a new look for a new year

So, I decided to update my blog's look to better reflect who I am now. Yes that's me on the picture on the left. And yes, that is my pink half-filled hamper waiting for Sunday to be emptied. I'm sorry for the stripes, I'm just really into them right now. I will take pictures of my cubicle at work and post it here just to show you how far this obsession has gone! Haha

There are still some kinks that need to be worked out here, but I shall slowly figure them out. I haven't tinkered with html for quite some time now so bear with me. I've included a link to my portfolio website though right there on the left, so if you fancy a peek, be my guest!

Anyway, I thought Yessa and Cel were coming back to New York on Sunday, but apparently they won't be back until Tuesday! Tsk tsk, looks like I'm going to be getting a whole lot more "me" time! I better get creative and do all the things I haven't been able to do recently. And since the weather will be perfect this weekend, I just might go around the city aimlessly and snap some photographs, take in the sights, maybe visit a museum. There should be lots to do! And oh! I really want a Shake Shack burger too!

Update: March 7, 2009

So I ended up being quite the productive bee. Here's a little something I cooked up! It's not supposed to represent anything... it just came out of doodling. I'm thinking of buying a lighter warm gray COPIC pen for the upper part of the background eventually. Those pens cost quite a bit though, $6.49 each at Lee's Art Shop! But I really like how they look all watercolor-ish, so I just might go back and buy some more.



Also, I bought a new pair of shoes! Hehehe, they're white and pink croc leather loafers! I just couldn't pass them up! They're totally me and super unique, so even if I don't really know when I'm going to be wearing them yet I bought them anyway. I left my silver loafers back home in Manila, so these will perfectly fill their places, hehehe. And did I say they're extremely comfortable?



Anyway, JV, Tracy, Neil and I are off to watch Watchmen soon at the AMC Loews Theater at Lincoln Square. Yey! It's supposedly good! I hope it lives up to the hype.

i hereby resurrect thee.

I can't believe it's been more than two years since I last wrote here. Time keeps disappearing under my feet. Who would have thought that I'd be here in New York writing this? Or that I'd already graduate from my AAS degree in Graphic Design? Everything just swept by, and it's sad that I never got to chronicle these last two crazy years of my life.

I haven't been writing in my journals the way I used to back in college. And the instances of college writing were even less frequent compared to high school. It seems that the older I get the harder it is for me to pick up my Pilot G-Tec C4 (yes, it has to be that pen! haha) and just write down whatever comes to mind. Often times I find myself with pen poised on a blank line not knowing what to write. And then I put the cap on my pen back on and close the journal again without having ink touch paper. Tsk tsk. So, I thought maybe it's time to type instead. Maybe I could jumpstart the habit this way.

Anyway, I mostly decided to resurrect this blog because I'm just incredibly bored here at our empty apartment now. Cel and Yessa flew off to Long Beach, California this morning for a trade show for Yessa's boss and so I'm all by my lonesome for a week. I thought I'd be better at biding my time, but hehe, I now have nothing to do except maybe eat some of that Fage Yogurt that's tempting me all the way from the fridge. Of course, there's also my bed calling. I could always tuck myself in early and get some 11 hours of sleep before I have to wake up for work! Haha, but that's too much, even for the sleepyhead that I am! So... I'll just have to find myself something to do.

I did actually resurrect another hobby today. Drawing! I dusted off my mini sketchbook and got my pencils out of my art toolbox. I thought I'd be really sucky by now, not having drawn anything really for a year, but surprise surprise, I still have the hang of it! Yey! I guess it's like riding a bike then, you never really unlearn it. You just get back on and ride. I kind of missed drawing... just tuning everything out and focusing on light and shadow... so I think I'll keep drawing a little something every other day from now on. :)

how much of an atenean are you? (updated May 10, 2007)

