i'm back! yet again. It was a very productive business trip with lots of people swarming around Singapore for the air show. The hotel rates were atrocious! and hotel services were not up to par although this was made up by the very attentive managers and bell hops. I think my phone bill is going to go through the roof this month. Some friends still texted me through the trip and I had to respond to most...aw so nice to be missed :)
Spent the weekend over at the Fajardo apartment and i was overcome with envy for the whole place! wide screen tv's, F cooking breakfast, lounging with R in the living room with Discover channel and some basketball games. Later saturday night we went out to do some shopping for R and then capped it off with some chicken rice at a nearby hole in the wall. Another friend joined us and we ended up at the apartment enjoying the well stocked bar of various bottles with advanced episodes of CSI not yet available on our cable channels back home. I can't wait to be able to play house like that with someone special! Soon enough :) At least I know it won't be with the wretch who won't even tell me his address. cue song: you're so vain...
Flight home was a bit delayed though so had more time to shop. I actually went crazy in all the Charles & keith stores the whole five days so I have much to smile about now when i look at my little footsies :) Didn't expect it but E checked if I was home already and coerced me to meet up with him in Grams. The fool had more than 10 bottles of beer in his system and I had just started on my jar of rumcoke. I had developed a cough since saturday morning was still not up to high levels of energy. Today got started on some overdue work projects and he has just finished his embassy visit for visa renewal. It hasn't been that difficult now apparently. Guess they're more lenient. Well anyway, we're planning to escape to Bicol for holy week - i'll see if i'm up to it then - the flaker that I am. Then again it's a roadtrip! how can I resist? Maybe get into some wakeboarding aside from the regular booze and food trip.
had a flashback...plus the biggest hangover i've had in ages. Last night E had asked to hang out for a few drinks and dinner. we had planned an early night somewhere nearby since we live so near each other. Ended up changing our minds at the last minute and headed off to Serendra. I've known this guy for years and we were enjoying all the old stories of the past years when we'd see each other every weekend when i was just finishing college and he had just started working. Plus we had the sounds of the old 90s r&b playing and he brought my dream car - the sport trac. Banter exchanged about all our old friends in the boys club (yeah i was the only girl invited) now being married, we used to check out Stars or Giraffe, and even just our simple sunday hangouts in starbucks when it had just opened. Of course we got up to speed on what happened to each other in past years with our former partners as well as current objects of affection. Then some of the office people invited to Piedra. Hadn't been there before so we thought to check it out. I can't remember having that much fun in a place where I didn't know anyone and well...didn't really care. Still had tons of jokes and kwento, not to mention drinks. Being the great friend he is, i was well taken care of and even made sure I drank water. I was escorted to the ladies room to make sure I got around ok. It was even better than being on a date! I had asked to go home early though, around 2am because i realized i really can't hold my liquor anymore. High heels on rock pavement with flaming shots in your system isn't an easy way to get back to the car. E would have carried me to my bed if I hadn't realized i didn't want him seeing the mess. haha! well, lesson learned. Should stop the alcohol again - but looking forward to the next "quality time" hangout with my friends. so today we were both paralyzed at home with killer hangovers. ugh. brains hemmorhaged!hahaha!
This year is insanely full of concerts! I am going to go broke trying to get tickets for at least three of them! Here's the schedules:
Maroon 5 - Araneta Coliseum, March 5 Incubus - Araneta Coliseum, March 9 Mandy Moore - Eastwood, March 12 (why won't anyone watch with me??) Duran Duran - April 11 Matchbox 20 - Araneta Coliseum, April 27 Damian Marley - April Dave Matthews Band - May Madonna - MOA or The Fort, July Justin Timberlake - MOA or The Fort, October U2 - MOA or The Fort, October Usher - MOA or The Fort, November
How can i not watch Dave Matthews? Or Justin? Or U2??? Aaaaargh! The girls and I already ran out of Maroon 5 tickets which sucked. To think we were looking as early as January. Abby and I agree that we cannot miss JT. DMB and U2 are icons and a once-in-a-lifetime chance! good thing I cancelled all other plans this year to lay some groundwork with my life. Lucky tiff and dino are going to watch Incubus. Sigh. I can't wait! I bet everyone is checking the ticketnet site on a daily basis for the scheds to open.
Heavy night, it was a heavy night Feels like we've come back from the dead Heavy night, it was a heavy night I cannot remember what I said to anyone
If we get up now we can catch the afternoon Watch the under 15s playing football in the park Let's sit in St. Leonards on this alcoholic day we're doing the best, with what we've got
I love you in the morning , When you're still hung-over I love you in the morning, When you're still strung out, I love you in the morning,
I work hard all week and so do you We deserve to let off some steam Less orthodox creeping,
We need to rage through this life There might be ones who are smarter than you That have the right answers that wear better shoes Forget about those melting ice caps We're doing the best, with what we've got
When I'm with you, I am calm A pearl in your oyster Head on my chest a silent smile, A private kind of happiness You see giant proclamations Are all very well But our love is louder than words
In light of the upcoming valentines day hooplah, there are actually dozens of parties around the city for those without dates or deliberate plans. In the past I have felt both a disgust and an excitement for this day - depending if I'm in a relationship or not...AND yet now I don't feel like anything but positive about it. I have no one to celebrate with but I still have this light mood about the whole thing. I'm actually excited for everyone, albeit other than me, who will be receiving flowers.
