 • I hate statistics. I failed statistics when I was in high school. I got into my statistics degree in Uni because I lost a bet wherein a friend whom I lost to gets to choose the degree I would apply for. Knowing that I suck at Math, she chose the course for which she thinks I would have the hardest time finishing.
• I wore dental braces during my entire Uni life
• I don’t have 20/20 vision. I wear prescription lenses, +3.25 on my right, +3.00 on my left.
• I am lactose intolerant, but I have a weird liking for cheese.
• I can make saliva bubbles and blow ‘em out and float ‘em like soap bubbles, a trick I learned from a high school crush.
• I did Europe when I was 26. I visited 10 countries and 16 cities. Not bad huh?
• My favorite place in the world is Fussen, Germany, although my friends think I hold a special feeling towards Belgium. I don’t know why but every time I get asked as to where I would like to work or live, I always say Belgium. Fussen, Germany has this man-made lake where it feels like it’s the edge of the world, and I get a certain feeling of peace there. I would definitely go back.
• My favorite stuffed item would be my Patrick toy. You know, SpongeBob’s friend.
• I am a published writer. I have two published researches in two academic journals.
• I have a big mole right smack at the center of my left foot. My mother thinks that’s why I never stay put at home.
• I grew out all four of my third molars before I turned 30. And they are giving me such pain. I had one pulled out, and I had an operation to remove a substantial mass of gums on the other.
• I never had a surgical operation done, well except for the dental ones.
• The last time I wore bangs was when I was 13.
• My current sport is Ultimate Frisbee. It’s like flag football except we use standard-issue discs instead of balls.
• In my entire 11-year career as a professional, I have only been with 2 companies.
• I had my first boyfriend when I was already 21. I had my first girlfriend when I was 14.
• I only had 2 boyfriends, the first one, and the last one. I have only been involved with 3 guys. The only guy that wasn’t my boyfriend was a friendship that lasted for more than 2 years.
• I can play the guitar really well. I used to make my own songs. But I don’t currently have the luxury of time.
• I never had a major heartbreak.
• I will never have a tattoo. We are not allowed to. Although I am not quite clear on the piercing stuff. If I get clearance that I can have one, I’ve probably have my tongue pierced.
• I sent myself and my brother through Uni. I passed 2 scholarship programs. The first was a private scholarship supported by a Christian community, and the other was a national scholarship. Through the allowances I got from these, I had enough to get us through a degree in Statistics, and for my brother a degree in Aircraft Maintenance Technology. Oh and yeah, it wasn’t allowed to have more than one scholarship program at a time. But what can I do, we needed the money.
• In addition to a degree in Statistics, I am a board-certified secondary Math teacher. Like, seriously, though I have yet to start teaching.
• I am allergic to just about everything, i.e. alcoholic drinks, some seafood, chicharon, wasp/ insect/ cockroach bites, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, even my own blood type (during transfusion), and sometimes, even extreme cold. My brothers share the same allergies.
• I collect guitar picks.
• I am right handed, but I can write legibly with my left hand.
• I love my brothers to death. They don’t know it, but I am extremely proud of them.
• I am not a shoe person. Often I just buy one of each kind, ie, strappy sandals, closed shoes, and rubber shoes, and use them until they give up on me, then it’s the only time I’d go out to get a replacement.
• I am a scent person. I use at least 3 perfumes alternately for any given time.
• I tend to like a certain cut/style for my dresses. My colleagues and friends tend to tease me about it, picking out the dresses that they’re sure I will like every time I go with them to the mall. Hence, I rarely go dress shopping with friends.
• I thought picking out 30 stuffs about me would be easy. Actually, I had a hard time picking out which 30.
My birthday social experiment had been a resounding success. I was able to derive conclusive evidence for my hypotheses. Although I don’t know if I should be happy that my suspicions were confirmed, or I was secretly hoping that the entire humanity as represented by my online social network would prove me wrong.