(x) eat at Manang’s
(x) learn the alma mater
(x) get on the dean’s list
( ) sleep on a bench
( ) be a TNT!
( ) jog around the campus in the evening
(x) visit the art gallery -- I love love love it there!
(x) know at least one xerox lady, manong, or technician by name -- ate alma, ate cora, mang freddie (manong escaler), mang dads who is super duper friendly :D
(x) get a Jesuit for a teacher -- Fr. Dacanay! :)
( ) itch from higad bites -- buti nalang! hehe
(x) have gotten an F in something -- that horrendous 35/100 accounting test, but we had a retest! and got an 80-something grade instead! woohoo!
(x) have taken a crap in school -- when you gotta go, you gotta go! *laughs*
(x) watch a La Salle vs. Ateneo UAAP game -- front row seats with cel and marts! :) thanks marts!
(x) give a powerpoint presentation -- obviously.
( ) study in the caf upstairs
(x) watch a T.A. play
(x) sit on the SEC ledge and watch the stars -- i don't know about the watch the stars part! but we used to sit there a whole lot before cabral's math 22 class!
( ) eat in Full House, Martha’s Kitchen, and Ken Afford -- "bakit may 'and'? demanding naman nito." - kevs (I agree!)
( ) sleep in the lib
( ) visit Mr. San Andres
( ) go to the chapel -- i should go one of these days. i've gone to gesu though?
( ) have gotten a pebble stuck in your shoe/slippers in the middle of the quad
(x) cut class with your block to watch a movie -- wasn't the whole block, but i remember going to metro east for a movie. did we cut class though? hehe :p
(x) sign up for those institutional (i.e. difficult but brilliant) teachers -- fr. dacanay :D but i liked his class! :)
( ) go to CERSA night
(x) have tried siomai rice
( ) learn how to smoke
( ) actually read the book you keep borrowing from the lib
(x) play cards during your free time
(x) dress in business attire
(x) learn to stay awake for more than 24 hours straight -- marketing! eviiiil!
( ) have gotten side comments from ASSOC
(x) take (and enjoy) Saturday classes- not too enjoyable.
(x) go to your immersion -- payatas :)
(x) eat Food for After Thought sandwiches
(x) take time to read the vandalism in the CR doors - Pati na rin sa tables
( ) watch “Minsan Lang Sila Bata” and “Macho Dancer” for class -- not in college.
(x) do a last minute paper
(x) have spent a lot for 1x1 ID pictures
(x) get exempted from final exams
( ) attend a college mass
( ) promise to quit smoking
( ) play hide-and-seek in the mini-forest
(x) know where the best restrooms are on campus
(x) join an org
(x) allow yourself to make mistakes
(x) take summer classes
( ) admire the sacred heart statue in the evening
(x) make a video for a project -- "chem1. i played a human-sized mcdonalds french fries mascot. sadness." - kevs (wahahaha! i remember! wahahahahahaha!) -- history 16 with ms. coo, i was lin! :))
( ) have a crush on a teacher -- ngyeks.
( ) attend a Jesuit retreat
( ) have gotten a parking ticket
(x) come to school in your crappiest yet most comfy clothes
( ) learn how to use the Bayantel pay phones
(x) participate in school activities
( ) catch the Blue Babble Battalion tryouts
(x) ride a tricycle on campus
(x) find a tambayan
( ) admire the marikina valley at night
( ) go drinking along Katipunan
(x) learn how to beg for a higher grade- Ma 151, hehe.
(x) use your cuts wisely
( ) volunteer to be class beadle
(x) had the worst lottery schedule for reg
(x) admire the trees on campus
(x) have forgotten about your freecut and gone to that class- CHN 6! and i was wondering why everyone was late!
(x) eat in the ISO canteen -- block T bonding days!
(x) be active in your org
( ) have signed up on an ACP class just because the girl or guy u like signed up for it
( ) get as many app forms as you can during the job fair
(x) learn how to cram
(x) sell tickets (or watch) an org-sponsored movie premiere
(x) save money to Xerox all of your seatmate’s notes
( ) have accidentally seen a make-out session
(x) check out the Meron Lagoon and Lambingan Bridge
( ) have dozed off in class in Bel right after a class in CTC/SOM/Comm. Bldg or vice-versa
( ) learn how to work with groupmates from hell
( ) perfect the art of parking on campus
( ) had a bad encounter with one of the guards on campus
(x) develop a love for sisig
(x) learn how to pronounce “AEGIS” properly- dapat lang, aegis now rules my life...
( ) have used typing rooms at the library
(x) have reserved a classroom, AVR, etc. for a class or org function
( ) have asked the library for an endorsement to research in other libraries
(x) have lost a perfectly functioning umbrella -- i'm so forgetful :(
( ) have used consultation hours properly
(x) Looked forward to lab breakage refund, in case you didn’t break any equipment
(x) visit the Guidance Office
(x) and Infirmary

hello from copenhagen!

