In the daily course of your internet life, whether you're sneaking personal surfing during office hours or leisurely abusing your unlimited internet connection at home, there are some sure sites you're bound to visit regularly. Obviously, the website lists on the right side of this blog indicates mine but let me go deeper as to why they're there as my top sites to visit. Please note, that this listing is in no particular order, weight or preference although I will state most likely what sites I devotedly visit.
Inquirer.net (www.inquirer.net)
Inquirer.net is the number one Filipino website when it comes to news and it remains to this day that. So, it's only normal that this becomes a daily habit with me. It's much more comprehensive than the print version (thanks largely because the press and photo releases don't get published anymore) but like its mundane form, is cluttered with ads. However, like the printed form, you can choose to ignore the ads (hopefully they're not intrusive like those new rich media types offered nowadays).
Yahoo Sports (http://sports.yahoo.com/)
It has become a habit for me to check the latest sports news via Yahoo's sports pages (normally NFL, NBA, boxing (if Manny Pacquiao is fighting), and tennis; and on occasion F1 and horse racing as well) since I first worked for a sports betting company way back in 2005. That was the first time work required me to online for all the ten hours I was at the office and part of the work required that I routinely check what's happening in sports-dom. That habit has stuck until now.
Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org)
The true encyclopedia online, I wouldn't be surprised if this website was single-handle reason for why many roving encyclopedia salesmen lost their jobs. While there are still questions and critics regarding Wikipedia's open-to-all writing and editing policies, it has fast become a popular (albeit not always reliable or credible) source of information. I first encountered Wikipedia during my first online marketing work and it since then become an indispensable go-to site for quick information. For me, it's also a great way to pass the time as you learn a lot and you just find yourself browsing topic after topic. You start off looking and reading one topic and then some eons later, you find yourself a zillion topics hence.
Facebook (www.facebook.com)
There's no doubt that Facebook nowadays occupy a big chunk of my internet time. There's just so many things to do on that social networking site that I've virtually abandoned my Friendster account already and devoted whatever online time I have to FB. Chat, email, play games, send virtual gifts, join causes, connect with long-lost friends -- the list of things that can be done on FB is outstanding that in my opinion, it easily outruns MySpace in terms of activity. My fave things to do on FB currently? Farm Town, FarmVille, and Mafia Wars.
Penmanila (www.penmanila.net)
If you simply admire writers and authors who can write eloquent English but who can still be so Filipino then Penmanila might be worth your while (it is for me). Penmanila is the website and blog of Jose "Butch" Dalisay, one of today's more prolific Filipino writers and academician and in it, you can read about things and issues that are close to Sir Butch (yes, he was a professor of mine back in college for one CW subject) including literature, the English language, travel, politics, writing, the academe (and teaching), fiction and his love of fountain pens. Updated weekly so this doesn't qualify (technically) under my daily web surf but it has become so much of a habit that it deserves to be put in here.
Komikero Journal (http://gerry.alanguilan.com/)
Accessible via Komikero.com, this is the blog of comic book writer and artist (and video-blogger and podcaster) Gerry Alanguilan whose credits include Wasted, Timawa, and more recently, Elmer. He is also well-known in the comic-dom for his work with DC and Marvel titles including Superman, Batman, New X-Men and Wolverine. Through his blog, find out how he lives his life as a comic book artist making ends meet, his chronicling of Philippine komiks, and his advocacy of uplifting the local comic book industry. His latest adventure has taken him taking a stance that Carlo J. Caparas is not qualified as a National Artist for Visual Arts (find out more through his blog posts and you'll be enlightened!).
Notes from the Peanuts Gallery (www.deanalfar.blogspot.com)
As a budding writer for the fantastic, it's only natural that I try and find out as much as I can about the local science-fiction and fantasy scene here in the Philippines. Stumbling upon the blog of businessman and writer Dean Francis Alfar instead introduced me to Filipino speculative fiction. Dean is one of the more stalwart advocates of Filipino spec-fic and has championed its cause by winning numerous awards for his spec-fic works. His (and his wife Nikki Alfar's) annual anthology of speculative fiction by Filipino writers is a much-awaited release. Unfortunately, Dean hasn't been active of late with his blogs as his other interests (I think) are demanding more of his time.
Twitter (www.twitter.com)
Do you tweet? I do. So, it's only natural that I visit Twitter daily to tweet. And I've linked my Twitter and FB accounts so that whatever I tweet also gets pasted as my shout-out on FB. They call Twitter micro-blogging and indeed it is. It's a fast way of updating your readers and followers on what you're doing, what's occupying your time, and whatever (mis)adventures you're undertaking. Blog posts like this one takes time so Twitter is a life-saver. And I think we Filipinos will have no probs with using Twitter because it's exactly like texting -- your message in just 160 characters. If you want to follow me, just hit the "Follow Me on Twitter" on the upper right corner of this blog-site.
Bibliophile Stalker (http://charles-tan.blogspot.com/)
Another daily source for anything spec-fic, fantastic or science-fiction(istic), writer Charles Tan's website directs you to lots of links related to subject, and also contains interviews, book and magazine reviews, and his personal thoughts on relevant matters. It's a daily, Monday to Friday, compilation of the latest news, views and issues related to the speculative fiction realm and has been cited by even American author and editor Jeff VanderMeer to be a daily resource of his as well.
Other sites that I frequent although not on a regular (as in day-to-day) basis include:
Jeff VanderMeer's Ecstatic Days
For the entrepreneur-to-be-in-me: Entrepreneur
Adobo Magazine Online -- the local ad industry's magazine
BoardGame Geek - all about playing games unplugged
Gamespot - counterpart of BGG, this one is all about video games
Concept Ships - for fantastic drawings and designs of airplanes, spaceships and just about anything that can fly or has a rocket engine
Mental Floss - for the knowledge junkie in you and me
DC Comics - always been a DC fan so out of nostalgia I chance upon this site every now and then
I also am a regular visitor to online bookstores like Fully Booked, Powerbooks, and National Bookstore as well as international bookstore site Borders (which is incidentally also a fan page of mine on FB). I also frequent PC retail sites especially when I was still agonizing whether to upgrade my busted desktop or buy a laptop (and before I bought my latest rig) like PC Corner, PC Express, and TipidPC to check out prevailing prices. And oh yes, I also frequent CDR-King's website as well.
Ikaw, what sites are your regular haunts?
Talkin' 'bout stuff over steaming cups of coffee. Grab a seat and be part of the chit-chat.
Showing posts with label UP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UP. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
let's drink to that!
