My Asinine Thoughts

My friends and I went to Sonya’s Garden for Cresta’s bridal shower. After we finished our lunch, we headed straight to the spa and got a massage. It was all strictly GP, no macho dancers, no porn… we just took a quick look at a racy how-to book and listened to Sabrina’s birthing horror stories.

The Bride-To-Be*

Ok, so maybe it was more of a PG-13 thing*

The Photographer, The Model, The Collaborator

*taken by Rosey

Driver’s License: Government’s License to Hoover Some More Money Out of Our Wallets.

Another story of why I hate the Filipino system. The system sucks. The People who work in the system suck even more.

I went to the LTO near JP Rizal yesterday to renew my license before I leave next week. My license won’t expire until my birthday in October but I figured I could renew it if I tell them I’m leaving the country soon. My sister and I went to the customer service window and I was told that it was too early for me to renew my license and if I am leaving the country soon I should show them proof by photocopying my airline ticket. I was told twice that I needed to show them my ticket. Twice.

Hassle right? I called my travel agent and asked if she could email or fax me my e-ticket and she said it wasn’t a problem and could do it right away. I figured it was doable so my sister and I went to get our health tests near the LTO (yuck! yuck! yuck!) and then went back to the customer service window to ask for their email address or fax number so my travel agent could fax them my ticket. But… but! It was not allowed. Maybe they didn’t have internet access (LTO? Walang access?), or they didn’t have a fax machine (LTO? Walang fax machine?) so I was told to go to an internet cafe or one of the stores across the LTO for fax services.

I went to one of the stores, gave my travel agent the fax number, paid P15.00 and got my e-ticket in less than 2 minutes. Finally! So we went back to the LTO to the same customer service window and talked to the same man and I gave him my e-ticket with a smile and was promptly told this:

“Ok, now give me a copy of your passport.”

What the fuck?!?! Kanina sabi nya to give him the ticket, just the ticket and he said it twice and now that I have the ticket may dagdag na copy of my passport pa? Why couldn’t he have told me this earlier? Had I known that I needed a copy of my passport as well I wouldn’t have gone through with the health tests and wasted P400.00. I would have known then that I wouldn’t be able to complete the requirements since my passport was in Caloocan.

There are no words! No words I tell you!

I wanted to smash my hands into the window and smack his face three hundred and fifty-seven times! In the end I just told ditsi to go ahead with her application while I have my tests endorsed so I can apply in Caloocan instead.

A few weeks ago I was having second thoughts about leaving the Philippines and I actually thought that I’d be better off staying here for school and work. Now that a few weeks have passed, I know I made the right decision to go to California. While I have no plans of staying put in the U.S., I can’t see myself staying put here in the Philippines either. The thought of dealing with government employees prone to power tripping for the rest of my natural life makes me ill.

Note: A story that has some relevance to what I experience whenever I come home. It’s a good read, funny and short.

Note Note: Paano nag re-renew ng driver’s license ang mga politicians at mga Ayala? Sila kaya ang pinupuntahan ng LTO?

I had dinner with my high school friends at Zao the other night to celebrate Sabrina’s birthday (part 2). I organized the get-together this time around and my hair almost turned white because it was so difficult finding a day when they would all be free. We finally settled on Monday night and when I got to Serendra, the place looked almost deserted because: #1 it was Monday, #2 it was raining incessantly, #3 it was Monday.

It’s probably been a few years since we were complete like this because I’m always out of the country and Cresta is always either out of town or out of the country as well (she’s an FA). This dinner was also important because it would be a few years before we could ever get together like this again since Rosey is moving to Texas and I’m going back to California.

It’s stupid to think that things will not change when everything changes all the time. Someone gets married, someone starts a family, someone moves abroad, someone is always busy with work, or someone’s mobile number and home address keep changing (Mawee? Where are you?). But I’d like to think that the one thing that cannot be changed is the friendship we started when we were kids. These women will always be my friends no matter where I am or no matter how many years have passed since we saw each other last.

from left: Neth, Rosey, Sab, Crez, Me, Jo

newlywed Lyneth, ready to move Rose, MIL sufferer Sabrina

sexy Cresta, crazy Me, supermom Jo

may nakita si Rose sa kabilang table na mukhang interesting so nag order din kami

Mukhang kropek, amoy kropek, lasang kropek... it's KROPEK!

Jo's dessert (Chelsea)

Zao: The shaking beef was tasty and oh so tender.

Chelsea: The chocnut and nutella cakes were yummy! I want to try the cookie dough cheesecake next.

I had the chance to see Lifehouse up close last Friday when I went to 94.7, unfortunately the only proof I have of seeing them is a blurry shot of two girls and the top of Jason Wade’s head which is really no proof at all. Shyet.

