/ 5:42:00 PM

Like sands through the hourglass...



Just when I've got bloggable things running through mah head.. running through my head.. running through my head.. Heh. Time's being a bitch. Now i miss my lazy dayz. Why can't weekends be 3 days long anyway!


What i need is a diversion. A quick fix. A lil somethin' somethin' to look forward to after a monotonous day of pencil pushing and bench warming. Big Hah for me. I should get me a dog. Lolx. Or better yet, a dawg. Double Lolx.


*sighs*

Suggestions, anyone?

/ 5:12:00 PM

THIS AND THAT: LETTER-ing



To K, A and Z:



We should call ourselves something. Hehe. Tayong apat na gumagala once a month. But let me just say that I enjoyed last Saturday's hanging out sesh. I call it "hanging out" coz it's not like we did much other than make the food court the sj walk. With matching ex-uaap player as a bonus! Oh di ba.. sj na sj talaga yung dating?! lolz. Sana next time, we'll have better films to choose from. Even James Franco wasn't able to save me from the ho-hum effect of The Suspect. Waha! Such a cutee. Though he looked a bit emaciated for my taste. But twas all good. He looked every part the junkie that was Joey. But with those sunken cheeks of his, he's gonna give Johnny Depp and Skeet Ulrich some stiff competition right thurr. Before I forget, special mention nga pala dun sa lower lip(?) ni Frances McDormand. LOLZ.



But anyways, never mind the movie... twas so nice to see you guys again. aaww. hehe. totoo. pramis. =p {Although standing beside K and Z made me feel like am such a big cow. Diet? Weh. Food's too glorious to pass up. Hehe}



>>>> singit muna. a quick introductory message for my friendly friends. ala-friendster, testimonial style. <<<<



With an average talking rate of probably 90 wpm, you can always count on K to liven up any conversation. All the buzz, all the time. With her around, you can just sit back, smile and remain quiet for the rest of the evening. And it won't even matter. She'll have you laughing along with her jokes and hirits in no time. Galeng noh?! Not many people can do this, but with K, I'd say it's inborn talent. (",)



Walang stir yan ha! Hehe. New pimp kita di ba? Hahahaha. Me nakalimutan ako i-ask sayo.. something you wrote sa yahoogrps a loooong tym ago.. na merong kang alam na something about me? basta parang ganon.. hanapin ko ulet yung email. hehe. Uy, pa-xerox naman nung Kokology mo!



A is our lifeline. He's our resident bus daddy. Without him, Z and I would probably end up making a mad dash for the public transpo before the freaking clock strikes 10. And with him around, I'm comforted by the thought that I'm not the only one who goes to malls for the bookstores. And that there's someone more tightlipped than I am. Grabeh, siya po si Mr.Yoso. Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi.



Salamat talaga for your time and effort sa pag-record nung show. Lalo na't girly program pa mandin. Hassle ba? Di ako sure how much of you feels na napasubo ka na lang dito.. dyahe nga eh.. pero forever grateful ako for this. ^.^ As in.



Z... as in zoul zistah? Koraz! Wahaha! I can't exactly put a finger on it but somehow, she brings out my repressed gay-speak tendencies to the fore. O, ang tahraaay! LOLZ. Not many people have access to my retard moments and she's probably one of those few who knows how hyper I can get when I'm on my perky pill (hee) and that I'll go insane without my usual seemingly harmless snide, este, side comments. Mini meanie me. ^_^



Alala mo when we were looking at the polka-dotted pouchies while asa escalator? ["nappy?"] hahaha. freaky. Tara, let's do a freaky friday. Wala naman yatang mashadong diff. =p Talagang ga-gahlore ang lolah! *LMAO* Panu ba yan, ikaw pa naman yardstick ko sa luvlife chuvah. Di ba si C ang basehan ni A? Owel, ikaw ang aking C_ _ _. Wehehehe.



>>>> back to regular programming <<<<



So there. Malapit na anniv ng first ever block gimik, otherwise known as tha escape to Laguna. Magka-part two kaya yun? Wucha tink, K? Yow da official gimik planner diba? ;) If ever matuloy yung Tagaytay foodtrip, game ako ha. Hehe. Uy, kayong tatlo, pag nagawi naman kayo sa makati ng mga 5:30 onwards, txt naman dyan. Lungkot eh. Hehe.



Kitakits!



~^~^~^~^~



WHOA, MALI!!!



Booboo #1: J.Lo?

Thanks to Bush's arrival, Sucat-bound jeeps were hard to come by that Saturday afternoon. 28 days later, I was finally able to board one. I was seated near the rear end when I decided to pay for my fare. In the most booming "siga" voice I could muster, I then hollered, "..'Ma, bayad ho. Sa Lopez." The woman sitting adjacent to me suddenly swiveled her head in my direction. She looked amused. Then a Hulk-y looking man was also trying not to smile. It took me a few seconds to realize my blunder. I went into "instant replay" to recall how I sounded: "Ma, bayad ho. Sa Low-pezz." Lowpehz?! Shoot, sigang conyo. LOLZ. Loh-pes nga pala dapat. Booyeah, I forgot I was in a friggin jeep. Heh.



Booboo #2: Bang-ag

Z was drunk on lurve. K was on the verge as well. A was his usual silent self. And I (as in "ako") was neither here nor there. But we were all drunk on iced tea. Sayang nga naman ang bottomless kung hindi susulitin. Anyways, it was my turn to take a trip to the restroom. I was halfway in when I saw the urinals. To my mind, I went, "O, bakit merong urinals dito?" but the obvious explanation eluded me at the time. So I pushed the door further. And then I saw a bespectacled.... guy. In a white shirt. Clutching the fly of his jeans. Looking panicked and staring wide-eyed at me. OH.MY.GAAHD. Nawala bigla ang antok ko. I mumbled a quick apology and fled towards the opposite door. The right one this time.