Whee! I love airports and free Internet! :) *laughs* After 2 weeks of no computers and no cellphones (for me at least, since I wasn't able to activate my roaming), I finally have contact with the outside world!

We just finished our ten-day cruise to Scandinavia and Russia! It was great, you can't expect anything less from Europe after all. Still, I think this tour has shown me that not all Americans are the bubbly friendly types who talk to you out of the blue. There are also impatient ones who are so ready to give everyone a piece of their minds at the slightest of inconveniences, and yet expect eternal forgiveness when they are the ones at fault. All I can say for that old man who couldn't keep his mouth shut is, "Buti nga, nakarma!" *laughs*

Anyway, one more thing, SAYANG! Imagine my shock when I saw Aunt Trini on the Star Princess! Turns out, Tersh and I should have been on the same cruise, had she been able to either a) obtain a leave from her OJT or b) start early and end her OJT early. Shucks! So, we ended up hanging out with her two youngers brothers, Tim and Elroy, instead. Tim even taught us how to play Yahtzee! It was so funny how the tension would fill the air once someone threw the 5 die into the box. What else did we do while on the ship? Pingpong. Paddle Tennis (A cross between Pingpong and Lawn Tennis). Bingo. Tong-its. And lots of other stuff, including a LOT of eating!

So, now my family's off to Ithaca, New York to check out Cornell University's campus. Shoti's gonna be studying there this fall, so it's pretty exciting for the rest of the family to see where we'll be sending him off to. :p It should be real pretty there since it's not a city campus, so there'll be a lot of trees and falling leaves, and cool breezes! *laughs* Labo.

Anyway, I better go now, we'll be boarding within a half hour. We still have to haul our asses to the gate, which could be on the other end of the terminal, I'm not too sure. So, I must leave you now! Till I meet a computer (with free Internet) again! :p

almost 3 months!

It's been quite a while since I last blogged! And it was funny when I went to see (because I'd already forgotten!) what my blog looked like, I saw a message from Cel that said "Update!" *laughs* I don't even know how long that message's been there! So anyway, since I have nothing better to do right now anyway, I thought I'd write!

I'm actually at "work" right now, but since it's only 9:05 according to the clock of the eMac I'm using here, not everyone has come in yet. So far, in the one week and one day I've been here at this ad agency, I've helped co-write a radio ad, and made studies for 3 billboards, participated in brainstorming sessions, witnessed a recording for a radio ad, and met Sam Milby who was here to record something for his ads! *laughs* He was a cutie! I don't like him much on TV, but he looked cuter somewhat in person. He seemed a bit shy, like he was still unsure of himself, and he didn't know exactly just how famous he's gotten, which I guess is a good thing! It keeps his feet on the ground. My sister scrambled to get to Makati from home just so she could get a picture with him! It was so funny, but syempre kasama na rin ako sa picture diba? *laughs*



Achi, Sam Milby and me!


Anyway, I like my work here, even if I don't seem to be of any worth to them! I mean, I don't think I have the creative juices necessary to survive in such a competitive business! Or perhaps I just need to get used to thinking fast, and being brave enough to throw out your ideas for everyone to criticize and evaluate. At least, there's something that has come out of this! :) My sister says I've become more talkative, or at least, more outgoing somewhat. That I'm no longer hesitant to talk to people I don't really know. But I got to thinking, was it really caused by my job or something else? A change in perception perhaps? (As Fr. Candelaria would put it?) I don't really know. *smiles and shrugs shoulders* But if this is a good thing, (and everyone seems to think so,) then I'll roll with it!

It's 9:24 and still, Nina and I are the only ones here in our nook of the creatives department. Oh well, the others should come soon, I hope. I desperately need someone to have me do something! And that's something besides thinking! I don't think I'm very good at coming up with fresh concepts for ads! *laughs* I think it's time I began scrounging around for work that's more up my alley... like the billboards. Hand me the idea, I'll just put it into pictures!

waiting.

