Talk of interviews and visa approvals

We are conducting more interviews tomorrow to find a suitable replacement for BLG (he's getting assigned to a different department). It's been slow-going. We started two weeks ago. One shows promise though, I hope she does well on the exam. We have two more to screen tomorrow.

I hope they find someone before the end of this month. I'll only be gone for a week but the work will definitely pile up and loads of files will be delayed. I actually couldn't care less; I'm going to Melbourne! It's my sister's wedding on the 30th. That's two sisters married off in one year. I wonder how my dad feels. Actually I do know. He said I can wait till next year to get married. Hehe funny man, yeah right. I am finally relieved of the not-so-quiet pressure of producing offspring and manipulative little devils pretending to be adorable tottering little grandchildren. My sisters can sort that out among themselves. I'm free.

My visa's valid for a year too. Woohoo. Such a brief visit but I'm looking forward to it. Even though I haven't a thing to wear yet.

I don't have a dress for the wedding. Grah it's just one after another, isn't it?

Fool in the rain

Wet adventure earlier this evening! I had a big ass ham sandwich in the afternoon so when it came time for my dinner break, I still felt full. So instead I decided to go over to the park two blocks away and catch up on some reading. It was a pleasant walk from the office, the sky was clear, the air cool. There were a few noisy kids around, which I don't mind for two minutes tops, so finding the place where I would be least disturbed became a very serious task indeed. Realizing that all the best spots were already taken, I made a mental pout before resigning myself in one of the unoccupied benches. I had finished reading a couple of pages when I felt something damp pelt me on my shoulder. For one horrible second, I thought some bird was being cheeky. I was relieved to find that it was only a big fat raindrop. I can handle a little bit of rain. But then bigger and fatter drops followed. I got up to look for another place and found a bench with a tree providing a bit of shade.

It wasn't enough.

No sooner had I sat myself down on the bench than the deluge began. I sought shelter a few steps away and found myself with other unfortunate people, mostly joggers but there was this one odd fellow who reeked of alcohol and the entire time we were there, he looked like he was going to throw up. I felt so bad for him. It rained and lightninged and thundered so hard, it seemed like the sky was ripping itself apart.

It went on for an eternity. Well, when you're cramped in a tiny space with strangers who don't feel like making conversation, every second you spend wishing the rain would stop is a second too long. By this time, the little dry area that we were forced to share was being threatened. I had been due back at the office for 20 minutes already. I took a deep breath and heaved a great sigh at the same time and braved the storm. I was drenched in seconds.

You have to appreciate my lovely black and white art shot (hihi):

What did I tell you? Sheets. It was coming down in sheets.

Embarrassing to enter my building. The lobby was overflowing with stranded people, loads of them corporately dressed men and women waiting patiently for their cars. I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of the glass door. I cringed. My hair was plastered to my face, dark wet marks on my coat, I had my jeans rolled up to show my dripping shoes. They squished with each step I took. Basically if you take a shower and get dressed without towelling yourself dry and then go back because you forgot to rinse out the conditioner in your hair, you would look exactly like I did just then. I could feel the airconditioning numbing my limbs.

I was on my break for nearly two hours. Teehee. So much for the romantic bench reading idea.

Headed straight to the restroom to sort myself out. 15 minutes with the hand dryer did very little to help. I had to explain to about a hundred people why I looked the way I looked before I finally made it to my desk. The supervisor came over to say that I would have to put in extra time because I took so long to get back. I wanted to stab him in the neck with my pencil but I had lost all feeling in my fingers. He's in the right after all, the unfeeling bastard. For the next two hours, I sat at my desk with my toes frozen stiff and my teeth chattering.

I'm home now, all showered and in clean and, more importantly, dry clothes. Warm and toasty in bed. All is forgotten and I'm excited to dream.

Scared

I scare very easily but I love horror stories. Once in highschool, my classmates and I were sharing ghost stories and when I grew too frightened, I had to cry to make them stop. I've gone inside a carnival haunted house, screaming myself hoarse and nearly peeing my pants in terror. And rendering my friend's boyfriend's shirt unwearable. I don't know why I love going to the cinema to watch gory films. And I really do watch too. I don't shut my eyes or put my hands on my ears. Instead I'll concentrate on the story and scream bloody murder throughout the entire thing.

Every couple of years I'll get these periods of morbid and intense curiosity about murderers and their shocking crimes. The unsolved cases are usually the worst simply because they are still out there. I find it absolutely riveting. I'll read in bed, just before I go to sleep. Don't ask me why. Sometimes there are pictures of the crime scenes. More often than not, there will be photos of the killer or suspect and of the victim usually looking really happy. I'll read about the events leading up to the grisly killings and I'll be terrified. And I can't stop. Gripping and suspenseful, I love it. I understand that it is somewhat of an unhealthy obsession but only now am I beginning to worry that it might be developing into a serious condition.

I've been reading about gruesome murders all this week and I had to force myself to stop reading yesterday because I've been having trouble sleeping. I've never suffered from insomnia but I'm completely spooked that I dread going to sleep. So I leave my light on and keep the television tuned in to something corny and funny. Last night, I nearly cried because I couldn't find a happy program. I was so upset. The channels I surfed through seemed to contain nothing but scenes of people killing and dying or engaging in violence of some sort.

Yes friends, I finally decided it was enough and have been trying to resume normalcy but I'm struggling. I've since occupied myself with reading about Japan's new baby boy, getting over my disappointment about Suri Cruise not looking like an alien baby (but wondering why she looks Asian), giggling over Paris Hilton getting refused entry to a club reducing her to tears (hihi), watching the interview with the Austrian teenager who was abducted when she was 10 and finally escaped after 8 years and being sad of the crocodile guy's death by stingray (Steve Irwin, you'll be missed!). I carefully avoided the newslink about the severed heads found in Mexico. But I'm so curious!

Yet none of them have been absorbing enough for me get over my irrational fear of getting hacked to pieces while I'm peeing. I normally walk to my stop after work and my usual route has been disturbed because I'm too petrified to walk past the poorly lit park. I think that there are way too many bushes in that area. I have to wash my face or rinse my hair of shampoo with my eyes open, enduring the stinging soap suds. I figure, better that than opening my eyes and having the little boy from The Grudge suddenly appear at my leg. That movie was, by far, the one that most affected me. I've never felt so violated by a storyline, I'm used to the horror movie formula where everything is pretty much dictated by a clear narrative. But damn, the ghosts in that movie cheated! Appearing in all sorts of places. You're supposed to haunt the general area of your death, not wander around and show up on buses or in stairwells. You have no business being there. I was so shaken afterwards when my friends and I left the cinema, we had moved off to one side so they could talk about it, that I was reduced to whimpering and rubbing the goosebumps off my arms. This lady appeared out of nowhere (to be fair, she was only walking past us) and sneezed! I was so rattled that I turned round and screamed obscenities at her. I apologized profusely when I realized what I had done and she walked away looking back at me like I was crazy. Huhuhuhuhu.

And now, I eagerly await The Black Dahlia because I'm familiar with the story. Huhu I still remember reading about how Elizabeth Short's body (pieces?) looked when it was found. Why do black and white photos look so much more sinister? I know it will be best if I refrain from seeing the film but I won't be able to resist.

Help me.

