Starstruck and the Salad Crusader

Last night, me and some colleagues here at work chilled out with some of the Avengers - our term for ex-officemates who have resigned from our current company. That has been the largest count of Avengers' attendance ever assembled in one tambay night... at least, that I was aware of.

Attendance...
Avengers: Joyness & Lem, Fungi, Igo, Jan, Donna, J.Lao, Miming, Fred, Lizette, Mike M. & Wife, Kix
Survivors: Obi, Bubungers, Dennies, Koya Jeff

Dinner was at the National Sports Grill in Greenbelt 3.

As usual, everyone was like... "ooooh, pumayat ka Obi ah".... "ampayat mo ngayon".... "oist, in love ka noh".... "para kay Pouty ba yan". Lately, I've been getting a LOT of comments that I am getting thinner. Lalo na sa mga taong matagal kong di nakita.

But first thing first: I don't mean to get thin.

So ayun, dahil ayaw nila ko tantanan sa mga comments nila na pumayat nga ako, kinwento ko na lang kung san ba nagsimula lahat to. Sa seafood antipasto. Sabi ko, wala naman ako pakelam sa katawan ko... mataba man ako o payat, carry kong sikmurain. AND, I'm not much the one who'll impress people with how I look. Kaso nga, nasarapan talaga ako sa salads lately kaya siguro bumagsak ang weight ko kakakain ng damo. At least 10 pounds na din ata nawawala sa 'kin. Kagabi lang mismo ang kinain ko yung Chicken Caesar Salad nila e. Panalo naman, men. Yub yub. Peksman. Pati tuloy sila Joy napa-salad na din.

Kaso yun nga, the trick is to love what you are eating. Kung salad ka nga ng salad pero di ka naman enjoy sa kinakain mo, I'd rather cut it off. Kasi in the end, tatakamin mo lang sarili mo para maghanap at ma-miss yung kung ano talaga ang gusto mo... and when you do, you'll indulge twice as what you can! Mas tataba ka lang. May psychosomatic effect pa since you're degrading your mind of what it craves.

Anyway highway, nasobrahan ata ng kumbinsing powers ang "pagpapa-totoo" ko. Kasi kanina lang sumama na sa 'kin si Koya Jeff bumili ng seafood antipasto. Na-curious siguro. Kinwento ko din kasi na dumating na sa point na pinag-aralan ko na din siya gawin. Hehe. Kakwentuhan ko nga kanina si Manang Salad. I was telling her I was able to replicate their honey mustard dressing. Tawa lang ng tawa. Sabi ko, hindi na bibili sa kanila yung mga ka-opisina ko... sa akin na! *insert evil laugh here*

L-R: Fungi, Mike M. + Wife, Lem, Joyness, Lizette, Dennies, Kix, Fred, Ai, Jan, Obi, Jeff, Jhoanna, Igo

Dahil dyan, gagawa ako ngayon ng listahan kung sinong mga nagsabing pumayat ako... starting yesterday. Trip lang. Tatawagin ko itong...

Obi's Papanchin List (Take 1)
Aileen
Joyness
Fred
Koya Jeff
Kix
Jhoanna
Jane

The Avenger's Night session ended around 11:15pm. Sa uulitin!

*****

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Photo's for posterity! Pao's gig at Ratsky's Malate last March 24.

Pao Chavez, Tita 9, Bruce Wayne

The Fans! - Tita 9, Kimay Idol, Batman, and Ly (at least, present in my heart... yikee!)

Philippine Idol Pao Chavez and Little Miss Philippines Aiza Seguerra

Another Dumb Thriller

"Turistas"
Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

Three vacationists hit the road to splurge on a Brazilian getaway. Along the trip, their bus had an accident that sent the group trapped on a wayward settlement along Brazil's beautiful coastline. Here was where they got to tag along some fellow travellers... two British dudes and an Australian hotty, who was the only one among them who knew how to speak Portuguese. They later discovered a local vista near the accident site and preferred to spend the night there to party with the natives!

Problems started to manifest when they woke up the next day robbed of their possesions. Along their pursuit to find the culprits, they got tangled up with more diffuculties against the inhabitants of a nearby town. One of the more friendly locals, Kiko, offered them safe haven on the deep forest only to find out that they were lead to a more dire situation.

The group was captured by a doctor who runs a human organ smuggling sydnicate and their usual donors were unwilling "gringos" or foreigners. The doctor was able to harvest organs from one of them (open surgery with gore and nudity!!) while the others tried to escape. The hullabaloo ended up with most of them dead except the protagonist siblings and the Australian hotty, and of course with the syndicate and the doctor put to a gruesome end.

The movie was frankly a disappointment to me. I din't expect it to have a good storyline of sorts but I was at least expecting it to be a match in scare-factor with "I Know What You Did Last Summer". But it's not... and to start with, "I Know What You Did..." wasn't much of a thriller anyway! So the comparison will give you much of an idea how uninteresting the movie could get.

There were gory scenes, especially this open surgery to one of the female casts, that could give the viewers the creeps, but those scary portions were either not consistent along the movie OR predictable enough to happen that made its impact really lacking. Cinematography was waaay off during the most crucial part of the film. It started off pretty interesting with the breath-taking captures of Brazil's environs but the sucky parts started during the climax itself with almost a good part of it shot in the dark! I can't see a damn thing for at least a whole third of the movie!

The whole concept of making a torture film out of Turista's storyline was well worth the look in papers. I kinda like the idea of having a mad doc snatching unsuspecting foreigners from the dark and harvesting them of their organs, BUT the way they set these all up into this movie was pitiful. Don't mind the story. It's basically just about a bunch of stranded travellers doing stupid decisions on an unrealistic world. You'll only like this film if you're into chicks in bikinis and nothing else.

With nothing much to say but to bash the movie more, I say you watch it so you could feel me. I'll rate it two gulamans... and I'm still nice about it.

Pagbalik Tanaw

Friday
We regularly go on team gimiks here at the office, a treat from our managers in Sydney to show their appreciation for some jobs-well-done in the past weeks. Last Friday, the treat was at Krocodile Grillery in Greenbelt 3 where we packed our belly to its limits.

Attendance: Obi Doo, Ranger Roy, Ferds, Portia, Ces Josephine, Kring Kring, Miss Mhye, Nheys, Evs, Cha Cha

L-R: Eeeva, Panginoong Chief Boss Mhye, Bungers, David Blaine & the Floating Mango Shake, Ranger Roy, Cha Cha Cha, Nheys, Portia

Meet up in Greenbelt was at around 7pm and I went off from the office ahead of the guys since I have to pass by the grocery to buy salad greens first for the honey mustard dressing I made for Tita 9 and the gang. I arrived at the grillery around 7:25pm and the grogfest commenced!

Grub (everything was in orders of two!): fried chikkin, pork sinigang, sisig!!! (kelangan pa bang i-memorize yan), adobong lechong kangkong, crispy pata, giant squid, baked mussels.

The "thanks-Kroc-Grille-I'm-so-so-bundat" smile!

Pictures gallore and more goofing around, but finally the limit of the guts took its toll and we laid all stuffed up for around 30 minutes more before charging the coffee shops on the first level. Caffeine time at Seattle's Best! Much tox resumed!

Before 9pm, we headed to the cinemas to check out the latest thriller, "Turistas". My commentaries will follow soon but it sucks bigtime to start with. The film was done by some minutes past 11pm and I rushed straight to Tita 9's condo to check out what was the hubbub for Aeron Boy's graduation.

At Seattle's... (stolen ang kuha para sa akin)

Turns out I just missed all the visitors. So I grabbed my honey mustard dressing and the salad greens then prepared everything up so we could just munch it out the next day. I slept over at their place.

Got to talk to Batgurl over the phone for a while. Yey!


Saturday
Woke up early and joined the fray on eating grass. My seafood antipasto was as usual muy apetitoso! Trip na trip ko talaga yung amoy. And it was cool that Idol Pinsan and the rest of the gang liked it. It was basically decimated within 24 hours. My next plan's to prepare another one for my team here at work.

That night, me, Tita 9, and Bubay watched Pao's gig at Ratsky's Malate. Pao Chavez was one of the finalists for Philippine Idol and a close friend of my cousin. Aiza Seguerra and Mau Marcelo, the Philippine Idol winner, performed too. Astig talaga mag gitara ni Aiza. Photo ops with Pao ensued after her performance and before we went back to the condo. I slept over at their place again.

Got to talk to Batgurl over the phone for a while again. Yahoow!


Sunday
From Tita 9's place, I rushed to Kamias to meet the boyz for another gunbang session. The game was back to our sister team's homebase, Camp Masada at San Mateo.

Attendance: Obi Boo, Kuneho Xerxes, Kuneho Neophyte 1, Kuneho Neophyte 2, Zeb Munggo, Garrkid, Junbacca, Storm MacFarlane, val Apocalypse, Gelo Beef, Team Hobby Depot

It was a good day to rapid-fire! My SAR Offizier M41 (temporarily named "Arab Gun") was fixed of its malfunction from last week's game in Libis and with it, I asked Kuneho Man to do some upgrades, increasing the "pain rate" to some 500+ fps on an M140 spring (jargon time). Basically, it's some hundred FPS more "ooomph" than before and the range became longer too. It gots me lotsa kills yesterday!

There was also this scenario where we have to rescue a downed pilot, represented by a medical palanquin, and bring it to a safety point. All of these, while being hunted by a larger party of opponent units. Since I was one of the more mobile member of the rescuing squad, I volunteered to go with the Search and Rescue Team of four (me, Garrdude, Xerxes of Persia, and one of his Neophyte Cousin) while the rest of the group stayed to defend the safety point. At the start of the count, our team rushed uphill to hunt for the palanquin which we were able to secure in record time. Going back to the safety point was the problem. Several enemy squads was able to monitor our movements by then and Garrkid has to separate from our unit to decoy them out of our attention. I was carrying the palanquin with one of Kuneho's cousin, while the God-King Xerxes Kuneho himself, guided us towards the safety point, running and evading BB's whistling past us in hoarde! With deft skills honed from knowing the Camp Masada terrains, we were able to accomplish the mission but not without much challenge! A score for Team SBB! That was one of those scenarios I will never forget in my gunbang career. I skipped a game after that for a much-needed rest.

All in all we had around 12 games that scorching day. Ngayon na lang kami ulit inabot ng gabi sa Masada. That session was well worth it. Masakit ang katawan at ulo naming lahat afterwards but none went home unsatisfied. Dinner ensued at Nato's near Tomas Morato. Astig ang grog on that place. Panalo yung mga ihaw stuffs.

*****

More photos to follow...

"Turista" commentaries to follow...

Busy ako... walang pakelaman.

Pagkaing Kambing

Mahusay! Success yung seafood antipasto ko.

Kagabi, dapat pupuntahan ko tropa ko sa Greenhills para tumambay. Naisip kong wag na muna maglakwatsa. Instead, karipas ako sa grocery sa SM para mamili ng sangkap sa matagal ko nang planong honey mustard dressing. Ayun, pag uwi ko sa bahay niyari ko na agad. Ansarap, men! Natutuwa ako kasi kasing amoy nya talaga yung dressing dun sa seafood antipasto na binibili ko sa salad bar. Tamis-asim! Medyo mas malabnaw lang yung gawa ko pero dinadagdagan lang pala ng extra mayo yun para magka-texture.

Dun ko na rin yun natutunan kung pano kokontrahin yung mga extremes ng lasa. Pag medyo sumobra sa asim, dagdag ng honey. Pag medyo sumobra sa tamis, dagdag ng konting mustard. Pag kulang sa "tang" sa dila yung lasa, dagdagan mo pa ng sibuyas or sobrang konting suka.

Astig nga e.

Ginawan ko din sila Tita 9 at Pinsang Idol kagabi ng extrang dressing. Andito't dadalhin ko sa kanila mamya sa condo after ng gimik ng team namin. Graduation ni Aeron Boy e. Happy happy!! Gusto ko gawan si Pouty, pero alamin ko muna kung trip nya salad.

Sabi ng nanay ko kagabi, "baka talunin mo pa si Juday nyan."

