: Still looking for the next one

Now Listening: Kings and Queens by 30 Second to Mars

Want/Need: Moar Ideas!

And ... I am OLD.

2010-01-18T02:14:00.003+08:00

I suppose that it's inevitable.

I could rant and rage that turning a certain age is a milestone. But I won't. Because, when the clock struck 12 am, I began feeling ... nothing. I did not self combust, flew up in the air, get struck by lightning or made noisy sounds in the bathroom. Just nothing.

Well, perhaps just a little tired because I took a 3 hour drive from Kalibo, Aklan. But more or less, just meh.

I remember theorizing that time is essentially an effortless river of life, with it's small nooks and crannies of obstacles and the sheer number of creeks and streams of possibilities. And if you look ahead, the waters are raging, full of vim and vigor. Yet, if you look behind, it becomes calm, serene even.

That's how I look at life, always going forward, hitting the occasional stone, but nevertheless moving forward. And sometimes looking back, and seeing far beyond, perhaps in glorious surise, or in clear blue skies of infinity.

So I look into my life, and while there are some things that I regret, I find that I cherish more things happily. Things could have been better, but if I didn't go through life roughly I probably wouldn't end like I am now: more wiser and more intelligent (yet still not healthy! Dammit!).

It's true that the more experiences you have (and I'm saying this as both good and bad experiences) the more able you are to paddle through life. And I'm always proud to say I have a cynical yet forgiving view of human nature.

So maybe I'm wrong. Maybe, when the clock struck 12, in the deepest pits of my psyche, my soul screams out "So what?!"

Everything has changed. Nothing has changed.

Here's to me, at 30.

State of Mind: Groggy, yet Slightly Euphoric (must be the late night Pepsi)

Book of the Week: Eisenhorn Omnibus: Xenos, Malleus, Hereticus by Dan Abnett

Song of the Day: Dancing With Myself by Billy Idol

Want/Need: A Game of Thrones Core Set

Slices of Life

2009-11-02T20:04:00.002+08:00

:::Got Wifi?:::

One of the reasons I haven't been blogging lately is that I have almost no internet access(aside from the casual 3G surfing and the occasional borrowing of my wife's sister's laptop) at my wife's family's house, where I currently reside. So I decided to a wifi friendly home and, after several minutes of grunting (from adjusting the old windows) and wheezing (pulling the lan cable across the roof the unto the next window) I now enjoy the luxuries of being jacked up again to internet.

:::Kapre Hunt:::

I finally submitted my short story for Philippine Speculative Fiction last month, coming within hours of the deadline. Total words: 2127. Entitled Kapre Hunt, I decided to go with the second one, seeing that I know my characters well enough to imagine them what they're going to do in a particular situation. Hopefully, I'll get an email confirmation of yes. Fingers crossed.

:::My Wife, the SuperHeroine:::

I'm always amazed by my wife. One day, while shopping, as she's walking quickly past a store when she saw this amazing set of pearl earrings AMIDSTS OF HUNDREDS OF LIKE DESIGNS in a glass table TEN FEET AWAY. You men with relationships know what I'm talking about. Then I'll ask her to fetch me a ballpen NEXT TO HER on a CLEAR TABLE and she'll ask me where. The mind boggles. It's like she has an alter ego.

:::Reading Ancient Fantasy:::

Well, not actually ancient, but now I'm in a phase where I'm reading cult literary authors, the likes of H.P. Lovecraft (of Cthulhu Mythos), Robert Howard (Conan the Barbarian) , Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan of the Apes) Isaac Asimov (Foundation) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) . Lot's of good pure stuff. Consider this prose by Robert Howard when Conan said ...

"I have known many gods. He who denies them is as blind as he who trusts them too deeply. I seek not beyond death. It may be the blackness averred by the Nemedian skeptics, or Crom's realm of ice and cloud, or the snowy plains and vaulted halls of the Nordheimer's Valhalla. I know not, nor do I care. Let me live deep while I live; let me know the rich juices of red meat and stinging wine on my palate, the hot embrace of white arms, the mad exultation of battle when the blue blades flame and crimson, and I am content. Let teachers and priests and philosophers brood over questions of reality and illusion. I know this: if life is illusion, then I am no less an illusion, and being thus, the illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, and am content."

Wow. Just Wow.

:::Writing Again:::

November marks again the National Novel Writing Month, or Nanowrimo for short. I'm joining again, but unlike last year I'm taking these easily, writing whenever I feel like it, instead of being pressured to write 1,667 words per day, just to reach the 50,000 finish line. Maybe I'll finally do it, maybe not. We'll see.

:::Back to Communism:::

Took up a month long Chinese course, just to refresh my memory, a decision I regret somewhat. It's good to learn again, but the schedule ... good lord, three hours everyday at night for six days a week. I must have been out of mind. Coupled this with work in the morning, my brains have all been turned into mush.

:::Store Plans:::
If all goes well before the year ends, I will have my very own hobby store here in Iloilo. The drive is there and the market is waiting. All I gotta do now is take it easy, one step at the time, and not screw up the process. Here's to one dream to come true this year.

State of Mind: Mindless Buzz
Song of the Day: Blood Red Summer by Coheed and Cambria
Book of the Week: Collected Works of H.P. Lovecraft
Want/Need: Call of Cthulhu LCG

Three Probable Story Entries

2009-09-21T15:27:00.002+08:00

Aiyeee!!! The deadline for the Philippine Speculative Fiction V looms near, and I'm at a lost on which story to concentrate upon, finish, polish and send it in time for the deadline. Right now I'm looking at three stories, each as different from other.

The first one is a post apocalyptic Earth, with the tragedy and destruction of Haley's comet changed the face of mankind forever. The following is the rough prologue I've done.

Manila 2045. Forty years have past since the comet 1P/Halley, more commonly known as Halley’s Comet, has plunged directly towards Earth. But instead of the destruction of the planet, the comet exploded in the stratosphere, sending billions of radioactive particles that changed the face of mankind forever. Roughly 60% of humanity perished in the aftermath, dead from radiation poisoning. Others survived, and tried to regain their former lives. Most however, were changed. Haleys they were called, after the comet. Mostly human looking but at the same time not really completely, they were able to do things like breath fire, lift massive stones and run faster, things no normal human beings could do.

It was different for every country. The Americans recovered quickly and imposed semi-segregation and the Halley Registration Act, essentially making any Halleys a little less then a citizen, with what’s left of the military enforcing the law. China saw the potential and began utilizing the Haleys into their military, as with Russia. Those who joined the European Confederation like Britain and France were largely left alone, but were watched very carefully. Meanwhile those in the Middle East were persecuted and stoned publicly, leaving most of the Haleys hiding in fear.

In the Philippines, things were more or less the same. The Halleys were at first segregated like the Americans did, but with it’s Catholic upbringing the Filipino gradually accepted the Haleys, and they became citizens like any other Filipino, but without one important right. They cannot run for any government office. The Halleys grumbled, but they see this as a small price to pay for equal standing. And so both the Halleys and the Normals live peaceful lives, more or less….

I like apocalyptic worlds, especially one that shows how the world copes with the disaster, not just one country. I was planning to do a short story about a Halley bounty hunter, then if time permits plan to do a whole novel (perhaps a trilogy? Now more wishful thinking) that will culminate on 2061.

As a fan of supernatural fiction (read: Cthulhu, Hellboy, Dr. Strange etc.) I always wanted to do story about a Filipino warrior battling home grown demons the likes of Aswangs, Tikbalangs and Kapre. Here's the second story I was planning to finish for the longest time, but seem to get stuck in a rut. Here's an excerpt:

Father Evan looked at the old house and shivered. The place was rickety and, even though the priest was a good fifty feet away, smelled strongly of incense, blood and other stuff Evan didn’t want to think about. He turned to his companion, noting his expression. The man beside the priest was taller by a foot or so, and had muscles that could only be achieved by regularly doing heavy work. Heavy work, thought Evan, smiling bitterly. Now’s that’s an understatement.

The big man beside the priest stooped down, ran his hand over the soil and smelled the dirt between his fingers. He grunted as he confirmed what his hunch was all along, that he didn’t really need to smell the ground to find out if that there was death written all over them. Then his eyes shifted over the left catching a telltale piece of evidence that told him tonight’s special guest. He reached out and took it, gingerly rolling it over his hand.

“What you got there?” asked Evan.

The big man took a closer at the item. “Spoor” he replied. “Tonight we have kapres for our guests.” He threw the stub of cigar over his shoulder. “Three or four. Perhaps five.”

Evan grimaced between his usually cynical mask. One kapre is bad enough, but a group of four or five tends to put them at a slight disadvantage.

“What would think they’d be doing now?’ asked the priest quietly.

The man looked at the evening sky, and judged the time. “At this close to sunrise, either getting ready to sleep or lazing it off. That mean’s they’re not likely awake enough to respond quickly if we take them now. That gives us an advantage.” He flex his muscles, shaking out some kinks from a long day. “Time for some fun, priest” he grinned, his white teeth and open smile betrayed his anticipation for tonight’s work.

“Oh God, don’t tell we’re just going to barge in? Why can’t we have a plan? Why don’t I plan this time around?” the priest said plaintively.

“The simple plans are the best ones, and unlike you, I’ve been trained for this for a long time, so I know what I’m doing” said the man.

“You call barging straight in shooting and chopping everything that moves one of the best plans?” muttered Evan.

“Surprise and speed, my friend, surprise and speed. Let’s go.” So saying, the man walked quietly towards the front door, motioning for the priest to follow.

“This is going to be like that one in Dapitan all over again.” Evan sighed, consigned his soul to God, and followed the big man.

Finally, the last story is one of the oldest, more than a year ago. I was going to do this for Nanowrimo, but due to my wedding and other things that got in the way, never got to finish writing it. During my elementary years I grew up with Hardy Boys (and Bobbsey Twins ... yes I hear what you're thinking). By the time I got to high school, I was a mystery buff, devouring Sherlock Holmes and other incidental detective stories. Probably the weakest excerpt since it handles a lot of details beforehand. The scene is that the detectives have found the body, and are in the midst of the investigation when somebody arrived...

Henry has been reading some of the diagrams and descriptions when he noticed someone going in the house. He looked into the eyes of a tall man, surprised probably that Henry was inside.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?”, the mans asked.

Inigo straightened up. “My name is Detective Lazaro. Do you live here?”

“Yes”, the man replied.

“May I ask where have you been?”, the detective asked.

“I was out eating. I get the munchies sometimes when it’s early morning.”

“Oh? And why were you awake this hour?”

“Well. Like I said, I was out buying some munchies. I’m a writer you see. Ever read the Hours of Midnight? One of the my greatest stories.”

Inigo definitely heard about the Hours of Midnight. Publicly ridiculed by the literary public, it was denounced as one of the countries’ absurd stories. It was wrong move by the publishing company, going all out with banners, flyers and TV spots. It went well for week, then skyrocketed down as the most useless thing money can buy, except perhaps used as a bathroom material. Inigo read the first few chapters of the book, then chucked it across the room and wondered idly who would write such drivel. In retrospect, Inigo should have given the book to George, perhaps as bathroom material. Now though he was apparently, he was looking at the author.

When Inigo was interrogating the suspect, George was still not moving, his mind taking all the details. Entering the room had been quite a shock. The body had been lying in a small pool blood, which had poured towards the door. The body has been inside a small circle, and judging from crude markings, also inside a star. A pentagram, George thought.

The room was filled with blood. It looks like the victim was slashed from the throat, and from there blood was spilled liberally on the room. The room itself was small, not enough for a man to live comfortably, but good enough to get some rest. And now, the former resident of this room is having his eternal rest. Good line, that one, thought George smiling crookedly. If you’ve seen too many dead bodies, the mind becomes melodramatic and detached. At worst, a pasture for puns.

Looking at the three entries, I think I'm going for the second one . No wait, probably the first. But if I work on the third ....

Damn.

I'll post again once I get this one finished. Writing Mode on, Thinking Mode recalibrated.

State of Mind: Decisions, decisions.
Song of the Day: Meant to Live by Switchfoot
Book of the Week: Dogsbody by Dianne Wynn Jones
Want/Need: An Ice Cream Fudge Brownie ... I'm Hungry.

The Business of Eating

2009-09-01T15:28:00.005+08:00

:::Got Food?:::

It's been a very busy week for me. I got called all of a sudden to do interview with very well known chefs in Iloilo for Mezzo Mag. Suffice to say, it is a experience (some bad i.e. like not being prepared enough, and some good because of the stuff I've learned). In any case Chefs Ramlo (who hosts a local TV show) Miguel (of Esca's and Afrique's fame) and Tibong (an Iloilo legend with dozens of recipes in each restaurant, they opened my eyes and let me glimpse into the varied world of being a gourmand and good eating.

Things I learned while doing the interview:

1. Never forget the basic questions. Its a good thing I got their numbers and asked them to send me their resumes.
2. Have a recorder. I thought tapping my laptop keyboard furiously while asking questions would do the trick, but didn't. Well, it almost worked, if I can accept the fact I had to type "shorthand" and had to translate from gibberish.
3. Out of the box questions are the best, as long as it pertains to the matter at hand.

As this was my very first interview, I think I made a good job, and with a very short deadline (actually I had to ask for three extensions) coupled with the regular workload, I think I've cut it very fine.

Find out more at this September issue of Mezzo Mag, the food issue.

:::Best. Movie. Ever:::

Well, not really, but definitely this year's top Sci-Fi film, and I would stand by this when compared to Star Trek and the travesty that is Transformers.

District 9 is a gripping story of a love, hate, racism, greed and terror of the unknown. From the start of the movie, you are starting to feel tension, as if somethings going to happen but you don't know what it is. Then, after the EVENT, you're still in tension but reaching new heights, as you don't know what's going to happen. No spoilers here. But this is the most realistic movie in terms of the human behaviour and its shortcomings. There are no pretty moments, everything is what you see what you get, which is down and dirty.

And the aliens are not the pretty boys like Trek or made of pure awesomeness like the Autobots, they're buglike to the point of being cockroaches. But in the end, they also show us that outer skin is not a judgement for personality, but what's inside that counts.

Watch this movie now. You'll not regret it.

:::In the Line-Up:::

I had chance upon a good selection of books on sale, so once again I'm a happy hamster:

The Dark is Rising, five books for a very good price
Strange Brew, a collection of stories from today's victorian steam-punk writers.
H.G. Wells complete collection, in Hardbound form (woot!)
The Pendragon Cycle: Taliesin, Merlin, Arthur by Stephen Lawhead (very nice)

State of Mind: Recovery Mode
Song of the Day: I'll Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
Book of the Week: Going Postal by Terry Prachett
Want or Need: Path of the Destroyer Cards

I Feel The Pain

2009-08-20T16:52:00.009+08:00

:::It Burns!:::

I woke up to find my body (which anyone who met me physically knows that it is the size and shape of India) on fire and lacerated with scratch marks. Several options come to mind: first, my wife made wild and passionate love to me that would be the envy of other husbands, and will have been the talk of the town and spoken amidst large quantities of beer and slurred, envious voices. But since I slept early and my wife was up all night growing beets, carrots and god-knows-what in Farmtown, I tossed that out immediately. Second thought was that She-Who-Is-Not-To-Be-Named came into our house in the form of a succubus and made happy-happy joy-joy with my body using a unholy version of a whip, barb wire and weirdly carmelized toffee, just like she did when were in our final stages of our break up (sadly without the carmelized toffee). Though this one seems very far fetched because she doesn' t know where I live. ( I hope. She being a demonic succubus is true though).

Of course, when all the sleep fogginess has disappeared, I took a closer look to discover that the tragedy, like all other tragedies, are typically mundane and boring: I got a bad rash of allergies. To what, I don't know. To which I went to the doctor, and she took one look at my body, got a huge bottle that smells suspiciously of muriatic acid, and told me to smear liberally over the infected areas, which to my last look, now occupies 3/4 fourths of my body. If I were to describe it now it looks like the Risk Boardgame where the mighty Red Army is finally poised to conquer the last of the weary Brown Army.

So I took the bottle, went home, and with a silent prayer to St. Jude, the patron saint of Lost Causes, I took a dab of the cream and applied it to my skin.

After the screams have died down to mere mad gibberings ("Must ... apply ... it ... circularly....") I felt my skin tingle, and a cool feeling spread all over my skin. I felt like I've died and gone to heaven. Well, figuratively of course.

So, I'm in treatment. For the next ten days. Por dios por santo.

:::"Guard the bird well, my minions" said Alpha the Dobermann":::

If you haven't yet watched Up by Pixar and Disney, do yourself a favor, go out there to your nearest movie/theater/pirated dvd on the sofa and watch it. I always like Disney films (except Quasimodo, but there's always a mint hater at a ice cream shop) and this one is no exception. The plot is good, the characters funny as hell ("I'm tired. My knees are tired. My elbows are tired"). But the thing that always grips me (as with any other movie) is the soundtrack, and this one takes the cake for right on the spot. Music always evokes emotions, and the scene where they go through life every year is poignant and excellent.

The characters are very well done with very human personalities. The Grouchy Old Man, the Eager Boy Scout, The Loyal Dog Companion etc. I like the boy scout, since it made remember when I was a boy scout and attempted to cook an egg, which resulted in a tent fire and the arrival of the firetruck. Ah, the memories.

Definitely one of my favorite animated films so far. Watch it. And like the trailer, no spoilers here. Because it's fun. And fat boy scouts rule.

State of Mind: Painful Yet Satisfying
Song of the Day: One Day by Matishayu
Book of the Week: Hellboy: Odder Jobs by Mike Mignola and Selected Authors Want/Need: More Bandwidth

Starting Again, Remembering Joe and More Movies

2009-08-10T09:31:00.010+08:00

:::Getting Up Again:::

It's really hard to write something out of nothing. To date, I've already scrapped four possible stories for the Philippine Speculative Fiction V, stories that have so much promise but when I get to the middle part it gets unraveled. Right now, I'm choosing either a bounty hunter story, a kidnapping between worlds, a tribal jungle hunt or going something contemporary in the lines of Robert Howard (Conan) or maybe even H.P. Lovecraft (Cthulhu).

I usually get disheartened in the middle of writing, like last time these past years (Palanca, PSFIV, Nanowrimo etc), but after hearing Neil Gaiman's short talk about writing, it opened my eyes, and allowed to dig in and continue. He talks that everyone can get ideas, and even from the worst situations and experiences. Like the one where he was visiting in Iceland and was wandering around blindly, lacking sleep, when he stumbled upon a Japanese restaurant. Staring at the menu, he wondered how could someone live here, and with the differences of culture and all, and wondered whether they brought their gods with them.

And with that simple off hand thought, he went back to his hotel and wrote the first two pages of what ultimately became the Nebula Award novel "American Gods". Pretty powerful stuff.

Now for me, stories like this inspire me to continue writing. All I need to do is finish it. Easier said than done I suppose.

:::G.I Joe: The Rant:::

*spoilers ahead*

I watched G.I. Joe yesterday, and as much as I tried to leave the old backstory at the door, rage creeps silently in my brain. Scarlett and Ripcord?! The Baroness and Duke?!!! The movie producers took a lot of liberty with G.I. Joe canon, then I belatedly realized that this movie was made in with the approval of Hasbro TOYS. So it probably makes sense that each of the backstory is either twisted, patched up or redone totally.

Several things come to mind:

Snake Eyes never took a vow of silence, he was wounded during the war and his throat was torn out.
Ripcord is a paratrooper, not a pilot, hence his codename. But why quibble over small details?
Hawk was ok, but Duke is a idiot. Channing Tatum must have taken lessons from the Keannu Reeves of Acting School.
Scarlett was a such a bad-ass, I almost forgave her for hitching up with Ripcord when it was supposed to be with Snake Eyes. Scarlett made my day.
Cobra Commander comes across as a homicidal maniac, but his back story is just atrocious. Brother to the Baroness? Where did that come from? Star Wars?
Destro was also ok (he could have been more bulkier), as was Storm Shadow. Again the back story is totally warped. Storm Shadow killed the Hard Master and blamed Snake Eyes, thus having the allegiance of the ninjas to the banner of Cobra
Heavy Duty was just meh, as was Breaker. It would have been more cool if it was Lifeline, Dialtone and Roadblock.
Finally, what the hell was Brendan Fraser doing in the movie? Supposedly he was to play Gung Ho, but I watched the credits and never saw his name.

So, taking these all out. I could say that I enjoyed the movie as an action smash-em-up, but as a G.I. Joe original? Epic fail. Looking back at all the battle scenes, I'm guessing the next step. Games in Xbox 360 and PS3. The whole movie is actually a game, and the dialogue are the cut scenes.

Good lord, I miss Mutt, Shipwreck and Bazooka. And especially Sgt. Slaughter. Hmmm...where's my G.I. Joe TV series...

:::Movies to Watch Out For:::

Fresh from Howl's Moving Castle, visionary director, producer and all around 'supah creative genius' Hayao Miyazaki again creates another sensational masterpiece entitled Ponyo. Normally I wouldn't judge any movie by its trailer, but with Miyazaki's track record (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and all the other greats) I have no question this is going to be another one of those Miyazaki films: powerful, fun, intense and deep inside the plotline, a moral story. If you haven't yet seen any Miyazaki film, please take the time and watch one, especially the Oscar winner for Animation "Spirited Away". Can't wait for this one.

If you're like me, you would be somewhat late 20's and remembering the awesome movie Tron (this was after Star Wars). The plotline for that one was simple: a programmer (Jeff Bridges) got his program stolen by a company, which then used it to bring millions of dollars into their own bank account. In the attempt to get his program back, he broke into the mainframe and accidentally sent himself inside the computer, where he had to battle it out with the security (think Norton Anti-Virus as the massive police network. After surviving the computer and getting out of the system, he became the CEO of the company ( my mind is foggy as to why, I'll hunt my VHS and watch it again.) Anyway, the trailer is gorgeous to behold, and it shows Jeff Bridges, older now, watching the program. I don't know any more details, but again it's so shiny.

Imagine a world in an apocalyptic state. Imagine the world without humans, only big, giant, nasty robots. Imagine that you're small doll made of rags and sand. And imagine that you're mission is to save the human race. Tim Burton's 9 promises a lot and more, and with a power cast of Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly and a whole slew of good actors, this promises to be one very good eye candy. Slated on September 9, 2009 or 9/9/9, I think one will work well with the masses. Here's another trailer of 9, and introduces the 9 and a glimpse of their personalities. Personally I like 5, hehehe.

State of Mind: I See Paperworks ... Everywhere.
Song of the Day: Welcome Home by Coheed and Cambria
Book of the Week: Death at Koten by Shawn Carman
Want or Need: A Clean Desk ... Without Paperworks

Words! My Kingdom For Words!

2009-08-04T15:06:00.004+08:00

:::Words Fail Me:::

I finally have plotline for the Philippine Speculative Fiction V, which the October 15 deadline looms nearer and nearer. My only problem now is the numerous writer's block that assails me everyday, causing me to sometimes delete whole paragraphs and pages. Once I even started over, as I reread the damned thing and discovered that my characters are flat as an ironing board.

Dealing with "Da Block" is an arduous task. Some people recommend spending an off day not writing is actually a good idea, or doing something totally different that it takes your mind off the story. Me, I play SNES.
So right now, I'm in the middle of Soul Blazer, a RPG game that sets you off as the earth's defender, and God (technically the disembodied voice from above) sends you to various areas, clearing it of monsters and making it habitable for the people. After this, I'll probably go play (again!) Chronotrigger, Harvest Moon and Ogre Tactics.

Anyway, going back to my story, I hope to finish a rough draft by next week. Then will do a second rough draft as August ends. God willing, I'll have a final draft by September.

:::Words Beyond Borders:::

So my wife and I are planning our 1st anniversary this October, when Mike texted me this very surprising development: Manila International Book Fair. It starts September 16-20, and given the chance to buy books at very low prices (80% discount!) or going to Cebu, Bohol or even Hong Kong, there's no question we'd rather spend our 1st wedding anniversary thumbing through hundreds of paperbacks and hard covers. Hopefully, we can be there on a Friday and go back here in Iloilo on Sunday, three days of mind numbing leisure searching of our favorite titles and stories. Can't wait!

:::Words for a Living:::

I've been writing reviews for Mezzo Magazine for four months now, even doing a couple of articles. Usually, because of my work schedule, I usually do my writing on a Sunday, and reviewing books and music that, in my opinion, are slightly beyond mainstream. I found out that it reached appreciated ears when I did Up Dharma Down's Bipolar, and also when I reviewed Just for Fun, the biography of the creator of Linux. It makes me think that there's hope for Iloilo yet, even in just that small demographic that appreciates books and music.

But for now, I'd rather concentrate on my short story entry.

And I really need a new thesaurus.

State of Mind: Buzzed
Song of the Day: Stricken by Disturbed
Book of the Week: Necronomicon by H.P. Lovecraft (Collected Works)
Want/Need: Time Stop ... and a new thesaurus.

Buried Alive

2009-07-20T10:27:00.003+08:00

I am so busy these couple of weeks that I can't find the time to do other important stuff, like replacing my fried hard drive (I say fried because that was the technician told me. It wasn't barbecued nor steamed, just fried). Add that my Mac also has experienced a slight problem (it doesn't turn on), I find myself cut off from the rest of the humanity, on the internet anyways. It doens't matter though, because my desk looked like this:

After two weeks, intense problem solving and several meetings, my desk looked exactly the same as it was before. So now I follow the Clean Desk Policy. There will be no paper in my desk, to unclutter the mind of things to do. There is a slight drawback to this. After enforcing the Clean Desk Policy, its the Clean Floor Policy right now that plagues me.

Hopefully I get my act together this week. The signs and portents in front of me (my whiteboard) declare that :

1. I have to do the Incentive program
2. I have to do the Marketing program
3. I have follow up on several modules for the store
4-15. Meetings galore!
16. Breath Oxygen.

Yep, that's my life. Whoopeedo.