The Turkish delight

BLG arrived from Istanbul last weekend and came to work bearing gifts. Turkish delights, locally called lokums, according to him. They're yummy! He had so many stories and it was lovely to hear about what he'd been up to. He absolutely loved the city and wished he'd had more time. Everything was perfect, he said, until his last night when, on his way back to his hotel, he ran into this dignified looking businessman who started chatting him up. They found they had a lot of things in common and even conversed in German, to BLG's delight. The businessman, Hassan his name was, invited him for a drink at a "family bar" he owned close by after regaling him with tales about his wife and four kids. BLG agreed since it was his last night anyway and he was having such a good time. So off they went to this charming neighborhood. Turns out the "family bar" was an underground nightclub. And Hassan didn't own it like he said. BLG started feeling confused and uncomfortable and thought of taking his leave when Hassan sat them down and started ordering all kinds of stuff. After a few minutes, BLG said it was getting late and that he had to go. As he was getting up to leave, the manager came over and showed him the bill. BLG said Hassan told him he was paying but Hassan denied it. BLG couldn't make a run for it because he was flanked with waiters, the manager and Hassan on all sides. It was all incredibly organized. He had no cash on him and they looked inside his wallet to confirm and found he had credit cards inside and told him to pay with one. Faced with no other option, he negotiated the price down (the bill was over 40k) with the little Turkish that he'd picked up during the week and they seemed delighted with him enough. Hassan agreed to pay for half of the bill. When they settled everything, Hassan walked him out to get him a cab.

BLG got back to his hotel, thankfully without incident, sat on his bed for a very long time trying to process what had just happened to him before finally going to sleep. He said that was the only thing horrible about his trip to Turkey. Then he talked about the lovely people he met there, which were pretty much everyone else.

So for those of you travelling to Istanbul anytime soon, stay away from "family bars". But do grab a box (or two) of those amazing Turkish delights.

Humbug

Everyone in the Philippines knows that the Christmas season starts in September. Fondly and very unimaginatively referred to as the '-ber months' and one will definitely hear the statement "Berber na!" annoyingly followed by the useless "SeptemBERR OctoBERR NovemBERR DecemBERR", with emphatic relish on the ber syllable, as I have indicated by providing caps and letter doubling. I would have to say that they are, without a doubt, the most annoying statements ever to be recycled into existence annually. It's the first of September and already I have heard these two statements one too many times. I'm neither a very big fan of Christmas nor do I consider myself a bah humbugger (I quite like Carol of the Bells) but for crying out loud, we get it, berber very clever, alright already! Enough! It's not cute!

Who has heard a Christmas carol on the radio today? Let's have a show of hands.

Books: The Panda and its Parody

BLG lent me another book before he left for Istanbul for a conference. It's this one on the left. I'm halfway through it and I don't want to read it anymore. I've been halfway through it for 2 days now, I'm trying my best to finish it but I just can't do it. I guess my best wasn't good enough huhuhu. When I'm not enjoying a book, I usually try to get to the end of it, just so I can say, "There I'm done and I think it's crap, I know because I suffered this monstrosity to its last word". And sometimes good endings make it all worthwhile. I'll never know if I don't keep reading. But I simply just can't do it with this one. It's horrific. When I have this book open, I keep checking how much further I have left to read and I just, well there's just no bloody end to it. I see myself reading nothing else for weeks, and the thought fills me with dread and anguish. It's a parody (see it written on the bottom bit of the cover) of this book on the right. This is the one I really wanted to read especially because BLG explained why its title is what it is, but he couldn't find it. He thinks he lent it to someone who never returned it. Yay I feel so much better now that I've decided to give up on it. I didn't realize I was being oppressed by this shite book.

Elevator stories #1: Elevator action

Nono not the videogame, but now that I've mentioned it, wasn't that game amazing? Hehe I just came across a free download of it. I haven't decided if I want to risk installing it yet.

Anyway that reminds me of my minor mishap earlier this evening. I was coming back to work from my dinner break when I had a bit of a kerfuffle (hehe) stepping off the elevator and onto my floor. I had one foot on my floor and the other inside the elevator when I realized that I could no longer move forward. My right heel had unmistakably sunk into one of the little holes designing (badly, I have to say) the threshold. Not to worry though, I got out of that situation without shaming myself too much. Thankfully I was alone in the lift. Phew. Anyway I guess I retained an overdeveloped sense of respect for elevators from that scary incident when I was 10 (I got stuck between floors and had to force the elevator doors open before I could squeeze myself out), because I did not panic at all. That was surprising. Instead, I calmly placed my hand on one of the door sensors, pulled my right foot out of the stuck shoe, carefully placed two of my toes on either side of the heel base and made sure I had a firm grip before deftly dislodging the heel from the little hole. The guard had noticed my predicament and rushed over but I already managed to extricate my shoe and slip my foot back in it before he could get to me. I flashed him a smile and walked on, feeling triumphant.

That reminds me of this one very humiliating time, not too long ago, when my friends and I were on an escalator and my shoe got stuck at the bottom. I have this horrible habit of not stepping over the vicious teeth. The security guard had to stop the belt motor, steady me (I stood on one leg once we stopped moving), yank my shoe free AND hand it back to me. It was rather frightening. I imagined my foot getting chewed up while the belt fed the rest of my body in and then coming out at the other end all bloody and mangled. But the spectacle had gathered a small crowd of onlookers and I was too embarrassed to entertain such thoughts for too long. So I tried to laugh the whole matter off airily and continued walking in my damaged and misshapen shoe with as much dignity as I could muster.

Expired license

Well. My driver's license has been expired for 2 years now. I went back to the LTO (land transportation office) this morning. Some nice lady explained everything slowly. Apparently I have to go through the process as if applying for a license for the first time. It means the bribing fucker was right: I have to pay the fees, take the tests (both written and driving) and attend a seminar. Hmph. He's still a fucker for attempting to bribe me. But it would be so much easier if I just gave him the money. Huhuhuhu I'll need at least half a day to get all that done. Okay fine I will schedule that errand for next year.

I'm sorry I can't help it

HahahahahahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahaha! Is that Big John?

Hahaha my turn!

I got it from the Stay Funny site.

A long August

I've been really cranky of late. People have been extra annoying and none of my errands have been simple and quick.

This week alone has me all stressed out. Travelling on a Filipino passport is so complicated. Bastards, if the objective is to discourage people from leaving the country...IT'S WORKING. I'm too exhausted to muster even a tingle of excitement. And I LOVE going on trips. I really hope the worst is over for this stupid visa application, but the way things have been going for me lately, I wouldn't be surprised if more problems arise.

But there are things here that make you realize why people subject themselves to these stringent and sometimes humiliating procedures, only to become second class citizens elsewhere. We're trying to get away from each other.

I tried to get my license renewed earlier this week. I had all the documents with me, but the guy at the counter informed me that I needed to apply for a new license and ignored me when I asked why. The new license involved going to seminars, taking tests and attending lectures. Without batting an eyelash, he then said that he could sort everything out himself, save me a bit of time, and all I needed to do was pay him the fees. Which amounted to nearly 4 times the renewal fee. Sounded downright dodgy to me. The fucker was trying to bribe me and it was tempting. Hand him the cash, get my license. Sounds like a good idea. Quick and painless and I'd be free to run my other errands. No sweat. Sure, loads of people do it. Anything goes in Manila, that's what makes it so exciting. That and the unsafe wiring, but I'll save that for another entry.

