Crazy, Stupid, Love.

A while back, Jamie asked me why I don't blog much recently. I told her it's because I've been at home mostly and I haven't been doing much so I really don't have anything to write about. Feels a bit weird to say that, since in theory there'd be more time for me to blog since I'm unoccupied. But anyway, I am glad to say that today was a bit of a break from my usual routine.

Nins, Jomax and I went out to see Crazy, Stupid, Love. and it was really good. Yes it's hilarious and yes it has a gorgeous cast, but what's great is that everything works well even in the cheesiest moments. It's a light hearted movie but with notes of drama, just the right balance of both in my opinion. We all enjoyed the movie, and I mean everyone in the cinema. As if on cue, everyone would snicker (or laugh out loud) when a comical situation presents itself. Really awesome. I wouldn't mind seeing it again.

In Denial

Each time we go to Crave Burger, Jane and I feel like we can't finish our burgers because it's so big. But we do finish our burgers every time, and I think it does get easier each succeeding visit. I wonder why. :)

Tonight's inductee is Cindy. She didn't quite finish her burger but she only left parts of the buns so I guess that's as good as eating the better part of the burger. 

And as if we weren't full enough, BA, Jane and I dropped by Moon Leaf to grab some tea on our way home. If you've been to Moon Leaf, you know that their only serving size is at least 500 mL. Mwahaha. Overload. But I guess this food de-stressing of some sort has long been brewing. Everything's been so hectic and it's hard to really plan. 

I suddenly missed back when we were BS3/ BS4. We can just go to Banapple or Kopiroti when we feel like it. Now, we're just too occupied.

Jogging daw

My becky friends and I went jogging today! Hahaha. Not really. We got our adrenaline rush, or whatever, from dinner instead.

Friuli @ Maginhawa St

I was so famished by the time we got to Maginhawa, that I halved my tiramisu milk tea within the short distance we walked from Moon Leaf to Friuli. The drink Nins and Jamie ordered, lychee jasmine tea (ata) was good as well.

Gutom kung gutom.

Actually, we were all quite hungry that we barely talked while eating and I remembered to take pictures only by the time we were finishing what's left of two pizzas, two pastas and one order of mozzarella sticks.  

Of course, juiciness and kabecky-han ensued. 

A few people in the lab told me I was inexplicably happier than usual today, and maybe I am even with the ube jam high/ sugar rush. I was really looking forward to this jogging/dinner date, it probably showed. :)

Happy New Year!

Or as my Italian teacher would say, Buon Anno!

I am very thankful for my 2010. Family and friends made my days terrific, hilarious or just even bearable. I got to go to Singapore, and revel in their disciplined ways. I got to spend a loooong and super weekend with my bestest friends in Cebu. I got to sortof publish, and my adviser even upset me, last SPP. I got to try and go tugsh tugsh, though I wasn't present when Jane and Che got mega drunk and Tino and Andy really dared. Mwahaha. Lots to be really thankful for. :)

So cheers to 2011, and also to our extravagant neighbors who had tons of aerial fireworks therefore providing us with an awesome fireworks display on the 1st. :)

Tomorrow, it's back to school for me and I can't just *forget* the work ahead of me. I have to graduate!

Cebu 2010 Part 1

Jamie and I have been planning to go on a trip after graduation for a loooong time. Recently, plans got more serious especially with the addition of Nins, Jomax and Rainier into the trip. After so much research and drama, we finally got to go on a very much anticipated vacation!

We availed of PAL's seat sale a couple of months ago to go to the Queen City of the South. And thanks to a couple of helpful travel blogs, we planned how we were going to go about Cebu; explore the historic Cebu City and then bum around Bantayan Island in its pristine beaches. For this entry, I'll be introducing the fabulous people I got lost in Cebu with, because chronicling the trip is too lengthy and I'm too tired to do it right now. Hehe

Mga dakilang echosera, in no particular order:

Echoserang Dalagita

Echoserang Pa-Becky

Echoserang Toy Boat

Echoserang Mayor

Echoserang Maldita

Revisiting Nueva Vizcaya

I was running late. I agreed to meet Gil before four in the morning to catch the first bus to Nueva Vizcaya, but at that time I was still at home rinsing my face, I think. I hurried and went to the Baliwag terminal first because he said we had a lot of competition for seats at Victory Liner and maybe we had better chance sat Baliwag. But their first trip was at 7 am, hindi pwede, so I went to the Victory Liner terminal afterwards. Luckily we got into the next bus to Cagayan Valley at 5:30, in very good seats if I may add.

Vivian is a dear, dear friend from high school who just finished her Biology degree from UP Diliman. Being among the kindest souls on earth and a magna cum laude, she got accepted to the UP College of Medicine for this coming school year. We've known each for more than half a decade, and I have seen her bloom to the more beautiful and more edgy (who knew?) person she is today. Her party is the reason we got together this weekend.

By two in the afternoon we were at the 24/7 Inn and Resort. We had a lot of time before the celebration dinner, so we went around first. Frankly, the last time I was in Nueva Vizcaya was about three and a half years ago during Vielle's debut. Aside from Vivian's Karlo, I think I needed to take a look around as well. Familiar places were not so familiar anymore, a lot of things have changed: there were indigenous houses on display at the Capitol; our old boarding houses were improved; some eating haunts were still there, some have closed down; our old Pisay was empty because they moved to Masoc; Solano now has a McDo, and lots of other details that weren't there before.

Night time came, and it was time to party. Good thing I brought an extra blouse because there was an unwritten dress code, plus I think all the doctors from Nueva Vizcaya were there. There was a short program, but most of the time was spent on eating and chatting. Food and drinks were plenty and good, I don't think anybody left unsatisfied. The buko lychee pandan salad was the highlight, it was super yummy! After the main affair, we stayed up til morning playing cards: poker when we were still wired and silly games to sillier games as time elapsed.

