bee season

Visiting flowers can be a dangerous occupation.

That's what entomologists would say about the bee @ work. Like so to man.

This morning I woke up and realized how much of a bee I've turned into. My life so far has been this way.

Weekends are either for going to the supermarket or simply staying at home.

When at home, I relax by updating my mp3 collection, although this entails sitting in front of the pc (again!) and LimeWire-ing.

At this point, I feel that getting a new hobby will be good. Anything that doesn't involve the pc. Cross-out gardening. I only have a greenthumb when it comes to weeds.

As for Sundays that used to be "hanging out" with the "babies" in the garage, I'm completely out of it as of the moment. There's my dad who helps me out on this part. Still, I miss it. There's nothing like personally checking up the hood.

I haven't experienced IMAX. And to think that the MOA is only about 40 minutes from my place.

A gurl in the office invited me once to go the IMAX Theatre with her. Pinalagpas ko. Maybe she made it there with someone else. And to think she's from far San Pedro.

Anyway, the only "secured" quality time that I have for my family is...ahm...hmm...let me get back to you on this item.

Meanwhile, the gym beckons. Bummer. In the meantime, pumping iron at home is a quick resolution.

Business sms/calls come in anytime, anywhere. They invade personal moments like when brushing my teeth or peeing.

Eto medyo pathetic.

One time I was told by my special gurl of a grand mall sale. I said yes, but then completely forgot about it. When the weekend sale passed, I apologized and promised that I'd make it up next time. With all sincerity she said it's alright because, anyway, she knows how busy I am.

Right.

When even your loved ones are so used to your crappy sked that your absence has become acceptable, then that's disturbing.

On a lighter note, I didn't know who or what Kokey was until Monday.

And what's up with Heroes? I remember liking the show when it first started. Ngayon, di ko na alam ang istorya.

For 8 weeks, I sported anime-like hair until I finally found time to have a haircut over the weekend. Now I look like a schoolboy. Hopefully, it won't take another two months.

But this takes the cake.

At 3 am yesterday, I was waken up by a call. Because of very pressing matters, US clients arriving very soon, tekkies fixing the equipment and what not, I had to go to our Cubao office to...guess what?

Sign papers.

Wala pa nga akong dalang pen kahapon. Basta I was like this zombie who got up from bed, took a quick shower and drove to Cubao. After getting out of the car, I realized that I haven't combed my hair. Nakakahiya. Naka-park pa naman ako sa VIP area.

Siguro naman it's fine when I declare that I want to go on a vacation beyond the island of Luzon to avoid the monsoon. Almost everyday I read the ads of domestic airlines with cheap fares. It's so tempting to just book and disappear.

Unfortunately, even my timing of disappearance has to be convenient for both me and the office.

Don't get me wrong, though. Despite this observation and quasi-rant, I'm very happy with my job.

So is visiting flowers actually a dangerous occupation?

Any kinky bee would agree.

Time to buzz off.

* * *
kids should know that...

Bees have a long proboscis (a complex "tongue") that enables them to obtain the nectar from flowers. They have antennae almost universally made up of thirteen segments in males and twelve in females, as is typical for the superfamily. Bees all have two pairs of wings, the hind pair being the smaller of the two; in a very few species, one sex or caste has relatively short wings that make flight difficult or impossible, but none are wingless. (wikipedia)

rain in the city

Suspended po ang klase sa lahat ng antas sa Metro Manila!

A tropical typhoon won't only flood the streets of the cities but it can also make the distribution of power spotty.

Pauline, my little generalissimo at home is one of the first to complain about this. And she does it with, as her title suggests, authority.

She'd voice out: Patay-sindi! Patay-sindi and ilaw! Ililibing ko na ito!

One time, I overheard her talking to a customer rep of Meralco.

Hello. Ako yung tumawag kanina. Si Pauline. Jua. Di ba ikaw yung kausap ko kanina? (Pauses)
Ahhh. Kay (Cites homeowner info) ito. Kanina pa walang kuryente dito. Ano bang nangyari? Patay-sindi ang ilaw! (Pauses)
Ano? Rosary? Rosary street? (Talks to me.)
Malapit ba tayo sa rosary street? (Pauses.)
Ano? Rosal street? (Pauses)
Ano? Mother Earth Subdivision? Ano ba ung pinagsasabi mo? Di ko alam yung sinasabi mo! Malayo kami dun. Ibang planeta yan! Dito kami sa (Cites barangay, pauses).
O sige. Tanungin mo. (Pauses)
O, hello. Ano daw ang nangyari? (Pauses)
Ano? Imer-- Imerdyinsi layt trobol? Ano yun? (Pauses)
Ah...imerdyinsi layt trobol. Eh kelan ba magkakaron ng kuryente? (Pauses)
Ah. Eh kelan nga magkakaron ng kuryente? Alam mo magpaplantsa pa ako eh. (Pauses, I laugh in the background)
O sige ha. Tatawag ako uli pag wala pa ring kuryente.

