bills bills bills

Nothing reminds me that I had to deal with shit alone more than the regular bills that I have to pay. So let me commemorate this momentous occasion – completely using up my first checkbook – with this blog post.

hassle-free facial blur

why resort to video editing when mother nature can do it for you?

so much for getting my hopes up...

This is exactly what happens when you expect too much from your brother:

Apparently fanboy love > sibling love. *facepalm* Check out the music video here.

meet bummie

I've been known to really milk my gadgets for all they're worth, so I rarely buy any gadgets fresh from its release date. Case in point: Hyde is almost 3 years old (that's OLD in laptop years), and my ipod is still a first generation iPod Classic which I bought, uh sixyears ago (and the screen protector is still intact, mind you). So as long as it serves its purpose (even though Hyde crashes once in a while and my ipod doesn't sync videos and sometimes doesn't play the whole song, heh) I'll stick to it until it dies on me.

But then, that epic korean session happened and I really felt like a throwback from the 80s oohhing and aahing over Ica's S2 and Ris' Ipad. And so, I'll do anything to satisfy my kdrama obsession. I thought buying Won Bin (my ever trusty hard drive chock-full of kramas) early this year is enough, but I just HAD to buy this:


bummie, beside the just-downed Very Berry crepe (c/o Tokyo Cafe) that always makes my day. also used a Dal Ja's Spring artwork as my wallpaper.


It's a Samsung Galaxy S Wifi 5.0, relatively cheap considering its features. I took this picture using my mom's own wifi 5 (which she uses like a glorified brickgame). And it's now proving to be a really BIG distraction.

Motto for the year!

Ugh, the last blog entry I had was the end-year post! And it's already March! Had a hectic 3 months (and counting) on work, extra projects, and hanging out with friends! Here's to more craziness...!

I was having a rotten time since I was down with the flu and all ALONE (NOT fun at all in this case!) in Davao to do fieldwork for my research project two weeks ago. I was feeling miserable eating my substandard free breakfast at the hotel when I saw this poster in their dining room:


I don't know if this is an insult to Lady Justice but this will DEFINITELY be my motto for 2011! Time to self-motivate! Must stop with the typical ISTJ makeup of visions of doom and catastrophic tendencies! Not to mention that this poster had me reminiscing when we had that strawberry-flavored shisha...

twenty wha------

Instead of bemoaning that I'm already 26 (hence, closer and closer to the "late twenties" territory) or even becoming melancholic and have a how-life-has-passed-me-by post, I just decided to have a list random-but-sort-of-related-to-birthday stuff that I just want to post.


My fourth birthday (just shot it from my photo album, hence the blurriness). Initially picked a picture from my third birthday but my mom suddenly popped out of nowhere and told me to pick this one (stage mom much? it's only a blog).
BIRTHDAY RANDOM LIST:
1. My mom waded through the flood on the way to the hospital when I was about to come out. Good thing she didn't have me at that instant, I might get washed away and picked up by some random person (ala Moses sans the nice woven basket).

2. For the past 26 years, there were only two times that it didn't rain: on my 7th and 18th birthday --- those were the days when I prayed REALLY hard, didn't care about the rest of my birthdays.
3. A volcano erupted on one of my birthdays in high school. I tried to google to find out which one it was to no avail. All I remember is that it was (surprisingly) only cloudy that day and then in a split second it's like Armageddon. A lot of paper plates got lost that day.
4. I share the same birthday as Lee Min Ho and Jung Yong Hwa. Amazing timing, mom.
5. I almost got hit by a car on my 24th birthday. As in Edward-Cullen-close that I had to slap the idiot's car to stop it (as if I have the strength to REALLY stop one, good thing he heard my shout and my hand hitting his car).

6. The first time I watched While You Were Sleeping was on HBO on my birthday. Still remains to be one of my favorite movies.