Drinking, as in drinking liquor or anything alcoholic, has never been a top social activity in my books. It ranks slightly lower on things I prefer not to do in life (a couple of rungs below "smoking") and I try to avoid it as much as I can.Contrary to popular belief (by friends and the numerous doctors who show doubt when I answer their query on how frequent I consume alcohol with "occasionally"), I do not like to drink. If you've been to one of the few gatherings my wife and I have organized for our daughter (baptismal, 1st and 2nd birthdays) alcohol is almost never served unless requested. I don't consider beer to be part of the party's budget in the first place.
I would also rather enjoy a quiet evening with friends in a coffee shop or restaurant rather than in a booze bar. While I will merrily ride along if friends and companions prefer the chaos and noise of a bar to enjoy a bottle or two (or five) but personally I would've preferred downing two mugs of dark coffee while enjoying the conversation. In the first place, no conversations happen in a bar with blaring music. What happens is a shout-out and shout-back.
If alcohol and beer appealed to me, I would've already been seduced since high school. Most certainly I could have conked myself drunk every night during my college years if that were the case. Even more certainly, my earlier professional years allowed me the chance to purchase drunkenness if (and only if) I had wanted alcohol. But alcohol never really appealed to me. Never did, never will.
Then how do I explain my rather rotundness? (something the annual physical exam docs associate with regular drinking)
My being fat has to do with an overly aggressive food intake and not because I've been to too many drinking binges. The times I've drank are far and few in between and the last time I've drank majorly was in the company outing last year when I downed 2.5 bottles. Before that, the most bottles that I drank was 4 and that happened only on a couple of occasions. A normal consumption for me would be 2 bottles max and even at that weakling of a number I've been cutting down to just 1 bottle or even less per occasion (and being a bit of an introvert, those occasions are very, very rare indeed).
I don't even recall the last time I've drank beer. I think it still dates back to that company outing I mentioned earlier. I managed to get home alcohol-free from the company Christmas party early December and during the holidays just swilled a bit on red wines (take note, a bit).
Don't get me wrong, I've experienced drunkenness before. And I swore to myself while puking my guts out over the inodoro that I will never get drunk again after that one instance. This happened in college when some youngish relatives dropped by (cousins of mine) and as is the normal decorum my father proceeded to offer alcohol -- beer, wine, rum, even a sangria. He then prodded me to join them (his drinking companions being my age group, he reasoned) and left with no choice, I indulged in that "washing". So, there I was drinking glass after glass of beer, rum, wine and sangria (the last three leftovers from previous celebrations of my father) all the while worrying if I can still wake up at 4am the next morning to catch the earliest bus to U.P. as the next day was registration day. In those heydays, computerized registration was still a dream and us Isko's and Iska's had to line up for each and every subject (hence the moniker U.P. = University of Pila). At around 2am, my guts exploded and I found myself in the toilet emptying the contents of my digestive tract.
Since that day, I've made sure to never get myself drunk again. And I've kept that promise. Anytime I feel the alcoholic drink beginning to seep through my brain (the signal is light-headiness), I stop the alcohol and I don't care if it was just my first bottle.
All in all, for courtesy's sake, I drink, especially when proffered a bottle or a can. You don't want to offend in the first place so you accept. But if I can, I avoid it. Being a diabetic for over a year now has given me a very valid medical excuse not to drink. It's hard on the liver and I can't risk that with the D and all.
So, I apologize to all those who I've possibly offended, insulted or inconvenienced with my refusal to accept your invitation to go out for a bottle or two. I know it's for camaraderie and all but if I can possibly avoid it. I will avoid it.
Magkape na lang tayo :)
* San Miguel Pale Pilsen image courtesy of Wikipedia. San Miguel Pale Pilsen name, design, bottle and label are trademarks of San Miguel Brewery and San Miguel Corporation. All rights remain with them.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
the good ole days in u.p.
Elaine unearthed these old photos back from our college days at UP Diliman. They should've remained buried :)
Friday, September 26, 2008
music man
As I enjoy my last day of a two-day leave from the office checking and answering emails (what kinda vacation leave is that?!) this Friday afternoon, I am listening to a recording of songs which I've composed, sung, guitared, and primitively recorded during my college days -- more than a decade ago.
And I once again go off to a dreamy daze as I remember my long-hair days in Peyups as a member of alt-rock band Hampas Dugo (literally translates into Strike Blood) and former band-mates Wendell (lead vocals), Val (lead guitars), Gen (bass), and Christian (drums). I played the rhythm section and was secondary vocals -- singing my own songs, of course.
Out of the 12 or so pondo songs we had (all originals), two were my compositions -- Gaya-Gaya (Copycat) and Pesimistiko (Pessimistic) -- the rest were written and sung by Wends. And during gigs, my two songs were interspersed in the song line-up to allow Wends to rest his vocal chords because, truth be told, our songs were not the mainstream types. While we were not the type that screamed their lyrics, our originals were more on the heavier side -- mixing heavy metal with a bit of glam and folk. Wends' songs were what I referred to as socially-conscious with titles like Timbangan (Weighing Scales), Bangungot (Nightmare) and Berdugo (Executioner). But he also showed his easy-go-lucky and uhm, gago side, with songs Nabuburat (Pissed Off) and Lango (Drunk).
Gaya-Gaya was probably the most pop-ish in HD's song line-up with traces of E-Heads and Yano in its tune and lyrics. I originally wrote and performed it for a Communications class and somehow, my future band-mates felt it was a good mix. The other song I sung, Pesimistiko, was typical angsty Ram. Originally, a very slow tune, the guys mixed it up during a semi-hiatus I had due to chicken pox and when I returned two weeks later, they arranged Pesimistiko in such a way that it became a precursor of what was to become rap-metal. It became a jazzy fusion thing and was actually fun to sing -- I was almost rapping it, actually.
HD enjoyed a full two years with its original line-up, developing a bit of a cult following in the UP College of Mass Communications where many friends and college-mates watched our performances in and out of campus. We managed a couple of gigs in then Club Dredd Timog and composed and recorded a version of the DZUP station ID. At that time, our contemporaries were Tungaw, Fatal Posporos, Agnus Dei and the now extremely famous and prolific Parokya ni Edgar.
Unfortunately, the band, like I said, lasted only a couple of years as other priorities set in. I was the first to leave the band, opting to concentrate on finishing my degree in four years. A full-time commitment to a band was not what my parents had in mind for me, and I myself didn't see a future whereby a long-haired Ram would still be holding an electric guitar and making the rounds of the rock scene. There was also a falling out between our vocalist and our lead guitars, something that had been brewing for the longest time, and the latter decided to part ways with the band he had co-formed.
Wends, Gen and Christian actually continued with HD even after Val and I left. They picked up a new guitarist and their music became punkier although their heavy metal tone remained. Even after I graduated, Wends led the band into several more gigs until the band had to really dissolve when Wends finally got his diploma in 1998 or early 1999.