*****

Seafood Antipasto
by Obi Doo

honey mustard dressing:
2 1/2 tablespoon real mayonnaise
2 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoon dijon mustard
1/2 tablespoon cane vinegar
pearl onions
a pinch of salt
a pinch of pepper

*ingredients:
quail eggs
crab sticks
squid
shrimp balls

*salad greens:
lettuce
lollo rosa

* - quantity is as necessary or depending on the amount of servings the honey mustard dressing can accomodate.

preparation for the dressing:
1. mix all the stuffs in a bowl except the pearl onions.
2. whip it good, baby! bate lang ng bate, until you come up with a creamy concoction.
3. you make tikim the sawsawan you made. as mentioned before, you should come up with a tamis-asim taste with a tangy effect on the dila (this is because of the suka). Hehe.. parang taga Assumption magsalita.
4. adjust as necessary if the desired taste is not met. gaya ng nasabi sa taas, gento gawin mo:
> kapag malabnaw = dagdagan mo ng at least isang kutsarang mayonnaise
> kapag maasim masyado = dagdagan pa ng at least one and half kutsarang honey
> kapag kulang sa kiliti sa dila = dagdagan pa ng almost kalahating kutsarang vinegar
> kapag masyadong thick yung mixture = alamin kung ang nagpa thick ay sobrang mayo or sobrang mustard. kung mustard, dagdagan pa ng isang kutsarang mayo. kung mayo, dagdagan pa ng isang kutsarang mustard.
5. some notes on the dressing ingredients:
> ang real mayonnaise ay yung kulay puti lang na mayo. walang halong pickles at ham crumbs. hindi tayo gagawa ng pambaon sa school.
> on honey, mas masaya kung yung pure, unprocessed honey ang gagamitin.
> on mustard, may nabibili na sa grocery na dijon mustards. pero kung wala kayong makitang ganito, malamang hindi pang konyo yung grocery na napuntahan nyo. pwedeng bilihin na lang ay yung mga prepared mustard. eto yung mga regular mustards na nakikita nyong hindi pinapansin sa mga hotdog stands.
> ang cane vinegar ay yung suka na kulay pula. actually, hindi pula. idiomatic expression lang yung "pula". kulay kalawang siya. basta hindi siya yung puting suka na may Datung nakabusangol sa label.
6. after mixing everything up, drop the pearl onions. again, depende ito sa dami ng nagawa mong dressing. pearl onions are these miniature onions just the size of a regular jolens. malas mo lang kung di ka nag jolens nung bata ka. kung wala kang nabiling pearl onions, pwede ring gumamit nung white sibuyas. chop it to small cubes and put into the mixture as mentioned.
7. mix again, then refrigerate. this is best served cold.

preparation for the other ingredients:
1. ilaga mo lang lahat: quail eggs, crab sticks, squid, shrimp balls. sabi ng nanay ko dapat konti lang ang tubig para hindi malabsak ang pagkaka-laga. kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng "malabsak", don't worry... hindi ko rin alam.
2. balatan ang quail eggs. gayatin to strips ang crab sticks. chop the shrimp balls into halves. remove the squid's head and tentacles. di natin siya gagamitin. ipakain kay lolo. slice the squid into thin parts.
3. itabi lang muna. pwede namang hindi bumili ng lahat ng ingredients na yan. hindi yan sapilitan. pwedeng kahit at least two of the stuffs mentioned lang.

preparation for the serving:
1. on a plate, cut the lettuce and lollo rosa to serving sizes. teka, lollo rosa nga pala ang tawag dun sa parang pechay na kulay violet. kasama siya palagi sa mga salad. meron nito sa mga konyong grocery.
2. kunin yung tinabing sahog. arrange them around the salad greens as preferred. ako, mas gusto ko nasa gitna yung mga itlog ng pugo. walang pakelaman ng trip sa parteng eto.
3. ilabas yung pinalamig na honey mustard dressing at ibuhos sa salad mix.

Enjoy!!

*****

Antipasto - any of various different foods served at the beginning of an Italian meal. It literally means "before food" in Italian. Also called "antipasti".

Pick a Pic

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

A friend in New York passed me this online personality test. The idea is to pick pictures from their catalogue and from that, they will interpret your personality. What's weird was that their analysis of me was at least 80% accurate. Galing!

Click the "Read my VisualDNA" link to check their interpretations on my choices. Those pictures that I've picked were also showcased on the window above. To try the test, just click the "Get your own VisualDNA" link.

Here's a summary of the accurate stuffs they've evaluated out of my picks:

1. Mood: Wild Cat - You're a bit of a romantic (bet you... hindi lang "bit" haha). You love feeling the sea breeze in your hair, sun on your skin... When it comes to art, you're definitely unconventional. You like to think differently, always from another perspective (fine... weirdo na kung weirdo). You have a good sense of humour (wushus!). As for music, for you... it's a bit of self expression. It helps you let off steam.

2. Fun: Conqueror - You love physical activity - you've got a real spirit for adventure (so me!). There is nothing like a little affection to give you a buzz. There is never enought time to love (pag "love" na ang usapan talo talo na lahat ng activities ko sa buhay... haha)! You'll go anywhere as long as there's sea and sand (beach!!).

3. Habits: New Wave Puritan - Even if you have a healthy approach to life, a craving hunger drives your needs ! You care about your health and makes sure you're putting in the right stuff in. You like your home to be as stylish as you are (let's put it this way, I want my home to be designed on my OWN concept of "style" not on the stereotypical fashion, "stylish" is so posh a word to describe it haha).

4. Love: Love Bug - You're a real romantic and a bit of a dreamer (hehe so so me!). OK, life may not be a movie, but what's wrong with thinking it is (guilty!)? When you think of freedom, you think of love (yeba!). The comfort of being loved makes you feel free with your thoughts and words (I'm a love hooligan).

No Rest for the Weekend!

Friday (after work)
Fortress, Virramall, Greenhills
Attendance: Crispybeef Ribs, Obidoo, Little John
*Hang out with the boyz.
*Played this card game we're all hooked on.

Friday (after Virramall)
Hobby Haven, near Ateneo Gate 3, Katipunan
Attendance: Jake Pookiemonster, Jumping Johnny, Kuya Pork, Little John, Crispybeef Ribs, Obidoo, SJ, Chico
*Hang out with the boyz.
*Grub's at "Kubo", just across Miriam College's gate. Their sisig's good, in fairness.
*Grogged down this rhum choco Jake Pookimonster has bought us. I still prefer Bailey's over that concoction.

Friday (after Hobby Haven)
Shax, Kamias
Attendance: lots! the boyz just trickled in and out in packs!
*Played this card game we're all hooked on.
*Hang out with the boyz, till three in the morning.
*It was officially Jake's birthday already. Happy Birthday, Great Maw!!!

Saturday (after waking up at two in the afternoon)
UP - College of Fine Arts, UP Diliman
Attendance: Pork, Kamote Emp, Pookiemonster, Panty Man, Obidoo, Bozz Beef
*Hang out with the boyz and the thugs of IPMS. The place was overflowing with students since it was thesis defence season!
*The Great Maw has two humongous plastic containers of sphagetti in tow... pasta fest!

Saturday (after UP-CFA)
Hobby Haven, near Ateneo Gate 3, Katipunan
Attendance: Pantyman, Pork, Obidoo, Bozz Beef, Chico, SJ, Jumping Johnny
*Played this network game, teaming up with Gelo, and totally annihilated the other team (Pork and Mussolini).

Saturday (after Hobby Haven)
Shax, Kamias
Attendance: lots!
*Hang out with the boyz.
*Ate at a local carinderia "sa kabilang kanto". Dating gawi: Beef with Mushrooms!

Sunday (after waking up at eight in the morning)
Shell - Meralco Avenue, Ortigas
Attendance: Obidoo, Jubay, Garrkid, Munggo, Kuneho, Kuneho Cousin 1, Kuneho Cousin 2, Kuneho Sis, Super Inggo, Rommel Springstein
*Breakfast.
*Meet up for the day's gunbang session.

Sunday (after the Ortigas meet-up)
Baghdad near Eastwood City, Libis
Attendance: Obidoo, Jubay, Garrkid, Munggo, Kuneho, Kuneho Cousin 1, Kuneho Cousin 2, Kuneho Sis, Super Inggo, Rommel Springstein, Rickeso, Papa Storm
*It was a good day to kick some arse. I myself needed an outlet to channel what romanticism has stirred in me. Shoot, bang bang time!
*Ariel's counterpart Maverick was present and was playing as part of our arch-enemy, Team Nemesis. Too bad, we totally annihilated them in two scenarios. Sending em packing home for some reasons early in the afternoon (maybe the egos can't swallow utter defeat). Bah!

That's me in the red circle. I know you can barely see it, but actually there were two more dudes in this pic, joining me in my assault on an abandoned barber shop where the enemies are defending. The dude who took this shot was a sniper from atop the shop (after we peppered him with BB bullets, of course).

Sunday (after the airsoft games)
Molo's, Sikatuna Village, Kamias
Attendance: Garrkid, Jubay, Obidoo
*Grub time.
*Some serious tox (yeps, we're capable of that) regarding our misadventures on the Wild Frontier of Womenland, as Quicksilver would call it. Their recounts of tales of romanticism and ardent saga made me revitalize my quest to pursue the One True Lady of my Heart... Batgurl!
*"When to stop and when not to?" that is the Hot Topic of the Council that night as both me and the Quicksilver could just as easily prey and relate upon that subject.
*Personally, as long as the heart beats a green light, why stop? It could hurt sometimes to feel not reciprocated but there's a reason for everything. And as long you don't know for sure what's the reason, walking away's a cowardly act. For me, there's a good reason why you have this feeling on someone and if that feeling's true, that red light should not be showing up for quite sometime. Giving up is not an option, if what you feel is true. It's just confusing sometimes on how you should perceive her signals. But kamon mamon, girls yan e... they were never meant to be crystal clear... we always have to interpret their ways. I'll give it to her, if that's the only way to understand her more. Yeba!

Sunday (after Molo's)
Shax, Kamias
Attendance: Garrkid, Jubay, Obidoo, Topher
*Hang out with the boyz.
*Rushed back home to meet the bro...

Happy Birthday, Spongklong!!!

Green Revolution

Strangely, I'm on a "green" diet for three weeks now with salads on top of my preference.

I was never conscious about what my body looks like and was not even close to be called a health buff. I've gone on gyms and pushed weights, but tis because my tropa were there with me and "fun" was a prior reason before the fact of seeing me-self with greasy "maskels". Kadiri nga sa lalake yung ganung mamutok-mutok ang maskels e... at least, in my opinion. Yun nga hindi ko maintindihan with girls eh. Some would swear for their chunky musclemen.

Lumalayo na. Back on topic, it was several days ago that my friends here at work introduced me to this salad store, one lunch time. I seldom go out to buy lunch since most of the times my mom prepares baon for me (sabi ko sa inyo mama's boy ako e) but I assure that when I don't have my baon, I buy really mucho big time meals. That day at the salad store was not an exemption. I had this full serving of seafood antipasto that was really "muy delicioso!", as how Dora the Explorer would say it.

Di na ako nag baon on the following days after that. Instead, I've tried every salad concoctions I could find around the area or when available, even those of the fastfood chains' (Jolleebug, MikDonelds, KFZ). Masarap siya talaga. I've been eating salads before but I haven't appreciated it like how I do now, and I guess it was triggered by the seafood antipasto. Wala akong pakelam sa health benefits niya and stuffs, basta nasasarapan ako sa kanya. Yun yun.

So, since I've been furthering my attempts to distract me-self from the hurting sting of the love bug, I decided to challenge my skills again: I will learn how to prepare a seafood antipasto!

*grins*

Astig 'to. Must resist lonesome. Busog pa ako.

I started scouring the net for guidelines and even talked to one of the store's sales ladies to give me a hint regarding the salad. Matapos ang konting pambobola, she gave me this brochure that has a list of the basic ingredients for their products. It's pretty straightforward to prepare as most salads are. The secret lies on how you'll prepare the dressing. Yun yung nagpasarap sa antipasto nila e. Sabi ko nga ke Manang Salad, pag nahuli ko pano gawin yung antipasto, magtatayo ako ng salad bar sa mismong tabi nila para kumpitensyahin sila e. Bwehehehe. Tawa naman si Manang.

