Tuesday, December 28, 2004
MEME TOO
As Is It Safe requested, I attempted to fill one of these up as well. Though please forgive my memory lapses - my brain seems to have shut down for the holidays and will probably resume normal operations late next week.
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Attend a company outing...and at a very posh resort at that.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I've never bothered making one for the last few years. I'll figure out if I'll actually make one for '05 in the next few days.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope. Oh wait. Yes. But since I forgot...maybe we're not that close anymore.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not really. But I still ended up attending two or three wakes this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
Marlboro country. When I ran out of Luckies.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
Money and a honey. Though not in that particular order. I think.
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 15 - My last day with my last job. I stood outside the office building where I spent most of my waking life (and, in my sleep, some nightmares) for the past years. I watched the sunset and wondered what the fuck would happen to me.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Keeping the solemn vow I made to myself: I must resign before my birthday.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Ahhh. Who else?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just the usual sniffle or fever brought about by erratic weather conditions. You know.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Mmmmm. My Lord of the Rings dvd sets. Watching them helped me take my mind off things during a very dark time.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
As with Is It Safe, every single member of my inner circle. Hey - after all, there's a reason why I hang out with you wonderful people. Cheers!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Somone you people don't know. You lucky bastards. Heheh.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Now that is something that has left me mystified since I started working.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A story I'm writing on the side.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
You know...nothing comes to mind as of the moment. Sorry.
17. Compared to this time last year, you are:
Sadder but wiser. At least...I hope I'm wiser.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Reading. Watching movies. Going out.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Ingesting instant noodles.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
In hiding.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Nope. My fall in 2003 was enough to last at least another year.
23. How many one-night stands?
One. Um...That's the little table beside the bed, right?
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Carnivàle.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not really. I did get to meet new people I hate this year though.
26. What was the best book you read?
Wee Free Men comes to mind at the moment.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
None. For some reason, 2004 had been devoid of music. Which is a nasty gague on how the year was for me.
28. What did you want and get?
A new job.
29. What did you want and not get?
Laid. Heh.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
31. What did you do on your birthday. And how old were you?
Nothing special. And, old enough to deserve doing something special.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A meaningful relationship. But then, I didn't even have an unmeaningful relationship.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Same as the previous year. With a couple of new shirts. Yeah. Just two.
34. What kept you sane?
Ragnarok. Beer. And over three hundred packs of cigs.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Kylie Minogue and Liv Tyler. *nods*
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
*yawns* 'Scuse me...
37. Who did you miss?
The Old Guard. You know who you are.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Kitty - who's like my cigarette-smoking kid sister at work. Heheh.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004
Life's worth it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
- U2
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Attend a company outing...and at a very posh resort at that.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I've never bothered making one for the last few years. I'll figure out if I'll actually make one for '05 in the next few days.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope. Oh wait. Yes. But since I forgot...maybe we're not that close anymore.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not really. But I still ended up attending two or three wakes this year.
5. What countries did you visit?
Marlboro country. When I ran out of Luckies.
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
Money and a honey. Though not in that particular order. I think.
7. What dates from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
March 15 - My last day with my last job. I stood outside the office building where I spent most of my waking life (and, in my sleep, some nightmares) for the past years. I watched the sunset and wondered what the fuck would happen to me.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Keeping the solemn vow I made to myself: I must resign before my birthday.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Ahhh. Who else?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Just the usual sniffle or fever brought about by erratic weather conditions. You know.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Mmmmm. My Lord of the Rings dvd sets. Watching them helped me take my mind off things during a very dark time.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
As with Is It Safe, every single member of my inner circle. Hey - after all, there's a reason why I hang out with you wonderful people. Cheers!
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Somone you people don't know. You lucky bastards. Heheh.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Now that is something that has left me mystified since I started working.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A story I'm writing on the side.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
You know...nothing comes to mind as of the moment. Sorry.
17. Compared to this time last year, you are:
Sadder but wiser. At least...I hope I'm wiser.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. Reading. Watching movies. Going out.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Ingesting instant noodles.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
In hiding.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Nope. My fall in 2003 was enough to last at least another year.
23. How many one-night stands?
One. Um...That's the little table beside the bed, right?
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Carnivàle.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not really. I did get to meet new people I hate this year though.
26. What was the best book you read?
Wee Free Men comes to mind at the moment.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
None. For some reason, 2004 had been devoid of music. Which is a nasty gague on how the year was for me.
28. What did you want and get?
A new job.