Since college, I've not made any attempts at forming a band or becoming part of one. I've been busy with corporate life and now as I have my own family, that has permanently sealed the door to such ventures. I will however welcome an opportunity to sing or play again, just give me enough time to practice. And I will continue to write songs when I can. And I will record all the songs I've thus written so far, along with any other song I will write in the future.
The music man may have left his band, but the man has not left his music.
Cheers, repapips!
And I once again go off to a dreamy daze as I remember my long-hair days in Peyups as a member of alt-rock band Hampas Dugo (literally translates into Strike Blood) and former band-mates Wendell (lead vocals), Val (lead guitars), Gen (bass), and Christian (drums). I played the rhythm section and was secondary vocals -- singing my own songs, of course.
Out of the 12 or so pondo songs we had (all originals), two were my compositions -- Gaya-Gaya (Copycat) and Pesimistiko (Pessimistic) -- the rest were written and sung by Wends. And during gigs, my two songs were interspersed in the song line-up to allow Wends to rest his vocal chords because, truth be told, our songs were not the mainstream types. While we were not the type that screamed their lyrics, our originals were more on the heavier side -- mixing heavy metal with a bit of glam and folk. Wends' songs were what I referred to as socially-conscious with titles like Timbangan (Weighing Scales), Bangungot (Nightmare) and Berdugo (Executioner). But he also showed his easy-go-lucky and uhm, gago side, with songs Nabuburat (Pissed Off) and Lango (Drunk).
Gaya-Gaya was probably the most pop-ish in HD's song line-up with traces of E-Heads and Yano in its tune and lyrics. I originally wrote and performed it for a Communications class and somehow, my future band-mates felt it was a good mix. The other song I sung, Pesimistiko, was typical angsty Ram. Originally, a very slow tune, the guys mixed it up during a semi-hiatus I had due to chicken pox and when I returned two weeks later, they arranged Pesimistiko in such a way that it became a precursor of what was to become rap-metal. It became a jazzy fusion thing and was actually fun to sing -- I was almost rapping it, actually.
HD enjoyed a full two years with its original line-up, developing a bit of a cult following in the UP College of Mass Communications where many friends and college-mates watched our performances in and out of campus. We managed a couple of gigs in then Club Dredd Timog and composed and recorded a version of the DZUP station ID. At that time, our contemporaries were Tungaw, Fatal Posporos, Agnus Dei and the now extremely famous and prolific Parokya ni Edgar.
Unfortunately, the band, like I said, lasted only a couple of years as other priorities set in. I was the first to leave the band, opting to concentrate on finishing my degree in four years. A full-time commitment to a band was not what my parents had in mind for me, and I myself didn't see a future whereby a long-haired Ram would still be holding an electric guitar and making the rounds of the rock scene. There was also a falling out between our vocalist and our lead guitars, something that had been brewing for the longest time, and the latter decided to part ways with the band he had co-formed.
Wends, Gen and Christian actually continued with HD even after Val and I left. They picked up a new guitarist and their music became punkier although their heavy metal tone remained. Even after I graduated, Wends led the band into several more gigs until the band had to really dissolve when Wends finally got his diploma in 1998 or early 1999.
Since college, I've not made any attempts at forming a band or becoming part of one. I've been busy with corporate life and now as I have my own family, that has permanently sealed the door to such ventures. I will however welcome an opportunity to sing or play again, just give me enough time to practice. And I will continue to write songs when I can. And I will record all the songs I've thus written so far, along with any other song I will write in the future.
The music man may have left his band, but the man has not left his music.
Cheers, repapips!
Monday, July 14, 2008
monday mumblings: ikai's pictorial, so long baby jake, the d-disease update, e-heads, and others
studio shots of ikai
Being the stage parents that Elvie and I are, we had photos of our daughter, Ikai, taken a couple of weekends ago at Great Images at Festival Mall in the hopes of landing her a commercial one of these days. A friend of mine has contacts within the advertising world and these pictures will be sent for their consideration and potential casting.
In attendance at her short photo shoot were, of course, Ikai's stage grandparents Lolo Ely and Lola Lydia who helped the photographer prompt Ikai to pose.
What do you think of our little daughter? Ain't she a beauty?
baby jake is now angel jake
I would like to extend my condolences again to Olga and Jasper and to their families for the passing of their new-born baby Jasmine Keith "Jake" Espino after a courageous battle to live.
Sadly, Baby Jake didn't make it and it was God's will that she join Him as one of his millions of little angels. Baby Jake is now Angel Jake and for sure, she will be de facto guardian of her twin sister, Baby Jade, who continues her own battles but all of us are hopeful she will make it through.
My wife and I visited Olga and Jasper at Baby Jake's wake at Funeraria Paz in QC last Saturday and the event promptly turned into one impromptu reunion with Josh and Che, Wendell and Elaine around. Sadly, it was still incomplete with Pilar not there due to prior commitments.
diabetes update
Last Friday, I had my monthly check-up to determine my progress with managing my diabetes. Unlike other diseases, diabetes, once acquired, is not curable. There's no treatment, no meds that will return your body to normal. Once a diabetic, always a diabetic and from now on, check-ups with an endocrinologist or a specialist in internal medicine will always be required.
So, once again, I found myself in Doc Crisostomo's clinic last week but a day before, I had another blood chem and lipid profile tests.
The good news is that my sugar levels are good. My Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) was at 79 (normal level is 70-110).
The bad news is that my bad cholesterol level is up (but so is my good cholesterol). So, the doc remixed my medication and is now focused on lowering my cholesterol levels.
In actuality, my bad chol level is actually lower than my previous lipid profile test in April-May. Back then, my cholesterol level was at 291 when the acceptable level was below 200. The latest results show my cholesterol level at 226, a large reduction but still on the borderline (according to a Wikipedia article, when your cholesterol level is above 240 you're high-risk). But the doc was concerned that I just lost 1 pound since my last check-up. My last check-up in June was that I was 199lbs. Last Friday's weigh-in put me at just 198lbs.
A few posts back, I said that my weight was already at 193lbs. That was true! Unfortunately, since that post and until last Friday, my diet and exercise routines have been disrupted and while I may not have eaten more, I did exercise less which resulted in me gaining the additional 5 pounds. So, to make sure I don't get reprimanded again -- the doc told me I was still too fat straight to my face -- I need to get exercising regularly again.