So ayun, I'll gonna post the recipe as soon as I was able to succesfully prepare one. My progress is good with the fact that I was able to identify the basic stuffs I'll be needing and the measurements on how those will be mixed up. Nakakuha na din ako ng kopya ng paggawa ng honey mustard dressing for salads.

Ready na ko. Nag iisip na lang ako ng araw kung kelan gagawa.

Other salads of preference:
Tropicana
Buko Lychee
Waldorf
McDo's Garden Salad
KFC's Chicken Salad - Asian Dressing
Tuna Macaroni
Wendy's Salad Bar

*****

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Taenang kanta talaga yan. Infectious.

This one's the actual movie edit of the song, performed by Hugh Grant and Haley Bennett. Cute cute ni Haley on this scene. Kahit fair-skinned siya, and I was not much into it (exempted si Batgurl syemps), her chinky eyes made it all.

Paulit ulit na nga tumutugtog dito sa PC ko eh, and pinches me right smack in the heart everytime. Ika nga ng lola ko, "ahaaaay."

Way Back Into Love

Lyrics - Way Back Into Love

Been singing (ok fine... humming!) this song the whole day. I have a copy of its mp3 that an officemate gave me several weeks ago. It's actually from the soundtrack of the film "Music and Lyrics" which I haven't watched yet, starring Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant.

I find the song really cute, especially the demo version (featured in YouTube below) by Drew and Hugh. There's this more "arranged" version of it sung by Hugh and the other lead actress of the movie, Haley Bennett, but the natural feel of how the song below was arranged is so so cuter. I also have to learn how to play this in a guitar and piano soon. Can't wait to learn how to play it, really. I was already scouring the net for chords and riffs.

The lyrics is so romantic that it ticked the starry-eyed bozo in me. It practically said almost EVERYTHING I wanted to tell my ladylove.

The first time I heard the song, it clicked on me right away. It din't made me want to watch the movie but since then, I was always playing the music here in my workplace... most of the time while staring blankly outside the window beside me, 21 stories high to dreamy-landia... makes me want to fall in love with her several thousand times over to the nth power!

Ok, enough.

Way Back Into Love

I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need `em again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
Ohhhhh

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere

I've been looking for someone to shed some light
Not somebody just to get me through the night
I could use some direction
And I'm open to your suggestions

All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart again
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end

There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration
Not just another negotiation

All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end

Tatlong Daan

Friday
Punta kami ni Romydoo sa "Fortress"... shop slash tambayan ng tropa sa Greenhills. Tambay lang tas laro ng cards. After nila magsara around 9pm, tambay na kami sa Shak. Hanggang mag-sawa na yun.


Saturday
Walang magawa sa bahay. Home Alone 2. Kasi dalawa lang kami ng utol kong naiwan sa bahay. Gets? Hehe. May tournament ng Warhammer sa Galleria. Pero hindi ako nakagising ng maaga para sumali. Sino ba naman sisipagin gumising ng maaga kung alas-tres ka na nakatulog last night?? Miss ko pa din si Batgurl, badly. I need distractions. Must resist lonesome. Haha. Kaya hinatak ko kapatid ko para manood ng "300". Maganda daw sabi ng mga kolokoys sa Shak na pinanood yung pelikula nung birthday ko... e ayoko naman mahuli sa kwentuhan. Dumaan muna kami sa condo nila Tita 9 bago naglakad papuntang Rob Place.


300
Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

Adapted from a graphic novel, "300" depicted the historical Battle of Thermopylae during the ancient Hellenic period. The story (if there's much to recount) revolved around the Spartan King Leonidas, who summoned 300 of his best Spartan warriors to stall the impending invasion of the Persians so that a bigger contingent of the Greek army could reinforce the city-states' defense. Despite prohibition by the Law of Sparta, foreboding of the Oracle, and unawareness of the Spartan Council, the King marched to war upon the mountain pass of Thermopylae, facing overwhelming odds and defeating a hefty number of the invading forces. Back in Sparta, the Queen Gorgo was fighting her own battle... to request the Council to send backup to his husband's warband. To no avail! The Spartan army's eventual collapse started when a Spartan outcast, Ephialtes, defected to the Persian God-King Xerxes and divulged a secret passage through the mountains which gave the Persian soldiers an advantage to outmaneuver the dwindling Spartan numbers. In the end, King Leonidas and his 300 warriors were literally butchered to submission before the Greek reinforcement arrived.

The movie doesn't have much to flaunt in regards to the storyline but the special effects, film settings, and costumes are awesome! When asked by my peers what I could say about the movie, I just tell em, "It's like a 'dark Troy' without an interesting plotline". It was jampacked with battle scenes, all of em are worth the effort of the filmmakers and are among the best I've seen so far. I like how the cinematographers conveyed Frank Miller's* sinister appeal on his graphic novels into the movie. Everything has a dark, gloomy theme on it that I could feel the melancholic air like I was inside the film itself.

*Frank Miller is the author of the graphic novel of the same title, where the film was based.

I see not much of a flaw on how the actors portrayed their roles. Gerard Butler (King Leonidas) has been very convincing with his part as a stubborn leader, and so as his leading lady Lena Headey (Queen Gorgo) who was very effective playing the part of a bold wife (no pun intended, you'll see in the movie why), willing to confront anything for what she upholds and for the love of his husband and land. Special kudos goes to Rodrigo Santoro who was the God-King Xerxes of Persia in the film. He acted the part so well but I dunno if they really intended him to look and act implicatively like a homosexual.

Summing it up, the aesthetic brilliance of the movie has well compensated with the simplicity of the story. Epic lovers will sure dig this one but those that are indifferent with gore and violence should rather not try to watch it. Six gulamans.

*End of Spoiler

Umuwi din kami agad ni Utol. May kinita lang ako saglit para kunin yung books na pinadala ko from Canada. Gasgas na naman budget ko. When does the spending ends?!? Hehehe. Pagdating ng bahay nagyaya si Idol Pinsan manood ng gig ni Paw (Pao??). Gusto ko sana bumalik ng Baywalk kaso binalak ko puntahan si Iday kinabukasan sa Convergys Group of Islands kaya minabuti ko na lang matulog para maka-gising ng maaga...

...to no avail.



Sunday

Takbong pagong yung nasakyan ko papuntang Mount Convergys at tantsa kong di ko aabutan si Pouty. Olats. Ayun, awa ng Diyos, hindi nga. Nagtext siya na nasa bahay na siya ng Pinunong Lider niya. Better luck next time, Boy.

Kalungkutan. Manigas ako sa miss!

Must resist lonesome.

Dumiretso na kami ng San Mateo, Rizal for the day's round of airsoft games. Masaya naman yung mga laro.

Screaming BB's & Friends Attendance: Obi Gyne, Zeb Munggo, Kuneho, Jubay Bomber, Garrbhoy, Pinsan ni Kuneho, Jengski, Hansy, Lloyd, Rommel, Super Inggo, Sir Val, Storm, Kornpleks

Got me early kills, umpisa pa lang ng games. Tis a good sign from the gods of BB poppers! The rest of the days' games wasn't bad either. Walang masyadong makunat sa mga visiting forces na nakalaban namin. My personal favorite was this one scenario na 18 lang kami against around 30-strong enemies and we'll have to defend an objective in the middle of a low hill. We were able to hold the line and win the scenario but I was among the five casualties of the 18-man defender. Too much heroics, I say.

L-R: Lalakeng Pugot ang Katawan, Karakter na may Inaabangan sa Likod, Garrkid, Karakter 1, Karakter 2, Ako (sideview), Karakter 3, Sir Val, Karakter 4.

Ang galing. Ganyan sila ka-familiar sa akin pag nakamaskara.

Much talks ensued. Nabalitaan kong semplang yung isa kong brod sa pag-ibig at yung isa naman ay dumadaan sa isang "difficult terrain". Nakakatakot. Ako na ba daw susunod? Hahaha. I know we din't deserve any of this but such are the vagaries of love. And I, despite being the youngest amongst them, should know better about it based from our experiences in the past.... in my honest opinion, at least.

"It's that you've loved in the end that matters!", ika nga.

Potangenang hirit yan. Ako ba yan?!? Hahaha. Balik Shak kami afterwards, tambay, tas kain lang sa Molo's sa Sikatuna, tas uwi na din.

Nagbasa lang ako ng nagbasa sa bahay hanggang sa makatulugan ko ang pagbabasa. Must resist lonesome. For in lonesome, I think of things that I hate NOT thinking of but pains me to think SO MUCH.

Taeng tae!

One Week Celebration

I got home around 9pm last night. It was the earliest time I arrived in our house since Friday last week. The latest was a couple of minutes past 3 o'clock in the morning (and I have work on the same day... hehe). I was welcomed with greets and cheers but the feel of the celebration was apparently starting to expire. It was already late and the visitors were already done with their dinner, that's why. They were just only waiting for me to show up.

Attendance: Mommy Groovy, Utal Bon, Utol Long, Badong the Bayaw, Tita Grasya, Tita Linda, Enggam, Captain de Vera, Ninang Helen

I was delayed by several sidetrips on my way home: bought ten of this dirtcheap cheesburgers that I'm really really fond of, a big bunch of choco butternut and honey dipped munchkins, at syempre... tumaya ako sa lotto!

Birthday ko e... malay ko ba baka manalo.

My numbers:
A: 04, 07, 16, 22, 26, 37
B: 04, 07, 22, 34, 37, 44
C: 04, 07, 21, 24, 35, 40
D: 01, 07, 23, 26, 29, 42
E: 04, 07, 12, 22, 42, 43

Din't really pay much contemplation on picking my numbers. Yung iba may meaning, yung iba wala. Kung ano lang maguhitan ko, yun na yun. I checked the results this morning and the best I got was two numbers. Crap. Not my time to be a zillionaire.

Goin' home, I munched on one of the cheeseburgers. Gutom na ko e, at ako lang naman laman ng jeep. Inalok ko pa nga si Koya Tsuper. Sabi ko birthday ko. Hehe. Check how pity the picture was: me, alone on a ragtag jeepney munching on a cheap burger, singing "Happy birthday to me..." in my head, and Koya Tsuper with his "I don't give a crap" scowl. Sniff sniff.

Hahaha.

The real deal was that the Shak Boyz were all in Greenhills to watch "300", my college friends, were elsewhere partying themselves on a reunion of sorts, my HP chums were on the hardcourt playing basketball and Jai was asking me if I would want to watch a movie. I could as easily be on the go that day but I'd personally chosen to be at home... to be with my loved ones on my birthday. Still, it felt incomplete. I was at least expecting three special people to greet me. All failed! Buti pa si Bonita, naka-alala kahit nasa Amerika at busy sa trabaho. Grumble grumble. Anyway, nothing a good food can't hide! Verily, the surest way to a man's heart is through his stomach!

Grub of the night: pansit malabon, lumpiang shanghai, cake, burgers, donuts, macaroni soup, bopis, cox

Unang hirit ni Ninang Helen pag dating ko, "Oh, bakit wala kang date?!?"

Gulp. *ngiti*

Nasa isip ko nun, "I did my best, Ninang... but I guess, my best wasn't good enough. I think, she din't even know it was my birthday." Hee hee hee.

"Now if only you can lend me a pumpkin that turns into a Porsche, some rodents that turn into a driver and bodyguards, a pair of glass slippers, and a magic that could turn me to look like Piolo until midnight, then maybe I could find a decent date right now."

Hahaha. Astig.

Anyway, after everyone left, I just went back to painting my miniatures. What a day. Madami pang pahabol na bumati sa akin... some of em where like "representatives" of those I was waiting for. *smirk*

Two Decades and a Half Plus One

Happy Birthday, Randell!!!

*Kung may font kayong "Webdings", ang ibig sabihin ng mga simbolong yan ay "Happy Birthday, Randell!!!" Wooot!!!

Last night, after passing by Mikdonelds to buy me-self some salad and a sundae, I went to Romy's office in Greenbelt. He offered a ride to Da Shak for my spawning day's humble feast. Before that though, we swinged past the EDSA rush hour traffic and dropped by the Elbow Room in Metrowalk to bide time with some chillax games of billiards and a chug of alcohol. It was already a couple of minutes before 9pm when we arrived at Da Shak.