I have never attended a reunion, official or otherwise, in Nueva Vizcaya. But it really feels good to spend time with old friends and revisit remarkable corners in the past. Seeing our old building reminded me of stipends, late slips, homeroom meetings and class pride. The streets of Bayombong reminded me how much I appreciate this little town, how everything was a few minutes' walk away and how safe it was there. It was a bit frustrating that some of the residents and nearer towns weren't able to attend the merriment, particularly Nins, Jomax and Ruby. Nins, I think everyone missed you. Jomax, I reckon I understand why. Ruby, I'll see you soon bitch. 

It was a long ride, no doubt. It was out of my way, completely. It was an awesome trip, absolutely. :)

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On an entirely different but equally significant matter, tomorrow is election day. Let us all exercise our right to vote, and vote conscientiously without any external influences. Let us all work together towards honest, peaceful and orderly elections. As the Potterhead in me would put it, "Constant vigilance!"

And finally, I bumped into Dr. Blanca at the resort we were staying at. I'm not sure but I'm guessing he's there on business. He looks healthier.

Absolutely Unforgettable

First week of summer classes is done and finally my friends and I got to go out. The first plan was to hold a double birthday celebration for Jomax and I, but in the end we decided to celebrate one at a time. First up was Jomax's, so we went to SM Mall of Asia to go ice skating! The four of us skated, while waiting (and doubting) for Rainier. In fairness, Rainier got to MOA just in time for dinner, which is a good thing even though he was several hours late. He's usually missing in action so the fact that he came is like winning in bingo.

Picture taken by Jethro, a skating buddy we found at the rink.

Being the newbs that we were, we struggled fo a while, some more than others diba Jamie? We skated slowly and close to the railings until we picked up enough confidence to skate more freely. There were lots of skaters, big and small and the because of this the ice got ugly quite easily. Each of us fell on the ice except for Nins; unfortunately, my one fall was the worst even with everybody else's combined. My left arm, particularly my elbow, ached and swelled. However, I didn't take it seriously until after dinner, when it was still throbbing after I put some ice.

Injured at MOA. Hehe

So our clinic, err, hospital hopping commenced. First, we went to the mall clinic where a couple of nurses attended to my swollen and aching elbow. They called in the cute in house nurse from the skating rink to log in my case and advise me on what to do. They gave me a cold pack and converted my jacket into a sling. They can only offer first aid, and they suggested I go to the nearest hospital, San Juan de Dios. I had no idea where that was, but one thing was clear: I needed to see a doctor.

I didn't really know which hospital to go to. I thought of St. Luke's but I think my case is too simple to make the long journey there, I decided to go to UP's infirmary instead. There we met a very nice doctor, I forgot his name, who unfortunately did not know what to do because he's a family/ community doctor. He gave me mefenamic acid for the pain, and a sling to better suit my condition. He told me to go to the nearest hospital with an x-ray machine, or better yet go directly to the Philippine Orthopedic Center; and so we went.

Sling, for reals.

Frankly, I was disheartened when I saw the POC. It was a public hospital and was really unkempt. I'm sorry but we're in a country where public hospitals are in a mess, so I had very low expectations. And so I was really surprised with the good service I got in the hospital. The procedure was efficient and the x-ray was quick. Bravo. Maybe because it was past 11 pm when we got there but I was impressed just the same. I was equally amused with the doctors and radiologists there as they were amused with how I got my injury. Sabi ko na nga ba sisikat ako sa dahilan ng pagkabagsak ko. 

It is such a relief that I did not break any bone, pull any muscle, or dislocate anything. Nabugbog lang daw ang siko ko. While this incident may have been severely unlucky, since it was my one fall that turned out to be quite serious, I still do not regret going ice skating. I had fun, I got to fool around after a week of Bio 11, and I got hang out with Rainier again who I missed dearly. Accidents happen, and when they do all anyone can do is to resolve it as best as he/ she can. I feel completely fortunate to have such great friends who went on a very unconventional night out with me. Thanks for laughing at me and taking care of me at the same time, winner talaga. I love you all, you are the best. :P

Spontaneity :)

I'm quite the planner. It's a bit kj, but sometimes I do trip over and do something impulsively fun. Like last night!

The original plan was to go out with Nins, Jamie and Jomax: watch Alice in Wonderland, go to Timezone, then bahala na. Jom had an org thing so the three of us watched Alice without him. He already saw the movie with his Ate, so it wasn't a big deal. After the movie, we had tons of time to kill before he arrives so we went around a bit, then went for some Red Mango frozen yogurt. I am astonished that Jamie and Nins haven't had froyo before. Everybody knows how I just adore Red Mango, it's the best froyo in town! I was so happy to introduce it to the two newbies. 

A watch and two earrings later, Jomax arrived. We had dinner at Bigoli. We all took advantage of the unlimited drinks and bread sticks that our orders come with, some more than others. Hahaha. We just had a long lunch four days earlier, but we chatted away like we didn't. There is just no happiness without good friends.

Off to Timezone. We played Pang Pang, hoops, and some more. I had to find a Guitar Hero machine, I've wanted to try other versions of the game. But we had to wait and pay in order to play, plus the guitar was absolutely heavy, so the kuripot in me had to ask, why don't we just play at home? Without any discussion, we decided to go to my house to play and have a sleepover. I am so grateful to my Tia who graciously accommodated us, even on such an impromptu whim. 

There is so much to love about spontaneity and I wish I had more of it. I find that I don't take risks too often and I don't go with the flow more voluntarily. But I think these make me enjoy the spontaneous stuff even more, because I don't get to experience them often. So to more spontaneity, cheers!