BTW, heard that Makati Med's opening its new wing by August 18 hence the rush-rush of construction. MMC is in need of a face-lift what with stiff competition offered by Medical City and the soon-to-rise St. Luke's Medical Center in Fort Bonifacio.
nbs offers special print runs of classics
National Bookstore recently released several classic fantasy, and sci-fi novels from master writers such as Michael Moorcock (Elric), Roger Zelany (Chronicles of Amber), Hope Mirrlees (Lud-In-The-Mist), Jack Vance (Lyonesse), Robert Howard (The Conan Chronicles), Poul Anderson (The Broken Sword), John Ford (The Dragon Waiting), among others in special newsprint editions -- making these classics, ehem ehem, affordable.
My first purchase in this special print run is Fritz Leiber's stories on Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, entitled in a special anthology entitled "Lankhmar". Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser are the archetypal icons of sword and sorcery and they play a pivotal role in shaping the world of modern fantasy and puts Leiber beside fantasy greats such as JRR Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) and Lewis Carroll (Chronicles of Narnia).
At P355, the book is value for money. It's going to sit in with other unread books. The other books are lined up next for purchase. I just hope NBS don't run out of stock.
so many books, little time for reading
I have yet to thoroughly unpack the boxes from our last move (July last year) but now that the contract with the apartment has been extended another year, I just need to find time to do the little exercise of unpacking my books and magazines and finding a space for them.
And in unrelenting passion, I seem to always purchase at least one book a month nowadays thanks to Books for Less and Booksale. And I'm a regular buyer of Entrepreneur magazine so that's two publications roughly per month when I literally almost have no time to read!
At home, I think I still have about three books unread and counting the Neil Gaiman and the Fritz Leiber I bought recently, that up's the total of books unread to five. Add to that a couple of books I still have here in the office. Add to that an unfinished book by David Brin and another one by Terry Pratchett.
My books are scattered all over the apartment. Some are found under the TV in the sala while others are scattered in the two rooms upstairs. My current reading material will always be found on top of the water container near the CR because the only time I always and almost find time to read is during banyo time while nature is calling.
Most, as I've mentioned, are still in the box along with my FHMs and Dragon magazines and I'm sure the rodents are having a feast day tearing up the pages.
My most recent read (and finished) is another Brian Jacques Redwall series novel -- Pearls of Lutra.
inspiration
Neil Gaiman is once again teaming up with Fully Booked for the 3rd Philippine Graphic Fiction Awards and is once again inviting writers and artists to submit entries and this year's contest is made more special with the addition of a new category -- short film.
Read all about the event and contest guidelines at its Fully Booked page. The deadline is September (same as Dean Alfar's call for spec fic submissions) and who knows? Will this year be the year I finally get enough courage and more aptly, more time to submit a story to the Philippine Graphic Fiction Awards?
Flushed with inspiration last week, I actually started work on a piece. Hopefully, I get to finish it before the deadline set.
Keep your fingers crossed mateys!
officially globed
After almost two years of having my internet service provided by MyDestiny, I finally flirted and started an affair with Globe Broadband.
Practicality was the main reason for the switch. I was paying P999 pesos for the MyDestiny Cable Internet service (which at some days had a disastrous connection and an odd pay first before use scheme). Since we needed a phone line at the apartment, we applied for a line and opted for one that bundled voice and data -- the P1295 peso package.
While it did take almost two months to get the connection ... connection ... now, it's almost a month of smooth-sailing with the new broadband internet. My wife even swears that the connection at home is faster than the connection at her office :P
But no, I'm not devoting my time to any online game. In fact, I might not be using the service for all its worth because I haven't been really internetting at home that much.
But lest this turns out to become an endorsement for Globe -- hell, hey Globe! Fix your damned customer service -- it took two months and three visits to your service center for follow-ups just to get the line activated. Heck, asked to explain why the delay, the CS (who I'm not blaming) was at a loss for a reason.
Sheesh!
e-heads united
My good friend and regular chat-mate Pilar just gave me the heads-up on an upcoming Eraserheads reunion concert at the end of August -- read it here.
Now, any bonafide UP student during the mid-90s is familiar with the legacy of the 'Heads. They're as iconic to the Philippine rock scene as are Asin, Heber Bartolome, and the Juan dela Cruz band.
Now, how much is that ticket?
Being the stage parents that Elvie and I are, we had photos of our daughter, Ikai, taken a couple of weekends ago at Great Images at Festival Mall in the hopes of landing her a commercial one of these days. A friend of mine has contacts within the advertising world and these pictures will be sent for their consideration and potential casting.
In attendance at her short photo shoot were, of course, Ikai's stage grandparents Lolo Ely and Lola Lydia who helped the photographer prompt Ikai to pose.
What do you think of our little daughter? Ain't she a beauty?
baby jake is now angel jake
I would like to extend my condolences again to Olga and Jasper and to their families for the passing of their new-born baby Jasmine Keith "Jake" Espino after a courageous battle to live.
Sadly, Baby Jake didn't make it and it was God's will that she join Him as one of his millions of little angels. Baby Jake is now Angel Jake and for sure, she will be de facto guardian of her twin sister, Baby Jade, who continues her own battles but all of us are hopeful she will make it through.
My wife and I visited Olga and Jasper at Baby Jake's wake at Funeraria Paz in QC last Saturday and the event promptly turned into one impromptu reunion with Josh and Che, Wendell and Elaine around. Sadly, it was still incomplete with Pilar not there due to prior commitments.
diabetes update
Last Friday, I had my monthly check-up to determine my progress with managing my diabetes. Unlike other diseases, diabetes, once acquired, is not curable. There's no treatment, no meds that will return your body to normal. Once a diabetic, always a diabetic and from now on, check-ups with an endocrinologist or a specialist in internal medicine will always be required.
So, once again, I found myself in Doc Crisostomo's clinic last week but a day before, I had another blood chem and lipid profile tests.
The good news is that my sugar levels are good. My Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) was at 79 (normal level is 70-110).
The bad news is that my bad cholesterol level is up (but so is my good cholesterol). So, the doc remixed my medication and is now focused on lowering my cholesterol levels.
In actuality, my bad chol level is actually lower than my previous lipid profile test in April-May. Back then, my cholesterol level was at 291 when the acceptable level was below 200. The latest results show my cholesterol level at 226, a large reduction but still on the borderline (according to a Wikipedia article, when your cholesterol level is above 240 you're high-risk). But the doc was concerned that I just lost 1 pound since my last check-up. My last check-up in June was that I was 199lbs. Last Friday's weigh-in put me at just 198lbs.
A few posts back, I said that my weight was already at 193lbs. That was true! Unfortunately, since that post and until last Friday, my diet and exercise routines have been disrupted and while I may not have eaten more, I did exercise less which resulted in me gaining the additional 5 pounds. So, to make sure I don't get reprimanded again -- the doc told me I was still too fat straight to my face -- I need to get exercising regularly again.
