dingdong96

Someone's getting married this weekend. Makes me remember this nice song:

It's the little things you do together,
Do together,
Do together,
That make perfect relationships.
The hobbies you pursue together,
Savings you accrue together,
Looks you misconstrue together,
That make marriage a joy.
M-hm...

It's the little things you share together,
Swear together,
Wear together,
That make perfect relationships.
The concerts you enjoy together,
Neighbors you annoy together,
Children you destroy together,
That keep marriage intact.

It's not so hard to be married
When two manoeuver as one.
It's not so hard to be married,
And, Jesus Christ, is it fun!

It's sharing little winks together,
Drinks together,
Kinks together,
That make marriage a joy.
The bargains that you shop together,
Cigarettes you stop together,
Clothing that you swap together,
That make perfect relationships.
Uh-huh...
M-hm...

It's not talk of God and the decade ahead that
Allows you to get through the worst.
It's "I do" and "you don't" and "nobody said that"
And "who brought the subject up first?"
It's the little things,
The little things, the little things, the little things.

The little ways you try together,
Cry together,
Lie together,
That make perfect relationships.
Becoming a cliche together,
Growing old and grey together,
Withering away together,
That make marriage a joy.

It's not so hard to be married,
It's much the simplest of crimes.
It's not so hard to be married--

I've done it three or four times.

It's the people that you hate together,
Bait together,
Date together,
That make marriage a joy.
It's things like using force together,
Shouting till you're hoarse together,
Getting a divorce together,
That make perfect relationships.
Uh-huh...
Kiss-kiss...
M-hm...

 

Two posts within a few hours. Yes, I am still busy. I just found this so interesting:

It's so well-preserved, it looks fake; but I guess it's not. It's like one of those black and white videos shown in comedies during briefing of some sort. At some point I was even expecting Charlie Chaplin to go onscreen and slap one of the Indios.

One of the things I've always wanted to do is to learn something for a role. Or even studying for a role. The past roles I've worked on are more of soul-searching exercises, i.e. how would you react in this situation. I was thinking roles of historic people, or maybe people of a certain stature or position, would entail further studies beyond the "what if" but into "why did he" and "what was he thinking". Or maybe learning a new skill for a role, like ice skating, or martial arts. Well, I did do hiphop for a role but the role came after the education.

I digress. I'm learning something now for a role. It's hardly a lead role, unlike the recent CCP stint. (Yes, I believe there are small roles, contrary to how the saying goes). But I'm equally as excited about this role because I'm learning how to use stilts! Not those as high as the clowns with the really long pants; besides, I think they're more stable. The stilts I'm working with set my feet knee-high. It probably doesn't look so scary but given that you can't jump out of these stilts, some bruising is inevitable. Haven't fallen though, so I haven't been bruised. Although, I also haven't learned. And yeah, look, ma, no hands!

Another new thing: Days before my birthday, I'd thought I'd indulge myself to a Korean haircut. Went to Tony and Jackey along Buendia and had the worst haircut ever. What was I thinking? I never liked the disheveled hair from Koreanovelas so why go there? Good thing it wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be. I lasted less than an hour in that waxed mop of a hair before I felt the need to wash it all of (along with the memory of it) at the gym. It was fun though, sort of like a cultural superiority to hire a non-Filipino to cut my hair. The bad part though is that though she's the one serving me, the one doing the shampooing and the hair-sweeping is Filipino so all the cultural glory is off.

Another new thing: adobo fried crickets. Had one bite, or rather one crunch, of these little critters brought by an officemate. It's a pretty weird feeling. Think of eating shrimp shells and that's basically it. For novelty and the sense of accomplishment of doing something worthy of Fear Factor, I give myself a pat on the back. If I ever do it again, I'll give myself a much harder pat.

And hot off the oven: In The Heights. "There's a Little Bit of Broadway in Everyone" is the tagline from this year's Tony Awards. Well, apparently not enough. I won't go into the whole complaining phase again of not seeing the Tony Awards on television, even now that I've got cable. Anyway, so far I've been loving In The Heights, one of the two major new musical frontrunners. Thanks to one of those musical theater blogs, I was able to get my hands on a cast recording of this one and it's great. It's fresh, different, and fun.

