the geek chronicles

writing. shooting. embracing life.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

I feel guilty for eating the whole slice of Devil's Food Cake from Chocolate Kiss. Alej and I went to U.P. Diliman just to buy cake because Mama craved for it and since it was on the way from Katipunan, we dropped by.

The atmosphere at UP was very cold and because right by the Bahay ng Alumni there was this big tree at the parking lot, I gave it an imaginary click of my imaginary camera. I brought my cameras with me but it was too dark I feared it was going to be underexposed. I love it when it's dusk and chilly. If it weren't for the noise coming from inside Bahay ng Alumni for some freshmen thing a fraternity was hosting, it would've been a very serene moment under the tree and all.

One of the many downsides of living in the city is that you don't get to experience marveling big shady trees or a vast field of greens. Whenever a city dweller sees a park or a wide stretch of meadow, it's like a patch of heaven amidst an urban jungle. That's why if you watch movies at Ayala cinemas, you've probably seen that Ayala Land advertisement right before they show the trailers. The advertisement shows a huge space of greenery, which was converted into condominium buildings (think Fort Bonifacio). It's pathetic how people are supposed to be "happy" that they're developing these estates/condominiums that only those of the upper class can afford/enjoy. I don't know about you but I want my trees and meadows. I want my kids to grow up in a world like that.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I want to hug trees or live in a nipa hut far far away but taking time off from all the smoke and noise pollution is something one could look forward to to get away. Although Henry David Thoreau's "Where I Lived and What I Lived For" from Walden makes me want to retreat into the woods.

And of course I'm also thinking about photo op opportunities.

I leave these photos of Amidala to remind you to SMILE always. :D



Yes, she's a delight to be around. I love love love her!

UPDATE @ 1:07AM
IN THE NEWS:
1. The Earthquake that hit Japan
2. The outrageous news of "Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor in Libya accused of making false claims of torture have pleaded not guilty to charges of slander" on BBC earlier this evening.
3. The documentary of the worst building collapse in South Korea on "Seconds from Disaster", which I watched today on National Geographic Channel.

Commentaries on the next post. Too tired to think. I'm so sleepy. :/

I spent two hours on a downloading frenzy. I will post the playlist later. I've already created two new playlists. HURRAYYY! :)

Monday, July 16, 2007

I wrote this a month (or more) ago. And I'm echoing my thoughts again because this is just what I feel.

"I realized only now that it's hard to start a new phase in your life when you don't even know where to begin. When you finally know where to begin it becomes hard to do so because you get weary of the time and effort that are involved into getting there."

And I'm grumpy. I was grumpy the whole day.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Chillin' (hehe) On a Friday

It's so cold outside! I can feel it from the opened windows. Isn't it lovely? The weather is cool! Finally, it's cool. But it's a bit hard to appreciate the cold rainy days that have settled over the Philippines especially when there are news of flooding, destroyed crops, and mudslides all over.

I can't believe it's Friday already. I'm hoping tomorrow I could do walking and picture taking at U.P. Diliman but that was before I realized it might rain again tomorrow. I used to love rainy days back when I had to go to school but now that I'm always home on weekdays, I yearn for more sunny days so I can do what I want on weekends. Rainy days are only good for movie dates or indoor (window or otherwise) shopping. Also, rainy days are good when you have a good book to stick your nose onto as you listen to the rain drizzle outside your bedroom window. Isn't it nice to snuggle under your comforter all day and then fall asleep to the singing of the rustling of leaves from the wind outside? I used to love that especially in college when I have to wake up really early for a class and then the news announces that classes have been suspended. That was the best feeling ever.

Now I want to go to Books for Less and see if I can score really good but cheap books. There's one nearby. I might check it out tomorrow. I haven't read in a long time although I already pulled out "The Catcher in the Rye" from my bookshelf the other day after going to Pat's blog. Rainy days are good for catching up on reading.