* * *

I've never ridden a shuttle in the city (nor the MRT) to take me to work (or anywhere else for that matter) in the morning. So when I finally had the opportunity of observing what happens at a terminal, I found it fascinating that I just had to capture the whole thing on cam.

So there's a man in a blue shirt who is the barker and also the fare collector. Before the van leaves, its driver approaches the barker to remit the money.

A van as large as the one on cam will accomodate 17 people, excluding the driver. Meanwhile, a smaller vehicle (I think it's an L-3) can fit in 14 butts.

This is a ride going to Ayala. A single fare costs forty bucks.

You see? There are still things to learn even when classes have been suspended.

* * *

kids should know that...

The Thames Barrier is a flood control structure on the River Thames, constructed between 1974 and 1984 at Woolwich Reach, London. It is the world's second largest movable flood barrier. All the gates are hollow and made of steel up to 40mm thick. The gates fill with water when submerged and empty as they emerge from the river. The gates are normally left open to allow ships to pass through, but can be rotated and closed to stop water travelling up the Thames through London. (wikipedia)

test broadcast...

***

kids should know that...

The American Bulldog is a breed of working dog developed for catching livestock and for protecting property. The Standard American Bulldog does resemble the pit bull-type breeds on many points, such as being muscular dogs that can be all white or white with patches. However, the pit bull's head is in the shape of a wedge coming to a more rounded point at the muzzle, whereas an American Bulldog's is box-shaped. The American Bulldog's ears are also typically uncropped, and its head is heavier and a little bulkier. (wikipedia)

born

I become an adult today. Again.

Yesterday I renewed my driver's license. The whole process took me about 2 hours. But I spent more time in the drug test center than in the LTO counters.

I shouldn't have peed before going there for the drug test. Gawd. I had a tough time filling up the container for my urine sample. It was like undergoing water torture. I had to force myself to drink one bottle of mineral water and wait for half an hour to release it out of my system.

With me was a 61-year old man who underwent the same predicament. Fortunate for him, because of his age, he was asked to fill only half of it. I kidded him and said maybe it's a senior citizen discount.

Renewing my license means that it's my birth month. So, yes, today, I'm an adult again.

It's a happy factor that my brother and his family are staying with me temporarily. They've been occupying two rooms in the house and will be here for about a month. Their house is under renovation.

I opted to celebrate a birthday lunch at home instead of going out today because it's more private and convenient.

Right. That's the official press release.

Actually, work makes me want to stay home on a weekend. In short, nakakatamad lumabas.

To compensate for not treating the kids out, I had "happy meals" delivered - food that they want to eat heartily like for instance a barrel of KFC (leg and thigh parts only), a party tray of baked lasagna from Greenwich and choco mousse from Red Ribbon.

I didn't pay for the lasagna, by the way. The Greenwich rider delivered it 30 minutes late. And since the store has a guaranteed delivery time, any late delivery will be on them.

I've received lots and lots of greetings since Thursday. People at work just didn't know when to stop that I already felt embarassed.

One of the special greetings I got came from my 2nd mom (the actor). She made me speechless with this message:

Happy birthday my Beloved Angel. You are always in my heart. I miss you very much. You know where to find me. I love you forever.

Absolutely, I miss her more. It's a good thing that she's now relaxed about our relationship. She is less matampuhin. She understands that the only reason that keeps me from seeing her is my work. And not because I'm...well...as she may put it, denying her existence in my life.

(It's actually strange when I mention her as my 2nd mom when she IS my mother. It took us so many long journeys, many birthdays...)

Nga pala. Don't ask me about my wish.

I already have what I want. *winks*

***

kids should know that...

Birthday cakes have been a tradition dating back as far as the Middle Ages when the English would conceal symbolic items such as gold coins, rings and thimbles inside their cakes. Each item was associated with a prediction. For example, a person finding a gold coin in a birthday cake would supposedly become wealthy where a person discovering a thimble would never marry. (wikipedia)

arms folded behind the head

She's into old glam rock bands that don tights. This man's into Greenday and the like, the few that wear eyeliners.