Da Ork Hoarde Attendanz: Kamote Emp, Jeng, Romyboo, Kuneho, Jubay, Orthos, Kim Possible, Ako Syempre, Koya Pork, John Liit, Jumping Johnny, Phatboi Jason, Chilly Arvs, Kapitan Joma, Jake "The Great Maw" Pookiemonster, Garrkid, Topher, Doc Komax, Jakob Le Croissant, Anito the Nurgle Dog, Pusakal (Pusang Kalye), Angelica Panganiban, Katrina Halili

Kalhati ng CrowdFrom L-R: The Great Maw, Kapitan Joma, Obidoo, Kuneho, Le Croissant, Phatboi, Romyboo, Orthos

Pork was busy cooking the noodles for the ispageyti and frying the hotdawgs. Arvs prepared the sauce that morning, a mix of Pinoy style sauce and corned beef strips. Yub yub! Jakob and Arvs arrived from nowhere land with lotsa bottles of cox and a pan of pansit bihon. More grub!

All wiped out in less than an hour after serving! Kapow!

Without much to stuff (and appease) their maws, the boyz reverted back to the usual heckling and jesting gallore! Truly, the Shak should have a 24 hour spycam installed there to televise what the best of reality TV shows should be!!

Garrik arrived from his ladylove offensive. Kuneho scrammed home to complete his 8-hour sleeping regiment. Jubay rushed elsewhere to fetch the missus, Emp in tow probably doing the same! Bah... married life! Belat!

Jumping Johnny and Little John, fingers itching to beat a mouse, prompted a Counter Strike night for da boyz! Foiled by Mad Doc Marco, as he arrived and dragged the boyz to Katipunan instead for a "Company of Heroes" game. The rest of the boyz who were not playing with us dispersed to their own lairs.

Chico and SJ re-opened their computer shop exclusively for Da Shak Boyz! It was strangely quiet in Katipunan that night... or it could be that we were just being typically boisterous again. After the PC battles, I also played this new card game I was getting hooked into - World of Warcraft. That pretty lasted the time for me until the midnight bells rang, signalling that it's officially my birthday! Lots of birthday greetings ensued, in addition to those dudes who were already texting and calling me earlier that night. Todos gracias!

Quick stats:

Greeted me in person (chronological order)
Romy (seconds after midnight!)
SJ
Jakob
Da rest of da boyz
Mommy Groovy
Miss Fe
Ranger Roy
The rest of the Sandstoners

Greeted me in SMS (chronological order)
Idol Aina, Pinuno ng Kultong Ahay
Jell, Supplier ng Malulupit na Quotes
Bonita, Stateside Friend
Ava Joy, Bonita's Sis... Ninang Stateside ng Kambal
Tita Grasya
Enggam
Star, Escolar Tropa
Sangkatropahang Labo Labo
Kapitan Espiritu and Family
Badong the Bayaw
Gwing, Escolar Tropa
Grasya, Escolar Tropa
Ayn the Flash Girl, Justice League-HP
Quel, Escolar Tropa

Greeted me in YM (chronological order)
April the 3D Loser, Sandstoner
Jeng Jeng, Escolar Friend
Captain Dennies Sparrow, Sandstoner
Dan the Flash, Justice League-HP
Mary Jane... Datu Vampire, Sandstoner
Chiqui Jhoanna, Sandstone Avengers
Sandamakmak na Sandstoner
Shy, Escolar Friend in UK
Starstruck Kid, Justice League-HP
Green Lantern Wacha, Justice League-HP
Cherry

Greeted me in Email and the Web (chronological order)
Menchie Dirt, Sandstoner (Astig ng E-card!)
Sangkatauhan ng Justice League-HP
Sheila, Bonita's Cousin
Sangkatauhan ng Rolling Hills Gaming Club Forums
Ate Neng the German Mermaid
Elle
CK Cabasaan, Escolar Friend

*****

I'm sure I was not accurate with my lists but nevertheless, maraming maraming salamats! Sa mga nakalimutan ko ilagay... belat! Hehe.

Awaiting me at home is another humble feast, kaso hindi pa ako makauwi dahil late na ako kanina. Three hours pa lang ang tulog ko tas di pa kumpleto ang birthday ko so far. Ahuhuhuy! Dugo duguan ang puso. At this point malabo na talaga yung gusto kong dinner. Assssaaaa.

*insert more drama here with matching cry cry habang naliligo sa shower ng may suot pang damit at umiiling-iling habang sinusuntok ang tiles ng CR at luhaan*

Pag-ibig nga naman...

...ika nga ni Jason Phatboi:
"Magpaturo ka kay Arvin kung paano mag multiplayer sa abacus."

Hehe, oo walang relevance sa kwento. Trip ko lang ilagay. Patok sya sa kin e.

Short Break

Going to head straight to Da Shak tonight for my advanced birthday celebration. Di na rin ganun ka-advanced since most likely dun na ako aabutan ng March 7 mamaya. I've told the denizens last night about my humble feast and I was expecting at least around 8 to 10 of 'em to show up sa tambayan mamaya.

Nag grocery kami ni Crispy kagabi bago umuwi. Ispageti, sang kilong hotdogs, at maraming Cox... ayus na yun! Jakob told me he's gonna add up more grog since it'L be his birthday this Friday too. Dami talaga naming Marso.

I was also there at Da Shak last night, and got home around three in the morning already. Tambay lang, as usual, na parang hindi Lunes. So basically, around four hours pa lang ang tulog ko. Hehe. It was an inviting thing to do when you're at Da Shak. With so much brainless fun and sensible talks there, you could easily past time like there's no tomorrow.

Speaking of... tomorrow's plan was to put up another humble feast for our home. Mairaos laang ang birthday ko at ang aking pag-uumpisang magbilang ng pabaligtad. Hehe. Hopefully, makapag dinner kami nila Idol and Pouty bukas before the latter goes to work. Di ko pa sila nakokontak pero mukang malabo-labo pa naman yun anyway. But it's just worth the try. Miss ko na masyado si Batgurl.

Otherwise, what I have in mind for the folks at home are pizzas, pansit (op kors pampahaba ng buhay!), lumpiang shanghai, ice cream, and maybe anything that I might come across along the way home (sana may kwekwek... papakyawin ko!).

The End.

Kuwentong Tambay Part Tres

Matagal-tagal na din palang nakauwi si Kumpareng Julius galing sa Japan. Pero nitong Biyernes lang siya nagparamdam kaya biglaang kinailangang lipulin ang sangkatropahan para kamutin ang aming mga makakating paa. Kaya gamit ang namamagang hinlalaki, sinikap kong teksan ang sanlibutan para sa walang kaabog-abog na biglaang lakaran.

Mga karakter na sumang-ayon sa paglaboy: Julius, Jay Mola, Bossing Jon, Star (hindi totoong pangalan), Gwing, Karakter Jay, Randell (oo, ako yan)

Kaya matapos mag banat ng buto sa trabaho, tumakbo ako ng Malate para kitain si Kumpareng Julius. Alas diyes pa ang usapan pero maaga akong sumapit sa Malate kaya tumambay na lang ako sa Istarbuko sa Adriatico. Buti na lang dala ko sa higanteng backpack ko ang aking libro kaya para akong otistik na nagsolo sa isang sulok. Relaks lang.

Pagdating ni Kumpare, matinding kamustahan muna bago kami humataw papuntang Blue Wave. Dun na namin hinintay yung mga iba pang karakter na dumating habang kumain muna kami sa Jullibee. Na-miss daw ni Kumpare e. Pag dating nung mga karakter, tambay at laklak alak lang kami habang nakikinig sa banda. Ganda nung bokalista nung Tribe of Levi, kamuka ni Batgurl. Na-miss ko tuloy. Kaso galabo ng kuha ko. Mahiyain kasi ako sa personal at kahit sandamakmak ang nagpapakuhang estranghero sa kanya, di ko nakuhang kapalan ang apog ko't magkandarapa din.


Kaya eto lang nakuhaan ko. Olats. Sige magkanda pikit ka kaka-sipat! Sinabi na ngang galabo e.

Matapos namin marindi sa ingay ng banda, napagtripan naming tumakbo ng Tagaytay. Taga dun kasi si Jay Mola. Alanya, hindi pa nag iinit ang palad ko sa PSP, nasa Tagaytay na kami. Pinalipad ni Mola yung sasakyan na parang sa akin naka pangalan ang titulo ng lupa nung highway na dinaanan namin. Umistambay lang kami sa Istabuko Tagaytay at kwentuhang malupit. Galamig. Si Mola lang ang may jacket. Ang hirap ng taga patag, hindi handa sa gentong klima. Buti pa yung mga jologs sa Glorietta, naka jacket kahit hitik ang init sa Maynila.

Mga alas sinko na nang sumunod na umaga kami nakapag-isip umuwi. Wag nang itanong kung baket. Kinilatis pa namin ng maigi yung bagong sasakyan ni Kumpare e. Gaganda. Sportivo na modelo.


Sikreto ng mga gwapo: magandang sasakyan na may astig na audio. Yung bumabayo. Konyong konyo. Kahit anong baluga mo, basta gento oto mo, parang kasing gwapo mo si Aga Mulach dyan pre. Wan klik mga tsikas sayo. Aprub!

Seryosong Hirit: Personally, I don't think highly of girls having boyfriends with gaudy automobiles, especially when it was obvious that it was the car they fell in love with. As for the guys, it's a debasement of your ego, man... if you certainly knew you were loved just because of your car, then I'd rather see the bitch off my Porsche... if you certainly knew you were loved just because of your car AND done nothing about it, then TANGA ka! May gamot sa bobo, sa tanga wala!

Nyahahahaha!

Pambansang Chicha

After several months of absence sa tambayan sa UP, nagkita na ulit kami ng istante ni Manong Fishball sa Fine Arts last Saturday... sa wakas! Well, sana magka reunion naman kami ni Manong Fishball himself bukas kung sakaling dun ulit tatambay ang tropa. Miss ko na ang kwekwek nya!

Segue way.

Napag usapan din lang ang kwekwek, pinalitan ko recently ang Friendster profile ko. Dahil matapos ang ilang buwan, napagwari ko na may isang tao pa pala akong dapat makilala... ang nag imbento ng masarap at malinamnam na kwekwek! Ang pagkaing bumuhay sakin nung ako'y isang hamak at dukhang estudyante pa lamang sa Mendiola.


Who I Want to Meet:

Yung nag imbento ng kwekwek.
Marami kasi akong gusto itanong sa kanya:


1. Bakit orange ang ginamit na artificial coloring? Pwede namang violet.

2. Totoo bang si Manong Fishball at si Manong Kwekwek ay iisa?

3. Maari bang ibalot sa orange na harina ang itlog ng ostrich? Ng tao? Kwekwek pa din ba ang tawag dito? Ipaliwanag.

4. Ano ang pinagkaiba ng buknoy, bechechetlog, quail eggs, at tukneneng sa kwekwek? At bakit?

5. Ilang kwekwek sa tingin nya ang kaya ko ubusin sa loob ng isang minuto?

6. Ano ang sikreto sa marketing success ng pagbebenta nito? (Bukod sa advertising ni Obi)

7. Payag kaya siyang gawing pambansang laman-tiyan ang kwekwek? Defend your answer.

*****

Personally, though, hindi makatao ang presyong dos sa isang pirasong kwekwek. Sana kay Manong Fishball one fifty pa din.

You can check out Manong Fishball's Friendster account by typing "Manong Fishball" sa Search function ng Friendster. May lalabas na dalawang account. Peke yung unang taga Caloocan. Panis yun dun sa orig na Manong Fishball ng UP-CFA! Yung pangalawang lalabas na account sa search results... yung taga Krus na Ligas. Mabuhay ka Manong Fishball! Discount!

Starstruck and the Salad Crusader

Last night, me and some colleagues here at work chilled out with some of the Avengers - our term for ex-officemates who have resigned from our current company. That has been the largest count of Avengers' attendance ever assembled in one tambay night... at least, that I was aware of.