It already won for Best Music and Lyrics. I'm continually refreshing my browser waiting for it to win Best Musical.

This week is my week on American Idol as the remaining idols battled it out with Broadway songs. Well, Andrew Lloyd Webber songs to be specific. Personally, I'm not a big fan of ALW and I find his songs too pop-py; but I have to hand it to him for making these songs that can be taken so safely out of their shows and put in a different context, and even with a different flavor.

I had no intention really to watch American Idol last night, it just so happened I was at the gym when I saw Idol was on. I was able to catch the judges' assessment of this girl who apparently forgot the lyrics and started over again. C'mon! Well, I'll be snooty here but actually it is quite easy to forget a lyric from an ALW song (he's a master in the music but his lyricists are often quite off). But then again to forget the lyrics to a song popularized years ago by Madonna is unforgivable.

Anyway, so it got me to thinking ("a dangerous pastime, I know"), what would I sing this week if I were on American Idol? The two Davids sort of got the way I'd be thinking: either sing a girl's song or sing a man's song but Idol-ly. David Archuleta sang Think of Me and I must say it was a really good adaptation, although if I closed my eyes I'd say this is the boy band version (on another note, where have all the boybands gone?). And although I'm not a fan of the other David (that everyone's been posting about after Mariah Carey week, which I admit was pretty good), his rendition of Music of the Night is also good, not one to top Always Be My Baby but definitely among the top 2 of the week.

So what would I sing? Scrolling through my ipod, I'm thinking it must be obscure enough to be something fresh, maybe a lost treasure among ALW's shows. But not too obscure to alienate the voting audience (my voting audience). Something re-invented from a girl's song, or a man's song with a different approach.

Here are my choices:
1. Unexpected Song(Song and Dance) - about a person coming back from a date or something and realizing she's in love. In this case, I'll play this with a boyish appeal, maybe with a grin peeking out once in a while.
Now, no matter where I am, no matter what I do, I see your face appearing. Like an unexpected song, an unexpected song, that only we are hearing.

2. Macavity(Cats) - a song about this fiendish cat. In the musical this was sung with a very sexy stripper-y beat by two girls (girl cats). Sung by a man but keeping that sexy beat, now you have a tiger.
You may meet him in a bystreet, you may seem him in a square. But when a crime's discovered then, Macavity wasn't there.

3. Gethsemane(Jesus Christ Superstar) - ALW's version of Jesus' thoughts the night before He dies. I wouldn't give this a different approach but with all the emotional intensity, I'm sure I'll get the votes if I pull this off.
God, Thy will is hard, but You hold every card. I will drink Your cup of poison, nail me to Your cross and break me, leave me, beat me, kill me, take me now before I change my mind. Now, before I change my mind.

4. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again(Phantom of the Opera) - taking out or adapting the first few lines can make this song ambiguous enough to be sung by any gender. Quite a powerful solo, even if sung in the original approach.
Wishing you were somehow here again, wishing you were somehow near. Sometimes it seemed if I just dreamed, somehow you would be hear.

5. That Was Nearly Us(By Jeeves) - a lost treasure lost in a pretty bland show. This is originally sung in the show by a girl to a guy who doesn't reciprocate. A few changes could be made to the lyrics to take out the comical portions to turn this into a more bittersweet song.
It's as though our lives had been frozen back on the paths we'd both chosen, giving us a fleeting glimpse of all that was meant to be.


I could hear the judges now...
Randy: That was great! You took the song and owned it! This is the best performance by far this week!
Paula: It was perfect! Absolutely perfect!
Simon: I wasn't particularly impressed. You had a few flat notes here and there and shouted some of the parts. Overall, it was a bland performance and you can never be the next American Idol.

Well, that's Simon.

It was a weird day yesterday. From what I've gathered, someone in Mandaue was looking for a textmate, used my number (or a similar number), and had this announced over a local radio station. As a result...