I left. I'll just have to find someone who will do things properly and process me a license renewal, what I actually need.

The thing is, I like to complain about how corrupt government institutions can be sometimes, how corrupt some politicians are and how corrupt some cops are. But if I had agreed to do things that fucker's way, that would have made me corrupt as well. And after having done that, continuing to speak against the wrongs in Philippine society will just make me what a lot of people these days are: a hypocrite.

Stop cutting corners assholes! No wonder it's so hard to get into other countries. People don't want us contaminating them with our indecent ways. Be selfish cunts if you must, but please leave the rest of us out of it, because you're dragging us down with your baseness!

Huhu chrismiss is not merry. This is going to be a full blown rant if I don't end this post now. I know what I need, I need a nap. Because naps are gooooood.

Waywards

The britbrats are coming back to Manila tomorrow. It's been three weeks since they took the ferry to Palawan. I think. Well something like that. Anyway, they're coming back from Bohol now. I suppose they're ferrying back since they were already very poor when they set off in the first place. While they were away, I texted them every couple of days just to check on them, so I knew that they were still alive and hadn't drowned or had anything untoward happen to them, like get eaten or rammed in the head by bamboo floaters of fishing boats. I'm pretty much their caretaker here and while I don't want to be overprotective, I feel somewhat responsible for their well-being while they're here. For some reason, Char knows when I'm particularly apprehensive about certain decisions they make and subtly takes the piss every so often. To be fair, we're kind of fun-mean to each other, I think that's why we get along so well. It's a bit wrong, but we both enjoy ourselves too much when I pretend to be her maid when we're going around malls and other crowded places. Hehe it's fun, especially when she pretends to scold me and I walked behind her apologizing in broken English. You should see the scandalized looks people give us! Evil white girl mistreating her brown slave. PRICELESS!

So anyway, she texted me early this morning. Messages in Tagalog.

Babalik ako sa manila bukas! May sa bohol ako. Tatawag ako. Sige.
(I'm returning to Manila tomorrow! There is in Bohol me. I will ring. Okay.)

Not bad, actually, I replied to her first message saying I was suitably impressed. But she doesn't mention Oli so I inquired about him. My heart skipped a beat when I read this second one, but I've since recovered and think I find it funny now.

O, namatay ho yata siya malapit dito, pagsisisid :( huwag ko malaman. Huwag kang balisa naiintindihan ko ho. hah.
(Yea, he died near here, diving :( don't me to know. Don't be ??? I understand. Hah.)

I really hope I see Oli alive and in one piece tomorrow.

Oh and does anyone know what balisa means? Is it 'troubled'?

Morans

HahahahahaahahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahahahahahahahaha

Planets

That's not what I was taught!

I found this distressing piece of news here.

That's enough news for today.

Got the sehr gut

Haha! I'm lovely. I DID get the sehr gut (explained in the last bit of this entry). Hah I had nothing to worry about after all.

This morning, I set off from home earlier than usual so I could go over to the german institute before work and enroll myself in the next class. Well not much earlier, I had about 20 minutes to spare since it took me awhile to get up, I was really sleepy from a late night and had to snooze my alarm 3 times before reluctantly getting out of bed. I'm known to be a big zombie in the mornings and I've gotten used to giving myself enough time to wake up properly. Otherwise my brain will refuse to be functional for the rest of the day.

Anyway, like I said, I had 20 minutes to enroll and then walk and get to work on time. Everyone seemed to be moving extra slowly, as they usually do when you're in a rush, as if deliberately trying my patience. My semi-stalker (SS) was there checking out the film collection with his back to the entrance, the counter I was meant to go to was next to him. So there I was standing in line, trying to remain unnoticed but the guard was being really solicitous and had me sign in and asked me what my name was and what I needed. Not wanting to announce my presence to SS, I mumbled in response. Mr Guard asked me to repeat myself. I did. He then asked me to speak up. Ugh. Finally SS turned round and said hello how are you and we small-talked. He's nice, but I was in a hurry. There was another student ahead of me in the queue who was going about his enrollment in a dilatory manner, and I was on the verge of bellowing MOVE IT, BITCH but then he finally pocketed his receipt and shuffled off. How lucky he was mwaha.

So it was my turn. I was trying to speed through the process but the girls behind the counter were having fun and a lot of girly tittering was going on. I appreciated that as much as I could, half-giggling and looking at my phone clock at the same time. The nice lady finally got my student card out and chattered away in German. I tried to follow as much as I could, replying in English when I did understand her.

"Hi I'm here to enroll in German 5 but I was wondering if I passed the final exam?"

"Sie haben (this bit was too fast)."

"Sorry huh? What did I get?"

"Hey you should be speaking in German, you're in level 5 now."

"I know I know."

"You got a 1. Sehr gut."

"A 1? Are you sure?" (incredulous)

"Ja. Sie sind Chris --, Deutsch 4?"

"Yes yes that's me. I got a sehr gut?"

"Yes you did. Now speak german."

And with my imperfect tongue, I butchered the damn language.

Going home

Israeli troops have started moving out of Southern Lebanon. Yay.

Weather update: Another rainy week

How depressing. Just when I thought we were going to get at least three days of sunshine, Katring comes round.

GALE WARNING NO. 10
For Strong Winds Associated with the Southwest Monsoon
Issued at 5:00 a.m., Today, 15 AUGUST 2006
THE SURGE OF STRONG WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOUTHWEST MONSOON IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE WESTERN SEABOARDS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LUZON AND THE WESTERN SEABOARD OF VISAYAS. THE SEABOARDS OF MINDORO AND SCARBOROUGH AND THE WESTERN AND EASTERN SEABOARDS OF VISAYAS WILL EXPERIENCE MONSOON RAINS. WHILE THE WESTERN AND EASTERN SEABOARDS OF MINDANAO WILL HAVE ISOLATED RAINSHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS OF 40 TO 65 KPH (22 TO 35 KNOTS) ARE EXPECTED AND SEA CONDITIONS WILL BE ROUGH TO VERY ROUGH WITH WAVE HEIGHTS OF 2.5 TO 5.0 METERS.

FISHING BOATS AND OTHER SMALL SEACRAFTS ARE ADVISED NOT TO VENTURE OUT INTO THE SEA WHILE BIGGER SEACRAFTS ARE ALERTED AGAINST MODERATE TO HIGH WAVES. WATCH FOR THE NEXT UPDATE TO BE ISSUED AT 5:00 PM TODAY

From PAGASA as usual.

A novel: Diary by Chuck Palahniuk

So far I've read about 3 days of the story and it's promisingly disturbing. I'm trying to contain my glee although I know I shouldn't be excited about anything written by him, especially since his short story Guts rendered me ill. I'm not joking, I actually had to put the book down in mid-read to wait for the nausea to pass. Diary seems to be a short read, it's quite a skinny book, but with so many things I have to sort out this month (I may have to fly to Melbourne at the end of September), I doubt I'll have enough solitude time to be able to enjoy it. I shall have to postpone its reading till I can give it my undivided attention. I'll look for Fight Club if I like this one.