Attendance...
Avengers: Joyness & Lem, Fungi, Igo, Jan, Donna, J.Lao, Miming, Fred, Lizette, Mike M. & Wife, Kix
Survivors: Obi, Bubungers, Dennies, Koya Jeff

Dinner was at the National Sports Grill in Greenbelt 3.

As usual, everyone was like... "ooooh, pumayat ka Obi ah".... "ampayat mo ngayon".... "oist, in love ka noh".... "para kay Pouty ba yan". Lately, I've been getting a LOT of comments that I am getting thinner. Lalo na sa mga taong matagal kong di nakita.

But first thing first: I don't mean to get thin.

So ayun, dahil ayaw nila ko tantanan sa mga comments nila na pumayat nga ako, kinwento ko na lang kung san ba nagsimula lahat to. Sa seafood antipasto. Sabi ko, wala naman ako pakelam sa katawan ko... mataba man ako o payat, carry kong sikmurain. AND, I'm not much the one who'll impress people with how I look. Kaso nga, nasarapan talaga ako sa salads lately kaya siguro bumagsak ang weight ko kakakain ng damo. At least 10 pounds na din ata nawawala sa 'kin. Kagabi lang mismo ang kinain ko yung Chicken Caesar Salad nila e. Panalo naman, men. Yub yub. Peksman. Pati tuloy sila Joy napa-salad na din.

Kaso yun nga, the trick is to love what you are eating. Kung salad ka nga ng salad pero di ka naman enjoy sa kinakain mo, I'd rather cut it off. Kasi in the end, tatakamin mo lang sarili mo para maghanap at ma-miss yung kung ano talaga ang gusto mo... and when you do, you'll indulge twice as what you can! Mas tataba ka lang. May psychosomatic effect pa since you're degrading your mind of what it craves.

Anyway highway, nasobrahan ata ng kumbinsing powers ang "pagpapa-totoo" ko. Kasi kanina lang sumama na sa 'kin si Koya Jeff bumili ng seafood antipasto. Na-curious siguro. Kinwento ko din kasi na dumating na sa point na pinag-aralan ko na din siya gawin. Hehe. Kakwentuhan ko nga kanina si Manang Salad. I was telling her I was able to replicate their honey mustard dressing. Tawa lang ng tawa. Sabi ko, hindi na bibili sa kanila yung mga ka-opisina ko... sa akin na! *insert evil laugh here*

L-R: Fungi, Mike M. + Wife, Lem, Joyness, Lizette, Dennies, Kix, Fred, Ai, Jan, Obi, Jeff, Jhoanna, Igo

Dahil dyan, gagawa ako ngayon ng listahan kung sinong mga nagsabing pumayat ako... starting yesterday. Trip lang. Tatawagin ko itong...

Obi's Papanchin List (Take 1)
Aileen
Joyness
Fred
Koya Jeff
Kix
Jhoanna
Jane

The Avenger's Night session ended around 11:15pm. Sa uulitin!

*****

Commercial:
Photo's for posterity! Pao's gig at Ratsky's Malate last March 24.

Pao Chavez, Tita 9, Bruce Wayne

The Fans! - Tita 9, Kimay Idol, Batman, and Ly (at least, present in my heart... yikee!)

Philippine Idol Pao Chavez and Little Miss Philippines Aiza Seguerra

Another Dumb Thriller

"Turistas"
Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

Three vacationists hit the road to splurge on a Brazilian getaway. Along the trip, their bus had an accident that sent the group trapped on a wayward settlement along Brazil's beautiful coastline. Here was where they got to tag along some fellow travellers... two British dudes and an Australian hotty, who was the only one among them who knew how to speak Portuguese. They later discovered a local vista near the accident site and preferred to spend the night there to party with the natives!

Problems started to manifest when they woke up the next day robbed of their possesions. Along their pursuit to find the culprits, they got tangled up with more diffuculties against the inhabitants of a nearby town. One of the more friendly locals, Kiko, offered them safe haven on the deep forest only to find out that they were lead to a more dire situation.

The group was captured by a doctor who runs a human organ smuggling sydnicate and their usual donors were unwilling "gringos" or foreigners. The doctor was able to harvest organs from one of them (open surgery with gore and nudity!!) while the others tried to escape. The hullabaloo ended up with most of them dead except the protagonist siblings and the Australian hotty, and of course with the syndicate and the doctor put to a gruesome end.

The movie was frankly a disappointment to me. I din't expect it to have a good storyline of sorts but I was at least expecting it to be a match in scare-factor with "I Know What You Did Last Summer". But it's not... and to start with, "I Know What You Did..." wasn't much of a thriller anyway! So the comparison will give you much of an idea how uninteresting the movie could get.

There were gory scenes, especially this open surgery to one of the female casts, that could give the viewers the creeps, but those scary portions were either not consistent along the movie OR predictable enough to happen that made its impact really lacking. Cinematography was waaay off during the most crucial part of the film. It started off pretty interesting with the breath-taking captures of Brazil's environs but the sucky parts started during the climax itself with almost a good part of it shot in the dark! I can't see a damn thing for at least a whole third of the movie!

The whole concept of making a torture film out of Turista's storyline was well worth the look in papers. I kinda like the idea of having a mad doc snatching unsuspecting foreigners from the dark and harvesting them of their organs, BUT the way they set these all up into this movie was pitiful. Don't mind the story. It's basically just about a bunch of stranded travellers doing stupid decisions on an unrealistic world. You'll only like this film if you're into chicks in bikinis and nothing else.

With nothing much to say but to bash the movie more, I say you watch it so you could feel me. I'll rate it two gulamans... and I'm still nice about it.

Pagbalik Tanaw

Friday
We regularly go on team gimiks here at the office, a treat from our managers in Sydney to show their appreciation for some jobs-well-done in the past weeks. Last Friday, the treat was at Krocodile Grillery in Greenbelt 3 where we packed our belly to its limits.

Attendance: Obi Doo, Ranger Roy, Ferds, Portia, Ces Josephine, Kring Kring, Miss Mhye, Nheys, Evs, Cha Cha

L-R: Eeeva, Panginoong Chief Boss Mhye, Bungers, David Blaine & the Floating Mango Shake, Ranger Roy, Cha Cha Cha, Nheys, Portia

Meet up in Greenbelt was at around 7pm and I went off from the office ahead of the guys since I have to pass by the grocery to buy salad greens first for the honey mustard dressing I made for Tita 9 and the gang. I arrived at the grillery around 7:25pm and the grogfest commenced!

Grub (everything was in orders of two!): fried chikkin, pork sinigang, sisig!!! (kelangan pa bang i-memorize yan), adobong lechong kangkong, crispy pata, giant squid, baked mussels.

The "thanks-Kroc-Grille-I'm-so-so-bundat" smile!

Pictures gallore and more goofing around, but finally the limit of the guts took its toll and we laid all stuffed up for around 30 minutes more before charging the coffee shops on the first level. Caffeine time at Seattle's Best! Much tox resumed!

Before 9pm, we headed to the cinemas to check out the latest thriller, "Turistas". My commentaries will follow soon but it sucks bigtime to start with. The film was done by some minutes past 11pm and I rushed straight to Tita 9's condo to check out what was the hubbub for Aeron Boy's graduation.

At Seattle's... (stolen ang kuha para sa akin)

Turns out I just missed all the visitors. So I grabbed my honey mustard dressing and the salad greens then prepared everything up so we could just munch it out the next day. I slept over at their place.

Got to talk to Batgurl over the phone for a while. Yey!


Saturday
Woke up early and joined the fray on eating grass. My seafood antipasto was as usual muy apetitoso! Trip na trip ko talaga yung amoy. And it was cool that Idol Pinsan and the rest of the gang liked it. It was basically decimated within 24 hours. My next plan's to prepare another one for my team here at work.

That night, me, Tita 9, and Bubay watched Pao's gig at Ratsky's Malate. Pao Chavez was one of the finalists for Philippine Idol and a close friend of my cousin. Aiza Seguerra and Mau Marcelo, the Philippine Idol winner, performed too. Astig talaga mag gitara ni Aiza. Photo ops with Pao ensued after her performance and before we went back to the condo. I slept over at their place again.

Got to talk to Batgurl over the phone for a while again. Yahoow!


Sunday
From Tita 9's place, I rushed to Kamias to meet the boyz for another gunbang session. The game was back to our sister team's homebase, Camp Masada at San Mateo.

Attendance: Obi Boo, Kuneho Xerxes, Kuneho Neophyte 1, Kuneho Neophyte 2, Zeb Munggo, Garrkid, Junbacca, Storm MacFarlane, val Apocalypse, Gelo Beef, Team Hobby Depot

It was a good day to rapid-fire! My SAR Offizier M41 (temporarily named "Arab Gun") was fixed of its malfunction from last week's game in Libis and with it, I asked Kuneho Man to do some upgrades, increasing the "pain rate" to some 500+ fps on an M140 spring (jargon time). Basically, it's some hundred FPS more "ooomph" than before and the range became longer too. It gots me lotsa kills yesterday!

There was also this scenario where we have to rescue a downed pilot, represented by a medical palanquin, and bring it to a safety point. All of these, while being hunted by a larger party of opponent units. Since I was one of the more mobile member of the rescuing squad, I volunteered to go with the Search and Rescue Team of four (me, Garrdude, Xerxes of Persia, and one of his Neophyte Cousin) while the rest of the group stayed to defend the safety point. At the start of the count, our team rushed uphill to hunt for the palanquin which we were able to secure in record time. Going back to the safety point was the problem. Several enemy squads was able to monitor our movements by then and Garrkid has to separate from our unit to decoy them out of our attention. I was carrying the palanquin with one of Kuneho's cousin, while the God-King Xerxes Kuneho himself, guided us towards the safety point, running and evading BB's whistling past us in hoarde! With deft skills honed from knowing the Camp Masada terrains, we were able to accomplish the mission but not without much challenge! A score for Team SBB! That was one of those scenarios I will never forget in my gunbang career. I skipped a game after that for a much-needed rest.

All in all we had around 12 games that scorching day. Ngayon na lang kami ulit inabot ng gabi sa Masada. That session was well worth it. Masakit ang katawan at ulo naming lahat afterwards but none went home unsatisfied. Dinner ensued at Nato's near Tomas Morato. Astig ang grog on that place. Panalo yung mga ihaw stuffs.

*****

More photos to follow...

"Turista" commentaries to follow...

Busy ako... walang pakelaman.

Pagkaing Kambing

Mahusay! Success yung seafood antipasto ko.

Kagabi, dapat pupuntahan ko tropa ko sa Greenhills para tumambay. Naisip kong wag na muna maglakwatsa. Instead, karipas ako sa grocery sa SM para mamili ng sangkap sa matagal ko nang planong honey mustard dressing. Ayun, pag uwi ko sa bahay niyari ko na agad. Ansarap, men! Natutuwa ako kasi kasing amoy nya talaga yung dressing dun sa seafood antipasto na binibili ko sa salad bar. Tamis-asim! Medyo mas malabnaw lang yung gawa ko pero dinadagdagan lang pala ng extra mayo yun para magka-texture.

Dun ko na rin yun natutunan kung pano kokontrahin yung mga extremes ng lasa. Pag medyo sumobra sa asim, dagdag ng honey. Pag medyo sumobra sa tamis, dagdag ng konting mustard. Pag kulang sa "tang" sa dila yung lasa, dagdagan mo pa ng sibuyas or sobrang konting suka.

Astig nga e.

Ginawan ko din sila Tita 9 at Pinsang Idol kagabi ng extrang dressing. Andito't dadalhin ko sa kanila mamya sa condo after ng gimik ng team namin. Graduation ni Aeron Boy e. Happy happy!! Gusto ko gawan si Pouty, pero alamin ko muna kung trip nya salad.

Sabi ng nanay ko kagabi, "baka talunin mo pa si Juday nyan."

