RETURN OF THE QUIZZES

You are Stardust! You are whimsical, creative, and spirited. You might be seen as naive and foolhardy, which is a little true, but it can also be called bravery. Youre idealistic and people might think youre a little off because you talk about some strange things. You probably love nature, whether its you love animals, nature walks or just admiring it from afar. Youre a creative person and like to write short stories or poems and draw and paint. You have a sly, self-depreciating sense of humor and are a blast to be with because of your adventurous personality.


*~Which Neil Gaiman book are you?~*
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Which Member of the Endless Are You?

Which Annoying Two Towers Character are You?
By Lisa

I have seen the FULL TRAILER OF RETURN OF THE KING!!

And God, what a trailer. I love every scene, every panel, every pixel of it. I'm now rediscovering my obsession with LOTR. In the past weeks kasi, I think I got bored with it so I was in this "lie-low muna" stage. But now time to revisit Middle-earth. Hehe.

UPDATE: Here's the official trailer -- no subtitles and better quality than the bootleg copy. And here's the frame-by-frame analysis of the said trailer. Yay!

Sweets in Diets, Pwede Ba?

Why can't I be one of those people who don't like chocolates or any sweet foods for that matter?? Or-- or those people who can eat 6 burgers in one meal and not gain a pound?? I hate it when I have to think of what's good to eat, what not to eat, how many calories are there per serving, etc. Grrr. Whenever I [try to] diet, I always end up feeling cheated and not to mention, bloated. And after that, I tend to eat more than what's healthy for me. Just last week, my appetite has skyrocketed to proportions I never thought possible. Especially for sweet foods. I felt so depressed and repressed at the same time: for wanting those damn sweets and for the fact that I know I shouldn't indulge myself. sigh. Anyway this week, I'm trying this trick I know I should have done before: whenever I crave for sweet nothings, I'm going to eat fruits. I hope my craving for sweets will somehow be appeased. I hope too that I'll be able to stick to it for a loooong time.

My friend's lomohome has been chosen as Lomohome of the day at lomography.com. CONGRATULATIONS!!! She is this super lomoadik, so obsessed with lomography that sometimes it's scaring me. Hehe biro lang. Actually I think I might jump in the bandwagon and get me some lomographic goodies, specifically this Pop9 cam. The fact that it's yellow may have accounted for my desire to get one. Plus, it's so sleek and [seems] handy that it appealed to my taste. I already searched for a store where I could [hopefully] buy one. It turns out there's only one store here in Illinois and it's in Chicago. I hope I could go there ASAP. I want this cam!!!

Fall 2003

Today's the start of a new season: autumn. This, I have to say, is my favorite. I don't know why. I guess it has something to do with colors associated with it: shades of brown, dark red, and orange. Feels homey and cozy. Besides it's the season between two horrific ones, winter and summer. Those two are really horrible. I can't imagine how I survived them. Ah fall, here I come.

Responsibilities

Wow it's been a while since I last truly blogged. It's such a welcome change to not to blog for more than a week. Sometimes I have this feeling of being crowded, to get away from my responsibilities. Even though blogging is therapy for most people, sometimes I see it as a responsibility. Ah well it's just me, I guess.

BTW I got my student's visa last Saturday. We've been waiting for this for almost half a year now. And now that it's here, the inevitability of not going home is sinking in. Yeah I still see it that way. I know I shouldn't but a part of me can't help it. And for the rest of me? Well I'm excited. I get to experience studying the American way. Not to mention, a lot of opportunities to re-discover and re-invent myself. Besides at this point, I don't see any other choice but to go on with the plans that have been laid out before me. When the time comes, I know I'll be the one who'll help my family get accustomed to American living. My siblings will need my help in starting life anew. Like I told my friend, this isn't all about me anymore. I have my family to think about. But before I can help them, I have to help myself first. I have to stand up first on my own before I can guide my sister and brother (and my parents as well). I know that now. Ngayon ko lang na-realize kung bakit ako nauna, kung bakit ako nandito. Maybe to start life anew. Maybe to learn humility. Maybe to find strength in all the things I see here. Maybe to discover my faith in the Lord. Maybe to fly. Maybe lahat ng ito. I've been so wrapped up in my problems before that I didn't stop and think about what this (moving here and all) may mean. And now that I have a purpose, all I have to do is to hold onto it.