Searchee #1
S1: (missed call)
Me: (unanswered call)
Me: Hus dis?
S1: Ah i am ann u man?
Me: Y did you call me?
S1: Ay try lng m mscal # u ks po rinig ko ks s MOR.
Me: Ano MOR?
S1: Mor radio b cebu narinig kulng sa kalwak kang oi.
Later...
S1: Hlu gdnun?
Me: (scratching head)

Searchee #2
S2: Kinch diay u name?....
Me: Hus dis?
S2: Lyle akoh name'....taga mandaue! ikw kincha man u name?.... girl kah?...
Me: wer did you get my num?
S2: Hatagan nalang takah sah globe nkoh ky t.m mani gud. Mao ang # 0916492XXXX
Later...
S2: (using 0916492XXXX) Hi'...kinsah diay u name?...n taga asah pud kah?...
Me: where did u get my numbr?
S2: Nah'...sah m.o.r ky nagpasouns man ko nya wah my lingaw di mypah e txtm8 nalang
Me: (no answer)
S2: Kinsah diay u name?....
Me: (no answer)
S2: Woist'...stel der?...
Me: what's m.o.r?
S2: Ay'....don't mind 8 nalang woist'....
Me: (no answer)
Later that evening...
S2: Hi'...gud evez!..
Me: (scratching head)

Searchee #3
S3: Hi.Bbs
Me: Hus dis?
S3: Txt.Mate.U.Ayaw mo?
Me: where did you get my num?
S3: Sa.Mor.Ngpa.Wted txt.U.Dba
Me: what's mor?
S3: Ay.Rng.Pla.Yn.Sry m.O.R.97.1
Me: ano nakalagay dun?
S3: Hinde.Nagpawted txtmate.U.Dba narenigko.Yng.nmber.Mo.
Me: ano sbi? un lang? d cnbi kung lalaki o babae, edad, o kung ano hanap?
S3: Girl.Ko.Oi.Kaw.R.U bby.Boy.Hanap.Q boy.Ask.End.Boy talaga.Ayw.Moba
Me: saan b mor? cebu? mandaue?
S3: Cebu.Madaue.Hago beaw.Hinde.Mo? alm?
Me: (no answer)
S3: Hi.Bbs
Me: (scratching head)


tunununun-tununun... (insert Twilight Zone theme here)

.....

Babae: Hay naku iho. Isipin mo na lang na ako nanay mo, hahayaan mo ba akong nakatayo ng ganito?

Martin: Uy, wala naming ganyanan. Guilt trip.

Hihimasin ng Babae ang tiyan at tahimik na await ng “Sa Ugoy Ng Duyan”.

Martin: Over na yan ha. Tsaka wais ang nanay ko. Kung sasakay sya ng MRT, dun sya sa harap kasi dun maluwag. Maski nga mga tomboy biglang nagiging babae para dun lang makaupo sa harap e.

Babae: Mas wais ako sa nanay mo at sa mga kaibigan mong tomboy. Sino bang babae ang magpapaubaya ng upuan sa kapwa babae? (Itutuloy ng Babae ang kanta.)

Martin: (Namimilipit sa pangongonsyensya) Ayaw…

Babae : Sige na iho, ipapangalan ko pa sa iyo magiging anak ko. Ano bang pangalan mo?

Martin : Martin po.

Babae : Martin, ang gandang pangalan. Tamang-tama maaalala ko ang MRT kung saan may mabait na lalaking walang pag-iimbot na nag-alok sa akin ng kanyang upuan. (Magsisimula ulit sa pagkanta ang Babae.)

Martin: Ok, fine! (Tatayo at iaalay ang upuan sa Babae)

Babae: Salamat, iho. Bless you.

Pagkaupo’y kukunin ng Babae ang kanyang “tiyan” na unan lang pala at ilalagay ito sa kanyang sandalan.

Martin: Bless you!

Magdidilim.

I've got seven minutes to create a quick update to my blog.

I was about to leave the house when I checked the page where I was donwloading a lot of stuff from and clicked a link to something I'd want to download. It's on Rapidshare and it said I'd reached my download limit and I'd have to wait for seven more minutes. And so that's the time I've got to update this blog.

Now it's down to five.

So, I've been downloading a lot of stuff lately. I know it's unsafe, and not to mention illegal but when it's something related to what I am so passionate about, then I just click and click. I'm gonna have a separate post about it in a few days but needless to say, my ipod runneth over.