When I entered the station, there were four tiny girls sitting there who looked like they were still in high school (one still had her uniform on!). I sat down beside them and hung my 29-year-old head in shame. Things didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped and I almost backed out when I found out that the people who were supposed to join me couldn’t make it. But I was already there so I figured what the hell, andyan na eh. I held on to my camera and waited. A couple of minutes later a burly guy (who was incredibly rude) told us to sit in one row because the band was on its way out. I turned on my camera and then saw several Pinoys surrounding the band, herding them as if they were surrounded by a throng of insane, screaming fans instead of 4 quiet ,teeny girls and bewildered me. There was this feeling-bouncer guy who kept shielding the band members away from us… anong akala nya? Threat kami? Did he think we’ll assault the band with our cameras or worse… with kisses? O to the A! When Jason Wade walked in front of me, we only had Mr. Feeling-Bouncer between us, unfortunately Mr. Feeling-Bouncer was tall and wide and Jason was kinda short. The only opening I had was ruined when two of the girls stepped into my line of vision just as I took my shot (ergo the blurry pic mentioned above).

Later when all of us were waiting for the elevator, one of the girls was checking her camera and moaned, “Manong! Ikaw tuloy yung nakunan ko!” Well, I wanted to say “Miss! Ikaw naman yung nakunan ko!” but I kept my mouth shut, we were all disappointed anyway. When I got down to the basement where my car was parked, naabutan ko pa yung band na pasakay ng van, but I was too pissed off to even do anything so I went straight to my car and just thought of what I wanted to have for lunch.

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Saturday, July 26, 2008

Lifehouse Concert at the Araneta Coliseum

#1: Mr. Humongous Bighead.

Pinoys are relatively short, even the men so imagine my disappointment when a tall, white man sat in front me. WTF? Of all the people that could be sitting in front of me, why does it have to be a white man with a big head?

#2: I was waiting for the opening act, but there wasn’t any. I was under the delusion that it would be Matt Nathanson because he’s the front act for Lifehouse’s current tour in the US. Asa pa, and I was so looking forward to telling Jeff (and making him feel bad) that I saw Matt perform live. The best laid plans nga naman o…

#3: The band members tried to rock and jump around, but most of the audience remained immobile. Filipinos are screamers, not jumpers. To be fair, we’re excellent screamers - loud and creative.

#4: Special request ang Take Me Away and Blind.

After the band performed “Blind,” Jason said that they haven’t played it in years but they found out that the Pinoys loved the song, as well as the next song they will perform which was “Take Me Away.” Buti na lang pala nalaman nila ng maaga.

#5: Maganda ang boses ni Jason, powerful and distinctive, kaboses nya yung sa CD… hmm that sounded kinda estooopid.

#6: Masaya naman ang concert, I was with Rosey and she took lots of clear pictures yeehee!

…that is a silly question.

I came back to the Philippines a little over a week ago and as soon as I came home and ate aning’s beef steak and papa’s breaded shrimp, I immediately unpacked the boxes in my room filled with books, clothes and knick knacks. I placed most of my books in the bookshelves, organized my closet, arranged my earrings, fixed my dresser, hooked up my computer and printer, checked my sheets and then plopped down on my bed delirious with happiness.

My two months in Taiwan was fun but painful and now that I’m in the comfort of my own room, I can say that I’m glad I went back. I had to go back to know that I made the right decision to leave last year. Taiwan will always be my second home, especially since there are people who live there whom I care about a great deal. If I ever do go back in the future, I know that it will only be for a short visit and I’d probably just travel around the island.

Then in about 3 weeks I would need to start putting most of my things back into the boxes again. An exercise in futility you might think, but not for me. After moving around for the past 4 years, nothing will take the place of my room and my space here in our house. It was nice to see most of my things together, to have them within my reach and not thousands of miles away even if it’s only for a few weeks. I’m happy about leaving again but with apprehension on the side, nothing new.

I haven’t been doing anything much for the past week, just hanging out at home and taking it easy but I suppose I better get moving soon since I have so many things I need to do. I have to organize 2 birthday dinners, a bridal shower, a reconciliation between 2 friends if it’s possible, meet up with several friends and cousins, go to my dentist, my doctors, my dermatologist, to the spa, get a blood test, buy pasalubongs and things I can’t buy in the US, fix my papers, go to embassies etc etc etc. I think I’ll start next week… or maybe the week after that.

I did get a facial this week though. I went to Belo and had a glycopeel and a power peel in one session. I thought I was going to end up looking like Freddy Krueger afterwards but I discovered that the glycopeel treatment was just cleaning with no peeling involved and the power peel was the same as the diamond peel so I didn’t look so scary when I went out, my bangs on the other hand were definitely scary because Doris butchered them last Sunday (Why Doris? Why?)

