I got sucked into a black hole and had to crawl out of the other galaxy hence the seemingly long absence from the Coffee House.
Black holes aside, I've been quite busy with work at the Desk especially coming from a 5-day sojourn way down south. And I expect to travel again late next week down south again for another branch inauguration. In fact, I might be island-hopping a bit later this month as a couple of our branches are due to be officially inaugurated and I'm the advance party in both cases.
And after City of Dreams and Nightmare (which I reviewed in my last post) I haven't had enough time to read something that's bound to get reviewed. Oh, well, to be honest, I haven't been reading a book but I have been reading comics :)
On the downside, I have not been writing either (hence the black hole excuse).
the designated driver
One major change to my family's lifestyle is a presence of a car. Not my car, mind you, but my parents' (to be more exact, my sister's as she was the one who purchased it) late 90s Mazda 323 Familia.
I've been driving the souped-up car (the Mazda is lowered, has body-sculpting, a spoiler, and lots of other bells and whistles) for a little under a month now. My parents are currently visiting my sister in California and will be away until next month, and, I've decided to keep the car with me in the apartment (than leave it at Laguna as a possible target for the akyat-bahay gang).
Driving is a new option for me and the family and while I do not use the car on a daily basis, it is used for family affairs -- like when we went to spend Holy Week at Laguna and on Sundays when we go to church. This is also practice for me as I prep to get my own vehicle in coming weeks.
I still need more practice in driving but I'm more confident now behind the wheel than I was when I first drove the car without my father by my side. I do still have some lapses in judgement and still familiarizing myself with traffic rules and situation but I know I only will learn these with actual experience. So far, the farthest I've gone on my own is from Makati to Calamba in Laguna.
Incidentally, I already have been issued my very first traffic violation ticket -- for disregarding traffic signs. This happened just last weekend on our way to church in Ermita when I was stopped by MMDA officers for driving on the wrong lane. I was meaning to drive straight but the lane I was on was designated only for turns. That violation meant Php150 and while I cannot promise not to be caught again, I fervently hope never to violate another traffic rule again.
issa is now four ... months!
For a four month old baby, Issa is sure a big girl. She now weighs 7.6 kilos (about 15 pounds). In contrast, our eldest reached 8 kilos when she was 6 or 7 months. So, you can just imagine how big little Issa is.
We celebrated her fourth month with a simple cake and spaghetti party in the little apartment. As is the monthly routine, we took pictures of Issa with her cake.
brown plus brown
Last Sunday I bought myself two new shoes. And the good thing about it is that the cost of the two new pairs was for just one pair -- buy one, take one 'ika nga.
It was my wife who spotted the promo over at Manel's in Glorietta 5 and seeing a buget bonanza, I pounced on the chance and used the plastic to buy the two pairs. The other good thing about the purchase was that the two pairs I bought were brown shoes.
I don't really keep a lot of footwear -- a pair of rubber shoes for rugged wear and anything athletic, one pair of Chuck's, a worn-out Crocs, and three pairs of black shoes for everyday office wear. I have an old pair of browns that I don't really use anymore and my wife indicated I needed a pair for those earth-toned office attires.
So I bought browns -- two pairs of them for just around P2,000.
The Manel's promo of buy one, take one worked this way: you chose two pairs of shoes (your pick, you can even buy one pair for you and another pair for your wife) and you pay only for the higher-priced pair.
In my case, I bought almost identical brown pairs that were priced the same.
Unfortunately, the promo at Manel's was a one shot. When I asked the lady cashier how long they were running the promo, she answered it was only good for that Sunday. There were no announcements, no print ads announcing it.
It was just luck and chance we were at the mall when the promo happened.
Will be on the lookout for Manel's promo next time and get myself another pair ... or two.
mothballed comics project
I had to delay (aka mothball) my personal comics project indefinitely as work and work-related travels have necessitated a change of plans.