7. If I was born on June 21 instead of June 22, all of us (older sister, me, and younger brother) would be exactly 2 years, 2 months, and 2 days apart from each other. Yes guys, I spoiled it by wanting to make a grander entrance.
8. One of my worst birthdays I think was in senior college where I had to write a lot of assignments and papers and only got to seriously finish at 10:30pm...an hour and a half left to "celebrate".
9. 90% of the time, my best friend forgets to greet me on my birthday. And 100% of those times, I don't even mind one bit. Weird. (That's how understanding I am of people taking up med)
10. One of my most memorable birthdays was in high school when my best friend organized a scavenger hunt (maybe that's why I don't mind the previous listed item) and I have to pick up random notes scattered in school. And I had to get all 16 (I think it was my 16th bday) notes before class starts. Talk about pressure.
11. According to bday legend, my dad got excited when he saw me at the nursery that he gave and signed my name, WITHOUT MY MOM'S KNOWLEDGE (she was sleeping at that time). If my mom had her way, I'll be Gladys Mae (since she's Fanny and my sister's Joy...kamusta naman).

I think that's it...I think I may be forgetting some stuff but oh well....and it's almost 10:30PM, which is the time I was born. Thank you to all the people who are always there for me, let's continue to live our life to the fullest!

EDIT: I don't know what's wrong with my timestamps (note to self: investigate!) but it's close to 10:30PM i swear.

the pound hug myth

It seems that there must be some truth to this pound-hug myth which has been a running joke between me and a friend (you know who you are and I bet you're already grinning by now). This traces its roots to an incident last year when a guy was approaching me and I had a mental panic attack that he might make beso (haha ang conyo) to me, to think that we're not even close. So in that split second when I had to make a decision, I suddenly took the lead and POUND-HUGGED him, much to the hilarity of my friends who witnessed the incident.

I was trying to justify my act when the story was related again to my other friends, to which one guy friend looked at me as if I was crazy. Okay fine, only guys do the pound hug. But hey, I did a fist bump with another guy before and the Obamas also famously did the move. And according to this picture, it has a lesser risk of swine flu contraction (haha).

Okay, so I thought it was just one of those unique moments that I'll laugh about again in n years. I'm even glad that the said friend in the first paragraph also had an almost-pound-hug incident herself (so see, it happens). But lo and behold, I almost had the same defensive instinct tonight at a dinner party. Guy (who I wasn't expecting to be at the party, not my crush, but he is cute) suddenly arrives to our table (my parents and I are eating there with his family) and made beso to my parents. Mental panic attack on my head and I had this very weird URGE to pound hug him! I'm like what the heck are you thinking? Thankfully, I didn't do that. I think it was an embarrassing encounter for both of us (since we're just acquaintances even though we played when we were children) and I just muttered a "Hey..." (without meeting his eyes, yeah, I'm a coward), and he responded by patting (or did he just tapped it?) me on my shoulders. Okay, that was a weird response but oh well at least nothing embarrassing happened throughout the whole night.

So yeah, I don't know why I wrote this in my public blog, but yeah...

nuts and seeds

My mom's recent problem with gout (which turned out not to be gout after all) and my new manicure didn't deter me from eating a lot of this:

That's an assortment of nuts (almonds, peanuts, macadamia, pistachios, and other stuff that I can't name) and squash seeds in one package (c/o my mom's officemate). I love nuts and seeds, even used the phrase as the name of my editorial column in our High School paper. So don't be surprised if I have gout when I get old.

what the google algorithm will yield

I was (slightly) bored the other day and I decided to google my name in the internet (admit it, you've done it once or twice in your life). From past experience, I know that I wouldn't have a Wesley Gibson experience when he searched himself on the internet. I was expecting almost the same results as before (that is, social networking results or mentions in my friends' blogs). But imagine, to my surprise, when I typed in my full name, it yielded this (click on the image for a clearer picture):


I totally forgot how many hardbound copies of my thesis I submitted to my thesis adviser (was it seven?), and I don't recall that one of them would be in the National Library for crying out loud. Well, actually it's standard procedure to put theses in the National Library...I just think it's absolutely cool (sorry, geek outburst) to have a work of your own in the National Library of all places. I recall researching at the National Library before, although the experience itself wasn't as productive as I thought it would be. But hey, I think (?) this calls for a celebration! LOL

Now, if I unexpectedly found SOMEONE quoting my work in their research, I believe I would first ascend to heaven, go back to earth, and ask what the hell was the person thinking...