State of Mind: Bright Neon Lights.
Song of the Day: Don't Give Up by The Whitest Boy Alive
Book of the Week: Dave Talks Back by Dave Barry
Want/Need: Imperial Gift II

One Year After Frank the Destroyer

2009-06-29T00:03:00.007+08:00

::Accepting Your Losses::

Its been almost a year since Typhoon Frank hit, and I took a special Sunday day off to catalogue and finishing up on the last of my stuff on whether they survived, can be salvaged or utterly destroyed. On the final tally, 2/3 of my books were lost and all but a handful of my miniatures were gone. The only thing that made my day only a little better was that my files burned in DVD format got just a little dirty, so all my pictures, documents, PDF files and videos from before are ok.

I still mourn the loss of my books, especially all my Forgotten Realms and Greyhawk series, my Riftwar Saga, Sword of Truth etc. Hell, even my Drizzt novels were gone, as my Elminster books. Its a very bad month for me when I started shovelling boxes aside as I try to find my lost literature.

As for my figs, its not as much that I for mourn them as my books, but the fact they were expensive to begin with makes my teeth ache in utter despair. Warhammer Ogres and Orcs and Goblins, Warhammer 40k Imperial Guard, Warmachine Cygnar, some Gundam HG series, assorted Spawn and Hellboy figs, all worth at least 100k, money spent over four years of collecting. Right now though, I'm thinking of collecting again, and the fact that I can get them easily is the reason I don't mourn them as much as my books.

I guess I finally accepted I can't do anything about them. Life goes on.

::Taking THE Test::

If you're like me, you would also appreciate indie films, particularly well made filipino productions. I always appreciated Cinemalaya and Indiesine, churning out good flicks like Endo (contractual workers struggling to make ends meet), Pisay (student life in the school of Philippine Science) and Tribu (gangsta life in the slums of Tondo). Now another movie has come out and likely to be very near to my heart. When I was graduating high school in West V, there was only one option for college for me: UP in the Visayas. I didn't apply to any school, I just knew I was made for that school. So I took my UPCAT, and several months later, I got in. Yes, mayabang ako I know, but UP is always the choice for me.

This is a indie flick about UP, specifically the UPCAT exam, I think the most dreaded entrance test in the Philippines.

So even if you're a student of UP or not, this is a good film about taking the UPCAT exam and stories within. Support Filipino Indie!

State of Mind: Gray with Mourning

Song of the Day: Notion by Kings of Leon

Book of the Week : The Lonely Planet Story by Tony and Maureen Wheeler

Want or Need: To save my books

The Other David that Mattered the Most

2009-06-08T21:27:00.005+08:00

Most of the world mourned when David Carrandine died. I was only saddened at the passing of the legend, because me and a select group of individuals were mourning at the passing of another literary giant: David Eddings.

Flashback to 1995. I was still in a relationship with The Devourer of Souls, She Who Is Not To Be Named. I was knee deep high into mystery novels, and was rereading The Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I took a break when Sherlock Holmes was explaining to Watson why his dog, Toby, was confused by the trail left by the villains. I was at her house, and with just the two of us there, I wandered around, stretching the kinks in my legs. The Devourer of Souls was watching her favorite demonic program, T.G.I.S. With the sounds coming out of the room (the oohs and the aahs), I dare not enter the room, lest my soul be stolen.

It was then, perhaps trying to look for silence, I walked to the family's mini library and studied the books. I wasn't really looking for anything, just scanning around blankly. I was also

interested in chess at that time, so it happened that a book entitled The Magician's Gambit caught my eye. I took it out, look at the cover, saw it was fantasy. And it was a part of the series: namely The Pawn of Prophecy, The Queen of Sorcery, Castle of Wizardry and Enchanter's End Game.

Curious (and partly because I have nothing more to read after the Sign of Four) I ventured to The Devourer's room (thank God for commercial breaks) and asked her if I can borrow the books. With a dismissive hand she said take it, Bobby Andrews and Angelu De Leon just came on screen. I took it home, and it stayed in my shelf for a couple of days. Then I opened the first book.

I finished the first book in a couple of days, the whole series in a week. Then I found the second part of the series (another five books) and finished that under a week. Then I found other books written by David Eddings, and those that I didn't buy I cajoled, wheedled and even one time offered my soul (which I forgot was in the possession of the Devourer) just to borrow The Redemption of Althalus.

With that simple stroke, I shifted from a mystery buff to a fantasy fanatic, and paved the road for me to read not only the wondrous works the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien, George R. R. Martin, Terry Goodkind and Raymond E. Feist but also to traverse to science fiction reading Isaac Asimov, Douglas Niles Adam, Neil Gaiman, Timothy Zahn and Ray Bradbury.

But I always come back to David Edding's books. If I ever get to have a book published, I will match it to the standard of an Edding's character dialogues, which are both very alive, witty and real. And every year, without fail, I always read at least one series, just to experience his story once again.

Now that storyteller has died. At the ripe old age of 77, David Eddings died quietly in his house. His last fantasy series was The Dreamers, the last book just released three years ago. He will always be remembered for his characters like Prince Kneldar and Belgarath, of Sparhawk and Althalus. His Rivan Codex will be regarded by the faithful masses as an introduction to world building and fantasy writing. But for me, he will be remembered for he introduced me to the fantasy genre, and because of that, made me for what I man.

Kudos sir, and may you rest in peace knowing you touched a lot of people with your stories.

State of Mind: In Mourning

Song of the Day: I'm So Sorry by Morrisey

Book of the Day: The Rivan Codex by David Eddings

Want/Need: The new site to be operational

Life Goes On, Even Without My Consent

2009-06-03T22:54:00.005+08:00

:::New Home:::

By the next couple of weeks, I'll be transferring to a new personal website. Why? Because events conspired to 'accidentally' charge me a website name (which I totally forgot) and now I'm stuck with a two year contract (which I can't cancel, stupid credit card system). So preparations are being made to make the transfer smooth and seamless, and I'll probably import all my posts to the new site, and keep this one for redirecting purposes.

I'll keep it simple and plain, and probably just add the bare minimum add-ons.

:::Another Stab at Writing:::

It's that time of the year again, Philippines Speculative Fiction V is now calling for submissions. I did try to join last year, but didn't get to finish the damn story, so now I've resolved to pass at least a finished product by deadline. If you're interested, here are the details:

Editors Nikki Alfar and Vin Simbulan are now accepting submissions of short fiction pieces for consideration for the anthology "PHILIPPINE SPECULATIVE FICTION V".

Speculative fiction is the literature of wonder that spans the genres of fantasy, science fiction, horror and magic realism or falls into the cracks in-between.

1. Only works of speculative fiction will be considered for publication. As works of the imagination, the theme is open and free.

2. Stories must cater to an adult sensibility. However, if you have a Young Adult story that is particularly well-written, send it in.

3. Stories must be written in English.

4. Stories must be authored by Filipinos or those of Philippine ancestry.

5. Preference will be given to original unpublished stories, but previously published stories will also be considered. In the case of previously published material, kindly include the title of the publishing entity and the publication date. Kindly state also in your cover letter that you have the permission, if necessary, from the original publishing entity to republish your work.

6. First time authors are welcome to submit. In the first four volumes, we had a good mix of established and new authors. Good stories trump literary credentials anytime.

7. No multiple submissions. Each author may submit only one story for consideration.

8. Each story’s word count must be no fewer than 1,500 words and no more than 7,500 words.

9. All submissions must be in Rich Text Format (.rtf – save the document as .rft on your word processor) and attached to an email to this address: nikkialfar@gmail.com. Submissions received in any other format will be deleted, unread.

10. The subject of your email must read: PSF5 Submission: (title) (word count); where (title) is replaced by the title of your short story, without the parentheses, and (word count) is the word count of your story, without the parentheses. For example – PSF5 Submission: Meeting Makiling 4500.

11. All submissions must be accompanied by a cover letter that includes your name, brief bio, contact information, previous publications (if any). Introduce yourself.

12. Deadline for submissions is October 15, 2009. After that date, final choices will be made and letters of acceptance or regret sent out via email. Target publishing date is February 2010.

14. Compensation for selected stories will be 2 contributor’s copies of the published anthology as well as a share in aggregrate royalties.

Kindly help spread the word. Feel free to cut and paste or link to this on your blogs or e-groups.

Thanks,

Nikki Alfar

Vin Simbulan

Dean Francis Alfar

:::Because Chemistry is Fun::

Just gotta share this one. If you're a chemistry buff, a science geek or a guy looking to score for a quick knowledge about chemistry, here's a simple video.

State of Mind: Mind Numbingly Exhausted

Song of the Day: Ten Thousand Slaves by Otis Taylor

Book of the Week: Hellboy: Odd Jobs by Mike Mignola and Various Authors

Want/Need: More Storage Space

And All the Book Lovers Rejoiced!

2009-05-26T13:40:00.003+08:00

:: And It Comes to an End::

After weeks of speculation, The Great Book Blockade comes to an end with President Gloria commanding the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Customs to stop the customs duty on imported books. HUZZAH! Score one for the common man.

For those who are interested to the timeline and excellent summary of the events that happened, visit this link : The Great Book Blockade.

Much love to all the people who all the people who valiantly declared that books should be free (figuratively speaking of course) and to all the bibliophiles that made the movement possible.

Free words, free speech, free nation.

::On the TV Couch::

Right now, watching Lie to Me, which is probably one of this year's intriguing TV series. Tim Roth delivers an excellent performance as the scientist slash detective able to read faces through miniscule gestures and facial expresssions, which gives the women the power tell whether the guys is lying when asked the question "Do I look fat?" (Answer: don't say anything and flee the

country).

So far, the first 12 episodes are very well done, and with personal character scenes in-between, the series looks solid. Think of it as CSI without evidence but with just faces. Fascinating.

Also on the other end of the spectrum is The Unit. Testosterone laden action, this is definitely a guy TV serial. Features Special Ops team tackling several dangerous missions (duh) and trying to live a normal family life. While it might not sound much, but looking at the other selections, this is probably better than the usual comedic, action, slapstick etc. fare, and ranks up next to 24 in quality. Nicely done.

Will also plan to watch True Blood, a TV serial about a community of vampires, but I have mixed feelings about this. Will do a review once I finish Season 3&4 of the The Unit.

State of Mind: Bleary-ish

Song of the Day: Use Somebody by Kings of Leon

Book of the WeeK: Contact Harvest by Joseph Staten (Halo Novel)

Want or Need: More Sleeping Time

Money for Words

2009-05-21T18:29:00.011+08:00

Edited: Horrified, my wife screamed at me to edit some of the "controversial stuff" I posted, and looking back to what I've written, even I can say I was way too open with certain confidential items. So here's the edited version.

You probably heard it on the news, the radio or followed a link or two about the The Great Book Blockade. To sum it all up, our beloved government, seeing that they needed more income to upgrade their Large Starbucks Cappucino to Venti proportions during siesta time, have come up with a way to do this: by taxing foreign books. Yup, you heard me, reading suddenly have gotten a little more expensive.

It started with Twilight (yeah, sorry Twilight fans, but the series continues to wreak havoc upon mankind) coming in from the United States. A customs official, seeing the very large number of literature (I cringe to consider it Lit, but whatever. Sorry) coming in, decided to make an extra buck and ask the importer for tariff duties. Surprised, the importer didn't know there was a tariff involved, and paid the said duties and hurried off (possibly he didn't want to be seen in company with the books). That opened a big can of worms. Suddenly, every customs official began targeting foreign books and demanding tariff for them.

Here's the hulabaloo: The Florence Agreement, a UN Treaty in 1952, guarantees the free flow of educational, scientific, and cultural materials between countries and declaring all imported books should be duty free, with Philippines signature on it. A customs official declared that, after reading the agreement, only educational books should be exempt from duties. A reporter bellowed "You mean, everyone else in the last 50 years misinterpreted the agreement and you alone interpreted it correctly?!"

"Yes", the official said to the stunned media persons.

Well, if that doesn't get your blood boiling, what will? C'mon man, I know you gotta feed your ten children and you're still building your second mansion on a five acre lot, but applying duties from books?! Does the Customs Department plan to overthrow the Taliban in the most hideous group category? They're right on par with the Death Cults, the German SS and the Backstreet Boys, and this might just make them reach the top.

Right now though, we won't still feel it until after three months, when old stocks will run out. Soon, Archie Comics that costs P250 will probably be P1000, and if that's the case, I shudder to think of the graphic novel prices.

State of Mind: Passionate Rage

Song of the Day: I'll Follow You in the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

Book of the Week: Icarus Hunt by Timothy Zahn

Want/Need: A Wrecking Ball through Customs Building

The Weekend at Bacolod

2009-05-17T15:30:00.008+08:00

::The Bloody Road::

We came, we saw and we gave our best. Basically it means we got ourselves trounced silly. Me and my seven comrades got our first taste of a real national tournament, the L5R Kotei. And we did our best against the Philippines has to offer: the veteran players of Manila and Baguio, the old timers of Cebu and our hosts, team Bacolod. 43 players all in all. While we didn't win any major awards, we did get to snag a couple: Best Cosplay and Top 16 players (Greg came in 13th).

My final ranking was 3 wins and 4 losses. Not to shabby, considering the universe conspired against me to pit my skills versus the Overall Top 3, the top Phoenix guy and and my own worst nightmare: Two Crab Clan players.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the tourney very much, so much especially with the freebies and stuff. More details at my personal gaming blog: The Green Bunker.

::Book Hunter: The Bacolod Expedition::

During the Kotei lunch break I did get to enjoy another past time: browsing through Gaisano Bacolod's Booksale selection:
Rage of the Demon King by Raymond E. Feist: Before George R.R. Martin, there was Feist. Stil one of my favorite fantasy series, and this hardbound beauty comes at only P175. Very Nice.

Boogers Are My Beat by Dave Barry: This Pulitzer Prize winner defines the term "literary fun". One of my fave non-fiction columnists, he turns his attention to the follies in the US Taxing System, the jungle maze of Wal Mart, and things you should give to your wife (a chainsaw).

The One Tree by Stephen Donaldson: Continuing the story of Thomas the Unbeliever. Replacement for the Typhoon Frank disaster.

The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: If you ever watched the movie Apocalypse Now starring Marlon Brandon, this is the book that is based at. Both are a brutal and honest look at the depths of man, which at every chapter of the book spiralling down with the protagonist. One of books you should read at least once.

::The Angels Say Nay, The Demons Say Yay::

Got to watch Angels and Demons, and as a rule I will, as long as my patience holds out, never compare the book to the movie. So, as long as I'm in that ground, I get to enjoy the movie in question. After watching the movie, I must say I enjoyed it throughly. Yes you will complain that there's no depth like the book and no obscure references, but like I said, I'm leaving my complaints at the door. And talk all you want about the cool/bad ending and the way the movie tried to capture the book, but the highlight of the film for me was the fact they showed the Large Hadron Collider in play. Yes, that's just the geek in me.

The Large Hadron Collider is a real life machine, built in the borders of Switzerland in purpose of finding out the violations of symmetry of matter and anti-matter, additional sources of the quark flavour and difference of dark matter and dark energy. Yes, its all greek to me, but the thing that captured my imagination was that while they were trying to slam particles, they maybe accidentally create a black hole. And while the normal everyday population went around its own business, the science sector held its collective breath as the LHC first went online of September 2008, and test apprently went succesful because there would be a large chunk of earth destoryed if things went awry (think half of Europe).

In any case, I enjoyed the movie, and will again find time to read the book again (as I consider Angels and Demons superior to The Da Vinci Code).

State of Mind: Blearily Happy (I lacked sleep)
Song of the Day: One and Only by Nelly
Book of the Week: Boogers are my Beat by Dave Barry
Want/Need: L5R Celestial Cards

Looking Forward With Anticipation

2009-05-13T22:01:00.011+08:00

:::George is the Man!:::

Now that 2009 in half over, the other half promises to be one of the best halves in entertainment as several things that I wish to experience is most likely to happen this '09. First up, news that HBO has finally decided to start production on George R. R. Martin's acclaimed novels The Song of Ice and Fire. As fans of the series will know, this is an epic story spanning dozens of major characters over a land strifed by a vacant throne, each at a different viewpoint of each contender. From what I gathered, each volume would be enough for one season. If that's so, I'm looking at five seasons. Can't wait for this one, and with author at the helm (and with HBO's previous undertaking of Mist of Avalon), this TV show will promises to please both the fans and the mainstream audience.

:::There Will Be Blood:::

Also, coming this summer, the anime Blood the Last Vampire comes to a live action movie near you. And it stars the Korean movie My Sassy Girl actress Jeon Ji-hyun, and for that alone I gonna watch it on the big screen. Practically, I'm afraid it might suffer the Dragonball syndrome being a Japanese original but having Chinese and American actors with an American production (as opposed to Blood's having a Korean actress) but seeing the trailer, I hope it more than surpasses Dragonball Evolution, and moreso the debacle known as Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li.

And while most people would violently disagree (the female half most likely), at least the vampires here don't make sheep eyes. And attempt to cuddle you. And look vunerable. And sparkle. Especially the sparkling part.

:::Me and the Monkey:::

Another movie to look forward to is the comic book story "Y: The Last Man" by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. Imagine a world ravage by a unknown virus that wipes out every Y chromosome in the planet. The planet falls apart as society re-evolves, and reconstruct as women began running everything, from corporate businesses, religion and even the underworld. What was great about the series is that it shows how humanity reinvents itself to survive. Enter Yorick Brown and his monkey Ampersand, the last male beings in the entire planet. Actually, while Yorick and his simian companion are the fulcrum of the story, what happens around the world is what really shines in this series.

After dodging gigantic robots that transform into cars, Shia Lebeouf is slated to take the role of Yorick as he tries to make sense of the world gone mad and obviously female. If the production company doesn't muck this up, this could turn out as one of the best underestimated films this year. Much awaiting continues.

:::Book Hunter Log 051109: Regaining the Collection:::

It was a joyous event on that day, an important day known collectively as Booksale Stock Arrival. I've been to the store so many times these past year that the store clerks not only know our names, but also my book preferences: "Ser, meron naman tayo sci-fi dyan sa bandang kanto. Yung mga children's book ilalabas palang namin." Their definition of Sci-fi means both Sci-Fi and Fantasy, while childrens book means used comicbooks and the like. Anyway, I got a ton of books (what else is new?) and all while silently griping why people would want to throw these books away.

Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King - if you see this book, grab it. The only fantasy book the King wrote, and such a wonderful tale it was.

A Darkness of Sethanon by Raymond E. Feist - ever since Typhoon Frank, I'm trying to restore my collection. This series is one of the best I've ever read.

Earthborn by Orson Scott Card - Homecoming series number five, of which I only lacked number two.

Dragonwing by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman - Number one in the Death Gate Cycle, of which I'm also trying to complete.

Rise of the Ogre: Gorrilaz Biography - I've always been interested in Gorrilaz, and this hardbound coffeebook is perfect to browse through whilst listening to their tunes; not to mention its only P450.

Icarus Hunt by Timothy Zahn - an excellent sci-fi mystery slash action novel. Another replacement to T. Frank.

Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson - having heard excellent reviews I'm looking for Red Mars (1st) and Blue Mars (3rd) to complete the series .

Second Foundation and Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov - a definitive collection from the godfather of science fiction. Again recollecting.

::: The Celestial Era :::

After the Kotei tournament this weekend (three more days!!!) we'll looking on a new arc on Legend of the Five Rings. As any CCG old timer would know, L5R has been on the hobby spectrum for 15 years, and the second longest running CCG next to Magic: The Gathering. The previous story arc shows that the throne is empty, and all the Clans scrambling for a contender to command over the Empire. Last year, Dragon Clan won (through various worldwide torunaments and events) and now Empress Iweko I sits upon the celestial throne. Within months of her rule a new evil arises to threaten the whole of the empire, and this new story arc heralds the new edition: meaning new cards, new characters and new tournaments.

A story arc in L5R typically last for two years, so here's looking forward to another couple of years of great card design and gameplay, only from the best interactive CCG to date.

State of Mind: Kotei-static!

Song of the Day: Lala Song by Bob Sinclair ft. Sugar Hill Gang

Book of the Week: Imperial Guardman Omnibus by Various Authors

Want/Need: L5R Card: Wandering Budoka (edit: I just got one! w00t!)

Cranky::Trekker::Kotei '09

2009-05-10T23:34:00.010+08:00

So I was sick for most of the week, but that didn't stop me from watching a couple of movies. I saw Crank 2 at the height of my fever, and I laughed so hard that the snot I've been trying to supressed released itself sprayed the front row (which, thankfully, there was no one sitting there). The sheer absurdity, the balls out approach and treating the movie like some very long music video made Crank 2 one of my most enjoyable movies to date.

I won't argue that its nonsense; in fact I wholeheartedly agree. After seeing Versus by Beat Takeshi, Shoot 'Em Up starred by Clive Owen and original Crank 2, I ashamedly truly love the brilliantness of this movie. This is the movie that begs to be annoyed and hated at, but if you get past the initial extreme dislike, there is something bracingly fresh and original about it.

And it gets better. The second part of the movie throws all caution to the winds, and even part of plot goes with it, and ends up with everybody gunning everybody down while Jason Statham tries to climb a high voltage pole to recharge his heart. And this I can say his performance here is way much enjoyable then that crap movie called Transporter 3. Crank 2 has everything: guns, goons, hookers, porn stars, latinos, chinese triads, the whole lot. It even has David Carradine play a chinese mob boss, and with cameos like Ron Jeremy and Peter North, this movie is full of surprises.

Watch it and enjoy. Leave your sense out of the window and laugh out loud.

.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... ..... ..... ..... ... .... .... .... .....

I'm not a Trekkie. I'm more of a Star Wars fan, with its deep history, huge battles and a very large number of characters. And lightsabers man, plus Jedi and of course, Boba Fett. But after seeing Star Trek I wonder if I missed something.

But as much as I know little of Trek lore (just basics, more than enough from "Live long and prosper", Chekov is the youngest guy onboard Enterprise and that red shirts always die horribly but not enough to know what's Captain Kirks favortie food and what Spock dreams about), I throughly enjoyed the movie. I believe they have seamlessly crafted the old series to the new one and (this one is a Trek original) began a timeline in an alternate reality. So hardcore fans might be angered that all the Enterprise went through during the 80's, 90's, the new millenium, went zilch in that one moment.

That being said, the cast fit the characters like a glove, each contributed to a believable relationship between each other. I have reservations on the young Captain Kirk, but seeing him play the legend he does well surprisingly enough through ego and devil may care attitude. This is going to be one of the best movies this year, much better than Wolverine and way way better than the debacle that is Street Fighter: Legend of Chun Li and Dragonball: Evolution.

... ... .... .... ... ... ..... .... ... ..... ..... ... ... ...... .... ... .... ..... .... ....

Legend of the Five Rings Kotei is just around the corner, and everybody is geared up to play in this annual event. Me and my gaming group are travelling to Bacolod to face off the best of the Philippines, namely from Manila, Baguio, Cebu and of course, hometown peeps who will be judging the event. The prize: to get your name on a card and probably benefitting your clan.

I've been playing L5R for the better part of the year, so more or less I think I have a shot of the top 16. I play Mantis Clan, and looking at the other Kotei results over the world, no Mantis has ever yet won a Kotei (there are 10 other clans vying) so that's a big obstacle to conquer.

Not that I have illusions on my skill, top 4 or 8 would be enough to feed my ego. And with a little more than 30 players, its a reasonable target to conquer. So we'll see this weekend how it goes.

State of Mind: Racking Cough and Snotty Sick
Song of the Day: The Awakening by Switchfoot
Book of the Week: The Diving Bell and Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
Want or Need: Grim Angus, Hordes Trollkin Warlock

Resurrection Mortis

2009-05-03T00:24:00.003+08:00

It has been awhile since my last blog entry. I could lie that because of natural disasters,, momentous events and personal life intruding I couldn't blog a single entry since... (looks at the previous entry) dear God, June 2008?! Well, okay almost a year has past since I blogged about anything. And yes, its true that because of natural disasters, momentous events and personal life intruding that I didn't have time to post a single entry. I'll recap by the months.

June: Since I got transferred from my bedroom to my sala, I got zilch for internet connection. And I have no privacy whatsoever. And since its the sala, I got to experience again the wonders of "Lights out!" at 10pm.

July: Typhoon Frank. Need I say more? Let's say the house got flooded, half of my book collection got destroyed (read: 500+ books). We transferred to the next house (my auntie) and stayed there for a couple of weeks.

August: Still in mourning for my lost books. No internet connection for another couple of months. And still sleeping on the sala. Plus, preparations were made for the wedding.

September: More preparations as the countdown comes closer. The cake, the dress, the barong, the venue, the caterers, the rings, the people attending, the people involved, the people who were not invited and will be ignored etc.

October: The wedding commences. As the groom (I did tell you it was my wedding right?), I was led to the altar like sheep to a slaughter. Ever wonder why the bride looks radiant and the groom always looks slightly constipated? Now I know.

November: Preparations were made for the honeymoon. Preparations were made for living conditions. Preparations were made for paying the wedding bills (my eyebrows shot to the heavens on the final tally).

December: Paris, Milan, Florence, Rome. The 'backpacking' honeymoon. Learned a lesson: Never, ever bring a trolley bag to Europe. If you must, make sure it has arm slings to carry on your back.

January: Preparations were made for paying the honeymoon trip. My jaw dropped straight into the ground. Also visitors for the yearly Dinagyang Festival. Plus it was my birthday. Whoopeedo.

February: Getting into the vibe of living in two houses. Half the week is mine, the other half is hers and we wrestle for the odd day. Sometimes, we had drinking contests but I soon stopped once I figured out she was cheating by pouring the beer to the dogs. Also, it was her birthday.

March: All business. Another major change is coming and, suffice to say, it will be life changing. Also planned a holy week trip. Lastly, got invited to write in a local magazine and maybe the local newspaper.

April: The Great North Luzon Trip! One car, six friends, six days from Manila to Ilocos Norte, then going south from Laoag to Vigan to Baguio etc. Personal favorites: The Bangui Windmills, the House of Juan Luna and the Streets of Vigan. Also the Payao Church, Unesco Heritage Site!!!