And I haven't been drawing for quite some time now, my Sketch-A-Day habit has sadly been mothballed as well. The sketchpad and pencils are quitely tucked in a backpack that has slowly been gathering dust since my trip to Pagadian a couple of weeks back.
Hmm, will have to remind myself to use a bigger office bag and bring on a daily basis the sketchpad and pencils for those downtimes at the Desk.
summer komikon 2010 is this saturday
Speaking of comics, Summer Komikon 2010 is happening this Saturday, April 17, at the Bahay ng Alumni in Peyups - Diliman.
Unfortunately, I might miss it as their are other stuff to do this Saturday as well. I can try and see if I can squeeze it in but for those who would be fortunate enough to attend, the program is as follows:
10:00 AM - OPENING / Registration: Comic strip making
10:30 AM - Video loops / games / trivias
11:00 AM - ANVIL: Renaissance Book Signing
12:00 PM - 12:30PM - Animadreams / Close Registration for Comic strip making
1:00 PM - ANVIL: Renaissance Book Signing
1:00 PM - Start: Comic strip making contest
2:00 PM - Sponsor Time: UR 107.9
2:30 PM - games / trivias / komikon debate / video loops
3:00 PM - GUEST: Rod Espinosa
4:00 PM - games / trivias / komikon debate / End: Comic strip making contest
4:30 PM - Group Spotlight: Bayan Knights
5:30 PM - games / trivias / komikon debate / video loops
6:00 PM - Announcement of Komikon contest winners
6:30 PM - games / trivias / komikon debate / video loops
8:00 PM - End of SUMMER KOMIKON 2010
New comics that are set to debut on Saturday include "Laban: A Love Story" by Jose Gamboa -- a Ninoy and Cory Aquino comic which promises the unexpected, Josel Nicolas's "The El Bimbo Adaptations", the Komikero Artist's Group Anthology -- issue 6, "Proud Callboy" by Hazel Manzano, the 4th installment of Bayan Knights, "Yew Stupid Bastard" from Ed Tadeo, a new title from Gerry Alanguilan called "Umlauts and Atom Bombs #1", and lots more good stuff.
For a preview of what other great reads to expect on Saturday, head on over to the Mababang Langit blog which has all the spills on titles coming out on Saturday.
I'm sure going to miss out a lot :(
philippine speculative fiction 5 book launch
Another event I'm sure to miss (as I will be flying in on the same date from GenSan) is the launch of Philippine Speculative Fiction 5.
Here are a few words from Dean Alfar about the book:
"Philippine Speculative Fiction has become one of the country’s most consistent and highly-anticipated yearly anthology series, showcasing the continuing development of the exciting field of speculative fiction writing. This fifth volume, edited by Nikki Alfar and Vincent Michael Simbulan, collects a broad spectrum of short stories that define, explore, and sometimes blur the boundaries of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and all things in between—featuring the work of both literary luminaries and very new voices, from across the archipelago and the globe."
I don't know if I've ever mentioned it but I submitted an entry to this anthology last year but sadly, it was not selected and I received my rejection slip by email from Vin some weeks later. Nah, didn't feel bad about not making the cut. I knew (and still know) my writing still had lightyears to go before it becomes publishable.
In any case, if you're free and got nothing to do on that Saturday afternoon, drop by Fully Booked Bonifacio High Street at 3PM for the launch. As for me, as soon as I'm able, I'll head to the nearest Fully Booked branch and get myself a copy of the antho.
busy month-end
My calendar towards the end of April is filling up rather rapidly.
Late next week I'll be off to Koronadal (via GenSan) and then the week after it'll probably be to Cebu and Tagbilaran. The month will be capped off with a Tarlac inauguration. Much as I've missed traveling, it becomes tiring when you get to do it on a weekly basis. And that's what I'll be looking forward to in the next three months as there are about 10 more branches that needs inaugurating. And since I'm the most able-bodied person in the group, I have to do most of the travels.
So, I'll be prepping my travel bag for continuous use until June. That's when we expect to wrap up things.
