Yesterday, it rained

In case you’re not from Manila, yes, it rained yesterday. Hard. If my brother didn’t tell me to go home right after work, I would’ve been stranded at Robinson’s Galleria. Thank God for good timing.

In the shuttle on my way home yesterday, I listened to the water fall down heavily on the roof of the van. I closed my eyes everytime a flash of lightning comes and automatically start counting after until I hear thunder. I was worried that we might have no electricity at home because of the heavy downpour — I still have to charge Captain Tal and my service unit for work. I wondered if I might have to spend the night in the darkness with no cellphone and only Triskal¹ to keep me company.

I got home safe and sound and soaking wet, and as I was eating my dinner, I suddenly remembered why I (used to) love the rain: when it rains hard enough, no classes for the next day.

Haaaay. For the nth time, I missed being a student again. Last night I found myself wishing that it rains really, really, really, really hard (but still no power outage, of course), and the government would announce no work for private and government offices. I would wake up to the cold weather, learn about this, sigh and go back to sleep. Ahhh.

Asa pa. I wish. As if that would happen. :-<

Remember that Nescafe commercial a few years back, where there was these guys who live in a dorm and are preparing for their day when one of them turns on the radio, listens for a bit and then runs to the hallway and yells, “WALANG PASOK!!!”² That was one of the best and most relaxing commercials I can remember. The rain last night also reminded me of the cold days at the dorm when we’re stuck because it was flooded outside our unit. I remember those days we’d cook up warm soup/noodles to eat during rainy days, or play Monopoly, or watch a DVD…sometimes my roommates and I would just talk.

Hay, nostalgia. But I can’t go back, as much as I want to. Such is life.

But don’t get me wrong, I loved the rain last night. I used to love the rain back in high school then disliked it when I started commuting in college. Now I think I’m starting to like it again. :) But the rain made me think of things that as much as I want to think about, I avoid because it makes me sad and want to go back and then I feel bad even more because I know I can’t. Did that make sense?

Anyway. Tonight, it threatened to rain but it didn’t pour. Yet. It’s payday today too, and because of that and Triskal, my brother and I went to Metrowalk and loaded on TV goodies, i.e. Prison Break Season 1 (please tell me the DVD ripper has it wrong and it’s reading only 14 eps but it’s really 22!!! Please?), Supernatural Season 1 and 2 (It’s my first time watching this. I bet I’ll be scaring the willies out of me but my curiosity’s got me :P), and Heroes Season 1 (Peter Petrelli! ♥ ). I still have some CSI:NY to wade through before I get to the others. Marathon na to!

Speaking of, I still want to borrow a DVD of CSI Seasons 1-6. Anyone? Or does anyone have AVI files and is willing to burn me a copy? *bats eyelashes* I’m such a cheapskate; my pocket hurts at the thought of buying an entire set of only one show…unless I head over to Quiapo. But if there’s no CSI, Veronica Mars would do. ;)

Before I go, I want to give a big thanks to Noemi, who owns Protagonist Webhosting, for upping my bandwidth this month, thus the comeback of Refine Me after exceeding my bandwidth the other day. :) Thank you, thank you! >:D<

Off I go. Mac Taylor and the rest of CSI:NY awaits.

1. You’ll get to know him really soon; I just need to have time to write about him ;) [«]
2. Read: No classes!!! [«]

Search Words for Refine Me, Part 2

Okay, I thought my bandwidth already reached its limit, but apparently, I can still access my blog. This morning I already got a 509, but then I accidentally clicked on the bookmark to this site and I got here…and it loaded. So…was it a false alarm?

Anyway, I have new things to talk about, like my new (and unexpected) gadget Triskal, buying an expensive earphones, some money-making rackets, planning trips to Oz and whatnot, but because I want to make sure what happened to my bandwidth before doing something a bit heavy, I’ll post that by this weekend instead. For now, it’s time for yet another Search Words for Refine Me post. This is a follow up of the first part, which I had so much fun writing. :P I think this one is going to be a bit funnier than the last one. ;)

• Home of Piolo Addicts - Okay this just made me laugh. I know I get hits for Piolo Pascual pictures (which I don’t have), but this is the best referral I’ve ever had for Piolo. No, this isn’t the home of the Piolo Addicts, unfortunately.
• Music, I am a Princess - I like this. This would make a good tag line or a novel title, don’t you think?
• Books simliar to Kristin Billerbeck - Ah, my forte. Whoever you are, I think you’d also enjoy Laura Jensen Walker, Judy Baer and Denise Hildreth. :) If you want something secular, try Sophie Kinsella or Meg Cabot.
• Words that rhyme with Tina - This should be easy. Gina, Mina, Rina, Ina, Yna, Katrina…okay, those are all names. How about words? Marina. Halina? Harina? Okay, who’s making a poem with Tina here? I bet that’s where this search phrase came from.
• Bretsch & Barrie - Well, that’s a place I haven’t been to for the longest time. This is where I had my first youth camp which I talked about here. One of these days I’ll write about my experience in this place; it’s unforgettable.
• Boyfriend never calls back - Um, okay.
• How much longer till September 3rd? - Around 97 days? :)
• Of me and I appear speck - Wha?! I know I talked about being an insignificant speck, but I do not understand this one.