I think I'll go and make myself a cup of hot Milo now.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Remembering Senior Year

For senior year high school, I was a newbie in a small school nearby. I was just going to spend one year there so I did not feel any attachment whatsoever. All I wanted was to be with my original high school friends (from PIPS) and I was still getting over the big move. Senior year in a new school was the toughest because while my new batchmates were preparing themselves to say goodbye for college, I was adjusting to the new environment-- new school, new friends, new home and all. I don't think a lot of people know this but I was depressed a lot during those adjustment days. My mother caught me crying once and asked if I wanted to go back to the Emirates. In between tears, I told her that I was going to be fine but secretly, I knew that moving back to the Emirates with my father was going to be tough because I've already brought ALL my things here to Manila and after all that trouble we went through Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (it was DECS then, Commission on Higher Education now) just to let me study for my senior year here? No thanks. I'll stay.

Making friends were okay. I made friends right away but I always had that insecurity that all of them already had peer groups while I was a "butterfly" moving from one group to the next. I felt like I didn't belong to any of them because there was no emotional/sentimental attachment there. A lot of my batchmates were nice, thank goodness. But it was the academic part that gave me a hard time. The adjustment took its toll on my academics particularly in science and math. But I did try my best to adjust to the new ways/system of my school and although I still did not do good in math, I did fairly well in my science subjects.

It was after joining extra curricular activities when I started to loosen up and feel like there was something in this school fo me. My Technical Writing teacher invited me to join the school paper after she read an essay in one of our quarterly examinations. With bright red ink, she commented on my essay and invited me to join the staff. It was so much fun being a part of the school paper-- we joined distrcit press conferences and attended writing workshops. My weekends were spent with the school paper people and it felt great. My Speech teacher and adviser also listed me as a contestant for an extemporaneous speech contest. I was so shocked that she entered in the contest. I wanted to melt in shame and hide under a rock to hibernate so that I'll be able to avoid the whole ordeal but she assured me that I'd be fine. So I went and during the elimination rounds I even came out in first place. THAT WAS A SHOCK TO ME, really. I remember preparing a long-ass speech but when my turn came... I faced the judges and my mouth went try. Then my mouth took over and WHAM! It was over. I was first place. During the finals, though... mental block and stage fright go to me. But it was a fun experience.

There was also the journalism congress in school where I won after joining the editorial and features categories. It was a great way to cope with all the pressure from the big change.

I became close to people like Ina, Aby, and a couple more Harry Potter geeks like like Hana! I remember we'd huddle our little heads together and gush about the latest installment of Harry Potter. We'd talk about characters in books as if they were real people who existed in real life. It was hilarious. Very geeky but very fun because all of us shared the same interests.

Yesterday after coming home from the movies (I watched Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix with Alej), I received mail from Hana (my fellow book/Harry Potter geek):

hi gail!=) i just have to share this with you..i've just seen the 5th installment of hp awhile ago and i remembered, nay, felt that highschool-hp nostalgia (it was during the last part when voldemort's penetrating harry's mind and harry was fighting him with occlumency)..*sniff* ina, you and me talking in a small huddle about the book and the very 1st film..haay, sappy me..

anyway..we're still kids at heart anyway..or at least sometimes! take care..=)


And yes, I do remember those days. GOOD TIMES! And yes, I do remember the first Harry Potter movie we watched. Mary Joy, Hana, Ina, and I all piled up into Ina's van and we went to Powerplant to watch Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. We were all excited and after the movie we couldn't stop talking about it. Even in class the following morning, we still had a major hang over from the movie especially Ina who kept imitating Harry Potter and Hermione from the movie.

So yes, my first and last year in my old high school was quite eventful and I made the most out of that bad situation I was supposedly in. I haven't seen any of my old high school friends from that school yet but I'm pretty sure I'm going to see them soon because right now I miss them.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Writer's Block?