And the findings are:
1) Without a Facebook birthday notification, even my own brothers and my mother will forget to greet me on my birthday.
2) 12 people sent their birthday greetings on the day itself, as compared to 76 people last year, when I still had my birth date posted on my public profile and birthday notifications were sent out to my contacts. That's 85% less greetings this year. This does not include greeting from apps that were designed to keep your birthday in the data base and send a generic email greeting.
3) 6 people sent their greetings within five days after my birth date, as compared to nil last year. Although this might be due to awareness from wall-to-wall activities posting (ie birthday greetings posted on my wall were seen by friends until 3rd degree), it still counts as brownie points for efforts made.
I did not test for significance or margin of error as I cannot approximate the size of my entire social group. I don’t know what percentage of my friends/acquaintances is still unconnected digitally, although one is inclined to think n=611 is all of it. Let's face it, who hasn’t heard of Facebook or email in this day and age.
However, based on the size of my Facebook contacts, there exists enough evidence to say that the findings are fairly conclusive.
1) We rely too much on technology to hold on to relationships that would otherwise have suffered abrupt albeit natural death. This leads to one being able to keep as much as one can, although it comes into question the quality of these relationships. There is reason to believe that new relationships are hindered from progressing further, which would otherwise have been brought about by more sincere and healtfelt personal messaging. No conclusive evidence on the effect on relationships that were deep enough to begin with. Other than my mom and my brothers, sample size is fairly insufficient.
2) The less people that greet you on your actual birth date, the more likely that people will be confident enough to send a late greeting. I think it has something to do with foregoing peer pressure. It feels more like sending out a real birthday greeting rather than being pressured to send out the greeting before the actual date is through.
3) Seeing that it makes me sad when few people greet me on my birthday, I will not turn off my birthday notifications in facebook ever again after this social experiment. After all, birthdays are a big thing.
It gets me sad when it's already the end of the week and there are still a couple of bananas left in the pantry.
What was usually their greenish-yellow complexion at the start of the week are slowly showing signs of aging, appearing as patches of gray along the length of the now yellowed fruit.
It feels like they're all calling out to me. "Eat me! Eat me!".
Yes Freud. Screaming Bananas and long distance relationship does go well.
Oh well. No use fighting it.
How about some fast stats for you?
If people are allowed to kick the guy facing them at the MRT, I bet one in 4 men will get kicked in the nuts.
I did wish to be married to Prince William at one point in time. I think every girl who had access to television and can speak English did.
Now I wonder where the desire went.
Gone along with the stupidity. And the youth. And the Prince's hair.
Might as well. The developed world will never be ready for someone like me. I'd be the best royal pain they will ever see.
On a side note. Hubby commented, "I may not give you a Royal wedding, but I sure will give you a loyal marriage".
Well said!
Thor.
WTF is wrong with this movie?
It's the most frustrating 2 hours I won't ever get back.
I have already made up my mind to hate this movie way before I've ever seen it. It's just a big budget kid's flick with some King Lear conflict and Shakespearean undertones. I was prepared to sleep through it to at least get back my 11dollars worth, plus fifty cents for online booking.
And then you throw in Tom Hiddleston. That was underhanded. I wasn't prepared for it.
So unsettling.
Ang smart talaga ng mga taga UP. Pati sa kalokohan.
PALMA HALL/AS:
AS chairs:
“push button to eject seatmate”
“push button to eject urself”
“push button to kill teacher.”
“push button to eject teacher”
….reply: “It’s jammed! We’re doomed!” Hahaha, nakita ko na ‘to.
AS chair :
“you know bobo? bobo is you!”
AS 1st floor CR:
“if you forget the past, then you porget the purious..”
AS 1st floor CR uli:
“Im a simple gay.”
tapos me sumagot
“sira! Dapat ‘Im simple and gay!’ Taga peyups ka ba? duh!”
tapos me sumagot ulit
“sira ka rin! yung simple is used as an adjective tapos yung gay is used as a noun. kaya ok lang yung simple gay nya!” Nakita ko na rin to!