While I'm waiting for some files to attach onto an e-mail, I decided to resurrect my one-month-dead blog. I really do need to start writing again, even rambling about the useless stuff seems to help you slow down and take a good look at your life.

Right now, I've realized how much I hate being delayed. NOW Cable is currently getting on my nerves. I was late for class today because my homework wouldn't attach to the e-mail I was sending my Fine Arts teacher. And now this. If that weren't enough, my Powerbook keeps hanging! And to think it's an Apple computer... something that supposedly doesn't crash or hang, or at least keeps those kinds of incidents to a minimum. Tsk tsk. I am sooo ready to have the people at Apple Center change it and give me a new one that's not so bothersome. To think I already had it fixed because of a Kernel Panic the other week.

A-ha! The files have finally attached!
Off to more pressing matters. I haven't studied for my OR test yet.

uncertainty.

I just saw my grandpa again. He's lost a lot of weight. I used to think he was on the road to some sort of a recovery, but I think he's gotten worse. Still, there's nothing I could do but keep a smile on my face. I think he's realized for himself that time is running short. He seems happier now, I don't know if it's because his sister came over to visit, or perhaps he's learning to appreciate everything again. So although he's now thinner than me, and his bones are protruding somewhat unnaturally, I'm happy that he's learning to smile and enjoy himself again. No longer does he raise his voice, he just watches and takes everything in, with a grin of pride as he sees his children and grandchildren together, having another Saturday lunch. Still, the moment is a bit bittersweet... how many more Saturdays will there be? No one can say.

----------

I used to think uncertainty was a wonderful thing. Now, I say, screw it. I have a wonderful life, I do, but right now, I wish I weren't me.

at the airport.

Wowie! I'm in the Singapore Airlines lounge right now. My mom and dad got free miles, so they got free business class tickets. The kids only have economy class tickets but they somehow got us all in here. And they have free Internet usage here! *whee!* They have YM too! So, I'm YM-ing with Nikki now who's for some reason awake at 8 o'clock on a Sunday! Maybe we could meet up there or something. Anyway, I better keep this short and simple. Oh yeah, did you know you have to take your shoes off now at the airport? I dont' think I've ever experienced that before. And I made the wrong choice of wearing this studded belt! It keeps making the metal detectors beep! *laughs* Oh well, I gotta go! We're boarding any minute. Ciao!

5 things...

Got tagged by Cel!

10 years ago I...
.. was a real-life Bugs Bunny (think big teeth, scrawny legs).
.. wanted to be a writer or an architect.
.. went to Australia and fell in love with the kangaroos.
.. ate candies/sweets everyday. (Chocnut, Hany, Orange Swits, Tarzan, and much more.)
.. loved to recite in class. (Whatever happened to that?)

5 years ago I...
.. welcomed the new millennium at the Makati Shangri-la hotel.
.. had a teacher who answered that green was the combination of red and blue. *slaps forehead*
.. joined my first table tennis tournament.
.. had braces.

1 year ago I...
.. was in Bacolod for the Unigames with the tennis team.
.. had my first shot of tequila.
.. rode a jeepney for the first time.
.. was a self-proclaimed boy-hater.

Yesterday I...
.. had tennis training at Ateneo.
.. ate Chickenjoy with Vane and Carla at Jollibee!
.. watched Hitch on DVD.
.. tinkered around with Photoshop.
.. took an afternoon nap. (Sleepyhead!)

5 snacks I enjoy...
.. peanut butter sandwich with Yakult!
.. Greenwich lasagna.
.. butter toast.
.. chips, chips, chips!
.. anything banana! (toron, banana que)

5 songs I know all the words to...
.. Someday We'll Know, Mandy Moore and Jonathan Foreman.
.. If You Come Back, Blue.
.. Can't Fight The Moonlight, Leann Rimes.
.. So Yesterday, Hillary Duff.
.. Backstreet Boys' songs! *laughs*

5 things I would do with 100 million dollars...
.. whatever my family and friends want, pricey stuff they wouldn't buy/do for themselves :p
.. donate to a charity that supports livelihood programs (not one-shot deals)
.. invest, save and transform what's left into another 100 million dollars I can again spend for all the people I love :D