I feel like deleting this blog because I think it's shallow. SHALLOW. But I've kept this blog for ages now and there's a sentimental feeling attached to holding on to it. I want to create a new one where there's more "writing" than random gibberish. I took out the new layout and replaced it with this minimalist skin because I don't want my blog to be all about design when it should be the outlet of my writing.

"Writing" has become such a foreign word for me. I wish I still knew how to write. I wish I had significant things to say and not just narrate the things I do in daily life. This blog has become an outlet of my insignificant rants.

I think this blog has become a sad blog. And I am a sad blogger because I have ran out of significant things to write about.

I pray to God this is just a phase.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

New Skin

Yey! A new skin for the blog. I already fixed the bugs that was keeping from Internet Explorer to view the blog. It looked weird on IE and okay on Firefox. But that's over now because I finally fixed it. Yessss. Haha, dork.

I'm hungry. My father and my sister aren't home from work yet.

I will write a longer blog when my tummy is re-filled.

Saturday, July 7, 2007

mag excercise tayo! okay?

I spent this day with my parents again and did the same routine-- hospital and then the meatshop! Hah! My doctor's visit was okay especially after he told me that I have the right Body Mass Index (BMI)-- meaning, my weight is normal for my height. In college, I was overweight a couple of pounds. A few hospital trips later, I lost the weight. He also said I'm hypertensive after checking my blood pressure and my previous records at his clinic so he prescribed me maintenance medicine for two weeks (two tablets a day, daily). I should monitor the blood pressure three times a day too and then come back two weeks after to see if I'm okay. He was more alarmed by my hypertension at a young age than the blood sugar count because there is a reason why I have hypertension and we don't know that yet. Thus, the observation for two weeks. He said I should watch what I eat and EXCERCISE if I don't want diabetes to blow over because if I get it this early, I'm going to have to take insulin. We all know that I don't want this to happen. Watching my mother inject herself with insulin everyday is enough.

So I'm going to try very hard to live a healthy lifestyle and yes, excercise is a must. I have to learn to excercise because my doctor says it's the best solution for managing pre-diabetes and hypertension. Dieting isn't an option because he thinks my weight is already okay. He said it would've been easier to just say "lose weight!" if I were overweight-- it helps lower the blood sugar. But the only solution now is to watch out and after two weeks we'll see what happens. I just might enroll myself at a gym or continue boxing. But I need someone to go with. I might ask Alej to accompany me-- we could go boxing, work out at the gym or go jogging at U.P. Diliman every weekend. I really want to stay fit!

We're already in July. Next month is my birthday and after that Mama and Papa are leaving for Brasilia, Brazil. The trip is going to take 3 days! How long is that! There are actually two ways to get there-- via U.S. or via South Africa. Papa took the Kuala Lumpur-Cape Town- Buenos Aires route so they'll be staying overnight in Argentina and then finally Brazil. I'm envious. It's kind of sad especially if they'll be gone for a long time. Oh well, we're going to see each other anyway during vacations. I'm pretty excited for them because Brazil, yey! Awesome. I want to visit!

Now I'm sleepy. It's a gloomy Saturday. It doesn't even feel like Saturday, it feels like Sunday. Saturday is usually the busy day and Sunday the "rest day". I'm back to pajamas because they're cozy and maybe I'll take a nap before my lola's birthday dinner. I'm supposed to meet up with college friends at Greenbelt for Paolo's homecoming but my parents strictly commanded us to be home because it's mommy's (my grandmother) birthday celebration. My sister is at a wedding, though so she's not here.

I'm eating taho because at the meatshop Tito Lynn was eating taho from a humongous plastic container. All that humongous taho for just 20 pesos. Haha!

Good night. :P

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Cheap Thrills

I feel bare without a watch or a bracelet. I feel bare with nothing on my wrists so when I was in such a hurry a few days ago because Alej was already waiting for me downstairs, I forgot to grab my watch and bracelet. So when I left the house with bare wrists, I was on a mission to buy bracelets. Cheap bracelets.