One-Liners of the night:

- "Jawlogs." [a surefire way to make Z dyahe]

- "Yeehee, mahal na niya." [a surefire way to make K dyahe]

- "Rebond? Hinde, nakapag-asawa lang ako ng mayaman." [Z, gearing up for tvc stardom]

- "You told me! You told me!" [Z, doing a Frances McDormand impersonation]

/ 11:14:00 AM

SOUND3P



Say Goodnight. I was watching Dawson's Creek last Tuesday when I was reminded yet again of how music can be such a powerful tool in enhancing the potentially weepy moments of a show. And this is one show that definitely knows how to work it! Just think of how Paula Cole's I Don't Wanna Wait became everyone's LSS at some point or another. (",) Anyhow, I think I kinda stopped being a diehard DC fan right about when season 3 began. But since this week's episode was the first of a two-part series finale, I felt that I just had to watch again. For sentimental reasons, at the very least. Hehe.



I almost cried during Jen & Jack's bed scene. Hah. The hospital bedscene, that is. Not during the "yakkity-yak--boohoo--why didn't you tell me--i didn't wanna worry you" parts but at that particular scene when Jack was curled up beside Jen, holding her with a death grip.. like Jen would disappear if he held on a little less tighter. Shoot. Tears were rolling down Jack's face as he was struggling to tell Jen about that nurse he flirted with while an equally hurting Jen was still trying to be flippant and strong about it. Damn. She looked so frail and scared. Gaah. Soo sad. Then after that came the montage.. of various scenes.. of Jack telling the gang about Jen's condition.. of Jen, Grams and the baby.. basta ka-dramahan ever. And the song that was playing in the background was just perfect. The song stayed with me long after the show was over. And yesterday, I looked it up over the net. It's a Beth Nielsen Chapman song called Say Goodnight. Beautiful. Here's the lyrics:



Say goodnight not good-bye

You will never leave my heart behind

Like the path of a star

I'll be anywhere you are

In the spark that lies beneath the coals

In the secret place inside your soul

Keep my light in your eyes

Say goodnight not good-bye

Don't you fear when you dream

Waking up is never what it seems

Like a jewel buried deep

Like a promise meant to keep

You are everything you want to be

So just let your heart reach out to me

I'll be right by your side

Say goodnight not good-bye

You are everything you want to be

So just let your heart reach out to me

Keep my light in your eyes

Say goodnight not good-bye



Another one. The next evening was the "Countdown" episode of Alias. Again, I found myself drawn to the background music. First one was during the funeral scene. I'm not exactly sure if it was before or after the actual service but they were at Dixon's house. Lots of muted grief all around. The pain on Dixon's face was just so crushing. And Lizzie West's Prayer did a wonderful job of adding just the right amount of drama without being melodramatic about it.


Towards the end, it was a soulful song that got to me. Turned out it was Aretha Franklin with You're All I Need To Get By.



*sighs* Now I want the mp3s.



Slightly OT-ish. Surprisingly, the cab I took this morning wasn't tuned in to an AM station. I was a few seconds from nodding off when the manong turned on the radio. And tadaah.. it was Edwin McCain's I'll Be. Heh. I love this song. Back in the days when it was relatively an unknown. Long before it became practically every couple's anthem. It's not even the lyrics which I noticed first. But the strains of the guitar and the wailing jazzy feel to it. The words are pure mush but somehow it doesn't sound drippy with that raspy voice. It's actually almost sweet. ^.^ Except when I hear this: I'll beeee your cryin' syolder / I'll be love's suicide / And I'll beeee bedder when I'm older / I'll be the greatest fan of your life... Shoot. Syolder?! LOLX. =p But never you mind. I still love the melody.



These days, especially with the renewed vigor of the acoustic set, this song is waay overplayed that I actually cringe at the thought of having to hear it again or see a lovestruck teen warble it to no end. Except for those days when you least expect to hear it. Like today. Coz I was pleasantly caught off-guard.



Now all I need is for some schmuck to sing it to me. Hee.

/ 3:26:00 PM

I think this is the proverbial calm before the storm.



A bit ho-hum if you ask me. But at the same time, I don't want to bemoan my lack of hecticness right now lest I end up getting exactly what I wished for. Skery yun. (".") Teka.. hecticness?! Uhm, hecticity? LOLZ. Mas skery.

/ 10:36:00 PM

FLICK PICK: Underworld



Vampires. Lycanthropes. Guns. Major slayage. Anita Blake?! NOoOoo... *Meowl keels over* And then I found out that Kate Beckinsale's character is called Selene. Only then was I able to breath a sigh of relief. I wasn't prepared for my fave kick-ass Executioner, Anita Blake, to hit the big screens. Not now. Well, come to think of it... not ever. I'd rather that she stay where she is right now, comfortably immortalized in hardbounds and paperbacks.



So anyways, owing to my fascination with the undead and other creatures of the night, I naturally wanted to see Underworld. The reviews I've read were discouraging at best, but then the lack of interesting movies made the choice much easier. Since I was expecting major suckage (pun intended, of course) from this film, I was surprised to find out that it didn't suck that much. Both in the literal and figurative sense.



I'm not saying that the movie's good. Just that my viewing experience wasn't an entirely horrible one. The film certainly has its share of blandness, poor acting and plot deficiency but I also did not have the general feeling of having wasted my time and money on it. Oh, and I didn't fall asleep as well.