For all those who have love to share and a hand to hold - here's a day for you to enjoy. And this song pretty much encapsulates that feeling we all want to have. Happy V-day!
(time to figure out the bass for this song!hehe. new fave!)
For all those who have not yet seen this clip from CNN or have gotten that email thread about a small-time filipino who has just gotten the singer-spot for JOURNEY. Arnel Pineda on CNN embedding was disabled by request so check it out on youtube. also check out his life story by Jessica Soho here.
He was once sleeping on a bench on the street and look at him now. My buddy's friend who works at the US embassy had another story... Orange and Lemons had a gig in the US and was applying for a visa. They invited embassy guy to check them out in a nearby bar that evening. He did drop by and the gig was opened by this Zoo band and embassy guy couldn't believe his ears. The guy really sounded like Steve Perry of Journey. The next day, he overheard some debate with a colleage with one applicant. The american could not believe what the applicant said that he was going to the US to be Journey's new singer. So embassy guy took one look at him, recognized him from the night before and approved his visa.
it does your heart good to see some people who never stopped dreaming.
before you think it's me...nope. It's tons of other people this year. Just found out that D and M are getting married. There's also M and B, M and N, J and T...and well actually I could go on and on. Got together with the girls last week and we were just talking about it. My friends own a printing company for wedding invites and they pretty much know who's getting hitched from even as far as the US. Then there's the wife of my good buddy who is a premiere wedding planner and they have had 150 bookings as of january alone. I guess it's true that this year is one for love and romance. (and then we all joke that when it's time for me, I have all the resources I need already! all the suppliers and venues are friends so all I need to do is ask for that as their wedding gifts hehe). I'm so happy for these friends who have found their partners for life. Seeing my best friends, Frances and Anna with their hubbies now makes you think just how great it is when you get to spend the rest of your life with your best friend. The one who accepts you for all your faults and even loves you for them :)
I suppose this entry also comes from watching Good Luck Chuck this afternoon. I was tempted and succumbed to buying more DVDs last week after the dampa dinner. So this weekend is all about curling up at home and resting with some movies. I like Dane Cook as an actor, not much as a standup though. I enjoyed this movie because I can relate to Jessica Alba (not physically of course!) after a certain period of my life - it's just retribution from the guilt of needing to do your job sometimes. Doesn't mean you care less. Then there's Dane's character who lets her go but also knows when to run after her. I like the fact that he didn't make his love all about himself. He knew how much she loved those darn penguins and made it all about making her happy with support. And the pebble. He was actually listening to her.
For some of these couples, they have gone through breakups and new partners yet still came back. I'm glad they found each other. It's so nice to revel in their happiness.
there was a lapse for a moment there. I had just gone on a downward spiral and then when I woke up today, i felt much much better. had to go through this debilitating period wherein i blamed myself for the inability of a relationship to work. I lost sight of reason and just relegated to the fact that this person was better than me. but that isn't true. in my refusal to get mad at him for how I was treated, it just isn't supposed to merit any significance, really. I almost started bashing him yet again only to stop myself and gather some composure. I had accepted his selfishness and until this moment - feel all the ingratitude that he had shown me. i regret the whole relationship for all its worth since it only delayed my life instead of making me feel loved. I had just thought it was real at the time.
starting today my week is full of things to look forward to. I got a call from a US multinational, frances is in town and the girls are getting together for dinner on monday, i'm meeting anns later on in the afternoon for some shopping, it's my brother's birthday on friday and the day before that I have a dinner in dampa - first time! Then on saturday I'm invited to the formal art auction at the CCP and have the chance to get all dolled up for the benefit of the st. francis de sales foundation for the hearing impaired. It is no surprise that the efforts I've made to have more social change for the poor is worth more woops in my peace of mind than my monthly paycheck. And will be going with a friend of mine as my date. after years of going out, he and i have found the common agreement that our lives have changed and we welcome the slower and simpler pace that we've found. Something only someone who has gone through more than 30 years of their life would realize - usually. He had almost gotten married a few years back. We have a common reason for wanting to spend the rest of our lives with someone else - you look forward to taking care of someone other than yourself with all that you can. So we hold out for that time and person when it feels right.
That's another thought. In your twenties you tend to be selfish while trying to build up your directions and future. Everything is not so clear yet and that uncertainty can engulf you. Which is why I should never have gone for someone younger than me. It was doomed from lack of insight. You will eventually be overwhelmed by the thought that this world exists with or without you. And that you goal in life is to do good for others. You never know what's going to happen around the bend.
I think it is great how this other friend, miko for instance has put his career on hold to work full time on the foundation to raise funding. Being an architect, his focus on these children instead of his personal projects makes me admire him more than any rich guy out there. So it goes back to the person I fell in love with. It had a lot to do with his dedication to help other people. When that faded, so did all the reasons within me.
so i put my feelings out to dry love, one day again, i'll have to try. falling out, making up it seems such a silly game why do i never gain?
If there's music in the night, And it's really, really right, It's the only thing I need. it intoxicates your mind All your troubles left behind So come on and take my lead. it's not just me who feels it music plays a mind trick watch me forget about missing you
One day we will be walking along the quiet streets, find a park and enjoy the good book. Relish both the sun and shade. A welcome respite from the early years of emotional vampires who almost squeezed you dry. And we'll be glad that we took this turn.
This is my world. This is who I am. And I'm not gonna give up myself to make your life better. And you want me to change. I can't get used to
all you want me to be and I just can't pretend to be anyone else 'cause it's not really me. - Darius Rucker