I just saw an episode of Men in Trees and during the last few minutes of the show I heard a beautiful song playing in the background. I immediately googled the song and it took me a while to find it, but find it I did! The song was “Love When I Can” by Nat Jay.

She’s a Canadian Indie Folk/Pop singer who doesn’t have a record out yet so her song is only available on iTunes or CD Baby. Since I only have $0.09 left in my iTunes account and I can’t get hold of an iTunes card in this part of the world I thought I’d try CD Baby and maybe it would actually let me pay for a song I like. Unlike some online music retailers hmph! I found out that CD Baby is a site where independent musicians can sell their music and CD Baby only takes a 9% cut for mp3s and $4 for cds which leaves more moolah for the musicians, which is as it should be.

So there it was on CD Baby, “Love When I Can” by Nat Jay for only $1.00. I’ve never bought anything less than $4.00 using my credit card before and I didn’t even think it was possible to use my credit card for a $1.00 charge, so I was a little hesitant about making this purchase. I researched CD Baby for a while to make sure that it’s a trustworthy site, I also researched credit card policies about minimum purchases and nothing I read raised alarm bells. After more than an hour of indecision, I finally took the plunge and bought the song. Less than a minute later I got an email from CD Baby confirming my purchase and when I went back to my CD Baby account, there was the song I bought, ready for me to download. Yehey!

It would be interesting to see my credit card statement next month, that’s for sure!

When things are out of control, when I’m stressed or when I’m down in the dumps, I buy a book. I have lots of books, go figure.

Whenever I’m especially stressed and going nuts like I am right now, I read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (P&P) to calm myself down and make myself feel better. The only problem is, I don’t have my book with me. I left it in my room in the Philippines thinking I wouldn’t need it since I would only be gone for a couple of months. WRONG! I’ve never needed it more than I do right now.

I could’ve purchased a new copy, but my P&P copy has sentimental value. We have history together. I remember quite clearly where I bought it (National Bookstore, Tutuban), when I bought it (1996), and why I bought it (because I just saw Sense and Sensibility on VHS). I remember that I was watching tv in my brother’s room one day and decided to multi-task by reading a book at the same time. I remember that the tv show I was watching was quickly forgotten and I was completely engrossed in what I was reading, never putting the book down until I finished the whole thing. I also remember that as soon as I finished the whole book, I read it again because it was so amazing!

I would never have that again, that first time of reading P&P, a book so special you’d want to announce it to all your friends, family and even strangers. I’m glad I’ve got the memories though, and I’m glad that my book is still in pretty good shape even after dozens and dozens of readings. I miss my book. I have to go home!

So as a temporary salve to my pain, I watched The Jane Austen Book Club. I’m a believer in delayed gratification when it comes to some things, and I try to pace myself when it comes to Jane Austen and anything relating to Jane Austen. I don’t want to gobble it all up in one go because I want to have something to look forward to and I’m really glad I resisted watching this movie until now because like I’ve said, I’ve never needed Jane Austen more.

The movie was wonderful! I was very pleased to see such talented actors emulating the character traits of some of Jane Austen’s heroines. Their discussion of 6 of Jane Austen’s books were funny and insightful and it made me wish to have a book club of my own, all Jane Austen all the time. I just need to find 5 people I know who actually read Jane Austen (ok maybe 4 but that’s still a lot!). Maria Bello’s character in the movie is definitely my favorite. She parallels Emma in her desire to be unencumbered by a man and her independent nature (and fortune!). Hugh Dancy’s character is a close second because he’s so good-looking, charming and funny. I’ve forgotten about James McAvoy, Hugh Dancy is now my favorite British actor. Yummy!

The best actor of all in the movie was Emily Blunt, hands down. I wish she could have played Jane Austen in “Becoming Jane” instead of Anne Hathaway. Anne’s ok, but Emily is extraordinary. She could’ve made that movie better because I felt like there was something missing in Anne’s performance and I ended up disliking the movie as a result, even if it was Jane Austen’s (embellished) life story and James McAvoy co-stars.

Which leads me to Ursula Le Guin and science fiction books.

Hugh Dancy’s character in The Jane Austen Book Club is obsessed with science fiction. He recommends a bunch of books and science fiction authors to Maria Bello’s character and he’s so passionate about them I became immediately curious. The day after I saw the movie, I went to Page One to look for Ursula Le Guin’s “The Left Hand of Darkness” and “The Lathe of Heaven” but Page One didn’t have any of her books! Ah! The humanity! I was so looking forward to getting my hands on these books!

I consoled myself with buying other books that day and it made me feel a bit better. I promised myself that I wouldn’t buy books while I was here, but it was an emergency so I’m excusing myself. I bought a book by Arthur C. Clarke to start my path to science fiction and Alain de Botton’s “How Proust Can Change Your Life” because it looked really interesting.