Notables:



For a vamp (and werewolf!) movie, Underworld is startlingly clean. I mean, I've seen lotsa flicks with gore levels way, way higher than this. Or perhaps it just takes more goop to reduce me to puking proportions. c",) Anyhow, I loved the muted colors. The gray and bluish hues reeked of sadness, isolation and just cold-blooded precision. Maybe that's another reason why I felt that the movie had this "sanitized" gloss to it.



I liked Kate Beckinsale in this. Not talking about her Matrix-ish costume. Or her uproar over her digitally enhanced uhm, assets. I'm talking about how she sorta held her own against a movie that is evidently more action-driven than character-oriented.



For any conflict to appear authentic, the villains are supposed to be as riveting as the main protagonists. Methinks that the Big Bads lacked presence and were not ominous looking enough to create that sense of danger and urgency for our beleaguered leads. Kraven, with his shocking paleness and greasy hair, looked like the square-faced, slightly bigger version of Severus Snape. Viktor reminded me of Arnold's turn as Mr. Freeze in one of the Batman movies. And Lucien? I can't think of a long lost twin for him right now so I'd just say that he looked wimpy to me.



The publicity slant from the dailies were hinting at the Romeo & Juliet, werewolf and vampire fall in love kind of crap. Gee, I was like.. Asan yung love story?! Either the character interaction was grossly underdeveloped. Or Scott Speedman was horribly miscast as Michael Corvin. Or I was just damned blind to see it.



On the whole, I would have to say that I think the build-up was a bit long and the climax was less impressive than it should have been. Then the unsatisfying ending hinted that the real conflict was just beginning. Well, I've heard that there would be a couple more installments for Underworld. Ahh, so it now makes sense. So this is like what... just an overlong prologue?

/ 4:58:00 PM

DUH IDIOT'S BOX: My NBOs (Next Big Obsessions)



I think it is not in my capacity to remain a casual tv viewer. Coz I don't just watch. I obsess. I even think I'm almost a tv capitalist's dream. Almost. Seeing that I don't exactly buy original vcds/dvds or other paraphernalia. Heh. Times are hard noh! Bully for them.



CSI-sified. Huh?! Basta, I'm loving this show. I'm referring to the one with Grissom's team, not the Miami version. I actually didn't get into CSI when the show hit it big in the US. I wasn't even looking forward to it when it hit Philippine shores. It just so happened that I was channel surfing one Wednesday evening and I randomly parked on Studio23. Realized then that I was halfway through a forensics-related show. Now that got me glued. I've always loved a good mystery so before I even knew it, I was sifting through pieces of evidence along with the graveshift CSIs.


Script is pretty snappy. Geeky yet cool. Can get technical but still non-alienating.
Execution is fairly fast-paced. With crazy camshots and CGIs to boot.
Ensemble interplay is believable. Actors' chemistry is surprisingly not a hard sell.
And it's a whodunit show. What more could a criminologist wannabe ask for?



Two whole episodes later and I was 100% addicted.



More on this in the weeks to come.



Russian Roulette. When I first knew of Alias over the net, I hoped that the show eventually gets its fair share of fame locally. So you can just imagine my excitement when news spread that it was purchased by Studio23. Tadaaah! We finally get to see Sydney Bristow. Weyt a meeneeet.. In full Pinoy-speak?! Weh! LOLz. That being said, I got turned off when abs-cbn got this inane idea of aping gma7's "tagalized" movies craze back then. Tsk. Bad move. And then the tagalized series thing got old and they decided to show the original english version over Studio23. Gaah. Too late. By this time, momentum's pretty much lost. At least, for me it was.



But some time during the first season, I decided to take a peek at Alias (which was shown at the very un-friendly Sunday 9:30pm timeslot). I loved the action sequences but I was clueless bout everything else. Since Alias isn't your stand-alone episodes kind of series, I was understandably lost. I was like.. the Rambaldi what?! Hehe. I didn't tune in again until Studio23 moved it to the Wednesday 9pm slot.




A few weeks ago, I gave it another try. I was flipping between channels coz I was also trying to watch Everwood. Anyhow, Alias won out. I already knew the basic premise of the show and since I made an effort to concentrate this time, I could actually follow what was happening. After watching the episode, I was back to research-mode once again. After reading through lots of episode guides, I was finally up to speed with both seasons.



Let's just say I'm now 70% hooked. Hooked enough to drown myself in spoilers, recaps and fanfics but not nearly enough to buy my very own vcds. =p



I'm loving the SpyFam right now. I'm intrigued by the whole double dealing agent caboodle. Their game of cat-and-mouse is driving me nuts. And I'm not even sure who's the feline or who's the rodent anymore. Which drives me further up the wall.



But I like it that nobody's what they seem from the surface. Oh, Sydney's bound to be forever the tortured soul. But then we all knew that. And that's probably the most predictable thing there is.



What I find more interesting is the different shades of gray bout the SpyFam's dynamics:


- SpyDaddy's all bitter and suspicious about the whole betrayal issue. Heck, who wouldn't be?! But then he ain't such a goody-goody just the same. Underneath the "harmless" veneer lies his long simmering anger -- brewing over time but yet to reach its boiling point. Oh yes, we've seen that he's capable of calculated ruthlessness. He can give as much as he can get. But look at his eyes during those few unguarded moments. Dehm. The hurt is just so palpable. Now more than ever, Jack is perilously walking the thin line between love and hate. Both equally fueled by a terrifying passion. And I can't think of any actor other than Victor Garber to play this role.