*****

Seafood Antipasto
by Obi Doo

honey mustard dressing:
2 1/2 tablespoon real mayonnaise
2 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoon dijon mustard
1/2 tablespoon cane vinegar
pearl onions
a pinch of salt
a pinch of pepper

*ingredients:
quail eggs
crab sticks
squid
shrimp balls

*salad greens:
lettuce
lollo rosa

* - quantity is as necessary or depending on the amount of servings the honey mustard dressing can accomodate.

preparation for the dressing:
1. mix all the stuffs in a bowl except the pearl onions.
2. whip it good, baby! bate lang ng bate, until you come up with a creamy concoction.
3. you make tikim the sawsawan you made. as mentioned before, you should come up with a tamis-asim taste with a tangy effect on the dila (this is because of the suka). Hehe.. parang taga Assumption magsalita.
4. adjust as necessary if the desired taste is not met. gaya ng nasabi sa taas, gento gawin mo:
> kapag malabnaw = dagdagan mo ng at least isang kutsarang mayonnaise
> kapag maasim masyado = dagdagan pa ng at least one and half kutsarang honey
> kapag kulang sa kiliti sa dila = dagdagan pa ng almost kalahating kutsarang vinegar
> kapag masyadong thick yung mixture = alamin kung ang nagpa thick ay sobrang mayo or sobrang mustard. kung mustard, dagdagan pa ng isang kutsarang mayo. kung mayo, dagdagan pa ng isang kutsarang mustard.
5. some notes on the dressing ingredients:
> ang real mayonnaise ay yung kulay puti lang na mayo. walang halong pickles at ham crumbs. hindi tayo gagawa ng pambaon sa school.
> on honey, mas masaya kung yung pure, unprocessed honey ang gagamitin.
> on mustard, may nabibili na sa grocery na dijon mustards. pero kung wala kayong makitang ganito, malamang hindi pang konyo yung grocery na napuntahan nyo. pwedeng bilihin na lang ay yung mga prepared mustard. eto yung mga regular mustards na nakikita nyong hindi pinapansin sa mga hotdog stands.
> ang cane vinegar ay yung suka na kulay pula. actually, hindi pula. idiomatic expression lang yung "pula". kulay kalawang siya. basta hindi siya yung puting suka na may Datung nakabusangol sa label.
6. after mixing everything up, drop the pearl onions. again, depende ito sa dami ng nagawa mong dressing. pearl onions are these miniature onions just the size of a regular jolens. malas mo lang kung di ka nag jolens nung bata ka. kung wala kang nabiling pearl onions, pwede ring gumamit nung white sibuyas. chop it to small cubes and put into the mixture as mentioned.
7. mix again, then refrigerate. this is best served cold.

preparation for the other ingredients:
1. ilaga mo lang lahat: quail eggs, crab sticks, squid, shrimp balls. sabi ng nanay ko dapat konti lang ang tubig para hindi malabsak ang pagkaka-laga. kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng "malabsak", don't worry... hindi ko rin alam.
2. balatan ang quail eggs. gayatin to strips ang crab sticks. chop the shrimp balls into halves. remove the squid's head and tentacles. di natin siya gagamitin. ipakain kay lolo. slice the squid into thin parts.
3. itabi lang muna. pwede namang hindi bumili ng lahat ng ingredients na yan. hindi yan sapilitan. pwedeng kahit at least two of the stuffs mentioned lang.

preparation for the serving:
1. on a plate, cut the lettuce and lollo rosa to serving sizes. teka, lollo rosa nga pala ang tawag dun sa parang pechay na kulay violet. kasama siya palagi sa mga salad. meron nito sa mga konyong grocery.
2. kunin yung tinabing sahog. arrange them around the salad greens as preferred. ako, mas gusto ko nasa gitna yung mga itlog ng pugo. walang pakelaman ng trip sa parteng eto.
3. ilabas yung pinalamig na honey mustard dressing at ibuhos sa salad mix.

Enjoy!!

*****

Antipasto - any of various different foods served at the beginning of an Italian meal. It literally means "before food" in Italian. Also called "antipasti".

Pick a Pic

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

A friend in New York passed me this online personality test. The idea is to pick pictures from their catalogue and from that, they will interpret your personality. What's weird was that their analysis of me was at least 80% accurate. Galing!

Click the "Read my VisualDNA" link to check their interpretations on my choices. Those pictures that I've picked were also showcased on the window above. To try the test, just click the "Get your own VisualDNA" link.

Here's a summary of the accurate stuffs they've evaluated out of my picks:

1. Mood: Wild Cat - You're a bit of a romantic (bet you... hindi lang "bit" haha). You love feeling the sea breeze in your hair, sun on your skin... When it comes to art, you're definitely unconventional. You like to think differently, always from another perspective (fine... weirdo na kung weirdo). You have a good sense of humour (wushus!). As for music, for you... it's a bit of self expression. It helps you let off steam.

2. Fun: Conqueror - You love physical activity - you've got a real spirit for adventure (so me!). There is nothing like a little affection to give you a buzz. There is never enought time to love (pag "love" na ang usapan talo talo na lahat ng activities ko sa buhay... haha)! You'll go anywhere as long as there's sea and sand (beach!!).

3. Habits: New Wave Puritan - Even if you have a healthy approach to life, a craving hunger drives your needs ! You care about your health and makes sure you're putting in the right stuff in. You like your home to be as stylish as you are (let's put it this way, I want my home to be designed on my OWN concept of "style" not on the stereotypical fashion, "stylish" is so posh a word to describe it haha).

4. Love: Love Bug - You're a real romantic and a bit of a dreamer (hehe so so me!). OK, life may not be a movie, but what's wrong with thinking it is (guilty!)? When you think of freedom, you think of love (yeba!). The comfort of being loved makes you feel free with your thoughts and words (I'm a love hooligan).

No Rest for the Weekend!

Friday (after work)
Fortress, Virramall, Greenhills
Attendance: Crispybeef Ribs, Obidoo, Little John
*Hang out with the boyz.
*Played this card game we're all hooked on.

Friday (after Virramall)
Hobby Haven, near Ateneo Gate 3, Katipunan
Attendance: Jake Pookiemonster, Jumping Johnny, Kuya Pork, Little John, Crispybeef Ribs, Obidoo, SJ, Chico
*Hang out with the boyz.
*Grub's at "Kubo", just across Miriam College's gate. Their sisig's good, in fairness.
*Grogged down this rhum choco Jake Pookimonster has bought us. I still prefer Bailey's over that concoction.

Friday (after Hobby Haven)
Shax, Kamias
Attendance: lots! the boyz just trickled in and out in packs!
*Played this card game we're all hooked on.
*Hang out with the boyz, till three in the morning.
*It was officially Jake's birthday already. Happy Birthday, Great Maw!!!

Saturday (after waking up at two in the afternoon)
UP - College of Fine Arts, UP Diliman
Attendance: Pork, Kamote Emp, Pookiemonster, Panty Man, Obidoo, Bozz Beef
*Hang out with the boyz and the thugs of IPMS. The place was overflowing with students since it was thesis defence season!
*The Great Maw has two humongous plastic containers of sphagetti in tow... pasta fest!

Saturday (after UP-CFA)
Hobby Haven, near Ateneo Gate 3, Katipunan
Attendance: Pantyman, Pork, Obidoo, Bozz Beef, Chico, SJ, Jumping Johnny
*Played this network game, teaming up with Gelo, and totally annihilated the other team (Pork and Mussolini).

Saturday (after Hobby Haven)
Shax, Kamias
Attendance: lots!
*Hang out with the boyz.
*Ate at a local carinderia "sa kabilang kanto". Dating gawi: Beef with Mushrooms!

Sunday (after waking up at eight in the morning)
Shell - Meralco Avenue, Ortigas
Attendance: Obidoo, Jubay, Garrkid, Munggo, Kuneho, Kuneho Cousin 1, Kuneho Cousin 2, Kuneho Sis, Super Inggo, Rommel Springstein
*Breakfast.
*Meet up for the day's gunbang session.

Sunday (after the Ortigas meet-up)
Baghdad near Eastwood City, Libis
Attendance: Obidoo, Jubay, Garrkid, Munggo, Kuneho, Kuneho Cousin 1, Kuneho Cousin 2, Kuneho Sis, Super Inggo, Rommel Springstein, Rickeso, Papa Storm
*It was a good day to kick some arse. I myself needed an outlet to channel what romanticism has stirred in me. Shoot, bang bang time!
*Ariel's counterpart Maverick was present and was playing as part of our arch-enemy, Team Nemesis. Too bad, we totally annihilated them in two scenarios. Sending em packing home for some reasons early in the afternoon (maybe the egos can't swallow utter defeat). Bah!

That's me in the red circle. I know you can barely see it, but actually there were two more dudes in this pic, joining me in my assault on an abandoned barber shop where the enemies are defending. The dude who took this shot was a sniper from atop the shop (after we peppered him with BB bullets, of course).

Sunday (after the airsoft games)
Molo's, Sikatuna Village, Kamias
Attendance: Garrkid, Jubay, Obidoo
*Grub time.
*Some serious tox (yeps, we're capable of that) regarding our misadventures on the Wild Frontier of Womenland, as Quicksilver would call it. Their recounts of tales of romanticism and ardent saga made me revitalize my quest to pursue the One True Lady of my Heart... Batgurl!
*"When to stop and when not to?" that is the Hot Topic of the Council that night as both me and the Quicksilver could just as easily prey and relate upon that subject.
*Personally, as long as the heart beats a green light, why stop? It could hurt sometimes to feel not reciprocated but there's a reason for everything. And as long you don't know for sure what's the reason, walking away's a cowardly act. For me, there's a good reason why you have this feeling on someone and if that feeling's true, that red light should not be showing up for quite sometime. Giving up is not an option, if what you feel is true. It's just confusing sometimes on how you should perceive her signals. But kamon mamon, girls yan e... they were never meant to be crystal clear... we always have to interpret their ways. I'll give it to her, if that's the only way to understand her more. Yeba!

Sunday (after Molo's)
Shax, Kamias
Attendance: Garrkid, Jubay, Obidoo, Topher
*Hang out with the boyz.
*Rushed back home to meet the bro...

Happy Birthday, Spongklong!!!

Green Revolution

Strangely, I'm on a "green" diet for three weeks now with salads on top of my preference.

I was never conscious about what my body looks like and was not even close to be called a health buff. I've gone on gyms and pushed weights, but tis because my tropa were there with me and "fun" was a prior reason before the fact of seeing me-self with greasy "maskels". Kadiri nga sa lalake yung ganung mamutok-mutok ang maskels e... at least, in my opinion. Yun nga hindi ko maintindihan with girls eh. Some would swear for their chunky musclemen.

Lumalayo na. Back on topic, it was several days ago that my friends here at work introduced me to this salad store, one lunch time. I seldom go out to buy lunch since most of the times my mom prepares baon for me (sabi ko sa inyo mama's boy ako e) but I assure that when I don't have my baon, I buy really mucho big time meals. That day at the salad store was not an exemption. I had this full serving of seafood antipasto that was really "muy delicioso!", as how Dora the Explorer would say it.

Di na ako nag baon on the following days after that. Instead, I've tried every salad concoctions I could find around the area or when available, even those of the fastfood chains' (Jolleebug, MikDonelds, KFZ). Masarap siya talaga. I've been eating salads before but I haven't appreciated it like how I do now, and I guess it was triggered by the seafood antipasto. Wala akong pakelam sa health benefits niya and stuffs, basta nasasarapan ako sa kanya. Yun yun.

So, since I've been furthering my attempts to distract me-self from the hurting sting of the love bug, I decided to challenge my skills again: I will learn how to prepare a seafood antipasto!

*grins*

Astig 'to. Must resist lonesome. Busog pa ako.

I started scouring the net for guidelines and even talked to one of the store's sales ladies to give me a hint regarding the salad. Matapos ang konting pambobola, she gave me this brochure that has a list of the basic ingredients for their products. It's pretty straightforward to prepare as most salads are. The secret lies on how you'll prepare the dressing. Yun yung nagpasarap sa antipasto nila e. Sabi ko nga ke Manang Salad, pag nahuli ko pano gawin yung antipasto, magtatayo ako ng salad bar sa mismong tabi nila para kumpitensyahin sila e. Bwehehehe. Tawa naman si Manang.