May: Thinking about writing again (since I'm doing magazines and newspapers) and actually doing it. Also, L5R Kotei is this month. Plus, it might be that one of my dreams will come true: my very own store.

Okay, so that's in the nutshell. I really would like recap all but now I wish to focus on the future. So, again barring natural disasters, momentous events and personal life, I'm back for good. See you all on the net.

State of Mind: Fresh yet Slightly Overwhelmed

Song of the Day: Beautiful Mess by Jason Mraz

Book of the Week: Flip: The Guide to World Domination by Various Artists

Want/Need: Trollblood Champion Box

The Sala Survivor Chronicles: Conquering Darkness

2008-06-08T20:59:00.007+08:00

:::The Unbound Darkness:::

Two weeks and counting. Two weeks living and trying to make a home here in the sala. And just now, I finally have internet connection. I am alive, if barely.

So you ask at the back of your mind, how long will I get to sleep, eat, fart and harness my chi in the most public place in the house? TWO MONTHS. Yep, that's right, two friggin' months. Two months of no privacy whatsoever. Now, two days is no slouch, two weeks I can handle, but two months?! Now that's some serious bad mojo. Can I last that long I wonder...

It's pretty weird, sleeping in the sala. First off, the area in huge is comparison to the average bedroom. The silence is ... depressing. And at the same time horrifying. Imagine, waking up in the middle of the night, you can't see your hand in front in you, and you can't feel the walls. You wish to scream but you feel you cannot because you're more afraid that no sound will come out of your tongue and month. Instead, you reach blindly for the blanket, groping and feeling frantically, despair eating at you and you're ready to up till you finally touch it. You grab it hurriedly and cover your body in an attempt to cover yourself from the darkness, to provide a false sense of borders, that for you there's an end to the darkness. The blanket hangs limply in your body, stretching from head to toe. The only thing uncovered is your face, as your try vainly to out stare the darkness and trying not to listen at the silence. How many hours you stare at the void you don't know, until darkness itself consumes you. Before the last second the darkness' jaws close into you, you expect to feel pain or terror, but what you realize in your last concious thought is that it's tender, even loving. And when you open you eyes, it's morning.

Now that's some strong Stephen King shit right there. And for those who haven't read any books by the "The King", I would encourage you to read at least one in your lifetime. I've read The Shining, and good God, I slept poorly the whole week. I even slept with the lights on! Now that's powerful writing.

::: Eat Fuego De Bola, Senor Smaug!!!:::

The news is out, J.R.R Tolkien's The Hobbit will be out late next year, 2009, or at the most, 2010. It will be directed by Guillermo del Toro, with Peter Jackson at the producer's helm. What it means that the Rings Trilogy won't be tainted much, and with Senor del Toro directing, I expect it to be more darker and more sinister (Watch Pan's Labyrinth, or El Fauno Laberinto for the original spanish form). So it is a movie to excited about.

But what makes me get mixed feelings is that they're making a movie after the The Hobbit! I mean, there's no story that Tolkien wrote in between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring! From what I gather, they're going to make a story out of nothing and meld it into Tolkien's masterpiece!

Ok, two things. The purist in me says that it's a sacrilege and it's an abonimation, but the fanboy in me says: Coolness! Zing! Kapow! Zoom zoom! One thing that holds my hand from chucking at the screen after reading it: Peter Jackson. I believe in the man, and if he pulls this one off and melds it seamlessly into the storyline then my hats off to him. Please dude, don't fail us in this one.

One funny thing though, if Guillermo del Toro will direct The Hobbit I can just imagine his spanish influences...

A dwarf hefting a large axe: "Wanna make something out of this ese? Watcha' gonna do about it puto?

Yeah, a-in-the-hood LOTR. And instead of Barleyweed the hobbits will just be smoking weed. And Gandalf would say "Oh, look at the pretty red sky!" as he takes a pull at his pipe. "I wish I could fly", he mused.

And now I getting weird and delirious. I really need my privacy back. Arrrgh...

State of Mind: Endless Buzz
Song of the Day: Beautiful by Pharell and Snoop Dog
Book of the Week: Dance, Dance, Dance by Haruki Murakami
Want or Need: Tsuruchi Etsui. Yes, just to complete my Mantis Family.

Days Go By, Upcomers and Sala Surviving

2008-05-20T08:43:00.007+08:00

:::Zoom Zoom:::

Sometimes, I feel like this kid. Life zipping very fast like The Flash, recklessly enjoying life without a care in the world, zooming through puberty and teens and finally, when you realize it's too late, comes to a screeching stop at adulthood.

And without the mask.

:::Something to Look Forward To:::

After Iron Man and Speed Racer came out and Indiana Jones and Batman to follow, I will rest easy knowing that a couple of films ( both by Guillermo del Toro! Have you seen Pan's Labyrinth? ) are also in the lineup. Plus, the only actor I admire and would admit to emulating him, Jack Black (Wonderbooooy! Tell me the secret of your power!) and his new movie, Kung Fu Panda.

Also, during the trailer part before the Iron Man movie, me and Ronstadt got to see the new Dark Knight trailer and whoa! Harvey Dent?! Two Face?!! Hmmm, or this could be a red herring as with Spiderman when that one armed professor came out ( I forgot his name for the moment) that gave a sign that Lizardman is coming. Or maybe foreshadowing new villians for new sequels? This I gotta see.

Also, with Thor and Watchmen coming out next year and Captain America and The Avengers the next, there's a lot to look forward to in the coming years.

:::The Sala Survivor: Prelude to Transfer:::

After just less then a year when my room was reconstructed and refurbished and where I have been living in the sala for a couple weeks, I'm back again to take refuge in the sala because now, my room is being DEMOLISHED. That's right, read the capital letters. DEMOLISHED. To extend the grand sala and make way for really cool furniture (By family standards. My idea of a really cool furniture is Yoda's Hoverseat in Star Wars). Meanhile, I'm stuck in the sala until the new section of the house is being finished (at the side, where my new room is), and that will be in a couple of months from now.

And that means I get to live in the sala for a couple of months.

Sure, a day is ok. A week I can bear stoically. But a couple of months?!!! Good God, I feel like I'm going to live outside the house. No privacy, no downtime, noise everywhere ... arrrrgh. Will blog about this later, and soon.

State of Mind: Agonized Mumbling
Song of the Day: Wonderboy by Tenacious D
Book of the Week: After Dark by Haruki Murakami
Want/Need: Yoda's Hoverseat. 'Nuff said.

Back From The Great (Fire)Wall of China

2008-05-12T09:49:00.000+08:00

In China, things are regulated. Because of communism and strict government control, when I was there, I coudln't access certain sites, like Blogger. It kinda sucks that once you're in the Red Curtain, you lose touch with the outside world.

I've come back from China a couple of weeks before, and it's still the same when I was last visited the last couple of years. It was at the Guangzhou province, and the city we stayed was at Foshan, the tile capital of the world. And I say all over the world, with respect to both Spain and Italy, because if you have more than 500 factories churning out millions of square meters of tiles per year IN JUST ONE PROVINCE ALONE, and where that province is 95% of the economy is related to tiles, you pretty much can say that it's the place to be when buying ceramic flooring.

The Canton fair is a pretty big event this year, probably more bigger than the last time I went there. Imagine you have FOUR Mall of Asias' bunch up together and connected by large walkthroughs, and each building has thousands of items for retailing and wholesaling, and where the minimum order is one 20 ft container van (I tried to buy a pair of earphones for my Mp3, and the clerk slightly sneered that they don't sell piecemeal).

Inside the Canton Fair proper is chaotic, somewhat akin to wet market day, but most of the wheelers and dealers wearing suits and ties, and from all kinds of nationalities, from Africans to Frenchmen.

Each building has five halls, and each of halls has 15 massive rooms and in each room ... well, just look at the pictures and you'll see why I couldn't exactly describe how mind boggling it is. This one below is purely electronics, from mp3 players to earphones to look-alike iPods ( read: fake ).

So, after me and my brother finished ogling the different wares inside (took us a couple of hours just peering thru the merchandise) and we decided to get a breather and took a look outside. To our surprise, the whole lot outside is filled to the brim with huge machineries and stackers and forklifts.

Here are some other random pics from the trip. The hotel provided us with shuttle service to the fair and back (takes about an hour of travel from the hotel) so transportation isn't really a problem. Along the way, we also visited not stalls, not stores but whole buildings (!) of sanitary wares and tiles, each of them specializing in porcelain, ceramic, granite etc.

Also at the bottom, are a couple of my favorite shots. A Coke Zero, typically called Kekoukele Ling ( literally Coca Cola Zero) and a coffee stand aptly named "Also Milo". Intellectual property rights people would have a field with this one, as the logo and design is akin to Starbucks, and calling it "Milo"! Sacrilege! Hehehe, one of the best things about CHina. Sadly though, I couldn't get pics of the Epple Epod, the Soni Talkman and the 12-layer DVD Burner CPU, for all your pirated needs. It's so good to be back in China, hehehe.

That's it. It took so long to post this one because of the backlog I had when I came back ( about a week's worth), plus being busy for our excibit at the Robinson's Fair here in Iloilo. Today is the first day, so if you live in Iloilo and wandered by Robinsons or planning to build a house, drop by our stall and see our various wares (shameless plug). See you there!

State of Mind: Harrassed

Song of the Day: Beauty and the Beast ( don't ask me why, my girl picked this one)

Book of the Week: The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Want/Need: A day of silence ... or a day of World of Warcraft

Now Entering The Great (Fire)Wall of China

2008-04-17T08:23:00.003+08:00

Ok, I been very busy these past few weeks, and coupled with bad internet connection, my blogging speed has slowed down to a crawl. Lots of backlog, some even three months before! ( i.e. Lea Salonga Concert, the Big Deal, the Cebu escapade etc. ). In fact, I have all but lost my very own internet connection in my home, and now (ninja-like and silent as death) been blogging here in the office.(Blogger's note:Edited 3 hours before flight)

That means a wee amount of time, so I'll just touch on the highlights and hopefully get to talk about them soon.

1. "Ni hao China! Nimen hao Zhonggou ren! Er ... donde est el banyo?"

Going to China in a little while. Probably the last of the travel itenerary of the quarter. The first quarter of the year is always the busiest time for us, lots of travel to and fro Manila, and in the end, to China for the annual Canton Fair. Have to brush up on my chinese, as most likely I'll be the one to do the talking (my bro speaks better, but he likes to keep quiet), usually ordering food, asking for where the toilet is etc. Tiring? You betcha.

2. "Bonjour Monsieur! C'est facile! C'est magnifique!"

Just for trips, decided to study the French language after work. It's a beautiful language, although you do have to watch out for the pronounciations and the silent letters (there's a lot of them!). Since I'll be going to China tommorow, I'll be missing three classes, which sucks. But I'm pretty confident as to learning quickly; compared to the Chinese Language, French is easy once you get a hang of the proper pronounciations. Oh, and the teacher is cool, who is a pinay expat (I think), a little strict but nice.

3. "Uh-oh".

Speaking of trips, been listening to the music of Taken by Cars. First thought it was foreign band, from the accent of the vocalist and trippy beats, and from the cool music video. Then found it was a group of young local collegiate students ( um, this needs checking, but from their pictures, they look young ... or maybe just that I'm getting old? Arrrgh... ). Anyways, if you like Bloc Party (and local band Pedicab) and other bands of that genre, give this a try, though they're a bit more tame (but more bouncy).

4. "1st Law of Robotics: Never harm a human being"

Have just watched Ghost in the Shell: Innocence. Yep, due to uncertain circumstances, the movie was released way way back but I have just watched it now and I can say it's good that I waited for the DVD quality copy (read:pirated). Plot is good, Batou is back but without Major Kusanagi, the cinematics up to par with the times (actually the Original Ghost in the Shell was way ahead in it's times in animation when it was first aired a decade agao, as with Akira, but I digress), but the thing that really got me was the weird enchanting soundtrack, which was a reflection of the first movie. I really believe that music sets the tone, and if any Filipino directors would get the hint and use subtle yet scene setting music for their movies, I'd kowtow to them.

That aside, I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to anyone, even those without the slightest inclination of watching anime. But I would suggest that you watch the first movie first, and then Innocence, and the plot would't make much sense.

5. "End of Contract"

Speaking of Pinoy movies, anyone seen "Endo"? Indie film, part of the Cinemalaya Festival? I haven't, but if you have a copy, I'd bow and scrape for one. Well, not really, but you get my drift.

I support the indie film scene. They have right now the most original content and have that dignity that raises the bar for Filipino filmmaking. From Pagdadalaga with Maximo Oliveros, Pisay and now Endo, a lot of people are saying that the Filipino scene is having a Renaissance. And that's a statement for the local megastardom industries. Anybody notice what the regular movie houses are churning out? Superpapalicious with Vhong Navarro. Good God.

Ok, that's it. Right now, I'm waiting for my flight to Guangzhou, and as luck would have it, my flight has been delayed (Cebu Pacific is always delayed. If it was right on time, it could one of the signs of the impending Apocalypse) and we have been asked to transfer to a better location (read: father away and more inconvenient.) Anyways, this will be last post for the month, unless the hotel provides free internet service and The Great Firewall of China is down ( if you're in China, you cannot access certain restricted sites, including Blogger. Freedom of speech and communism et al.) In the meantime, au revior and zai tien!

State of Mind: Deja Vu China

Song of the Day: Uh Oh by Taken by Cars

Book of the Week: Watership Down by Richard Adams

Want/Need: Business Class Seats ( and again deja vu takes away with this one)

The Sign Says: Don't Stop To Rest

2008-04-01T04:57:00.007+08:00

ACK!

Ok, been very very busy this month, I'll update this blog once I get breathing space, perhaps next week. Lotsa things happened, and I'm still in the middle of work to get things written down. But to recap a bit, I've been to Cebu (Holy Week), I've been to Manila (WorldBex Convention) and now preparing to leave for China (Canton Fair) in a couple of weeks. Whew. And there was the baptism of my niece, the regular brownouts, the lucrative deal with ________ is now almost a reality, choosing the right church and venue for our wedding, deciding Paris for our honeymoon (nauna pa yung honeymoon plans kesa sa wedding plans, hehehe) , started writing again with the Palanca, trying to work out by boxing etc. etc. etc.

And of course, got a lot of new books, hehehe.

Oh, anybody notice the heat these days? Toasty.

Maybe I'll redo the look of this site soon. Hmmm.

'Nuff said.

State of Mind: Whirlwind With Dorothy (and this time, I'll kick the dog)
Song of the Day: It's The End Of The World As We Know It by REM
Book of the Week: Dragons of Spring Dawning by T. Hickman and M. Weis
Need/Want: Ice Cold Beer, a Book and a Reclining Beach Chair ... in the Alps

A Requiem For A True Master

2008-03-05T21:12:00.007+08:00

"It really meant a lot to him to hear from people from over the years about how he helped them become a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, what he gave them. He really enjoyed that." - Gail Gygax.

I started reading when I was at the tender age of 5 years old. I could not ever forget my first book, The Raccoon in the Forest. It was a pop-up book, while I totally forgot the plot, I can still feel the cardboard pop-ups in each page, giving me a three dimensional view of the story. From that point on, whenever I read, I always put myself in 3-D mode, the better to be IN the story and not just read the story.

In the later years, I became a mystery buff. This was during the elementary years and first two years in high school. I've finished all the Sherlock Holmes stories then, even have the copy "The Six-Percent Solution" ( hard to find book, which was not written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but it put things into "realistic perspective" ). I also have the Hardy Boys series to sink my teeth into, as well as different one shot detective stories by certain authors (also the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew crossovers, Tom Swift and the Bobsey Twins, but I digress). On that note, I never did read Agatha Christie, seeing that it would be disloyal to my favorite author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Don't ask me why, it just is.

Then, on a fateful summer evening, with nothing to do and just laying around our Lola's house in Roxas, I stumbled upon a book that changed my life forever. The Saga of the Old City by Gary Gygax. It's about a beggar boy named Gord the Gutless, and his transformation from slum dweller to thief and rogue and then finally a hero. I finished the story in one sitting, and in that exact moment, I was introduced into the Fantasy Genre.

And I hungered for more. By the end of high school, I've already read the great fantasy classics, from J.R.R Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, C.S. Lewis Narnia and T.H White's The Once and Future King. I've devoured Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms and Greyhawk. In college, I discovered David Eddings' the Mallorean and the Belgariad, Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth and Raymond Feist's Midkemia series. And now, I wouldn't have enjoyed Terry Prachett's wit and humor in the Discworld series (which keeps me sane) and George R.R. Martin's epic saga in The Song of Ice and Fire (which keeps me realistically grounded).

But I couldn't forget that first book in that fateful summer. That book that defined me by what I am today. The Saga of the Old City, written by Gary Gygax. And that man is dead, today at the age of 69. Most people would attribute Gary Gygax to, well, one of the foremost godfathers of geekdom. He was the driving force for Role Playing Games, using only a pen, papers and a handful of dice. That concept grew over the years, and these games couldn't come into fruition without his influence. We see his mark on them in almost every game, from the computer game heavyweights like Neverwinter Nights and Final Fantasy, MMORPG's like Ragnarok, Guild Wars and World of Warcraft, to also partly the TCG and CCG community (Trading/Collectible Card Games, along Richard Garfield, the Father of TCG's and CCG's).

Most people would remember him as guy who introduced the world to an alternative of playing games and having fun. Who introduced to us the terms "D20", "critical fumble" and "saving throws". Who declared to us why there should be a mithril dragon on the first level of a dungeon, and why every corner there is a death trap waiting. To me though, I remember him as the guy who set me into a path of otherworldly stories and imagination. To that man who is now with us in spirit, I say kudos, and while you were not my hero (because you created them), you were, first and foremost, my guide. Fare thee well.

"I have traveled a thousand worlds, each stranger than the next. I have met noble heroes, and vicious enemies. I have stood my ground against the Dark Queen with Raistlin and Caramon, and rode in a bronze dragon with Huma in the War of the Lance. I have tested blades with Drizz't Do'Urden, and fought several demons with Elminster. I have fought back to back with Aragorn against the Uruk Hai, and I have weilded the Sword of Truth. I have seen the splendor of Greyhawk, and have shared a quiet cigar with Sgt. Colon and Cpl. Nobby. I have escaped death several times from dungeons, and tried my strength with the giants and ogres. My strength is the capability of imagination, and with it my powers are infinite."

'Nuff said.

" I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else" - Gary Gygax

State of Mind: Numbing Grief
Song of the Day: 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky
Book of the Week: Black Powder War by Naomi Novik
Want/Need: Quiet Contemplation

Trying Again For The Palanca

2008-02-25T07:35:00.005+08:00

The country's most prestigious literary contest, the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards, or just the Palanca Awards for short, looms in the horizon, sending signals to every wannabe writer and struggling novelists to brush up on their art and sharpen their pencils. It is the one contest that I dearly want to join. I have tried to finish a short story last year and pass it up but due to time constraints ( I had started late ) and work issues ( April was the deadline, and I was in China, damn ). Now though, it's February and I have three months to concoct up a story before the deadline.

Two things would probably hinder my progress. One is the Canton Fair ( which is usually in Guangzhou, China ) in April, then also the Warhammer Fantasy Grand Tournament. Arrrggh. And to top it all off, there's also the Worldbex Convention in Manila, this coming March!

Perhaps that's my problem, my essential skill of being able to multitask at any work is also my bane, since I couldn't focus well on the subject matter in hand. Being able to focus and being able to multitask are two sides of a coin, one cannot be the same. I lack focus that is true, but being able to make a dozen decisions and do paperwork at the same time more then makes up for it. Hmmm, I think the key to this is balance. I gotta think about this more.

Meanwhile, I'll finish my outline this couple of days and perhaps do a paragraph too.

State of Mind: Monday Blues
Song of the Day: Bubbly by Colby Caillet
Book of the Week: His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
Want/Need: A Time Machine

Back With Vengeance and Goodwill

2008-02-18T21:07:00.007+08:00

Whew. A month has passed since my last blog. Given the workload I have for this year, I took the liberty of giving myself a small hiatus from the internet ( as also mumbling incoherently at the state of service my ISP provides, but that's a rant for another day ). A lot of major events came into my life, so I'll try to summarize them one by one.

-My Birthday-
Yup, I turned 28 this last January 18. Feelings? Natch. Regrets? Too many. Dreams fulfilled? Some, but not the major ones, so nada. Actually it was a normal typical day in the workplace. You ever get that feeling of embarrassment of everyone greeting you? Of someone coming towards you and look at him/her and he/she looks at you and then greets you with a bloody smile and you thank the greeter and then both go on your way and you wonder ... was it forced? Not that people hate me (whaddya mean people hate me? I'm lovable!), it's that kind of feeling that gets to you.

Or maybe I AM getting old AND cranky.

Anyways, it was just any other typical day in office, with extra cake and ice cream to boot.

-My Post Birthday Concert-
If there's one concert I wouldn't have missed, it's Lea Salonga. She's got a class of her own, and wow, did she deliver. A great way to spend my birthday, with Dad and Mom, and with Christian and Cheyenne, and of of course me and Ronstadt. What's really good about her concert was ... well, I guess everything. The song selection, the stage, and with Gerard Salonga and the Philharmonic Orchestra to boot. Nothing much more to say but wow.

-My Business-
Ok, so me and Dad went to Manila to finish up a very lucrative deal with ... erm, let's say someone big in the industry. It was humbling at the same time exciting. Humbling in the sense that the person in front of has done so much for the industry, exciting that the deal is almost good as done. Suffice to say, this is one of our company's turning point in history.

-My Niece-
Yup, my brother's wife finally gave birth to wonderful baby girl. Bianca Catherine Rafael. 6 hours of dry labor, ceasarian birth and finally, a baby girl with very long fingers and toes (I stress fingers and toes, which an ephipany arose that she's going to beat me at basketball in the later years) arrive squaling into the world. And where was I? In Manila doing business with Dad, so me and the grandfather saw the baby three days after. Sucks.

-My Valentines-
Due to the insistance of the other halves ( Ronstadt and Cheyenne ), me and my brother Christian found ourselves shanghied into attending a Valentine's Concert with ... Christian Bautista and Rachel Anne Go. Okay, while I think Rachel Go is just so-so, Christian I respect as an artist. Not because he has good voice and charisma, but he makes his OWN ORIGINAL SONGS ( and a hundred struggling artists with remakes scream with agony ). While I got nothing against the Pinoy Pop Industry ... okay, I got a gripe with them, but please, enough with the remakes. Do your own songs. After the eight or so song remake we tend to have shut down all appreciative processes. Cover songs I can accept, but gawd don't you have anything original? We have the most wonderful voices in the world ( ok, mine sucks but still ) and we need to get past that remake stage. And that is why I respect artists who do thier own stuff, like all the rock bands and a handful of pop stars.

-My Projects-
While not actually an event, I'd like to post this one so whenever I read this I'll get the incentive ( and the utter shame ) to work on it.

1. Gundam HG: Blaze Zaku Phantom, Rick Dias RMS-099, Gelgoog MS-14S etc.
2. World War II Diorama with German Assault Platoon, 1/35mm models
3. Warhammer 40k figures, for the Grand Tournament this April
4. Short Story for the Palanca Contest, April
5. Short Story for the Philippine Genre Stories, for the summer
6. Short Story for the Philippine Speculative Fiction, this late quarter

-My Books-
I had a lot of luck lately concerning books. One of those was actually getting an autographed copy of Neil Gaiman's Philippine Speculative Fiction. That really made my day. It now stands next to his autographed copy of Sandman: Seasons of Mist and flanked by Pol Medina's Pugad Baboy series ( also autographed by the man itself! w00t! ). Now, if only Terry Pratchett or George R.R. Martin would drop by here in the Philippines, I've already left for the next flight.

Speaking of George R.R. Martin, I snapped up at the chance of getting the hardbound editions of Dreamsongs I and Dreamsongs II. I could have bought the paperback, but only the first one was available, so had to buy the two. Symmetry is everything. Oh Eion Colfer's Artemis Fowl has a forth book, as confirmed by my friend over at Singapore. Got to wait for that one too. Meanwhile...

I found several gems hidden in the nooks and crannies of Booksale. Three were very hard to find books: Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, WildCards: Book One by George R.R. Martin and Foundation by Isaac Asimov. Total price in a regular book store: P900-P1000. Total cash shelled out in Booksale: P245. And as an added bonus, a Starwars RPG handbook! Which I got for only P400 all in all. If it was from a regular bookstore, it would cost around P2500. Lucky bastard.

Oh, I might have a personal blessing, but it's too soon to tell. Maybe next week.

State of Mind: Blitz Tired
Song of the Day: What's Up People by Maximum the Hormone
Book of the Week: Hellboy: Odd Jobs by Mike Mignola
Want/Need: Emerald and Jade Championship Set

Macbook Air!

2008-01-17T09:43:00.000+08:00

Shiny. I want one!

But due to wedding constraints, I cannot afford one.

Arrrrrrgh.

State of Mind: Agonizing Compulsion
Book of the Week: Gaunt's Ghosts: Necropolis by Dan Abnett
Song of the Day: You and Me by Lifehouse
Want or Need: Macbook Air...or a loan, hehehe

Landmark Day, January Plans and Geeky Things

2008-01-09T03:22:00.001+08:00

:::Two Years:::

Another landmark has passed, another year of wondering what did I deserve to have someone like Ronstadt. I feel like I've won the lottery or something, and I didn't even get to buy a ticket. And it goes to show being a good guy, even a geeky and a little nerdy one at that, will still get that woman of his dreams. Happy Anniversary honey! 'Nuff said.

:::Busy Year Ahead:::

I've been doing a lot of things, mostly work related, where I expect our company to go up in a boom this year. But the stakes are higher, the competition tougher, and this time round, its at our turf (bastards, hehehe). But we got the home court advantage, so we'll soon see about that. I can't talk about my company yet, maybe soon. This time though, the gloves are off.

::: Ten Geeky Things:::

1. Books found in Booksale: Warhammer Eldar Codex 2nd Ed (P107.00!), Starwars RPG 2nd Ed Hardbound (P80.00!) and Stephen King's Eyes of the Dragon (P97.00!). Am I a lucky bastard or what?