When we got to Ortigas, I saw this store called "Vente" outside Shangri La mall beside LBC where we dropped off some stuff. Just when I was about to pay for my bracelets, I looked around the store and look what I found:





It's a rubber duckie keychain and a small brush (with pan haha) to clean my laptop's keyboard. I've been putting it off for a while-- cleaning the keyboard. I was supposed to buy one of those paintbrushes at a hardware store but they're too expensive. This brush is for just 20 pesos. They keychain too because the store is called "Vente". Everything is 20 pesos!

And yes, that's a Harry Potter: The Order of Phoenix book. I'm on a mission to finish it before the movie comes out. I never watch a Harry Potter movie without reading the book first.

What's your cheap thrill? Finding cool places like this is FUN.

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

I Want To Tell My Story

"To understand oneself is a form of liberation-- an emancipation from uncomfortable conditions that hamper the human spirit. It cannot be measured. To understand oneself is the first step to being happy and to live life to fullest."


I've written about this before but I'll write about it again but I'm telling a different story.

I have a heart condition called Mitral Valve Prolapse. It's not a disease. It's just a condition but there are certain abnormalities that I have to deal with like shortness of breath, tired even if I'm at rest, or panic attacks that happen sometimes. It is hard when shortness of breath occur and panic attacks follow because people look at me dazed and I am pretty sure that some think that my complaint of not being able to breathe properly is all in my mind.

I have to understand what goes on with my body right? So I've been reading (AGAIN).

People with mitral valve prolapse seem somehow to be wired differently. Their autonomic response can be much more volatile and unstable, as if set on hair-trigger, so that normal stresses and surprises set off an exaggerated response, flooding their systems with stress hormones called the catecholamines. In fact, there may not be a specific stressor—autonomic fluxes may occur unpredictably like internal weather changes. In some ways this could be defined as a catecholamine disorder. The principal catecholamines are epinephrine and adrenaline. People with mitral valve prolapse are intermittently and unpredictably awash in their own catecholamines. This leaves them alternately innervated and exhausted—"wired but tired" is a common feeling.


So panic attacks are not psychological, okay?

I experienced the worst panic attack ever early this year. I was too embarassed that I wanted to die. Really. During the last day of pyrolympics at the Mall of Asia grounds there was traffic everywhere. I started feeling a shortness of breath and out of nowhere, I started thinking of bad case scenarios-- what if I keep breathing like this and there's no hospital nearby? what if we get stuck in traffic for a couple more hours and I stop breathing? All those thoughts came rushing into my head and I couldn't breathe properly anymore. I think this was the beginning of a panic attack. I panicked because I thought I wouldn't reach a hospital alive. So Alej's mother kept asking me how I was doing at the backseat. I kept saying I was okay and that it's normal for me to breathe uneasily because it usually goes away. When we reached Taft Avenue on the way to Quezon City, his mother insisted that I went to the Emergency Room of the Manila Doctors Hospital. It was the closest hospital and because she insisted, I went.

If the sympathetic nervous system of a person with MVP is aroused, they can suddenly feel crushing chest pain, with heartbeat racing and pounding. They may begin to hyperventilate, feel short of breath, and break out into a cold sweat. Certain people with mitral valve prolapse sometimes experience this with no apparent warning or immediate threat. There can be sensations of chest pain, a feeling of doom or detachment, a fear of dying, or a desire to flee. If you don’t know why this is happening, the symptoms themselves are scary, and the fear of the unknown can prompt an even greater release of stress hormones, driving you into the kind of meltdown of the autonomic nervous system that we call a panic attack. This is an intense, visceral, and scary experience, and the sensations can easily be confused with those of a heart attack.


