Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Award! Awards! (Bow)

For the first time since grade school (where I won an award at a poster-making contest), I won an award, courtesy of Ipanema, Thinking Blogger par excellence (almost hall-of-famer). She has graciously bestowed me with the

(your obligatory applause please....ahem)


I’ve been told by friends that I think a lot—and they do not mean it in a positive way (read: over-analysis of everything). So its nice for someone to look at my thinking in a positive light. I guess that is what blogging does to people who would otherwise need P500 per hour sessions with shrinks!

So I’m supposed to award 5 bloggers with this same award. Honestly, not an easy task since each one of those in my blogroll are great thinkers and have triggered me to think further about a variety of issues—ranging from the serious (world issues, social issues, etc.) to the not-so-serious but important (shopping tips, standards for mr. right, etc.).

But anyway, here goes!

Beng (When I need to calm down and think happy thoughts, I visit her!)

Verns (Yes, dear, you get me thinking funny and weird thoughts!)

Single Guy (I vicariously “vent” through you!)

AnnaManila (Who couldn’t learn from one who has so much to offer at this point in her life?)

Kathy (Mother/Filipina Scientist in Japan—need I say more?)

I wish it was a list of 10!

Anyway, over to the 4 ladies and one single guy to pass on awards to five of their own choices!!

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Insanity


Albert Einstein once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Quite a number of organizations have actually adopted this as a corporate mantra. Some days I feel like I am in one...other days, I think we're only slightly neurotic (whew!). It all depends on the level of insanity thrown at me in meetings and the issues I hear.

There are times when I just want to throw in the towel and join another organization. But I've since realized that each organization has its own level of insanity. So why not stick to insanities that I'm used to and can do something about? Who knows, I might be able to contribute equally insane alternatives that just might help move the cart along? Like maybe triangular wheels?

Now to stop pushing and start fixing those wheels…

Friday, June 15, 2007

Better than Oprah!

Finally! After a week of letting these questions brew in my so-called brain, I have come up with satisfying (I think) answers. All I can say is, the following interviewers are better than Oprah because they let me speak my mind without interruptions of “Yes, that happened to me, too! blah blah blah..” as Oprah would’ve done. Not that you have a choice in this medium!

Annamanila asks:

1.You seemed to have said goodbye a lot. Describe a goodbye scene where you figured, (and doesn’t include moms, and the like) you find most memorable.

Wow, first question and you already pack quite a punch. Saying goodbye so frequently has somehow made it almost a perfunctory exercise for me…maybe unconsciously, this is for the sake of self-preservation. Ironically, the most memorable goodbye for me is when I said goodbye to my dad many years ago when I was leaving for a three year study in Singapore. It was going to be three straight years in Singapore as I didn’t plan to come home for vacations because of financial constraints. I go, “Pa, I’m leaving for the airport!” Pa peers at me over his reading glasses and grunted, “U-huh.” And goes back to his newspaper. Three years later, I come home and what do you know, I go over to my dad and go, “Pa, I’m back!” And he said, you guessed it, “U-huh.”

2. When the gypsy has settled down, stayed put, how does she plan to change her site to square with her more stable status?


I would want to settle somewhere in Davao where many of my friends. Hopefully a wee house just right for one person in a place not too urban (I would need a slower pace of life) and yet not to rural (I still need my internet access!!). I would probably do some writing and lots of reading and some entertaining (brewing coffee and cooking curry for friends!). I would still do some traveling of course, to satisfy my itchy feet. How on earth this becomes a reality, I have no idea..but it’s nice to dream!

3. Are arranged marriages no longer prevalent among lannangs (did i spell that right) in the Philippines? Has there been an attempt to arrange one for you? What is your take about this practice?

I have no idea if arranged marriages are still prevalent here! But I know "Kai Siaw" (where you are introduced to a potential spouse) is still a practice. Nobody has dared to attempt an arranged marriage on me—it would be waste of their time and resource…however, some have attempted introducing potentials to me—which ended up nowhere. This has been a “fruitful” practice for some but not for me, obviously…maybe I am too fixed in my ways and to mixed up to ever find somebody who is a good match!

4. You meet TK (sigh...) out of the blue and he tells you he is free to talk for 10 minutes with only you. What will you tell him? The he asks you for an instant souvenir from you. What will it be?

Oh, wow, may your wish for me come true!! I would probably display my scintillating personality to him (Har-Har Har) and bowl him over in 10 minutes…so much so that he would NOT be asking for an instant souvenir but would rather whisk me away to the altar! How’s that for a delusion!

