Bluuuuuuudgh

I'd like to thank Jane for introducing me to this video. Still can't get enough. :p

And oh, the 2011 Australian Open starts today, Jan 17! Too bad our new cable service does not include a channel that has coverage of the event. Live Scores it is.

UPDATE: Apparently Star Sports and ESPN HD has coverage. Last year, Star Sports didn't have AO coverage as far as I recall so I only watched in BallsTV.

Anong bagyo?

I honestly did not see this drinking session coming. In a blink I was at Cantina Katips with my groupmates Nicole, Andy, Elo (and Mabi) and our adviser, plus we also invited Ate Nic. Oh well. Spontaneity is cool. We had fun. Though maybe we had more fun if... Hahaha.

It didn't occur to me to take pictures until Sir Ganni and Nicole decided to have a contest and chug a glass of beer. Mwahaha. Nicole won, but Sir Ganni wasn't really competing. (Update: Nicole fell asleep the instant she hit a bed)

In photos: Sir Ganns, Nicole, Andy and Ate Nic 

Dear ol' adviser

What's more interesting is that Ate Ekkay and Sir Chris dropped by Cantina as well. That's one long table of physics geeks. :)

IRON BABY

I cannot not blog this. Super YouTube find!

Roland Garros Bets

Woosh. I don't actually play, but I call tennis my sport. After all, I do watch live matches in the wee hours of the morning. Hehehe

Of all the Grand Slams, I like Roland Garros best. For one thing it's in France, which among the four is the one richest in culture and history as I'd like to think. Another is that clay is a novel surface, not the usual hard court. And lastly, it's quite easy to watch live French Open matches here in the Philippines, with a time difference of only six hours.

The draws for this year have been laid down yesterday. I hear that the women's draw has very interesting match ups even early on, in the first round. I'm not a fan of the decibel wars particularly in the women's games, one of the reasons why I like watching men's games more. I like Maria and I admire Serena but I just think that it's a big distraction to grunt that much. I am glad that former World No. 1 Justine Henin is back on tour, a non-grunter if I may add. I kinda think she's the female Roger Federer: very refined and composed, and hits effortlessly. That and for so many reasons, I'd like to see Henin win the title this year. If not, perhaps Ana? 

Now, I prefer Rafa over Roger especially on clay. I know that Federer is the best, I do not contest that. The man is The One, I don't think he ever got injured! Rafa is his biggest threat, the only person who can actually beat the king, and that is perhaps the main thing that I like about him. This is probably the same reason why I like Agassi over Sampras, aside from the fact that I find Agassi super cool. Last year was such a disappointment and the finals between Federer and Soderling was so anti-climactic. I hope this year Rafa and Roger meet in the finals again, however tricky Roger's draw may be.

As of this posting, it is a day before the slam starts. Allez!

Roger and Rafa in the RG 2006 final.

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Photos from Wiki Commons.

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.

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!