29. What did you want and not get?
Laid. Heh.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
31. What did you do on your birthday. And how old were you?
Nothing special. And, old enough to deserve doing something special.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A meaningful relationship. But then, I didn't even have an unmeaningful relationship.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Same as the previous year. With a couple of new shirts. Yeah. Just two.
34. What kept you sane?
Ragnarok. Beer. And over three hundred packs of cigs.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Kylie Minogue and Liv Tyler. *nods*
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
*yawns* 'Scuse me...
37. Who did you miss?
The Old Guard. You know who you are.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Kitty - who's like my cigarette-smoking kid sister at work. Heheh.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004
Life's worth it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
But I still haven't found
What I'm looking for
- U2
Thursday, December 16, 2004
RUSH
Evening
December 15, 2004
As soon as I got back from a meeting, I decided to start scouting for Christmas presents. It seemed that everyone else had the same idea. The malls were so full that I was exhausted simply by making my way through the mob that seemed to begin right outside the office building.
So, like Jack from the beanstalk story, I ended up getting something other than what I originially set out for. Though in my case, Magic Beans were replaced by Ragnarok Credits.
For the duration of a cig, I stood by a Park Square trash can to contemplate my next move. The MRT was certainly packed. Experience told me that bacuase it was a pay day and the beginning of the holiday frenzy, cab drivers would once again feel like deities in their chariots that flew like the wind and smelled of vanilla air freshener - they will be VERY VERY picky about which hapless mortals they'd honor with a ride. And I was suddenly too tired to walk.
With my magic Ragnarok card in my pocket, I ended up in Yoshinoya to replenish my energy and rest my feet. There, I managed to finish a quick dinner, and, in proof of true chopstick mastery, a coffee jelly with a trembling hand (perhaps due to hunger, or exhaustion or both).
I then walked to EDSA and got on a bus. There, I was confronted with the sight of a forlorn hopia (baboy) underneath a seat. My contemplation of the hopia on the grimy metal floor was interrupted by the conductor's announcement that we must transfer to some other bus. No reason really. We just have to. So I got off my seat, somewhat relieved because a ghastly pop song had begun playing on the radio.
Of course, I got to finish the last half of said ghastly pop song in the other bus I got into. No lost hopia there. Instead, perhaps to add more excitement to an otherwise dreary ride, this bus had small spotlights blazing inside.
I turned away from spotlight-glare and tried to sit comfortably. It was going to be a long (and bright) ride through an EDSA choked by all the traffic around the malls and rimmed by crowds with multiple shopping bags.
Yup.
'Tis the season.
December 15, 2004
As soon as I got back from a meeting, I decided to start scouting for Christmas presents. It seemed that everyone else had the same idea. The malls were so full that I was exhausted simply by making my way through the mob that seemed to begin right outside the office building.
So, like Jack from the beanstalk story, I ended up getting something other than what I originially set out for. Though in my case, Magic Beans were replaced by Ragnarok Credits.
For the duration of a cig, I stood by a Park Square trash can to contemplate my next move. The MRT was certainly packed. Experience told me that bacuase it was a pay day and the beginning of the holiday frenzy, cab drivers would once again feel like deities in their chariots that flew like the wind and smelled of vanilla air freshener - they will be VERY VERY picky about which hapless mortals they'd honor with a ride. And I was suddenly too tired to walk.
With my magic Ragnarok card in my pocket, I ended up in Yoshinoya to replenish my energy and rest my feet. There, I managed to finish a quick dinner, and, in proof of true chopstick mastery, a coffee jelly with a trembling hand (perhaps due to hunger, or exhaustion or both).
I then walked to EDSA and got on a bus. There, I was confronted with the sight of a forlorn hopia (baboy) underneath a seat. My contemplation of the hopia on the grimy metal floor was interrupted by the conductor's announcement that we must transfer to some other bus. No reason really. We just have to. So I got off my seat, somewhat relieved because a ghastly pop song had begun playing on the radio.
Of course, I got to finish the last half of said ghastly pop song in the other bus I got into. No lost hopia there. Instead, perhaps to add more excitement to an otherwise dreary ride, this bus had small spotlights blazing inside.
I turned away from spotlight-glare and tried to sit comfortably. It was going to be a long (and bright) ride through an EDSA choked by all the traffic around the malls and rimmed by crowds with multiple shopping bags.
Yup.
'Tis the season.
Monday, December 06, 2004
SHOCK ABSORBER
Thanks to the nasty weather of late, putting up the Christmas lights in our yard was already somewhat overdue. Though it had rained most of the afternoon, I decided to start wrapping the shrubbery (santan plants - heh) with lights last night.