So ayun, I'll gonna post the recipe as soon as I was able to succesfully prepare one. My progress is good with the fact that I was able to identify the basic stuffs I'll be needing and the measurements on how those will be mixed up. Nakakuha na din ako ng kopya ng paggawa ng honey mustard dressing for salads.

Ready na ko. Nag iisip na lang ako ng araw kung kelan gagawa.

Other salads of preference:
Tropicana
Buko Lychee
Waldorf
McDo's Garden Salad
KFC's Chicken Salad - Asian Dressing
Tuna Macaroni
Wendy's Salad Bar

*****

Commercial:



Taenang kanta talaga yan. Infectious.

This one's the actual movie edit of the song, performed by Hugh Grant and Haley Bennett. Cute cute ni Haley on this scene. Kahit fair-skinned siya, and I was not much into it (exempted si Batgurl syemps), her chinky eyes made it all.

Paulit ulit na nga tumutugtog dito sa PC ko eh, and pinches me right smack in the heart everytime. Ika nga ng lola ko, "ahaaaay."

Way Back Into Love

Lyrics - Way Back Into Love

Been singing (ok fine... humming!) this song the whole day. I have a copy of its mp3 that an officemate gave me several weeks ago. It's actually from the soundtrack of the film "Music and Lyrics" which I haven't watched yet, starring Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant.

I find the song really cute, especially the demo version (featured in YouTube below) by Drew and Hugh. There's this more "arranged" version of it sung by Hugh and the other lead actress of the movie, Haley Bennett, but the natural feel of how the song below was arranged is so so cuter. I also have to learn how to play this in a guitar and piano soon. Can't wait to learn how to play it, really. I was already scouring the net for chords and riffs.

The lyrics is so romantic that it ticked the starry-eyed bozo in me. It practically said almost EVERYTHING I wanted to tell my ladylove.

The first time I heard the song, it clicked on me right away. It din't made me want to watch the movie but since then, I was always playing the music here in my workplace... most of the time while staring blankly outside the window beside me, 21 stories high to dreamy-landia... makes me want to fall in love with her several thousand times over to the nth power!

Ok, enough.

Way Back Into Love

I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been sleeping with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on

I've been hiding all my hopes and dreams away
Just in case I ever need `em again someday
I've been setting aside time
To clear a little space in the corners of my mind

All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
Ohhhhh

I've been watching but the stars refuse to shine
I've been searching but I just don't see the signs
I know that it's out there
There's got to be something for my soul somewhere

I've been looking for someone to shed some light
Not somebody just to get me through the night
I could use some direction
And I'm open to your suggestions

All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart again
I guess I'm hoping you'll be there for me in the end

There are moments when I don't know if it's real
Or if anybody feels the way I feel
I need inspiration
Not just another negotiation

All I wanna do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end

Tatlong Daan

Friday
Punta kami ni Romydoo sa "Fortress"... shop slash tambayan ng tropa sa Greenhills. Tambay lang tas laro ng cards. After nila magsara around 9pm, tambay na kami sa Shak. Hanggang mag-sawa na yun.


Saturday
Walang magawa sa bahay. Home Alone 2. Kasi dalawa lang kami ng utol kong naiwan sa bahay. Gets? Hehe. May tournament ng Warhammer sa Galleria. Pero hindi ako nakagising ng maaga para sumali. Sino ba naman sisipagin gumising ng maaga kung alas-tres ka na nakatulog last night?? Miss ko pa din si Batgurl, badly. I need distractions. Must resist lonesome. Haha. Kaya hinatak ko kapatid ko para manood ng "300". Maganda daw sabi ng mga kolokoys sa Shak na pinanood yung pelikula nung birthday ko... e ayoko naman mahuli sa kwentuhan. Dumaan muna kami sa condo nila Tita 9 bago naglakad papuntang Rob Place.


300
Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert!

Adapted from a graphic novel, "300" depicted the historical Battle of Thermopylae during the ancient Hellenic period. The story (if there's much to recount) revolved around the Spartan King Leonidas, who summoned 300 of his best Spartan warriors to stall the impending invasion of the Persians so that a bigger contingent of the Greek army could reinforce the city-states' defense. Despite prohibition by the Law of Sparta, foreboding of the Oracle, and unawareness of the Spartan Council, the King marched to war upon the mountain pass of Thermopylae, facing overwhelming odds and defeating a hefty number of the invading forces. Back in Sparta, the Queen Gorgo was fighting her own battle... to request the Council to send backup to his husband's warband. To no avail! The Spartan army's eventual collapse started when a Spartan outcast, Ephialtes, defected to the Persian God-King Xerxes and divulged a secret passage through the mountains which gave the Persian soldiers an advantage to outmaneuver the dwindling Spartan numbers. In the end, King Leonidas and his 300 warriors were literally butchered to submission before the Greek reinforcement arrived.

The movie doesn't have much to flaunt in regards to the storyline but the special effects, film settings, and costumes are awesome! When asked by my peers what I could say about the movie, I just tell em, "It's like a 'dark Troy' without an interesting plotline". It was jampacked with battle scenes, all of em are worth the effort of the filmmakers and are among the best I've seen so far. I like how the cinematographers conveyed Frank Miller's* sinister appeal on his graphic novels into the movie. Everything has a dark, gloomy theme on it that I could feel the melancholic air like I was inside the film itself.

*Frank Miller is the author of the graphic novel of the same title, where the film was based.

I see not much of a flaw on how the actors portrayed their roles. Gerard Butler (King Leonidas) has been very convincing with his part as a stubborn leader, and so as his leading lady Lena Headey (Queen Gorgo) who was very effective playing the part of a bold wife (no pun intended, you'll see in the movie why), willing to confront anything for what she upholds and for the love of his husband and land. Special kudos goes to Rodrigo Santoro who was the God-King Xerxes of Persia in the film. He acted the part so well but I dunno if they really intended him to look and act implicatively like a homosexual.

Summing it up, the aesthetic brilliance of the movie has well compensated with the simplicity of the story. Epic lovers will sure dig this one but those that are indifferent with gore and violence should rather not try to watch it. Six gulamans.

*End of Spoiler

Umuwi din kami agad ni Utol. May kinita lang ako saglit para kunin yung books na pinadala ko from Canada. Gasgas na naman budget ko. When does the spending ends?!? Hehehe. Pagdating ng bahay nagyaya si Idol Pinsan manood ng gig ni Paw (Pao??). Gusto ko sana bumalik ng Baywalk kaso binalak ko puntahan si Iday kinabukasan sa Convergys Group of Islands kaya minabuti ko na lang matulog para maka-gising ng maaga...

...to no avail.



Sunday

Takbong pagong yung nasakyan ko papuntang Mount Convergys at tantsa kong di ko aabutan si Pouty. Olats. Ayun, awa ng Diyos, hindi nga. Nagtext siya na nasa bahay na siya ng Pinunong Lider niya. Better luck next time, Boy.

Kalungkutan. Manigas ako sa miss!

Must resist lonesome.

Dumiretso na kami ng San Mateo, Rizal for the day's round of airsoft games. Masaya naman yung mga laro.

Screaming BB's & Friends Attendance: Obi Gyne, Zeb Munggo, Kuneho, Jubay Bomber, Garrbhoy, Pinsan ni Kuneho, Jengski, Hansy, Lloyd, Rommel, Super Inggo, Sir Val, Storm, Kornpleks

Got me early kills, umpisa pa lang ng games. Tis a good sign from the gods of BB poppers! The rest of the days' games wasn't bad either. Walang masyadong makunat sa mga visiting forces na nakalaban namin. My personal favorite was this one scenario na 18 lang kami against around 30-strong enemies and we'll have to defend an objective in the middle of a low hill. We were able to hold the line and win the scenario but I was among the five casualties of the 18-man defender. Too much heroics, I say.

L-R: Lalakeng Pugot ang Katawan, Karakter na may Inaabangan sa Likod, Garrkid, Karakter 1, Karakter 2, Ako (sideview), Karakter 3, Sir Val, Karakter 4.

Ang galing. Ganyan sila ka-familiar sa akin pag nakamaskara.

Much talks ensued. Nabalitaan kong semplang yung isa kong brod sa pag-ibig at yung isa naman ay dumadaan sa isang "difficult terrain". Nakakatakot. Ako na ba daw susunod? Hahaha. I know we din't deserve any of this but such are the vagaries of love. And I, despite being the youngest amongst them, should know better about it based from our experiences in the past.... in my honest opinion, at least.

"It's that you've loved in the end that matters!", ika nga.

Potangenang hirit yan. Ako ba yan?!? Hahaha. Balik Shak kami afterwards, tambay, tas kain lang sa Molo's sa Sikatuna, tas uwi na din.

Nagbasa lang ako ng nagbasa sa bahay hanggang sa makatulugan ko ang pagbabasa. Must resist lonesome. For in lonesome, I think of things that I hate NOT thinking of but pains me to think SO MUCH.

Taeng tae!

One Week Celebration

I got home around 9pm last night. It was the earliest time I arrived in our house since Friday last week. The latest was a couple of minutes past 3 o'clock in the morning (and I have work on the same day... hehe). I was welcomed with greets and cheers but the feel of the celebration was apparently starting to expire. It was already late and the visitors were already done with their dinner, that's why. They were just only waiting for me to show up.

Attendance: Mommy Groovy, Utal Bon, Utol Long, Badong the Bayaw, Tita Grasya, Tita Linda, Enggam, Captain de Vera, Ninang Helen

I was delayed by several sidetrips on my way home: bought ten of this dirtcheap cheesburgers that I'm really really fond of, a big bunch of choco butternut and honey dipped munchkins, at syempre... tumaya ako sa lotto!

Birthday ko e... malay ko ba baka manalo.

My numbers:
A: 04, 07, 16, 22, 26, 37
B: 04, 07, 22, 34, 37, 44
C: 04, 07, 21, 24, 35, 40
D: 01, 07, 23, 26, 29, 42
E: 04, 07, 12, 22, 42, 43

Din't really pay much contemplation on picking my numbers. Yung iba may meaning, yung iba wala. Kung ano lang maguhitan ko, yun na yun. I checked the results this morning and the best I got was two numbers. Crap. Not my time to be a zillionaire.

Goin' home, I munched on one of the cheeseburgers. Gutom na ko e, at ako lang naman laman ng jeep. Inalok ko pa nga si Koya Tsuper. Sabi ko birthday ko. Hehe. Check how pity the picture was: me, alone on a ragtag jeepney munching on a cheap burger, singing "Happy birthday to me..." in my head, and Koya Tsuper with his "I don't give a crap" scowl. Sniff sniff.

Hahaha.

The real deal was that the Shak Boyz were all in Greenhills to watch "300", my college friends, were elsewhere partying themselves on a reunion of sorts, my HP chums were on the hardcourt playing basketball and Jai was asking me if I would want to watch a movie. I could as easily be on the go that day but I'd personally chosen to be at home... to be with my loved ones on my birthday. Still, it felt incomplete. I was at least expecting three special people to greet me. All failed! Buti pa si Bonita, naka-alala kahit nasa Amerika at busy sa trabaho. Grumble grumble. Anyway, nothing a good food can't hide! Verily, the surest way to a man's heart is through his stomach!

Grub of the night: pansit malabon, lumpiang shanghai, cake, burgers, donuts, macaroni soup, bopis, cox

Unang hirit ni Ninang Helen pag dating ko, "Oh, bakit wala kang date?!?"

Gulp. *ngiti*

Nasa isip ko nun, "I did my best, Ninang... but I guess, my best wasn't good enough. I think, she din't even know it was my birthday." Hee hee hee.

"Now if only you can lend me a pumpkin that turns into a Porsche, some rodents that turn into a driver and bodyguards, a pair of glass slippers, and a magic that could turn me to look like Piolo until midnight, then maybe I could find a decent date right now."

Hahaha. Astig.

Anyway, after everyone left, I just went back to painting my miniatures. What a day. Madami pang pahabol na bumati sa akin... some of em where like "representatives" of those I was waiting for. *smirk*

Two Decades and a Half Plus One

Happy Birthday, Randell!!!

*Kung may font kayong "Webdings", ang ibig sabihin ng mga simbolong yan ay "Happy Birthday, Randell!!!" Wooot!!!