BTW, heard that Makati Med's opening its new wing by August 18 hence the rush-rush of construction. MMC is in need of a face-lift what with stiff competition offered by Medical City and the soon-to-rise St. Luke's Medical Center in Fort Bonifacio.
nbs offers special print runs of classics
National Bookstore recently released several classic fantasy, and sci-fi novels from master writers such as Michael Moorcock (Elric), Roger Zelany (Chronicles of Amber), Hope Mirrlees (Lud-In-The-Mist), Jack Vance (Lyonesse), Robert Howard (The Conan Chronicles), Poul Anderson (The Broken Sword), John Ford (The Dragon Waiting), among others in special newsprint editions -- making these classics, ehem ehem, affordable.
My first purchase in this special print run is Fritz Leiber's stories on Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, entitled in a special anthology entitled "Lankhmar". Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser are the archetypal icons of sword and sorcery and they play a pivotal role in shaping the world of modern fantasy and puts Leiber beside fantasy greats such as JRR Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) and Lewis Carroll (Chronicles of Narnia).
At P355, the book is value for money. It's going to sit in with other unread books. The other books are lined up next for purchase. I just hope NBS don't run out of stock.
so many books, little time for reading
I have yet to thoroughly unpack the boxes from our last move (July last year) but now that the contract with the apartment has been extended another year, I just need to find time to do the little exercise of unpacking my books and magazines and finding a space for them.
And in unrelenting passion, I seem to always purchase at least one book a month nowadays thanks to Books for Less and Booksale. And I'm a regular buyer of Entrepreneur magazine so that's two publications roughly per month when I literally almost have no time to read!
At home, I think I still have about three books unread and counting the Neil Gaiman and the Fritz Leiber I bought recently, that up's the total of books unread to five. Add to that a couple of books I still have here in the office. Add to that an unfinished book by David Brin and another one by Terry Pratchett.
My books are scattered all over the apartment. Some are found under the TV in the sala while others are scattered in the two rooms upstairs. My current reading material will always be found on top of the water container near the CR because the only time I always and almost find time to read is during banyo time while nature is calling.
Most, as I've mentioned, are still in the box along with my FHMs and Dragon magazines and I'm sure the rodents are having a feast day tearing up the pages.
My most recent read (and finished) is another Brian Jacques Redwall series novel -- Pearls of Lutra.
inspiration
Neil Gaiman is once again teaming up with Fully Booked for the 3rd Philippine Graphic Fiction Awards and is once again inviting writers and artists to submit entries and this year's contest is made more special with the addition of a new category -- short film.
Read all about the event and contest guidelines at its Fully Booked page. The deadline is September (same as Dean Alfar's call for spec fic submissions) and who knows? Will this year be the year I finally get enough courage and more aptly, more time to submit a story to the Philippine Graphic Fiction Awards?
Flushed with inspiration last week, I actually started work on a piece. Hopefully, I get to finish it before the deadline set.
Keep your fingers crossed mateys!
officially globed
After almost two years of having my internet service provided by MyDestiny, I finally flirted and started an affair with Globe Broadband.
Practicality was the main reason for the switch. I was paying P999 pesos for the MyDestiny Cable Internet service (which at some days had a disastrous connection and an odd pay first before use scheme). Since we needed a phone line at the apartment, we applied for a line and opted for one that bundled voice and data -- the P1295 peso package.
While it did take almost two months to get the connection ... connection ... now, it's almost a month of smooth-sailing with the new broadband internet. My wife even swears that the connection at home is faster than the connection at her office :P
But no, I'm not devoting my time to any online game. In fact, I might not be using the service for all its worth because I haven't been really internetting at home that much.
But lest this turns out to become an endorsement for Globe -- hell, hey Globe! Fix your damned customer service -- it took two months and three visits to your service center for follow-ups just to get the line activated. Heck, asked to explain why the delay, the CS (who I'm not blaming) was at a loss for a reason.
Sheesh!
e-heads united
My good friend and regular chat-mate Pilar just gave me the heads-up on an upcoming Eraserheads reunion concert at the end of August -- read it here.
Now, any bonafide UP student during the mid-90s is familiar with the legacy of the 'Heads. They're as iconic to the Philippine rock scene as are Asin, Heber Bartolome, and the Juan dela Cruz band.
Now, how much is that ticket?
Friday, July 04, 2008
friday frolicks: rig stays put, welcome jake and jade, the u.p. bill, simming, the niknok feeling
the rig isn't going anywhere
The planned business where my rig was supposed to go didn't materialize. So, my rig is sitting put at home and I have the necessary task of refitting it with components I've taken out namely the DVD-RW drive, the additional HDD and the RAMs to put it back into its 1.75GB running capacity.
Plans to buy a dual-core system are put on hold and I just have to make do with my faithful rig.
congrats are in order
Yes, congratulations are in order to Olga and Jasper for the birth of their twins, Jake and Jade last Tuesday via CS.
heard about the UP bill?
Read this in the newspaper a few weeks back and have been harassing my pal, Josh, who works at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, to make sure he secures me the uncut ones if possible.
This is a special commemorative issue of the ube to celebrate the University of the Philippines' centenary. A special collectors piece features 4 uncut bills with a special message for UP.
What makes this bill different from other hundred peso bills is the presence of the Oblation on the left of Manual Roxas. This is no phony money and you can actually use it for transactions. Only a few have been printed and cut and circulated so be in the lookout.
As for me, I'm waiting for Josh to secure me a sheet for a thousand moolah.
Image of U.P. bill taken from Flickr files of Pinoy Money Talk
simming
Unfortunately I haven't been Simming for a long, long time now. I think it's been roughly five months or more. The Sims 2 I secured from my sister last December are quietly rotting in one corner of the bedroom shelf as I have yet to really play them out.
Now that EA/Maxis has announced its forthcoming expansion Apartment Life, I have yet to snare myself a copy of the earlier expansion.
To be honest, the reason why I haven't bought yet the expansions like University, Open for Business, Pets, Seasons, Bon Voyage and Free Time is that I'm waiting for prices to go down. I'm waiting for reissues which will be cheaper :) Or, I'll wait until EA/Maxis releases a volume containing all or several of the expansions in one DVD. That'll be enough justification to cough up the money.
Incidentally, Sims has just launched its online store. You need to purchase Simolean points in order to purchase stuff you may want to add for your Simming.
The items for sale come from the different Stuff Packs, if I read the descrip correctly, so in essence, you now don't have to buy the entire stuff pack if you just want one item from that themed volume. Visit the store here: http://thesims2store.ea.com/
feeling like niknok
Do you remember Niknok?
If you didn't get to read Funny Komiks in the late 80s early 90s then you won't know Niknok.
Niknok is one of that local comics' more memorable characters who gets into trouble and gets out of it unscathed most of the time on a weekly basis (since Funny Komiks was a weekly then before going kaputz in the 2000s at the 'death knell' of the local komiks industry).
