TwoThousandNine

I'm never good at keeping new year's resolutions, but I'm very good in thinking of them. I think last year, mines was to eat more fruits. I did eat more, but eat more of everything, not just fruits. Yup, disaster, I tell yah! I think this year, I will keep it simple. I don't even know if I should call these "plans" of mines as resolutions. I think it's more of what I want to ideally do this coming year. Wait, is that the same as a new year's resolution then? Oh, well.

I hear a lot of buzz about feeling the recession more this coming 2009. Because of that, one of my resolutions/plans is to try to really save up. I'm getting a bit *scared* with all this economic threats we're having. I can't be working my butt off, but not see my bank account making progress.

I think another important one I should keep in mind this coming year is to be more confident. I lack that. I admit it. Sometimes, I can be quite good in "camouflaging" that, but it's true. I need to work on this, most especially when it comes to my work. I can't let people put me down. So, this year, I will work on being more of a bitch! Well, you know what I mean? Not a bitch, bitch, but you know, a hint of a bitch in my character.

Oh, yeah and then there's the fitness part. Wait, what is that word again? Yeah, maybe be friends with exercise again, after all, I'm not getting any younger. Sooner or later, I'm sure I'll be starting on some maintenance Lipitor or something, but I don't want to start THAT soon.

This coming year, I want to start looking for some schools. I want to go back and get my masters. I can't be on the floor forever and I want to teach. I have a knack in teaching, I think. Part of my 2009 plans is of course to travel. We'll see where 2009 will take me, but I will NEVER say no to Philippines. It's home.

((Sigh)) here I go again...yadda, yada, yada. I can be such an "alltalker." I warn you, don't dodge me if none of this so called 2009 plans pull through, but cheer me on, yah?

Christmas used to be so Cool...

No, I haven't lost my Christmas spirit. I still look forward to it every year. I guess, I'm just a bit homesick. Nothing beats Pasko in the Philippines. It's just that there, it's FULL BLAST celebration. I remember the simbang gabi. Waking up at 5 am was something to look forward to. I always tried to make it to all 9 mornings of simbang gabi. I believe in the saying that you are entitled to one wish when you complete all 9 mornings. If I recall correctly, I can count some completion in my scoreboard. Who can resist the puto bumbong and bibingka right after mass?
When I was young, my friends and I go around our place to do some caroling. We usually make our own instruments to increase our appeal, thus increasing our chances in receiving a larger amount of money. We make the drums out of milk cans and plastic bags. We also use a bunch of flattened soda caps on a string. I must say, I now realized that life was so simple then. How I wish I can go back and whisper to my young self then to cherish those moments. ((sigh)) I wish I was in the Philippines now. I don't know, It's just that I'm sitting here and all I can think of is how Christmas here in the US seems so "blah"...or it can also just be me. It can be because it's only four days more until Christmas and really, I haven't done anything "Christmasey," but Christmas shopping. I'm no Scrooge. I promise...really. It's just that it seems like the Holidays have been really uneventful. Well, we'll see. Afterall, the gift giving has yet to be in full swing.

Super Betty!

My mom asked me to bring her to Bakesale Betty's today for lunch. She's a crispy chicken sandwich kind of gal and Bakesale Betty's have the best fried chicken sandwich ever, no doubt! Sooo not your typical $1 menu chicken sandwich. Well, first of all, it's not a $1, but every penny is so worth it. It is one of the best sandwich ever...ever! It comes with some slaw that should be named awesomeness because it is so damn good! We separated our slaw with our sandwiches because we like to keep our chicken crissspeeey.

There was a line out the door when we arrived, but the friendliness of the staff totally makes up for it. The line went by pretty fast too. While waiting in line, they passed slices of banana bread to everyone. It was sooo good. I'm not into banana bread and all, but I liked theirs. Before we ordered our sandwiches, we were given free warm, freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Then, when we got our order, we were AGAIN given free lemon ices! Holy crap! This is the best place ever! I LOVE FREE STUFF! While eating, the line became insanely long. Yeah, it must be good...well let me tell you, IT IS!:
This post is so YELP! material. Maybe, I'll paste and copy it there. After all, I've been a Yelp member for quite sometime now, but appears to have nothing to say about all the places I could be reviewing. I'm getting capped for it.

Sad Ramblings

I wrote this during my second year of college in Davis. I was not doing well in school and was incredibly homesick.

Sometimes, I ask myself why I am here. But, there has to
be a reason why God places me in certain situations. THERE
HAS TO BE A REASON. Either, to learn more about myself, to
learn to not give up, or to realize that no matter what,
life goes on. Sometimes, no matter how hard I try, it's
still difficult to be where I want to be. However, trials
and mistakes exist to teach lessons. Every unpleasant
thing that happens to someone should be taken as a
blessing because of the lesson learned. I have to accept
everything...every blessing, every hurt...everything!
Because if I don't, I'll be going against the flow of my
own path. Things happen for a reason. And with God's will,
everything is for my happiness.
----------------------------------------------------------
It's one of the most heartfelt and honest things I voiced out. I vividly remember typing this. Reading this now, it really shows how sad I was. I don't regret my Davis experience. I learned so much, met amazing people, and really it taught me how important family is. But, Dorothy was so right. There is no place like home.