Anyway, been busy at work lately. Not stressed but busy. Consider this, I'm so busy I couldn't even catch the opportunity to read my yahoomail from the office. So busy that the internet connection from home gets to slow me down and I'd go ahead and go to the office even on a work-from-home day. I'm like Spiderman: "with great power comes great responsibility". Only without the power.

But I'm fine. Everything is great, actually. This is not some positive thinking or even some sarcactic thing. I'm great.

Guess what? Another 2-minute waiting period.

Looking at what I've written above, I've made at least two points, either of which may turn out to be pointless. Maybe one inspiring thought hidden somewhere there. Maybe something interesting to someone, not necessarily everyone. One or two puns and inside jokes.

And that's my seven minutes.

Apparently, it's been months since I've used the jacket I'm wearing today. Putting my hands in the pockets of this jacket I found a piece of paper with just one word: Monopolizer.

No, it's not some MAFIA thing, not even something close to one of those messages reminding me of what I did last summer. It did remind me though of what I did a few months ago as part of an Oral Communications workshop in the office. We had an exercise on making conference calls and handling "difficult" attendees. We were separated into two groups and our group was given the "difficult" attendee roles to act out. I was randomly (or so I would like to believe) chosen to be the Monopolizer. Hmmm... maybe I could use that when I join that Stan Lee reality show.

Well, what struck me was remembering how I was able to BE the Monopolizer. And now I'm thinking if I do that in day-to-day conversations. Well, this may differ depending on the people I'm with and which particular "phase" in my life I was in. I'm thinking, when it comes to chismax, I must be the silent type, a sponge listening eagerly to what's new with people, but not necessarily sharing as eagerly. Well, maybe if it's extra juicy, then maybe I'd share.

For intellectual talk, I think I'm also the silent type, measuring how much the other parties know prior to speaking out. And maybe being a bit selfish and not speaking out at all. Unless perhaps the conversation turns to something I'm particularly passionate about. Or maybe if statements fly that are contradictory to what I believe in then the "I know best" kicks in and either I argue or keep silent and deep inside point at your ideas and laugh.

I guess for the most part, I'm the "hirit" kind of guy. If I find something funny, I point it out. If I don't find something funny, then I make it up. Do I drive conversations? I don't think so, unless maybe I'm bored.

Am I a monopolizer? Sometimes maybe. But then there's nothing bad about that. Life is one conversation after another, why not drive life?

After six months in the company, I'm finally privileged to claim one of the perks I've always wanted from this job: work from home. It's been a month now and I must say I'm enjoying it.

1. I've finally had the chance to have some work done on the apartment. Even if the ceiling warped during the first rains when I was here, it wasn't until previously that this was finally repaired. They had been ready to do it earlier, it's just that me and my housemate are not about to take a leave from work to keep the workers company.
And aside from the ceiling, they've also repaired the staircase, which was also cracking up (literally). And now, I'm high with all the paint and the varnish and woohoo...

2. The chef in me has been revived. With less pressure in preparing my packed lunch for the morning, I'm finally cooking what I feel like eating. I must say my work from home does not happen often enough for me to catch up with the decaying process. Now all I need to do is start cleaning those dishes that keep piling up.

3. Call it something to tell your manager, but this probably boosts my productivity. Being at home makes you feel you've been home all thsi time doing nothing and you end up compensating for it by working extra hard in the office. Ok, so maybe that's not something for your manager to read. Well, for me, that works. Plus, it makes the days you actually go to the office extra special. (Sabay kabig!)

Sorry, can't think straight. Must be the fumes. And the manong probably had too much of the fumes himself because he didn't give me a warning before painting the staircase. And now, I'm stuck downstairs for two hours. Well, there's no immediate need yet to go to my room but knowing there's that restriction makes me insane.

Or it may still be the fumes.

Take out your graphing paraphernalia.