- My fave character right now has got to be Irina Derevko. I don't know how Lena Olin does it. She's big on subtlety and nuanced gestures yet she's got this undeniable "presence." Her character's such a badass but I can't find it in myself to find Irina totally repulsive. Amazing. SpyMommy's such an enigma. I'm piqued by the fact that I can't seem to "read" her character. But I think there lies the appeal as well. Was the "illusion" as real to her as it was to Jack's? Is she more KGB than Laura Bristow? She appears to love Sydney but then again.. who knows?! *sighs* Go figure.


- And poor Syd. With a gene pool descending from such spy lineage, she's definitely a basketcase of excess baggages. And I gotta hand it to Jennifer Garner. I love seeing the play of emotions on her face. Like when she discovered that her mom's not the saint she has pegged her to be. Or when she found out that her dad's not exactly as trustworthy as she thought he was. Or everytime she's struggling to find a little bit of "Laura" in Irina's eyes. While desperately trying not to let her emotions show. Shyet mehn, such angst. Such angst!!



*Meowl takes a moment*



Whew. Teka wait... Having written all that, I think I'm now 75% addicted. Lolz.

/ 11:57:00 AM

FLICK PICKS: Last Week



Finally Finding Nemo. Being the anti-hype that I am, I put off watching the film until such time that nobody was talking about it anymore. After letting the vcd gather dust for a month or two, I finally caved in. Shyet, the movie is soo cute. Sorry I couldn't think of another term. Cute is the only adjective that comes to mind right now. (",) Anyhu, back to the movie.. The plot is actually the typical kid stuff that cartoons are made of. And it didn't blow me over or anything. But let me just say that the cuteness factor of the characters was enough for me to bypass whatever nagging incredulity that may have otherwise kept me from enjoying the movie. It's a freakin' cartoon after all. With talking sea creatures at that! Lolx.


Notables:


- Dory! Mehn, what a gas! Amnesiac on steroids! =p "What do you do.... you keep on sweemeeng.. keep on sweemeeng.." Major LSS, pare. (",)

- Those mine! mine! mine! seagulls (nga ba?). Yoko na i-research. Basta, those whatever-you-call-em bird thingies. Wahaha. I don't like the idiotic creatures pero aliw ako sa sounds. ^.^

- (last scene with Gil and company).. Gil: Now what?! Lolx. I was about to ask the same question. Shucks, naunahan ako. Lolx.

- The sea-turtle clan! Hippee ng dad ni Turtle Transferee!

- And Nemo was just so adorable. *Meowl in baby talk mode.. Squishee fishee!


This reminds me. Ora... Zein... I have a new visual to add to our list - a new variation on the competitive goldfish look. Imma call it the rebellious/pouty Nemo look. Fine, clownfish siya. whatever. hahaha. Still looks gold to me. lolz.



Hollywood Homicide. It's a killer alwryt. As in mamamatay ka sa antok. =p


Notables: Josh Hartnett (doing yoga). Lena Olin (in a very un-Alias role). Harrison Ford's ringtone (you'll know why).


Word of advice: It's alright to take a nap during the chase scene. Said scene will probably still be there by the time you wake up. Heh. =p



THIS AND THAT: Back on the work wagon



Remember the pre-employment thing I wrote about weeks ago? Err, it didn't turn out to be a complete dud. After 3 months of being sick free, The Powers That Be decided to call me at the most inopportune time. Yep, during my sick week. Just when my body really needed some legit bed rest. Heh, it's almost funny. This wicked sense of irony. I'd give it a laugh if only I weren't so pissed at the situation. Imagine this: It's your first day on the job. You sniffle. You try to cough discreetly (if that were possible). You can't even breath properly (without wheezing). Your voice is uhm.. throaty(?) and your eyes (not to mention your nose) are at its puffiest. And take note that this is the first time everyone's gonna meet you. How's that for first impressions? Wonderful, isn't it?



It's my fourth day on the job btw. It's been a terribly slow week and I feel guilty for not being hectic enough. Weh?! Guilty for not being swamped with work?! Fudge. Hehe. Tomorrow promises to have a little more action and direction so I guess I'd better enjoy this moment of "freedom" while it lasts. But then I feel oh-so useless.



Mehn, this is so weird. I'm missing the old job. Or I suppose I'm just missing the familiar place. The familiar faces. Haay, whatever. I wish I had a journal bout my first few weeks of work last year. Methinks it would make for good comparison. I so need to confirm if the weirdness I'm feeling comes with the territory or if I could simply write this off as a newbie transition phase. I wish I could just fast forward to one month later and skip this awkward phase altogether. *Wish ko lang* {re: Stresstabs commercial intonation. not the Bernadette Sembrano show}

PROFILE: I am blah from class here and is born on 00/00/00, time. and so love me like this. I was so cute, I am totally an element that you'd never ever known, you can;t find it in the periodic table cause no one has even found it- I explode in your face just like potassium when it touches water, it's really explosive, you should really run away first before I do spark into flames and burn you alive! I love blasting my music as well, when love sync (elissa) let me hear Cry-Rihanna, i have been like addicted to it like drugs- oh wait. it's worse than drugs, it's better, more addictive than drugs. listen to that song! and this is one of my last blogskin that i will produce until the EOYs of 2008, cause i flunked Biology, ARGHS! OMG I SURE DIE LIKE !@#$% and i am emo now like under ltos of peer pressure and bad seniors.



having been in hwa chong institution (just like make it long so you can preview a long post or wad that fits right down underneath which i think i shall crap all day today) my eyes have been wanting to close since 20:00 (8PM)), I was so tired, cause the syllabus in hwachong is really so hard that no one can sleep really well. The new CSE classes (aka. Centre for Scholaristic Excellence) and is also known for it's famous nickname Cannot Sleep Everyday or Early. Is like even the teachers know, so the homework is reduced, but it's like OMG! will die, this year already so hard, next year i say "die!" mati already lar. arghs!NEXT, A RIOT OF COLORS, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ME. AND I KNOW THAT I BRUISE EASILY. LEAP OF FATE LIKE i never know and i'm learning to fly and a safety net to cushion the blow. and i feel so suicidal and note "I BRUISE EASILY" and be gentle when you handle me.