And I felt all that. I felt the fear of dying, the desire to flee, and my head was spinning. But I tried to keep calm. I didn't want to go into an emergency room but I did. I obliged. After an ECG and examinations, the attending doctor looked at me with a mocking grin. He said maybe I got too excited watching the fireworks that my heart began to race. For him it was a joke. IT WAS A JOKE. If I had known more that this was normal for a person with a condition like MVP, I would have told him to his face that he would have known that this was normal for MVPers. But he didn't explain to me. He mocked me. I didn't know that there was a scientific explanation, a biological more valid reason why I felt this way. Even if everything were psychological (the panic attack), it was triggered by the heart condition. The nurse commented on my ECG that I was okay and when she asked why I was brought to the ER, she gave me a smirk.

Emergency room physicians see a great number of people who come in believing that they are having a heart attack, when they are actually experiencing a panic attack. Once people experience this, they generally have a persistent fear of having another attack, which puts them on a "hair trigger," ready to respond to the slightest symptoms by releasing the very stress hormones that induce the panic attacks, thus escalating a new attack.


I felt stupid. Crushed. Hurt. Embarassed by everything that happened. The long night that went on and the panic attack was too painful to remember because I felt ashamed for being a burden to my boyfriend's mother (even if she was really nice about the whole ordeal), sister, and Nana. I wanted the earth to swallow me whole because I was embarassed. I really, really was.

But I should have known more. I should have known that this happens and that I shouldn't apologize or feel ashamed if I had this condition since birth and it will probably happen again. It's my body's chemistry.

What saddens me is when people don't understand my condition. I hate looks that say "it's all in the mind" when I say that I can't breathe properly for the fear of them thinking this way. I feel hurt sometimes and frustrated. I know it's probably because they don't feel what is in my body, they don't get shortness of breath, they don't experience panic attacks and all that. But I'm writing this now so in case I know you and this panic attacks happen, you will know that I'm not being a drama queen. IT DOES HAPPEN. I wish people understood more so that they would care more. I wish doctors explained more too. I've learned lately that when a doctor tells you something it is my homework to read up more on conditions/diseases because they won't tell unless they are prodded, asked, or even bothered. Some just rush and give you prescription drugs but they don't tell you the what, why, or how.

It may seem odd that all of these symptoms should be somehow related to a heart abnormality. In fact, it’s not that the mitral valve abnormality causes these other symptoms, but it is a physical trait that is a marker of the underlying condition. The valve abnormality was spotted first, and is the name given to the syndrome, but we are now beginning to be able to identify the underlying problem that is manifested in other ways than the heart murmur. The good news is, once we’ve identified it for what it is, we can effectively manage the condition, and the symptoms.


As I write this, I really want to cry. The symptoms that I feel cannot be understood by people. Sometimes I choose to be silent because I hate being told that "it's all in the mind". I think this therapy will be good for me:

Cognitive therapy—This is the basic ground for the holistic approach to mitral valve prolapse. It’s important for everyone with this condition to seek out a sympathetic or holistic physician who can clearly explain the variety of possible symptoms, confirm that they are not imaginings or hypochondriasis, and provide a program of treatment. If you understand clearly what is happening, you can learn ways to block the feedback loops that can lead to panic attacks or hyperventilation, and break the cycle. By performing a "reality check," you can learn to break the conditioned response you have acquired to your own physical symptoms.

There are a number of books that can help you with meditation and relaxation techniques, and there are centers at some hospitals and clinics that offer courses of instruction. Many people find they benefit from taking yoga classes, which combine peaceful relaxation with physical stretching. Dr. Herbert Benson, founder of the Mind-Body Institute of Harvard Medical School and Deaconess Hospital, has written a useful book on these techniques called The Relaxation Response.


So this is my story. Too bad I only read this now. I would have understood then. I want to let this out because in case I know you, please don't think I'm psychotic, a hypochondriac, or if I'm just making things up. I hope you'd understand and be more sympathetic.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

seize the day

Photos from Alchemy with Revtech:








So I looked at these photos and thought, "Hey, I'm really really happy.". And I genuinely wish my happiness can shine through this blog haha. I want everyone to be happy too!