2. Been Game Mastering Legend of the Five Rings RPG for some time now, and it has been a rewarding experience for me, being able relieve those stress from the office.

3. As with playing L5R CCG. While I think the Magic The Gathering is the evil empire, I really like the storyline and the uniqueness of the world of Rokugan.

4. I've heard that the Warhammer Fantasy Grand Tournament is in April. There's a good chance I can join in the fun, though I think I remember that I'm going to China that month also! Arrrrgh! We'll see about this one.

5. While not a geeky thing, I would just like to say Happy 22nd Birthday to Maria Ozawa. If you know her, then you know what I'm talking about.

6. Taking a break from playing World of Warcraft. Right now, I got a L42 Troll Hunter, a L10 Blood Elf Mage and a L20 Undead Rogue. Anyone on the Aman'thul server, message me and maybe we can do an instance.

7. Saw this trailer, and made me go back when I was 8 years old and still watching the morning shows, particularly Superbook, Flying House, Voltron etc. And my God, it's directed by the Wachowski Brothers!

Go Speed Racer Go!

8. More books. This one from arrived from outside. The Gaunt's Ghost Omnibus: One and Two, featuring the first 8 volumes. Good reading over the first quarter of the year. Also: Knights of the Dinner Table, Little Wars, World of Darkness Sourcebook, Changeling: The Lost, Hero and Scion

9. I just realized I have some of the coolest shiny stuff in the house. Check out the geek bling.

Xbox 360, Nintendo WII, PSP Lite, iMac, Nintendo DS Lite. And yes, I don't have the time to play them all. I did although finish Guitar Hero III in a week over the holidays, on easy setting. And because of that, I got gamer's athritis. What a wimp.

10. Busy weekend next week. Friday I'll watch Urbandub with my girl, then Lea Salonga on Saturday with the family (see the musical variance? Hehehe ), and then lunch on Sunday with both sides of the family.

January is always the the busiest month of the year. Sigh.

State of Mind: Frantic Movements
Song of the Day: Move Forward by Urbandub
Book of the Week: Xenocide by Orson Scott Card
Want or Need: Where's my L5R Booster Box?!

The End is Nigh!

2007-12-31T20:45:00.000+08:00

Ok, so the year ends in just few hours from now, and I'm half listening/watching Pearl Jam's New York DVD concert. I still got work ( what else is new? ), and only just the New Year and Christmas time that I get to have that 24 hour break from drudgery. Hmmm, a lot of stuff happened, but first, contemplation and expectations for the next year.

Big news is that I'm getting married next year (that news never gets old, so forgive me for being a romantic), and we decided to go to the theme of Modern Filipiana Fiesta. So lots of barongs and lechons os the table, and yes, we plan to have three sorbetos carts in the area (that idea was pure genius!), and then try to have a garden wedding fit the budget. Hmmm, that's one I gotta watch out for, resist spending on "non-essentials". So next year, no iPhone, no Macbook, no gaming ( but maybe just the GT ), no more desserts and extra servings. But if there's a book sale ...God help me.

Another news is that two of closest friends, Mike and Rochelle, are also getting married next year, in June. Guess who's the best man? Well, I wasn't actually expecting to get that honor, but looking back, I always been there to there to share some of their blessings, even if I'm here in Iloilo and they in Manila. Actually really feel very honored, to have touched both their lives, and that really counts for something.

:::The Batch '97 10th Year Reunion:::

After six months of preparation, we got the reunion off without a hitch and actually was a huge success. Only a third of our batch came, and that's to be expected since most of classmates are either in the states/working night shifts/could not come because of family etc. And I actually expected that number to come out, and I wasn't wrong.

We graduated from West Visayas State University, one of the toughest high schools in the Visayas. A rigid entrance exam, plus the fatc that you can only enter the school at first year, ensures that the quality of students is high in academics. We started out 107 students, we graduated with 100, the others couldn't keep up with the system. And as such that we were the chosen few, we knew each other, and most of each other's secrets/scandals/issues etc. If I were to describe our school it would like UP without the rebellious nature, Pisay but without total nerdishness. And since we are few, we both excelled in sports in academics.

So we had our reunion. And we had a blast, from games, like "Give me what I want", but with a slight difference being that the emcee was asking for "a solution of liquid with a PH value of 7" ( see what I mean about being nerdy? Oh, he meant ice tea by the way ) to raffle prizes. Yes, we did have raffle prizes, the first prize was a Sofa Bed ( which was won by Bespren Earl by the way ) and we also have a teacher as a guest. I mean, which High School can give you that? Just feeling some school pride.

:::The Meeting of the Old Guard:::

The week after, I got into a another reunion, this time in old YFC group. I used to be quite a "personality here", and I admit I grew up fast during this time. Suffice to say, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't have learned three things: to play in a band, to be a good leader, and to be have faith. I started out way back '94, then got happily yet regrettedly faded out in '04. But I still see some of them around, and this reunion proved that no matter where you are, no matter where you go, if you had been part of something big, you're still part of that group. Nuff said.

State of Mind:
Song of the Day: Baba O'Reilly By Pearl Jam (cover song)
Book of the Week: Speaker of the Dead by Orson Scott Card
Want/Need: More Downtime

Prelude to Planning, The Compass Rant and Being Back on Track

2007-12-10T07:13:00.000+08:00

:::Surreal:::

So we're planning for the wedding. God, it's so surreal. Yah think your ready for it but it kinda sinks down slowly to your brain that your are actually planning your own sacri ... er, wedding I mean. I remember someone telling me that a wedding is a female ritual; us men are only there to be the sacrificial lamb in the altar. While I did laugh out loud before, now it isn't as funny as it should have been. Ah well, might as well get my tether and goat bell on, hehehe. Baaaahhhh!

While we haven't decided on the exact date yet, we're planning on November or December next year, one year from now. I already got my list of people for my entourage, and while I have a lot of friends over the years, suffice to say they are the people who made a very big impact in my life. The list will have to be kept secret of course, not until I get the final count and try to contact them personally.

We already decided on the cake though. Imagine the bottom three layers are stacked with cupcakes, then the upper three layers are books ( made of cake of course ) that we really love. We both love a lot literature, and we both have the same sentiments when it comes to books, so we decided that it would be fitting that our cake symbolizes what we are: bibliophiles.

And were pretty sure that the theme would be Modern Filipino, its gonna be barongs and filipinianas abound. Tentative plans for the early stages of the wedding.

Like I said, surreal.

Proposal
Uploaded by hamsterbot

( Uploaded this again, as the bottom link doesn't work for some reason.)

:::Golden Compass Rant:::

*Warning:Spoilers Ahead!*

Ok, so I watched Golden Compass with a high degree expectation since it was produced by the same guys who did LOTR, and I read the book a couple of times before the movie came out.

So ok, for me it sucked. Well, not suck "suck", since the cinematography was cool and the fight scenes great, but the translation from the book to the movie was rubbish. Sure most movies based from books ( read; Harry Potter, Eragon, etc ) didn't translate into the silver screen, but if you're part of the company that made LOTR, you at least expect something of staying true to the material. But nope, you just had to chop it up.

First of all, the books ( The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and the Amber Spyglass ) are a great trilogy. Everything in detail, the backstory explained etc. The movie would have been ok, even exceptional, if they could have extended them to three hours and not two, for more story hooks and backstory.

Ok, differences between the book and the movie. My personal gripe was that they changed the last scene in the movie as the fight between the Tartars vs the Witches and Gypsians. The last scene in book was the fight between Iorek Byrnisson and Iofur Ragnarsson ( which the movie changed into just plain Ragnar ... urk ). The movie they got it on in the middle part. It didn't work at all. I mean you just won the duel, you are now king of the Ice Bears, and you didn't order them into join you at battle to save Lyra?! WTF?

And the witches! If I didn't read the book, I'd wonder why in the world would the witches help Lyra?! Serafina Pekala's story is nicely detailed in the book, and they just gave her a cameo apperance (like Angela and Solembum in Eragon, but that's a different rant).

And then...

"Lyra, I am your mother.", said Mrs. Coulter.

"NOOOOOOOO!" screamed Lyra.

(sub-dubbed, ad libbed and slightly heard in the background...)

"Luke, I am your father." Darth Vader said.

"NOOOOOOOO!" cried Luke in anguished.

Ok, Mrs. Coulter and Lyra didn't actually say it, but it was paraphrased so badly you could hear Vader and Luke in the eaves. And in the book, that scene never happened, as it was the Gypsians who told Lyra who her mother and father is. And they didn't put in the final scene where Lyra is reunited with her father, Lord Asriel! Arrrgh!

Get the book, read the story. I got mine in Booksale for 77 pesos only, hehehe.

:::Back on Track :::

A chance encounter in a coffee shop where my fiancee (still surreal: shifting from girlfriend to fiancee) was reading out a local newspaper and pointed out to me an article and said "Honey, this looks just like what you're looking for." I glanced at the article, read the words "Role Playing Games", "Legend of the 5 Rings" and "Vampire: The Requiem" in one paragraph, and stared at salvation. It's been three years since I gamed regularly, which I collectively known as the Hobby (your ccg's, rpg's, your mmorpg's and tabletop minis), and Ronstadt pointed it out to me in an off hand manner. So I got their local website, got in touch with the people, and now I'm back on track.

Ok, these guys aren't like the usual group I play with in Manila (obviously), and would take some getting used too, but hey if you're a hobby gamer, more or less you get to have the same traits, so almost no problem fitting in. They play Legend of the Five Rings, the CCG that's almost as known as Magic the Gathering ( second oldest CCG out there in fact ) and dabble in Dungeons and Dragons and Vampire: The Requiem.

I'd think I'd have died and gone to heaven.

So now, I am the Game Master for the Legend of the Five Rings Campaign, every Friday at Think Cafe. It's good to be back in the helm. Oh and, one of them plays Warhammer, but he's in the US right now, so that kinda blows. At least I have something to forward too when he comes back for a vacation. The other peeps are very interested in other aspects of gaming though, so I'll gently introduced them to Warmachine, hehehe.

Nevertheless, like I said, it's good to be Game Master again.

From L-R: Loiue, Zandro, Alros and me (half of the gamer group)

State of Mind: "Wait-is-this-really-happening?" Feeling
Song of the Day: The Fight is Over by Urbandub
Book of the Week: Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
Looking for: A nice photographer

You and Me

2007-11-27T08:30:00.000+08:00

Sometimes, I'm such a dork. I really don't know what I'm doing, or most of the time, got my head in the clouds dreaming farfetch thoughts. And when I plan things, things like having the perfect outing, presenting a great gift or even just a usual stroll to the mall, I generally botch things up. Why? I don't really know. Shakespeare's answer to that, to paraphrase him, is "I don't know. It's a mystery."

I admit I'm pretty lucky. A good job, a great family, and in the company of diverse and very good friends. But being lucky isn't enough. It's like I'm missing something. Or if I put it in a melodramatic tone, I'd say that a piece of my soul has been lost Or that my soul has been flawed from the beginning and needed something to sharpen its edges and bring out its luxury.

Then I found you. Sure you had some rough edges yourself but I believed that I sharpened those as you had with mine. We brought out the best in each other, and rarely thankfully, the worst in us. But I'd like to think of it as a identifying chink to each of our soul, and we used each to cover those chinks. In the end, those souls interlinked to become something more beautiful, with sharpened edges and luxury refined. A thing of beauty indeed.

I guess what I'm to say is that I never met anyone who made me the best of what I am, who complemented my virtues and hid my flaws. Because you, Ronstadt Fernandez, my love, my girl, made me a better man.

Will you marry me?

State of Mind: Bliss
Song of the Day: Accidentally in Love by Counting Crows
Now Reading: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
When?!: November/December

No Time For Anything

2007-11-06T08:20:00.000+08:00

:::The Writing Continues...:::

I started doing the Nanowrimo thing. My story is a mix of urban fantasy and alternate history with dash of horror and suspense. Hopefully, I'll be able to share parts of the story here, as I have only the prologue and the first chapter done. Lots of groundwork to do, lots of thinking to uncover. All in all, pretty much smooth sailing. A part of the premise is that a man is sanctioned by the Catholic Church to protect Manila from the beasts of the folklore; be it from the tikbalangs, the kapres etc. And it would have been easy except that these monsters are all shapeshifters, you never know that the smiling banker approving your loan is actually a shaman from the Dugung Asul Tribe, and silently jotting down your personal information so he and his friends can pay you a personal visit.

Now back to the man. This man was reborn, released from a curse during the reign of Solayman. He was a bodyground of the king, a Halimaw Hunter. And one day, he was discovered off the coast of Sulu, taken in by the local priest there, and from then on, learned to accept his new life gruadually.

The story takes place after ten years into he was released from the curse. Hopefully I'll get it done by the end of the month, right now, although I got my plot and characters in, I'm running a little behind schedule. Fingers crossed.

:::Happy Wishes!:::

Last week we celebrated my Lola's 80th birthday. It was a blast seeing all of my cousins together in one place. We practically grew up together, so were very close, and as the oldest apo I had to take care of them before. Now that we're all grown up, there's less time to see other but we do cherish those rare moments. And having my Lola's birthday to boot was almost as perfect as it gets ( my other three cousins weren't able to make it, sayang ). All in all, it was a blast.

State of Mind: Mind Numbing Workload
Song of the Day:
Book of the Week: Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Want or Need: Time for Planning (?!)

Lost in Transactions

2007-10-29T08:42:00.000+08:00

:::The Month of Papers:::

So I arrive from Manila last week to find my desk, literally, abound with papers and documents. Stacked as high as the leaning Tower of Pisa, I stared with horror as I realized the amount to things I have to do to catch up on my work. After a frenzied couple of weeks of head scratching "workyness", my desk has been reduced to looking like a landfill: papers strewn here, a couple of reports there, balls of crumpled paper everywhere ( because someone took my wastebasket! wtf?! ).

There's nothing in the world that says I miss you than a tablefull full of backlog.

:::Long Delayed Manila Recap:::

Here's top 5 things that I did and done in Manila last week.

1. Got involved in the Mooncake Festival game, which to my surprise, involves dice rolling. Basically, you roll six dices to see what prize you get, a mooncake of course but with variable sizes depending on what you roll. The aim is to get six 4's to get the largest one, all sixes, all fives etc. Now being a tabletop gamer I definitely have a slight edge because of years of dice rolling has thought me certain tricks that to get a certain number ( Leadership 5! --- inside joke ). Not cheating of course, but praying like hell mostly. In the end. I got a single semilarge Mooncake. All the others? They got three or four pieces of them, both big and small. The hand is rusty in rolling dice.

2. Got into this weird incident after the girlfriend's BarOps. Sunday, Taft Avenue was closed and the street was awashed with drunk lawyers and judges, to celebrate the final day of the Bar examinations. As I was walking towards their area, I saw a couple of guys with blood on their shirts. Then a block more, there's a group of guys with blood splatters. Then finally a police ... er ... jeep rolled into view carrying a couple of wounded students. Ah, frat boys, I thought when I saw the bloody frat shirts used to stuanched the bleeding, same as the other guys were wearing. What's worse then frat boys? Drunk frat boys. And what's the worse of it is when I finally get to meet my girl they came rolling downt the street and showering every pedestrian with beer, which with my considerable girth, able to shield my girl and thus drenching me with San Mig Light.

After giving the idiots the old fashioned sign for stupidity, we hiked ourselves to the LRT station.

Now comes a funny moment. People were staying away from me because, well, I stanked of beer. IN THE AFTERNOON. And it gets worse in the MRT Station, because of the aircon, and finally going to my place passing through Glorietta, Landmark and Greenbelt. The security guards were giving me the Raised Eyebrow Stance, and I responded with the Floor and Roof Inspection Stare. My girl couldn't resist a grin though, and laugh terribly afterwards, and that, I think, says it all for chivalry.

Next time, I'll be chauvanistic.

3. One of the highlights of the trip was going to the National Archives and looking the Juan Luna Exibit. We started the wrong way, up the second floor first which were Luna's painting and several busts of various people. There were even several famous paintings, like the Bataan Death March. I forgot which painter though. Anyhow, I keep wondering when I'm going to see the Spolarium when the guard informed us that the painting is on the first floor. So we went down, opened the huge heavily carved door and lo and behold, Luna's famous painting, the Spolarium.

Here, I can't find the words to do it justice. IT WAS HUGE! It stands almost two stories high, and almost two minivans both in width and lengthwise. And the colors ... wow. Anybody who tried painting, be it a hobby or a profession would understand what I mean when he "captured the light and the darkness equally, creating a point in the scene where it draws the eye, but somehow encompasses the whole painting. Wow.

And here also I got lectured by the guard 'cause even though she told me that I can't take a picture, dumbass that I am got my camera out and tried to take one. But it was too big, and while getting a good angle the said guard caught me and got me a tounge lashing. Ah well, at least I tried. But the trip was definitely a look-see. Maybe I'll go back there someday and just stare at the painting.

4. I bought two old style cameras ( read: cheap and film(!) based ), this one for a bit of fun. I've heard about this a lot from my girlfriend and had a look-see at the net to find some specs. One is an Oktomat, basically a 8-shot camera, where there are 8 pictures in one frame. Nice. Another is a Lomo Fisheye II, with the widest angle lens, at 170 degrees. Very Nice. I'll post some pics when I'm done developing them and scanned them afterwards ... a term I thought I would never use, hehehe.

5. Played my very first game of Warmachine against Romy's Menoth. Interesting game, I keep thinking in the lines of six turns and other Warhammer tactics. Must need to play some more. After that, had pizza and beer at Shakeys and talked the night away. I think I got a little tipsy that night, and judging from the blurred face of my girlfriend when she opened the door at midnight ... well I guess I drank a little too much. I think I slept in the couch that night. Hmmmmm...

:::Sharpening Pencils and Stocking Paper:::

It's nearing the end of October, and I've been waiting for a long time for November to come. Because on November, NaNoWriMo comes around. National Novel Writing Month, wherein participants all over the globe gather and pit themselves against time to write a novel. 30 days, 50,000 words, 1 deadline. No prizes, no awards, just plain speed and creativity. It was created to inspire would be writers and novelists to utterly ignore their inner editor ( mine has a big ego and a perfectionist to boot ) to just let go and write whatever comes to mind. Quantity not quality. Plot comes second, or third even, just that the story moves forward. Then, if you finish the 50k mark, you can polish your story in December. So why bother joining, you ask, if there are nothing in it for you? Well, there is the sense of accomplishment that you finally finished writing your first or fourth novel. Even if it's a lot of crap, and believe me, it will be crap, it can still be polished in the end, and perhaps among those crap a gold nugget could be found.

I'm joining for the first time, and maybe from this I will get to have my fondest dream: to get published someday. Wish me luck.

State of Mind: "AAAAAAAARRRGH! NO! NO! NO!" Madness
Song of the Day: Smoke by Ben Folds Five
Book of the Week: Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel by Susanna Clark
Want or Need: Extra WoW Time

Offline Messages

2007-09-23T10:43:00.000+08:00

So I'm here at the airport, waiting for my flight to arrive and take me to Manila. I've already made promises to several of my friends for a greet-and-meet, or kwentu-kwentuhan, or more appropriately a no-holds-barred-talkfest. This promises to be one heck of a vacation. So as I await my plane, here are some messages to the people cuz I won't be having any internet connections by the time I get to Manila.

My other family, the SA-3 Palanan Cluster: Mga kapatid! Nandyan na ako! And I'm bringing my Butterscotchs against your Mooncakes! Hehehe, Mid-Autumn Festival is on! And no, I have no annoucements to make, whatever misconceptions you have or conspiracy theories you created.

My gaming group: Got my WoW and WM. Capt. Haley and Morova of the Sands reporting for duty. And yep, I bought the 'jap merchandise'! *Insert evil laughter here* By the way, anybody know when is the GT?

My Pengyou's, wo de Chinese Peeps: Hehehe, Hao jiu bu jian! Women zai GB3 yiqi chi ma? Xianzai, wo de didi zai Japan. Xinqiliu, ranhou zai Manila. Give me a ring and we'll see.

My HS Batchmates: Hey hey! Tuloy yung grand high school reunion this December! Ten Years in the making! w00t!

To Ryan: Dammit, leave your name when you comment cuz sometimes I don't know if it's really you or some pike out in the woods. Dude, seriously, what's with the anonymity? It's not like SHE reads my blog right? Hehehe ... or does she? Hmmm... Interesting...

To Besfren Earl: Pucha, wake up! WAKE UP! Lakad na tayo punta ng MS para kuha ng goodies! Then Tokyo Tokyo! Extra Rice Madness!

Finally, To Ronstadt: I'm there! Outside La Salle! I'll wait outside! I'm there! Hehehe, over 2 months of forced separation is enough to be considered PURGED of goodness.

Arytie, that's it. Hope to see you all there. Hamster out.

State of Mind: Anticipating Excitement
Book of the Week: Jingo by Terry Prachett
Song of the Day: Prepare the Way by Darrel Evans
Want/Need: Books. Period.

Getting Nearer and Nearer...

2007-09-17T07:54:00.000+08:00

:::Syntax Error:::

I hate mondays. Who doesn't? There is no harder day in the week to wake up than Monday. Monday is the day that you start counting the days till Saturday. Ande seeing that it's still 6 days away makes you wish it were Friday. But I still have work on Saturday so I would wish it to be that day. And this Saturday in particular.

Six days till I leave Iloilo for Manila. Then a week of romp and play. I can't wait. But for now, six days of finishing up EVERYTHING so there'll be less paperwork when I get back. But for this particular Monday, I'll be anticipating... and tapping idly in the monitor this code:

Productive work in progress.

:::Thinking Aloud:::

Lots of stuff to bring these week long trip. Let's see: some pasalubong for the friends and family, courtesy of butterscotch and other sugar power goodies. A deck or two of WoW and maybe Warmachine for gaming. A big bag for books that I'll be buying. Some more furniture stuff for the room, lamps and all. Xbox games, definitely in time with HALO 3 launch. Oh, that special thing! Hmmm... need to think about this one more.

Of course, while I'm there I'm soaking up the vacation with my girlfriend. Nothing beats a good vacation when you're with someone you care a lot. Of course, she'll take me to Divisoria, and I'll hate every minute of it. But we all have to make sacrifices to the ones we love right? Caramba...

:::Sugoi!:::

I've found this in the web, and whoa, she speaks english! For Ozawa/Miyabi fans, hehehe.

State of Mind: Anticipation Blues
Book of the Week: The Golden Compass by Bill Pullman
Song of the Day: Evaporated by Ben Folds Five
Want or Need: A bigger bag perhaps.

The Walrus Goes Goo

2007-09-10T08:38:00.000+08:00

:::They are the Eggman, I am the Walrus:::

So I've been pretty busy this past couple of weeks. First off, my room, while finished, still has a couple more things missing, like a chair and some floor pillows and maybe a piece of rug. Hopefully, I'll be able to get it done this week. Second, my parents left for a much needed vacation in Alaska, leaving me and my bro for a week handling the affairs in the office. And if that isn't hair-raising, wait till you hear about some of my conversations with various suppliers and "elite" customers ( read: customers who want everything done fast ... not now, but like yesterday) who deal directly with my parents.

So in a Zen moment, this gave me a glimpse when I'm running the whole operation now in the future. My bro, bless his soul, gets to run the internal part of the company i.e. finance, admin etc. worrying about money and how to save it, move it around, and keep it liquid. Meanwhile I get to face the daily rigors of sales and purchasing, which means I get the "veri veri vunderful" task of creating money. And dealing with the daily demonic personages, of course.

:::Chariots of Fire:::

Been jogging almost consistently lately, during the wee hours of five in the morning, three or four times a week. This time though, I've cut my time from one hour to just 40 minutes, but made a small adjustment to my pace. Run for two laps, walk briskly for 100m, then run for 300m, walk briskly for 200m, run again for one lap and so forth. I discovered that even though you jog everyday but never seem to lose weight ( or more likely, change its shape ) its because your body adapts quickly to your daily routine. That is why I see my father everyday briskwalking for an hour and still not lose a speck of his tummy.

So it's unconventional methods for now. Like the Spec-Op or Special Operations ( which was an interesting book by Tom Clancy, non-fiction ) they do not do the same exercise twice in a week, except perhaps running. And in a documentary about the film 300, they did the same thing also, never doing the same thing twice, hence their body changed rapidly in the course of 12 weeks.

So I did my running thing on that. And from the first time I ran it's like half a lap, now it's two and a quarter. So it's all good. It's not important that you went 6 laps straight jogging. What I want to achieve is 6 laps running. Or, in the process right now, run till you feel you can't do it, take a quick brick walking breather, then run again. Don't stop. Keep walking, then run aain. The important thing is to punch the limit. Suck in that air. In the end, maybe I'll be able to run that six laps, or maybe more.

:::Ohayo, Philippines!:::

These days, been listening to a lot of J-Rock and Pop, usually based on the anime soundtracks. It gets me going in the morning. Fuel for the fire they say. So I'm there in my desk, doing sums and reading reports while in the background AFKG's Haruka Kanata or L'arc En Ciel's Ready Steady Go blast through the my Mac's speakers.

AKFG - Haruka Kanata

State of Mind: Blitz Krieg Fussiness
Song of the Day: Star Star by Shocking Lemon
Book of the Week: Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy
Want or Need: For some reason, ice cream.

Some Minor Difficulties, Tag and Jacked Up

2007-08-20T08:29:00.000+08:00

:::Pioneering Delays:::

So I wasn't able to finish moving in this last week, because I got sick for a couple of days. The only thing left outside are a couple more of boxes full of bags, what-nots and what-have-yous. Probably will finish it this week. At the same time, it allowed me to take a good look at my bed and decided to change it into a new one, so it will be finished within this week, sorta like a japanese inspired one. Working in a construction company has its perks. Once I've settled in, I can say that my room was handbuilt and handcraft, hehehe.