Der Aufschnitt, das Brot und die Bücher

My classmates and I survived! The final exam was this morning and for once I arrived on time. Greg, our teacher, made us do so many things! Well to be fair, he had nothing to do with the exam items, but still he handed the papers out. Grammar questions, listening and reading comprehension items, we even had to write a letter! Hihi it was fun. I'll ring the institute for the results later this week but, alas, I do not think it is a sehr gut for me this time. Quite right really, I was rather delinquent. But apparently, according to some of my classmates, there were some items on the test that we had not covered. And I thought all along that I had just missed one too many classes. Very tragic. I have to say I'm a little disappointed in myself. Anyway I shall strive to do better come German 5. It starts in two weeks!

After the exam, we had a class party! Students from other classes left straight after their exams. Dullards. Check out our food! One of our classmates organized everything, she did a fine job! Everyone else put in a hundred pesos each. I'm pretty sure the whole thing cost a lot more than what was pooled together. I was so delighted with the food presentation that I took photos. Several kinds of cold cuts and cheeses and slices of the right type of bread: a nice and crusty shell and the inside soft and warm! So nice! Don't forget the mustard and sauerkraut dips.

All in all, very very yummy. It wasn't long till we were all fat and bloated from stuffing our faces in. Oh yeah there were chocolates too (I helped myself to one little bar) and red wine, of which I had none (it was Carlo Rossi, after all). We happily chatted away until it was time to go.

After that, I was so full that I decided to walk with one of my classmates to her bus stop. From there, it was about a block away from Greenbelt. If you're in Manila and you can't get enough of books, head on over to any Powerbooks branch. They're on sale all this month. Hurry, while supplies last! Hihi. I finally got a copy of the Murakami book I mentioned earlier this week, yay what great timing, with 20% off its actual price. There were some books I tried looking for but in vain. One had already gone out of stock, another one's cover looked horrible, and another one, strangely enough, was in Spanish.

But all in all, a very yummy day indeed.

Omg

What Lebanon used to look like and what it looks like now

Something needs to be done.

From the New York Times site but I got it from this guy Thomas' blog, he's in Beirut now, his flight was supposed to be on the day Israel bombed the airport.

Why?

Why is it that when you're making slightly more money (in my case, it means my bank account isn't a big zero), you seem less inclined to spend it? Or is that just me? I'm stressing myself out by working round the clock, leaving no room for fun. When friends ask me to go out, I say either I'm busy or I'm too tired. Which is true anyway. But I'm beginning to suspect that I'm developing an addiction to the secret masochistic delight people derive from saying they're too busy or too tired. Like their time is so precious that they can't be bothered with extravagant frivolous things anymore. They're mature and responsible and they have a plan and a purpose, big important ones that give meaning to their lives. I'm sure it's all very good but they just look pompous to me. Meanwhile I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing with this money. It's too little to be used for anything grand anyway. So it stays where it is. I feel guilty if I want to spend my money but then I feel oppressed if I can't even buy myself a treat and I'll feel sorry for myself and this battle plays out in my head over and over again and drives me to exhaustion. On one hand, I like knowing that I am finally capable of making money without spending all of it within days of earning it but on the other hand, the relentless pressure of exercising self-control and keeping a tight rein on my hedonistic tendencies is seriously taking its toll on me. I think it's going to take me some time to deal with this financial immaturity. It is all so so sad.

She's gonna blow!

I lifted some recent photos of the Mayon Volcano from various news sites and have posted them below. If you want to read the articles where I got them, just click on the images and they should link you to the corresponding text.

From Guardian Unlimited.


And another on the National Geographic news website.

This one's from Ottawa Citizen.

---

Articles from local newspapers:

On the Manila Times website:
Mayon evacuation begins highest alert up, eruption expected soon

On the PDI site:
Arroyo targets ‘zero-casualty’ in looming Mayon disaster

A collection of short stories: Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman

Why didn't anyone tell me that this came out?! People, you have a responsibility. When a Haruki Murakami book is released, you don't keep that information to yourself. It's wrong and downright immoral. I didn't even know he was coming out with this. Okay I'll let it slide for now, but next time say something. I was positively despondent for at least two weeks after I finished reading Kafka on the Shore because I knew that that was it, I had read everything he's published that's been translated into English. Aaaargh I need to get to a bookstore quickly! Oh I'm drooling!

Weather update: Inday

She's in the Batanes-Taiwan area right now and heading westward. Woohoo we're in the clear! No wonder rain has been scarce lately and Manila's been hot and sticky the past few days. I'm beginning to find all this weather watching quite exciting, I should like to make a habit of it.

Image taken from PAGASA

Productivity

That's what happened since my last entry. Wow, Procrastination and I are drifting apart, and we used to be so close. I'm not really that sorry, she was a bit of a lazyass anyway. And hello Ms Productivity. She's nice, keeps me in line though a bit of a hardass at times but good company all in all. Hihi I'm freaking myself out.

But yes, I managed my time quite efficiently this weekend. I finished a couple of layouts and made a lot of progress on one of the bigger pending ones, got a much-needed haircut and finished that book I posted about a few entries back (it was awesome although it got kind of tiresome towards the end). And I even had time to go out with friends last Saturday, that was nice. Met some new people and caught up on the latest with old ones at a fashion show at my old workplace, I saw none of it because of all the heads in the way but was informed later in the evening that it was very silly as fashion shows usually are, although some are more delightfully so than others. Good good. This was all after my German class and my own panic-stricken studying (there's so much left to review buhuhu).

A very good friend of mine arrived last weekend too (Hi P! I got your message but have yet to reply to it!). And my sister is arriving this Friday and that will be another busy wedding-planning-specific time.

Very encouraging to read about the 20,000 strong protest march in London last Saturday. And although leaders are still doing a lot of hemming and hawing, at least a draft UN resolution has been made. Let's hope the war in Lebanon ends soon. I received an email from a friend in Israel. He was called for duty last Friday and that he might be sent to the front line in Lebanon the following day. It's all very scary. He was supposed to go to New York next term on an art scholarship. I hope he was right when he said that he thinks the war will be over in a couple of weeks.

Quickie

Busy busy! Mostly with three pending design jobs. Well two, really, but the silent film festival flyer needs revisions. Ay! Poor Paula. And trying to find time to review for German! My final is in two weeks and I still can't retain the little vocabulary I have. I'm going to start panicking soon.

Oh yeah I totally forgot that Char and Oli moved out earlier this week. They should still be on a boat to Palawan now. I think they boarded early this afternoon. 23 hours at sea. Hahaha brave souls, those two.

And to end with a wonderfully random topic, it is World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 to 7. There are articles on, well breastfeeding of course, on the World Health Organization website (WHO). Might be worth checking out if you're interested in learning proper feeding.

A book: The Miracle of Language

I just discovered that my fellow translator at work is a bigger language geek than I am (he's self-studying Romanian and Turkish at the moment, two languages that vaguely fascinated me before but was too distracted at the time to do more than a half-hearted start. I did, however, learn that Dragostea din tei song, otherwise known as the nu ma nu ma iei one. Although I don't know if I should actually be proud of that). Aaanyway, I tried to hold my ground by admitting that I too have tried to self-start on a language, offering a brief summary of my 5-month-long intensive Hebrew learning, in an attempt to quell rising panic because I had just recently graduated and was alarmed (and a little surprised to be honest) to find that I still had no direction in life. Anyway, BLG (bigger language geek) has been kind enough to lend me this book. Yes, it's that picture on the left! It's by a Richard Lederer. I must admit that I have no idea who he is and what he does but I think that he is a good good man. I read the back and I practically squealed, so excited was I about it. Here, you should read the back too! Do it!

