I Got a Mindy!

It's actually called a You Make Me Smile Award..and the honor was bestowed upon me by my online buddy, Mindy. Ah..so this is how it feels to finally win something. NOt that I never won anything in my life..but the accolades have been few and far in between.

The very first award I got was in 2nd grade when I was awarded "Best Girl." For the life of me, I have no clue what this means. Best girl? Best in what? Academics? Behavior? Whatever that award means...one thing's for sure, I mustv kissed some major butt even at a young age. Ha!

In my Master's, Ive had these academic awards..and being an Iskolar ng Bayan, we never had titles like Dean's lister or first honor. We'd be either a college scholar or a university scholar...none of which meant having any scholarships or free tuition. It was a title that, frankly, didnt do us any good. Werent we all Iskolars ng Bayan in UP? So a scholar Iskolar doesnt quite cut it.

My peborit award..well, it's not really an award...more of a narcissistic, ego-pumping acknowledgment..is that of being chosen as a "muse" for either our class or for the opis. Nyahahaha! HIndi ko pinalagpas eto! Pabayaan nyo na ako magyabang kasi matanda na ako! Hahahahaha! Isa lang ang sagot dyan...."ahhh those were the days!"

So now...I get a Mindy.

I'm so proud for being chosen..only, and ONLY because the acknowldegement came from MIndy..someone I admire for her intelligence and kasiraan ng ulo. See? It's possible to be both geeky and wacky at the same time. At this point in my life, I dont need a lot of validation kasi sa yabang kong ito, eh sobra sobra na. But, really..from the bottom of my bottom, salamat Mindy. You just made my blogging life even more worthwhile.

So..I have to pay it forward eh? To be honest, Im not much of blog-reader. I hop once in a while..and most blogs I read are the very popular ones. So, my list may be a bit of a cliche'..plus, I dont even think that these people know I exist.

Anyhoo, here goes:

1. First, I pay it backward to Mindy . Not because she gave me this award but because she really does make me smile. Nope, I dont read her TV blogs..I enjoy reading her entries about her family and whatever mess she's in. She's just fun to make loko with kasi kasing sira ulo ko. We're on the same psychedelic plane, baby.

2. Syempre next si Houseband. My brother who is my kabaliktad in almost everything. He's a sentimental fool while I am the voice of reason. Naks! Parang totoo, hahahaha! He's the nicest person in the world...one of those who can put up with my brattiness and constant whining. Well, he knows Im joking half of the time, so he just lets everything slide..and pretends that I do not exist.

3. Lornadahl....because she can go head to head with Jessica Zafra. One of the few ppl who can. She's smart, funny..and the best part, she has no idea how good she is.

4. Cherniguin...my fellow Elliott beauty! I love her to death! She writes so well but has her blog in in Friendster, of all places!!! She needs to experience blogging outside the comforts of FRiendster. Friendster is the pits...since ppl who actually know you can read whatever you wanna right...yes, garbage included. Now, back to Che..she can write anything ..from beauty chuchus to family stuff to feelings. She says it like it is.

5. Chuvaness....I love, love Cecile Zamora's blog. My all-time fave! Not because of the writing style...but because, she really does put a smile on my face. She comes up with weird words like chika and tang in a glass..and still manage to sound cool.

6. Jessica Zafra...it's either you love her or you hate her. But geez, how can you hate someone who can rant like that? She's the only one who can make irreverent statements and still get away with it. Sarcasm, I think it's called....and she's got loads of it.

7. Edited to add: Patty Laurel's blog. HOw could I forget this?! One of the few blogs I appreciate...so candid, so real. and so kwek-kwek-free. I see myself in her in some ways...no, she's ofcourse, much MORE beautiful than Iam (and sexier!)..I guess it's the attitude towards life, and the self-confidence that's so evident in her blog.

8. Last but not the least..ofcourse, my Dad, Halcyon. Most of the time,when I read his blog... I just scratch my head, look up in the sky and say "what in the world did he mean by that?!" Yes, I feel inferior and bobo beside my Dad. So why is he on my list, then? Ahhh..because I'm so frickin proud of him. He's so smart, so moral, and so everything-a-Dad-should-be. I so love you Dad, that even if I dont understand your blog, you're still my peborit.

ELLIOTT YAMIN LIVE IN MANILA!

My favorite funky white boy, Elliott Yamin, is having a series of mall tours in Manila, Philippines. People who know me well would immediately assume that I would fly back to Manila for this event.

I know...this is one of those things that would surely haunt me in the future. Let's get it over and done with...Im hitting myself already for not making the right decision. So..all together now, boys and girls, let's do a collective "BOO!"

Yes, it's not too late to buy a ticket...BUT...too late to lambing my way to Andy. He finds it downright impractical...at hehe, baka nagseselos din yun.

To compensate...I'm just doing the best I can and try to promote his mall tour in my own little way. If I were to convince just one nonfan to watch, then my job is done. Actually, come to think of it...IT IS DONE :P My mom...a total nonfan, has promised to swallow her pride and line up...YES...line up for tickets! For those who dont know my mom a.k.a. LA DIVA...she's like, the ultimate donya who never lines up for anything. Her idea of bank transactions is making chika to the bank managers so she can ask them to do the job for her. YES...you know the type. We cringe and cower at the type, I KNOW!! But yes..LA DIVA is doing the deed so I owe her boxes and boxes of mooncake, hahaha! Mooncake lang pala :P

Anyhoo..here's the sked of my boy this coming week.

TriNoma
-Activity Center
-September 21, 2007 at 7:00pm

Glorietta
-Activity Center
-September 22, 2007 at 7:00pm

Market! Market!-Activity Center
-September 23, 2007 at 6:00pm

Ayala Center Cebu-OnStage
-September 26, 2007 at 6:00pm

Alabang Town Center-Activity Center-September 28, 2007 at 6:30pm

His CD will also be available in Manila on September 21...the very first day of his mall tour. I have no idea what voodoo they used..but whoever is in charge of Elliott's career is doing a mighty good job. Things were getting bleak in the last few months and it looked like the cd wasnt gonna be released in Pinas...Elliott and company were even planning on bringing their own cds from the US just to please the fans.

Id like to think that the Ayalas have a lot to do with it. Someone from that family is an Elliott fan...a big fan I suppose. If you read the THANK YOU part in E's cd, he thanked the Zobel family...so Im connecting all the metaphorical dots here and have come up with the conclusion that at least one Zobel has been Yaminized. Now, there's at least ONE thing I have in common with them...that, and the fact that I feel like I own Glorietta, judging by the amount of time I spend in that place!

Buy, buy, buy the cd! Great songs...I love 10 songs out of 11. Not bad, not bad at all.

You Know You're Getting Older When....

I'm going two in a row today because I dont think I can blog in the next few weeks. No, I still do not have a life. The difference is that I am obliged, this time, to actually DO something for a change. And yes, I did use the word oblige..it means what it means..there's nothing more I can add to that.

My good friend ambo said that blogging activity is congruent to one's personal life. The more you blog, the less of a life you have. Though I'd like to conk him in the head for being too real for comfort..he is absofuckinlutely right. The times I blog are the times when I'm bored outta my skull. Today is a perfect example. I'm holed up in Tagaytay..with nothing better to do..just waiting and waiting for things to happen ..,and honestly thinking of ways to stir the pot. While, I wait, I blog.

I am so NOT looking forward to my sked this week. I'll be busy entertaining a grp of people who have have come all the way from Australia to see Andy and I. See? We are good people after all...and yes, our friends are as nuts as we are. I love them to pieces but David having undergone surgery just a few days ago..makes it more difficult for me to appear chirpy and upbeat. I can only mask my worry for one day...anything longer than that, Id probably need a plastic surgeon.

BUT...what else can I do but let it slide....

As Ive said before, this is a terrible, terrible year for me...so, perfect timing should be the least of my expectations.

So..what to write about? Hmmmm..let's write about age. It's quite an easy subject. So..here goes...signs that you're getting older!

You know you're getting older when:

People insert the word "po" after every sentence.
Salesladies refer to you as M'am or Ate.
You suddenly feel that older men have the hots for you.
Your favorite song in high school has already been remade like, 3 times.
Your high school crush is now a member of the cabinet....ewwwwww!
The word "reminiscing" is now used more than ever!
Your favorite bands in high school are now considered rock legends in music.
You feel squeamish and embarrassed just by the thought of having a Friendster account.
And in effect, you try to make your profile as less fussy as possible.
You wonder about your exes and crsuhes...if theyre ok, if theyre still hot, if they regret not marrying you..and other self-absorbed concerns like that.
Getting a plastic surgeon doesnt sound as far-off as it once was.
People just automatically show respect. Sure, that sounds great and all but I do miss being a part of the madness. The hypocrisy that older people get is way too sanitized for me.

OK, that's it for now.

And PS...im half-joking for the most part so pls dont take me too seriously. Im just nuts today...must be the damn heat, hahahahahaha!

Whine with cheese

Ah...Im back in Manila after 3 months of being away. Saigon hasnt been fun for the past month..mainly because most of my friends have left. Well..such is expat life and by now, Ive learned to accept that....so I shouldt really be whining about it.

Now that Im back in Manila....it actually feels weird.

Life in Saigon may be summed up in 3 places: my home, the gym, and David's school.