Can't resist posting this picture. How cute can one kitten get eh?

I want to blog right now but I'm still on hiatus. There are still a lot to add to my fall layout. I just hope it'll be ready by Sept 21. I hope my readers will like it. Heehee.

Chicago, Chicago

As an opening sequence, I'm supposed to post a picture of the train station and some sights along the way. But since my pencam decided to go bonkers on me, sorry ako (at kayo). Anyway let me just post some of the notes (and thoughts) I jotted down whilst walking along Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago.

9:02 I'm on my way to Skokie Swift. I'm almost there! *kaba*

9:05 Uh how do I do this again?! (inserting the transit card thingie)

9:10 Here comes the train (This is the train that will take me to Howard -- from which I'm going to board another train towards downtown Chicago)! I'm really doing it. I'm going to Chicago by myself. Me and me alone. God help me.

9:25 *change of train -- my destination is about an hour from here, almost 20 stops*

10:00 *arrives at Washington Avenue* Whew! I did it. First phase is done. Ok now where do I go again?!

10:05 *at the Philippine Consul* Uh-oh have to go back again. Misspelled word. Uy more time to explore. But first have to call tita to let her know about the change of plans.

10:30 *picture-picture*

11:10 This a friggin' city but I can't find a friggin' phone booth!

11:15 *enters the Art Institue of Chicago* Yes a phone booth! *inserts coins and dials* Uh-oh it won't accept my coins. What to do, what to do? Ah phonecard. But where?!

11:45 *hingal* There's Osco Drug. Do you have a phonecard miss? Give me the cheapest you have. *walks back to the art institute*

12:10 Finally placed a call to my tita. Trip extended for 2 more hours. Yipeee! Time to explore.

BTW this area is named the "Magnificent Mile." It was coined by Arthur Rubloff for the grand stretch of office towers, stores, and residential buildings on North Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Oak Street Beach.

2:40 Ow my foot. Ow my tummy.

2:45 Seattle's Best Coffee!! Ah the memories. *buys coffee and sandwich for take out*

3:00 Going home now.

... And a goodbye shot from the station. (That's the only pic I have of this trip.)

*Photos courtesy of this site and this site unless otherwise noted. (Blasted pencam)

A Few Moments with Myself in Chicago

I had a wonderful time today in downtown Chicago (or so I thought). Will be posting a detailed entry later about my adventures, complete with mishaps and miscues. But right now, I just have to rant because I'm totally pissed off. No, no, no it has nothing to do with the trip. My trip was fine -- more than fine. It was a wonderful, exhilarating break from the harsh reality of being a professional bum. Let's just say I almost banged my camera on the window of the train I'm riding on. Hmm, actually no, not really. What I REALLY wanted to do was place that blasted pencam right in the middle of the train tracks. Why?! Well let's just say I DON'T friggin' have any pictures right now of my Chicago trip. Oh, I took pictures, don't worry -- a LOT of pictures, around 20 or so. There are pictures of the crowd, of the skycrapers, of old and new buildings, of the marina, even the blasted pigeons. Where are they? Well that's the problem. I don't know. I friggin' don't know how or why it happened, but when I turned on my pencam this one last time for a goodbye shot of the station, (guess what?) there are NO pictures. None, nada, nothing, zilch, wala. Don't ask me, don't ask my hands. For certain, I didn't do it. I hope.

Kakainis talaga. Bwiset.

I am not a professional photographer. Far from it. But I deserve to have my pictures. You deserve to see them. I want you to see them -- even the blasted pigeons. I want to share with you the things I saw with my own eyes, the moments I captured using my pencam. And I want to see them too. The memories are not enough. I want to see proof of it -- that I went to Chicago on my own (that I really did it, me who's so geographically challenged, who's so afraid of almost everything), that I saw these wonderful miracles, even the blasted pigeons. But I guess it's just wasn't meant to be.

Oh well, it's a good thing I took down notes. Later, watch out for another entry of my Chicago trip.

