...life in a day...

Most of what I've written here is all about the mundane parts of my life. And I assure you, it's pretty boring. I rarely go outside except when there are errands that needs to be attend to. The only time I look forward to going out is during my early morning run at the track which is cool even if I end up drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.

My day usually starts long before the sun is up. Three days in a row, I intentionally get up early to read on Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol. I basked in the silence around me while I delved myself deeper into the story. It almost feels like I am actually in there. From there, when all the world around me is starting to wake up, I go to work and from time to time check my email, lose myself in the music, etc.

My work does not require my brain to work very much so I compensated for it by reading a lot and writing on my blog from time to time. To keep the wheels turning and screws squeaky-clean, so to speak.

Since I'm up and about before the crack of dawn, I impose it upon myself to sleep early. No more hanging out to watch late night movies shown on HBO, Cinemax or Star Movies.

I spend most of my days coop up inside my room. Somehow I like it. It's beginning to annoy me If I am surrounded with too much noise. My room offer me the silence I always crave except for the occasional type of music that plays in the background. I am pretty much settled in, all by myself.

..."are you one of us?"...

Talk about belonging into something exclusive and have a sense of security. Man has always been in the pursuit of making something of himself, hoping that it will grant him access to some elite group whom he feels and thinks that he identifies with. Sometimes, we are so hell-bent to belong that we somehow lose in touch with our real selves. We ended doing things we deem right if only to earn approval from among our peers. It's always a nice thought to belong with someone or with something for that matter, but hopefully, we will not be so blind to just "follow and obey", that we tend to forget using our common sense and let others do the thinking for us. Belonging should not be equated with exclusivity and prejudice. After all, what's the use of feeling the need to unite each and every one of us when we ourselves do things to put a wedge of misunderstanding amongst us.

...angels and demons...

I'm thoroughly impressed with Dan Brown's Angels & Demons, a prequel to The Da Vinci Code. I'm no expert on writing book reviews and I don't intend to write one now. I just finish reading it this afternoon, after a few days of burrowing myself in the story. I can't put the book down, after I started reading a few chapters. I stayed way past my bedtime to read and woke up earlier than the usual time to continue reading. I was reading Mansfield Park when I got Angels & Demons. I had to admit reading the latter which is a page-turner is far more interesting than the former.

I'm not much of a history nut but I do appreciate learning about them. While reading Angels & Demons, I learned about antimatter's ( which I thought is just a product of Brown's imagination) existence. The Illuminati and the Freemasons. And also about the Ecstasy of Saint Theresa which I haven't the faintest idea until I read this book.

Anyway, Angels & Demons is a good read. I get a free pass to journey into the Vatican City and all its intricacies through Brown's skillful storytelling.

Now I'm off to another one. :-)

...broken House...

"I want to deal with my problems some place where I can get a decent cappuccino."

Even before the last episode of season 5 ended, I was already looking forward for season 6. I'd spent countless hours, catching up all 5 seasons of House.

Watching House again, with his signature sarcastic attitude, is like a breath of fresh air. The first time I saw him on TV, I thought to myself, this is one doctor I'm going to like big time.

"We're all pathetic. It's what makes everything interesting."

...in my life...

I watched "In My Life" this afternoon. With a spur of the moment decision, I found myself, lingering near the ticket counter of Ayala cinema. Actually, it was Joy who lined up and bought the tickets. I've heard about the hype this movie has created in the local showbiz scene. People gushed over the performance of Luis Manzano and John Lloyd Cruz, the two lead actors and their much talk about "kissing scene." I was a little bit curious and I want to find out, what foreign movie it was "based" on, if it is. Another factor that also egged me on to watch this movie was the location it was filmed, New York City. The movie was a typical Filipino story. It was top grossing on its opening day. I enjoyed the sights of New york City. The actors' performance was commendable but I will not extol on it so much.

I just wondered why there was so much excitement on the "kissing scene". I mean, I did not see them kissing or I guess was just not paying attention. I'd like to point out that the scene where Mark was suddenly hit by a car which resulted to his untimely death, seemed familiar. I know I've seen it somewhere before. I just can't place it where.

The movie is not only about the love between the two gay lovers. It also touched on the feelings of a mother toward her children. There was one scene in the movie which I particularly like.It was the scene where Shirley was telling Noel how the role of a mother will not peter out, no matter how she comes close to giving up. That scene, prompted me to recall one conversation I had with my mother. She told me how tired she was of my younger siblings' constant squabbling and quarreling. In between sobs, she related to me how she wish she can just go and leave them all behind to fend for themselves. I patiently listened to her. I know she was just fed up at that time and she just wanted to voice out her feelings and frustrations. Deep inside, I know my mother can not just leave. No matter how tired and fed up she may be, she has always stayed and stood by us. And not just because she is oblige to but because, in the only way she know how, she loves and cares for us. When I was younger, I used to tell myself that I'm never going to be like my mother, now I realized, how unlucky we could have been if she was an iota like me.