FINE ARTS WALL:
“nobody cares”
somebody answered:
“not even the carebears?”
then another:
“not even kier?”
then:
“not even zoren?”
lastly:
“not even zorro?”
all written by different people.
CHEMISTRY PAVILION:
Chem chair:
“push button to spray acid on prof’s face.”
Another chem chair:
“You Boron!!!”
BIOLOGY PAVILION:
Bio chair:
“Push cadaver to haunt teacher.”
FO Santos:
“SA MGA NAGTATAPON NG BASURA DITO… bawal.” akala ko, maninindak.
ENGINEERING BUILDING:
Men’s CR, facing the urinal:
“Hawak ko saking mga kamay ang kinabukasan ng bayan!”
Reply:
“the future you are holding is very small.”
MATH BUILDING:
sa cr sa may math building:
“SUMAPI SA NPA! ”
may sumagot:
“PAANO? ”
may sumagot pa:
“MAGFILL UP NG COUPON AT IHULOG SA PINAKAMALAPIT NA DROP BOX SA SUKING TINDAHAN!”
sa likod ng isang “teacher’s chair” sa 3rd floor:
“BABALA: asawa ni babalu”
sa math 3rd floor, sa isang upuan uli.
“you’ll NEVER find what you’re looking for”
May nag-reply:
“find x.”
sa math 3rd floor, sa isa pang upuan uli.
nakasulat sa armchair:
“FUCK DA WORLD! ”
may sumagot:
“FUCK U TOO! –WORLD”
3rd floor math cr:
“kaibigan, pagkapatos mong umihi, paki PLUS mo naman, hehehe.”
COLLEGE OF MUSIC
sa loob ng music room.
“maam _______(music prof) boses palaka! ”
tas may sumagot
“nakarinig ka na ba ng boses ng palaka ”
tas may sumagot uli
“weh ”
tas may nag-react uli
“oo, sabi kokak! kokak!”
VINZONS HALL:
Wall ng vinzons
“Do not steal. The government hates competition” Saw this one too.
Men’s cr sa Vinzon’s:
“Remember: the hands that clean this toilet are the same hands that cook your food.”
men’s cr waaaay above the urinal:
“if you can reach this, the fire department wants you!”
NIGS (National Institute of Geological Sciences):
sa isang upuan:
“fuck nigs!”
may nagreply:
“who’s nigs?”
MAIN LIBRARY:
Sa isang lamesa ng main lib, filipiniana section:
“UP STUDENTS HAS BECOME PATETHIC”
tapos may sumagot…
“mali pang grammar at spelling mo, halatang di ka taga UP”
KALAYAAN RESIDENCE HALL:
“God is dead” – Nietzsche
Reply:
“Nietzsche is dead!” -God.
SHOPPING CENTRE:
sa labas ng PNB:
“in case of emergency break ass and push butt” Eto nakalagay sa ibabaw ng fire alarm sa labas ng PNB. Dapat Break Glass and Push Button. Eh may matalinong nag trip, konting letters lang ang kinaskas, funny na.
AS WAITING SHED:
Ad from a Korean: “I need a English tutor.”
At may nagdagdag: “Badly.”
Sa Kalayaan Dormitory, 1st floor boys, men’s toilet cubicle. Nakasulat sa likod ng pinto:
“Siguro habang binabasa mo ito, jumejebs ka.”
Sinagot.
“Siguro psychic ka dahil nalaman mong jumebebs siya.”
Sinagot ulit.
“Siguro ikaw ang psychic dahil nalaman mong psychic siya.”
Rio.
Of course I absolutely loved it!
One scene. The whistle and the splat. I didn't know who Jamie Foxx was before this movie, but I absolutely adore him now.
I was always caught laughing long before the funny scenes have ended. It seems every witty line in this movie deserves an encore laugh.
Blu stayed true to the neurosis of Jesse Eisenberg.
I am getting technical. I shouldn’t be. There's no need when you see something this charming.
Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson.
Throwing punches at each other. On the floor. In a bear hug. Crashing into stuff.
Mano-a-mano.
I can almost taste the testosterone flying off every time one of their punches connect.
Fast cars and cop-and-robber chases doesn't really appeal to me.
But I think this movie just got yummier.
I have been thinking what it would feel like to be a Nobel prize winner of sorts.
Well, if one's aiming for something, might as well aim high.
If I did win a Nobel prize, I'd prefer it to be in the field of Physics. In the circle I move in, you don't get respect unless it's Physics. I am thinking something along the lines of marking phenomenal findings in String theory and particle physics.
If I win, would I get interviews? Would they name a school, or even a laboratory, function room, or even an event after me? Would I be given the key to the city? I am sure I would be on the cover of Time, but would they give me free coffee and doughnut from Starbucks? And the most important question of all, do I get to meet Tom Hiddleston?
There's only one way to find out.
I think I have a soft spot for brilliant men with issues.
I was always charmed by smart broken men.
Case in point:
Tom Hiddleston's Loki. Brilliant. Antagonistic. Has serious father issues. Broken.
Dr. Spencer Reid from criminal minds. Genius. Arrogant. Schizophrenic, although he is yet to realize it.
I think I just want to cuddle and fix these men. I would love the challenge. I think I have serious Frankenstein issues (contrary to popular culture, Frankenstein is NOT the monster. Dr.Frankenstein was the creator of the monster, the monster did not have a name).
I want to see how these men would look like rebuilt, given that they already are brilliant to begin with, with just some minor glitches thrown in.
I'd like to reform the world, one phenomenal villain at a time.
I think I really need to move. This home has been compromised. Tumblr will be my best bet, though I think it requires me to post a picture with some apt text that conveys what I feel every once in a while. Then it just wouldn’t do as I plan to just blog in text. I am also considering blogspot, but I do have to religiously update. Multiply sort of has a sentimental value. Although it wasn't my first, it was my longest blogging relationship. Another thing to think about is whether I still plan to continue on with the theluckyone pen. I have always been dlucky1 ever since my cousin gave me ID stickers with my name and the phrase underneath it as a High School graduation gift. Wow! That's about 14 years ago. I can be Fabulous KillJoy. But it just isn't gonna cut it for me. I know I am fabulous, but no one's gonna really vouch for me on being a KillJoy. You've gotta admit it's cool. No. Not ready to give up on dlucky1 just yet. But I am definitely moving. It will be an entirely different outlet. I'll be more candid there, more free, and more confident. And I will not be bringing my friends over from here. Sorry if I am out to tease: random ramblings plus first draft of "The true life of the Fabulous KillJoy" now available for everyone to take a jab at, if you can find them though. 
Ganito ang karaniwang itinatakbo ng usapan namin ni mister sa pang araw-araw na buhay....------------ Mister : Kung awayin mo ako, parang ako na ang may kasalanan ng world hunger ah! Misis : di lang world hunger, pati terrorism isama mo na ------------- Mister (habang naghihintay ng kanyang Cebu Pacific flight sa airport, nang may dumaan 2 flight attendant) : Oi ang gaganda ng flight stewardess ko oh! Ang puputi! Mga chinita! Ang sesek… Misis : sa tiger airways yan. Mister : ay. Killjoy. --------------- Mister (habang nakatanaw sa labas ng tren) : aba! Andito lang pala sa malapit ang Geylang! Misis: mula ngayon bawal ka na lumabas ng bahay pag gabi --------------- Mister : badtrip. wala man lang nanalo kahit isang numero na tinayaan ko Misis: ay tumataya ka na pala ngayon sa lotto. paki taya mo rin ako Mister: ay ayaw kita itaya. Kasi ikaw ay akin! ajijiji ---------------- Misis : Tara, inom tayo! Mister : Ayoko nga! Misis : Bakit? Mister : Hindi ako nakikipag inuman sa babaeng may asawa ----------- parang neverending na stand-up comedy skit lang no? Maybe our mistakes are what make our fate. Without them, what would shape our lives? Perhaps, if we never veered off course, we wouldn't fall in love, or have babies, or be who we are.