hello once again, i have been having nightmares,no one is doing work for my project , whcih is true. supposed to do "family planning" is like whatever lar, when will we be able to use it not like very soon we are gonna have kids, settle down, earn money have NSman relief or whatsoever or even Children Relief, is like wtf. I am eating CIGAR ROLLS, they are vilina flavoured and jsut finished my bowl of ice cream which tasted so mixed, haha btu it was ncie to me (: I like mix of flavours liek suddenly a RIOT of colors and A EXPLOSION of taste! I mean like it's really impactful come to think about it, and cause my project has to be handed in by friday so i shall rush typign finish this retarded paragraph. like hello! ello! buhello! darkdegree will go on HIATUS soon. and i am so emo, i feel like slashing my wrist now, it's true adn don't look down on me for that i know people discriminate.

see you there at hiatus land.

/ 5:42:00 PM

Like sands through the hourglass...



Just when I've got bloggable things running through mah head.. running through my head.. running through my head.. Heh. Time's being a bitch. Now i miss my lazy dayz. Why can't weekends be 3 days long anyway!


What i need is a diversion. A quick fix. A lil somethin' somethin' to look forward to after a monotonous day of pencil pushing and bench warming. Big Hah for me. I should get me a dog. Lolx. Or better yet, a dawg. Double Lolx.


*sighs*

Suggestions, anyone?

/ 5:12:00 PM

THIS AND THAT: LETTER-ing



To K, A and Z:



We should call ourselves something. Hehe. Tayong apat na gumagala once a month. But let me just say that I enjoyed last Saturday's hanging out sesh. I call it "hanging out" coz it's not like we did much other than make the food court the sj walk. With matching ex-uaap player as a bonus! Oh di ba.. sj na sj talaga yung dating?! lolz. Sana next time, we'll have better films to choose from. Even James Franco wasn't able to save me from the ho-hum effect of The Suspect. Waha! Such a cutee. Though he looked a bit emaciated for my taste. But twas all good. He looked every part the junkie that was Joey. But with those sunken cheeks of his, he's gonna give Johnny Depp and Skeet Ulrich some stiff competition right thurr. Before I forget, special mention nga pala dun sa lower lip(?) ni Frances McDormand. LOLZ.



But anyways, never mind the movie... twas so nice to see you guys again. aaww. hehe. totoo. pramis. =p {Although standing beside K and Z made me feel like am such a big cow. Diet? Weh. Food's too glorious to pass up. Hehe}



>>>> singit muna. a quick introductory message for my friendly friends. ala-friendster, testimonial style. <<<<



With an average talking rate of probably 90 wpm, you can always count on K to liven up any conversation. All the buzz, all the time. With her around, you can just sit back, smile and remain quiet for the rest of the evening. And it won't even matter. She'll have you laughing along with her jokes and hirits in no time. Galeng noh?! Not many people can do this, but with K, I'd say it's inborn talent. (",)



Walang stir yan ha! Hehe. New pimp kita di ba? Hahahaha. Me nakalimutan ako i-ask sayo.. something you wrote sa yahoogrps a loooong tym ago.. na merong kang alam na something about me? basta parang ganon.. hanapin ko ulet yung email. hehe. Uy, pa-xerox naman nung Kokology mo!



A is our lifeline. He's our resident bus daddy. Without him, Z and I would probably end up making a mad dash for the public transpo before the freaking clock strikes 10. And with him around, I'm comforted by the thought that I'm not the only one who goes to malls for the bookstores. And that there's someone more tightlipped than I am. Grabeh, siya po si Mr.Yoso. Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi hoi.



Salamat talaga for your time and effort sa pag-record nung show. Lalo na't girly program pa mandin. Hassle ba? Di ako sure how much of you feels na napasubo ka na lang dito.. dyahe nga eh.. pero forever grateful ako for this. ^.^ As in.



Z... as in zoul zistah? Koraz! Wahaha! I can't exactly put a finger on it but somehow, she brings out my repressed gay-speak tendencies to the fore. O, ang tahraaay! LOLZ. Not many people have access to my retard moments and she's probably one of those few who knows how hyper I can get when I'm on my perky pill (hee) and that I'll go insane without my usual seemingly harmless snide, este, side comments. Mini meanie me. ^_^



Alala mo when we were looking at the polka-dotted pouchies while asa escalator? ["nappy?"] hahaha. freaky. Tara, let's do a freaky friday. Wala naman yatang mashadong diff. =p Talagang ga-gahlore ang lolah! *LMAO* Panu ba yan, ikaw pa naman yardstick ko sa luvlife chuvah. Di ba si C ang basehan ni A? Owel, ikaw ang aking C_ _ _. Wehehehe.



>>>> back to regular programming <<<<



So there. Malapit na anniv ng first ever block gimik, otherwise known as tha escape to Laguna. Magka-part two kaya yun? Wucha tink, K? Yow da official gimik planner diba? ;) If ever matuloy yung Tagaytay foodtrip, game ako ha. Hehe. Uy, kayong tatlo, pag nagawi naman kayo sa makati ng mga 5:30 onwards, txt naman dyan. Lungkot eh. Hehe.



Kitakits!



~^~^~^~^~



WHOA, MALI!!!



Booboo #1: J.Lo?