My social life may also be summed up in 3 groups: my family, my girlfriends, and Andy's colleagues

So now that Im back home...everything just seems chaotic and manic.

Add to that the terrible, terrible weather. A heatwave in America sounds acceptable but a heatwave in a tropical country like the Philippines is just downright nasty. It's like adding an exclamation point to a sentence typewritten in all caps. Or wearing red on Valentine's day. Or seeing Kris Aquino from morning 'til night every single frickin day.

It's just not right.

The good news is..David's done with his surgery..so now, I can go back into the swing of things. The swing of things sounds so hip, and eventful but the truth is, Im just going to see a bunch of relatives and a couple of friends who I have not called since I arrived. I have been admittedly, hermit-like the past few weeks...blame it on my boring Saigon life , blame it on my being paranoid about David's surgery, and lastly, blame it on the heat.

Yeah,yeah, yeah....it's always the damn heat.

Tagged By Mindy!!

A - Age: 37...waaahhhhh!!

B - Band Listening To Right Now: Daft Punk

C - Career: Master to my whipping boy, slave to my son, chef slash chimay slash taga-mop ng floor
D - Drink or Smoke: I cant believe Im typing this, but.... NEITHER!! Hahaha! I feel so mabait!!! I smoked for 19 years and stopped recently.

E - Easiest Friends To Talk To: anyone who just says "right, Lyn..whatever.." are the easiest
G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: What's the diff?? hahahaha! Di ba same taste lang yun??

H - Have a Boyfriend: Aside from my whipping boy, I have 3 others. Wenty Miller, Elliott Yamin, and Paolo Nutini

I - In love: but ofcourse

J - Junk Food You Like: Munchies (doritos-pretzels-cheetos-sun chips combo)

K - Kids: 1! Cant imagine having more than that!

L - Longest Ride Ever: The airplane ride from hell--> Honolulu to New Jersey,,should be easy enough, right? Wrong! Never knew going from point A to point B could be so complicated!!

N - Names For Your Future Kids: Tyler, Elliott

O - One Wish You Have Now: For my son to be like his dad when he grows up Ha..sweeteek!!

P - Phobias: syempre, pusa.

Q - Favorite Quote: Life makes more sense if you look at it backwards.(not verbatim..from the movie, 13 Conversations About One Thing)

R - Reasons To Smile: family, friends, good food, good conversation

S - Sleeping Hours: I hate, hate, hate sleeping! I try to stay awake as much as I can...so, a 4 hr sleep is enough for me.

T - Time You Woke Up: it's 6:15 every single day for the past year

U - Unknown Fact About You: that I'm lazy to cut my nails so I often let them break by itself

V - Vegetable You Hate: Ampalaya. Ppl who eat ampalaya are plain weird.

W - Worst Habit: Talking too much..and talking at high volume

X - X-rays You've Had: I took, like, a gazillion tests 3 months ago
and none of them was an xray, haha!! Go figure.

Y - Yummy Foods: Kimpura's tofu steak, mint and chocolate ice cream, City Diner's apple pie, etc etc

Z - Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Instructions: Each player starts with 7 random habits/facts about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I hit the panic button when faced with problems...epecially the ones I have no control over. IOW, my cool as a cucumber facade is a farce. From the words of David, "Mom, you are a geekwad." Normally, id just push it aside and let it just slide...but the serious problems (the ones where youre left with no choice) are the worst.

2. I'm a best friend magnet. Nope, dont get me wrong...I am not your friendly neighborhood friendly person..the exact opposite, in fact. But when ppl "get" me, they GET me....and the friendship formed is pretty much carved in stone. I have 5 bestfriends...plus, a couple of barkadas that I see whenever I'm in Manila. Most women my age have either lost track of old friends or do not have enough time to make new ones. I, on the otherhand do not even have enough time to see them all.

3. Ive said this before..and Ill say it again. I HATE CATS. Hmm..let me rephrase that...I AM TERRIFIED OF CATS. They jump on you for no reason, slither around your leg, make awful, loud sex noises that drive me absolutely batty, and stare at you like you did something wrong.

4. I am my son's slave. He doesnt know it...but I know I do. I'd lick a cat's face for him for all I care.

5. Everybody knows that my husband is a nice guy. Let me put on record that I AM THE LUCKY ONE. And the word "nice" doesnt even cut it...he is simply, GREAT.

6. I get very addicted to certain things easily. And when Iam addicted, Im so full on. Examples of my addictions: Elliott Yamin, cigarettes (for 19 yrs), coffee, internet, cashew nuts, dvd-buying, etc. etc. A few years ago, I was into Harry POtter..and I bought every possible HP item there was available. I did it until I realized na it was all bullshit and created a dent in my savings the size of Jupiter.