Seasons change, so do cities. People come into your life and people go. But it's comforting to know the ones you love are always in your heart, and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away. |  | To celebrate our first wedding anniversary, Mark and I decided to go on a romantic dinner cruise aboard a replica of the famous Ming Dynasty imperial vessel - the Cheng Ho.
It was a wonderful experience, except for the bad start we had arguing about how to get there or who knows the way better than whom, walking for 15 minutes in completely different directions, getting pissed off, and walking for 30 minutes in an unbelievably humid late afternoon, all the while ignoring each other.
Fortunately, we got there on time before they called for boarding. When we saw the ferry, it was as if nothing happened. We were just too happy and excited to go on the trip.
We had a table for four all to ourselves, so there was more than enough room. We had fun taking pictures and getting to know our cruise mates while waiting for boarding to finish.
When the ferry started to leave the pier, we were encouraged to go upstairs to the viewing deck while the crew were preparing the buffet table. We felt like pirates as we explored every nook and cranny of the wonderfully designed vessel.
As they said on the ad, it was a truly unique experience. We had an unparalleled panaromic view of the Singapore city skyline, Southern Islands and the renowned busiest port. We enjoyed attractive sights of little vessels anchored in Marina South Pier bay, the Singapore Flyer, Sentosa Cove, the Tanjong Pagar Container Port - the busiest in the world by shipping tonnage - and the coastline of Sentosa. The view was enchanting while we observe it change from a lazy late afternoon tranquil setting, to one of the most romantic as soon as the city lights up with different colors at night. At the same time, a pre-recorded commentary about the history and little known trivia was piped over the speakers to complement what the guests were actually seeing.
Once the sun sets, it was time for dinner. We went down and was greeted by the wonderful crew members as they guide us to the buffet table - an appetizing international buffet to complete the enchanting evening. Everything was prepared beautifully and deliciously. Since we had a table big enough for four, we tried to fit in as much full plates in it as we can, before we sat down to eat. We ate everything! We even went back for a third helping. All throughout dinner, the boat was cruising towards Sentosa, and an authentic Chinese ensemble was playing some really good chinese traditional music. It was really very romantic. I thought it couldn't get any better. But I was wrong.
They announced over the speakers that we are near enough to Sentosa to be able to see the Songs of the Sea display. We capped off our dinner with some tea and coffee which we brought upstairs to sip while watching the show. It was awesome! We were treated to an amazing water and fireworks display from a very cool vantage point! It was a fitting end to a wonderful cruise. We even shared a kiss and a hug during the last fireworks and water sequence. There are no words to describe how wonderful we feel.
Happy 1st wedding anniversary! It's Prague in winter for the next one! I'm already looking forward to it. |
| | We wander about only after I get off from work and on weekends. But that didn't stop us from enjoying to the fullest what little time we got.
We practically ate at every hawker place I've known so far. We just love our hawker foods, specially the fish meat soup that we discovered just around the corner from the flat. Interestingly, the uncle who serves it knows Tagalog, and he has a funny way of pronouncing Pinoy words. The Chinatown stall serves delicious seafood satay and stir fried rice with seafood mix. He says he'll never look at fried rice the same way again after that sumptuous delight.
Good thing we only get to go around during sundown. The weird thing about him is that he was always sweating! A few steps and he's already drenched. I can imagine how horrible he'd look if we tour midday.
We were also able to meet 2 of our high school classmates on a certain Friday. It was wonderful to know that I have these friends to keep me company when Mark goes back home, but I shouldn't think about that now. The important thing is he's with me at the moment.