I was sick, actually I'm still am, this being the season for colds and coughs. I seem to remember blogging that whenever I get sick it has an added effect (read: I am Invincible entry 9/17/03). This time was the worst. I went to the doctor to check up my cough and ... let's say at the end of it all I got diagnosed with borderline high blood pressure. My doctor advised, no ... pleaded with me to lay off the carbs. So now, no more carbs for me. Eat less. Excercise more. No more carbs. It's gonna be one hell of year.

Like the early pioneers, they had some delays in finishing their forts, got infected with the plague, and faced famine with only cabbages to eat. Nuff' said.

:::Circle of Eight:::

Acey tagged me with 8 things people don't know about me, so this is a small continuation to my 100 things.

1. If people will ask me what kind of girl I go for I'd say immediately "Those with brains and wit, slightly ticklish, understands every weird thing I do and can launch a public campaign on how great and wonderful I am." Ok, maybe not the last part.

2. I say things to friends like "My butt itches", "Dude, guess where I am? The bathroom!" and "God made me fat because if I'm thin I'd be Brad Pitt" in mock serious voice to get them to laugh. No charge necessary.

3. I've started getting into the interior decorating vibe. Designs, designs and more designs. Osmosis at work in the construction business.

4. I once saved a friend's life when we were kayaking in Davao. She screams like a little girl (ok, she is a girl) whenever she falls down the water when, once during a very turbulent rapids point, she fell down hard and almost got her head smashed up the rocks except when I dove down, grabbed her, and used my body as shield. And man, it hurts like hell.

5. Even though I love the beach, the rivers and all activities therein, I'm scared stiff of deep water. I have this irrational fear of "something" grabbing my leg ... or worse, a shark passes by. Plus, my favorite and best swimming skill: Floundering Madly In Water.

6. I REALLY wanted to publish something, but work and laziness keep me out of focus.

7. Three people I want to interview: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Muhammad Ali and Imelda Marcos.

8.If there's one thing I miss, it's jamming on stage live and loud. Get me a bass guitar or even just a piano, I'm there. Nothings beats that pure adrenaline rush of playing music in front of a crowd.

Ok, that's it. I'm tagging Ronstadt, Kim, Romy, Obi, Ben, Odessa, Mela and Dids. Eight people for eight things. Enjoy!

:::Back to the Matrix:::

I'm jacked up again to the Web, this time on the online game Lineage II. The game is pretty good, compared to the cutesy style of Ragnarok. I have been playing quite a bit, around 3-4 a hours a day, starting last Wednesday. So now, my Dwarf character is level 20, just changed job to a Scavenger class. I'm also starting a Dark Elf one, this time going in the lines of a summoner type. In any case, this game makes my day.

My level 20 Scavenger, RuneHunter.

My Level 10 Mystic, Nyarlathothep.

So, if you folks are playing also, drop me a line and maybe we could party together at the Blackbird Server. See you there!

State of Mind: Free Flowing
Song of the Day: My Stupid Mouth by john mayer
Book of the Week: The Light Fantastic by Terry Prachett
Want/Need: Game Time

Moving Back In

2007-08-15T08:19:00.000+08:00

:::Pioneer of the Sala:::

Things are on hold right now. I'm in the process of moving from the sala to the newly remade room. I just found out that I have the natural qualities of a pack rat. Items that should be discarded long ago are still with me, so I've been trying to segregate them to a. Must Need, b. Still/Might Need and c. Off to the Warehouse. And out of the 15 boxes that comprimises my worldly possessions, I've already filled up 4 boxes of C. (old magazines, notebooks, travelogs, old bus/airport/boat tickets, crap that should have thrown away etc.) And yep, I've also found out that I already have 5 boxes of books ( novels, novelletes, comicbooks, sourcebooks, etc. )

I love my room concept. Due to the shoebox size and shape, I have been thinking very carefully on what to do. In the end, there will just be a table, a bed and a chair. Everything else in on the shelves. Library/bedroom/entertainment center, all in just 10 sqm. space! If you know your architecture (or even just math), my room is pretty small, and especially moreso since I'm pretty big. I'll show some pics when I get to finish it on the weekend.

:::Four years:::

Last August 11, this blog turned fours years. Four years of writing down thoughts and musings and meanderings, but mostly just about thoughts. This blog had seen me through some pretty tough times, and I guess writing down stuff, even stuff that just makes no sense, and does some pretty powerful stuff to your brain ( see what I mean about making no sense? ). In any case, although a little late, Happy 4th Blogyear to me! May there be more writing to come, and more sense to go with it.

:::The Morning Interludes:::

I wish I could write something meaningful about my four years in blogging but now my legs are on fire. Not literally of course but having cramps from jogging this early morning. Yep, I'm back on track to (hopefully) a healthy condition, not that I'm looking to a heavily muscled mofo direction, but just a plain healthy one , meaning exercise the lungs and the heart and get rid of the belly. So now, I wake up at 5am, jog for an hour, and then go back to home to rest a while and, after that, go to work. Ay yay yay caramba.

State of Mind: Numbing Pain
Song of the Day: Winter Season by Vivaldi
Book of the Week: Grass for His Pillow by Lian Hearn
Want/Need: Sleep. Period.

Sala Survivor and Other Stories

2007-08-05T22:38:00.000+08:00

::Everybody is Watching::

Day 16. I'm still living in vast area of the sala, and I think it's starting to get to me. First off, there's absolutely no fricken' privacy. You can't satisfyingly pick your nose at your own leisure, you have to do it like an assassin: quick and subtle, accompanied sometimes with sharp stab of pain. Second, everybody is in control of your life. I want to sleep; I can't sleep because someone is watching "Shall We Dance" at full volume. Trying to sleep with "A rico mambo, a rico mambo yeah!" pounding in your brain is probably the 8th circle of Hell Dante never talked about. Most likely, even he knew the terrors of disco music.

Two more days. Well, at least that's what the carpenters tell me. Looking at my room and imagining how it will turn out gives me the boost to maintain sanity. For now, I'll try to sleep while "Videoke Challenge" is playing and someone is trying to sing "Only you" unsuccesfully. Imagine a cat on a blackboard. Yep, that's all I gotta say.

::Another Piece of Soul::

As people know, I am handling Sales and Purchasing. Well, the big boss decided to give me another one. Logistics. Now, Logistics is fun, I knew that during the days working at HCG at Cavite, but man alive, the problem is that our Logistics Dept is non-existent. Yep, you got it, I got to structure it from the ground up. And guess how many people are under me? NONE! Whoopeedo! Time to break out the barrel and think this one over. And of all the responsibilities that I carry, I'm still not getting thinner. Sucks.

::This and That::

Did a little sidebar configuring, so now it looks spiffy (at least to me, haven't yet check out all the kinks). I also added the Ongoing Projects, for my photo blog and story shorts. One Day, One Photo is all about pictures, which I'll try to update everyday. Again, I'm not aiming for the professional look, just practicing the theory of what I learned from books and advices from the web. The other one, 500 Word Project, is also another theory in practice. It won't be perfect, profound stories, more like trying to convey a scene using only 500 words or less. Both of these blogs forces me to use my skills on hand, and as they say that practice makes perfect, I'm aiming to perfect these skills. Will probably update and redefine both blogs once I finish the main one, since this coming Saturday is a special occasion. What occasion? You'll see.

::Time Flies Quickly::

Ronstadt left this afternoon for Manila to continue her Bar Review, and then taking up the Bar Exams this September. I'll be in Manila for the last week of that month, for support and a little vacation, so I'll finally get to play some games. A little WFB and a little W40k, perhaps some WM, and definitely some WoW.

God, I miss gaming.

State of Mind: The Obliteration of TVs (or at least, shoddy programs)
Song of the Day: Inner Light by Shocking Lemons
Book of the WeeK: Hacker Cracker by Ejovi Nuwere
Want/Need: A nice good sleep

WoW-Ness, Other Blogs and Sleep Issues

2007-07-31T07:15:00.000+08:00

:::Wowowee!:::

I'm not actually referring to the TV show, but when my girlfriend got back from Manila for a week long hiatus from Bar Review, she got me a box of WoW: Dark Portal boosters.

Let me repeat that: ONE BOX OF W0W BOOSTERS!

This boy is happy. So far, one of the good finds that I got are Lightning Reflexes, Inner Focus, Anger Management, Slaughter from the Shadows, Stone Guard Rashun, Marshal Reginald Windsor, Kick and Rexxar, to name a few. Anyone for up for trading? Hehehe...

:::The Other Blogs:::

I've opened a couple more blogs, focusing on certain topics. One is called One Day, One Photo, which is exactly what it sounds like, which I'll try to upload a single photo everyday. It won't be professional, like some others in the web, but more like theory in practice. Hopefully, my skill in photography gets better as I post each shot.

The other one is the Five Hundred Words, a collection of shorts numbering 500 words or below. Not yet ready, I'll have to look at my archives for some of the stories I've done and post them here. This one I hope to update every week, Sunday.

:::Room for Destruction:::

It's been 9 days and I have been sleeping in the sala. Due to the number of books, the level of dust and the fear of combustion, my room has been reconstructed to allow for MORE books to be shelved. That's right, more shelvings for more books. My parents finally realized I needed more space when they went inside the room and discovered that they had to navigate through book infested waters ... er ... floor. So I got pencil out, stuck a tongue in the side, and proceeded to make plans to destroy one cabinet (who needs more clothes?), redesign the wall (who needs windows?) and take out most of the furniture (no more tables and chairs). In the end, I will only have one PC/table combo , one TV/table combo and just a bed. And I'm contemplating in getting a folding bed for more space. Haaaay....

So living in the sala has its ups and downs. One, its bigger than my room so its much more airy. Downside is that when I sleep very early, lets say 7pm because of work tiredness, I have to contend with my mother watching telenolavas at FULL VOLUME. Ever try to sleep with Jewel in the Palace playing? Remember those shows with people sleeping and scientists talking certain stuff and the people wake up and know what the scientists were talking about? In the end I finally believe in those sleep induced studies because I dreamed I was in a Korean Telenovela. And the next day, I keep trying to talk to people in Korean. Or asking them if they've seen a jewel somewhere. Sheeesh...

Nine days. Perhaps this Saturday things will work out fine and I finally have my new room/library. Fingers are crossed.

State of Mind: Sleep Deprived
Song of the Day: Asian Kung-Fu Generation by Haruka Kanata
Book of the Week: Hellboy: The Bones of Giants by Mike Mignola and Chris Golden
Want/Need: More WoW boosters

And The Cow Says "Woof Woof"

2007-07-22T17:40:00.000+08:00

:::Hey Now, Brown Cow:::

Initial plans have been set for our 10th year High School Anniversary, coming this December 21/22nd this year. Venue would be at the old High School Gym near the Mango Tree (the tree deserves the capital letters, nostalgia does that sometimes) and out of the 100 graduates of batch '97, we are looking at a practical atendee rate of 50 (some of us are working outside the country) and perhaps give or take a couple of homecomers and some teachers. In any case, I hope this turns out well.

I say that "I hope this turns out well" as "me alone", since the one who "pushed" for the reunion/anniversary (or perhaps the word should be "instigated") is just me. Sometimes, I wonder at my batchmates. I'm clearly the one student in my batch who is usually in the sidelines ( the noisy part, but the sidelines still ) and now I've been thrust into being one of the "core group". Not that I"m complaining (well, perhaps slightly) but I know if things don't happen now, there will never be a 10th year reunion (well, there might be, but perhaps not as well organized). It's time to step up the plate and do your thing. Sounds a little over the top but that's just the way it is. So here's us doing the initial planning of the event. From L-R: Me, Bopeep, Rofel, Pals and Phalap.

If you ask my feelings about me as part of the core, I'd be RESIGNED/GO WITH THE FLOW. There's nothing left to do but move forward, and hopefully people will back me up. And that is why when it comes to my batchmates, and my history, I could never be sure. Why? Well, let's say four years in WVSU High School thought me that either stay bright or stay in the crowd. Me, I'm still one cow along with the rest of the herd.

Have a milk. Moo.

:::A New Punishment:::

If you did something very very wrong, what would be your punishment? The Electric Chair? The Needle of Death? The Hemp Fandango? Well, it seems that the law enforcement in Cebu decided to get a little creative made every inmate do the Michael Jackson Thriller video. And as for the guy playing the girl/gay/bitch (it's a prison, so he's somebody's bitch I guess), methinks he did it for a reduced sentence/ a couple of cigarettes/ cuz he's really the warden's bitch.

In any case watch and wonder on how we treat our criminals here.

But what the hey, cool dance moves, hehehe. There's also a riverdance version and others, but this one takes the cake ... or ganja in this case. I wonder what did the warden eat at his breakfast? If I do ever commit a crime, I'd probably ask to be transferred to Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. Hmmm, perhaps my blogger friend Acey would care to comment since this is her place?

:::The Hamster and Silver Lass:::

Some additional pics of me and Ronstadt ( as duly ordered by Herr Mein Fuhrer, hehehe ) in my brother's wedding.

And here's me and brother

State of Mind: Jellyfish Jellyfish Jellyfish ( don't ask )
Song of the Day: 1/3 No Junjou Na Kanjou by Siam Shade
Story of the Week: October in a Chair by Neil Gaiman
Want or Need: A Greek Muse

Commercial Break

2007-07-12T18:53:00.000+08:00

:::Stuck in the Moment:::

I'm in the midst of a lot of things, particularly doing some ad projects for work and some stories in progress for a couple of online publications. Bro's wedding came and went last week, it went perfect and without a hitch ( I'll post some official pics soon after I got them off the photographer). In any case, it was a lot of fun, and best of all, I get to see my cousins again. Right now, I'm waiting here at the coffeeshop for my batchmates to arrive, to plan for our batch 10th year high school anniversary.

Also, I'm searching for the word "vacation" and looking to see if it can apply to me.

Perhaps August...

:::100 words: Indecision:::

A man stands at the edge of the ravine, arms at the side, feet together, toes curled slightly inside. Behind him, a barren desolation of land; devoid of life. In front of him, the gaping maw of the ravine calls to him, hauntingly. To where should he go? Alone, yet there’s no sadness. The wind wails a mournful dirge, urging him, but not saying to where. He thought of his life, his past, and in retrospect, discovered he felt that he did enough already. But there is more to do, more to discover. So he stands there, between worlds, contemplating.

:::Office Music Video:::

Lip Dub - Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger from amandalynferri and Vimeo.

Seeing this cool video inspires me to do something also. Now if I have the time, a nice location and a couple of monkeys ... hmmm...

State of Mind: Blurry Inside
Song of the Day: Smoke by Ben Folds Five
Book of the Week: Neuromancer by William Gibson
Want or Need: Donuts...hmmmm....

She Sells Seashells ... or Some Other Nonsense

2007-06-24T20:59:00.000+08:00

:::T-Minus 8 days:::

My brother's getting married next week Tuesday, and as best man, I need to think of some words for the toast. Actually, I'm also thinking of making a video of us being kids and all. Or maybe do a montage of sorts. Perhaps all the places we travelled together. Given the time frame, I'll probably just do the slideshow and concentrate and getting thin for the wedding, damn suit is a little ( literally ) tight.

:::Death and Rebirth:::

Well, it's confirmed. Rico Blanco has left Rivermaya. While I'm not actually a die-hard fan, but there's a certain feeling you get when you see one of most enduring bands in the music business finally come to an end. Rivermaya is the only band that sees its members get picked off one by one after one or two album launches, from Perf de Castro to Bamboo Manalac to Nathan Azarcon and Kakoi Legaspi, and to finally Rico Blanco. I guess that feeling is decribed as knowing they were part of your growing up from high school to college, and finally just remain in the memories, and especially the hearts of their fans. Here's my most memorable songs, not necessarily their top hits, but because I used to jam them with my band. Ah well...

1. Bring Me Down
2. Awit ng Kabataan
3. Elesi
4. Shattered Like
5. Liwanag sa Dilim

Meanwhile, Wolfgang annouced that they are back, this time with the original members ( Basti, Wolf, Manuel and Mon ). They actually had a single out ( dammit, I forgot to download ) entitled Deathsquad, and they annouced that they are on track for a new album. Nice. I'll eagerly wait for this one this year.

:::Something To Think About::

Something is totally wrong when your name is ... Mischa Amidala. Yes, that's right, Mischa Amidala. Who would name their kid that and expect her to live a normal life? Not only an easy target for bullies, but the sheer psychological scarring the kid would endure. Ok, maybe its given that she won't live a normal life since she is the daughter of Mark Lapid and Tanya Garcia. And if they are your parents, I won't wonder what they were thinking.

Hmmm, perhaps their second child would be named Leia Arwen or Anakin Strider or ... or ... God forbid, Legolas Skywalker.

:::Book Hunter Log: 8 Books, Sunday:::

Out of Sunday boredom I again wandered into Booksale, and I went out with bags of books I will read and finish when I'm 80 ( possibly due to the reason I won't have the energy anymore to go out and scan for books ). I got me some oldies but goodies and again wonder at people who would let go these books.

Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner
Shadowrun: Crossroads by Stephen Kenson
Dragonlance: The Kinslayer Wars by Douglas Niles
Shadowsteed by Richard A. Knaak
Darksword: Forging the Darksword by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis
Greyhawk: City of Hawks by Gary Gygax ( Gord books! Sweet! )
Magic Casement by Dave Duncan
Dragon Tales by Various Authors, edited by Isaac Asimov

Again, I still haven't done my shelving, but I keep buying books. Addiction? Perhaps. Happiness? Exactamundo!

:::Mac Loves Me:::

These videos have been going on for a while, but here is the compiled Mac vs. Pc commercials. And yes, whatever they say, I'm saving up for an iPhone. Who cares if it doesn't have 3G? The apps alone more then make up for it

State of Mind: Blurred Blah
Song of the Day: Better Together by Jack Johnson
Book of the Week: Farnham's Freehold by Robert Heinlein
Want or Need: Er ... spending money for a new camera, preferably a Nikon d80, hehehe

Sleep Divining, Book Overpopulation and the Pink Issue

2007-06-10T21:11:00.000+08:00

:::Dude, where's my sleep?:::

New suppliers, new products, new branches. While it has been a very busy and productive couple of weeks, I can't seem to get my wish of just one day of non stop dreamless sleep. No bathroom breaks, no midnight snacks. Automatic shutdown. But what about the weekends, you say? Well, I was actually looking forward to this Sunday's oneiromantic activity ( oneiromancy: reading the future through dreams ) when an annoucement came in that electricity will be cut off later tonight. From 11 to 9 in the morning.

A scream would help and it was in the tip of my lungs but seeing it would freak the neighbors I choose option B: mumbing inanities while walking around throwing hands in the air. Blackouts are my bane. It's hot and humid, and worst of all, I can't read. People who know me know that I always carry a book, not in the sense that I get bored easily but as my second air. Think of it as reading defines me and essentially a part of my soul. Not reading for a day ( be it a book, mag, newsies etc. ) would make me nervous. Two days I'd be a wreck. Why? I dunno, it just is.

So I spent a wet and uncomfortable night trying unsuccessfully to sleep. I don't want to talk about it.

:::"Ook", says the Librarian:::

The Scenario: A room full of books. The Problem: No more space. The Solution: Buy more bo ... er ... shelves to place books. So I get more space in the floor for new books.

Seriously, I'm facing a bit of bind here ( no pun intended ). So my project for these couple of weeks is to remove some of the stuff that I don't need, like old clothes and and some shoes, clean out one closet, tear the insides down and put in some shelves. Then take out the big table, buy a collapsible one, and install some more shelves in the wall. Then move the bed next to the window, leaving the wall free for some more shelves. Why so many shelves? Because I have that many books ... probably even more. From novels to autobiops to literature to graphic novels to shorties ... the list goes on. And I'm running out of floor space. I'll post some pictures next time, maybe in the view of before and after pics, but for now I'm drawing the plan of reconverting my room to have shelves on every available wall. *WIP*

:::The Week in Review:::

I did get to rest easy last couple of weeks ago, a work tour on the south side of Luzon and then spending a couple of days in clutches of my girlfriend. While I didn't play in Romy's Weekend Warrior Gig ( curses, long travel time ) I did get to talk with him constantly ( more in the case of "yeah dude, I'm coming, I'm in Mindoro, so it wouldn't take that long right?" ) and also see Kim at, wierdest of all places, Greenhills. Nice. While I haven't been playing for quite a while, just hearing and seeing from these guys is good jolt to my system.

While also in Manila I did get to buy some very neat books ( books again! ) from Powerbooks and Fully Booked, in particular Civil War graphic novels, Eddings' last installment of the Dreamers series ( his weakest series, I'll give a review soon ), some sci fi and fantasy etc. The usual fare. I also did buy some books in Photography, seeing that I can't play here ( no gamers in the province! Waaaaargh! ) and since I usually have time only for myself, I'm thinking of using the medium as my outlet. we'll see where this goes.

After Manila, I headed straight to Cebu again ( deja vu from last time ... huh ... ) albeit this time to talk with the top wood companies. I won't bore you with it, but it was a very good meeting, and we are one of the two companies ( other one is Cebu Home Builders ) who convinced them to have a consignment to us! ( not Wilcon or Citi Hardware! Hah! ) Score one for the company.

:::Abandon Hope:::

When your girlfriend decides to buy something FOR THE BOTH OF YOU, something that two of you should wear, run away. I repeat RUN AWAY. These happened to me when we were strolling in GB3 when she coyly asked if I remember that our monthsary was coming up. Yeah sure, I remember. The 5th of the month. Monthsary, halfyearsary, kissary ... only the female mind could invent something insidious and evil. Evil you say? Well, have you asked around why couples usually fight? Because someone ( always the male ) forgot a special significant event. Like the first time you held hands. Or had your first ice cream. Or the first time you farted and she sneezed ( question: would that be fartsary?).

Anyway, I did remember ( if not, hell would have been a vacation ) and asked her what would she wanted to do ( wrong move! always let her say things first! Do not offer yourself in a silver platter! ). She said it would be nice if we had he same style shirt, to let people know that we are couple, with cuteness to boot since we were wearing the same design and color of clothing. Ok, I could with some cuteness. What did she have in mind?

And she let me have it.

To cut the long story short, we went to LaCoste and bought a couple of shirts, a size 6 for me and size 38 for her. And it is colored PINK. Nothing against the color but PINK?! Why not orange, and perhaps we could make a quick buck of being natural early warning devices and hiring ourselves out in EDSA? Sheeesh...

So it was that we spent the whole day in GLORIFIED PINKNESS. Sure, people saw it was cute, and I did hear a whispered comment of "Uy, ang cute nila!" but Pink?!

But it was fun day. And with my batteries recharged, I could do with some more pink goodness.

State of Mind: Work Blurry
Song of the Week: Turning My Safety Off by SinoSikat
Book of the Week: Civil War: Peter Parker/Spiderman, Marvel Graphic Novel
Want or Need: Reformatted PC

Author's Note: Abandon Hope entry is meant as a ribbing joke. My girl is usually reserved and dignified, and I'm usually the one reminding her that today's this day and that. I did post it in the sense that most of the girls are like that of what I've written, and I'm happy she's not of those. And to clarify the Pink shirt, it was the only one available in the male and female category. Its either Pink or Orange and I didn't want to be mistaken like a early warning device so I chose the former. She chose Black but it was too dark for me. Goes to show what a badass she is.

Ok honey, you can stop beating me ...

Re-energizing the Hamster

2007-05-30T23:16:00.000+08:00

Last week things were still kinda iffy, till Earl brought home some Bedanian classmates, people who never actually went outside of Luzon. Go figure. Anyways, needing a tour guide, I offered my services since a.) it was his birthday last May 27th, and b.) I do need to get out house and release all the bad energy pent up inside. Had a lot of fun actually, and in the end my spirit levels got reenergized quite a bit.

Top Row: Earl, Gene, Zeena
Bottom Row: Eloisa, Me

The Altos

Sun Drowning

Crucify Me ( WIP: Clones alert! ETA: Next week)

"Not Rihanna's Umbrella"

I'll be leaving for Manila tommorow, for R&R and visiting the CC, but it kinda sucks that I can't bring any hobby stuff because of the schedule. Much as I love my gaming, there's no use lugging around things I don't have time for, especially if you're travelling everyday ( R&R yes, but with other sideline work related stuff ... kinda like being on call but more physical ). And I was looking forward to a game or two of W40k or WFB ... or even WM and WoW ( lots of W's ... hmmm ). Ah well, thems the breaks. In any case, I'm hoping to drop by and just unwind ... unwind being the operative term.

State of Mind: Migraine Asphyxiated
Song of the Day: I'm a Flirt by R.Kelly
Book of the Week: Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin
Looking For: A worktable

Hitting a Slump

2007-05-24T00:51:00.000+08:00

I've been sick these past week. Ok, well not actually sick but kinda like a little out sorts. Actually, more like a simple case of flu coupled with a bad case of "blah". Blah blah blah. If people would ask me what's going on inside my head these past week I'd reply with "Ngggh. Nothing much, just plain blah. Ngggh."

I remember getting these kinds of days, these times that you want to be left alone, doing nothing and just plain sit there on the couch and think of nothing. Although it was a blur, I think that's what happened to me this last week. I wake up, I go to the office, and after a frenzied 10 hour work day, go home and just sit down very very still. No TV or radio. I can just imagine the scene where I arrived home and when I finally sit down, smoke would steam out my skin.

Right now, I'm partially rising above the state of blah-ness. I'll try to write something after this week, or maybe in June if I haven't gotten out of my slump yet. But for now, I'm taking a breather and stare again into nothingness.

State of Mind: Being One in the State of Mu
Song of the Day: Thnks Fr Th Mrmrs by Fall Out Boy
Book of the Week: Youngblood 3 by Aruta and De Vera
Looking For: the Energizer Bunny

The First, Spidey Thoughts and The Hundred Project

2007-05-09T21:18:00.000+08:00

:100 Words: Remembering::

The man stared at the tree. Thirty years have passed since he last visited; it was here that he spent his childhood. He reached up and felt the bark, rough against his gnarled hand. Images flood through uncertain memories, until a face resonated through the chaos. It’s his wife, dead this past ten years. He began to remember. This was the place, in the shade of this tree. They first met here. They were both eighteen. Then, a year later, he proposed to her. Married for fifty-six years, he mused sadly. Slowly, he withdrew his hand and walked away.