Thanks to Bush's arrival, Sucat-bound jeeps were hard to come by that Saturday afternoon. 28 days later, I was finally able to board one. I was seated near the rear end when I decided to pay for my fare. In the most booming "siga" voice I could muster, I then hollered, "..'Ma, bayad ho. Sa Lopez." The woman sitting adjacent to me suddenly swiveled her head in my direction. She looked amused. Then a Hulk-y looking man was also trying not to smile. It took me a few seconds to realize my blunder. I went into "instant replay" to recall how I sounded: "Ma, bayad ho. Sa Low-pezz." Lowpehz?! Shoot, sigang conyo. LOLZ. Loh-pes nga pala dapat. Booyeah, I forgot I was in a friggin jeep. Heh.



Booboo #2: Bang-ag

Z was drunk on lurve. K was on the verge as well. A was his usual silent self. And I (as in "ako") was neither here nor there. But we were all drunk on iced tea. Sayang nga naman ang bottomless kung hindi susulitin. Anyways, it was my turn to take a trip to the restroom. I was halfway in when I saw the urinals. To my mind, I went, "O, bakit merong urinals dito?" but the obvious explanation eluded me at the time. So I pushed the door further. And then I saw a bespectacled.... guy. In a white shirt. Clutching the fly of his jeans. Looking panicked and staring wide-eyed at me. OH.MY.GAAHD. Nawala bigla ang antok ko. I mumbled a quick apology and fled towards the opposite door. The right one this time.



One-Liners of the night:

- "Jawlogs." [a surefire way to make Z dyahe]

- "Yeehee, mahal na niya." [a surefire way to make K dyahe]

- "Rebond? Hinde, nakapag-asawa lang ako ng mayaman." [Z, gearing up for tvc stardom]

- "You told me! You told me!" [Z, doing a Frances McDormand impersonation]

/ 11:14:00 AM

SOUND3P



Say Goodnight. I was watching Dawson's Creek last Tuesday when I was reminded yet again of how music can be such a powerful tool in enhancing the potentially weepy moments of a show. And this is one show that definitely knows how to work it! Just think of how Paula Cole's I Don't Wanna Wait became everyone's LSS at some point or another. (",) Anyhow, I think I kinda stopped being a diehard DC fan right about when season 3 began. But since this week's episode was the first of a two-part series finale, I felt that I just had to watch again. For sentimental reasons, at the very least. Hehe.



I almost cried during Jen & Jack's bed scene. Hah. The hospital bedscene, that is. Not during the "yakkity-yak--boohoo--why didn't you tell me--i didn't wanna worry you" parts but at that particular scene when Jack was curled up beside Jen, holding her with a death grip.. like Jen would disappear if he held on a little less tighter. Shoot. Tears were rolling down Jack's face as he was struggling to tell Jen about that nurse he flirted with while an equally hurting Jen was still trying to be flippant and strong about it. Damn. She looked so frail and scared. Gaah. Soo sad. Then after that came the montage.. of various scenes.. of Jack telling the gang about Jen's condition.. of Jen, Grams and the baby.. basta ka-dramahan ever. And the song that was playing in the background was just perfect. The song stayed with me long after the show was over. And yesterday, I looked it up over the net. It's a Beth Nielsen Chapman song called Say Goodnight. Beautiful. Here's the lyrics:



Say goodnight not good-bye

You will never leave my heart behind

Like the path of a star

I'll be anywhere you are

In the spark that lies beneath the coals

In the secret place inside your soul

Keep my light in your eyes

Say goodnight not good-bye

Don't you fear when you dream

Waking up is never what it seems

Like a jewel buried deep

Like a promise meant to keep

You are everything you want to be

So just let your heart reach out to me

I'll be right by your side

Say goodnight not good-bye

You are everything you want to be

So just let your heart reach out to me

Keep my light in your eyes

Say goodnight not good-bye



Another one. The next evening was the "Countdown" episode of Alias. Again, I found myself drawn to the background music. First one was during the funeral scene. I'm not exactly sure if it was before or after the actual service but they were at Dixon's house. Lots of muted grief all around. The pain on Dixon's face was just so crushing. And Lizzie West's Prayer did a wonderful job of adding just the right amount of drama without being melodramatic about it.


Towards the end, it was a soulful song that got to me. Turned out it was Aretha Franklin with You're All I Need To Get By.



*sighs* Now I want the mp3s.



Slightly OT-ish. Surprisingly, the cab I took this morning wasn't tuned in to an AM station. I was a few seconds from nodding off when the manong turned on the radio. And tadaah.. it was Edwin McCain's I'll Be. Heh. I love this song. Back in the days when it was relatively an unknown. Long before it became practically every couple's anthem. It's not even the lyrics which I noticed first. But the strains of the guitar and the wailing jazzy feel to it. The words are pure mush but somehow it doesn't sound drippy with that raspy voice. It's actually almost sweet. ^.^ Except when I hear this: I'll beeee your cryin' syolder / I'll be love's suicide / And I'll beeee bedder when I'm older / I'll be the greatest fan of your life... Shoot. Syolder?! LOLX. =p But never you mind. I still love the melody.



These days, especially with the renewed vigor of the acoustic set, this song is waay overplayed that I actually cringe at the thought of having to hear it again or see a lovestruck teen warble it to no end. Except for those days when you least expect to hear it. Like today. Coz I was pleasantly caught off-guard.



Now all I need is for some schmuck to sing it to me. Hee.

/ 3:26:00 PM

I think this is the proverbial calm before the storm.



A bit ho-hum if you ask me. But at the same time, I don't want to bemoan my lack of hecticness right now lest I end up getting exactly what I wished for. Skery yun. (".") Teka.. hecticness?! Uhm, hecticity? LOLZ. Mas skery.