Welcome to Richard Lederer's beguiling celebration of language -- of our ability to utter, write, and receive words. No purists need stop here. Mr. Lederer is no linguistic sheriff organizing posses to hunt down and string up language offenders. Instead, join him "In Praise of English," and discover why the tongue described in Shakespeare's day as "of small reatch" has become the most widely spoken language in history:

"English never rejects a word because of race, creed, or national origin. Did you know that" jukebox "comes from Gullah and" canoe "from Haitian Creole?" "Many of our greatest writers have invented words and bequeathed new expressions to our eveyday conversations. Can you imagine making up almost ten percent of our written vocabulary? Scholars now know that William Shakespeare did just that!"

He also points out the pitfalls and pratfalls of English. If a man mans a station, what does a woman do? In the "The Department of Redundancy Department," "Is English Prejudiced?" and other essays, Richard Lederer urges us not to abandon that which makes us human: the capacity to distinguish, discriminate, compare, and evaluate.

Well? Don't tell me that that doesn't just tickle your fancy?! Teehee!

Henry and the Weather

There's another one! This time it's male. I don't know what that means, one of my officemates says that they use a masculine name when the storm is stronger. But this one hasn't been spewing particularly aggressive rains or blowing winds powerful enough to frighten me like Glenda did.

Trusty PAGASA says:

Tropical Depression "HENRY" was estimated based on radar, satellite and surface data at 50 kms west northwest of Casiguran, Aurora (16.5°N 121.8°E) with maximum sustained winds of 55 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 13 kph. Southwest monsoon affecting Southern Luzon and Western Visayas.

So there are in fact two storms raging at the moment, Henry and a yet unnamed one roaming the southwestern region. So for those travelling here, be prepared for a long and wet rest of 2006.

I did some quick research on some terms that PAGASA uses and I just want to know why there are so many names for storm.

So tropical depression, tropical storm, hurricane and typhoon are all tropical cyclones but different terms are used depending on how strong the cyclones are and which place they're hovering over.

The Tropical Cyclone is a warm core low pressure system which develops over tropical, and sometimes subtropical, waters, and has an organized circulation. Depending on sustained surface winds, the system is classified as a tropical disturbance, a tropical depression, a tropical storm, or a hurricane or typhoon.

Tropical Depression

• a mass of thunderstorms and clouds generally with a cyclonic wind circulation of between 20 and 34 knots
• a tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface winds are 38 miles per hour (33 knots) or less

Storm

• any disturbed state of a planet's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather. It may be marked by strong winds, thunder and lightning, heavy precipitation, such as ice
• an atmospheric disturbance manifested in strong winds accompanied by rain, snow, or other precipitation and often by thunder and lightning

Hurricane
aka Typhoon, Tropical Cyclones, Willy- Willies (!)

• tropical storms with wind speeds of 64 knots (117km/h) up to 240 knots (414 km/h) that can be thousands of square kilometers in size
• usually have a lifespan of several days

The Typhoon

• forms in the western Pacific Ocean

This is one more term I like to use a lot because it sounds cool:

The Monsoon

• seasonal shift of winds created by the great annual temperature variation that occurs over large land areas in contrast with associated ocean surfaces
• associated primarily with the moisture and copious rains
• any wind that changes direction with the seasons
• characterized by very heavy rainfall

Basically, they are all the same thing.
---
References: Weather.com, Climate / Weather Terms Glossary, Weather Glossary, Wikipedia and Dictionary.com

A long war

I've been following the war in Lebanon pretty closely and it's devastating to see dozens of horrible images of dead bodies, mostly of children, buildings and homes reduced to rubble and survivors in hospitals with that haunted look in their eyes. I can't pretend it's not going on and obviously like many people, I don't know how to help. All I can do is read about it to remind myself that this is happening to the people of our time. And as much as everyone wants to do something, all our leaders are doing so far is talk and say useless things while people are dying everyday.

Last Friday, Washington Post published A Time to Act, an article written by former Secretary of State Warren Christopher. I thought he pretty much nailed the issue on the head with this piece and he criticized Condoleeza Rice's stance in the matter (she said that there should only be a ceasefire if it is a lasting and sustainable one). This is, and I agree with him completely, what he said should be done instead:

Such a solution is achievable, if at all, only after protracted negotiations
involving multiple parties. In the meantime, civilians will continue to die,
precious infrastructure will continue to be destroyed and the fragile Lebanese democracy will continue to erode.

My own experience in the region underlies my belief that in the short term we should focus our efforts on stopping the killing...

Now obviously it's easier said than done since Israel can't afford to look weak militarily, but calling for a ceasefire now and working it out afterwards is a helluva lot better than dilly dallying around the point. And the point is that people's lives are being destroyed, with hatred sown in the hearts of those who do survive. The Lebanese people are paying for what seems to be a popularity contest between the US and Iran.

He continues to detail his main point so read the rest of the article here.

Another end of the month

I've been plagued by something nasty in my piping for the past week. I had to take two days off work because I was beset with a high fever, vomitting, headaches (either from hunger or dehydration, how does one tell them apart anyway?) and, ahem, diarrhea (hey it happens to all of us!).

Mom says I have gastroenteritis. I stated that proudly earlier this morning to both Paula and Jackie because I have a name for my current condition. But they both drew back and looked like they wouldn't touch me with a ten foot pole. So I am hesitant to say that that's what I have. I'll just go with 'my tummy's a bit delicate at the moment'.

But I'm feeling much much better now. The clinic lady told me which foods to stay away from: fried, oily, dairy products. But those are EXACTLY how I describe my favorite foods! I was very conflicted but in the end I obeyed her. Well for a day. Then the next day the temptation was too great, so I gave in and bought myself some cheetos. Yay! I sure paid for it that same night. But dammit I'd do it again if I had to!

Apart from all that excitement, things are still relatively ho-hum. Well, Char and Oli set out on a trip to Tagaytay last Wednesday and returned with many tales of misadventures, one of which involved Char running up a mountain after a speeding tricycle with Oli still in it. They loved every minute of it.

Anyway so that marks the end of July. Provided that nothing too eventful happens this weekend. Oh and there's monsoon type movement happening in the south of the country. Chances are it's another typhoon. Whoop dee doo.

Hello Glenda

Welcome to the monsoon season. After Florita left, we had about two hours of sunshine stickiness until the next typhoon blanketed the country wet and grey. It has been raining intermittently all weekend. And how. I am the kind of person who likes walking in the rain and marvelling at raindrop behavior on windowpanes and in puddles but it's kinda hard to do that when they're pelting you full in the face making it impossible for you to breathe or see clearly, if at all. It has gotten to the point where I really wouldn't mind a day or two of dryness. Last night's and today's downpour have been so torrential that I'm beginning to worry whether I still have a home to go to later. I've become addicted to PAGASA:

Issued At: 5:00 p.m., 24 July 2006
Synopsis : At 2:00 p.m. today, Typhoon "GLENDA" was estimated based on radar, satellite and surface data at 140 kms northeast of Basco, Batanes (21.2°N 123.0°E) with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 185 kph. It is forecast to move west northwest at 17 kph. Southwest monsoon affecting western sections of Southern Luzon and Visayas.