Being a Sweets Addict

I'm a chocolate addict. No wait, make that a junkfood/sweets/chocolate addict. A moment in your mouth, an hour in the stomach, a lifetime in the thighs -- anything that fits this description, you can be sure that I love it. Haay sarap. It is my absolute weakness and whatever way I try to quench this addiction, it comes to me a hundred-fold so in the end I just have to give in. Sigh.

One day my cousin told me "Hey Ate L--, did you know that one Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut has calories equal to that of about 6-7 bacon strips?" And I was like "Now you tell me?!"

A Tiring Day in Chicago

We went to Chicago earlier today. Had some papers that needed to be translated and notarized ASAP so we decided to go to the Philippine Consulate General in Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. Unfortunately, my aunt doesn't want to drive there. She's afraid of the traffic, of the irate taxi drivers, of the pedestrians in that certain area of the city. After this afternoon, I don't blame her. It's like Manila, only it's a bit cleaner. Anyway like I was saying, we went to the Philippine Consulate for the notarization of my papers. My aunt doesn't want to drive all the way to downtown Chicago so we decided to take the train. That's fine by me. I've always wanted to ride in a train ever since I got here. And guess what? I finally told my aunt about my pencam -- so I could take pictures without any guilt whatsoever! Haha. But idiotic me, I forgot to load my pencam with fresh batteries! Of all the rotten luck. Sigh. Anyway, yun nga. When we arrived at the office, the first thing I saw was a poster of GMA's face! I know a lot of you would laugh, but I felt almost relieved to see it. So anyway, there we were asking for a translation and notarization of my papers but alas! It costs $25 -- per document, per process. Wow. Needless to say, we just opted for the translation of my diploma. We will just have to find a cheaper price for the notarization ek-ek.

After that bit of an errand, we then decided to roam around the city for a while instead of heading straight back home. And wow! It seems the city has changed since I last went here. Or maybe not. It looked and felt different for a start. Or maybe it's just me. For the first time, I'm just amazed by it all. I'm such a city girl. I won't be posting anything about it though. You just have to wait for the pictures. Hehe. They're worth a thousand (or more) words anyway.

Oh and btw, I will have to go back by Wednesday, to pick up the translation from the Consulate. I asked my aunt if I can go by myself. I really want to. It's such an adventure going to Chicago -- and all by myself for that matter if I can manage to convince my aunt! This time, I would bring a LOT of spare batteries.

Messy Me

I baked 8 batches of Amish Cinnamon bread yesterday. And that picture up there is proof that I'm such a mess when it comes to cooking. But heck, they're yummy!

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Aside from Catcher in the Rye, I think this is my first take on reading a non-scifi/fantasy material; and so far I'm on Chapter 5. And you know what, I started it last week. Not that it's boring; far from it. It keeps you glued to your seat from start to finish (from what I heard and read). But heck, whenever I'm reading it, I can't sit still. The author describes the scenes so vividly I wanted to be part of Susie's world and rip the killer apart with my bare hands. And when I'm through thinking of ways in making the killer pay for what he did, I cry my eyes out 'til I can't see what I'm reading. That's why I'm still on Chapter 5. It's a one-day-one-chapter book for me. Pain in my chest, tears in my eyes, watery discharge from my nose (sipon) -- some signs I watch out when reading these types of books. Sigh. Now I know why I tend to read fantasy/sci-fi materials. At least I don't cry as much when I'm reading them.

Tinatamad akong magpost. Pero eto post pa rin. I'm just so happy because a long-lost friend emailed me today (and a lengthy one at that). We haven't talked in a long while, like more than a year I think. But we were able to talk on the phone last week, nung birthday ko. Medyo nagtampo nga ko kasi ba naman, pinag-usapan namin love life nya. Hello!! Paki ko ba sa love life mo!! And I thought you called me because it's my birthday!! Weird. Anyway, after our chat, I decided to email her and to update her with what's going on in my life. For days, I waited for her reply. I thought either she's too busy or she's just not interested in keeping our friendship. Buti na lang she emailed; kung nde magtatampo talaga ako.