::Hello Spiderman, My Name is Ash ... Housewares::

I watched Spiderman 3 last week, and while most people would blog their rants/raves, I thought it would be refreshing just to talk about some of the moments I remember vividly in the movie. Overall, it was a good movie, a tad on the melodramatic side, but it works for Peter's and MJ's relationship. The scene where Spidey runs across a American flag causes me to raise a eyebrow, and the scene where Stan Lee makes a cameo and speaks ... well, it seems a bit forced. But hey, the legendary comic creator isn't exactly an actor, so we can forgive him for that ( but methinks that his scene in the 1995 film Mallrats is much better ). Venom dies in the, but I don't really believe it. Topher Grace fits Venom to a T, albeit without the beefy muscles and unshaved chin.

But the real scene stealer goes to Bruce Campbell, who made another cameo in this movie. In the first Spiderman, he played the ring announcer in the wrestling match, and then in Spiderman 2 he was the snooty, obnoxious usher who didn't let Peter Parker in the theater because he was late. This time though, with a zany french accent, he played the ever-helpful Maitre D' in the restaurant where Peter was supposed to propose to MJ. So who is this guy, and what is his connection you ask?

Army of Darkness is an old movie in the early nineties, starring Bruce Campbell and directed by Sam Raim, who after the movie became good friends. This is one of the first movies by Raimi, who also directed Darkman ( another excellent movie ) which catapulted him to cult status. This movie features Bruce Campbell as Ash, a luckless sales clerk sent back in time. Hilarity ensues as he attempts to educate the medieval folk, and then we get that famous line "This is my boomstick!" while waving a shotgun and menacing the folks with his chainsaw hand. How cool is that?

A little side trivia: Raimi was supposed to work with Stan Lee to recreate Mighty Thor in the 90's, but never pushed through. They got to be good friends though, and was Stan Lee's first choice to direct the Spiderman. And after Spiderman 3, there will a remake of Raimi's Evil Dead in 2008, the first movie he made in 1981. And after that, if the paperworks fall through, he will again direct and co-write Spiderman 4 in 2009.

Ok, a little prediction to what the 4th movie will be, however wild in theory. It will feature Lizardman, which Dr. Conners will use Venom's symbiote sample to create a formula to regenerate his arm. Dr. Octopus will come back and recruits Conners, and then Sandman, who'll be blackmailed by Dr. Octopus, with the Doc promising of curing his daughter. And at this part, I'm not sure that he will resurrect Green Goblin, who'll turn into the Hobgoblin, and then we also get Electro and Rhino, who'll play as Doc Ock's creations. If there's no Goblin though, Mysterio will take that last place and then we will have ... you guessed it, The Sinister Six. Although that's not really following the comic storyline, but basing on what I've seen on the first three Spidey movies, this is probably the next story.

Or, Venom returns and along with him comes Carnage. Hmmmm...

In any case, it will be a slugfest in the next one. ( fingers crossed )

::What is the Hundred?::

The above story, entitled Remembering, is the first story in my 100 Words Project. So what is the project all about?

I've decided that, in order to practice the craft, I'd write stories but with a bit of a challenge. Only a hundred words, not ninety-nine, not a hundred and one, but a flat one hundred. It doesn't have to be a deep or moving or moral or funny or whatever; what I'm striving for is the images that will connect with the reader. Nor does it have to have a message, just a simple scene will do. It could be anything, anytime, anywhere.

So why do this? Why not make a story and head straight on? Well, first I need the practice. Second, with my time schedule, my life can't afford long hours thinking plots and sub plots. Then the question arises as to why 100 words? Why not 200, 300 or 500? Well, again for the challenge to make the grey matter work out and, well, basically anyone can make story in 500 words. Plus, it will just take 15-30 minutes, an hour at the most. And besides, while I do agree that stories should have a message, subtle or otherwise, remember that I'm striving for imagery, not deep procastination ... and even perhaps just for one spark of connection.

In any case, I'll see where this goes.

State of Mind: Subsiding Chaotic Pain ( from work )
Last Song Syndrome: Hintay by Sugarfree
Book of the Week: Just for Fun: The Linux Story by Linus Torvalds
Looking for: One Day of Sleep

Preventive Measures

2007-05-06T22:53:00.000+08:00

::Prelude to Rant::

So I've been busy for the last couple of weeks, only just now I've opened my Mac. Decided to redo my page a little ( debatable, more than a "little" perhaps ) New heading and profile photo to be exact. Anyway, here's a couple of nice blogthings that reveals something about your personality.

Visual DNA

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Alter-Daemon

Mine's a fox! How cool is that? Hehehe

::Welcome to the Suck::

I have been submerging myself in work for a couple of weeks now, just to make pain of missing someone a dull aching one, not the fresh-hot-poker-stabbing-the-tonkers kind. Melodramatic and cheesy yes, but that's what I feel these days. Anyways, that's just at work. At home, I finally get to watch those movies I've bought but haven't got the time to watch yet. And for obvious reasons, steering clear away from those movies with the slightest romantic inclination.

My best pal this moment is my Xbox360, and when the need to bash someone becomes too great to handle ( i.e. inconsiderate drivers, heavy handed customers, asshole politicos ), in goes Saint's Row or Fight Night and kiss those bad vibes away. For down moments, Viva Pinata takes care of the humdrum gloom. For the moment, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is the one thing that makes the time go faster. The world in Elder Scrolls is pretty big, huge even, and having played for more than 100+ hours, I barely scratched the surface.

I remember when I first got out of the dungeon and stared in the horizon and said "Good God, it's IMMENSE!" and immediately stole a horse from a wandering knight patrol and galloped away for adventure. And since I'm playing a Elf Archer/Assassin, there's a thrill of getting to a good spot and ambushing a company of trolls wandering the hills, maniacally laughing while shooting away the bewildered monsters.

The Saint's Row game on the other hand takes you into the mean streets of Stillwater and gets you into the thick of a gang war. Kinda like old school Grand Theft Auto, but with nicer graphics and customizable main character, which you can choose from presets of Caucasian, Mexican, African or Asian. Definately not for the kids, since missions see you drug running, assassinations, escort services and the like. But pretty fun game in itself.

And there's Rockstar Games' Table Tennis, which is pretty groundbreaking considering that the sport is pretty contained, but the company managed to produce a stellar sports game.The controls, once getting used to, is pretty straight forward. Simple touches makes the player do complex moves, and that is a big plus. Contrary to what you think about ping pong, this game will never bore you.

And looking back to what I have written I realized something: I NEED A LIFE.

::The Call for Adventures::

Aside from the new look, I decided to also update twice weekly, this time Sundays and Wednesdays. Ambitious? Perhaps, but I do need to stay away from gaming for at least a couple of hours. Besides, its time to hone that writing skill, since one of my local literary heroes Dean Alfar ( who wrote Salamanca and has been a part of the Siglo: Freedom and Passion, plus having a ton of Palanca awards in his belt ) has sent out the word to all Filipino writers, both amateur and professional, to submit their story and get a chance to be included in the Philippine Speculative Fiction 3.

So if you've got that story hidden at the back of your drawer, it's to take it out, polish it and submit! Or create a new one! It's time to get that noggin' working! w00t!

Frame of Mind: Dizzy Beautiful
Last Song Syndrome: The Barber of Seville by Rossini
Book of the Week: Eldest by Christopher Paolini, The Inheritance Trilogy
Want/Need: A new bed, mine's a little run down.

Soul Severed

2007-04-16T08:28:00.000+08:00

As of this moment, I'm Cebu right now, here at the Waterfront Lobby, waiting for my Spanish supplier to arrive. I just had the one of my saddest weekends in my life, where I spent the the couple of days with my girlfriend, who'll be in Manila for the bar review. Kinda sucks that we won't see each other for the next six months, and what with my work schedule, regular visits to Manila is practically next to nil.

I ranted a couple of posts back about Karma, I'll add to that post that I was supposed to stay till Monday afternoon. But no, God forbid that Karma will even let me have that teensy weensy time, instead shanghied me to wake up early and go directly to Cebu. Arrrrgh.

Going back, I won't say it's easy to be seperatedd for a while, but then again I won't say it's hard also. You just have to take a different mindset to it all. Maybe I'll go back to my routine of a single's life of home-work-home, or "work hard, play harder and read more". Hmmm, maybe in all this "limbo time" I'd get to finish what I have been writing for the past couple of years. Used tohave no drive when I was still single, now I definitely need an outlet. Turning negative energy to positive energy and all that new age crap.

Perhaps, I'll even get thin.

Nah, that's way too much. A little healthier perhaps, but thin? Not this decade. In any case, I need to find time to get my mind off things.

If you've noticed I didn't talk about my time with her; perhaps some other time, things get stuck in my thro...er, fingers I mean. Or hands. You know what I mean.

But I'll only say this: I'll miss you so much...

Frame of Mind: Sadness/Silence
Book of the Week: Waterfront Cafe Menu
Last Song Syndrome: Beauty and Madness by Fra Lippo Lippi
Need/Want: A week off in Manile

Goodfellas, Pilgrimage and Questioning

2007-04-08T10:58:00.000+08:00

::Reunion::

After months of preparation, me and my closest buds ( and their girls ) finally got together and have a rip-roaring dinner at Maki, a Japanese Resto. Earl and Ryan, we go way way back ( hmmm, think elementary and kindergarten ) and always got together whenever they're in town ( Ryan lives in the States, Earl studies in Manila ). So this night was one of the rare nights that we were all in the same place, with our girlfriends to boot. There's so much history between the three of us, so suffice to say we spent half the night joking and reminiscing.

The Gang!

Ryan and Natasha

Earl and Eloisa

Me and Ronstadt

::Guimaras::

So I got myself a day of rest last Friday ( the only day that the store is closed ) and treated myself with, well not with sleep, but a trip to Guimaras to hike up a 2km mountain and pray at the Nazarene Cross. Whew. Okay, backing up a little. Guimaras is situated across Iloilo City, just a fifteen minute bangka ride. And before you say oil spill, the disaster happaned on the other side of Guimaras, the one near Bacolod, so no worries.

So, after docking, it takes you a another ten minute tricycle ride to reach the foot of the mountain, then the aforementioned 2.5km hike up. For us Ilonggos, it's a special pilgrimage, going up the steep and rocky steps, passing through the wildlife fauna and then praying at the Cross.

I won't say it wasn't tiring, but at the same time, it was kinda fulfilling. Invigorating even. Have a Happy Easter everybody!

::Punks Not Dead::

Rivermaya revives the punk scene with "Inosente Lang Nagtataka", which features Raymond Marasigan of Sandwich. This song reminds me of the time when punks ruled the music scene and everybody wore mohawks. And it's kinda cool how they ( the band ) fitted the old sound into today's groove. Very nice. Now where's my studded vest and crowbar...?

Frame of Mind: Silently Dreaming
Last Song Syndrome: Inosente Lang Nagtataka by Rivermaya feat. Raymond Marasigan
Book of the Week: The Last Hero by Terry Prachett
Want or Need: More Time to Write!

Karma and Hormones

2007-04-01T19:45:00.000+08:00

::Saturday is Karma Day::

I went home Saturday, er how do I say this, a little moody. Or maybe under the sun. No, perhaps the feeling can only be described as "prickly hairs standing in one end whilst at the back of your mind a little voice is telling you something's gone FUBAR and there's nothing you can do about it." Yeah, that kind of feeling.

Well, it's not like there are no signs. One, after not attending of best friend's girlfriend ( Who'll I henceforth call BGF ) nursing grad because of time constraints ( grad ends the TEN in the evening! WTF?! I have work tommorow! ), BGF is a little "miffed". Hey I'm happy for you and all, and I tried calling you as soon as I got the invite, but I don't do late night dinners, especially if I have work tommorow. There's always next time, but it's a little weird being pissed at me. Really weird.

I then ate dinner at a local pizza chain. I ordered some grub. A plate of pizza and a side dish. Cashier rings up the bill and tells me it will arrive in 5 mins. Cool. Pizza arrived on time, and them potato wedges took approximately the same time to finish a Hardy Boys book. I mean come on! What happed to fast service?! Sheesh...

And then when I finish buying some DVD's I find my car having a DENT in side, most possibly caused the car who parked next to it and has already left the lot. Barely contained rage ensues. Went closer to get a good look at the damage and I find it's had SCRATCHES. Rage turns up a notch. And the worst part, I can't do anything about it. Not a single thing.

And these are not it. These are only the signs! I should have gone to bed directly and sleep it off but Karma always has a soft spot for me. I find my dad waiting for me in the living roomglances up to speak to me and business talk ensues. Normal stuff really. Then he springs it on me. After Holy Week he will be going to Dumaguete, Kabankalan, Cebu and Manila ... with ME along for the ride! So all my plans, gaming with boys, going out with my girlfriend, resting a little bit ( because we still have work in Holy Week ) and getting my energies recharged ... all that gone in a puff of smoke.

While I'm not a whiner, this is just a little too much. I keep going on and on in my head ... no WoW, no WFB, no W40K, no WM ... this sucks.

::Hormonal Overload::

These past week I had a case of Last Song Syndrome ever since I heard of the Maximum the Hormones songs. This japanese band is mainly pop-rap-metal, but fuses the genres seamlessly that it turns out a unique sound. It's not for everybody, but if your having a week a as bad as mine, their songs fit the bill.

The first song is Koi the Megalover, one that I have been hearing over my head evey minute. Making monthly report? Koi the Megalover. Sales Meeting? Koi the Megalover. Drive home with radio turned on? Koi the Megalover. It's only just now that the song is slowly fading from my subconciousness. Another one I like about this song is the video, which features an all too familiar friend when I was still studying in Beijing. No names, but the attitude and personality of said friend and main character of the video is uncanny. Even the face is almost the same.

Another is is entitled Zetsubou Billy, and is the first song I heard since it's the 2nd closing theme from the anime Death Note ( must watch! ). I like the transition of the scenes, and gets its essence from the series itself.

Maximum the Hormone is just what I need after this "eventful" Saturday. And yes, Ryo Kawakita, the guitarist rocks! No, let me reprhase that ... Fat Rockers Rule. And the drummer is cute too, hehehe.

Frame of Mind: Numbing Anger
Last Song Syndrome: Koi The Megalover by Maximum the Hormones
Book of the Week: Neverwhere ( the comic book ) by Neil Gaiman
Wnat or Need: Respite

Law Grad, Pan and Hunting

2007-03-25T11:30:00.000+08:00

::Law Graduation::

Last Saturday was a turning point in my relationship, as it was my girlfriend's graduation. Congratulations honey! Next up, the September Bar Exams, and then it's finally Atty. Ronstadt Fernandez! We might be in different working worlds, but rest assured I'm always right there at your side. Love you honey! I'm so proud!

::El Laberinto del Fauno::

For those who are lucky enough to grab and watch Pan's Labyrinth, you'll understand what I mean that this dark movie takes you into a rollercoaster ride into dark children's fantasy. This is probably one of darkest children's stories I've read or seen, right up to the original Grimm Brothers fairy tales ( which if you've read them, wouldn't be for children at all )

The storyline is gripping, and the violence abrupt and shocking ( see Death by Wine Bottle scene ). But what really makes the movie shine is the amazing cinematography set designs. And the creatures! As a big fan of Jim Henson's Workshop, I say that they created a whole new concept with their gritty designs.

Of all the characters, this one is my favorite. When the heroine Ofelia, played by Ivana Baquero, enters his chambers he just sits there, eerily doing nothing, hands on the table, but somehow is staring at her without eyes. Then when she eats the forbidden food, he comes alive and plucks his eyes from the table to his HANDS! Freakishly cool!

I recommend watching this movie in the dark and alone in the house. And if its for kiddies? Maybe, maybe not, but its one good haunting story.

::Book Hunter::

I am a book hunter, one of the few people who scrounge in bargain bookstores looking good books that are either out print or out of stock or both. There's a certain thrill in book hunting, one minute you're browsing idlely through the myriad stacks of dog eared musty volumes, the next you're gasping in awe in finding a hardbound Lord of the Rings in mint condition ( or muttering in bewilderment of the people responsible chucking out such rare and costly book ). What is one man's garbage is another man's treasure, as they say.

You'll know a book hunter is you see a quiet normal person randomly looking at the stock of books available and then grabbing one or two seemingly at random. Before you turn around, he already has a dozen volumes and plunks down the items in the cashier with a silly grin in his face. But it just might be me, hehehe.

Anyways, during one of the excursions in Booksale ( a noted hunting ground for good books ) I got me some nice selection:

Conan: At The Demon's Gate by Roland Green ( seeing that it was written by Roland Green, the one who did the Dragonlance: Knight of the Rose series, I'm curious to what he did with Conan, but I have my hopes this is a good one )

Ship of Fools by Richard Paul Russo ( I heard about this book, sci-fi goodness )

The First Book of Swords by Fred Saborhagen ( curious, I saw this plenty of times yet didn't picked it up till now )

Death Gate Cycle: Dragon Wing by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman ( The first book! Finally! Now, to find the other volumes... )

The Blind Knight by Gail van Asten ( Intriguing concept, a cursed blind albino becomes a force of good with the daughter of Merlin at his side )

Endless Quest: Wild Ride ( Cool! Need I say more? This and Choose Your Own Adventure rule! )

Lord Foul Bane and Wounded Land by Stephen Donaldson ( Another first! The former is the first book in the First Chronicle and the latter the first book in the Second Chronicles, both the stories of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever. Very very nice. )

All in all, a good selection. Now all I have to do is find the time to read them. *Sigh*

Frame of Mind: Dizzy Melencholy
Song of the Day: Canon in D by Pachelbel
Book of the Week: Batman: Hush by Jeff Loeb and Jim Lee
Want or Need: A storyline for the CP awards

Marching Forward, Spartans and Love Me Butch

2007-03-11T02:15:00.000+08:00

Forward March

While most people would typecast me as a good guy, laid back and slow to anger, only my closest friends know that there are times when someone does something stupid or inane or shows bad sense that really makes my blood boil in just a span of a few seconds. While this happens rarely enough, it just ruins my whole mood the whole day ... or days even. It could be a little thing, things that the general populace would consider blaise and not really worth it, but sometimes these things really get into my thungas. Perhaps its life's way of showing balance. I may be as they say laid back and relaxed and generally good natured, but there are some things that immediately destroys that aura. Like for example, I really cannot tolerate repeated acts of stupidity, or in some cases, bad sense. Sure, you do it wrong once, that's ok. Twice, nobody's perfect naman, so that's ok also. Three times, I'll concede that perhaps it's a little difficult for you, but let's all keep trying. But by God, if there's no effort or there's just no improvement, there'll be hell to pay for wasting my time.

A good example of this is that when I was still living in Manila, I had this couple of friends who keep going on and on about how they're going to court this girl and win her heart. We would talk late into the night, them making plans and me making suggestions and so on and so forth. And this lasted for almost a year! And one of the girls actually liked the guy, but the guy in question never did anything but just made plans and dream sand castles. I mean, come on, put the money where your mouth is, yakking about doing this and that. She's right in front of you with arms wide open and you see past through her? Utter stupidity at its finest.

I normally never get angry, but this is one example why I despair at some people. You show them a good road to travel, yet they spit on you and your directions, just staying put in the crossroads. C'mon just move forward! Even if you took the wrong path at first, there's still time to hike to the other side of the road. What's important is moving forward, no matter how slow or how far, just one step at the time. Even stumbling blindly forward is better than sitting around with flies circling around your head. Actually, what we're doing most of the time is that we ARE stumbling blindly forward in life, never knowing what's going to happen. Knowing that erases some of the fear that we might get hurt during the process. Always remember:

1. Pain is the experience that reminds us that we are alive and human.
2. What that doesn't kill us makes us stronger and wiser.
3. More importantly, chicks dig scars!

But perhaps the most important of all, never ever have regrets. Learn from past mistakes and be stronger from it.

300

I eagerly waited in the line to watch Frank Miller's 300 last Wednesday, having hyped up by the cool trailers and all. It was a packed house, but me and my girlfriend finally got a seat and made ourselves comfortable for the two and half hour movie.

SO. FREAKING. AWESOME. Drop everything, and watch the movie now. If you love Sin City, you'll love 300 even more, that I can guarantee as much. I'm pretty much overwhelmed by the imagery and the screenplay that I can't find the words to do justice. Just watch the movie. Go. Now.

Love Me Butch

This past week has been a little weird since I woke up a several times in the middle of the night hearing the songs "Barricade", "Hollywood Holiday" and "Reconcile" running through my head. the first song moreso. These songs are from a band called Love Me Butch, a Malaysian group who toured here in the Philippines a couple of months ago. For those who are asking for the genre, its more like scream rock slash emo. I don't really like emo that much, but this band surprises me with some really good songs. OK, I admit the album is just good, not for everybody, but really great if you listen to the lyrics, and some songs stood out and grabbed the listener by the balls with its combination of melody and guitar riffs. So here's a couple of videos from their album, the first one titled "Barricade", live at the Baybeats ( not Baywalk, this one most likely in Malaysia ) and the second one is their first video, "Hollywood Holiday" which feature some really cool effects. Enjoy!

Barricade by Love Me Butch

Barricade
Don't complicate your withered mind
It's a total waste of time
It's a total waste of time

Hollywood Holliday by Love Me Butch

Regular updates back every Sunday ... oh crap, I'll be in Manila this week, so we'll see. Maybe I'd get to see the gang over there, if I have the luxury of time of course. Now where's my WoW deck ... ?

Frame of Mind: Subsiding "Pissed Off"ness
Song of the Day: Reconcile by Love Me Butch
Book of the Week: Bloodbowl: Dead Ball by Matt Forbeck
Want or Need: A Day of Sleep

Family Time

2007-03-05T18:24:00.000+08:00

I haven't been posting for almost a month now, because I have been swamped by work. I am now the head the Sales, Purchasing and Warehousing ( ?!! ), so basically what Iittle I have for a social life has been shot to pieces. I go home everyday thinking that if there ever is Hell on Earth, this would probably be it, if not one of the circles. A regular everyday routine for me at the office ( for those who are interested ... and if you are interested, this probably means you don't have anything to do, which I envy ) is run around in circles and put out imaginary fires and build bridges and secure the walls, if I may speak metaphorically. But ask me if I hate it ... well, all people hate their job from time to time, its just that I just wish for a little bit of a vacation, preferably a week or so.

Then again, when I come back from said vacation my work will doubled from all the pending things I will have to do. A Catch -22 if you will.

Actually, the main reason I haven't been posting for a while is that one of my closest relative, Tita Girlie, died of breast cancer. Usually, this kind of cancer is not usually fatal, but the doctor ( who explained it in plain-speak ) told us that due to her active hormones, the cancer grew too fast and too aggressive and spreaded to the liver and other parts of the body. She just had this problem just a little over a year. She was just buried a couple of weeks ago, and as the oldest apo, made a little video tribute.

And if you had to ask, the kid in the pictures is me.

I guess what I'm trying to say in the video is that no matter what happens, we should always remember the good times and never ever entertain regrets. She was a loving mother, and a great aunt. I will miss her.

She was 38.

Frame of Mind: Blurry::Acceptance
Song of the Day: The Elixer Must Be Consumed by Plane Divides The Sky
Book of the Week: DC Universe: Inheritance by Devin Grayson
Want or Need: Space::Time

Paint It Black!

2007-01-30T19:34:00.000+08:00

Dingyang comes again to Iloilo, Panay's biggest festival of the year. This is the only part of the year where everything in the city shuts down ( Even us! thank God for that small blessing... ) prepares for the grandest event the city has to offer. Twenty tribes, 5 judging stations, 25 judges, 5 kilometers to march and more than hundred thousand in the stands watching and cheering their favorites. I'll let the pictures ( and captions ) speak for themselves.

Form Up!

Hail, Hail!

Watch out!

Standing Proud

Yes, we like our headdresses!

Come fly with me

Arms up!

Shiny Stuff

Flow like the breeze

Yoip!

Look into my eyes

Two shields are better than one

Multicolored Madness

Where we supposed to go?

The young grasshopper

Wind Walkers

Viva Sto. Nino!

Oh, if anyone is interested in coming over here to experience Dinagyang ( and the food! the seafood in the Philippines! Talaba for only p50 per bucket! w00t! ) just ring me up and I'll give you a grand tour, hehehe. I'll post a movie next time since the internet here in Iloilo has bogged down and there's just an intermittant signal every couple of hours or so. Sucks, but what can I do? Hay....

Equipment: Canon S3 IS camera, Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom, Mac Intel Dual Laptop

Frame of Mind: Dizzy

Song of the Day: Kundiman by Silent Sanctuary

Book of the Week: The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin

Want or Need: A new internet service provider!

Birthday Blah

2007-01-23T21:36:00.000+08:00

It was my birthday last January 18 and what did I do? Nothing special, just a quiet evening with the girlfriend. Not because I was tired ( I'm always tired ) but because I have to leave for Manila the next day. Or more specifically, Manila and then going to Cavite, Pampanga, Lipa etc. to look for a prospective branch site. This is the first time I spent my birthday quietly, without the bells and whistles attached, wherein I usually do a party at the weekend with a couple dozen of my closest friends i.e. schoolmates, barkadas etc.

But I did get something out of my trip, where I got to buy some books. Some notables include Kurt Vonegut's The Sirens of Titan, James Blish's Cities in Flight, Alfred Besters' My Stars My Destination, some DC Universe novels, a couple of Warhammer novels and also couple of DC and Image comic books. Oh, I finally found a store that sells Mac Programs cheap, and that for me made my day a little brighter.

Hmmm...

So, now I'm 27. I look like 30. My folks said I have the maturity of 20. Huzzah. So I'll just wish for three outrageous things ( wishful thinking really ) and let it go at that.

1.) Join a band and go indie. Just so I could vent off some rage and restlessness. Even a monthly local gig would be nice. An album would be much better.

2.) Publish something. I've been ranting about this for more than a couple of years now, and I'm nowhere near finished. Perhaps this would be finished this year. Fingers crossed...

3.) Set up a sideline business, preferably a hobby store, with weekly DOTA, Starcraft and CS tournaments in mind. If I have the money and time, I'd do this tommorow, but hey I wish I could...

Oh, Happy Birthday to me. May this year be glorious and interesting.

Frame of Mind: Glorious Blah
Song of the Day: Barricade by Love Me Butch
Book of the Week: Batman: City of Crime by David Lapham
Want or Need: Lomo Camera!

Thar Be Dragons!

2007-01-14T18:00:00.000+08:00

Eragon Rant

I love the book, but movie was a little disappointing to say the least. Well, not actually disappointing, but you get the feeling that there should be something more, especially if you've read the book. The movie was fast-paced, action-packed yet tinged with drama. But the book has something much more than the movie: it has personality. Case in point: the most disappointing scene was at the Fortune Teller. I mean that should have been at least 15 minutes long, not just a few cyrptic words and then on to the fight scene. Angela's ( played by Joss Stone, which is weird if you ask me ) part should have sufficient time to explain the destiny of Eragon. I think this was the one of the most important parts of the story that the movie left out, in which Eragon discovers his destiny. Djimon Hounsou's Ajihad, the great and wise king of the Varden, is more of a background character and not one of the central ones. Murtagh was totally totally wrong; he should have been forceful and stoic, and not, for any reason at all, have any desire to go to the Varden. In the movie he was made like a background character, when he could have been a powerful player at the side of Eragon. But most importantly of all...

WHERE ARE THE DWARVES?!!

I mean the Varden are hidden inside the mountain fortress of the dwarven king, so the population should have been 70% dwarves and 30% humans. All I saw was some arabian-like people ... and that's it. Nothing more. And where was the Angela's werecat? Where are the cities they visited? Where are the ... Arrrrrgh!

It's all the LOTR's fault. They set the standard for epic fantasy, and when Eragon came out, it could have become a good epic movie, not just a good movie. If I was to summarize want could made it better I would say that two hours is too short, there should more character dialogues and development, no cheesy scenes ( there a point in the movie that I wish I had popcorn to gag on ) and ultimately show the audience what Eragon is all about.

Ok, I'm not saying that it's all bad, remember I'm just saying it was just a good movie. Eragon and Saphira were spot on, and Jeremy Iron's portrayal of Brom ran shivers in my spine. John Malkovich's Galbatorix was just slimy and evil, and Durza...well, it could have been better, but it was a good job.

Thing's I miss in the movie? The fortune teller scene, the big battle in the plains, the werecat, the travel with Murtagh, etc etc etc. Things I hate? What they deviated from the book, especially Brom's death and Murtagh's appearance. It was a love and hate movie, but it was good one, nonetheless.

Moral of the story? Don't judge the book by it's movie. Read the book!

Super Hero Goodness

I've been reading Mutants and Masterminds, a d20 system using superheroes as PC's. Brilliant idea, and the system, although a little clunky at character creation has it's own charm once the game gets underway. Much better than the Marvel RPG, M&M has every power available in every comic universe. And been thinking of doing a story blog based on one of the characters I've made using the system. Kinda like a noir-esque, hard boiled detective shorts. I'll probably post the link once I have the story, so it will be a while. Perhaps I'll do this a bi-monthly thing, we'll see.

Top Fives

Now that new year and settled by comfortably, it's time look back and reminisce 2006.

Top Five Albums
1. Embrace by Urbandub
2. Fragmented by Up Dharma Down
3. X&Y by Coldplay
4. Skin and Bones by The Foo Fighters
5. Revelation by Audioslave

Top Five Music Videos
1. Pag-agos by Up Dharma Down
2. First of Summer by Urbandub
3. Fix You by Coldplay
4. Here It Goes Again by OK Go
5. Martyr Nybera by Kamikazee

Top 5 TV Series
1. Firefly
2. Naruto
3. CSI
4. Bleach
5. Justice League Unlimited

Top 5 Movies
1. The Departed
2. Casino Royale
3. V for Vendetta
4. Nacho Libre
5. The Inheritance (Ang Pamana)

Top 5 Stand Alone Books
1. Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman (Short story goodness)
2. Just For Fun: Linus Torvalds Biography (Open Source Coding Rules!)
3. Masters of Doom: John Romero/John Carmack (How Doom started it all)
4. Thud by Terry Prachett (Sam Vines in the middle of a Dwarf and Troll War)
5. Blink by Ted Dekker (Super genius at work)

Top 5 Series Books (Books I have finished collecting or waiting for the new one)
1. Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin (Finished the Storm of Crows!)
2. The Sandman Series Neil Gaiman's (autographed Seasons of Mist!)
3. Lone Wolf and Cub by Kazuo Koike (the legend of Itto Ogami)
4. The Dreamers by David Eddings (New series!)
5. The Inheritance Trilogy by Christopher Paolini (Eragon's story)

Frame of Mind: Static Burst
Song of the Day: Frailty by Urbandub
Book of the Week: Thud! by Terry Prachett
Want or Need: More Internet Speed, Less Down Systems

One Interesting Year Later...

2007-01-07T19:12:00.000+08:00

I never thought that time would just go by so fast. Last year I remember a girl that was so stuck up I wouldn't even deign speak to her at a party, much less be seen with someone who wants to go bars where the gays are, just for the heck of it. I didn't even wonder what came over me that made me invite her as a friend in Friendster ( actually the reason was just to add more friends in my list, a shallow reason at that time ). I thought she would just add me up with no second thought, but no! I just had to get a blistering question of who the hell I was ( well, not actually blistering, just a smidgen of heat perhaps ). And that's where it all started.

After various messages, I finally got her number through cunning and guile: I asked her just to text me if she ever wants to talk anytime, pretending she has mine. Right on the money, she came with a scorching reply: she didn't have my number, she didn't want to ask her friends my number, and finally, she's the girl, why should she give her number to a total stranger?

This time, my Hamster-sense is tingling.

So I gave her my number. And it goes on back and forth, debating the difference eternal life and reincarnation, comparing notes on Tolstoy and Asimov, querying on whether Winnie the Pooh or the Smurfs are really gay, and if so, which is more gayer than the other one. Every battlefield was fought, no ground uncovered. From Japanese Anime to Japanese Indie Films, from classical greek to modern american authors, from weird teachers in high school to even weirder barkadas and friends.

My Hamster-sense is tingling madly, its been telling me that the past few weeks are a sign of the end-times.

But I succumbed. I fell down willingly. I gave myself up. I betrayed the whole nation ... of singlehood.

Now I have been single for quite some time now...ok, fine, I have been single for seven years. I have been on dates, and while they were ok, they were either: a.) wouldn't want to do anything with me b.) accept me just as a Kuya c.) can't take the pressure that I'm their boyfriend and can't live up to the expectations of the people. Ok, so I made up letter C. But the thing is, perhaps fate or destiny has someone else in store for me, even if I have wait for seven years ( I hear my girlfriend cracking her knuckles on the chance to do battle in debating Fate and Destiny, but that's another story ).

So there I was, like a little boy lost in the woods, blurting out if I could ever court her. Now that was the hardest thing I ever did. How hard? If there was a choice of between asking her and being pinpricked by needles, I'd go with the needles...and I really really loathe needles. "I hates them" as Gollum might say; it's my ivy arrow in Balder's story, my heel in Achilles' legend.

She said yes.

Ok, so what now?

Never have I been so lost at that moment. Do I want to be aggressive and go directly to her house and woo her? Do I need to be with her every moment of the day just to show her how much she means to me, effectively be a stalker? Will I ask her parents her permission, going the conservative route? What should I do?

I pondered and procastinated. I thought hard till beads of sweat fell down my face. I meditated everyday and focused my chi in the finding answer to one of man's greatest questions. I went up the mountains and asked the holy men for the meaning of life and the essence of courtship. I searce the depths of the ocean to look at the glyphs of the sunken continents, vainly looking for even a half-an-answer.

In the end, I did nothing. NOTHING! Ok, maybe not, but it was just being myself all of the time. Never would I thought that being my goofy, geeky self would get a girl to fall in love with me, I was thinking more in the lines of being sauve, sophisticated and withdrawn. Like James Bond, or maybe like one of those english gentlemen with their "Fancy a cup of tea dear? Oh, yes I do love you actually. Would that be one lump of sugar or two?

In the end, me and my geeky, goofy self fell in love with the woman of my dreams, someone who actually has a brain and knows how to use it. And I can't still believe that it came true. So to this woman I say...

"Ronstadt, I love you. This past year has been a blur, but happy blur nonetheless. I never met any other women who can match my brainwave and talk in the same wavelength. This is just one year, but a special year no doubt. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, even how cheesy it sounds, no words can describe what I feel right now. Thanks for being my Arwen, Leia, Ce'nedra, Katala, Haimya, Diana, Thessaly and all other strong women out there. But most of all, thanks for being my Ronstadt."

Oh, here's our video of our first year anniversary at Hotel Del Rio.

Frame of Mind: Blissfull
Song of the Day: Volare by Gypsy Kings
Book of the Week: The Dreamers: The Treasured One by David Eddings
Want or Need: A new hamster cage ( ongoing project )

Another Year Passes By...

2007-01-01T18:22:00.000+08:00

I started the year by waking up from a 20 hour hibernation. Last December 31 saw me shifting stuff in my room, going through the annual Room Purging Rituals, lest self combustion happens when I'm sleeping. I finally got through cataloging my books and cds, throwing away stuff that I don't really need ( and yes there's a lot them: some stubs, used tickets, old newsprints... ) and keeping some others in the family bodega ( some stubs, used tickets, old newsprints ... I kid myself silly). I even realized that I bought a book twice; I haven't had the time to read the original one before and forgot about it. So, all in all, the day before the new year arrives saw me in Operation Dustus Exterminatus, the better to breath in deeply and finally find some room to walk in my room. Then I fell asleep.

I fell asleep at around 11:30, December 31, woke up at 2pm the next day, slept again by 3 after a slight lunch and woke up again at around elevenish just to hear the fireworks go off. Then sleep again after a couple of hours or so. I loved that day. What really amuses me that day also is the sign I saw outside our subdivision. I only noticed the Christmas Celebration part when I finally saw what's written underneath:

Ok, so how do we celebrate our Christmas and how will we usher in the New Year? I know, let's have an Miss Gay competition and a Bikini Open the next day! Wow, I feel the spirit of Christmas already! And a Bikini Open before New Year?! What a great idea! And our theme will be ... "GIVE LOVE ON CHRISTMAS DAY!" Holy Macaroni! Where's my thong and make up?!!

Sometimes I just despair for the people here in the provinces...

Anyways, so what's in store for me this 2007? A lot actually. Here's some examples...

1.) My brother annouced that he's getting married this June 28. And yes I'm pretty much proud that he's taking the next step ( some would say fatal ) in life and wish him the best of luck. I always said that he's the one getting married first because a.) my girl hasn't graduated high school ... I mean law school yet, hehehe, with a bar exam to boot, and b.) everything is perfect for them and the only thing left is to walk down that altar. Besides, I was the guy who introduced his girl to him, hehehe.

What really gets into my thungas is that people are going around jokingly telling me how sad that my brother is getting married first than me. I mean, so? What's wrong with that? At first I thought it was politeness or some sort of nonsensical witticism but after a couple dozen of people or so it gets pretty tiring. And they have to buy me a gift because they're going first! What's with that? So that I could forgive them for getting married? I raise my eyebrows a couple of centimeters higher than usual. Then I just found out that it's an old wives tale ( but still practiced today nevertheless ) that in the event that a younger sibling gets married first than the elder, the newlyweds must buy a gift to elder sibling so that he or she will still get married in the future. Hey, I'm just happy my bro and his girl got hitched, no need to thank me, much less pay for my services.

But in the end, I relented to them offering me a Nintendo WII.

At that point my sensibilities crumbled and squeeked out an "Ok, whatever you want" with visions of me playing Zelda in the living room and making a bow motion with my hands ... Nah, I'm just joking. There's no need to give me anything, I'm just happy he's getting married. 'Nuff said.

... ... ...

Thanks in advance though, hehehe.

2.) I have just been promoted, nay, shanghaied into taking another responsibility. I am now Head of Sales and Purchasing, the two sides of the coin. My brother used to be the head of that department and now he's being transferred into Finance and Admin, my auntie's position. Our Head of Purchasing has gotten a good offer at the US and she's taking care of her papers in the event that everything is ok with the Embassy. So I have six months to try and learn her work and eventually take over both departments.

Oh, I now worked 11 hours a day at 7 days a week. Yep, that 8-7 everyday from Monday to Sunday. And it just hits me so bad that I couldn't lose weight even though I'm working at those hours. One good thing, however small, is that during Sunday I get to have the office to myself and finish up whatever needs to be done and just deal with the incidentals during the normal working days. And yes, finally, I can probably update this blog every Sunday, barring deadlines and such. I can thank you for that small measure.

3.) The reason my bro's taking over Finance and Admin is because my Auntie is diagnosed with cancer, and it's the fourth stage. We can't even visit her, even during Christmas, because of the limited contact rule. That doctor says that the less outside contact ( or germs ) the less chance of a complication. So for now, we just talked once in a while just to cancel out her being alone.

4.) 2007 marks the 10 years after we have shaken off and burned our high school clothes and proceeded out to the wild with a complete and utter understanding of the world. 10 years later, we just found out we were completely and utterly wrong about everything. Nah, just joking. This is year marks our 10th batch anniversary, so who do you think people is looking forward to arrange the reunion? Yours truly. As if I have the time to even talk with my batchmates, much less arrange one. We'll see as time goes by I guess...

My batch has always been close, my barkada even closer. Hell, even my best friend and me started out during kindergarten, along with half our barkada. So it's no surprise that even through the years, people still get in touch with each other. Even people who loathed each other in high school now talk to each other as if they were the best of friends. Weird. I guess the correct term is not Batchmate but perhaps Hivemate... or better yet, Spawnmate! Yes, we started out in kindergarten ( the spawning ground ), got out of elementary ( the cocoon stage ) and finally high school ( where we got our fangs and horns ). This reunion promises to be chockfull of hidden surprises ( you're pregnant?! ), malicious intrigues ( who's the father of your child? ), lost loves ( What do you mean I gave you syphillis before?! ) and flashbacks galore ( I remember dancing with you to the tune of " Wake Me Up, Before You Go-Go!" ).

All in all, just your standard High School Reunion. Can't wait for this one.

This Sunday I'll finish with my thoughts and plans for the new year.

Frame of Mind: Dying Buzz
Song of the Day: Hey Preppy ( Ascolto Mix ) by Drip
Book of the Week: Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny
Want or Need: More Sleeping Time

Taking A Break

2006-11-21T22:29:00.000+08:00

Work has been driving me hard lately, and now I'm stuck in the house, sick with coughs and sneezes and boogers and everything.

Overworked? Perhaps...

Well, not actually taking a big break, its just that I only have time to write one entry once a month, and for me that's kinda sucks. Why keep a blog when you can't update regularly? For some people that might be ok, but for me, the conscience gnaws deep inside. I sorta promised myself that I will write at least once a week. There isn't a day that goes by when I think "Damn, I'm so tired I don't have time to open my computer and just check my messages." ( Just now, I find myself having 200+ unread email messages. )

So I'm taking a forced leave. To clear my head of unwanted distractions. Barring spur of the moment events that need to be posted ( or, God forbid, get myself sick again and have free time ) I won't post anything till December 25, and maybe only just to post season greetings and stuff. If ever I get in the clear, I'll be back on January, hopefully more disciplined in time management.

That saying...

Well, I got finally back from traveling. These past 3 months I saw me in Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and China. And then a chance trip to Davao to attend a wedding and back to Manila last couple of weeks for the Philconstruct exhibit. You could say I had a brief respite in Davao, since it was really cool to be with my batchmates in Beijing.

Attack of the ladies!
Clockwise from bottom left: Ivy, Joy, Eileen,
Tintin, Heidi and Maricel

I guess that says enough, hehehe.

Meanwhile, all the time I've traveling here and there I get to buy books! And that what makes these trips bearable, exotic locations nonwithstanding. When I travel and the time I arrive home, books usually take half my luggage space. No more space? Buy another bag. Excess weight? Handcarry at least three bags ( How typically Pinoy ).

To wit, I got me some gems, like Terry Prachett's Hat Full of Sky, Neil Gaiman's Fragile Things, Ted Dekker's Blink, Nick Hornby's High Fidelity and 31 songs, A Feast of Crows by George R.R. Martin, some DC JLA comic books, Batman's Hush Series, Samurai Executioner by Kazuo Koike ( story arc based on Lone Wolf and Cub series ), some Hellboy comics, Orson Scott Card's Speaker of the Dead series, David Eddings' The Elder Gods ... the list goes on and on.

At least I'll have something to last me till January.

Now where's my box for sniffles..?

State of Mind: suffocating Irritation
Now Reading: A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin ( refresher for Feast of Crows )
Now Listening: The Arsonist by Urbandub
Looking For: The Power to Timestop! So that I'll never have backlog again!

Back For The Moment With 100 Things

2006-10-10T05:36:00.000+08:00

Okay, so I just got back from Brazil and Argentina, ( work-related sadly, hay... ) been very busy these past couple months now, doing a lot of travelling to the outer branches, and will leave again this Friday, to China for the annual Canton Fair in Guangzhou.

Yep, no rest for the weary. And I'm still not getting any thinner despite with all the travelling! Arrrrgh...

So, I was just surfing the blogsites in airports while waiting for my boarding call when I read about Kim's and Romy's 100 things, which they got from Aperire's Coffee Cups. Excellent idea, so I get to think and mull something while in transit. So here's my 100 things.

1. I love pizza. Nothing stops me dead in the tracks than smelling a good combination of pepperoni, bell peppers and cheese.
2. I started reading when I was 6 years old. First book: Hardy Boys. Then again, anybody who reads starts at Hardy Boys ( or Nancy Drew for the girls ).
3. I am accident prone, which I shrug off because of my size.
4. I have four hamsters: Fishball, ChocNut, Sushi and Creampuff.
5. Five is my number.
6. To date, I have 6 scars: the left elbow, both knees, right arm, across my nose and my appendicitis operation.
7. I played bass guitar when I was in college and high school. Now, my callauses are gone.
8. I wish to be published someday.
9. I have many nicknames. My first and the most used is AM. Don't ask.
10. I got operated for appendicitis at the age of 10.

11. I have big extended family, at a hefty 30 uncles and aunts and a growing number of cousins.
12. I'm the first grandchild in both sides of the family. And that is not a good thing actually.
13. I used to play baseball. Was a shortstop. Then I stopped when I got hit in the nuts ... twice.
14. I did pretty well in the field athletics department though, shotput and discus throw.
15. My full name is Arsenio Rafael IV y Aguirre. And yes people still make the mistake when they think Rafael is my first name. But its ok :-)
16. I got the nickname Raf when I was in a tournament ( which one, I forgot ) . The name stuck when the judge started using it.
17. I collect sourcebooks I will never get to play with...*sigh*
18. My passion will always be books, games and music.
19. I introduced Magic The Gathering in our school.
20. I fear roaches. Don't ask, childhood traumatic event. Don't be surprised when I scream like a sissy when encountering one.

21. When it comes to bass playing, Nathan East and Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers would be my icons.
22. I had my bass guitar stolen by my ex girlfriend. May she itch everyday for the rest of her life.
23. I once woke up to find myself thinking about Schroedinger's Cat.
24. I fell in love with the fantasy genre when I first read a Greyhawk book ( forgot the title, but was about the story of Gord the Gutless ).
25. I have a best friend since kindergarten days.
26. Ever since time began, my haircut rotated on only three styles: Flat Top, Crew Cut and Semi Kalbo ( except for that time in Manila where I didn't get one for 5 months )
27. I'd probably go mad if not for the Hobby.
28. I'm cynical, yet deep inside I'm actually a hopeless romantic.
29. I once cried like a baby when I was is Grade 5 ( ok, technically still a small kid ) because someone stole my bookmark. It was a great bookmark, and had Batman and Superman on it. I miss that bookmark...)

31. I believe in the philosophies of Calvin And Hobbes.
32. I think Firefly is one of the most underated TV series ever. Get the DVD!
33. I believe in the vision of Hayao Miyazaki's films.
34. Filipino telenovelas are ... involuted to say the least.
35. I miss Batibot.
36. I snore pretty loudly when I'm tired...which is most of the time.
37. I have a pretty resistant body, except for stabs and cuts. In DnD world, that would be "resistant to bludgeoning weapons, but double damage on piercing and slashing". Yes, that would be the geek in me.
38. I get sick only once a year, but comes in package i.e. fever with bellyaches, fever with boils etc. Gross? Yup.
39. I used to play varsity basketball.
40. I have so many books that they're stacked lopsidedly in the floor, since I don't any more space in the shelves.

41. Terry Prachett's Discworld series keep me sane.
42. Frasier I like.
43. One of the books that change my life was Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. Read and believe in the book, not the movie!
44. I fell in love with science fiction after reading the Foundation novels by Isaac Asimov.
45. I have so many literary heroes, and I could choose anyone from Durnik to Jimmy the Hand to Johnny Rico, from Batman to Hellboy to Sam and Twitch, but consistently, I still look up to Sherlock Holmes.
46. I enjoy a good hard boiled detective story.
47. Sunrise is my thing.
48. I'm trying my hand at photography right now.
49. I believe that people should never forget what happened in the past, learn from it and use it as a guideline for the future.
50. People say I'm approachable, that I can get along with anybody. True, but that doesn't stop me from forming an opinion about you. Just that I can accept who you are, even if you're nuts and deranged.

51. One of my nicknames is Mooshi. Don't ask.
52. The first song I sang in front of an audience was "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls to a girl in the crowd who never knew I existed.
53. I never ate breakfast ever since I was in elementary. I make up for it during lunch time.
54. I hate heights. I do things to erase the fear like Shooting Star and all but it only makes it stronger...arrrgh...
55. Cheesecake is a good dessert to end a good meal.
56. I have tried roasted scorpion, and it tasted like chicharon.
57. I have been to China for six months, and it was one heck of an adventure.
58. I'm probably the only one here in the whole Visayas and Mindanao who plays Warhammer, Dungeons and Dragons and Warmachine. *sigh*
59. If I wasn't in my family business today, I'd probably be a teacher or a missionary.
60. I am a wee hour person. I wake up in the dead of the morning just for kicks. Kinda like a reverse insomniac.

61. I support local bands like Up Dharma Down and Urbandub, and especially indie bands.
62. If there ever was a Coldplay or Dave Matthews Band concert scheduled in Manila, I'd buy front row seats.
63. If I have twins, they're names would be Inigo and Inaki. Isagani for triplets.
64. My room is a total state of chaos. Too many stuff, too little space.
65. I collect DvD's which I don't time to watch. Sucks.
66. I am a fan of Akira Kurasawa.
67. If I have the time, I'd watch indie art films.
68. I can cook a mean batch of spagetti, using a time honored family recipe.
69. I can eat a 18" pizza in one sitting.
70. Weirdly, coffee makes me sleepy instead of the other way around.

71. No matter how many bottles, I can never get drunk, and that is both a good and a bad thing. Family gene working in the system.
72. Saying that, I'm the only one left in my barkada who hasn't ran around buck naked and drunk. And I'm still not sure if that is a good or bad thing.
73. I go to a spa every week, just to shake off all the stress and worries. Unbelievably, its pretty cheap here in the province.
74. During lunchtime I take a ride outside just recharge my energy and not think about anything for an hour.
75. There are times when I think I'm not appreciated, especially in the office. Which makes me more or less grumpy.
76. I miss jamming with my bandmates.
77. I remember our worst gig was in Lucena when everything just went wrong ( the volume was wrong, the pitch was wrong, the intruments can be barely be heard etc etc etc. ) and we drowned our sorrows in McDonalds.
78. I sometimes exaggerate too much.
79. I am a self confessed extrovert.
80. I was born in 1980, at the star of the Goat and the sign of the Sheep. Baaaaaaaaah!

81. Sometimes, I wish for peace and prosperity. Then again, that probably won't happen.
82. I'm a pack rat. I can't seem to throw stuff away. Receipts, airline baggage claims, random scraps of paper...
83. My personality test shows that I'm unconventional and perceptive, and would make a great storyteller and entrepreneur. Hmmm...
84. Come year 2008, if I can scrounge enough cash, I'd open a Hobby Store here just for the heck of it.
85. When I'm really tired, I could sleep for more than 12 hours straight.
86. I read Shaw Island, Dork Tower and Penny Arcade.
87. I once woke up because of dream I had that I was the last person on the earth and making sure it wasn't true.
88. I once crashed my bicycle when I was a kid, skidmarks showing in the left side of my body. Even though it is gone, I can still feel some of the little stones embedded. Thank God I'm fat.
89. Sadly, many beautiful girls take to me and trust me because of the "Kuya Factor." Fuck Kuya Factor.
90. I have no patience for elitist bastards. I'd take a battering ram up their ass.

91. Humility is a virtue I can scarce afford. At worst, I'd be a windbag.
92. Patience is a virtue I have in abundance. At best, I could listen for hours at your problems.
93. I am a sucker for intelligent and interesting conversations.
94. I believe in the philosophy "Change is good". Or better yet "Adapt or die".
95. Looking back, these experiences made me what I am. It's true that wisdom comes with a price.
96. I'm a big family type person. If it were me, I'd have ten kids and lotsa grandchildren.
97. I'd most likely name my son Arsenio V.
98. When I die, I'd like to people to have one huge drunken party and celebrate not that I'm dead, but that I have enjoyed life to the fullest. That I would definitely wish for.
99. Three songs I'd play for my funeral would be "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd, "I'm Still Here" by John Reznik and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture as my casket is lowered.

100. When I'm dead, I wish my epitaph to reflect what I've done and what I was. Only five words would be inscribed..."Father. Entreprenuer. Writer. Gamer. Musician."