Why did I say I feel like Niknok? Because like Niknok who absolutely devours chicken especially listong manok, I've had chicken since yesterday morning.
Yesterday:
KFC Arroz Caldo with Chicken (breakfast)
Garlic Chicken (lunch at Friss Point)
Today:
Bugong Quarter Chicken Meal (breakfast)
Tsoko Nut's Chicken Roll (lunch)
The only break I had from poultry was last night's pork chop steak. In fact, this morning when I woke up, what my wife had for baon was fried chicken.
Who knows what will be served this evening when we arrive at Laguna :)
The planned business where my rig was supposed to go didn't materialize. So, my rig is sitting put at home and I have the necessary task of refitting it with components I've taken out namely the DVD-RW drive, the additional HDD and the RAMs to put it back into its 1.75GB running capacity.
Plans to buy a dual-core system are put on hold and I just have to make do with my faithful rig.
congrats are in order
Yes, congratulations are in order to Olga and Jasper for the birth of their twins, Jake and Jade last Tuesday via CS.
heard about the UP bill?
Read this in the newspaper a few weeks back and have been harassing my pal, Josh, who works at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, to make sure he secures me the uncut ones if possible.
This is a special commemorative issue of the ube to celebrate the University of the Philippines' centenary. A special collectors piece features 4 uncut bills with a special message for UP. What makes this bill different from other hundred peso bills is the presence of the Oblation on the left of Manual Roxas. This is no phony money and you can actually use it for transactions. Only a few have been printed and cut and circulated so be in the lookout.
As for me, I'm waiting for Josh to secure me a sheet for a thousand moolah.
Image of U.P. bill taken from Flickr files of Pinoy Money Talk
simming
Unfortunately I haven't been Simming for a long, long time now. I think it's been roughly five months or more. The Sims 2 I secured from my sister last December are quietly rotting in one corner of the bedroom shelf as I have yet to really play them out.
Now that EA/Maxis has announced its forthcoming expansion Apartment Life, I have yet to snare myself a copy of the earlier expansion.
To be honest, the reason why I haven't bought yet the expansions like University, Open for Business, Pets, Seasons, Bon Voyage and Free Time is that I'm waiting for prices to go down. I'm waiting for reissues which will be cheaper :) Or, I'll wait until EA/Maxis releases a volume containing all or several of the expansions in one DVD. That'll be enough justification to cough up the money.
Incidentally, Sims has just launched its online store. You need to purchase Simolean points in order to purchase stuff you may want to add for your Simming.
The items for sale come from the different Stuff Packs, if I read the descrip correctly, so in essence, you now don't have to buy the entire stuff pack if you just want one item from that themed volume. Visit the store here: http://thesims2store.ea.com/
feeling like niknok
Do you remember Niknok?
If you didn't get to read Funny Komiks in the late 80s early 90s then you won't know Niknok.
Niknok is one of that local comics' more memorable characters who gets into trouble and gets out of it unscathed most of the time on a weekly basis (since Funny Komiks was a weekly then before going kaputz in the 2000s at the 'death knell' of the local komiks industry).
Why did I say I feel like Niknok? Because like Niknok who absolutely devours chicken especially listong manok, I've had chicken since yesterday morning.
Yesterday:
KFC Arroz Caldo with Chicken (breakfast)
Garlic Chicken (lunch at Friss Point)
Today:
Bugong Quarter Chicken Meal (breakfast)
Tsoko Nut's Chicken Roll (lunch)
The only break I had from poultry was last night's pork chop steak. In fact, this morning when I woke up, what my wife had for baon was fried chicken.
Who knows what will be served this evening when we arrive at Laguna :)
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Wow! UP Math Student Breaks 45 Year Old UAAP Record
Here’s another feat folks from Peyups like myself will be proud of.
A sophomore Math student (take note folks, Math) from the University of the
The feat highlighted an already dominating performance by Javier Luis Gomez in decathlon competition where he triumphed in six other events – 100m dash, long jump, discus throw, pole vault, and shot put.
In the javelin event, lean-framed Gomez tossed the javelin for a total 60.66 meters, breaking the previous record of 59.69 meters by nearly a meter. The old record was set by Doroteo Amirallado in 1963 back in the old days when
Wow!
Now this is something really wondrous. Imagine, a skinny kid who eats numbers for breakfast, lunch, dinner and probably midnight snacks as well, accomplishes what the guys over at the College of Human Kinetics can only dream about? To shatter a record, almost half-a-century old, and this gets done not only by a UP student (ehem, ehem) but a Math major to boot?
Imagine ...
Monday, February 11, 2008
wednesday warbles: bone-tired, u.p. fair, yahoo, fantasy books, kulambo, robinson's place
I am bone-tired.
But I still have a lot of stuff to work on despite spending more than the required hours at the hours due to a mounting workload. At this point, I have no choice as my annual appraisal is due in a couple of weeks and I really need to step up if I want to pass the "above-average" bar of management and get a substantial increase in pay (which, as is always the case, is always needed).
I've been bone-tired since last week as more and more work piles up in the department. I not only have to delegate and oversee the progress of each and every assignment handed down to us but I also do my share of the dirty work -- writing a piece now and then, liaising with internal clients for their projects, doing mock-ups and drafts especially on rush jobs, and helping out in conceptualization and idealization.
As I mentioned to Paolo aka Projektus last week, I've been sleeping more than 8 hours a night for most of last week and that's mainly because of the mixture of fatigue and some stress. Over the weekend, I still was stuck in bed for most of Saturday sleeping and grabbed several hours of zzz's Sunday.
And I don't think there's any let-up this week. Geesh, I need that vacation.
* * * *
Paolo also reminded me that this week is UP Fair once again. It's been years, as in 10 years or so since I attended a UP Fair. And as has been the case, I will not be able to go to the fair this year. Much as I want to (and I do want to), there are other priorities that need to be taken cared of -- work, for one, which will once again be OTY and a nagging side project that has been a pain in the butt for several months now. Plus, whatever time of the day is left should be devoted to Elvie and Ikai. Fatherhood does wonders to one's thinking.
* * * *
Yahoo rejected Microsoft's $44B offer ... YAHOO!!!
* * * *
I may be getting a new CPU in the next few months. This is a potential reality as my sisters-in-law are bent on opening up a business and will require a computer. Elvie's part in the business venture is doling out stuff in the house that we no longer will need. We're thinking of buying a new CPU and just hand-over the old one to her sisters.
Of course, I'll be getting the newer components from my PC (memories, fans, DVD writer and the HDD) and retool it with its original components (512MB mem, 1 HDD, CD-RW). I already have a quote for a Core Duo with 2GB DDR mem and 160GB HDD ... it looks good!