5. How can you tell if you haven't had (enough) coffee?

Unlike the impression I tend to give to people, I’m not really a coffee addict—I just sometimes feel the need for a caffeine hit first thing in the morning. But if I can’t—it’s no skin off my nose (as some would say.)

Abaniko asks:

1. A month-long luxurious tour in Europe for you---all expenses paid. But right after the tour,you'll be jobless for 5 consecutive years. Deal?

Hmm….does jobless mean no pay? Then if that’s the case, then no deal..I think I would not trade a month-long luxurious tour of Europe if it means being without pay and without a sense of accomplishment—I am not very good and twiddling my fingers. I need something to do! Now if you switched the situation around and say, a 5 year luxurious tour and then jobless for a month—that’s another matter!

2. Which movie character do you strongly identify yourself with? Why?

Eowyn of Rohan. I loved her character as a loyal niece to King Theoden and remaining strong through the difficult times when the king’s mental/spiritual illness. I also loved her courage to go out and fight evil—and through all these she didn’t have to put aside her being a woman.

3. If there's a law in the blogosphere that limits your blogroll to only 3 blogs, which blogs would remain (exclude mine. You don't need to be nice. Hehe)?

Then I thank the Lord to high heavens there is no such law! Imagine if God would put as law that we can only have three friends in this whole wide weary world? Tsk, tsk.

4. Why do you love spicy food?
Because that extra kick livens up the dish! It’s also representative of how I prefer life to be. (Ahem).

5. Choose: a smart and caring husband who is a foot tall or an ugly and dumb husband who is of your height?

Hey, this is a no-brainer!! Of course I would choose the former one—since I am already short, I need someone to help me reach stuff that’s unreachable to me and navigate directions in a crowd. So it is primarily for practical reasons I choose the former one. *wink*

Verns asks:

1. If you are to make a music video of your life, what song will you use and what will be the theme?

I fell in love with Hawaiian singer IZ’s version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow/ What a Wonderful World. I love his use of the ukulele for its background. It’s sweet and melancholic and makes you think of the good things in life. For the theme, I think thatis it—the good things in life. There’s just too much problems that we are forced to dwell on aready so it’s good to insist on seeing life as half-full rather than half-empty.

2. Say you can change a movie's ending, what movie will it be and what will be your new ending?

The first movie that comes to mind is that really old Christopher Reeve-Jane Seymour movie “Somewhere in Time.” Even though I have seen it countless of times in the past, I still get all tragic whenever Chris Reeve reaches into his pocket and accidentally touches a coin from the future that would zap him back to the present and away from his true love’s arms. He tries to find his way back to the past but couldn’t and he eventually dies trying and see his lover in heaven. My ending would be that he does get back to the past and they live happily ever after—how simplistically happy is that!

3. Among the 4 main characters in the famous TV series Sex and the City, who's character is closest to your personality?

Hmm…I’m sorry but I’ve never really even seen a full episode of Sex and the City. But if it’s a movie character..see my answer to Abaniko’s second question! But who do YOU think comes closest to moi? I would like to know what YOU think, Verns. Hehe.

4. If you are a writer of a "what women want" book..what will be your top 10 on the list?

To be pursued.

To be wooed not only at the start but all through the relationship.

To spend quality time with girlfriends.

To be respected for our contribution to society, because of the contribution--not because we're “women.” (none of that affirmative action stuff).

To be allowed to enjoy pretty things without being misunderstood as shallow.

To be actively listened to (versus lending an obligatory ear).

To have solid platonic friendships with men without people speculating about the friendship.

To eat all the stuff we want without worrying about weight or health issues.

To look good without having to spend hours in front of the mirror!

To not have beauty measured according to appearance. (I guess this goes against the previous statement, but it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind, right?)

5. What is the best way to break up with a guy?

Gently but firmly. Hopefully you can still respect each other and keep the friendship without all the hang-ups.

================

Want to go through my brand of grand inquisition?!
Here are the rules:

1. Leave me a comment saying “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone
else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them
five questions.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

My House Guest

The first time I saw my tiny house guest was when I was coming out of the bathroom. The guest, probably thinking it was all alone, decided to flagrantly attack my trash can for left overs (too bad for him there is no such thing in my house!). Hearing the creaking sound of my bathroom door, it scuttled out of the trash can with amazing speed and hid behind the fridge. I only caught a glimpse of its small dark body but I could tell (with a chill running down my spine) that this was not of the 6-legged variety but was of the vermin family.