State of Mind: Fast Paced Blurriness
Now Listening To: Drops of Jupiter by Train
Now Reading: The Science of Discworld by Terry Prachett
Looking for(ward): To a friend's wedding in Davao next week.

Hamster's Blogger-sary!

2006-08-11T01:22:00.000+08:00

Today marks something I started doing over some three years ago. Yup, August 11 is the date when I first started blogging. I would like to say that something inspired me to blog or it was an idea floating in my head for a while, but the reality why I started writing online was because of the SHEER UTTER BOREDOM. Well, that was the initial reason of course, since at that time I was an insomniac with too many hours invested in playing...er, being jacked up in Ragnarok. Try being a Blacksmith with crates of carrots to sell and waiting for everybody to buy stuff ( Ragna BS addicts, you know what I'm talking about! ). So while waiting for people to buy, I decided to blog, just for the sheer hell of it. I didn't know that in the future it would become an outlet of sorts.

My first blogsite was Easyjournal, and in the first year wrote everything from books, movies, music, my Warhammer games, random musings etc. I was religously writing everyday, if you can believe it. The last six months of my life in Manila were inscribed in that site. And whenever I feel nostalgic, I'd go back and read some of the entries I made. Some of those entries, or memories as I think of them, are the ones I cherish the most. And being able to go back and read them ... well, it does good for the soul.

The second year I wrote a lot less, the reason was that I was relocated at the province and after six months, got shipped to China. It was hard to keep up writing religiously, so I strayed a bit, then lagging behind, and in the end decided to take a small break.

I think it took a couple of months before I got the urge to start writing again. One morning I got up, switched on the computer and then proceeded to type my last entry for Easyjournal, opened up a new one at Blogger, and typed in my very first entry after a long while. I had decided to transfer blogsites, and Blogger seemed like a good one from what I've been hearing. Also, I have been transferring bit by bit my old entries from Easyjournal, so I can look at them in just one site. What surprised me is that quite a few of my buddies, some who I feel I'll never see again in the flesh, were blogging also. Well, kinda shocked actually. But it was really cool to be connected to them again, and I'll be honest for once; they are the reason that keeps me writing, at least once a week. So to everybody whose linked to me or me to them, thanks. And I mean a lot.

Oh, here's an old picture I found while cleaning out my closet. It's kinda blurry, but I think you'll get the idea.

Not that I was a heavy drinker before, but I think I know where I got my Ogre belly. Now where did I put my gut plate...

State of Mind: Breezy Temperamental
Now Listening to: Losing A Whole Year by Third Eye Blind
Now Reading: Knight of the Rose by Roland Green, Dragonlance
Looking for: A Vacation!

Seven Months

2006-08-05T23:33:00.000+08:00

Big Hamster and the Silver Tounged Lady, today at seven months
::Blue Jay Coffee House::Smallville::

We look together
toward a future unknown
staring unblinking

Office Madness and Ninja Action

2006-08-01T23:08:00.000+08:00

I've been having some time having fun during one of the lull moments in office overtime, since I'm the one alone in the showroom area while the accountants gripe with the mathematics and try balance sums in gymnast-like precision. I think this describes what I think of office life.

Trapped. Endless Scream. Insanity.

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I finally scrounged myself the DVD continuation of Naruto, and I've been looking forward to the nights when I get home and watch some fine Ninja action. I first started watching the series when Dad was being hospitalized in Manila and I had to look for something to occupy me in the wee hours in the morning while I'm alone in the house. Then I think I stopped at around episode 150-ish, watching on and off. Now I'm ready to start watching again, with the anticipation of a fat boy waiting for the manong and his ice cream to pass by.

For now, here's Go!!! by Flow, one of the soundtracks. Features a Terminator-esque like video, but who cares, I like the music.

State of Mind: Excessive Overtime
Now Listening to: Heroes by the Wallflowers
Now Reading: Knight of the Sword by Roland Green, Dragonlance
Looking for: Prince of Tennis!

Chinese Literacy::Optimus-tic!::Blog Reconstruction

2006-07-27T03:36:00.000+08:00

I don't know about the Chinese. I lived in Beijing for six months and I still don't know whether they're just way too literal or have been laughing behind our backs in the things they can get away with. Like spitting. Or passing a dump in a sidewalk. In any case here's a fine example in this picture.

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For those who's had their childhood in the 80's, you might be interested in this movie next year.

Michael Bay directs the movie, so it should be good ( fingers crossed! ). Now where's my beetle at?

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I've been meaning to do a website for the company, so in the near future I might be blogging somewhere else, hopefully a personal domain. At least, I get to post what I want and perhaps move me to maintain and blog reguarly. For now, I'll stick with Blogger. Hmmm ... I gotta study HTML ...*sigh*. And I'll just practice here. So if you see some areas or angles that are "weird" then that means I'm learning and trying to put it back together. I hope to get better in time.

State of Mind: Groggy with Sleep
Now Listening to: Mariposa by Sugarfree
Now Reading: HTML Complete, Third Edition
Looking For: A nice cuppa of caffiene

Dude Pare! Music Shuffle Madness! Might and Magic: Warhammer Edition

2006-07-23T10:59:00.000+08:00

I got this from the Beijinoy Groups. Read and get a headache after realizing how many people are like this. Then go out and smash something.

Stupid Movie.

Ok pare, was really uber bored kanina so I decided to watch Superman Returns at Glorietta 4. I texted Claude and Jeff but it seemed the two were out na naman. So I called na lang the girl Claude introduced to me at Max Brenner, a couple of weeks ago. We traded number kasi before. Actually, she asked for my number pare. See pare, I'm that hot! Kaya girls are all making kulit to my friends for my number. Her looks is kinda ok naman. The 'pwede na' type. The only problem lang pare is her height. She's like an arm rest lang kasi pare. Pero I'm cool naman with it so ok na.

She replied after five rings with "Who's this?". I was tahimik lang on the other side. Shit talaga pare! Major turnoff talaga! So I made putol na lang the line. I hate kasi burara girls. Obviously she lost the card I gave her at Max Brenner. Sayang talaga pare. I gave her a chance pa naman to be with me and she blew it pa. She's bobo kasi.

Good thing my mom was out kanina so I got the chance to drive for myself without Hilariously Stoopid messing with my aura.

So yun na nga diba? I was like riding on air with my uber bilis driving and it only took me 5 minutes (which would normally take 30 minutes with Hilariously Stoopid driving) from our house to Glorietta. Can't wait na nga for Drag Racing Pinoy to reopen their site kasi I think I belong to that group. I can even do the drift na nga pare while driving pababa at Rufino towers. Eh Rufino is notorious pa naman for having the narrowest parking pababa and paakyat ng floors. Yeah pare, I'm that galing talaga at driving so there's no point na talaga in hiring stupid natives as my driver pa.

I got the last full show at cinema 2 (11 PM)... kasi all the earlier show time were all sold out na pare. So I made tambay na lang at Starbs while enjoying a cup of chino. I made no pansin na lang at the all the loser-poser orcs making lipana around the cinema floor. I made it clear that my seat is far from the masa-crowded timezone which is full of baho natives that time... probably waiting for Superman din. I focused na lang my attention to my cup of chino for the solid caffeine rush. Dami kasing attention-getters sa crowd and they are irritating my aura. Good thing bilis lang mag fly ng oras kanina...

After the movie, I was like really disappointed talaga pare because of the uber daming flaws. I mean, Superman Returns is the year's most stupid movie made for stupid people and I am the one tasked to figure that out. Really disturbing talaga pare...

1. Diba pare, Superman and Lex Luthor were of the same age lang? Diba nga friends pa sila before they became enemies. How come sa movie, Lex was portrayed as matanda na?

2. Correct me if I'm wrong pare pero I dont recall Superman and Lois Lane having sex to produce a child which is hikain pa!

3. Up to now, sumasakit pa rin my brain thinking how come nobody still can't figure out that Clark Kent is Superman provided all the people at Daily Planet are fond of detective work since most of them are journalists/reporters nga. Are they all that stupid talaga or may magic powers lang talaga the eyeglass of superman, rendering him incognito whenever he wears it.

4. What's with the kulot na bangs pare? I mean its pretty obvious naman na straight hair ni Clark sa movie tapos whenever he change into Superman na, the kulot bangs suddenly appear.

5. Superman is gay. Just notice the leg position whenever he lift his feet off the ground. Kadiri pare no?

6. Superman is laging handa pare. because he only needs to make hawi lang his clothes to reveal his costume. I mean, super lambot ba his costume for no one to notice it while at work. Specially the Superman boots which he always wear under his black shoes (?)!. The layered getup must be really init pare.

Now I know where the orcs got their style in layered clothing. Kaya naman I'll bet an arm and a leg that Superman has BO pare.

7. There was an incident sa movie pa where Lois Lane was slammed on the head by the vault's door which was made entirely out of steel. She fell pa nga unconcious sa tubig. The question is, how come she suffered no bukol? Not even minor bleeding pare. Eh it was like very lakas kaya ng pagkaka-slam on her head. Probably she's hard core pare. Internal hemorrhage in the head. Big time!

8. After an earthquake, there should be a big tidal wave. That was missing pare. I anticipated pa naman that part.

Dami pa sana pare.. pero I really have to hit the sack now. It's morning na pala. Basta, I'm giving the movie -10 out of 10 because it sucked... as in major!

Later pare.

T****nang tao na yan! Hulk Smash!

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I got this from from Kim's Karmic Backstab and Romy's Silence in Darkness:

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn't make sense. NO CHEATING!
4. Tag 10 people to play this game too.

• How are you feeling today?
Food for the Soul! by Sandwich ( gutom na kasi )

• How do your friends see you?
Rockstar by Nickelback ( yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaahhhh! )

• Will you get married?
Champange For My Friends, Real Pain For My Sham Friends by Fall Out Boy ( er... )

• What is your best friend's theme song?
Photograph by Nickelback ( Hmmm...yup, pwede )

• What is the story of your life?
Always With You by Jennifer Paige ( er... )

• What was high school like?
The Last Song by The Foo Fighters ( You got to talk, to talk, to get it all out! )

• How can you get ahead in life?
Sync of 8 by Kala ( yup, right now, I'm out of sync )

• What is the best thing about your friends?
Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim ( they're like a subtle spiked club )

• What is today going to be like?
Burn Out by Sugerfree ( hay... and tommorow, the next day, the next next day... )

• What is in store for this weekend?
Jeepney by Sponge Cola ( Naalaala ko mga gabing katabi sa ulan )

• What song describes you?
Sober by Jennifer Paige ( Yup, I'll probably never ever gonna drink again )

• To describe your grandparents?
No Ordinary Love By Sade, Urbandub Cover ( True )

• How is your life going?
Weather Forecast by Kala ( mostly stormy and windy )

• What song will they play at your funeral?
Trapo! by Yano ( arrrrgh, grabe naman! )

• How does the world see you?
Chicksilog by Kamikazee ( AYYYYYYIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!!! Chicksilog Rockstar!!!! T*****ang game na to!!!!!)

• Will you have a happy life?
Butterfly Carnival by Sandwich ( Because your soul is burning/Time's a turning/ No one stays the same )

• What do your friends really think of you?
Tatlong Araw by Parokya ni Edgar ( Araw ng kalokohan/Aking kinagalakan ... )

• Do people secretly lust after you?
Yellow by Coldplay ( Look at the stars! Look how they shine for you! )

• How can I make myself happy?
Tribute by Tenacious D ( Play the best song in the world ... or I'll eat your soul! )

• What should you do with your life?
Feel So High by Desiree ( If only I can get high...hay...hay... hwwwaaaaaooo )

• Will you ever have children?
By Chance by Sophie Ellis Bextor ( WTF?! )

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For those who are into computer gaming AND warhammer, there's a game out by Ubisoft called Might and Magic. Yep, for some people, this is a familiar game, since it is at it's 5th edition. So why tag warhammer in the game? Cuz some of the characters/npcs/cgi models are so freaking similar to the Warhammer Universe.

Case in point. I only played the game just now, just finished the 2nd map, and I just saw a dark elf riding a dinosaur called a "DARK RIDER" ( ok, in the WFB its supposed to be a Cold One Rider but when I saw it, it was just weird ). Then the next thing I saw confirmed my suspicion: a wood elf weilding two swords called a "Wardancer". Now I don't know about Ubisoft and Games Workshop having an agreement or something, but for gaming's sake at least change the names and tweak the models a little more. So I googled some online pics to see if I was right. And yep, here they are:

This one I haven't encountered yet, but yes, I think that's a Khorne Warrior and a Hellhound.

This one looks to be too Wood Elf-ish for comfort, complete with a Unicorn

And finally we have a High Born Noble with Witch Elf and a Dark Rider at its side.

But I'm not dissing the game. In fact, it's another excellent sequel successor to the previous M&M series, and I use to play M&M3 a lot during my Manila years. But it's just plain weird seeing them here. In any case, I'm still waiting for an Orc or a Goblin to appear, hehehe.

State of Mind: Typical Sunday Blah
Now Listening to: Gemini by Sponge Cola
Now Reading: Knights of the Crown by Roland Green, Dragonlance
Looking for: Wolf Riders!

Weird Hair! We Buy Stenlless, Bronce and Sin! Darth Vader vs. the Japanese!

2006-07-19T21:57:00.000+08:00

Work's been a little hectic this month, but I did get some time to revamp the blogsite. Also added some friends who I thought I'd probably never see again if not for the wonders of the blogging and the utter randomness of the internet.

Also got myself a new haircut, as evidenced by the mugshot in the right side of the screen. What's really weird when I think about it now is that this is the first time I had the barber to get me a Barber's Haircut. Honest, this is the first time I had one and it looks ... weird. After years and years of Semi-Kalbo, Flat Top and Crew Cut ( and there was this one time I didn't get a haricut for 6 months, during my Manila Years ), I finally had the gumption to try a new hairstyle, the most common one. And again I say ... it's weird. I have curly hair, hence the reason for the very short hair lifestyle. If I ever get the conviction to just let my hair go and grow it big into an Afro, people might think I'm Samoan or something. Or just a very big black hillbilly.

It's just plain weird, if you ask me.

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For those who are heavy on sin and don't wish to go to a church to confess, you might be interested in going to a place like this:

What is this place, you ask? Upon closer inspection of the sign:

Imagine, a place where you can go inside and say "Yes, I committed the act of stealing and having murderous intentions. Oh, I also have impure thoughts of women if that's worth anything. How much is that? 20, 10 bucks? Cool, some spare change."

Aside from that, they also buy STENLLESS and BRONCE too! w00t! Whatever those things are! Hehehehe...

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Darth Vader vs. the Jap Cops.

Who would you think would win? Watch and find out.

Whehehehehe!

State of Mind: Weirdly Grumpy
Song of the Day: A Promise by Chicosci
Now Reading: The Golem's Eye by Jonathan Stroud
Looking for: Clouds!

Six Months

2006-07-05T22:39:00.000+08:00

Big Hamster and the Silver-tounged Lady, today at six months.

::Krua Thai Resto::Smallville::

Month Long Overload

2006-06-30T17:47:00.000+08:00

It has been a month since my last post, and yes the reason is that work has officially taken over my life. I even wonder sometimes if this is really worth it, not the work, but the pressure of it. There are times when I find myself needed in six places all at once, and doing things that needed doing but finding out which to prioritize first is aggravating. And yes, there are times when I just don't want to get out of bed in the morning.

But what really gets my thungas is that I'm not getting thin due to the stress and harried state of mind.

But I'm sure almost everyone feels the same way as I do, so I'll just tighten up my screws and fix up my head. And pray that I'll get a vacation.

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One good thing happened though, and that is I get to play in the GT. Had a good time, kinda akin to a ray of light in a storm. While my stats in the end were so-so ( 1 major vic, 1 major loss, 1 minor loss ) I had a great time and focused only on three things: there's me, the board and my opponent. So here's what happened, as portrayed in the gaming forum, as narrated by Midnight, the organizer.

Game 1 vs. Mark
Anvil of death ooops, doom did a lot damage along with the other war machines. Gyrocopter fried a lot of pesky orcs and gobbos throughout the game! Dwarves get major win even if they were outnumbered at least 2:1

Ah, Mark. Grudge match always, yet in the middle of the game I can't help but think he was taking advantage of my "long term memory jink" and procedeed in some shady stuff goings-on. Like rolling a two on an anvil misfire and saying it was nothing, till prompted by Clemence ( or was it Clarence? ) to check his rulebook and saying he can't use it for one turn. Hmmmm...

Game 2 vs. Patrick
Lightning proved to be a factor in this game, several fried ratling gunners left on the board (Patrick really had some bad rolls on the armour test). The smell of burning rat fur eventually fills the air! Orcs on the other hand manage to roll great for animosity and armour test (man this was confusing!) and they lost very little time getting into HTH. Another major traffic jam with 2 horde armies facing off in the center. Skaven troops manage to hold the line for a couple of turns but eventually start to panic and run! Orcs win big time!

Patrick the Rat King and I had a lot of fun, with the funky rules and all. It was a see-saw match till the end of the 4th round, where I just broken through his rats and ran for the hills. Nice game, very nice. I would ask him to play again another time.

Game 3 vs. Romy
What's a game between friends? Dark elves' monster army throws all caution to the wind and attacks the orc line. 2 fanatics score direct hits on the noble knocking him off his manticore but surprisingly, the beast passes his monster reaction test. Payback time as the manticore scares off several orc units before getting shot down by a bolt thrower. BS2? Large target, close range you do the math!!! Things look promising for the orcs, until his right flank evaporates before the combined might of corsairs, hydra and warriors. Dark elf magic proves superior this round - managing to get critical spells through (dominion on orc general). Dark elves score minor win!

Man, to cap it all off I get to play with Romy, one of the Dark Princes ( though I think he secretly worships Slaanesh ). Mad mad game, see-saw till the 5th, when bad rolls overcame my orcs and just stood there being massacred by elves IN CLOSE COMBAT!!! Arrrrgh....

But as they say, a friend stabs you in the front, not in the back, so its all good, hehehe. Will definitely ask for a rematch.

All in all, a great time. Balance is shifted. Mind is stable. Tolerance levels are at 0%.

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I finally got my Warmachine for Alger after a long wait. While all of minis inside weren't damaged, but most were unglued ( some arms, legs, heads etc. )because of the shipping process. The only one left standing proudly is the Ironclad, and that really says something.

I made my list based on what I have now, and which I hope to play against the Warmachine group anytime this year. How I wish there are some players here, even in Bacolod or Cebu.

Warcaster: Captain Victoria Haley
Unit: 10 Threnchers
Warjacks:
1 Ironclad
1 Defender
Solos:
1 Journeyman Warcaster
1 Gun Mage Captain Adept
2 Stormsmiths

Total: 499 points

Basic strategy is to delay the enemy using Haley and the Trenchers. The Defender gets pumped by Junior to hopefully take out huge chunks of the enemy warjacks while the GMCA and the Stormsmiths try to snipe the unit leaders or cause disruption on the warjacks. The Ironclad is there ready to rumble in case someone or something breaks through the line.

I'll try to test this once I get back to Manila.

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Thoughts on Superman, which I watched a couple of nights ago.

1. The intro was a trip through nostalgia, what with the background and zooming letters.
2. Cyclops got ditched by Phoenix for Wolverine, then moonlighted over to a different comic universe only to get ditched by Lois Lane for Superman. Sad. But a funny 'crossover' nonetheless.
3. Lex Luthor with his mannerisms. Funny, I didn't see that coming, picturing him to be a ruthless megalomaniac.
4. Great idea using scenes from the old Superman movies. Marlon Brando's voice is timeless.
5. Brandon Routh does a good credit to the series. At least I get to see how people never see the connection between Clark Kent and Superman only by removing his glasses.

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And now, something to whet the appetites.

Topher Grace as Venom? Hmmmm....this should be interesting, considering Eddie Brock is built like a linebacker in the comics, and Topher is...well, a pansy. Still, we'll see if this turns out well.

Bloody Hellfire?! Nick Cage as Johnny Blaze?!! WTF?!!! Hmmmm, at least half the movie will be done by CG actor, flaming skull and all that, but it does take a large wind off the sails.

Anyhow, I'd better get back to work and concentrate on my overtime. Arrrrrgh...

State of Mind: Salad Tossed
Song of the Day: Vindicated by Dashboard Confessional
Now Reading: The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett
Now Looking for: Long Gunners!

It's That Time Of The Year

2006-05-24T01:09:00.000+08:00

Summer always spells damnation on my line of work. This is the time where all the balikbayans and OFW's go back home to the country and build houses. And thus I have to deal with every stuck-up, feeling rich, look-at-me-I'm-better-than-you-cuz-I'm-wearing-a-cowboy-hat persons every single fricken' day.

Me: Good afternoon, how can I help you?
Mofo with Cowboy Hat: ( in an insulting FOB voice ) Yeah, afternoon to you. I'm have two apartments which requires tiles. Understand that I intend these apartments to cater to high-end customers. I want my white friends to be pampered with.
Me: Very good sir. We do have a nice selection of high end tiles just right for your place.
Mofo with Cowboy Hat: HIGH END! PAKSHET! You think I'm made of money?! Show me the cheapest ones!

High class apartments with cheap tiling? At that point, my brain went into idiot mode and just followed the Mofo around while he gestures this and that, trying to show off his "american accent" and fake jewellry. And at this time of the year, I get this variations almost every day. But I also hate lawyers. Especially the cocky ones.

Me: Good Morning Sir! I understand you're a friend of my Dad and are looking for a nice watercloset.
Lawyer: Yes, and I have made my choice. This one, I like it.
Me: Ah, nice choice sir, the La Peral WC, worth P35,000.
Lawyer: So since I'm a friend of your Boss-Dad, you'll sell it to me at 33,000.
Me: ( after a hurried calculation and checking if this is ok with Boss-Dad ) Sure sir, no problem.
Lawyer: ( Smirks ) So how many days?
Me: Days ... sir?
Lawyer: The terms. How many days to pay?
Me: (again, after consulting with Boss-Dad) Sir, no problem! Dad tells me you can pay it in 30 days.
Lawyer: 30 days lang?! Don't you know who I am? Puneta, if you don't give me more I'll look somewhere else.

After another consultation...

Me: Sir, we can extend it to 45 days.
Lawyer: Hmmmph. That would be ok. So, reserve it for me and I'll get it in the next two months.
Me: ( thinking ) Ok, now you're in my all time list of assholes.

But nothing, nothing I repeat, compares to dealing with the Nunnery, or the Sisterhood.

Me: Good noon, Sister! How can I help you?
Sister: What a nice man! Sure, can you help find some good tiles? Just the cheap ones, its for the orphanage.
Me: No problem Sister ( and I proceed to show here some low cost tiles. )
Sister: These are cheapest ones? Understand that we're just a poor foundation.
Me: Yes Sister, I do understand. These are our bargain, promo and net items, nothing is more lower that this. Only cost you 18.75 per tile.
Sister: Really? So how much discount can you give me?
Me: Sister naman, you're joking right? These are bargain items, any more discounts then we have to sell them at a loss.
Sister: Please? It's for a good cause. Can you give it to me at 10.00 per tile?
Me: Er, no. I might as well give it to you free.
Sister: You give it to me free?! What a Son of God you are!
Me: Er, no. That was a figure of speech ( and a sarcastic one, but the nun doesn't get it )
Sister: Oh ( she pouts ). C'mon now, please? It's truly for a good cause. It's for the Lord you know.

And she got me right there. "It's for the Lord". Being raised as a true Catholic, it's hard to refuse. It's either sell goods to earn money, or be excommunicated by the Church. Tough choice.

These stories end in a way. Mofo with Cowboy Hat got what he wanted, a "high end place ( with cheap tiling! ) " and he's ready to show it off to his friends ( although I had a hard time looking for him to pay up his balance, had to resort to calling his daughter and talking with her about it, the dickhead ). The Lawyer never got around to confirm that he wants the La Peral, so I sold it to a customer who was more that willing to buy it now, and in cold hard cash. Manigas siya. The Sister I got off lightly, selling her broken tiles by the sack, since it just cost 50 per sack and telling her you can design the whole orphange using the varied multicolored items. She left with plans of grandeur. At least I didn't get to be excommunicated.

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Work has been piling in great bunches, now that summer is here. While people play and frolic at the beaches and generally have fun, I slave away the busiest parts of the year here at the office. Add to the fact that I lost four of "old" people these past month ( they got better job offers ), I'm currently training new people, and looking for an assistant to help me at least manage my other responsibilities. The company chart just came out, and it seems I'm handling the Main Store sales, the Branches, the Projects and the Installers group. Whoopee do.

And it just gets my thungas that even if I have a desk, I can no longer sit at it since I'm constantly in patrol at the showroom. And just this morning, I can no longer sit and take a rest, so I'm standing 8 hours everyday, with no lunch break. If anything, at least I'll get thin. But that doesn't stop me from being mad as hell. And I don't usually go bonkers but this last one is the last straw. Even up to now I can't sleep thinking about it. I guess I'll see what happens tommorow.

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July is the month to be, with just over two months left till my friends from Manila decided to stop by here and enjoy the food in Iloilo. And I can't wait, it's been a long time since we saw each other, so it's gonna be kinda like a reunion. Line up: Mike and his sister Stef, Masha, Chelly, Joanne, Jr and Ode. With the exception of Ode, they're also my then-gaming group in Manila, playing in Mike's place till the wee hours of the morning.

Had a talk with Ina this afternoon, asking if she can go too. If she goes, that makes us nine. So that makes us ... the Fellowship. Hehehehe.

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Warhammer GT is just around the corner, June 10th. So that means I'm polishing up my Orcs and Goblins for just one last hurrah. I'll be retiring them in favor for Ogres, but then again who knows? The Call of the Waaaaaagh is still strong inside of me. But going to the GT is enough for me, a time to relax and let loose. Besides, I get to see the guys again, and that would be worth more.

"Ere we go, Ere we go, ERE WE GO!"

State of Mind: Simmering Anger
Now Listening: Bullet in the Head by Rage Against the Machine
Now reading: The Year of Rogue Dragons: The Rage by Richard Lee Byers, Forgotten Realms
Looking for: Peace of Mind