* * * *
I'm re-reading David Eddings' Sparhawk fantasy series again. I'm now working on the Tamuli set after finishing the Elenium.
Most probably when I finish this one, I'll be pulling out my other Eddings' series -- the Mallorean -- and renew ties with the likes of Belgarion, Belgarath, Barak, Silk and others.
Eddings' fantasy are not high-fantasy like JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings or CS Lewis' Narnia books. While clearly fantasy with knights, queens, kings and of course, the deux ex machina -- magic -- Eddings makes his stories more cosmopolitan. He uses conversational language and not literary language and interjects his narrative with jokes and situations that make the stories sound contemporary.
He is criticized for using such a language but then again, it works. His books have sold millions all over the world and are a light read filled with action, magic and creativity.
* * * *
We're now sleeping within the confines of a kulambo (mosquito net). This occurrence was brought about by the sudden influx of night-time mosquitoes who proceeded to feast on us Saturday night. Ikai was the most serious victim, receiving mosquito bites on her face, arms and legs. I got most of my bites on the chest and arms and hands.
This alarming situation (despite the diligent spraying of insecticide nightly) forced us to look for a kulambo to purchase. So, last Sunday after church, we trooped to Robinson's Place Malate and proceeded to buy a cloth-like mosquito net for Php 220 (yes, it would've been more cheaper to buy one at Divisoria but counting the expense a trip to DV with merienda and all will entail, the Php 220 was alright).
* * * *
Speaking of Robinson Place ... their Midtown Wing is now open, for some time, I believe. But last Sunday was the first time I saw it and was delighted with how the expansion looked. Power Books had a rather large branch on the top level of the expansion and there were several new eating places to try in several of the floors. Here are some photos I took with my trusty phone-cam:
The lobby of the Midtown Wing
A view from the 3rd level of the new wing. Power Books is on the top floor
A large Timezone for those seeking electronic amusement
But I still have a lot of stuff to work on despite spending more than the required hours at the hours due to a mounting workload. At this point, I have no choice as my annual appraisal is due in a couple of weeks and I really need to step up if I want to pass the "above-average" bar of management and get a substantial increase in pay (which, as is always the case, is always needed).
I've been bone-tired since last week as more and more work piles up in the department. I not only have to delegate and oversee the progress of each and every assignment handed down to us but I also do my share of the dirty work -- writing a piece now and then, liaising with internal clients for their projects, doing mock-ups and drafts especially on rush jobs, and helping out in conceptualization and idealization.
As I mentioned to Paolo aka Projektus last week, I've been sleeping more than 8 hours a night for most of last week and that's mainly because of the mixture of fatigue and some stress. Over the weekend, I still was stuck in bed for most of Saturday sleeping and grabbed several hours of zzz's Sunday.
And I don't think there's any let-up this week. Geesh, I need that vacation.
* * * *
Paolo also reminded me that this week is UP Fair once again. It's been years, as in 10 years or so since I attended a UP Fair. And as has been the case, I will not be able to go to the fair this year. Much as I want to (and I do want to), there are other priorities that need to be taken cared of -- work, for one, which will once again be OTY and a nagging side project that has been a pain in the butt for several months now. Plus, whatever time of the day is left should be devoted to Elvie and Ikai. Fatherhood does wonders to one's thinking.
* * * *
Yahoo rejected Microsoft's $44B offer ... YAHOO!!!
* * * *
I may be getting a new CPU in the next few months. This is a potential reality as my sisters-in-law are bent on opening up a business and will require a computer. Elvie's part in the business venture is doling out stuff in the house that we no longer will need. We're thinking of buying a new CPU and just hand-over the old one to her sisters.
Of course, I'll be getting the newer components from my PC (memories, fans, DVD writer and the HDD) and retool it with its original components (512MB mem, 1 HDD, CD-RW). I already have a quote for a Core Duo with 2GB DDR mem and 160GB HDD ... it looks good!
* * * *
I'm re-reading David Eddings' Sparhawk fantasy series again. I'm now working on the Tamuli set after finishing the Elenium.
Most probably when I finish this one, I'll be pulling out my other Eddings' series -- the Mallorean -- and renew ties with the likes of Belgarion, Belgarath, Barak, Silk and others.
Eddings' fantasy are not high-fantasy like JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings or CS Lewis' Narnia books. While clearly fantasy with knights, queens, kings and of course, the deux ex machina -- magic -- Eddings makes his stories more cosmopolitan. He uses conversational language and not literary language and interjects his narrative with jokes and situations that make the stories sound contemporary.
He is criticized for using such a language but then again, it works. His books have sold millions all over the world and are a light read filled with action, magic and creativity.
* * * *
We're now sleeping within the confines of a kulambo (mosquito net). This occurrence was brought about by the sudden influx of night-time mosquitoes who proceeded to feast on us Saturday night. Ikai was the most serious victim, receiving mosquito bites on her face, arms and legs. I got most of my bites on the chest and arms and hands.
This alarming situation (despite the diligent spraying of insecticide nightly) forced us to look for a kulambo to purchase. So, last Sunday after church, we trooped to Robinson's Place Malate and proceeded to buy a cloth-like mosquito net for Php 220 (yes, it would've been more cheaper to buy one at Divisoria but counting the expense a trip to DV with merienda and all will entail, the Php 220 was alright).
* * * *
Speaking of Robinson Place ... their Midtown Wing is now open, for some time, I believe. But last Sunday was the first time I saw it and was delighted with how the expansion looked. Power Books had a rather large branch on the top level of the expansion and there were several new eating places to try in several of the floors. Here are some photos I took with my trusty phone-cam:
The lobby of the Midtown Wing
A view from the 3rd level of the new wing. Power Books is on the top floor
A large Timezone for those seeking electronic amusementI was only able to snap a few photos as security guards roamed the area. I've had a few dealings with security guards in the past who have issues with cameras and I just wasn't in the mood for confrontations that day.
The new wing was clean and smelled clean. I just have no idea if this is Robinson's answer to Trinoma or Greenbelt 5 or Rockwell or Podium or The Block. I wouldn't be surprised, experiencing first hand how Robinson's manages its malls, if in the coming months the new wing will resemble a flea market as every space and nook and cranny of the new wing is filled with stores, booths, kiosks, carts and standees of nearly every size and shape.
The new wing was clean and smelled clean. I just have no idea if this is Robinson's answer to Trinoma or Greenbelt 5 or Rockwell or Podium or The Block. I wouldn't be surprised, experiencing first hand how Robinson's manages its malls, if in the coming months the new wing will resemble a flea market as every space and nook and cranny of the new wing is filled with stores, booths, kiosks, carts and standees of nearly every size and shape.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
wednesday warbles: peyups blog, no-boss, movies and tv
My new blog, which I modestly announced last week, has yet to see realization as I am still caught up with work, both official and personal. I have yet to write an introductory piece let alone design a customized header which will yell to anyone fortunate to find that piece of real estate on the web "Blog ito ng Isang Dating Taga-Peyups" (this is a blog by a UP alumnus). Next week, sana.