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| | After a tension-filled month of constant arguing, and then convincing, and then back to arguing about how he's supposed to prioritize getting a passport since he's just 2 weeks away from his first international flight, he's finally here!
He made it on his own. I'm so proud of my little boy, all grown up! This was after his continuous pleading for me to get back home so we could take his first international flight together. He always had a fear of going through immigration. He got it from watching too much Bond movies. Anyways, he could never win an argument with me.
I took a day off from work so I could meet him at the airport. I didn't have the balloons that I planned to bring when I go. I didn't know where to buy. I've been here 8 months and I still don't know where to buy things.
When I saw him I immediately asked him about his immigration experience. I figured he'd be a bit shaken after I told him about my harrowing experience with the NAIA people. He said the immigration guys back home were surprisingly so nice to him that they even said he should stay here for longer than 2 weeks. He was wearing his NEC shirt, and the bastards, bless them, are apparently afraid of giving government employees a hard time.
Anyways, we first brought his luggage home, then we met my colleague for whom I asked him to bring a gift for. Since our office is just near Chinatown (our office is near to just about everywhere!), I figured it's a good time to start his city tour. He was so frustrated that everywhere we went he sees these no smoking signs. I can't relate. Anyways, he promised he won't be smoking while here since cigars are way too expensive, almost as much as 350pesos for a pack!
We went to the Buddhist temple where SL brought us before, the one with the gold-plated ceilings and the thousand Buddha statues, where no 2 statues have the same pose.
And then we went to have our fill of the city view at Esplanade, where we also had our dinner right beside it, in Makansutra. A good first day in the country for him, a wonderful first day with him for me.
He's here!!! We are finally together again! |
| | Actually, it was just more of a celebration for Boss K since he's the only one who celebrated his birthday this July.
We went there in two groups. Most of us were a bit unwilling to go early since there were still a lot to finish before the weekend. But we don't want the early group to wait for us long, so we packed up and followed after 10 minutes.
One Fullerton, which is on the other side of the river across Esplanade, was just a pleasant 15 minutes walk from the office. When I'm not too exhausted on Friday nights after work, I usually drop by the Esplanade to see what programs they have lined up for the weekend. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights they have free concerts, play, or cultural presentations at the outdoor theater. And the thing about me is, I love everything that's free.
This was the first time I saw the Esplanade and the Fullerton area while it’s still bright. Since we stayed there until very late waiting for EC to finish his FGD and join the group, we saw the whole area transform from a sleepy serene city landscape to a buzzing metropolitan hot spot at night. The city lights can really get hypnotic after a fragrant glass of sauvignon blanc, which I was able to finish only after 2 hours. I have to drink it in very tiny sips, careful not to take in more than my allergies would allow.
It was generally a fun night: the mood was light, although most were having their own tiny group discussions, there were moments when someone would share some smart quips with the whole group.
The restaurant, which I failed to mention earlier is Overeasy, had terrible service and ordering was ironically not easy at all! The food was just average, but the bar list is extensive. The ambiance was relaxing, they have big rattan sofa with big pillows where we wanted to sit in the first place, but the entire group wouldn't fit. The place was more suitable for winding down after an exhausting day's work, and not for a starving girl waiting to have a proper dinner, which is what I was.
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 | home | Jul 11, '10 12:02 PM
for everyone |
"If someone loves a flower of which just one example exists among all the millions and millions of stars, that's enough to make him happy when he looks at the stars. "
- he told me this tonight, about how he's my little prince, and how I'm his flower in a glass jar, and how he looks at stars differently now that we're apart.
As with the The Little Prince, we'll be home soon. Wherever you and I are together, that is home.
 Robert Downey Jr kept me awake all night.
I watched the last few episodes of Ally McBeal last night, the one where he played the part of the title character's love interest. And by the time I finished, I ended up wishing he was mine.
The feeling this time around was more devastating than when I wished Jonathan Groff was straight, so I wouldn't feel weird that he was keeping me awake all night.
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