I soooo wish it was a cockroach. Some might think me crazy but I am a bona-fide, expert cockroach killer. Whether they’re flying or crawling, they are sitting ducks to my torpedo-slipper.

Now, a tiny mouse is totally another matter. I hate it with a passion but I'm also deathly afraid of it. The past two days saw us playing an uneasy game of hide-and-seek. Me sneaking around and looking right and left, afraid I might encounter it while crossing my kitchen…and, I’m sure, it is huddled in some dark corner, making sure not to make a sound and nervously chewing on its tail, scared of being caught.

Is there any other situation as stupid as this?!

Or maybe I should ask, “Who has more reason to be afraid?”

  1. Me, who has every right to be in this house since I pay rent.
  2. Me, who is gazillions times bigger than this vermin.
  3. Me, who’s brain (and therefore IQ) is much more superior than this half-witted vermin who, after two days, hasn’t gotten the drift that there is NO FOOD in this house he can get his dirty paws on.
  4. Mouse, who knows that house owner is a giant compared to him.
  5. Mouse, who has no weapons to protect itself.
  6. Mouse, who obviously has not contributed to the payment of rent or utilities.

If only common sense can cast out fear...

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Household Remedies (Ahem)

The following is not because I have become domesticated in any way, as you'll see, if you read carefully:

1. If you are choking on an ice cube, simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. Presto! The blockage will instantly remove itself.

2. Avoid cutting yourself slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold while you chop.

3. Avoid arguments with the Mrs. about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.

4. For high blood pressure sufferers: simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure in your veins. Remember to use a timer.

5. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives-- then you will be afraid to cough.

7. You only need two tools in life: WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

8. Remember: Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

PS. I do not take credit for these clever tips (I wish I could!) Got this from a good friend who knows better than to try these at home!

Friday, June 01, 2007

Why I Blog

Mon tagged me a while back and after much in-depth soul-searching and tapping on the subliminal part of my grey matter, I came up with these reasons…

  1. Baring Private Thoughts Publicly.

As an extrovert, I feel better putting my thoughts out there and having people giving feedback on them rather than keeping a private journal and feel like I am talking to a wall. Of course there are still some things I would never dare blog about-especially as I have inadvertently spilled to certain friends I have a blog, thus making this blog less than anonymous…

  1. The Bliss of Being in A Blog Community.

I enjoy being part of a blog community. This is an unexpected thing for me. When I started blogging, the only reason I had was the above one. I didn’t expect to become part of a fun, unique and caring community of people who not only share some of my thoughts and concerns, but enjoy (and share) my idiosyncrasies!

  1. Dishing Out Corn

I get to “talk” about stuff I feel corny verbalizing. There are things that are better read than heard. Many times these “better-read-than-heard” thoughts and feelings bubble up inside me and I find the need to express them. The thing is, I find verbalizing some of them “corny.” Its easier for me to write them down for people to read, and as you read them in the safe cyber-distance, at least I can’t see the “this-is-so-corny” look on the readers' faces—and because my cyber community I am in has been a great accepting community, I know I am safe to share my corny thoughts without fear of persecution (or prosecution).

  1. Serving Up A Bit of Blessing

Outside of myself, I hope that what I share can bless people. I want to share some of the corny stuff that might possibly stir somebody’s heart out there. To comfort where solace is needed, to inspire where inspiration is needed, to humor where laughs are needed. There’s too much grief around already, I find no need to contribute to it (except for the occasional rant I need to get out of my system) but if I can help in someway to provide some cheer, that is what I hope to do when I blog (this fourth entry also helps me sets parameters for myself—to commit me to keep a positive attitude and not allow the “Mr. Hyde” in me take over too much).

  1. Polishing My Prose & Prepositions

To hone my writing. This is where I practice writing better since I really love putting words together—not just the art of it but also the skill of it. This is where I experiment with my vocabulary and prepositions, showcase my sometimes-sorry-attempts at picturesque prose and poetry (only one lonely entry on this one). And if I did get my tenses wrong and my prepositions mixed up, be gracious in “editing” me!!

Whew! I never thought I could come up with reasons. See? That’s why I love blogging, it forces me to use more of my so-called brain. So, thanks Mon, my bro, for tagging me on this (you should get your bebĂ© to blog, I would love to hear her thoughts)!