Here's a little story:

2004 - I started at around 180 (I try to be as vague as possible with the numbers :) ). I paid for gym at a buy one free one rate in Slimmers World.
2005 - I joined Golds just to try out the Jazz class as recommended by a friend. Ended up signing up at special prepaid rates and joined and enjoyed the aero classes.
2006 - I've plateaued to around 150, which is enough for people to complement me for the drop.
late 2006 - confined in a hospital for Appendicitis and Ulcer (which I believe was caused by the wait before the operation). Dropped to 140 at the end of it all.
2006/2007 - climbed back up to around 180, partly because there is the fear of the ulcer to come up again and hence, I NEED to eat. At least that's the excuse I gave myself.
2008 - I pamper myself by pumping iron in a place where the machines do the counting. Again, I'm paying (dearly) for fitness, which is actually a motivation that has worked previously. Thinking of the financial damage, I know I'll have the urge to maximize this.

And so I'm back into the fitness routine. The rest of the story, well... will be continued.

Quite an overused title, especially for people without much to say broadly on a certain topic but with the intention of just establishing presence. I won't say I'm back. I've said that quite often enough the past few years. I won't say it again.

***********************
The Oscars have been handed out. Much more glamorous than the recent Golden Globes but much less than the times when more mainstream stars and movies were nominated. I miss the days when quality movies had commercial appeal and are shown in theaters here, not waiting for an Oscar win to promote the film in the country. Remember the times when Beauty and the Beast was nominated for best film? Or when Tom Cruise was nominated for best actor? Or even when the world waited to see if Robin Williams will sing the cuss words from the songs from South Park? Or maybe it's because I watched the whole thing through ABS-CBN.

***********************

Speaking of ABS-CBN, and consequently TV in general, and ANC to be more specific, and Mornings@ANC to be more more specific (what a segue). Here's a little ditty they're singing in the city...

***********************

Starbucks has raised the bar in terms of over the counter service for me. Hence, much is expected of those baristas. In that sense, Shangri-la ground floor branch is probably the worst I've been to (that's probably out of less than 10). Last week the counter person missed my outstretched hand and placed my change on the counter, like a regular Mini Stop person. I'm no germophobe but having to pick up money from the counter provides more exposure to germs. And this morning,
Me: One banana loaf for take-out.
Him: One banana loaf... for here?
Me: For take out! Listen!
Him: (to another barista)One banana loaf for take-out
A few seconds later, voila: a banana loaf on a saucer on a tray, complete with a fork, a knife, and a napkin. Sigh. Nobody listens, nobody listens. Tragedy!

************************

I think that's enough for my morning rant. Time to get back to work, I guess. Til the next random ramblings. I won't say I'm back coz I was never away.

Broadcasting to you live from California Garden Square....at least for the next hour or so.

Finally, after 5 months here in the new condo, I've got an internet connection. And much as it pains me, it's a SmartBRO connection.

I was elated to find out 5 months ago that Globelines was the exclusive internet provider for CGS. After all, having come from Globe, I thought that would be some kind of continued loyalty to the company. Fast forward five months and three months after applying for a line, the end was not in sight. I've got:
1. A sales agent doesn't have the decency and good sense to reply to the text messages of a prospective customer.
2. An application form lost by the same sales agent, who suddenly couldn't find my form after weeks of coordinating with me.
3. A new sales agent who was hardly helpful and left me back at square one.
4. The same sales agent referring me to what seems to me as someone from Globelines who shouldn't be customer-facing.
5. The same someone who couldn't provide me a timeline as to when the facilities could be installed in our building, and couldn't even tell if there are plans of setting it up at all.
6. The same someone referring me to the supposed area manager. Either this area manager never picks up his mobile and has a phone that doesn't indicate missed calls and doesn't answer text messages as well, or the someone provided me a wrong (but live) mobile number so I could get off her back.

Here's an experiment: I haven't withdrawn my application. Let's see how long it takes.

In comparison: applied for a SmartBRO connection Friday afternoon. Installers were available the next day, although I wasn't so I moved the installation today. And tada!

A friend of mine's wondering where I got this feistiness when it comes to being a customer. I'm guessing it comes from the father's side of the family. From Globe Customer Service (for G-Pass) to the nearby Mini-Stop, I'm a fighter for my rights as a customer. So everyone of you, beware!

Finally, after a million invites and a million days online, I'm jumping onto the Multiply bandwagon.

So, what do we have here...

Photos - Well, I already have my flickr page for this. Since it's a new hobby for me, might as well share my progress with the rest of the (Multiply) world. Disclaimer: it may be a hobby but not all the pictures posted will be of hobby-quality.