/ 10:36:00 PM

FLICK PICK: Underworld



Vampires. Lycanthropes. Guns. Major slayage. Anita Blake?! NOoOoo... *Meowl keels over* And then I found out that Kate Beckinsale's character is called Selene. Only then was I able to breath a sigh of relief. I wasn't prepared for my fave kick-ass Executioner, Anita Blake, to hit the big screens. Not now. Well, come to think of it... not ever. I'd rather that she stay where she is right now, comfortably immortalized in hardbounds and paperbacks.



So anyways, owing to my fascination with the undead and other creatures of the night, I naturally wanted to see Underworld. The reviews I've read were discouraging at best, but then the lack of interesting movies made the choice much easier. Since I was expecting major suckage (pun intended, of course) from this film, I was surprised to find out that it didn't suck that much. Both in the literal and figurative sense.



I'm not saying that the movie's good. Just that my viewing experience wasn't an entirely horrible one. The film certainly has its share of blandness, poor acting and plot deficiency but I also did not have the general feeling of having wasted my time and money on it. Oh, and I didn't fall asleep as well.



Notables:



For a vamp (and werewolf!) movie, Underworld is startlingly clean. I mean, I've seen lotsa flicks with gore levels way, way higher than this. Or perhaps it just takes more goop to reduce me to puking proportions. c",) Anyhow, I loved the muted colors. The gray and bluish hues reeked of sadness, isolation and just cold-blooded precision. Maybe that's another reason why I felt that the movie had this "sanitized" gloss to it.



I liked Kate Beckinsale in this. Not talking about her Matrix-ish costume. Or her uproar over her digitally enhanced uhm, assets. I'm talking about how she sorta held her own against a movie that is evidently more action-driven than character-oriented.



For any conflict to appear authentic, the villains are supposed to be as riveting as the main protagonists. Methinks that the Big Bads lacked presence and were not ominous looking enough to create that sense of danger and urgency for our beleaguered leads. Kraven, with his shocking paleness and greasy hair, looked like the square-faced, slightly bigger version of Severus Snape. Viktor reminded me of Arnold's turn as Mr. Freeze in one of the Batman movies. And Lucien? I can't think of a long lost twin for him right now so I'd just say that he looked wimpy to me.



The publicity slant from the dailies were hinting at the Romeo & Juliet, werewolf and vampire fall in love kind of crap. Gee, I was like.. Asan yung love story?! Either the character interaction was grossly underdeveloped. Or Scott Speedman was horribly miscast as Michael Corvin. Or I was just damned blind to see it.



On the whole, I would have to say that I think the build-up was a bit long and the climax was less impressive than it should have been. Then the unsatisfying ending hinted that the real conflict was just beginning. Well, I've heard that there would be a couple more installments for Underworld. Ahh, so it now makes sense. So this is like what... just an overlong prologue?

/ 4:58:00 PM

DUH IDIOT'S BOX: My NBOs (Next Big Obsessions)



I think it is not in my capacity to remain a casual tv viewer. Coz I don't just watch. I obsess. I even think I'm almost a tv capitalist's dream. Almost. Seeing that I don't exactly buy original vcds/dvds or other paraphernalia. Heh. Times are hard noh! Bully for them.



CSI-sified. Huh?! Basta, I'm loving this show. I'm referring to the one with Grissom's team, not the Miami version. I actually didn't get into CSI when the show hit it big in the US. I wasn't even looking forward to it when it hit Philippine shores. It just so happened that I was channel surfing one Wednesday evening and I randomly parked on Studio23. Realized then that I was halfway through a forensics-related show. Now that got me glued. I've always loved a good mystery so before I even knew it, I was sifting through pieces of evidence along with the graveshift CSIs.


Script is pretty snappy. Geeky yet cool. Can get technical but still non-alienating.
Execution is fairly fast-paced. With crazy camshots and CGIs to boot.
Ensemble interplay is believable. Actors' chemistry is surprisingly not a hard sell.
And it's a whodunit show. What more could a criminologist wannabe ask for?



Two whole episodes later and I was 100% addicted.



More on this in the weeks to come.



Russian Roulette. When I first knew of Alias over the net, I hoped that the show eventually gets its fair share of fame locally. So you can just imagine my excitement when news spread that it was purchased by Studio23. Tadaaah! We finally get to see Sydney Bristow. Weyt a meeneeet.. In full Pinoy-speak?! Weh! LOLz. That being said, I got turned off when abs-cbn got this inane idea of aping gma7's "tagalized" movies craze back then. Tsk. Bad move. And then the tagalized series thing got old and they decided to show the original english version over Studio23. Gaah. Too late. By this time, momentum's pretty much lost. At least, for me it was.



But some time during the first season, I decided to take a peek at Alias (which was shown at the very un-friendly Sunday 9:30pm timeslot). I loved the action sequences but I was clueless bout everything else. Since Alias isn't your stand-alone episodes kind of series, I was understandably lost. I was like.. the Rambaldi what?! Hehe. I didn't tune in again until Studio23 moved it to the Wednesday 9pm slot.




A few weeks ago, I gave it another try. I was flipping between channels coz I was also trying to watch Everwood. Anyhow, Alias won out. I already knew the basic premise of the show and since I made an effort to concentrate this time, I could actually follow what was happening. After watching the episode, I was back to research-mode once again. After reading through lots of episode guides, I was finally up to speed with both seasons.



Let's just say I'm now 70% hooked. Hooked enough to drown myself in spoilers, recaps and fanfics but not nearly enough to buy my very own vcds. =p



I'm loving the SpyFam right now. I'm intrigued by the whole double dealing agent caboodle. Their game of cat-and-mouse is driving me nuts. And I'm not even sure who's the feline or who's the rodent anymore. Which drives me further up the wall.