Sigh. Well there's really not that much to report at the moment except that I had a wonderful and loud Saturday and then a rainy and very quiet Sunday. I'm meeting with C and O later after work. They just got up half an hour ago. They're the laziest tourists ever. Hehe. I'll come back when I've done or discovered something of a more interesting nature. Till then.

Ready Steady Go

I'm EXHAUSTED. I believe that's the first time this job has completely tuckered me out. And there's still a few more files left to be done. But I need to catch my breath.

So catch my breath I will.

Char and Oli arrived from London earlier this afternoon. I think they drove down in a coach from Warwick (where they both attend uni). They'll be going around the Philippines for 7 weeks. I had arranged for a car to pick them up at the airport and take them back to mine. Their flight was delayed. Had a bit of a worry for a minute there waiting to hear from the driver guy saying that everything was alright. But everything's cool. I'm meeting up with them and a few of my friends when I get off work, which is in an hour.

Mom was delighted I finally let her have her cleaning way with my bedroom. I got home and walked into my room last night and thought I was in the wrong place. The pile of dirty clothes on the floor was gone, ALL my books are on the shelf, my closet has space again and there was no trace of the general dusty atmosphere I'd gotten used to. I was not even out of my outside clothes when Mumsy let loose a barrage of questions. How was it possible that my skin allergies were not triggered by the several inch layer of dust under the bed and on the window sill? Why are some of the clothes inside out? Are those oreo cookie crumbs or souvenirs from non human creatures I've gotten friendly with? And so it went. Her eyes sparkled while she waited impatiently for my responses. When she was satisfied, I informed her that I was hungry and jokingly wondered aloud if I could have my dinner in my spotless room. She was indignant and said in a tone that brooked no room for negotiation, no your food will be prepared on the dining table and you will eat it there.

Hehe funny woman my mother. I guess we can call Operation Tumy a smashing success.

Okay I'm off to work some more now and I shall endeavor to post entries regularly for the next month and a half.

It's the end of the world and no, I don't feel fine

We're falling apart! The end is near!

I've been reading the news for the past hour and I have frightened myself to near tears.

From the Java tsunami to the crisis between Lebanon and Israel and how Iran has decided to get involved and how the US will soon too.

And here in the Philippines, the Mayon Volcano is getting ready to erupt. While the locals prepare to evacuate, the tourists are invited to come and watch. This is madness, madness I tell you! Save yourselves!

Placing third and other accomplishments

Guess what? The results of that logo making contest I mentioned here came out this afternoon. I was on break and took too long, as per usual, so I wasn't able to join the scheduled GA. Well I forgot about it actually and was too embarrassed to follow because everyone would have known that I didn't return on time and then they'll start thinking I'm becoming more and more of a liability to the company and eventually I'll get fired, so when I got to my desk, I stayed put. What happens during the general assembly is that all the employees convene and listen dutifully as announcements are made about any upcoming important changes in the company. We have GAs once or twice a month. But every month there is a performance evaluation...and an awards segment sometimes follows the announcements. Basically the teams and individuals who have excelled in their work during the evaluation period (I think the period is 3 weeks long...but I'm prolly making it up) are recognized and receive a piece of paper that says how amazing they are. But more importantly, they get rewarded with money which gets added to their next paycheck. So yes, very exciting indeed. Anyway, everyone eventually returned to their desks and some of them made a point of coming over to congratulate me. I had absolutely no idea what they were referring to since I am but a lowly pseudo-translator and no one cares about any of the translators' individual performances. And although we do qualify for the team evaluation, I doubted very much that everyone decided to single me out for an award that was got as a result of team effort. Apparently, and here it comes, one of my entries got third place in the logo competition. Haha that was a riot! Everyone wanted to see what I had done but I didn't know which one had won and anyway the files are in my comp at home. I think my colleagues were more pleased about the fact that I'd started showing interest in office events and participating voluntarily. The winning entry isn't stellar work but it's definitely a couple of notches above clip art. Any 3 year old's scrawls would be infinitely more interesting than clip art. And while we're on the subject, whoever decided to call it art anyway? But aaanyway, it looks like someone's getting her sports bra wish. Hihihi.

In other news, I'm finally done with one of the designs I've been working on. Paula and I have been revising it for a month now. I think that she'll agree with me that we both feel extremely relieved to know that it's finally done and out of the way. I'm sure you're all galvanized with excitement to see it, so I shan't keep you in suspense any longer:

It's a really interesting event and if you can, do attend one or all of the screenings, as there will be a local music group/artist musical scoring throughout the screening. I would go myself, but I work till 9 pm and all the films start an hour earlier. I've only seen The Cabinet of Dr Caligari and I totally recommend it. Some of you might remember that Red Hot Chili Peppers came out with a music video for Other Side a while back...well the video makes you think that this film had an influence on its cinematography.

So go watch the films! They're screening them this August in SM Megamall, every Thursday (except the first one, meaning August 3 -- unless they do decide to hold a related event on this date...any updates, Paula?). Check it out on the GI Manila site: Silent Film Festival schedule

TBK (The Brothers Karamazov) update: I'm in the middle of Book 3 of Part I. It's getting really juicy. Russian authors really know where it's at.

So yes, I'm feeling extremely pleased with today. And I'm home and in my bed, having the rest of my burger from this afternoon. With soggy fries. Yuuuuuummy!

2:16 am

Ooh I get to bed a few minutes earlier than last night. Well, actually I didn't go to bed until 4 last night...or this morning. I can't remember why, I think I was idling on the internet. Maybe I was excited about my finally-working dsl connection. But tonight dilly dally I did not, for I was busy rushing a 68-page presentation! Pshah! I rule! Raaawwr! Hihihi I'm feeling giddy, I'm not sure if it's because I'm very pleased with myself or I'm not getting enough oxygen. Maybe it's a little of both. Hey I still have a headache, but now it feels more like I've got someone twirling cotton candy on a stick in my head. Ever expanding.

Well alrighty then. I better cap the night off with that eerie but amazing hiking song again.

Halllllli, halllllo, wir faaaahren, wir fahren in die Weeeeelt!

Teehee.

2:55 am

Help! I need to find an apartment to rent for a month! I told C she could stay at mine for a week to give her and bf time to find one on their own. They can sleep in my room and I'll sleep in my sister's room. But that means I have to tidy up my room. I don't want to.

Help me help me I'm desperate! I'll do anything to get out of it. When I told my mom that she'd have to take in my dirty (well, just C really, apparently the guy is very clean) tourist visitors, she perked up at the prospect.

Mom: So this means they're staying in your room?
Me: Yes, I'll sleep in ate's room.
Mom: So...this means you'll need to tidy up a li--
Me (interrupting her): I'll find them a place to live before they arrive on Friday.

Hehe I've been singing this funny hiking song in German. In falsetto. I've given myself a headache.

Weather update: Tropical Storm Florita still hanging about

According to ever reliable PAGASA:

Weather
Issued at: 5:00 a.m., 16 July 2006
Synopsis: Southwest monsoon affecting Extreme Northern and Central Luzon. Intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) affecting Mindanao.

For the past week, Florita has caused massive landslides in Baguio, threatened to tear the roof off our house, actually tore off the roof of one of my cab driver's neighbor's house narrowly missing my cabbie while he was milling about outside his own house, thrown me into a puddle of mud water (it's a long story) and, this is the last straw, forced me to carry around an umbrella, making me the object of my friends' ridicule. I thought we were catching Florita's tail end yesterday but it rained hard again early this morning. So I dunno what that's about. I don't know why I even bother trying to make sense of Philippine weather. I guess I don't like to be caught unawares and getting thrown into the mud.