Anyway, this is my second time to watch a movie in the big screen. I must say, for what it's worth, the movie showed something that hit home in me. And I think shelling out P140 is not too much, if in return, you get reminded of some things in your life that you somehow ignored and dismissed as trifle matters.

...reading list...

I'm currently reading. Mansfield Park has to wait for now.

I will be lost in this in no time.

Books has this effect on me that can sometimes be downright peculiar for someone who's not really into reading and does not appreciate books, for that matter. I am content to stay in my corner with a book and you can pretend I'm not there.

The release of Dan Brown's new novel, The Lost Symbol, created so much hype that I can't help but be curious too. I've read his Da Vinci Code and I was captivated. Then Angels and Demons was release, followed by the movie. From my search on the Internet, I found out that there are only five novels written by Brown. That created in me a challenge to read all those books ( of course, not in one setting) Fortunately, National Bookstore has this sale of almost 70% off on the selected books, including Brown's The Lost Symbol. You can guess what happen next.

For the next few days, I will be pre-occupied with work, updating my blog and of course, reading. I purposely set my alarm early this morning so I can read the first few chapters of Angels and Demons. Yes, I am addicted. :)

save for later

long overdue from my favorite author

...Booth loves Bones...

At a crime scene on the first episode entitled "Harbingers in the Fountain"

I was like a lovestruck teenager while the new episode of Bones unraveled before my eyes. Yes, that's how I'm into Bones right now. Ive never been lovestruck and I'm far from being a teenager anymore. It's good to see Bones and Booth again, doing their thing, solving crimes and catching the bad guys.

Bones: What did you want to tell me?
Booth: That I love you... In a professional, 'atta girl' kind of way.
Bones: 'Atta girl' kind of way? Right back at'cha Booth. I love you too. 'Atta Boy.'

I'm looking forward to the next episode. I'm back to counting the days.....

...birthday girl...

“Your birthday is a special time to celebrate the gift of 'you' to the world.”

Five years ago we were blessed with a baby girl whom we named Marielle but we fondly called, "Mokang". At the moment, it's not possible for me to be present during her birthday but will give her a call later. Mokang is now in pre-school and good thing, she likes it. In between our conversations on the phone, she told me that she likes Hello Kitty now, though, she still likes Barbie. She reminded me that come summer time, she and her Ate AJ will come to Cebu and stay with me for their vacation. I wonder where she get that idea..mmm. She giggled happily when I joked about Panda. She told me that I'm "tambok" ( fat). She don't forget easily so every time I tell her something, I take note of it. She's not that difficult to look after because she listens to me, except for those, occasional tantrums, especially when she's not in the mood. I like the way she says the word "taxi" and "SM", when she told me for the nth time what we did when they came here last April. She particularly loves the slide and never get tired going up and sliding down, again and again. Anyway, it seems like, it was not that long, when Mokang was still a baby that we took turns in carrying and look at her now.....

...Bones is coming too...

While I'm looking forward to House' return, allow me to remind you that there's another doctor whom I am more than happy to be watching on TV again. You may or may not know her. I'm referring to Dr. Temperance Brennan a.k.a. Bones. After watching the finale episode of the previous season of Bones, I was left wanting for more, ecstatic that they end up together but later on disappointed. Well, enough of that. I can't wait for the next season to be release and I have here a snippet of the first episode, courtesy of youtube. Enjoy!

...del Potro wins...

del Potro's moment

With the recent conclusion of the Men's US Open Finals, only one victor emerged and this time not the number one seeded player, Roger Federer but the 20-year old Juan Martin del Potro.

I could not say something much about the game because I kept switching off the TV when I saw that del Potro is leading. I'm a fan of Federer but I had to say that del Potro played well during this match.

Sometimes, things don't come out the way we want it to. I believe Federer would have wanted very much to win this match but then even if he did not, I guess he's still comforted with the fact that he already won it for the past five years. Besides, he is always be Roger Federer, the world's greatest tennis player ever.

the champions

this is what dreams are made of

NOTE: For more information of the 2009 US Open, click here.

...a comeback win...

I'm back.

I've been following the US Open this year ( but not closely). A wild card entry has been making waves since the start of the tournament. She had done the feat of defeating Venus Williams in the fourth round and Serena Williams in the Semi-finals. Not to mention that she has been out from the tennis limelight since winning the US Open in 2005. I'm talking about Kim Clijsters, the 2009 US Open Women's Singles Champion. The first mother to win a Grand Slam title since Evonne Goolagong Cawley. ( click here)

The first time I watched a match live on TV, from the start until the end.