So I came up with this list:

The best feeling in the world is being at peace with yourself-- letting go of past worries, pain, and finally accepting that the world does what it does and sometimes it is beyond our grasp to make things work our way.

The best feeling in the world is moving out of your comfort zone-- to embrace what better things that are out there and realizing that there are so many sights to see, people to meet, things to do, and beauty to appreciate. In short, the best feeling about moving out of your comfort zone is realizing that there is more beyond our comfort zones-- there is the entire world out there waiting for you, don't restrict yourself to your room or your house or wherever your comfort zone is. Get out there! Explore, dream, discover (Mark Twain).

The best feeling in the world is meeting new people and making new friends. Like they say, "make new friends and keep the old". One is not necessarily silver and the other gold, though. I beg to disagree. Both are gold, at least in my case.

The best feeling in the world is letting go of being uptight about things that you're not used to. High school was years ago, hello maturity. It's about being versatile and open-minded because the things that you think are right do not necessarily mean the same with other people. What is right or wrong is relative.

The best feeling in the world is not to care too much (sometimes). "Dont Sweat the Small Stuff", a self-help book said. Oh yes, it's true. Sometimes the most trivial things can tick us off but isn't it tiring to be angry, worried, or bitter sometimes? It's exhausting. I say: LET GO OF WORRYING AND ENJOY WHAT LIFE HAS TO OFFER.

The best feeling in the world is knowing that you are unique. "What makes you different makes you beautiful", said a Backstreet Boys song (yeah, laugh all you want).

The best feeling in the world is knowing that there is a Higher Being out there looking after us. It gives us hope to believe in someone that is the source of our strength.

The best feeling in the world is being passionate about things that interests us or hobbies to divert our attention from stress.

There is more but I'll update the list...

Lastly, the best feeling in the world is counting these best things. Try it! It's a good feel-good therapy. :)

Monday, July 2, 2007

He Knows How to Get Through Me

Yesteday I was lazy to go to church. I know it's apalling to admit that you don't want to hear mass. But I did go upon much prodding from both my parents. And you know what? It always, always happens-- just when I need God to talk to me, He does! This time it was through the priest's sermon. This is why I love going to church-- I find peace there especially after mass and then there's an unusual lightness. Yesteday I prayed for strength and strength was what I got.

I don't think I should be sad anymore. I know for a fact that there is a right time for everything and his plans are always greater than my dreams so I surrender my all.

Dear Lord, this pain inside me
Tears me apart
And Lord the more it hurts
The harder my heart

Oh, in my darkest hour
Your love comes shining through
Your word is true and You make all things new
And I know You're all I need
You say You're here and You calm my fears
And i know You'll never leave

Dear Lord, my heart is breaking
Breaking in two
And Lord my spirit's torn and
Crushed without You

Higher than the stars that shine
And deeper than the sea
Is my Savior's precious love
Your love has set me free
Set me free
-Dear Lord, Sonic Flood

Sunday, July 1, 2007

I feel like updating

I love my weekends because it's the time when I go out and have fun. You see, I am stuck at home 5 days a week on weekdays (I work at home) so it's always refreshing to go out. Unless Alej kidnaps me on a weekday to run errands and then we watch a movie or eat dinner after.

On Friday night my sister and I caught Elizabethtown on tv. That movie is AWESOME. Hands down to Kirsten Dunst for picking good movies. Really, really, good movies. I love her. I officially love her she's a great actress! You have to watch it because if you like movies that are narrated in a first person point of view, you'll like this. I like books and movies narrated in first person. There's something about listening to people's thoughts. This movie is heartwarming and moving. I haven't felt like this for a while when I feel the need to list down lines that I feel that I could relate to the most. I wanted to hug the tv. Haha dork. But really, I can't gush enough how I love it. Even my sister thinks so too! I knew I'd like it because a few days ago I caught the last few minutes of it and I thought, "Oh hey, I think this is a good movie. Sayang di ko nasimulan." And then it was shown again. We are meant to be. I need to buy a dvd of this movie because it's definitely a favorite.