Merry Christmas 2009!!!

Wow, it's another Christmas! I feel kind of weird that I haven't gone to any company Christmas party for two years straight now. Oh well, here's to hoping that on my next job, I can at least show up for the company Christmas party, LOL.

Different Christmas plans this time around since we'll be spending it outside the house on the day itself (before, we usually go to relatives at Christmas Eve or after Christmas day). So I guess, my usual Christmas movie/series marathons will be put on hold for now.

My ultimate Christmas movie (uncontested as of now) is still While You Were Sleeping. I'm a sucker for bouquets of poinsettias, snow globes of your dream country (Scotland's IT for me --- for my future boyfriend's reference), and of course, Bill Pullman's lopsided smile... *sigh*

So here's part of the score in the movie's OST entitled Riverside Walk, this instrumental instantly puts me into a melancholic Christmas mood... just imagine the Christmas lights along Ayala, pwede na yun hehe.

Merry Christmas everyone!

one tall iced vanilla dark roast coffee jelly caffe latte for mabelle...

it's a mouthful...but it's GOOD!!!

let's just pretend i punched a werewolf....

...instead of Jacob though, that werewolf could be Paul (Alex Meraz *drool*)

*taken the moment i got home...as of this moment, the two bigger wounds have turned to an ungodly shade of purple, and as i just realized, there's also a blood clot under the nail of my middle finger, haha*

it was a long day at work...and it's Holy Wednesday at that...I decided to still go by the gym just to relieve some stress.... lo and behold while I was in the treadmill, my ipod fell from where i anchored it. and the embodiment of stupidity called Mabelle did not even think to stop the treadmill to catch/retrieve it...instead, she was trying to catch it while running...nice...

so now, even my hand is aching as i type this but i just had to document it. i even continued running as if nothing happened after i got dragged by the ramp and even though my hand is bleeding and my two legs are in pain...at least my legs did not get scratched because i was wearing jogging pants....but man, i can already feel the bruises

at least there are only a few of us and my face got spared...but here's to not going to gym during Wednesday evening!

M is for....

Got tagged by Jeric so I'm doing this! Hahaha

Rules: It's harder than it looks! Copy to your own note, erase my answers, enter yours, and tag 10 people. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real. . .nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.

1. What is your name: Mabellene
2. A four Letter Word: More
3. A boy's Name: Mario
4. A girl's Name: Megan
5. An occupation: Miner
6. A color: Maize (hahaha reminisce on the 100+ crayolas)
7. Something you wear: Make-up (pwede ba yun?)
8. A food: Macaroni
9. Something found in the bathroom: Mouthwash
10. A place: Macau (haha kakatapos ko lang ng ep13 eh, nasa Macau sila)
11. A reason for being late: Morning sickness
12. Something you shout: More! (pag concert heheh)
13. A movie title: Maid in Manhattan
14. Something you drink: Margarita!
15. A musical group: Muse
16. An animal: Mouse
17. A street name: Malvar
18. A type of car: Mercedez (type ba yun?)
19. A song title: Maneater
20. A verb: Maul

25 Random Things About Me:

Since Daene tagged me regarding this and I had this unusually light day at work, why not? Apparently it's been going around in Facebook (although I don't usually check mine, mostly I just approve friend requests hehe):