When his taste shifts to R&B, she'd be polite for a minute or two with a hush until she speaks up and asks for alternative.

Wonder how they get along?

He'll easily let her be a brat to her heart's content. Fortunately, she can be sensitive and will, although oftentimes her realization has to be paired with his patience, apologize when she goes too far to make him "uncomfy" already.

It's crazy, even maddening when they begin to banter and it seems like he has the power to make her say,"I hate you," because those are simply her last words.

But it works for them.

They get along pretty good. Better each time.

SHE: Mahal na mahal kita hindi lang dahil sa mga bagay na ginagawa mo para sa akin pero dahil din sa kung ano ako dahil sa pagmamahal mo. Now go figure out what that means.

HE: Whew. Okay.

Five minutes later...

HE: Okay. I got it. Because life is short, I'd rather show how much I love you now in case I run out of tomorrows.

SHE: You are simply one of the most wonderful things I've got in my life now.

HE: You like loving me back?

SHE: Very much. It's not just loving you back. I actually like you as a person. I like being around you. It's not just because I love you but being around you is light and happy.

HE: (Smiles) Now that's gonna shut me up.

SHE: Done fishing? (Laughs) I really truly like and love you. After all, I did consent to be your girlfriend in spite of all the tears, right?

HE: (Nods) I don't fish as much as you do. Your still the Fish. (Chuckles)

SHE: You can't after all beat the master!

HE: Okay. You're basking.

SHE: In your love? Most definitely.

They weren't this cool before. Not for a major long time.

He's not even sure what or how it happened but, somewhere around the bend, he stopped being scared and just let go.

She noticed the changes, too. This morning, she told him she couldn't believe how much he's been loving her these past days.

He's been loving her all this time but he didn't realize that it mattered a great deal to be a little bit more showy and still maintain genuine about everything.

And he's doing it now, instead of procrastinating.

* * *

kids should know that...

The tense-afraid type of procrastinator usually feels overwhelmed with pressure, unrealistic about time, uncertain about goals and many other negative feelings. Feeling that they lack the ability or focus to successfully complete their work, they tell themselves that they need to unwind and relax, that it's better to take it easy for the afternoon, for example, and start afresh in the morning. Usually have grandiose plans rather than being realistic. Their 'relaxing' is often temporary and ineffective, and leads to even more stress as time runs out, deadlines approach and the person feels increasingly guilty and apprehensive. This behavior becomes a cycle of failure and delay, as plans and goals are put off, penciled into the following day or week in the diary again and again. (wikipedia)

behind the examination light

I've been under the weather for nine days now. My doctor said I have bacterial infection of my sinuses. One of my meds is a downer. I hate taking it because I end up sleeping almost the entire day. And if I try to fight it off, I become lethargic. When I'm a bit awake, I catch up on my sms, which average about a dozen everytime I open my inbox. And how many of those do I send a reply? Barely one.

I went back to work last Friday, against the advise of my doctor, of course. I had to. Why? One, details are unnecessary for a workaholic. Two, I missed the office. Three, the office missed me too long. And lastly, a big change is happening soon that I really needed to show up.

I'll be overhauling my responsibilities at work two weeks from now. We have a new major client from Florida. I'm simply wrapping up my commitments with our LA-based client.

This also means that I'm relocating to Cubao very soon.

I still don't have a place to stay in the area. So, in the meantime, I'll be driving from south to north and back until either I get tired of bonding with my driver, Mang Leo, or everything falls into place.

* * *

Karl just took the UPCAT yesterday.

Shoot.

I'm terrified. I want him to pass it.

He has to pass it.

It's been a tradition in my clan that everybody passes the UPCAT. And I mean, everybody.

Karl is the unang apo. He represents the next generation.

He must be more terrified than I am we are. I know I was during my time.

* * *

kids should know that...

The UPCAT (pronounced "oop-cat") is considered to be one of the most competitive college entrance exams in the country. The five hour exam covers language proficiency, reading comprehension, mathematics, and science. UPCAT questions can be in English or Filipino. The UPCAT is usually held on a Saturday and Sunday in early August with two batches of examinations per day in the morning and in the afternoon. Close to 30,000 applicants take the UPCAT in UP Diliman alone. Because of this, and that the campus is open and connected to major public roads, heavy traffic is expected at this time of year. Food stalls and other tiangges set up shop everywhere around the Diliman campus, especially the Academic Oval, to take advantage of the numerous parents and guardians that accompany and wait for the applicants taking the test. (wikipedia)