Last night, after passing by Mikdonelds to buy me-self some salad and a sundae, I went to Romy's office in Greenbelt. He offered a ride to Da Shak for my spawning day's humble feast. Before that though, we swinged past the EDSA rush hour traffic and dropped by the Elbow Room in Metrowalk to bide time with some chillax games of billiards and a chug of alcohol. It was already a couple of minutes before 9pm when we arrived at Da Shak.

Da Ork Hoarde Attendanz: Kamote Emp, Jeng, Romyboo, Kuneho, Jubay, Orthos, Kim Possible, Ako Syempre, Koya Pork, John Liit, Jumping Johnny, Phatboi Jason, Chilly Arvs, Kapitan Joma, Jake "The Great Maw" Pookiemonster, Garrkid, Topher, Doc Komax, Jakob Le Croissant, Anito the Nurgle Dog, Pusakal (Pusang Kalye), Angelica Panganiban, Katrina Halili

Kalhati ng CrowdFrom L-R: The Great Maw, Kapitan Joma, Obidoo, Kuneho, Le Croissant, Phatboi, Romyboo, Orthos

Pork was busy cooking the noodles for the ispageyti and frying the hotdawgs. Arvs prepared the sauce that morning, a mix of Pinoy style sauce and corned beef strips. Yub yub! Jakob and Arvs arrived from nowhere land with lotsa bottles of cox and a pan of pansit bihon. More grub!

All wiped out in less than an hour after serving! Kapow!

Without much to stuff (and appease) their maws, the boyz reverted back to the usual heckling and jesting gallore! Truly, the Shak should have a 24 hour spycam installed there to televise what the best of reality TV shows should be!!

Garrik arrived from his ladylove offensive. Kuneho scrammed home to complete his 8-hour sleeping regiment. Jubay rushed elsewhere to fetch the missus, Emp in tow probably doing the same! Bah... married life! Belat!

Jumping Johnny and Little John, fingers itching to beat a mouse, prompted a Counter Strike night for da boyz! Foiled by Mad Doc Marco, as he arrived and dragged the boyz to Katipunan instead for a "Company of Heroes" game. The rest of the boyz who were not playing with us dispersed to their own lairs.

Chico and SJ re-opened their computer shop exclusively for Da Shak Boyz! It was strangely quiet in Katipunan that night... or it could be that we were just being typically boisterous again. After the PC battles, I also played this new card game I was getting hooked into - World of Warcraft. That pretty lasted the time for me until the midnight bells rang, signalling that it's officially my birthday! Lots of birthday greetings ensued, in addition to those dudes who were already texting and calling me earlier that night. Todos gracias!

Quick stats:

Greeted me in person (chronological order)
Romy (seconds after midnight!)
SJ
Jakob
Da rest of da boyz
Mommy Groovy
Miss Fe
Ranger Roy
The rest of the Sandstoners

Greeted me in SMS (chronological order)
Idol Aina, Pinuno ng Kultong Ahay
Jell, Supplier ng Malulupit na Quotes
Bonita, Stateside Friend
Ava Joy, Bonita's Sis... Ninang Stateside ng Kambal
Tita Grasya
Enggam
Star, Escolar Tropa
Sangkatropahang Labo Labo
Kapitan Espiritu and Family
Badong the Bayaw
Gwing, Escolar Tropa
Grasya, Escolar Tropa
Ayn the Flash Girl, Justice League-HP
Quel, Escolar Tropa

Greeted me in YM (chronological order)
April the 3D Loser, Sandstoner
Jeng Jeng, Escolar Friend
Captain Dennies Sparrow, Sandstoner
Dan the Flash, Justice League-HP
Mary Jane... Datu Vampire, Sandstoner
Chiqui Jhoanna, Sandstone Avengers
Sandamakmak na Sandstoner
Shy, Escolar Friend in UK
Starstruck Kid, Justice League-HP
Green Lantern Wacha, Justice League-HP
Cherry

Greeted me in Email and the Web (chronological order)
Menchie Dirt, Sandstoner (Astig ng E-card!)
Sangkatauhan ng Justice League-HP
Sheila, Bonita's Cousin
Sangkatauhan ng Rolling Hills Gaming Club Forums
Ate Neng the German Mermaid
Elle
CK Cabasaan, Escolar Friend

*****

I'm sure I was not accurate with my lists but nevertheless, maraming maraming salamats! Sa mga nakalimutan ko ilagay... belat! Hehe.

Awaiting me at home is another humble feast, kaso hindi pa ako makauwi dahil late na ako kanina. Three hours pa lang ang tulog ko tas di pa kumpleto ang birthday ko so far. Ahuhuhuy! Dugo duguan ang puso. At this point malabo na talaga yung gusto kong dinner. Assssaaaa.

*insert more drama here with matching cry cry habang naliligo sa shower ng may suot pang damit at umiiling-iling habang sinusuntok ang tiles ng CR at luhaan*

Pag-ibig nga naman...

...ika nga ni Jason Phatboi:
"Magpaturo ka kay Arvin kung paano mag multiplayer sa abacus."

Hehe, oo walang relevance sa kwento. Trip ko lang ilagay. Patok sya sa kin e.

Short Break

Going to head straight to Da Shak tonight for my advanced birthday celebration. Di na rin ganun ka-advanced since most likely dun na ako aabutan ng March 7 mamaya. I've told the denizens last night about my humble feast and I was expecting at least around 8 to 10 of 'em to show up sa tambayan mamaya.

Nag grocery kami ni Crispy kagabi bago umuwi. Ispageti, sang kilong hotdogs, at maraming Cox... ayus na yun! Jakob told me he's gonna add up more grog since it'L be his birthday this Friday too. Dami talaga naming Marso.

I was also there at Da Shak last night, and got home around three in the morning already. Tambay lang, as usual, na parang hindi Lunes. So basically, around four hours pa lang ang tulog ko. Hehe. It was an inviting thing to do when you're at Da Shak. With so much brainless fun and sensible talks there, you could easily past time like there's no tomorrow.

Speaking of... tomorrow's plan was to put up another humble feast for our home. Mairaos laang ang birthday ko at ang aking pag-uumpisang magbilang ng pabaligtad. Hehe. Hopefully, makapag dinner kami nila Idol and Pouty bukas before the latter goes to work. Di ko pa sila nakokontak pero mukang malabo-labo pa naman yun anyway. But it's just worth the try. Miss ko na masyado si Batgurl.

Otherwise, what I have in mind for the folks at home are pizzas, pansit (op kors pampahaba ng buhay!), lumpiang shanghai, ice cream, and maybe anything that I might come across along the way home (sana may kwekwek... papakyawin ko!).

The End.

Kuwentong Tambay Part Tres

Matagal-tagal na din palang nakauwi si Kumpareng Julius galing sa Japan. Pero nitong Biyernes lang siya nagparamdam kaya biglaang kinailangang lipulin ang sangkatropahan para kamutin ang aming mga makakating paa. Kaya gamit ang namamagang hinlalaki, sinikap kong teksan ang sanlibutan para sa walang kaabog-abog na biglaang lakaran.

Mga karakter na sumang-ayon sa paglaboy: Julius, Jay Mola, Bossing Jon, Star (hindi totoong pangalan), Gwing, Karakter Jay, Randell (oo, ako yan)

Kaya matapos mag banat ng buto sa trabaho, tumakbo ako ng Malate para kitain si Kumpareng Julius. Alas diyes pa ang usapan pero maaga akong sumapit sa Malate kaya tumambay na lang ako sa Istarbuko sa Adriatico. Buti na lang dala ko sa higanteng backpack ko ang aking libro kaya para akong otistik na nagsolo sa isang sulok. Relaks lang.

Pagdating ni Kumpare, matinding kamustahan muna bago kami humataw papuntang Blue Wave. Dun na namin hinintay yung mga iba pang karakter na dumating habang kumain muna kami sa Jullibee. Na-miss daw ni Kumpare e. Pag dating nung mga karakter, tambay at laklak alak lang kami habang nakikinig sa banda. Ganda nung bokalista nung Tribe of Levi, kamuka ni Batgurl. Na-miss ko tuloy. Kaso galabo ng kuha ko. Mahiyain kasi ako sa personal at kahit sandamakmak ang nagpapakuhang estranghero sa kanya, di ko nakuhang kapalan ang apog ko't magkandarapa din.


Kaya eto lang nakuhaan ko. Olats. Sige magkanda pikit ka kaka-sipat! Sinabi na ngang galabo e.

Matapos namin marindi sa ingay ng banda, napagtripan naming tumakbo ng Tagaytay. Taga dun kasi si Jay Mola. Alanya, hindi pa nag iinit ang palad ko sa PSP, nasa Tagaytay na kami. Pinalipad ni Mola yung sasakyan na parang sa akin naka pangalan ang titulo ng lupa nung highway na dinaanan namin. Umistambay lang kami sa Istabuko Tagaytay at kwentuhang malupit. Galamig. Si Mola lang ang may jacket. Ang hirap ng taga patag, hindi handa sa gentong klima. Buti pa yung mga jologs sa Glorietta, naka jacket kahit hitik ang init sa Maynila.

Mga alas sinko na nang sumunod na umaga kami nakapag-isip umuwi. Wag nang itanong kung baket. Kinilatis pa namin ng maigi yung bagong sasakyan ni Kumpare e. Gaganda. Sportivo na modelo.


Sikreto ng mga gwapo: magandang sasakyan na may astig na audio. Yung bumabayo. Konyong konyo. Kahit anong baluga mo, basta gento oto mo, parang kasing gwapo mo si Aga Mulach dyan pre. Wan klik mga tsikas sayo. Aprub!

Seryosong Hirit: Personally, I don't think highly of girls having boyfriends with gaudy automobiles, especially when it was obvious that it was the car they fell in love with. As for the guys, it's a debasement of your ego, man... if you certainly knew you were loved just because of your car, then I'd rather see the bitch off my Porsche... if you certainly knew you were loved just because of your car AND done nothing about it, then TANGA ka! May gamot sa bobo, sa tanga wala!

Nyahahahaha!

Pambansang Chicha

After several months of absence sa tambayan sa UP, nagkita na ulit kami ng istante ni Manong Fishball sa Fine Arts last Saturday... sa wakas! Well, sana magka reunion naman kami ni Manong Fishball himself bukas kung sakaling dun ulit tatambay ang tropa. Miss ko na ang kwekwek nya!

Segue way.

Napag usapan din lang ang kwekwek, pinalitan ko recently ang Friendster profile ko. Dahil matapos ang ilang buwan, napagwari ko na may isang tao pa pala akong dapat makilala... ang nag imbento ng masarap at malinamnam na kwekwek! Ang pagkaing bumuhay sakin nung ako'y isang hamak at dukhang estudyante pa lamang sa Mendiola.


Who I Want to Meet:

Yung nag imbento ng kwekwek.
Marami kasi akong gusto itanong sa kanya:


1. Bakit orange ang ginamit na artificial coloring? Pwede namang violet.

2. Totoo bang si Manong Fishball at si Manong Kwekwek ay iisa?

3. Maari bang ibalot sa orange na harina ang itlog ng ostrich? Ng tao? Kwekwek pa din ba ang tawag dito? Ipaliwanag.

4. Ano ang pinagkaiba ng buknoy, bechechetlog, quail eggs, at tukneneng sa kwekwek? At bakit?

5. Ilang kwekwek sa tingin nya ang kaya ko ubusin sa loob ng isang minuto?

6. Ano ang sikreto sa marketing success ng pagbebenta nito? (Bukod sa advertising ni Obi)

7. Payag kaya siyang gawing pambansang laman-tiyan ang kwekwek? Defend your answer.

*****

Personally, though, hindi makatao ang presyong dos sa isang pirasong kwekwek. Sana kay Manong Fishball one fifty pa din.

You can check out Manong Fishball's Friendster account by typing "Manong Fishball" sa Search function ng Friendster. May lalabas na dalawang account. Peke yung unang taga Caloocan. Panis yun dun sa orig na Manong Fishball ng UP-CFA! Yung pangalawang lalabas na account sa search results... yung taga Krus na Ligas. Mabuhay ka Manong Fishball! Discount!