Happy 2010!!!

Amidst all that has happened - the tragedies, trials and hardships, separation from and loss of loved ones - there's still so much to be thankful for. Life, though not exactly a walk in the park, is among the bestest gift God has given to us; that we may be alive today to usher in the coming new year. So with this thought, I close 2009 and look forward to 2010 in this last post for the year. (After all, the other catch-up posts can wait. ^_^ )

Happy New Year everyone!!!

The Shoebox Song

This is some random song I've written one Saturday afternoon, as I was doodling alone in a coffee shop. So even before the words get lost in my ever preoccupied mind, I'm writing this down in my blog. Who knows? Maybe someday my words could have a music and it will be a full-pledged song. As if! LOL! ^_^


I got myself a little shoebox
All laced up, just as girly as can be
It's big enough for all the mementos I keep in my heart
But can it hold up the rest of memories I have of you?
Of us?

I got myself a little shoebox
'Spent the day putting in the litters of pictures
Scenes from last spring, and how you sang me a song over coffee
The pictures could cover half of Manhattan
Now they're all boxed up in this shoebox of mine

Oh, but if it were up to me
I'd let our pictures fly all over the city
and let the people know of our history
But you were a bit selfish
And you wanted our memories all to ourselves
So I dropped by that little stationery store
Where I used to buy scented papers for love letters
and bought that cute little shoebox
A heart-shaped and laced up shoebox.

And so I got myself a little shoebox
Tucked in the rest of you inside
I'll keep it at the back of my little closet door
Until I forget that it's even there anymore
maybe by then your pictures have faded
The memories, shredded by space and time
And all that remains in the end of this song
Is the heart-shaped shoebox of mine.

AVATAR In Two Words

"Everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world and in here is the dream..." - Jake Sully

You've probably read more than a dozen rave reviews on Avatar - James Cameron's latest masterpiece that literally took 12 years in the making. Honestly, I was sorely itching to blog about it the day i saw it on the big screen - not on 3D nor IMAX - but just in your humble La-Z-Boy fashion. It was my piqued curiosity that made me wait until I've finally seen it on 3D before finally raving about it in my blog. After all, as corny as it may sound, I'm a 3D dummy so there's no better timing than this, right?

"I see you..." ^_^

Some described the movie as good (Which, in my august opinion, is way too much of an understatement), excellent, fantastic, brilliant, great, etc. Well, I'd sum up my opinion of the movie in two words: TIMELESS and RARE. Need I say more? Cameron has worked his magic into the big screen once again, this time even surpassing the wonder that was Titanic. Oh, and yes - watching it in 3D did quadruple the appreciation. LOL! If you're still in doubt or you think that this entry is just another mere exaggeration then, by all means, go and catch it on some local theater (But you'll have to wait until MMFF is over.) or just wait for some pirated DVD which - I'm sure - will be out on the streets in no time. Go and see for yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if you won't mind watching the movie again, and again (and again, and again...).

^_^

9 Mornings

This year, I took it upon myself to complete the series of Simbang Gabi that kicked off last December 16, 2009 or, in other words, nine days before Jesus' BIG day. I'd be a liar to say that I'm not wishing for anything in particular this Christmas; c'mon, I'm sure by now you all know what I want for Christmas. ^_^

But more than anything, completing the simbang gabi is the least I can do to express how thankful I am for the good year it's been for me and my loved ones. Sure, it hasn't been entirely perfect but overall, I can only recall a LOT of good memories, so much more than the less cheery ones. People have come and gone in my life, but the lessons learned are here to stay.

I wish that each one of you, whoever you are reading this blog, would feel just as thankful as I am and my family for the chance of celebrating another Christmas in our lives. And while I do not have any idea how you're feeling right now, I fervently wish and pray that today, you would find a reason to smile, even if among life's simplest things.

Merry Christmas to all! ^_^

Caviteñas Incorporated

Tuesday night saw me getting semi-boozed (LOL! Is there even such a term as 'semi-boozed'???) and getting cozy with my girls from high school for a mini Christmas-party-slash-reunion-slash-booze-night. Unfortunately, my tonsillitis couldn’t wait until my social affairs for the holidays were over, so what was I to do but to stay away from the tempting chocolate cake and ice cream, and just burn the throat ache away with… err, vodka. Sounds like a plan, eh? ^_^

We were quite a team back then – boy band fanatics, boy-crazy teenyboppers, school bus bullies, occasional emotional retards, food trip and gimik buddies, die-hard Spice Girls wannabes, drama queens, and the list goes on and on. But most importantly, we were good friends. And while it’s been almost ten years since our foursome got together after we graduated from high school, it was as if time stood still for us. Fast forward to present, Suey now runs her own shirt printing biz, Reah keeps herself fit by strutting herself during pole dancing, while Sandy and I have had our fair share of the corporate world. It’s been years, but there was never that awkward moment. The minute I walked over to where they were over at Sandy’s veranda, I was instantly immersed in deep gossip, laughter, LOTS of vodka, and – of course – photo ops with my girls.

