CSI:NY

I’m not much of a TV person, except for all things childlike (Nickelodeon, Disney Channel) and my daily local teleserye fix. I’m not at all knowledgable in any foreign local shows unless I put my full attention to it — I could count the ones I focus on with my fingers: Joan of Arcadia and One Tree Hill. My thesismates used to watch CSI during our thesis nights, but since I am not a fan of anything gory, I never watched it.

Thanks to my brother, his girlfriend, CSI:NY DVDs for her and his Sony PSP, I got to watch CSI. New York, specifically. Yes, I’m still not a fan of the gore, but can I just say: I love this show.

I haven’t had the chance to watch Vegas or Miami, so all I can rave about is the New York version, but I love it. Again, despite the gore and the show’s uncanny ability to make me a bit paranoid, I love how it goes. I like the intrigue, I like the characters, I like the stories and the way they all work. The gadgets in the lab, the high-tech cameras, the complexities of the case, how they work, the way they find and piece together their evidences — ah, the geekness! I love! ♥

If their profession wasn’t so dangerous, and if the sight of blood doesn’t make me recoil, I’d love to be a part of CSI. Especially in the evidence investigation.

But, since I can’t…I’d have to settle for writing something like that. :P I’m thinking of writing something similar on Script Frenzy (don’t know about that? Now go and check it out!), which means I better get watching more to get some ideas. :P

Chocolate Revel Bars

Back in sophomore year in college, one of our favorite snacks is this yummy chocolate revel bars we buy for Php 25.00 each at the now defunct Coffee Club. Sometimes we’d buy two of those and enjoy the yummy chewy chocolatey goodness of it. Since the coffee shop closed within a year or so, the only way we could get our revel bar fix is whenever there’s a bazaar in our college and someone decides to sell them.

Last night, my mom asked me to look for chocolate revel bar recipes because she planned to bake some to bring for their outing. She was too tired to bake so the recipe was untouched. This afternoon, I was left alone at home (mom has a swimming thing and my brother has work) and I have nothing much to do except watch CSI:NY Season 3 and more TV. So what did I do? Bake. :P

Just a little backgrounder, I used to bake a lot when I was in high school, particularly the summer before sophomore year. I bake every single afternoon — cookies, cakes, brownies (the most popular one), and whatever I could cook given the ingredients we have at home. My mom liked it, and that started her baking, which started my brother’s baking/cooking too.

Anyway, so this afternoon, I decided to get busy in the kitchen and get going on those chocolate revel bars. :) The picture above is the finished product, I’m done eating that slice, and bias aside: it’s so good. :P Here’s the recipe I used, from AllRecipes.com:

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On Spontaneity

I’ve never been a spontaneous person. I’d like to be spontaneous, to do things at the spur of the moment without thinking of how to do it or what the consequences would be, but it’s just not in my personality. I admire spontaneous people, and when I join in their spontaneity, I like it. But, as boring as this may sound, I like order. I like it when things go as planned, or at least somewhat close to it, even with little surprises along the way. I’m obssessive compulsive in that way — I like making to-do lists, I like having a scheduled time to do things, I like having even a general game plan. In short (and I have mentioned this before), I’m a control freak.

I know it sounds like I’m too stiff and boring, and probably most of you would say, “Chill, Tina!” It’s not that I totally get pissed off when there are changes in plans or things don’t go my way. Yes, I don’t like it, but I do know how to adjust. But I do have a limit, as with everyone. Don’t you just hate it when that happens?

It sounds so stiff and boring, and yes, I know one must be open to change. And I know it sounds funny coming from me, who talks about surrender and letting go and all time — but yes, I have issues with that. :P I want to learn how to be more spontaneous, be more unpredictable, but for goodness sake, at least be true to the plans you make. Why bother making plans when you won’t follow it after?

Hmm. Anyway. So many thoughts running in my head but I don’t know how to write it down. I just pray I’ll get over this pissed feeling soon. :P

No worries. :) I’m okay.

Ratified.org

I was bloghopping through my Google Reader (wait, is that right?) and I read about Abe’s, Luis‘ and Juned’s post about Ratified.org, this new Filipino blog ranking site which gathers data from Technorati and ranks the blogs according to their incoming links¹.

I submitted my blog just for fun, thinking that I would probably not even get inside the Top 100. But a few hours later, what do you know? I’m actually at # 88²!

Refine Me at #88!

And I’m a break out too! How cool is that?! :P

I remember a few months back, Jomar and I were talking about how we get our Technorati ranks and how many people link to us and how poor we were with regards to these kind of ranking, but after being immersed with fellow bloggers (and getting lots and lots and lots of link love!) and with the recent WP theme-making stints, I’m surprised and pleased at how this baby of mine has moved — after three years. :P Wahaha, to think I’ve been blogging for about five or so years already but it was only now that I’m actually paying attention to these things. :P I think we can see the reason why I never got to go up like this in ranking and such before — just look at the way I used to blog. Que horror!

Anyway, I bet I’d be kicked out of that spot as soon as other more popular bloggers get listed in Ratified.org, but I’m happy that my baby managed to get in at the Top 100 on its first submission. :P That should be enough…for now. This means…more to come after! :P Yeahbah.

How about you? Have you submitted your blog to be Ratified? :)

UPDATE, 4:03 pm: Like I said. I’m no longer at # 88, I’m already at #89. :P

1. See complete description here [«]
2. What’s weird is that Mae is also in #88, and she has a higher Technorati rank than I do, so I should be at #89, right? [«]

The (Ph)one that Got Away…and Came Back

This is a follow-up entry about my Smart Addict Mobile retention plan and new phone woes — yes an unexpected development!

So I was busy minding my own business last Monday, doing some work stuff and such when an unknown number suddenly calls my personal number. I look at it for a while, wondering if it’s a possible employer who found out about my skillz…so I answered it.

Me: Hello?
Smart Man (SM): Hello, good morning, is this [insert my Mom’s name here]?

I was dumbfounded for a while — why are they calling my number to look for my mom? Then I realized that it could be Smart.

Me: Uh…no, this is her daughter, I’m the one using this line…who is this?
SM: This is from Smart, we just want to inform you that your unit, Nokia 6233, is here.
Me: [pause] Ah okay.

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