It began to drizzle once more, but I continued putting up the lights for the impending holidays, feeling like a holy man that had long lost his faith, but remained faithful to the rites. Besides, the lights felt pleasantly warm in the cold rain and the fragrance of wet leaves and grass was just precious.
Then, it rained harder. I had been determined to finish putting up at least a string of lights, so I kept on working. But after I had been mildly electrocuted twice (Yeah. Twice. I'm a stubborn bastard. And going to a high school with electronics classes has boosted my immunity somewhat. Oh, and don't try that at home, kiddies!) I decided to call it quits.
Guess I'll put the lights up tonight.
If it doesn't rain.
It began to drizzle once more, but I continued putting up the lights for the impending holidays, feeling like a holy man that had long lost his faith, but remained faithful to the rites. Besides, the lights felt pleasantly warm in the cold rain and the fragrance of wet leaves and grass was just precious.
Then, it rained harder. I had been determined to finish putting up at least a string of lights, so I kept on working. But after I had been mildly electrocuted twice (Yeah. Twice. I'm a stubborn bastard. And going to a high school with electronics classes has boosted my immunity somewhat. Oh, and don't try that at home, kiddies!) I decided to call it quits.
Guess I'll put the lights up tonight.
If it doesn't rain.
Thursday, December 02, 2004
ATM
Five people stood before the ATM vestibule (or whatever they call it) while a lady made a transaction inside. When she left, the three people next in line happened to be together, so they went inside all at once. 'The more, the merrier' may be the idea behind this.
Now, I was left with two more individuals before me. One was a woman in dire need of friendly advice that all the whitening cream she gobbed on her face would never do if it was cosmetic surgery that she actually needed. The other one, I had mistaken for an ugly female, but turned out to be a male (mah bad!). They didn't move closer to the vestibule entrance, I was uncertain if they were actually waiting for their turn, or just finishing their hip plastic cups of coffee as they small-talked outside the building.
So I asked if they were in line.
"Yah," replied ugly woman/man, and they moved closer to the entrance.
Wit that "yah", I knew they were the petty, vindictive sort who'd take offence at my cutting into thir little chat. I prepared myself for acts of revenge that would range from anything between delaying tactics to peeing on the ATM machine.
They opted for delaying tactics, and tried to take forever in the vestibule.
Since I was prepared for that, I contented myself with watching office girls walk past. I knew that they would have to piss out alll the coffee they drank sooner or later. Besides, I had a pack of cigs that could last me half a day.
A security guard peered into the vestibule to see what was keeping them for the line behind me was getting longer.
I asked if he could shoot the two. Apparently, he wasn't allowed to.
Eventually, the two came out and tried one more little stunt.
They told the guard that the ATM had no more cash.
I told the guard I'd like to try just the same.
Within a minute, I was able to complete an incedent-free transaction.
"May pera ba ser?" asked the guard when I emerged from the vestibule.
"Meron," I replied. "Tanga lang sila."
Try harder, you ugly fuckers.
Now, I was left with two more individuals before me. One was a woman in dire need of friendly advice that all the whitening cream she gobbed on her face would never do if it was cosmetic surgery that she actually needed. The other one, I had mistaken for an ugly female, but turned out to be a male (mah bad!). They didn't move closer to the vestibule entrance, I was uncertain if they were actually waiting for their turn, or just finishing their hip plastic cups of coffee as they small-talked outside the building.
So I asked if they were in line.
"Yah," replied ugly woman/man, and they moved closer to the entrance.
Wit that "yah", I knew they were the petty, vindictive sort who'd take offence at my cutting into thir little chat. I prepared myself for acts of revenge that would range from anything between delaying tactics to peeing on the ATM machine.
They opted for delaying tactics, and tried to take forever in the vestibule.
Since I was prepared for that, I contented myself with watching office girls walk past. I knew that they would have to piss out alll the coffee they drank sooner or later. Besides, I had a pack of cigs that could last me half a day.
A security guard peered into the vestibule to see what was keeping them for the line behind me was getting longer.
I asked if he could shoot the two. Apparently, he wasn't allowed to.
Eventually, the two came out and tried one more little stunt.
They told the guard that the ATM had no more cash.
I told the guard I'd like to try just the same.
Within a minute, I was able to complete an incedent-free transaction.
"May pera ba ser?" asked the guard when I emerged from the vestibule.
"Meron," I replied. "Tanga lang sila."
Try harder, you ugly fuckers.