Us Girls: (from left to right) Sandy, Reah, Moi, and Suey

Last time I checked, Suey’s gonna go on a Hong Kong – Macau trip next month, with Reah tagging along, I think. Sandy, on the other hand, was still a bit unsure but I hope she goes for it coz Hong Kong is one city in Asia I fell in love with. I wish I could go along, but looking at things that need to be accomplished at work by first quarter of next year, a pleasure trip outside the country for the next couple of months may very well be out of the question.

*sigh*

It's only been days, but I miss my girls already. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that my mom and tita Rose (Sandy's mom) did a little catching up of their own over soda and dark chocolate cake. From the looks of it, seemed like they missed each other as well! ^_^ And finally, a little trivia: as far as love life is concerned, Beyonce's Single Ladies might just be the theme song of our crew. And I bet by now you already got what I'm trying to say here. *wink*

Cheers to high school, good friends, and vodka! ^_^

My Monday Cup

“So Sally can wait, she knows it's too late as we're walking on by
Her soul slides away, but don't look back in anger
I heard you say…” - Don’t Look Back In Anger (performed by Oasis)

“I’m on the top of the world lookin’ down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around
Your love’s put me at the top of the world…” - Top Of The World (performed by Carpenters)


Thank you for making my morning. :)

What can I say? Just when I thought it would be another boring Monday morning at work, your invitation for coffee was just the thing I needed to perk up my day and practically my whole week, for that matter.

More than just the soothing effect of Cinnamon-Swirl-and-Iced-White-Chocolate-Mocha combo, it was the rare privilege of having you sing a line or two from two of your favorite songs that made it all memorable. I know I can be a handful of makulit, but still you gave in to my prodding and the next thing I knew, you were singing the familiar lyrics of the song. (Hmmm... I wonder if that was just the caffeine kicking in your system?) Too bad we had to go back so soon. Still, an hour spent was more than enough to keep that smile on my face.

*sigh*

I'm already looking forward to our next cup. :)

Happy Monday to everyone!

When Good Friends Meet

It's been quite some time since our trio - Mike, Cassey, and I - got together, not since the demise of our Palawan trip a couple of months passed. A lot happened since then, so today we're gonna meet up to celebrate Mike's promotion over good food and kwentuhan galore! ^_^

News of the day: I was, like, 45 minutes late from the original call time of 3 p.m. at Greenbelt 3! But since I had to commute all the way from Cavite, I have all the excuses in the world, right? Honestly, it kinda feels refreshing not to be the early bird for once. Haha! But seriously, I was starving by the time I caught up with them that all I was able to blurt out was “Hi! Gutom na ‘ko!” How’s that for greeting a friend you haven’t seen in a while? LOL!

As per Mike’s suggestion, we headed to Greenbelt 5 to try out Fely J’s, one of the many restaurants from LJC’s restaurant chains. (Think: Abe, Café Adriatico, and Café Havana, among others.) We ordered Lamb Kaldereta and Stir-Fried Broccoli with Chicken Mushroom. Of course, our experience with Fely J’s would not be complete without desserts, so we ordered Sikreto Ni Maria Clara (Glutinous rice and sliced ripe mangoes covered with half-melted vanilla ice cream), Claude’s Dream (Fresh buko strips on macapuno ice cream with pandan jelly), and Tequila Chocolate Mousse Cake which, by far, was a winner for all three of us. You can just never go wrong mixing tequila and chocolate – two of the bestest things in the world! ^_^

The Fely J's Experience (Photo credits: Cassey)

After Fely J’s, we dropped by Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Greenbelt to have coffee. By this time, Mike was only physically present because of serious lack of sleep. Poor Mike! We stayed for a good deal of another hour before we parted ways going home. True, time spent was a bit short and kinda bitin, nevertheless Mike’s level of humor is always on all-time high even if his entire system was shouting for sleep. I hope the next time that our trio gets to hang out like this would be soon. From the looks of it, 2010 will kick off with a lot of changes as far as my work is concerned. That is, if plans will push through. I’d better brush up on my time management skills, then. That way, there will be more meet-ups like this for our trio. ^_^

I missed posing with these two crazy wacky people! ^_^ (Photo credits: Cassey)