5 places I would run away to...
.. can I just not answer this? hehe I don't think I'll get to fill up 5 spaces! running away to a cousin's house would be pointless. Run away, and go right next door? *laughs* Or run away to the house on the street behind ours? or to the house two streets up?
.. most practical, and it would still legitimately be running away, Cel's house. (I don't know how exactly to get to Jill's even if the distance should be just about the same. :p )

5 places I would love to go to..
.. Egypt.
.. Prague.
.. the Carribean.
.. Alaska.
.. back to the Salt Mines between Germany and Austria.
.. (for the 100-foot slides!)

5 things I would never wear...
.. giant polka dots.
.. hot pants.
.. a mohawk.
.. commando boots.
.. Catwoman's leather outfit.

5 favorite TV shows...
.. Tru Calling.
.. CSI.
.. Ambush Makeover/ How Do I Look? / Queer Eye for the Straight Guy/ The Look for Less.
.. Knock First/ Clean House.
.. The OC.

5 bad habits...
.. playing with my watch's clasp when I'm nervous or impatient.
.. blocking out sound or my surroundings.
.. perpetual forgetfulness.
.. not knowing the difference between sentimental value and trash.
.. reluctance to accept accountability.

5 biggest joys...
.. eating Haagen-Dazs ice cream, milky chocolates or cheesecake.
.. daydreaming.
.. finishing a project. the feeling of accomplishment.
.. laughing, hanging out with friends.
.. having a great game of tennis/basketball/pingpong.

5 fictional characters I would date...
.. Human Torch! (ditto Cel!)
.. Legolas.
.. Peter Parker (not Tobey Maguire)
.. Seth Cohen!
.. Chichiri in Fushigi Yuugi.

good morning.

First, a birthday greeting: Happy 20th Birthday Cel!

Girls night-out in celebration of Cel's birthday was so fun! I got home at exactly 12 midnight, just in time for my Cinderella curfew. Everyone was so dressed up (dangling earrings, pointy shoes, fancy bags, the works!), it was a bit strange having that feeling that we've all grown up. And as we sat at the Manila Penn's lobby, with 3 frozen margaritas, a Manhattan and a Singapore Sling on our table, plus 2 huge bowls of ice cream (!) , it felt somewhat surreal. I still can't believe we're 20 now! (Okay, I'm still 19, but that's only till a couple more weeks.) For some weird reason, I feel stuck at 18. Every time someone asks me my age I'll have to concentrate real hard in order to remember that I've turned 19, and that I'm turning 20 in 2 months! Odd indeed.

Anyway, it was fun just hanging with the girls, after that horrible SMEG sem, catching up on each other, waiting patiently for their stories to be told, just sitting there having our own "talk show", yakking on and on and on about anything and everything we could think of. It was so relaxing to bask in their presence, sink into the cushioned sofa and watch the animated conversations go back and forth. It was amusing to observe Jill as she tried to look behind her back nonchalantly in order to catch a glimpse of Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres-Gomez (who by the way was stunningly simple and beautiful). Think perfect posture, perfect skin, perfect ponytail. And yet, everything came together not as a glaringly in-your-face type of beauty, but a subtle glow, even as she wore the average white jeans and shirt. As for Richard, let's just say if it was a wee bit darker in the Manila Penn last night, I don't think I'd see him save for his orange shirt. *hehe* I know that sounds mean, but I just didn't really think he would be that tanned! I mean that in the nicest way possible.. *smiles innocently*

Ah yes, you must be wondering why I am typing away here while it's ony 8:16 in the morning. We were supposed to have tennis training today at 7:30 but lo and behold, the courts were wet! And so, because Vane texted that valuable piece of information, halfway to Ateneo, achi and I turned right around and went back home. And so here I am, back to my sedentary lifestyle! (Did you know that sedentary means characterized by or requiring much sitting? Wala lang. I didn't know that's what it mean literally or by definition until a few days ago.)

Anyway, I better go ask permission from my mom if I can play badminton later on with Tersh, Cel (if she goes) and the others. I need my exercise! I don't know if it's going to ruin my tennis, but one day of badminton isn't going to hurt much... I hope! :p