25 Random Things About Me

1. I accidentally swallowed a mentos when I was in prep and didn’t eat a mint mentos for my entire grade school year.
2. I’m addicted to nuts and seeds (hence my column name when I was writing for the school paper in HS). Favorite: pistachios and squash seeds (dragon sid all the way)
3. I had this bishounen (for anime) obsession my entire HS year—I’m known by my HS friends as the girl who likes 2D men.
4. I can rap in Nihonggo—well actually, I just liked this one song in Taiho Shichauzo’s OST that has a rap part in it, and I sing/rap to it (in the confines of my room…alone…)
5. My favorite sport is table tennis and I loved it the moment I played it – my sister taught it to me and I played nonstop from 8pm to 2am that first day.
6. No matter how tired I am when I get home, I still have time to sort the TCP twilight pins, hehehe.
7. We presented a spoof of “Spice Up Your Life” for our Music class in 2nd year HS and I’m sporty spice (with matching kick in the air)
8. I can say the tongue-twister “Peter Piper” perfectly.
9. I know ‘Sound of Music’ by heart and I pretended to be Julie Andrews while she was singing “I Have Confidence” while walking through the CSA covered courts.
10. There was a time that I thought being able to drink Cali Shandy was cool (haha, THOSE were the days!)
11. I LOVE L’arc~en~Ciel… and they’re the only ones who can spark my inner Rockstar.
12. I named my gun (before you fret, it’s a pathetic M1 I use in ACP training) Aoshi (after RK’s Shinomori Aoshi), my violin Lei (as in Hua Ze Lei, MG), and my laptop Hyde (of Laruku).
13. I’m a big romance novel addict, McNaught and Garwood ruled the past 10 years of my life.
14. …and as a casualty of romance novels (historical and regency ones mostly), I had a Scottish what-could-they-be-wearing-under-those-kilts? phase. Oh, I also want to own a castle.
15. I want to go to Japan even just to frolic under the cherry blossoms
16. When I was young, my siblings along with our cousins made this “group” and we would perform songs and dance at our relative’s parties and weddings (yeah, nauuuto pa kami nun)
17. I was a squadron commander in HS
18. I just want to have ONE picture that looks like the Wuthering Heights cover
19. Hydraengas --- I want those flowers at my wedding (yeah, wala pa ngang groom may flowers na ko hehe)
20. I mourned for a day when Wowow was pulled out from cable (no, not because of the porn) since they have all the updated animes and their movies are earlier than HBO or Star Movies
21. I usually have weird dreams, i.e. St. Augustine (as a statue, not even the person) going up our makopa tree
22. I hate having my picture taken when I was young. Almost all of my childhood pictures are of me crying (ngayon na ko bumabawi)
23. My videoke playlist: Superwoman (Karyn White), Total Eclipse of the Heart, Luha (Aegis)
24. My mom ran over my foot with our car before…and she got mad at me for being in the way!
25. I want to be an accomplished musician but I’m just plain lazy…much to the frustration of Lei just sitting at the corner of my room.

colorgenics

Eds told me to try ColorGenics and this is what came out for me, which was super spot on based on what i felt last week:

You are feeling exhausted, worn out, drained. You feel that far too much is being asked of you but you still want to overcome these difficulties and establish yourself despite the effect such an effort seems to have on you. You are a proud person, assertive most of the time, but at this particular moment you are acting as if you have become resigned to the situation. What you need is some tender loving care - a gentle pat on the head (or maybe a 'kick-up-the backside') and then you'll be raring to go.

Being a somewhat gentle, emotional and sensitive person, you are at this time experiencing a considerable amount of tension. What you really need is someone who can be close to you and to listen to what you have to say.

In spite of all the opposition, you are insisting that your goals are realistic but circumstances are forcing you to compromise. You are not very happy with this situation but there is little that you can do about it. You have very strict standards which you try to apply to everyone who enters your sphere of influence.

You are experiencing extreme frustration at this point of time, trying to achieve security and peace of mind, but whatever you seem to do doesn't effect the situation. You are worn out and your energy is being seriously depleted. You may be experiencing what is known as 'heartache' - both mentally and physically. You are a listener and you listen and respond to everything that is going on around you. You feel that all that life has to offer should be within your grasp and you would like to participate in every part of it but the situation is such that every door seems to be closed to you. You just can't understand why that is. But it is - and what's more you feel powerless to change it.

Overwork - be it mental stress or physical strain, you are completely worn out and this depleted vitality has created an intolerance for any further stimulation. You feel disappointed with your obvious lack of energy and powerless to do anything about it. You are angry with yourself and this frustration shows. You are contradictory and argumentative and feel helpless to change the situation at this time. Take a break - even if it is only for a few days - allow yourself to breath, to unwind - you'll feel much better for it. Then trust and let go.

yeah, as if i can take a break...LOL...pero okay na, i think i got that pat on the head already...

my new laptop!!!

meet Hyde...who will be my partner for as long as he wants it to be...hahaha


i'm still customizing him...kinda frustrating i still can't access the internet in our house using the broadband...once that happens, todo download na to! hahaha

can i just say, i hate Vista! yun lang.