But I like it that nobody's what they seem from the surface. Oh, Sydney's bound to be forever the tortured soul. But then we all knew that. And that's probably the most predictable thing there is.



What I find more interesting is the different shades of gray bout the SpyFam's dynamics:


- SpyDaddy's all bitter and suspicious about the whole betrayal issue. Heck, who wouldn't be?! But then he ain't such a goody-goody just the same. Underneath the "harmless" veneer lies his long simmering anger -- brewing over time but yet to reach its boiling point. Oh yes, we've seen that he's capable of calculated ruthlessness. He can give as much as he can get. But look at his eyes during those few unguarded moments. Dehm. The hurt is just so palpable. Now more than ever, Jack is perilously walking the thin line between love and hate. Both equally fueled by a terrifying passion. And I can't think of any actor other than Victor Garber to play this role.


- My fave character right now has got to be Irina Derevko. I don't know how Lena Olin does it. She's big on subtlety and nuanced gestures yet she's got this undeniable "presence." Her character's such a badass but I can't find it in myself to find Irina totally repulsive. Amazing. SpyMommy's such an enigma. I'm piqued by the fact that I can't seem to "read" her character. But I think there lies the appeal as well. Was the "illusion" as real to her as it was to Jack's? Is she more KGB than Laura Bristow? She appears to love Sydney but then again.. who knows?! *sighs* Go figure.


- And poor Syd. With a gene pool descending from such spy lineage, she's definitely a basketcase of excess baggages. And I gotta hand it to Jennifer Garner. I love seeing the play of emotions on her face. Like when she discovered that her mom's not the saint she has pegged her to be. Or when she found out that her dad's not exactly as trustworthy as she thought he was. Or everytime she's struggling to find a little bit of "Laura" in Irina's eyes. While desperately trying not to let her emotions show. Shyet mehn, such angst. Such angst!!



*Meowl takes a moment*



Whew. Teka wait... Having written all that, I think I'm now 75% addicted. Lolz.

/ 11:57:00 AM

FLICK PICKS: Last Week



Finally Finding Nemo. Being the anti-hype that I am, I put off watching the film until such time that nobody was talking about it anymore. After letting the vcd gather dust for a month or two, I finally caved in. Shyet, the movie is soo cute. Sorry I couldn't think of another term. Cute is the only adjective that comes to mind right now. (",) Anyhu, back to the movie.. The plot is actually the typical kid stuff that cartoons are made of. And it didn't blow me over or anything. But let me just say that the cuteness factor of the characters was enough for me to bypass whatever nagging incredulity that may have otherwise kept me from enjoying the movie. It's a freakin' cartoon after all. With talking sea creatures at that! Lolx.


Notables:


- Dory! Mehn, what a gas! Amnesiac on steroids! =p "What do you do.... you keep on sweemeeng.. keep on sweemeeng.." Major LSS, pare. (",)

- Those mine! mine! mine! seagulls (nga ba?). Yoko na i-research. Basta, those whatever-you-call-em bird thingies. Wahaha. I don't like the idiotic creatures pero aliw ako sa sounds. ^.^

- (last scene with Gil and company).. Gil: Now what?! Lolx. I was about to ask the same question. Shucks, naunahan ako. Lolx.

- The sea-turtle clan! Hippee ng dad ni Turtle Transferee!

- And Nemo was just so adorable. *Meowl in baby talk mode.. Squishee fishee!


This reminds me. Ora... Zein... I have a new visual to add to our list - a new variation on the competitive goldfish look. Imma call it the rebellious/pouty Nemo look. Fine, clownfish siya. whatever. hahaha. Still looks gold to me. lolz.



Hollywood Homicide. It's a killer alwryt. As in mamamatay ka sa antok. =p


Notables: Josh Hartnett (doing yoga). Lena Olin (in a very un-Alias role). Harrison Ford's ringtone (you'll know why).


Word of advice: It's alright to take a nap during the chase scene. Said scene will probably still be there by the time you wake up. Heh. =p



THIS AND THAT: Back on the work wagon



Remember the pre-employment thing I wrote about weeks ago? Err, it didn't turn out to be a complete dud. After 3 months of being sick free, The Powers That Be decided to call me at the most inopportune time. Yep, during my sick week. Just when my body really needed some legit bed rest. Heh, it's almost funny. This wicked sense of irony. I'd give it a laugh if only I weren't so pissed at the situation. Imagine this: It's your first day on the job. You sniffle. You try to cough discreetly (if that were possible). You can't even breath properly (without wheezing). Your voice is uhm.. throaty(?) and your eyes (not to mention your nose) are at its puffiest. And take note that this is the first time everyone's gonna meet you. How's that for first impressions? Wonderful, isn't it?



It's my fourth day on the job btw. It's been a terribly slow week and I feel guilty for not being hectic enough. Weh?! Guilty for not being swamped with work?! Fudge. Hehe. Tomorrow promises to have a little more action and direction so I guess I'd better enjoy this moment of "freedom" while it lasts. But then I feel oh-so useless.



Mehn, this is so weird. I'm missing the old job. Or I suppose I'm just missing the familiar place. The familiar faces. Haay, whatever. I wish I had a journal bout my first few weeks of work last year. Methinks it would make for good comparison. I so need to confirm if the weirdness I'm feeling comes with the territory or if I could simply write this off as a newbie transition phase. I wish I could just fast forward to one month later and skip this awkward phase altogether. *Wish ko lang* {re: Stresstabs commercial intonation. not the Bernadette Sembrano show}