I've been quite productive over the weekend, I met up with a friend I used to see or talk to every single day for 3 years but haven't seen a lot of since I changed jobs. We got a lot of catching up done over dinner and coffee and it was really good to see him again and hear what he's been up to. Also I got a lot of layout work done, managed to secure another tentative job quite by accident really and secured another one from this guy whose project I'm currently at work on. Oh yeah haha I was able to squeeze in a couple of logo entries for this contest at our office. It's for a sportsfest that's starting sometime in August. So this logo making competition went around and I really wanted to join since I found out but thought I didn't have enough time to get around to. Well apparently there's this amazing place close to my office that has free internet access (I am disclosing neither name nor location) and I was able to pop out during my dinner break on Friday to work on my entries and get some online work done. The deadline was yesterday. Hihi the prize isn't much, a couple of thousand pesos in gift certificates, redeemable at any sports shop. Cross your fingers for me, I want to get a sports bra.

A little bit of patience.

I have never been patient and am too impatient to try to learn how to be. But I need to be. Now.

It is 2 am and I've been trying to send a design draft for about half an hour now. Who invented dial-up anyway? It's a big tease with no sign of release coming anytime soon. Actually the dsl people came by last week and everything's good but I haven't had time to get my dad to adjust my computer's settings and I've needed to work on designs anyway when he did have time. So I'm stuck with this slow ass bitch of a connection until it gets sorted out. Send dammit!

Well I may as well try to pass the time quickly. Oh come on it's less than 2 mb!

Right. Hmm I think I may be trying to do too many things and not allotting enough time for any of them. Well I am germanizing more now and I think it's helping. Haha we were reading about Little Red Riding Hood last Saturday, Rotkäppchen auf Deutsch, and it was so good.

What I love about languages is that while you're learning a different way of saying things, what actually happens is that you learn another way of seeing them and you begin to understand where some people are coming from and then you learn not to be so quick to judge. Hey it sent!!!

Anyway back to Rotkäppchen. In English, fairy tales end with "...and they lived happily ever after." while in German, they end with "...und wenn sie nicht gestorben sind, dann leben sie noch heute", and basically means "...and if they aren't dead, then they are still living now". Hehe isn't it so good? Because I'm not used to fairy tales ending like that (or because I suck at German), it took a couple of rereads for the hilarity of that sentence to hit me. It seems absurd to me and even a little bit morbid (I love it!) yet that's the way they've always been in that language and to the people who speak it and when you really think about it, and they lived happily ever after is actually quite creepy. I mean, they live forever. Are they not human? Morbid as it is in German, as least they acknowledge the characters' mortality.

Anyway that's just one example of the many differences (the similarities are just as lovely) between languages that I love to uncover. French is really something too. It expresses itself in a way that requires you to involve all your senses in order to understand it. You taste the words, you smell them, they touch you and your body grasps their meaning. All languages are unique and beautiful. Now the goal is to fit them all in my head and keep them there!

Woohoo! I only had to wait a little bit (= absolute ages) and I get to sleep now! Goodnight!

Zidane: Absolute Legend

So Italy won. Oh well. That game was mad. I'm forever addicted to football now. Hihihi. I've been slacking off at work and reading post WC news for two days now haha. So it's done. My sleeping hours should be back to normal soon. Things are a bit too busy at the moment. I need to finish a design so I can focus on a new one and that promises to be very time consuming. Plus I need to go apartment hunting for a friend who is also one of my favorite drinking/party buddies. She is arriving in a week's time with her boyfriend. She says that she knows she hasn't given me much time but she promises that she'll more than make up for it with party nights. I don't know about that, I am a changed woman now and I've already decided to turn over a new leaf and become...well, old. But then again if I continue to go out, it'd be quite a sight:

"Granny, you party animal!" Teehee!

I'll try to be back later today to write more on that.

In the meantime:

Going for a sehr gut

Okay I've managed to get my room back to Phase I status. I don't want to commit to Phase II just yet, too many things are going on and I'm doing my best to keep up. But I think Phase II can involve sorting through years of sentimental junk and wtf junk.

Plus I've sorted out my laundry, I should drop it off at the launderer's tomorrow. I hope I don't forget, otherwise I won't have anything decent to wear next week.

Oh yeah I went to dinner last night with a friend. It had been long overdue. He sort of wanted to start something when we met (last year) but I was too distracted with new shiny things and then a situation happened, wonderful for me and unlucky for him. It got awkward then we were both relieved that I got busy and he got busy. We didn't get to talking again until recently. So it was good, we had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant. We sat outside and made pleasant catching up conversation while we shared a salad and a pizza, complemented by a bottle of wine while a storm raged on spraying us delightfully with rain water. Then our evening was over and we went our separate ways.

Good things came out of this:
1 - I no longer feel iffy around him. But there's definitely no romance going on.
2 - he needs design services!

Yay! So I'm rushing to finish a current one I've had for a while now, and all that's waiting for is the finalization of event sponsors. That should be sorted before next week ends.

But the main focus of the month is German. My finals are in August and while I've gotten consistently top final exam grades in the past (the institute issues a certificate that says sehr gut if you've been amazing and I haven't been of late), I'm afraid this time around I've missed too many classes and I really haven't been studying at all. So all this July I'm going to do the Mageremo! Also known as MAssive GErman REview MOnth. I'm going to replace the songs in my phone with German lessons, bring my German notes with me to read during my breaks at work, beef up on vocabulary, read a bit in the morning, study a bit before going to bed. The works. I can do this.

I'll start after the WC final match hehe.

Heyyyyyy Mageremo!

Twelve books, four parts

Work has been rather light today. Although there have been lots of files that needed to be issued and I've had to translate one document after another, I feel neither stressed nor exhausted (still feeling dizzy though, its cause still unidentified). There is a certain repetitiveness about this job that is both comforting and numbing. A delightful combination really. I mentioned when I first started working here that I took this job fully aware of its potential tediousness but because I had found myself with changing priorities, I felt it necessary to relocate myself to a quieter and stabler work environment with fixed rules and reliable hours, so I could think and figure out what I want to do next.

A friend rang me this morning to ask me if I was still interested in working in advertising (I asked him if they were hiring when I first thought of changing jobs), he said they need to fill a position in the creative department. I liiiiike that a lot. He's going to send me an email with more details.

An advertising job. Goodbye quiet introspective time and hello long hours. I've got another friend in advertising, she takes German classes too but at a higher level. She's hardly in class. Why? Because of work. But she does look fabulous. I want to look fabulous. I need to reflect on this further.

Oh yeah why the title? I started reading The Brothers Karamazov online. At work. I've been meaning to read that for about three years now. Hihi. I've finished the first book. It's not as long as it sounds. Well actually I don't know. So far, I've been introduced to a profligate father and his sons from two wives. That's always a good start to any story. Oh yeah and a rather extensive account about monasteries in Russia at the time. Maybe just a tad too much for my taste although Dostoevksy does write it in a lovely way. Not like the 20 pages (it felt like it) Steinbeck devotes on describing a goddamn tumbleweed in The Grapes of Wrath. Needless to say I did not get past the tumbleweed. Some guy I dated at uni gave me a copy in the hopes of educating me because according to him I behaved "like a stupid person". Whatever that means. Hee he was a character all right. Shit poet, but yeah a character. The book sits dusty on my shelf. Oh and apparently only the refined mind can appreciate Steinbeck. At least according to a professor I had years ago. I guess I don't make the cut haha. He was a bit of a shit too.