The hunt for the plagiarist of the year is still on. Many people have joined the cause, including me. As a reader and as a blogger, we should be informed about this issue, not only to look for each other's backs (and blogs) but to also protect what's rightfully ours. At first, I really was being apathetic towards this plagiarism thing. I mean, I just couldn't care less if she steals my posts or anything like that. My initial reaction was "So who cares?" Yeah I was that indifferent. But then I visited three of her victims and I felt so bad for them. They painstakingly wrote (or typed) and edited their posts just to offer something new to their readers, to the blogging community and yet they were brazenly cheated. It just didn't feel right that I was reading their posts on someone else's site without the necessary credits. It's just... WRONG. Anyway certain people have taken action towards resolving this incident (and eradicating the plagiarist, I should say hehe). Kudos to them! Visit their site for more information towards the "Bring Keiko Down" campaign. Remember if you're not part of a solution, then you're part of the problem. Now where did I get that?!

On a side note (not that I'm a war freak or anything) I'm just kind of exhilarated (for lack of a better word) about this incident. My belligerent side is somehow satisfied. Even my friend is hungry for more news about this. He's got a crush on Keiko methinks. Haha.

*****

A friend of mine asked me why am I so disturbed about getting older. Actually I don't. Really. As a matter of fact, I would wish to have the insights of a thirty- or even a forty-year old (yun lang ha). From my POV, it seems that everything in my life is going in the wrong direction -- hmm make that in one direction, down the drain. It's either caused by my decisions... or the lack of it. Plus the fact that I'm not going anywhere in life and yet I'm friggin' 23 irks me to no end. It's just not fair. I want to move on and do something but I don't know how. Or maybe I do. I'm just too impatient.

*****

Oh yeah before I forget, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO!

'Round the Blogging World

Something's been happening to the blogging community recently. Well to a select few anyway. There's a plagiarist on the loose and she's making a lot of bloggers angry (to name a few). I recently visited these sites, taking their accusations with a grain of salt. But lo! They were right. It's plagiarism all right. She copied most of these bloggers' posts and passed them off as her own. I bet, it must have been a shock to the original bloggers. It's just so weird though. They are your experiences, your feelings, your whole life that you're writing about but then all of a sudden, you received the news that you've been plagiarized. It's just.... weird. Not to mention pathetic. I wonder what her reasons are for doing such things.

My friend asked me "O baka na-plagiarize ka na rin?" Well I guess it's ok. She can use all the words (and punctuation marks) I wrote for all I care. They're just words anyway. What she can't take is the knowledge I gained from those experiences. She can't take that away from me. Besides all I blog about is Lord of the Rings. I don't think she'll be interested enough to copy that.

BTW as of this writing, the bloggers are cooking up something for her. *shudder* She got herself some enemies, I should say.

--------------

One of my blogmates posted this yesterday:

Today, I’ve realized that I’m ready to stop clinging to my life here as I know it and start looking forward to the life I’ll be living in the near future. I’m ready to stop thinking of the things I’ll be missing, and instead think of the things I wouldn’t have access to here.

It hit right at home. I already know this. I know I should listen and do this too but a huge part of me won't let go. I just hope I would be able to accept the fact ASAP so I could move on with my life, so I could see what i've been missing and taking for granted all these months. I have to realize this before it's too late.

little child, be not afraid

though rain pounds harshly against the glass

like an unwanted stranger, there is no danger

I am here tonight

little child, be not afraid

though thunder explodes and lightning flash

illuminates your tear-stained face

I am here tonight

and someday you'll know

that nature is so

the same rain that draws you near me

falls on rivers and land

on forests and sand

makes the beautiful world that you'll see

in the morning

little child, be not afraid

though storm clouds mask your beloved moon

and its candlelight beams, still keep pleasant dreams

I am here tonight

little child, be not afraid

though wind makes creatures of our trees

and their branches to hands, they're not real, understand

and I am here tonight

for you know, once even I was a

little child, and I was afraid

but a gentle someone always came

to dry all my tears, trade sweet sleep for fears

and to give a kiss goodnight

well now I am grown

and these years have shown

that rain's a part of how life goes

but it's dark and it's late

so I'll hold you and wait

'til your frightened eyes do close

and I hope that you'll know...

everything's fine in the morning

the rain'll be gone in the morning

but I'll still be here in the morning

-- Lullabye for a Stormy Night, Vienna Teng

Download here. It touched me as much as Our Lady Peace's Life did. Such poignant songs, reminding us never to give up. I know I won't.