7. I am the opposite of the word serious. To a fault, sometimes. I have a feeling that people around me find me unfeeling and insensitive since I seem to take things lightly even during times of trouble. My take is...everybody has a choice, the half full-half empty glass analogy..and obviously, Im a half-full kinda girl. Life is too short to have an attitude of doom and despair. Lighten up and the rest will follow! Bahala si Batman dyan!

8. Bakit 8 eh dapat 7 lang? Eh kasi gusto ko eh, haha. And last but not the least...ako ay isang mayabang na tao..and when I say mayabang, it doesnt necessarily mean that it's a negative thing. It's confidence, plain and simple. At this point, I do not look for approval or validation from anyone...and I really feel that if everybody felt that way, then everything's just gonna be fine and dandy. When in a bind...just say "fuck it!" and everything's gonna be alright!

Ok, tagging time!!! I tag Houseband, Ed (my dad..Ed ang tawag kasi feeling-chummy ako, haha), Lornadahl, Gracie, Che..and wala na! I know I need to tag 7..but isnt it obvious that I dont follow rules. Wala na kasi yung ibang bloggers na I know.

Nostalgia Manila

Anybody who spent their childhood in 70's and 80's Manila should...and I mean SHOULD drop by the website, Nostalgia Manila.

Remember Voltes V?
Game and Watch?
Tv Pow?
Cafeteria Aroma?
Rotary phones?
Party lines?
Skatetown?

Ha!

I think I spent an entire day just reading all the entries. It has everything..from pictures of the old QUAD to Weng-Weng videos (I swear...isnt this camp heaven? haha)to articles written by THE Nicholas Stoodley..the site has it all.

I basically grew up in the seventies..when life was much simpler. Weekends meant eating out with my family, then watching a movie. Movie theaters back then were just that...movie theaters. No fancy shmancy DOLBY Stereo, or seats with cup holders. Just a plain movie theater that was divided into 3 levels..orchestra, lodge, and balcony. I never really did understand what the difference was...we were all watching the same movie, werent we??? All I knew at that time was...orchestra was for those with less money, lodge was for the sossy, and balcony was for those who wanted to get it on. Yes, I was young, but heck...i already had a filthy mind.

Popcorn was also... just popcorn. Varied flavors were not an option simply because, at that time...we didnt even know that popcorn could be "flavored." Popcorn with salt..yes, from the big salt container with the word "SALT" written on the blue label. That was the only way we had it.

I miss those days. Sometimes I wish that my son grew up in that era..only for him to appreciate the simpler things in life. Surely, technology has its positive points but you really cant deny the fact that in our constant drive for near-perfection and comfort, we've forgotten how it is to just chill, and take things as they come. We've become too indulgent, too spoiled, and as a result, our kids have become shielded from life's adversities. Everything nowadays is sanitized, user-friendly, bug-free, zipped, delivered, and so on...w/c isnt always a good thing.

So..what's a parent to do?

I did the next best thing and bought a complete set of Voltes V dvds for my son, ofcourse. What better way to appreciate the past than to watch Steve, Big Bert, Little John, Jamie, and Mark go head to head with Prince Zardoz and his Boazanian minions. Things may have changed over the years..but Voltes V will always be the perfect compromise.



Here are some more images from the 70's...

Our favorite Game and Watch ofcourse..Octopus!!

Sigmund The Seamonster



Black rotary phones with the obligatory partyline, crossline, and phonepal



Pong!!! The very first computer game!



Candy Candy and Anthony..every young girl's favorite..and every young boy's well-kept guilty pleasure

And last but not the least...

Weng-Weng!


Aren't you glad you survived the seventies?

Testes, testes..one two, three

OK. just testing the waters here. I'm just gonna post some random pictures...well, not really random since these are pics that inspire me, one way or another. NOt the pics, per se..but the subjects, ofcourse. I love, love, love them!

Here goes...


My boys


My weird family


El Divo and La Diva


My friends and bestfriend


bestfriends



Mi casa


My favorite, forever

The Not So Big Leap

Ive always had my blog at Xanga...I started in 2003..abandoned it in 2005, and went back in 2007, only to find myself alone in a site that I never really liked in the first place. So..like in any bad relationship in real life..why stay when there are other options?

So..now, let's try Blogspot (or is it Blogger..ano ba talaga??). Havent really accustomed myself to this..but Im sure I'll get by. If I was able to endure the craziness of Xanga, then this should be a cinch.

Why Oblivious Observer? Because I am quite observant on things that are deemed unimportant by most people, and oblivious to those things that are. In other words, I like things that are mababaw..everyday things that we take for granted. It's all in the details, really.