Here are a few memorable lines:

Claire Colburn: To have never taken a solitary road trip across country? I mean everybody's got to take a road trip, at least once in their lives. Just you and some music.

Chuck Hasboro: Death and life. And death and life. Right *next door* to each other! There's like, there's a hair between them.

Drew Baylor: Because we have a moment here, let me tell you that I have recently become a secret connoisseur of 'last looks'. You know the way people look at you when they believe it's for the last time? I've started collecting these looks.

Drew Baylor: There's a big difference between a failure and a fiasco.

Claire Colburn: Trust me. Everyone is less mysterious than they think they are.

Hollie Baylor: All forward motion counts.

Claire Colburn: I want you to get into the deep beautiful melancholy of everything that's happened.

Hollie Baylor: It takes time to be funny. It takes time to extract joy from life.

Claire Colburn: Sadness is easier because its surrender. I say make time to dance alone with one hand waving free.

Drew Baylor: In that moment, I knew success, not greatness, was the only god the world served.

Drew Baylor: You know, there is nothing greater than deciding in your life that things maybe really are black and white! And this guy Ben, who clearly takes you for granted, who serially takes advantage of you, is bad! And what I'm saying is good! See what I mean? You shouldn't be the substitute for anybody. This guy should be right here, right now, doing this
[kisses Claire]
Drew Baylor: .

Drew Baylor: No true fiasco ever began as a quest for mere adequacy. A motto of the British Special Air Force is: 'Those who risk, win.' A single green vine shoot is able to grow through cement. The Pacific Northwestern salmon beats itself bloody on it's quest to travel hundreds of miles upstream against the current, with a single purpose, sex of course, but also... life.

Hollie Baylor: I was still waiting for everything to start, and now it's over.

Claire Colburn: I'm going to miss your lips. And everything attached to them.

Claire Colburn: So you failed. You failed, you failed, you failed... You failed. You failed, you failed, you failed...

(text written on a cloth above the stage): If it wasn't this... it'd be something else.

Phil DeVoss: I am ill-equipt in the philosophies of failure.


Okay enought gushing about Elizabethtown. JUST BE SURE TO WATCH IT!

So yesterday I was supposed to see the doctor-- my mother's endocrinologist and diabetes doctor. But after forcing myself to wake up (yes, the imaginary kick is always a prerequisite to get me out of bed), I showered quickly only to find out that the doctor was out. Good thing my mother called the clinic. My father insisted that I went with him and Mama to the hospital anyway because Mama had her appointment as well and we we were going to the meatshop. I had fun spending time with my folks. We went to the meatshop and hung out at the office, chatted with relatives in the states, and then had lunch at a nearby restaurant. Alej met me there afterwards. We went home and then a few hours later we were at Shang in-line for tickets to watch Transformers.

The movie is AWESOME! Spielberg is a genius. The effects were realistic. I like how the transformations of the robots from cars to robots were so vivid that it's almost real. ANG GALING. We had front row seats because all the seats were taken. It's so hard to watch because the screen is too huge but it was fun nevertheless. Then we met up with Alej's friends at Starbucks, Silvercity. We moved to Alchemy lateron, which was the original plan. It was fun. Since it was Ibiza night they played house music that's good for chilling, dancing, and just enjoying the company of friends. Eugene bought free blue margaritas for the ladies and it made my tongue and lips blue. I think I resembled a cold corpse. But it was yummy, better and sweeter than the one at Gerry's. I bet the frozen one tastes yummier. But no more blue margaritas for me, just the ordinary one because they color the mouth.

What a great way to spend the weekend. Friends, music, good movies, and a smile on my face. At least I forgot past worries. We live, we learn. Shit happens but the good always outnumber the bad. Don't you agree?