* * * * * *
My sister leaves on Thursday for another tour of duty at Dubai Duty Free where she has been employed for roughly a couple of years. When she reports for work on the 27th, it'll be the start of her 3rd term. Good luck, Wheng!
* * * * * *
All the big bosses in the office are off for at least a week (a few of them actually will be gone for a longer spell) and for the meantime, some pressure is lifted off us, especially my Department. However, the old dictum "while the cat is away the mouse will play" will not, and I mean, will not apply as there's tons of work to be done with Chinese New Year coming in, and more and more demand for work from our poker colleagues. I let my boys and girls relax a bit yesterday but as the week progresses, I will need to flex my muscles and get the whip cracking har, har har!
* * * * * *
Malaya "Yarie" Cruz will be christened this coming weekend and with the pile of work in the office and at home, I don't know if I can squeeze in some hours to join the merry parents, Dennis and Pilar, in their special occasion. A miracle is what I'll need right now.
* * * * * *
While working on my personal project until a few minutes ago, I was also listening to some MP3s stored on my HDD (which I will eventually have to burn to DVDs to free up space and help my P4 2.4GHz processor speed up things). God, I miss playing the guitar. And yes, I've been harping about it but I haven't, even with the holiday season passing by and having some moolah then to spend, bought a new guitar yet (bought upgrades instead to my PC like the DVD-RW and a couple of DDR memory sticks).
* * * * * *
With some free time at the office yesterday, I turned on my couch potato hat and proceeded to look through movies and TV series of interest, err, to me he he he.
Batman: The Dark Knight looks interesting enough to catch on the big screen this 2008 (with Christian Bale reprising the lead role and Brokeback protagonist Heath Ledger clowning up as a deranged Joker) and so is Iron Man with no less than Robert Downey, Jr. donning the tin can suit.
Cloverleaf, the monster thriller looks an exciting view (taken from a camcorder's POV) but I might just catch it on the DVD player along with National Treasure 2, Sweeney Todd and Dragon War (which I accidentally viewed while shopping at PC Express Pasong Tamo a couple of Saturdays ago).
With 7 leave credits left from last year, I will schedule my leaves and hope to use them to watch movies that have been screen but I haven't watched yet -- Golden Compass, Bee Movie, Beowulf, Hitman, and host of others.
Turning over to TV ... I have yet to score Eureka Season 1 but Season 2 is already available. Also, waiting for me is Prisonbreak Season 2, and Weeds. I'm still on the prowl for Star Trek:Enterprise but a longer break before March may just find me going through my 24, CSI New York and Alias CDs.
Lots of things to watch, so little time to do so.
* * * * * *
My sister leaves on Thursday for another tour of duty at Dubai Duty Free where she has been employed for roughly a couple of years. When she reports for work on the 27th, it'll be the start of her 3rd term. Good luck, Wheng!
* * * * * *
All the big bosses in the office are off for at least a week (a few of them actually will be gone for a longer spell) and for the meantime, some pressure is lifted off us, especially my Department. However, the old dictum "while the cat is away the mouse will play" will not, and I mean, will not apply as there's tons of work to be done with Chinese New Year coming in, and more and more demand for work from our poker colleagues. I let my boys and girls relax a bit yesterday but as the week progresses, I will need to flex my muscles and get the whip cracking har, har har!
* * * * * *
Malaya "Yarie" Cruz will be christened this coming weekend and with the pile of work in the office and at home, I don't know if I can squeeze in some hours to join the merry parents, Dennis and Pilar, in their special occasion. A miracle is what I'll need right now.
* * * * * *
While working on my personal project until a few minutes ago, I was also listening to some MP3s stored on my HDD (which I will eventually have to burn to DVDs to free up space and help my P4 2.4GHz processor speed up things). God, I miss playing the guitar. And yes, I've been harping about it but I haven't, even with the holiday season passing by and having some moolah then to spend, bought a new guitar yet (bought upgrades instead to my PC like the DVD-RW and a couple of DDR memory sticks).
* * * * * *
With some free time at the office yesterday, I turned on my couch potato hat and proceeded to look through movies and TV series of interest, err, to me he he he.
Batman: The Dark Knight looks interesting enough to catch on the big screen this 2008 (with Christian Bale reprising the lead role and Brokeback protagonist Heath Ledger clowning up as a deranged Joker) and so is Iron Man with no less than Robert Downey, Jr. donning the tin can suit.
Cloverleaf, the monster thriller looks an exciting view (taken from a camcorder's POV) but I might just catch it on the DVD player along with National Treasure 2, Sweeney Todd and Dragon War (which I accidentally viewed while shopping at PC Express Pasong Tamo a couple of Saturdays ago).
With 7 leave credits left from last year, I will schedule my leaves and hope to use them to watch movies that have been screen but I haven't watched yet -- Golden Compass, Bee Movie, Beowulf, Hitman, and host of others.
Turning over to TV ... I have yet to score Eureka Season 1 but Season 2 is already available. Also, waiting for me is Prisonbreak Season 2, and Weeds. I'm still on the prowl for Star Trek:Enterprise but a longer break before March may just find me going through my 24, CSI New York and Alias CDs.
Lots of things to watch, so little time to do so.
Monday, January 14, 2008
taga-peyups po! coming soon
I've a new blog to launch in the coming days ... as soon as I finish a personal project and hope to have more time for these writerly pursuits.
The new blog is entitled Dating Taga-Peyups, and yes, it's going to be in Filipino as my personal homage to the centennial celebration of my alma mater, the University of the Philippines.
The new blog will hopefully be reflective of my being an Isko, recounting anecdotes, jokes, experiences, people and places during my four-year stint as a Communications Major at the Diliman Campus. The blog will also aim to show that despite the enroachment of age and the undeniable pull of corporate-ism, I still am very much a taga-Peyups.
Visit the blog soon and hear me speak in the native.
The new blog is entitled Dating Taga-Peyups, and yes, it's going to be in Filipino as my personal homage to the centennial celebration of my alma mater, the University of the Philippines.
The new blog will hopefully be reflective of my being an Isko, recounting anecdotes, jokes, experiences, people and places during my four-year stint as a Communications Major at the Diliman Campus. The blog will also aim to show that despite the enroachment of age and the undeniable pull of corporate-ism, I still am very much a taga-Peyups.
Visit the blog soon and hear me speak in the native.
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