Merry Christmas!!!

Meri Krismasu minna-san!!! It has been a hectic few days leading up to Christmas, bitin tuloy yung usually prep time ko for the holiday itself. And this is the first time that I haven't seriously shopped for gifts! *toink* have to shop tom....

P.S. already have a new laptop! pero di pa ko makainternet using that argh...have to gear up for my usual end-of-the-year post :)

the telenovela ended today...

...and now we go back to regular programming...

in fairness, i was amused for the past 2 weeks ;)

effects of having a hyperactive imagination...

i was THIS close to actually stalking the guy....argh....

this too shall pass...come thursday....

my Hyde draws a dream...

okay, the title is my flimsy attempt to connect my dream of Hyde (frontman of L'arc~en~Ciel) to one of the band's beautiful songs (My Heart Draws a Dream). anyway, had this very weird dream about Hyde (it's actually the first time i've dreamt of anything related to Laruku...hmmm...)

somehow i was in a Laruku concert being held in daytime, but i was backstage (i don't know what i was doing backstage, but at that moment is still feel like a fan, so i doubt i was part of the concert production...maybe i won a meet and greet thing.) anyway, it was an open-air concert, but the stage was shaded. suddenly, while they were playing, sprinklers overhead the stage suddenly came on to put a faint rain/misty feel while performing (which is weird, god forbid they don't do that, and their instruments will be damaged). and then i was surprised that the audience were all wet, i just then realized that it was actually raining hard and people were all scrambling (which is not realistic, if im in a laruku concert, i'll be willing to get pneumonia just to hear them, okay stop with the obsession) to grab cover.

next thing i knew someone told me to go through this narrow railing, and i just agreed to go...and then hyde just showed up alongside me, walking very fast (i assumed he wants to go backstage and dry up), and then i just called him, and he looks at me, and then my brain went *shit* since i don't know what to say next with my barely recognizable nihonggo ability.... i said "sumimasen" which means im sorry in a formal manner, maybe i'm saying sorry coz im delaying him from drying up. i told him (in nihonggo, mind you) that i really liked the band...and then he said thank you (in nihonggo again), and then i proceeded on asking if the concert was postponed or delayed due to the rain (although i can't remember how i said this, since i only know the japanese word for concert and rain), and then he answered in a stream of nihonggo that i can't understand hehe (by this time we were both soaked), and i told him to stop, then apologize again, and explained to him that im not Japanese, and that im Filipino so i can't understand fully (delivered this in passable nihonggo), and suggested to him if we can converse in English instead.

and this is when the weirdness begins...

so he spoke in English, and i didn't get what he was saying, but the gist of it was the concert is over due to the rain, and then he spoke again of other things in a serious tone (forgot what it is) and then i stopped him again, since i can't understand his english (damn, im a demanding fan, i surely wont act like this if it was real) and asked him if he can write what he's saying down on paper (since it sounded important). he then wrote (magical paper and pen appear) but i can see that he's having a hard time writing in English (in reality, hyde took some english training, and he also went to London, so i don't know the extent of his english ability) so i stopped him again and explained to him (in nihonggo) that why won't he write in hiragana and katakana since i can read it and just have it translated.

so he then wrote in japanese and suddenly he went by my side (heart palpitation overload na to) and then SANG what he wrote, pointing the characters as he sang it. and what makes it weird is that what he wrote meant something like there is war happening, but it's okay since there is a swimming pool.

HUH?

so there, it ended that way, with a note of confusion, remember this is a weird, and a highly unrealistic dream, since there's no way Hyde would write something as ridiculous as that.

although i kind of relish the fact that i may have inspired him suddenly to write a song (albeit a weird one), maybe i read the paper wrongly since we're still under the rain...the characters might be blotted by then