Blog - I already have one. It's very much alive. It's at Livejournal. But Mutliply offers cross-posting. Oh, ok.

Music - ok, I'll make some.

Video - ok, i'll make some.

I'm also jumping onto other bandwagons: photography, writing, cooking, baking, Jack TV, SmartBRO, etc. I'm used to it.

Let me start of a new year of blog entries with a joke:

Identical Twins

That's it, that's the joke. Well, on a really lousy camera (and if you squint), I'm sure we do look alike.

I started off the year doing something really new, watching an awards night. Unfortunately (or fortunately), it turned out to be an unconventional awards night. It was for this past Metro Manila Filmfest. It's not that I was rooting for a particular movie (nothing unusually great in this filmfest's entries), it's just that they packaged it with a Lani Misalucha concert. People who know me could imagine the internal struggle: a Lani Misalucha concert, a local awards night, late night, deep in the forests of MOA. You decipher which of these are the pros and cons that made the struggle.

Long story short, I went ahead and watched the show. I was really surprised at the way the awards night portion was handled. It was brisk, no-frills, no glitz, no glamour, nada. No production numbers with backup dancers dressing the stage. No talentless TV personalities trying to carry a tune. No wa-connect spiels from extravagantly dressed has-beens. It was only a short speech from Bayani Fernando (who got lost in his own speech) and Boy Abunda taking the stage to announce the winners.

Not even the usual nominee list that tries to mention all people in all movies. What were considered minor awards were given in an earlier event and only the major awards were given out that night. Winners took to the stage to give their 1-minute speeches (as requested by Boy Abunda) - which is probably why best actor (?!?!?!?!) winner JE (?!?!?!) is complaining. (On a side note, maybe he should know that the people who bought the tickets were not there for the awards night but more for the concert). Best speech perhaps is the one from supporting actress winner Eugene Domingo, raising a flag for Filipino theater actors.
(On a related note, I hear the Golden Globes will be given out in a similar press-con style event, for different reasons.)

The concert, of course, was great. Lani didn't start so well with her Queen of the Night/Aria number, especially if you've heard the live album countless times. But she soon gave an above par performance, after drinking lots of water for her "cold". Two encores later, her Nessun Dorma served as a perfect finale, much better than her rendition in the live album.

So I guess that's what ushered in a great 2008: a Lani Misalucha concert. And a dark cloud foreboding: Jinggoy as best actor.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Went to work today wearing my Christmas suit. For me it's from internal to external; but if it works the other way around for the people I meet today, I'll be a contribution to that :)

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.
December 8. Five more days until the Christmas presentation.
So I didn't get what I want. People seldom do. But I made the most with what I have. And so we're doing All That Jazz. As I recall, that was actually one of my dreams back then, so I'm happy about it. And as it turns out, it's not the actual dancing that I'm fond of, it's just being part of what brought forth this magic that excites me. Although I have been rehearsing the sexy but painful Fosse steps with them, I'll be dancing the plainer Jingle Bell Rock (as done in Mean Girls) as a Christmas Tree. Five days.

December 8. Seventeen days 'til Christmas.
But of course the actual excitement comes a day early, so that's officially sixteen days. So sixteen days of shopping is upon me. Somehow the Christmas spirit (i.e. shopping spirit, or gift-giving spirit if I wanna be less commercial) is with me early this year. It started to kick in yesterday in National Bookstore when I happened to look at gift wrappers.

December 8. Twenty-three days 'til the new year.
This has been a great year. No hospitalization this year (I don't know, once you've been hospitalized you suddenly become thankful for each year that you're not). The effects of the hospitalization are still felt via salary deduction but it's no big deal, at least not anymore. I can think of two things that defined the year: Landmark and the new job. I'll write more about the year at the start of the new one.

But for now, we countdown...

I don't know but somehow Prince Charming has lost his charm. Not just Prince Charming, almost all characters have.

I'm not talking about Enchanted, which I love by the way. I'm talking about one of my favorite musicals by my favorite composer: Into The Woods.

I love this musical: the concept is no longer new but the words and the story is so well-crafted. Plus the wit is there and the music, although a bit operatic for those with modern musical tastes, is fun. There's an official DVD of this out there, with Bernadette Peters, Chip Zien, and Joanna Gleason (in an award-winning performance). It's fun and contains a lot more jokes and visual gags not found in the cast recording.