I’m very excited about getting into science fiction. It’s a new genre for me since I’ve always been more into fantasy. Neil Gaiman is the only science fiction/fantasy writer I’ve ever read. So there you see? My depression has lessened due to books, the anticipation, the procurement, the actual reading of the books. The next thing I know, I’m on my way back home, ready to be reunited with my Pride and Prejudice again.

I’m totally loving this movie and its soundtrack right now. It was shown last year but I didn’t really pay attention to it until I started listening to Rufus Wainwright again a few weeks ago. Rufus covered the Beatles’ Across the Universe for the movie I Am Sam a few years ago and in my humble opinion, it’s the best cover of that song of all I’ve heard!

Anyway, Across the Universe was on my mind and I suddenly became interested in the movie. So I watched it, and then the next day I watched it again! If you make me watch it now, I’ll still watch it which could only mean that I loved the movie. It’s like a tamer version of Moulin Rouge backed with all the heart and magic only a Beatles song could delilver.

The movie musical is set in New York during the turbulent 1960’s when America was at war with Vietnam. A young man from Liverpool called Jude (Jim Sturgess) came to America to look for his father who doesn’t know he exists. Along the way he meets Max (Joe Anderson), a rebellious Princeton student and his sister Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) whose boyfriend just left to join the war. When Max decides to drop out of school, he invites Jude to go live with him in New York where they meet Sadie (Dana Fuchs) a talented singer, Jojo (Martin Luther McCoy) the new guitarist in Sadie’s band who is recovering from the death of his younger brother and Prudence (T.V. Carpio) a troubled young girl who is trying to find her place in the world. Some big name artists made cameo roles in the movie as well such as Salma Hayek, Joe Cocker, Eddie Izzard and Bono as Dr. Robert.

There are a lot of wonderful scenes in the movie but I think the one that really impressed me was when Max went to the Army for his recruitment tests singing “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)“. Man oh man, perfect choreography and execution there.

Soundtrack:
Martin Luther McCoy has got the most wonderful voice! His rendition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” was stellar. I also liked Jim Sturgess’s version of “Girl” and “I’ve Just Seen a Face“, Joe Cocker’s “Come Together“, Evan Rachel Wood’s “If I Fell“, Dana Fuch’s “Helter Skelter” and Bono’s “I Am the Walrus.”

Hay, there just isn’t enough time to listen to all the albums and songs I want to listen to. Can someone please lend me another ear?

Ditsi and Arnel’s friends Rina and Alvi got married in Baguio last Sunday and they showed a video during the reception of their friends (collectively known as “The Mod Clan”) lip synching to Michael Bublé’s Everything. Galing! (watch out for the guy in green, he’s hilarious!)

I’m really enjoying listening to Paus even if it’s in Swedish. My lack of understanding in lyrics has never been a deterrent in my appreciation of music. Of course when it comes to songs with words you can’t understand, the melody has to hook you in first. Sometimes I get lucky and find translations of songs I like, other times I try to be crafty and make my own translations with the help of an online dictionary.

I did the latter with the Paus album and I hope I got most of it right because there’s a particular song in the album I’m totally in love with right now (Chock). You know how you like a song and there are bits in it that sort of reverberates inside your head? I like how other people’s artistic expressions affect my equilibrium (especially when it takes a bit of time to recover from). While movies have an easier time of doing this to me, listening to music can also have a destabilizing effect, it just takes more involvement.

So ever since Paus, I’ve been looking into other Scandinavian bands, preferably with songs sung in their native tongue. Robyn and the Hives are from Sweden, but they sing in English. So I’ve been doing some research online for the past few days, looking into different musicians from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. I’ve even extended my search into other countries in Europe which led me to Serge Gainsbourg whom I’ve read about in a magazine somewhere sometime ago. Magazines are dead useful, I’ll justify in a future post.

I’ve been listening to Serge’s best of album (in French) as well as a compilation album of his songs sung in English by popular musicians of today such as Franz Ferdinand, Portishead, and Michael Stipe. Nina Persson and Carla Bruni aka Mrs. Nicolas Sarkozy also sing in the album, so it’s a pretty cool and interesting mix of artists. I need to listen to it some more before I can form a definite opinion, but for certain, Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin’s “Je t’aime… moi non plus” or “I love you… me either” is shaping up to be one of my favorites (both versions). The English version by Cat Power and Karen Elson doesn’t sound as racy but the French version? Oooh lala! Find out why! But I suppose that to fully appreciate Serge Gainsbourg’s songs, I’d have to learn French because he’s reputed to be a master lyricist.

note: I’ll post some of the songs I mentioned as soon as I transfer to WordPress, which hopefully will happen soon.