Setback

I've been feeling a little run down lately. I thought maybe I was still convalescing from two weeks ago. But I haven't been sleeping properly, I get myself to bed same time as usual but I feel too restless to drift off straight away. But I don't want to do anything, I can't concentrate on reading for more than 5 minutes. And I always feel tired in the morning even after sleeping in later than I usually do. I stopped running (and I wasn't even doing that regularly to begin with), my head feels bloated and fluffy, if that's even possible, which my mom insists are just hunger headaches. She thinks I'm not getting enough food. I don't know about that. And I've had this upset stomach for a while now.

I watch more than usual too. Last night I saw 3 House episodes one after the other. I used to be addicted to TV before but that was years ago and besides I'm hardly ever home long enough to find anything good to watch. I only watch television now when I'm not feeling well...or when I'm brooding about something. So whatever's bothering me could be emotional. Puzzling. I don't have anything to be depressed about. At least I don't think so.

Oh my sister comes home today, she gets discharged later this afternoon. She's staying at home to recuperate. Meaning I get kicked out of V's room, since she's got the most orderly room. Hihi oh dear. Operation TuMY phase II isn't going very well. Actually I haven't figured out what that phase involves. Amazing as my room is, it is still in shambles.

France and Portugal battle it out tonight. Hee! Come on Zizou!

Hah

Germany lost. Now I can study the language again.

Recovering

Last week I had a discussion with a couple of people who love partying as much as I do and have been doing it as often as I have for the past decade (give or take a couple of years). We sheepishly admitted to each other that our stamina for partying hearty just isn't what it used to be. We were amazed as we recounted how much energy we had: having too much to drink at bars and then some, embracing blissful inebriation, meeting random people and feeling like we found buddies for life, clubbing and dancing for hours at a time with abandon, scoffing rest and declaring sleep for the Unfun and staying out until what seemed like a million o'clock in the morning. We'd stay until the cleaners came out with their mops and trash bags, surreptitiously glancing at us every once in a while wishing we'd leave already. We'd have no problem staying out until the sun came up, glaring at us like a disapproving chaperon. Ravenous and still feeling partyish, we'd find ourselves in a 24 hour dingy diner-type place serving food of questionable sanitation, defying our bodies' need to recover and laughing at each other's silliness, knowing we had work, an early class, an exam or a paper due the next day.

Ah yes those moments are precious. And not as frequent nowadays.

I went out three nights in a row from Thursday to Saturday. That is on top of an 8 hour workday. I stayed out quite late and did have a little too much to drink (having had to ask my cabbie to pull over so I could throw up on Thursday night. Sorry Thursday. Puke Presence of Mind. That's the mark of an expert alcoholic.)

Nonetheless, those nights were a lot tamer. And I was not my chipper self the next day. I missed my German class on Saturday because I could not get out of bed at all. And I still needed all of Sunday to recover (to be fair, I was out till 6 am because of the Brazil-France match).

We agreed that back to back party nights have become very rare indeed. We can still do two nights in a row but the second night would pretty much be half-assed and would involve a lot of water-drinking.

I know it's saying goodbye to a chapter in my life and I don't feel devastated by the change at all like some have predicted, but I do get nostalgic for the endless parties and the wild nights and passing out in random places. But as my friends and I got ready to go out for the evening, we concluded that it's not all bad really, as quiet nights spent reading a book, writing, having good conversations with people important to us have become a lot more appealing of late. We're getting on in the cycle of life. Hehe move over, Deepak.

-------

Family news:

My younger sister was in surgery this morning. She was admitted last night. Everyone in the family is a bit subdued, sad and still worried but relieved to know that she'll be okay. My mom and I are going over to the hospital later this evening to see how she's doing.

Allez les bleus!

A couple of friends and I watched the England-Portugal match last night. It was a group divided. In the end it was down to a shoot out. Portugal's up against France next. Germany and Italy on the other side. I'm feeling a France-Germany final...

Then we headed on to a different bar for the 3 am game. There was a little situation outside with the bouncer who wouldn't let one of us come in because they had a strict dress code. They wanted to keep the place "upscale". It was 3 in the morning but he stood firm. Anyway we were able to sort things out just as the game started. It was a more exciting game but we were a lot quieter because we were just soooo tired. The larger part of our group left just as second half started. They got hungry. Two of us stayed on till the end. And woooooooooohoooooooooooo France kicked Brazil's ass out of the of tournament! Yeah! THAT'S for beating Ghana! Hihihihi alriiiiiiiiiight! Next up, Germany's going down for booting Argentina out. My heart was with those guys!

Allez les bleus! All the way to number one!

Crying for Argentina

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgghhhh! I'm running out of teams to root for. I was rooting for Germany too...until they beat Argentina! Hmph I will retaliate by not doing my German homework. Hmph. *arms folded across chest*

I've had a bad day today. In stark contrast to last night which was amazing. We celebrated J's birthday whom I hadn't seen in weeks. I always enjoy spending time with my AF guys but I had even more fun than I usually do. I should have posted about it earlier this evening, I had two hours of free time at work because we ran out of files to translate (pshah!) but I was too hung over from the night before to function more than the minimalest of efforts. I'll try to make time for that this weekend. Anyway I've had this migraine lurking in my head all day, biding its time to hit me with a big one. It's driving me nuts. I need sleep.

I was late for work.

I was supposed to meet up with an ex earlier this evening. We haven't seen each other since he left to become a marine...or navy guy...um I know I'm not allowed to get those two mixed up, but I really can't remember. Yeah anyway it's been like 7 years since I last saw him. But we kept in touch over the years, though not very regularly, and I can say we've become friends. He's the only ex I ever really talk to. So yeah I was actually looking forward to seeing him again.

Pff I got stood up. Luckily for me, Ed showed up. Thanks Ed! I asked a bunch of people if they wanted to hang out but everyone backed out at the last minute. I didn't mind so much, fully expecting Ex to show up, it's really surprising he didn't, uncharacteristic even. But then seven years is a long time and people do change. But that would have been a sad sad picture, me on my own haha. I wonder what I would have done haha it's funny to think about that now.

We watched the game. Argentina lost. So frustrating. I lost my anger sometime back and it has been a source of amusement for me. Following the WC tournament, I think I'm slowly finding it again. Very strange. There was a most unattractive lady, who was obviously a Germany supporter, dancing on the table in front of the screen...so one could not help but look at her. Ugh after the shoot out, she was, and I'm going out on a limb here, attempting what may have been a sexy dance.

I wanted to throw a shoe at her. I even imagined myself throwing it in a perfect arc and people watching it sail across the room and connecting with her obnoxiously large head. And her giving out a cry as she fell to the floor with a heavy thud.

I'm a bad person.

This is why Argentina lost.

Then I was unfortunate enough to get in the slowest fucking cab in Manila. We actually had to pull over once so he could check his tires. I'm not joking, I could have gotten out and walked faster than he was driving.

I forgot my key and had to wake someone up.

Grah I'm going to sleep.