And then came New Voice's production. Sigh. Probably the memory of the great production in the DVD is quite fresh in my mind and set too high a bar for what appears to be a smaller production. Or possibly the traffic and search for a parking spot proved too daunting and destroyed the overall theater experience.

Lots of jokes didn't hit the spot. A lot of voices failed to match the demands. People are gasping trying to catch up to Sondheim's lyrics. People are overly dramatic and obviously not enjoying the juicy-ness of their roles. Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Michael Williams, and Cathy Azanza are probably the show's only saving grace. Bad traffic doesn't cause that.

I'm just starting out on a new hobby ("craft" to those who get a fit when what they've put their heart in all their life is reduced to a "hobby"): photography.

As I've said, I'm just starting out. Weird thing is, I don't think I have the eye yet to know what is good or bad. Well, maybe I can already discern what is technically good and maybe I know which are visually enticing. I guess I'll get there in due time.

I guess I particularly like taking pictures of people. I don't know but I guess with a good camera everyone looks beautiful. I guess that's one thing I've taken for granted in the past.

Hopefully as I get more into this thing, I'll get to be more aware of the beauty around me. I guess sometimes you just need to look through different lenses, or maybe capture these moments and look at them again and again.

I also hope as I learn more I wouldn't become as judgemental as I am when I watch theater. Which brings me to my next topic...

Been a long while. Again.

I guess I'm getting busy already. Means I've got real work already. I guess my days as a newbie are numbered. I'm not complaining though, I guess work is fun, for now.

Busy-ness is no excuse. And so I'm reconnecting today.

Incidentally, I bumped into an old friend earlier this morning on my way to work (well, okay, not that early). He's a co-actor from Koine before, back when I did Philadelphia with him. And that was a fun show. Those who've watched it and remember it may recall me having fun in this get-up:


It's been years since we last saw each other and it was great seeing him again. I saw him once about two weeks ago but I wasn't sure he remembered me so I just stared at him 'til I caught his attention, which I never did. So this morning, after passing him, I shouted out "Paul!". He turned, saw me, and then I knew he did remember me. We had fun years ago, what's not to remember? We didn't get to talk but I'm sure we'll be making time to catch up with each other's goings-on.

I was also able to reconnect last week with another friend. Let's just say that we were better friends than roommates. I finally got around to meeting her last week, three months since I abandoned her (with the full monthly rent and the shattered refrigerator glass, long story). It turns out I wasn't as "abandoning" as I thought I was. Everything just fell into place, she got a new roommate about a week after I left (without even searching). I also got that she fully understood the risks of my switching jobs (we got to talk about it before I left but I never thought she actually got it). And we were talking again, much like the way we did before we became roommies.

I'm planning to reconnect with another set of co-actors sometime soon. No, make that next week, "sometime soon" doesn't call me to action. This other set is from Supressed Desires, another riotous comedy I was in (at least it was riotous for me, especially now that I look back at the things I am capable of doing). One of them I saw out of the blue three months ago when I got my payroll account ATM. Another one of them is about 7 or 8 months pregnant.

I can't wait. It's good to be back online.

I reached for the stars. I got shot down. I landed on the moon. I think I should be happy and make the most out of being in the moon. Well, it's a change. But still the stars are there for the reaching, taunting me. Asking me "Why?". I tried. Being cause in the matter and all. It was the only solid and viable option. And yet the proposal was shot down, with no clear alternative. Sigh. But the moon is nice. But it's not the stars.

Ok. So I'll choose to be on the moon. And make the most of being here. Maybe be king of the moon or something. Well, I won't go down in history for reaching the stars. Neither will I go down in history as the one who reached for the moon. I just landed here. And if everything goes well on the moon, people might take out their "I told you so"s. See, you'll do well on the moon. But who says I won't do well on the stars?

So ok, I'll choose to be on the moon if they decide for the moon. Still hoping for the stars though. On Monday I'll know.

The moon is "All That Jazz". "Sing! Sing! Sing!" are the stars. Fosse is flight. I guess I should be happy either way.