Right now I am getting a lot of referrals from searches for Pinoy Big Brother Season 2 and the housemates, but it’s because my old PBB blog is redirecting here. :P

Okay now for some reason I can’t find any words to end this post. Oh well. I’ll do it the old-fashioned way then.

The End.

:P

Friday’s Feast # 3

Thank God it’s Friday! ♥ Aren’t you happy it’s Friday already? I am, very much! Wohoo! But I’m sorta out of cash, so it’s not that happy happy, but it’s okay since it’s FRIDAY! Nothing really special planned, except to go out for coffee later and watch TV this weekend. Wohoo.

Bring on the Feast! Let’s get eating (I have Cheez Curls here — want some?)!

Appetizer
Name a sound you like to hear.

- I like the sound of Christian music. Oh, wait, you mean individual sounds? Okay, I love the sound of rain. Not the hard, storm-like rain but the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops on the rooftop or on the windowsill. Couple that up with a cold afternoon, good TV or good book and good music, ahhh. :)

I also love the sound of the waves crashing over the beach. Also the sound of kids laughing as they play. Weirdly enough, I also like hearing babies crying. Not because I get a sick satisfaction knowing that they are suffering or their parents are being disturbed but because whenever I hear them cry, it feels like there’s so much life. I’m weird that way.

Soup
What is your favorite kind of cheese?

- I’m not really that particular with my cheese but I have to admit that I’ve been putting more cheese on the food I eat lately — as in cheese in tuna sandwiches, cheese in egg sanwiches, cheese omelette, etc. Can I give three? I like cheddar (with the three things I mentioned above), cream cheese (on toasted wheat bread or on plain crackers or in cheesecakes) and parmesan cheese (on pasta…yum!).

Salad
Do you sleep late on Saturday mornings? Why or why not?

- Somewhere in between? I usually wake up at 9:00am, which is late with regards to my waking up at 6:00am on weekdays. But I don’t like waking up past 10:00am not only because my neck and back hurts from the sleeping, but also because I feel like I’ve wasted half my day doing nothing. I guess I’m more of a morning person than a night owl.

Main Course
When was the last time you forgot something? What was it, and how long did it take to remember it?

- As for an object…sometimes this week, I forgot to bring a handkerchief to work. I remembered it when I was already out of the house. Oops. Other than that…nothing. But I’m usually a forgetful person especially on short term things (I have better long term memory), but nothing major yet. :P

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I notice ____________ when _____________.

- I notice guys when they’re really cute they get along with their siblings well. I can’t think of anythin else. But what I wrote is true! Promise!

I am such in a silly mood. 8-} I must finish this report my boss is asking me to finish before the day ends. Happy Friday everyone!

Thursday Thirteen # 13: Superpowers

The last time I did this was last November. I stopped because I got too busy, and sometimes, I just simply forgot. Now that I found myself with nothing to do here, so I’ll be posting my thirteeth Thursday Thirteen. Hmm, do you think the number has something to do with my hiatus?

So this week’s TT is going to be in honor of my new favorite TV shows, Heroes. Here are the top 13 super powers that I think are teh coolest. This is based not only on the powers of the characters in Heroes, but based on the list of comic book superpowers (who knew there could be so many?).

Thirteen Coolest Superpowers from the List of Comic Book Superpowers:

1. Technopathy (Micah Sanders). Best power for geeks. Imagine being able to make a complete software without bugs. Or make my computer go faster without ever upgrading anything. Yeah. Every geek’s dream.
2. Healing Factor (Claire Bennet, Wolverine). I would never be afraid to do stunts or extreme sports ever again since I can heal…as long as no one takes my brains. :P
3. Animal Mimicry (Animorphs). I like how you will be able to experience what it is like to be an animal, like how it feels to be a cat or a dog. It can also be a form of escape or stress reliever, as what Cassie of Animorphs sometimes does. Of course, if there are brain-enslaving slugs that are out to take over the world, then it might not be as fun.
4. Invisibility (Claude, Invisible Girl/Woman). Sometimes we all just want to disappear, and this power gives that. Of course, some terms of this power isn’t fun, such as Rodney Skinner (LXG) when you become permanently invisible. But if it’s like Claude — well it can be fun. Just don’t get into mischief. :P
5. Innate Capability. In one word: genius. Wikipedia defines this as: Ability to naturally have skills and/or knowledge typically earned through learning. That doesn’t sound much like a super power but a really good skill (and maybe lots of Promil during early age).
6. Empathy (Peter Petrelli). I believe this also can be classified as a normal human trait. I wish I could be more empathic to others because sometimes sympathy isn’t enough. But this could be difficult to have too, especially when there are so many emotions that are running high around you.
7. Precognition (Isaac Mendez, Seth Borders). Though Isaac’s powers seem to be much more glamorous/special-looking, I like Seth’s power better since he gets to see different versions of the future instead of just one. Of course, it would be mighty confusing since the future changes with every move we make right now. But still a cool power.
8. Telepathy (Matt Parkman). I used to have this series which was entitled “Mind Readers” where my group of characters got mind reading powers because of some chemicals they mixed and exploded in their Chem Lab (sooo Alex Mack). Obviously they can read minds by focusing onto people they want to read, and they can communicate telepathically too. Anyway, this is both cool and uncool because it’s nice to be able to know what your friend wants for his birthday or Christmas, but you will also know what they are thinking about when they’re not exactly fond of you. Double-edged sword.
9. Phasing (DL Hawkins, Kitty Pryde). This sure saves time when you get home and you realize you forgot your keys inside. Come to think of it, you never have to carry any keys!
10. Flight (Nathan Petrelli). Enough said. Seriously. Flying = cool. :)
11. Illusions (Candice Wilmer). I used this same power over one of my characters in a series that I am still pondering if I should resurrect. This is very, very useful in combat, and in manipulating other people (not that I’d want to do that, of course). No wonder Candice in Heroes is always so cocky.
12. Teleportation (Hiro Nakamura, Nightcrawler). Two of my favorite characters possess this power. I have read in some blogs that they want to have this power because of the opportunity to travel and no need to have any visa’s or save for airfare. Just close your eyes and poof! You’ll be where you want to be. Of course, if the Immigration people caught you, you’d be in big trouble, but you can just teleport away.
13. Power mimicry or absorption (Peter Petrelli, Rogue). I think this is THE ultimate super power. You can get any power you want, just by touching the person (Rogue) or just by being near the person or thinking about them (Peter). Of course, Rogue’s power has its downsides seeing that she can’t make any physical contact or else she’ll kill other people, and Peter’s power can make him crazy but with right control, this power totally rocks. Then again, if you have this power, then you won’t need to have the previous twelve I mentioned — you just need to look for people with those powers, stay with them a while and there’s your new power. Hmm…superpower shopping. Why not?
    .

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

That was fun. Now I’m off to watch episode 20 of Heroes. Yeahba. :)

The Positives

Around summer before senior year in high school, I started a list in my journal which I called The Positives. This list is a list of good things I received in the day, and this list started when I was compiling the happy things that happened during my 5-day trip in Cebu¹. I started listing them everyday, but I got tired writing them, especially on bad days where nothing seems to be good.

My point? Mae tagged me days ago to count my blessings, and this meme reminded me of that list I used to write. To be honest, I’m not on the blessing-counting mood (but I should be, like, always), but I will list them here before Mae’s tag gets too old (is there such a thing?). :) This list goes from general blessings to specific, and I hope I don’t start listing up to 100 blessings (but I’m sure I’ve been blessed more than 100 ways today).

1. Obviously, my family. We’re not exactly the most close-knit family but we’re all good. The occasional moodiness and spats get to us, but we always get back together since we’re family. I would never trade them for anyone else in the world. Todo para la familia ((Everything for the family)). :)
2. My wonderful community, both in YFC and in SFC. I will never ever forget being a YFC, and I’m starting to feel really at home in SFC. I know I shouldn’t put too much importance on my community since what really matters is my relationship with God, but I am really grateful to be part of the family ministries of CFC because if I wasn’t, I bet I wouldn’t even know God as much as I do now. Last Saturday at the SFC MMLA reminded me that my being part of the community is a blessing itself, and not a way to receive more blessings.
3. My other friends – college, high school and other people who I crossed paths with. :) Cheesy as this sounds, you made my life more colorful. Yeees.
4. My work and my officemates. It may not be my dream job, but at least, I have a job. And I have people to talk to in the office. And I earn, and learn and I know this will bring me closer to God. So…there.
5. The Moleskine notebook that I won which arrived yesterday. =) Enough said. Thanks again Pinoy Centric!
6. This is really shallow and soooo teenybopper, but finally getting a copy of BSB’s latest album is a blessing too. :P I’m sorry, the BSB/Boyband phase is not yet over. :P I can’t believe I’m actually seeing how some of their songs can be sung to God: I’d go anywhere for You, anywhere You ask me to, I’d do anything for You, anything You want me to…Your love as far as I can see is all I’m ever gonna need…there’s one thing for sure I know for sure…[baby] I’d go anywhere for You. Okay, omit the “baby” please. :P
7. Being single. Yes, that’s something to be thankful for, believe me. :)
8. My new earphones to replace my just-broken-down iPod earphones. Goodbye white earphones, hello, black.
9. For the difficulties I’m experiencing right now, especially all the confusion and whatnot I wrote about yesterday. Yes, that is also a blessing. :)
10. I’ll stop here. Aha, this is kind of a late remembrance, but I’m blessed that our DSL is back since last week. Thank God. That’s 13 days of DSL outage.
    .

(More…)

1. Okay, the list mostly contained “moments” with my current crush, but that’s part of good things :P [«]