It's good to be champs.
Kim sharing the victory with daughter, Jada.

...House is coming...

After what it seemed like ages of waiting, House is back again. I am looking forward to seeing the "infamous" doctor back on screen. Has he finally changed his ways? Or does his stint at the psychiatric ward did nothing to curb down his acerbic disposition.? Let's watch it to find out..:-)

..."first time" to fly...

After sixteen long years, I got to ride in a plane again. My second time actually but I could no longer remember how it felt when I ride in a plane the first time. You can only imagine what's going on in my mind while I was at the airport waiting to board. For the past few months, I have been watching this show in National Geographic, entitled, Air Crash Investigation. I never thought that I will ride in one. I was filled with anxiety and at the same time excitement.

I tried to keep my cool while I was already inside the plane. I sat by the window and I can clearly see outside. I got so scared when the plane taxied, then started gathering speed for take-off. I felt like my head was suspended in the air while the rest of my body floated around. While the plane was gaining altitude, my stomach heaved. I closed my eyes and braced myself. The more than an hour flight seemed to last forever. I was silently praying, "Please, let us land safely."

It was only when we landed that I begun to feel at ease. I was filled with relief. I even managed to snapped some pictures.

...for Kassandra, love will always comes first...

I'm supposed to be preparing for something that I need to do but at the moment, I felt like my brain is not working the way I need it to. So, to ease off a bit, I turn to my blog.

I have posted an article, July of last year. Actually, I did not write it. I just "copy and paste"it from a website. Lately, as per my FEEDJIT, a lot of people has been reading it. I posted that article days after I watched a show on TV. The show was entitled Extreme Makeover Home Edition. The episode was about an 8 year old girl's request to renovate the hospital she has stayed when she was having treatment for her cancer. Little did they know, the show also renovated their house. I even cried while watching that show because, Kassandra, reminded me so much of someone. Kassandra Okvath is the name of that little girl. Days after I watched it, I was looking for more information about her. She had created the "love comes first" foundation but when I checked the site, there's nothing. I just want to know what happened to her now. Is her cancer finally gone? Since the Extreme Makeover home edition episode happened almost four years ago.

Just this morning, I found an article about Kassandra's family.(click here) I was disheartened to know that they are putting up their house for sale because they can no longer afford its upkeep. It is sad. Kassandra has that nice, special room, suited for her fragile condition and personally designed by Ty. In the end, she will have to let it go.

I was not really impressed by the Extreme Makeover's immense "gift" of a new house to the lucky families chosen. Sure, it is a good thing for them to do, but there's one thing, they haven't thought about. They just focused on the "right here and now" but failed to think ahead. The families are not well-off so giving them a new house that cost a lot to maintain in the long run is impractical. And with the economy now going haywire in the US, all the more reason for them to lose their homes.

It's hard for families to finally realize one day, that they will have to give up the house which they have lived for quite a time and where they have created memories. I'm sad for Kassandra. I just hope things will be better for her family and especially for her.

NOTE: I found another old article about Kassandra.(click here) Feel free to read it.

...healing wounds...

"Time is not a great healer. It is an indifferent and perfunctory one. Sometimes it does not heal at all. And sometimes when it seems to, no healing has been necessary."
Ivy Compton-Burnett

With all the intricacies of life, we are always put in a position wherein we get hurt along the way. No matter how hard we may try to avoid disagreements, still we are caught in the vicious cycle of every day living. A loved one may have betrayed our trust; a close friend let us down; a goal that was not achieved and the list will go on. No one can say that he or she has never experienced pain. For how can we say that we fully lived if we just go through the motions, numb and dead to the world around us. Human as we are, we still manage to find a way to rise above all those emotional baggage that brought us down. We refused to wallow in defeat but we licked our wounds and try to put up a good fight.

Healing can be in any different forms for each and every one of us. For some, the passage of time, help them cope up with the pain and moved on. Unfortunately, some turn to drugs and alcohol to stifle all their pains, never realizing or refusing to recognize the fact that, once the effects of alcohol and drugs wears off, they're back to square one. Others experienced pain so much, that they are scarred for life and for them, the only way to assuage the hurt they had endure is to have revenge.

I have been hurt in my life, sometimes at my own doing. I have heard about the familiar line that says "forgive and forget". I can forgive but it does not mean I will forget all about it. I handle pain in the only way I know how----not caring and acceptance. For how can someone or something hurt me if in the first place, I am indifferent to them and I am aware of the fact that, in one way or another, someone or something out there is bound to hurt me. Some say, time heals all wounds. I don't really buy that. Time does not heal the wounds. It just make you think, that instead of wallowing in self-pity and grief, you accept it once and for all and move on.