"Songstruck"

It's when someone gets so awed by a song that it's on constant play. I'm sure it happens to everyone. I particularly want to think that I am special though. You see, I'm a "phase" person. I have phases when I get so totally obsessed with something and then voila! It just vanishes with no trace of special effects to even make me anticipate the end of it. Here are some songs that made my Songstruck list:

Oasis- Wonderwall-- I remember being 11 and being obsessed with this song. It was a constant argument with me and my cousin who would make it on the number one spot of the daily top ten of our favorite Philippine radio station. She loved "Waterfalls" by TLC. I mean, when did it ever make sense to compare Oasis and TLC?!?


Alanis Morissette- Ironic-- Admit it! You loved it too. At one point, the Jagged Little Pill album was my addiction. This is another of my childhood songs. My aunt and I would always go insane when the radio plays this.


Fra Lippo Lippi- Angel-- I was a huge Fra Lippo Lippi fan at the age of 11. I vividly remember calling pager operators in order to request this song to my favorite radio station in the Philippines; because at that time, pagers are the only way to do this and you have to dictate your message to some operator. The funniest thing is, they always asked me how to spell the group's name and I wouldn't know how. I was insanely obsessed with requesting this song, they rarely played it. Sometimes, I don't even know how I knew about this group, but they are so so awesome!


U2- Original of the Species-- I just love this song. It is so amazing. I love Bono's voice!


David Gray- This Year's Love-- This song floors me everytime. I heard this from the movie, Girl Next Door. I loved the movie, but the song more.


Eraserheads- Pare Ko-- Nothing beats the first single of the greatest rock and roll band of the Philippines. What can I say? This is my first exposure to the "Parental Advisory" sticker. I'm sure not just for me, but the whole Philippines. It was a huge deal! They said "Tang*na!" This was waaaay before my hip-hop phase. Eraserheads=childhood. I'm sure I share this with so many others. Life was simple back then in the PI eh?


Blackstreet- Don't Leave-- If I recall, this is the first song I got obsessed with here in the US. Then came the Puff Daddy songs...


Coldplay- Viva La Vida-- One of the most unbelievable songs that grazed my eardrums, credit to Doug's and Cheska's wedding vid.


Jack Johnson- Constellations-- I love the simplicity the song implies. You can imagine what he's singing about. This song always calms me down. It's my sleeping song.


Itchyworms- Loveteam-- I promise I don't love it just because Kim and Gerald is in the MV. Aren't the beginning chords exceptionally catchy?!? My sister hated me for putting this one on repeat.


Itchyworms- Akin Ka Na Lang-- MS knows about this one. I love this song's message!


Barbie Almalbis- Pag-alis-- This is one of the most beautiful Tagalog songs I've ever heard. It doesn't hurt that her voice is so hauntingly beautiful as well. I saw her live in one of her US shows. She was fantastic. She gave me one of her guitar picks. This video is kind of nice. I found it on youtube and it includes English subs. Coolness!


Lisa Loeb- Stay-- Okay, if you didn't like this song, you are to be diagnosed with absurdity. The Reality Bites Soundtrack was one of the best, hands down.




Wow...this posting is getting incredibly out of control. This is it for now. I enjoyed this though; a nice trip to memory lane. I'm sure I will be posting a Songstruck list part two in the near future. I am a serious music aficionado. From this post, I realized, 11 seems to be quite a significant age for my sense of hearing.

Better Late than Never!

My mom asked me to bring her to the mall this morning since there is some one day early bird morning sale going on in Macy's. For some reason, I was actually up for it. I figured I continue my Christmas shopping ASAP. See, the problem with "Christmas shopping" is that most of the time, I end up buying stuff for myself instead of other people; nothing extremely extravagant, but you know, little things. Today was good because I was able to check people of my list. The best part of today was H&M. A piece caught my eye! Hah! Jackpot! It's a Comme des Garcons piece! It looked like it will fit me, but I was a bit reluctant since it's a button up. Button ups and I don't get along too well. So, off I go to the dressing room. What do you know?!? It fits quite well. There was only one in that rack. It must have been a return or something. The universe has conspired! This is meant to be, my friend! To top it all of, I got to take a picture with this huge and cute Christmas Teddy!

Camwhores, Rejoice!

Sooo damn clever! U know u want it as much as me!

Haffy Annibersary!

Tomorrow is my parents' 25th wedding anniversary. I am so in love with them. They can be the cutest thing, they can be the most annoying thing, but they are still my favorite! I somehow take my parents' relationship as a mold. I like it; though there are days when it's like "arrgghh." I believe in its normalcy. I love it when they make each other laugh. I will never forget when my mom told me about a time when she found my dad crying in his sleep. My mom asked him why he was crying. Apparently, he had a dream that my mom left him for a white guy. EL...OH...EL! My dad is ques-o! In all honesty, I don't have a gift for them yet. They deserve so much. I want them to go on a trip somewhere. However, my parents are a bit on the stubborn side. They love throwing house parties; they would so pick that over so many better things. I figure I will negotiate with them over dinner tomorrow. Even a place they would like to have dinner is a difficult decision for them. We still don't have a spot. They didn't appear as excited as me when I mentioned House of Prime Rib in SF. I figured, I let them choose. We'll see where we end up...I'm just hoping a change from the Pho place in A St. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD