It is tough to be a superheroine.
Check this out.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
IT IS FINALLY COMING!
See proof here.
See proof here.
| Directed by | |||
| Christophe Gans | |||
| Writing credits (in alphabetical order) | ||
| Roger Avary | ||
| Nicolas Boukhrief | story | |
| Christophe Gans | story | |
| Roger Roberts | ||
| Radha Mitchell | .... | Rose |
| Laurie Holden | .... | Cybil Bennet |
| Sean Bean | .... | Christopher |
| Deborah Kara Unger | .... | Dahlia Gillespie |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | ||
| Tanya Allen | .... | Alessa Gillespie |
| Christopher Britton | .... | Adam (as Chris Britton) |
| Kim Coates | .... | Officer Gucci |
| Jodelle Ferland | .... | Sharon |
| Alice Krige | .... | Cristabella |
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Back when I was still studying in Don Bosco Makati, I used to take this school bus/jeep every morning. Back then, I was a snotty little snobbish kid who had all these insecurity problems and tended to be afraid of anyone from a higher batch (after having been beaten up before). So you can imagine my surprise when I learned an old higher batch guy from those years turned up and happens to be a friend of my Panda bear Isha herself!
Meet, Evil Eye. Evil Eye was one of them upper batch kids whom I used to cower from, expecting to be beaten up to a pulp for being different. I recall him as one of them kids who used to break hearts and make the girls from those other schools squeal when our bus would drive by theirs. Turns out, the guy's still my neighbor in the South and has been into comic books for the longest of times too. I guess had I not been deathly afraid of anyone a batch higher than me, we could have hit it off as good friends that early.
So, here's to great comics, buddy!
Back when I was still studying in Don Bosco Makati, I used to take this school bus/jeep every morning. Back then, I was a snotty little snobbish kid who had all these insecurity problems and tended to be afraid of anyone from a higher batch (after having been beaten up before). So you can imagine my surprise when I learned an old higher batch guy from those years turned up and happens to be a friend of my Panda bear Isha herself!
Meet, Evil Eye. Evil Eye was one of them upper batch kids whom I used to cower from, expecting to be beaten up to a pulp for being different. I recall him as one of them kids who used to break hearts and make the girls from those other schools squeal when our bus would drive by theirs. Turns out, the guy's still my neighbor in the South and has been into comic books for the longest of times too. I guess had I not been deathly afraid of anyone a batch higher than me, we could have hit it off as good friends that early.
So, here's to great comics, buddy!
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
I owe you guys a story or an article today.
Couldn't come up with a good one. Just reposting an old one instead:
Handling Debates
by Tobie Abad
March 21, 2001
Storyteller: "The Camarilla needs to be forged. Unless we band together, the Kindred community will fall in the fires of the Inquistion," the Toreador declared with a heavy heart. Sighing, he scans the crowd for a face reflecting agreement and focuses on yours. What do you do?
Player: Uh, I rise and begin to state that I agree with him.
Storyteller: What do you say?
Player: Can I just agree with him?
* * *
In a storytelling game, verbal warfare is one of the most interesting and engaging moments. To hell with massive fight scenes, soft-core porn moments and duex ex machina... having a verbal battle with either a Non Playing Character (NPC) or a fellow player truly engages one into the mood of the game.
Sadly, being an eloquent speaker is not a common trait. And even worse, a large number of gamers tend to be shy when it comes to "public speaking."
Let's face it; at one point in time or another, we've all had players who have given their character a high (if not, to say the least, above average) rating in Charisma or Manipulation and yet fail to represent it well in their roleplaying. And we all know how much worse it gets when the very traits are necessary in a scene to be represented.
So how does one deal with this?
Here are some suggestions:
1 - Stick to the rolls
Its the worst thing, but a story has to go on, right? Let's assume that your player really just CAN'T do it and isn't willing to keep trying the whole night. Don't let the game suffer! After all, both you and the very player will simply feel bad about it in the long run. Not to mention this could grow into a hurdle for the player for many games to come. And we all know the stupidity of forcing an issue to the point of losing a player we want to keep.
Just ask what the player wants to say in general, have him roll, and based on the successes, handle the delivery for him.
This is obviously the last thing you should resort to. But trust me, there are times, its for the best.
2 - Offer suggestions on the fly
The best way to do this is to be an NPC who is trying to help out. Use lines like, "I agree with him..." or "Like he was trying to express without saying..." lead the player on with indirect suggestions. After all, the rating do show that the character MUST be a good speaker. Even if it doesn't show in the game, try to keep the feel.
You can also offer suggestions directly, but in a game, I'd prefer you use small cards with the suggestion written in private than verbal ones. This allows the player to gauge the statement and spice it with his own words. It also avoids the syndrome of Parrot Talking, where the player simply repeats what the Storyteller says.
Last of all, this encourages the player bit by bit to start speaking better... and trust me, in the long run, you'd be surprised if this player learns to handle it on his own in the future.
3 - FUDGE!
So the player speaks. Its horrible. And instead, the NPC agrees. Why? Because of behind-the-scenes things.
This can be the most difficult to pull off. But trust me, the benefits it grants to the player (ranging from EGO boosts, to additional plot threads forming) is astounding.
Have the player roleplay it still, but have the dice dictate.
Take this example (continuing from above):
Storyteller: What say you?
Player: Uh, can I just agree with him?
Storyteller: Say it in character. Roll as well.
[Player rolls appropriate dice. It succeeded.]
Player: Okay, uh.. here it goes, "I think you say it well. Thats all."
Storyteller: The Toreador slowly smiles and gives a bow. With a start, the cainite rises and leaves the podium. Moving through the crowd, the Toreador rushes to leave the room.
Player: What happened?
Storyteller: Before you could move, a Nosferatu touches your shoulder and whispers, "Good move there, mate. You practically told him you're on to him. How you figured he was plotting against you and trapping you into speaking against the masses was a miracle, I must say. I guess its true what they about to you."
End example.
It takes a terrible amount of tweaking, and at times can prove to be very difficult to pull off. But successfully, I tell you, to do so successfully truly outweighs the effort.
4 - PRESETTING THE PLAYER
You plan to stage a major debate between the player's character and some elder who loves philosophy?
Get the player to do some homework. Even better, drag him with you to watch some movies that touch on the feel of the debate. These can range from movies like Much Ado About Nothing, to MATRIX.
While watching, tell the player to keep focus on certain key scenes, and to use them as inspiration during the game.
If you work it out well, allow the player to use "cliche" things and lines, so long as they are at least a step better than "Can I just roll?"
Hopefully, those suggestions help you people out in your games. Just keep in mind this little rule which many storytellers, myself included use.
When it comes to stats, a Player great and a character not too great requires a roll. A Player not too great with a character not too great can be non-dice oriented. Make the judgement call based on the actual roleplaying. A Player really bad at something with a character who is the epitome of perfection in that field... well, unless you're willing to face the consequences, its better to ask the player to adjust the stats.
After all, players might have EXPERT ratings in stuff like Occult and Science but not be capable of portraying it perfectly... and that's easily fudged through rolls. But if the trait in question is a social one, expect to bleed a little.
Nikki Alfar
Tobie Abad
Gabby Lee
Andre Mischa Cleofe
Cathy delos Santos
Couldn't come up with a good one. Just reposting an old one instead:
Handling Debates
by Tobie Abad
March 21, 2001
Storyteller: "The Camarilla needs to be forged. Unless we band together, the Kindred community will fall in the fires of the Inquistion," the Toreador declared with a heavy heart. Sighing, he scans the crowd for a face reflecting agreement and focuses on yours. What do you do?
Player: Uh, I rise and begin to state that I agree with him.
Storyteller: What do you say?
Player: Can I just agree with him?
* * *
In a storytelling game, verbal warfare is one of the most interesting and engaging moments. To hell with massive fight scenes, soft-core porn moments and duex ex machina... having a verbal battle with either a Non Playing Character (NPC) or a fellow player truly engages one into the mood of the game.
Sadly, being an eloquent speaker is not a common trait. And even worse, a large number of gamers tend to be shy when it comes to "public speaking."
Let's face it; at one point in time or another, we've all had players who have given their character a high (if not, to say the least, above average) rating in Charisma or Manipulation and yet fail to represent it well in their roleplaying. And we all know how much worse it gets when the very traits are necessary in a scene to be represented.
So how does one deal with this?
Here are some suggestions:
1 - Stick to the rolls
Its the worst thing, but a story has to go on, right? Let's assume that your player really just CAN'T do it and isn't willing to keep trying the whole night. Don't let the game suffer! After all, both you and the very player will simply feel bad about it in the long run. Not to mention this could grow into a hurdle for the player for many games to come. And we all know the stupidity of forcing an issue to the point of losing a player we want to keep.
Just ask what the player wants to say in general, have him roll, and based on the successes, handle the delivery for him.
This is obviously the last thing you should resort to. But trust me, there are times, its for the best.
2 - Offer suggestions on the fly
The best way to do this is to be an NPC who is trying to help out. Use lines like, "I agree with him..." or "Like he was trying to express without saying..." lead the player on with indirect suggestions. After all, the rating do show that the character MUST be a good speaker. Even if it doesn't show in the game, try to keep the feel.
You can also offer suggestions directly, but in a game, I'd prefer you use small cards with the suggestion written in private than verbal ones. This allows the player to gauge the statement and spice it with his own words. It also avoids the syndrome of Parrot Talking, where the player simply repeats what the Storyteller says.
Last of all, this encourages the player bit by bit to start speaking better... and trust me, in the long run, you'd be surprised if this player learns to handle it on his own in the future.
3 - FUDGE!
So the player speaks. Its horrible. And instead, the NPC agrees. Why? Because of behind-the-scenes things.
This can be the most difficult to pull off. But trust me, the benefits it grants to the player (ranging from EGO boosts, to additional plot threads forming) is astounding.
Have the player roleplay it still, but have the dice dictate.
Take this example (continuing from above):
Storyteller: What say you?
Player: Uh, can I just agree with him?
Storyteller: Say it in character. Roll as well.
[Player rolls appropriate dice. It succeeded.]
Player: Okay, uh.. here it goes, "I think you say it well. Thats all."
Storyteller: The Toreador slowly smiles and gives a bow. With a start, the cainite rises and leaves the podium. Moving through the crowd, the Toreador rushes to leave the room.
Player: What happened?
Storyteller: Before you could move, a Nosferatu touches your shoulder and whispers, "Good move there, mate. You practically told him you're on to him. How you figured he was plotting against you and trapping you into speaking against the masses was a miracle, I must say. I guess its true what they about to you."
End example.
It takes a terrible amount of tweaking, and at times can prove to be very difficult to pull off. But successfully, I tell you, to do so successfully truly outweighs the effort.
4 - PRESETTING THE PLAYER
You plan to stage a major debate between the player's character and some elder who loves philosophy?
Get the player to do some homework. Even better, drag him with you to watch some movies that touch on the feel of the debate. These can range from movies like Much Ado About Nothing, to MATRIX.
While watching, tell the player to keep focus on certain key scenes, and to use them as inspiration during the game.
If you work it out well, allow the player to use "cliche" things and lines, so long as they are at least a step better than "Can I just roll?"
Hopefully, those suggestions help you people out in your games. Just keep in mind this little rule which many storytellers, myself included use.
When it comes to stats, a Player great and a character not too great requires a roll. A Player not too great with a character not too great can be non-dice oriented. Make the judgement call based on the actual roleplaying. A Player really bad at something with a character who is the epitome of perfection in that field... well, unless you're willing to face the consequences, its better to ask the player to adjust the stats.
After all, players might have EXPERT ratings in stuff like Occult and Science but not be capable of portraying it perfectly... and that's easily fudged through rolls. But if the trait in question is a social one, expect to bleed a little.
Nikki Alfar
Tobie Abad
Gabby Lee
Andre Mischa Cleofe
Cathy delos Santos
WHAT IS EMBARASSING TODAY IS FUNNY SOME DAY IN THE FUTURE
Just wanted everyone else to be on the same level as we are.
Oh, and if you were one of those who thought or heard we were an item, know that it was a misunderstanding. We're just happy and extra sweet friends. :-) I care about Isha a lot and I have to admit, I do love her for every moment she makes me laugh and turns a gloomy, stressful day into a smiling happy one. But we're currently just friends, okie dokie!
I'm her mama. She's my panda bear.
And we're taking things one step at a time.
(Be it big ones or small ones...)
Just wanted everyone else to be on the same level as we are.
Oh, and if you were one of those who thought or heard we were an item, know that it was a misunderstanding. We're just happy and extra sweet friends. :-) I care about Isha a lot and I have to admit, I do love her for every moment she makes me laugh and turns a gloomy, stressful day into a smiling happy one. But we're currently just friends, okie dokie!I'm her mama. She's my panda bear.
And we're taking things one step at a time.
(Be it big ones or small ones...)
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
I MISS MY PANDA BEAR
Would you believe it? Two days. Its been merely two days that we haven't been able to meet up and I already miss her a lot. Both of us have been struggling over a tough Sunday and the stress and exhaustion is starting to pile up. Here's hoping everything bounces back to peachy keeness by breakfast tomorrow.
We might meet up for lunch tomorrow. I do hope so.
:-( I just wish I could afford to take her out to someplace nice
She deserves that after the way Monday treated her.
Babe, if you're reading this! I love you Isha!
Would you believe it? Two days. Its been merely two days that we haven't been able to meet up and I already miss her a lot. Both of us have been struggling over a tough Sunday and the stress and exhaustion is starting to pile up. Here's hoping everything bounces back to peachy keeness by breakfast tomorrow.
We might meet up for lunch tomorrow. I do hope so.
:-( I just wish I could afford to take her out to someplace nice
She deserves that after the way Monday treated her.
Babe, if you're reading this! I love you Isha!
HA HA! I KNEW IT! TOLD YOU SO, IBIL AY!
| Which Tim Burton character are you? Edward Bloom You're positive outlook is endearing, but your tales are far-fetched.
|
| Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests. |
FIRST, A TAG-QUIZ from Eroica
01. What is your favorite word (s)?
Thank you.
02. What is your least favorite word (s)?
Pasensya na....
03. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Creatively - the great works of others, or any intense emotion.
Spiritually - I feel it when I should.
Emotionally - Emotional truth.
04. What turns you off?
Dishonesty.
Selfishness.
Insensitivity.
05. What is your favorite curse word (s)?
Putcha!
06. What sound or noise do you love?
A human voice going wild and singing to the heart's content.
07. What sound or noise do you hate?
Bad Rap music.
Unnecessarily loud Heavy Metal.
Annoyingly translated-to-Filipino foreign songs and shows.
Antipatiko people.
Lies.
08. What profession(s) other than your own would you like to attempt?
Priesthood.
Psychiatrist.
Soldier.
Singer.
09. What profession would you not like to do?
Househelp.
Driver.
Union Leader.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
You really believed, didn't you. You believed more than most thought.
11. People I will tag:
Isha
Beth
Edzel
01. What is your favorite word (s)?
Thank you.
02. What is your least favorite word (s)?
Pasensya na....
03. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Creatively - the great works of others, or any intense emotion.
Spiritually - I feel it when I should.
Emotionally - Emotional truth.
04. What turns you off?
Dishonesty.
Selfishness.
Insensitivity.
05. What is your favorite curse word (s)?
Putcha!
06. What sound or noise do you love?
A human voice going wild and singing to the heart's content.
07. What sound or noise do you hate?
Bad Rap music.
Unnecessarily loud Heavy Metal.
Annoyingly translated-to-Filipino foreign songs and shows.
Antipatiko people.
Lies.
08. What profession(s) other than your own would you like to attempt?
Priesthood.
Psychiatrist.
Soldier.
Singer.
09. What profession would you not like to do?
Househelp.
Driver.
Union Leader.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
You really believed, didn't you. You believed more than most thought.
11. People I will tag:
Isha
Beth
Edzel
Monday, September 26, 2005
QUICK UPDATE
Was in the AEGIS Open Meet last weekend and ran an Exalted demo for two new role-playing gamers. Had another one shot game with the TROPA afterwards. Met up with the Ibil_Ay himself and chatted over fruitshakes and cigarettes about comics books and comic book writers. Then worked til 4 or 5 a.m. this morning uploading huge pictures to an error-prone server.
Woke up late and struggled to get to work and somehow find a chance to have lunch with my Panda Bear butfailed to make time work on my side. Regretfully had to call a raincheck on the lunch date and instead worked on a project whose material had to be revised twice before production even started.
And now, having lunch at my desk.
Have 1,000 pesos left to stretch til suweldo comes in.
That means I have 250 pesos per day til the money rolls in again.
Assuming I stick to using a cab to travel between work and my apartment (a choice I've embraced as part of reducing stress) that means, I spend approximately (rounded up) 80 pesos per ride. Which is 160 pesos per day.
That leaves me 90 pesos per day for whatever I need.
Which means: I might have to cancel any gimmicks with Isha this week, unless she's willing to just eat at our office cafeteria where the food is cheaper than one can imagine. I'm going to be skipping all gimmicks and eat-outs with my friends. Definitely not going to the spa anytime soon. And absolutely not going to be able to buy food or snacks for Seth or the apartment.
Gah. Mondays can be cruel.
Low pay-increases even more so.
Was in the AEGIS Open Meet last weekend and ran an Exalted demo for two new role-playing gamers. Had another one shot game with the TROPA afterwards. Met up with the Ibil_Ay himself and chatted over fruitshakes and cigarettes about comics books and comic book writers. Then worked til 4 or 5 a.m. this morning uploading huge pictures to an error-prone server.
Woke up late and struggled to get to work and somehow find a chance to have lunch with my Panda Bear butfailed to make time work on my side. Regretfully had to call a raincheck on the lunch date and instead worked on a project whose material had to be revised twice before production even started.
And now, having lunch at my desk.
Have 1,000 pesos left to stretch til suweldo comes in.
That means I have 250 pesos per day til the money rolls in again.
Assuming I stick to using a cab to travel between work and my apartment (a choice I've embraced as part of reducing stress) that means, I spend approximately (rounded up) 80 pesos per ride. Which is 160 pesos per day.
That leaves me 90 pesos per day for whatever I need.
Which means: I might have to cancel any gimmicks with Isha this week, unless she's willing to just eat at our office cafeteria where the food is cheaper than one can imagine. I'm going to be skipping all gimmicks and eat-outs with my friends. Definitely not going to the spa anytime soon. And absolutely not going to be able to buy food or snacks for Seth or the apartment.
Gah. Mondays can be cruel.
Low pay-increases even more so.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
ITS NOT HARD TO FALL...
Still a little bit of your taste in my mouth
Still a little bit of you laced with my doubt
Still a little hard to say what's going on
Still a little bit of your ghost your witness
Still a little BIT of your face I haven't kissed
You step a little closer EACH DAY
Still I can't SAY what's going on
Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to lie
Life taught me to die
So it's not hard to fall
When you float like a cannonball
Still a little bit of your song in my ear
Still a little bit of your words I long to hear
You step a little closer TO ME
So close that I can't see what's going on
Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to lie
Life taught me to die
So it's not hard to fall
When you float like a cannon
Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to cry
So come on courage!
Teach me to be shy
'Cause it's not hard to fall
And I don't WANNA scare her
It's not hard to fall
And I don't wanna lose
It's not hard to grow
When you know that you just don't know
[Cannonball, Damien Rice]
Friday, September 23, 2005
NGINIIIG SA U.P.
Panda bear Isha surprised me today by showing up in ABS-CBN with Passive-Agressive Gay-Basher John Boy in tow. Had a simple dinner ay Dayrits, followed by them patiently waiting for my work hours to finish.
Headed to U.P. Diliman to talk and hang and ended up by the softball field behind the Bahay ng mga Alumni to chat in the newly-cut grass. Ended up having a ball with my digital camera.
I don't feel so lost anymore.
Nope. I don't feel lost at all.
Panda bear Isha surprised me today by showing up in ABS-CBN with Passive-Agressive Gay-Basher John Boy in tow. Had a simple dinner ay Dayrits, followed by them patiently waiting for my work hours to finish.
Headed to U.P. Diliman to talk and hang and ended up by the softball field behind the Bahay ng mga Alumni to chat in the newly-cut grass. Ended up having a ball with my digital camera.
I don't feel so lost anymore.
Nope. I don't feel lost at all.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
ANTI-MUSH Isha: dude, pare, i hope we're not like syota na, cos that's, like sooper jologs, yeah
me: dude pare, of course we're hindi no... we're like... ano.. we're just like you know love team in the sine pero we're not mushy ha... we're just a little bit konti lang sweet ha.
Isha: yaaa Like super konti lang ha
me: I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Isha: love you too, tobie
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Vignette:MASTER, PEACE
She walks into the house, her hands tucked into her pockets, and ignores the stares that come from those nearby. She moves quickly, step after step, ignoring the scrutinizing gaze of the old man by the door. Or the three hag aunts who were darning a sweater beneath the shadow of the first awning. She held her gaze at the ground, a few paces ahead of her own feet, to allow her to judge her direction without having to see the world about her.
He quietly sat at by the window, the bright warm light of day caressing his skin. He stared at the canvass before him and studied the surface of half-spread paint with a focused gaze. He unconsciously nibbled on the end of his paintbrush; its wood was chipped and worn from his teeth's minstrations.
She crossed the hallway without a sound. Her lithe feet barely tracked the ground as she made her way towards the spiral staircase at the northern end of the house. She slid between the two young boys who busied themselves with the small pebbles they had collected the night before. She bowed respectfully as she moved past the matron who she knew owned the very tiles she was treading upon and the very walls that kept the cold from reaching her. All the while, she kept in her hands the small sack that contained the precious things she had vowed not to fail to bring for him.
He hated what he was seeing. He hated how the shades of tone were all wrong and bland. And most of all, he hated how the sunlight made each imperfection evident and cold. He slid the paintbrush away from his face and dropped it into the water jar that was swirling with half-colored water.
And he turned around to see her rising from the spiral staircase with a controlled smile on her face. She held her arms forward and waited patiently for him to take from her the carefully wrapped parcel that she had so cautiously brought with her.
"Spirit of turpentine... white vitriol... sugar of lead.."
She smiled at she watched him eagerly move the contents into a small mixing dish and prepared to ground them together with the pounds of white lead that he had hidden in the cabinet just nearby.
"And the oil is ready," he remarked as he worked the pestle well to mix them all into a fine powder before taking just the necessary amounts of the bubbling boiled oil to mix the powder into a bright white paste of paint.
She watched as he lifted his brush from the jar and swirled the white into his paintbrush. And with eager fascination, she watched as he applied the white with carefully planned strokes. Control. Craft. And Focus.
And she smiled.
For she was part of the creation of another masterpiece.
Even if no one would ever know she even existed.
Nikki Alfar
Tobie Abad
Gabby Lee
Andre Mischa Cleofe
Cathy delos Santos
She walks into the house, her hands tucked into her pockets, and ignores the stares that come from those nearby. She moves quickly, step after step, ignoring the scrutinizing gaze of the old man by the door. Or the three hag aunts who were darning a sweater beneath the shadow of the first awning. She held her gaze at the ground, a few paces ahead of her own feet, to allow her to judge her direction without having to see the world about her.
He quietly sat at by the window, the bright warm light of day caressing his skin. He stared at the canvass before him and studied the surface of half-spread paint with a focused gaze. He unconsciously nibbled on the end of his paintbrush; its wood was chipped and worn from his teeth's minstrations.
She crossed the hallway without a sound. Her lithe feet barely tracked the ground as she made her way towards the spiral staircase at the northern end of the house. She slid between the two young boys who busied themselves with the small pebbles they had collected the night before. She bowed respectfully as she moved past the matron who she knew owned the very tiles she was treading upon and the very walls that kept the cold from reaching her. All the while, she kept in her hands the small sack that contained the precious things she had vowed not to fail to bring for him.
He hated what he was seeing. He hated how the shades of tone were all wrong and bland. And most of all, he hated how the sunlight made each imperfection evident and cold. He slid the paintbrush away from his face and dropped it into the water jar that was swirling with half-colored water.
And he turned around to see her rising from the spiral staircase with a controlled smile on her face. She held her arms forward and waited patiently for him to take from her the carefully wrapped parcel that she had so cautiously brought with her.
"Spirit of turpentine... white vitriol... sugar of lead.."
She smiled at she watched him eagerly move the contents into a small mixing dish and prepared to ground them together with the pounds of white lead that he had hidden in the cabinet just nearby.
"And the oil is ready," he remarked as he worked the pestle well to mix them all into a fine powder before taking just the necessary amounts of the bubbling boiled oil to mix the powder into a bright white paste of paint.
She watched as he lifted his brush from the jar and swirled the white into his paintbrush. And with eager fascination, she watched as he applied the white with carefully planned strokes. Control. Craft. And Focus.
And she smiled.
For she was part of the creation of another masterpiece.
Even if no one would ever know she even existed.
Nikki Alfar
Tobie Abad
Gabby Lee
Andre Mischa Cleofe
Cathy delos Santos
CATCH UP: Last week Isha and I were supposed to meet up with my Mom and the family for a dinner celebration. But sadly, that day the rains were horrifically cruel (waist-deep in the South Super Highway I heard) and we were forced to instead eat at my office. The food was good, actually. I got some fish while Isha tried the filet mignon. We also had some queso de bola cheesecake after (i missed the free sliced bananas when the place was still owned by Murasaki). All in all, the day went well, considering the sad fact we weren't able to make it to my Mom's dinner.
I've taken the habit of getting some fortune cookies whenever I can afford some for me and Isha to share with others. This day was strangely special too when I opened my fortune cookie to find two inside mine.
I'm really happy Isha has gotten along with my officemates and friends. They enjoy her company a lot too.
I AM VERY HAPPY
Yes, I am. And I have no other words to explain it right now.
Other than saying, I am very very Happy.
Thank you, Isha, for making me this happy.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Friday, September 16, 2005
HULI KA!
I have found irrevocable proof that John Boy is straight.
Yun nga lang... in need of volunteers. Yes, John Boy is not into Bananas.. in or out of Pajamas... he prefers Oysters.
All intersted parties, please call me immediately. Mention time, date and number of positions proficient in.
(note: John Boy did not ask me to post this. In fact, if you notice me stop blogging for weeks... years... realise its probably him finally killing me for posting this. )
Tulog Na
Sugarfree
Sugarfree
Tulog na mahal ko
Hayaan na muna natin ang mundong ito
Lika na, tulog na tayo.
Tulog na mahal ko
Wag kang lumuha, malambot ang iyong kama
Saka na mamroblema
Chorus
Tulog na hayaan na muna natin sila
Mamaya, hndi ka na nila kaya pang saktan
Kung matulog, matulog ka na...
Tulog na mahal ko
Nandito lang akong bahala sa iyo
Sige na, tulog na muna
Tulog na, mahal ko
At baka bukas ngingiti ka sa wakas
At sabay nating harapin ang mundo
Repeat chorus hanggang makatulog ka
*Dedicated to Banana Isha by Fructoso with the assistance of Miguel Carlos Antonio Enrique. Inggit ako. Sarap tulog mo dearie.
STILL HERE
Sadly, was not able to finish all my work early enough. And a text message from my boss at 10:00p.m. informed me that there was more work beyond the TVGuide that had to be done. So here I am at 5:40 in the morning feeling a tad sentimental (egad..) and printing out the first half of two projects I have to tackle today. So here I am, waiting for a 800MB file to open (it does in approximately 8-12 minutes and takes almost 15 minutes to save), and to avoid going BANANAS (ha! I got to use the word again, Isha!!!!) I've decided to post a blog post.
By the way, this is my wallpaper at work now.
Sadly, was not able to finish all my work early enough. And a text message from my boss at 10:00p.m. informed me that there was more work beyond the TVGuide that had to be done. So here I am at 5:40 in the morning feeling a tad sentimental (egad..) and printing out the first half of two projects I have to tackle today. So here I am, waiting for a 800MB file to open (it does in approximately 8-12 minutes and takes almost 15 minutes to save), and to avoid going BANANAS (ha! I got to use the word again, Isha!!!!) I've decided to post a blog post.
By the way, this is my wallpaper at work now.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
DELAYED BROADCASTBeen having some tough times at work and in my personal life. The coming advent of having to move as well as the juggling act of work deadlines has been terribly taxing. They used to say at work "When it rains, it pours." For us, its more "When it rains, its a damn Tsunami!" Thankfully, Isha has been one powerful source of happiness and care. Bananas are yummy too.
Belated HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY to MAUI nga pala. Too bad he's outside Manila right now. Dude, when you're back, tell me. I'll treat you out to coffee or whatever, okie dokie?
Also, Belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to FORCE VECTOR who might not have a blog, but is still a great friend of mine. Hope you feel better soon buddy.
Any how, check out what else has been going on in my life!
Oh and if I disappear for a few days, weeks, hours or years... know it was most likely John Boy! Hahahaha!!!
Go get him, girls!
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
BANANA BALITA
I promised Isha that I should mention the word "Banana" in my next ten posts. Unfortunately, in writing my Tuesday Slinging Ink post, I totally forgot to do so. So to make up for that "banana slip up" I'm devoting one entire POST to bananas.
Here are some Banana-related trivia:
1) Alexander the Great supposedly discovered bananas in his conquest for India in 327 B.C.
2) Bananas are not grown from trees. Instead, banana trees are actually compacted, water-filled leaf stalks that can grow as high as 25 feet. They are the world's largest herb.
3) The earliest dessert recipe that has been found was that consisting of bananas, almonds and honey mushed into an interesting mixture.
4) There are more than 200 varieties of bananas in the world (which is strange considering it took Alexander the Great in his conquest for India to discover them!)
5) Bananas can act as a mild sleep enhancer. If you have trouble getting your kids to sleep, try having them eat a banana.
6) The longest Banana split ever made was 4.55 miles long.
7) To reach their destinations, bananas are carefully packed into “air-conditioned” refrigerated containers, transported by trucks and then loaded onto ships. Here in the comfortably cool environment, bananas make their voyage to their destination.
8) Hieroglyphs discovered in the Temple of Der-el-Bahri in Thebes, Egypt show several priests carrying bunches of bananas.
9) Banana clothing exists. The stalk of the banana plant can be processed to produce fibers that are then woven into a fabric that is similar to silk. People in China, the Soloman Islands and Malagasy wear “stylin” threads from this fabric. We Pinoys, of course, have our own too.
10) One variety of banana, the 'Ice Cream Banana', is BLUE. It turns yellow like other bananas when ripe, and has a taste like vanilla custard and a marshmallow texture.
11) ‘Red bananas’ are maroon to dark purple when ripe, and even the fruit inside can have a slight pinkish color.
12) The average banana contains .6 grams fat.
13) For PMS sufferers, Eat a banana. The vitamin B6 a banana contains helps regulate blood gluclose levels which can affect your mood.
14) Supposedly, if you have a wart, you can kill it by having a piece of banana skin on the wart (yellow side out) and have it fixed on with tape. I have no idea if it works.
15) Banana is the dietary food of choice against intestinal disorders because of its texture and smooth softness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in chronic cases. It can neutralize over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
16) Bananas can also help those hoping to give up smoking. The fruit actually helps in the body's recovery and nicotine withdrawal.
17) A banana supposedly can cure hangover if made into a milkshake. Best with honey, so it can also build up depleted blood sugar levels.
18) Bananas supposedly can also relieve heartburn, being a natural antacid.
19) The inside of banana skin can also relieve mosquito bites.
20) Snacking on bananas between meals helps avoid morning sickness.
*o yan, Isha.. I hope that makes up for the first post lacking the word Banana.
I promised Isha that I should mention the word "Banana" in my next ten posts. Unfortunately, in writing my Tuesday Slinging Ink post, I totally forgot to do so. So to make up for that "banana slip up" I'm devoting one entire POST to bananas.
Here are some Banana-related trivia:
1) Alexander the Great supposedly discovered bananas in his conquest for India in 327 B.C.
2) Bananas are not grown from trees. Instead, banana trees are actually compacted, water-filled leaf stalks that can grow as high as 25 feet. They are the world's largest herb.
3) The earliest dessert recipe that has been found was that consisting of bananas, almonds and honey mushed into an interesting mixture.
4) There are more than 200 varieties of bananas in the world (which is strange considering it took Alexander the Great in his conquest for India to discover them!)
5) Bananas can act as a mild sleep enhancer. If you have trouble getting your kids to sleep, try having them eat a banana.
6) The longest Banana split ever made was 4.55 miles long.
7) To reach their destinations, bananas are carefully packed into “air-conditioned” refrigerated containers, transported by trucks and then loaded onto ships. Here in the comfortably cool environment, bananas make their voyage to their destination.
8) Hieroglyphs discovered in the Temple of Der-el-Bahri in Thebes, Egypt show several priests carrying bunches of bananas.
9) Banana clothing exists. The stalk of the banana plant can be processed to produce fibers that are then woven into a fabric that is similar to silk. People in China, the Soloman Islands and Malagasy wear “stylin” threads from this fabric. We Pinoys, of course, have our own too.
10) One variety of banana, the 'Ice Cream Banana', is BLUE. It turns yellow like other bananas when ripe, and has a taste like vanilla custard and a marshmallow texture.
11) ‘Red bananas’ are maroon to dark purple when ripe, and even the fruit inside can have a slight pinkish color.
12) The average banana contains .6 grams fat.
13) For PMS sufferers, Eat a banana. The vitamin B6 a banana contains helps regulate blood gluclose levels which can affect your mood.
14) Supposedly, if you have a wart, you can kill it by having a piece of banana skin on the wart (yellow side out) and have it fixed on with tape. I have no idea if it works.
15) Banana is the dietary food of choice against intestinal disorders because of its texture and smooth softness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in chronic cases. It can neutralize over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.
16) Bananas can also help those hoping to give up smoking. The fruit actually helps in the body's recovery and nicotine withdrawal.
17) A banana supposedly can cure hangover if made into a milkshake. Best with honey, so it can also build up depleted blood sugar levels.
18) Bananas supposedly can also relieve heartburn, being a natural antacid.
19) The inside of banana skin can also relieve mosquito bites.
20) Snacking on bananas between meals helps avoid morning sickness.
*o yan, Isha.. I hope that makes up for the first post lacking the word Banana.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
THE DANGER OF WORDS
They have been there ever since, but very few ever realised they were there. They have been used countless times with very few people realising what has been happening. Fat chance you knew about this before reading it in my blog. Slim chance you've never heard about it though, if you like reading a lot.
And yes, I just used an example of them in the earlier paragraph.
There are many words out there which strangely are easy to comprehend in more than one way, and yet do not often cause confusion to erupt unless read with the scrutiny that comes with being armed with the awareness of this phenomenon.
Take for instance this example:
"She noticed a tear on the paper and wondered who removed the upper-right corner of the dedication page."
and compare it to
"He slid his hand across her cheek, wiping away the tear that had precariously clung to her eyelashes."
The word in question is TEAR.
When written, how exactly does one know if it was meant to be read as TARE or TEER? When verbally spoken, the distinctions are not hard to make. But when written down, the distinction becomes an unconscious game of contextual clues.
A few more examples:
"The wound was bleeding terribly. Jody grabbed her extra sock and wound it over the open gash."
"The hobo could not refuse the refuse offered to him."
"The object she held in her hand was something her husband did not feel comfortable with. Each time she would try to bring it with them to bed, he would object."
"The dove dove down towards the buffet table ready to buffet the first sweet morsel it could find to the ground."
Fun eh? They're spelled the same way, yet pronounced with some differences and have very largely different meanings.
But if you think that's strange and bad, realise that there's an even more interesting word twist that occurs that few notice. There are words that actually mean contradictory meanings!
Take for instance:
"She clipped her hair with the scissors she found, then clipped what was left with the small blue plastic butterfly she loved to wear."
Clipped meant both to "remove" and to "attach"
"The detective dusted the place for fingerprints, worried that the criminal dusted the place well before leaving."
Dusted means both to "remove dust" and to "apply dust to an area"
"The speedster ran fast towards the opponent and entangled him with the length of rope he had in his hands. The villain, helf fast to the lightpost, surrendered quietly."
Fast can mean both quick and incapable of motion.
Funny how words can be like that, eh?
And frightening how there are groups and individuals out there who read things and take everything in verbatim, word for word... without being aware that even if something has retained 100% of its meaning and intent after countless revisions, translations, and rewriting, the very words that have been retained might actually mean something else or mean something absolutely contrary in the way they were intended to be used.
Nikki Alfar
Tobie Abad
Gabby Lee
Andre Mischa Cleofe
Cathy delos Santos
They have been there ever since, but very few ever realised they were there. They have been used countless times with very few people realising what has been happening. Fat chance you knew about this before reading it in my blog. Slim chance you've never heard about it though, if you like reading a lot.
And yes, I just used an example of them in the earlier paragraph.
There are many words out there which strangely are easy to comprehend in more than one way, and yet do not often cause confusion to erupt unless read with the scrutiny that comes with being armed with the awareness of this phenomenon.
Take for instance this example:
"She noticed a tear on the paper and wondered who removed the upper-right corner of the dedication page."
and compare it to
"He slid his hand across her cheek, wiping away the tear that had precariously clung to her eyelashes."
The word in question is TEAR.
When written, how exactly does one know if it was meant to be read as TARE or TEER? When verbally spoken, the distinctions are not hard to make. But when written down, the distinction becomes an unconscious game of contextual clues.
A few more examples:
"The wound was bleeding terribly. Jody grabbed her extra sock and wound it over the open gash."
"The hobo could not refuse the refuse offered to him."
"The object she held in her hand was something her husband did not feel comfortable with. Each time she would try to bring it with them to bed, he would object."
"The dove dove down towards the buffet table ready to buffet the first sweet morsel it could find to the ground."
Fun eh? They're spelled the same way, yet pronounced with some differences and have very largely different meanings.
But if you think that's strange and bad, realise that there's an even more interesting word twist that occurs that few notice. There are words that actually mean contradictory meanings!
Take for instance:
"She clipped her hair with the scissors she found, then clipped what was left with the small blue plastic butterfly she loved to wear."
Clipped meant both to "remove" and to "attach"
"The detective dusted the place for fingerprints, worried that the criminal dusted the place well before leaving."
Dusted means both to "remove dust" and to "apply dust to an area"
"The speedster ran fast towards the opponent and entangled him with the length of rope he had in his hands. The villain, helf fast to the lightpost, surrendered quietly."
Fast can mean both quick and incapable of motion.
Funny how words can be like that, eh?
And frightening how there are groups and individuals out there who read things and take everything in verbatim, word for word... without being aware that even if something has retained 100% of its meaning and intent after countless revisions, translations, and rewriting, the very words that have been retained might actually mean something else or mean something absolutely contrary in the way they were intended to be used.
Nikki Alfar
Tobie Abad
Gabby Lee
Andre Mischa Cleofe
Cathy delos Santos
Monday, September 12, 2005
UPDATES AND THOUGHTS
PANDA's CAN BE NOCTURNAL TOO
Met up with Isha last night for dinner. We met up at ABS-CBN and from there, spent some time at Starbucks talking about her brother, my old Don Bosco Technical Institute yearbooks, her bandaged arm, the police, music, tributes and me having many look-alikes. Saw Joross Gamboa (someone some people claim I look like. Me and Isha don't think so) and Geoff Eigermann ( Sorry Sam, left my camera last night) while we were there.
Afterwards, we headed to U.P. Diliman to pass by the Emergency Room to have Isha's arm checked. Had a close encounter with a dog, and took a short joy ride around the campus looking at the black belts with big sticks, the buildings that were eeriely empty and the night street lights. Headed back to her dorm and waited by the rode for a taxi for me to take to head back home.
All in all, a wonderful night.
PANDA's CAN BE NOCTURNAL TOO
Met up with Isha last night for dinner. We met up at ABS-CBN and from there, spent some time at Starbucks talking about her brother, my old Don Bosco Technical Institute yearbooks, her bandaged arm, the police, music, tributes and me having many look-alikes. Saw Joross Gamboa (someone some people claim I look like. Me and Isha don't think so) and Geoff Eigermann ( Sorry Sam, left my camera last night) while we were there.
Afterwards, we headed to U.P. Diliman to pass by the Emergency Room to have Isha's arm checked. Had a close encounter with a dog, and took a short joy ride around the campus looking at the black belts with big sticks, the buildings that were eeriely empty and the night street lights. Headed back to her dorm and waited by the rode for a taxi for me to take to head back home.
All in all, a wonderful night.
WHERE DID THE CUTE WORMS GO?
When I was young, I used to recall these tiny weird centepede-like worms we called Sing Sing Pari (or was it Sing Sing Hari). They were small thin brownish-yellow critters that would roll up into balls to protect themselves when touched or harassed with barbeque sticks. The creeps stank too, when crushed (uh... yeah). The thing was, they used to be around in like... frightening armies! I remember how I used to think they were the inspiration for them Gorgons (Ohmu) in Nausicaa (Warriors of the Valley of Wind) considering their mass quantities and how they'd move in "herds".
Nowadays, I don't see them anymore. Instead, I see all these kinds of centepedes now with their yellowish back segments and their frightening solo journeys which tend to have others in their own solo trails not too far away. I can't help but wonder if that was some form of evolution happening just as our feet, or if they've been wiped out by the competition. Or maybe, they've the same little sing sing pari... now mutated into gigantic monsters.
Strangely, I've rarely seen normal ants too.
Most of the time, I see them antiks all around nowadays.
Hmm...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, MOM!
It is my Mom's Birthday. And without her, I would have never been part of this world. Without her, I would have never grown up to be the person I am today. Without her, I would never have learned what it means to love, to accept, to help, to care for, to listen, to understand and to be loved.
Happy Birthday to you, Mom!
We love you!
It is my Mom's Birthday. And without her, I would have never been part of this world. Without her, I would have never grown up to be the person I am today. Without her, I would never have learned what it means to love, to accept, to help, to care for, to listen, to understand and to be loved.
Happy Birthday to you, Mom!
We love you!
Saturday, September 10, 2005
BREAKFAST AND CAMERA HIJINKSWas hanging with the Panda, Isha, again. Had an early day so we opted to grab some breakfast in the famous eatery called Rodics. Isha wanted to have fun with the digital camera however (probably misses her own, hint hint...)
So, we had some fun going around and taking pictures left and right. I know the captions don't really do them pictures justice (and I am certain Isha will have her own spiels when she get's her copies of the images for her blog). Still, wanted to share them cause they definitely added another touch of laughter to my weird mood swings as of the late.
Strangely, Isha finds my Adam's apple weird. I guess considering mine protrudes more than most people's (i would like to think of it as a personal beauty mark! hahahah!)... could have been worse I guess! :-P
Oh, and to those who didn't quite get the last image, do read Isha's blog to understand. Hehhehe...
JOHN BOY FINALLY FEATURED IN THE BLOG
After a few complaints from the Angryman himself,
I decided to finally deal with it and make sure John Boy appears in my blog.Frankly, though, its actually the SECOND time.
Not too long ago (see here), John Boy actually was already featured in my blog (with his ex... este... former Malate co-member, Mike) but I guess after the recent surge of image-supported posts in my blog, medyo nainggit ang lolo.
Or maybe he just wanted an updated pic in here (of course, I would take the liberty of choosing the LEAST flattering image of my friend, for his own safety of course. Medyo trolling grounds ng stalkers ang aking backyard for quite some time now.)
Oh, and yes, girls, he's straight-as-a-board.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
BADMINTON 4 - GETTING MORE CONFIDENT NOW!
Played really well today. Won only 1 of the 4 games I was in, but damn, I played with much more confidence and aggressiveness in my mind. I learned to trust more my abilities. And I was more keen as to which ones were my current weaknesses.
I learned how to approach some of the key moves better, and began to get a better understanding of how to really swing that darn racket. I tell you, all those years of playing Tennis... this really changes your approach.
Saw some cute people, but then again, they served more as a distraction than anything during the game (which my officemates were more than happy to remind me). Of course, since i had the camera, I was the one cursing them with pictures to make their game go bad (seemingly this always happens to whomever I point the camera too, even without clicking it).
Of course, karma reared its ugly head in the locker room. Clicked myself while trying to get it into the bag with my sticky sweaty fingers. The picture came out too good (so being a sport, I decided to post it here.) Gah....
A pity though that neither Joey nor Isha were able to join the game today. It would have been even more fun if they could.
p.s.
When Isha passed by to join me for lunch yesterday, she gave me a tube of Liquid Neutrogena to use to clean my face. After she heard the horror story of me using 70% isophrophyl alcohol once every two weeks to clean my pores, she commented on how my pores were open and dug the tube out of her bag. I have to say I was never a fan of facial products (barring the theater make-up I used to wear during my thespian years, or the rare times i use this facial mask I bought to help some friend's racket), so here's hoping I actually use it correctly.
Will let you know if there's been any improvement. :-) Thanks again, Isha!
LUNCH AT CAFE OZMeet up with the Panda-rous Isha today. Since I had very little time for lunch (work was rearing its stressful head again) we decided to eat at Cafe OZ which was close enough to her dorm. Had an interesting dish which I can't remember but was definitely yummy and all that. Isha, on the other hand, had a carbonara. The highlight, though, were the really good fruit shakes (strawberry for me, mango for Ish) and the darn delicious and not-too-sweet apple crumble cake.
You see, unlike most apple crumble cakes, this one was really good with real apple bits. I recalled how McDonalds used to have sayote in their apple pies. Those were eeeugh... But going back, the cake was so rich and good that I just had to stop myself from eating too much (medyo malaki na tiyan ko, no!)
But one thing is for certain, had it not been for this breather from work, I'd probably be in a much more foul mood. Despite the rain and the traffic, hanging out with Isha really helps make me feel happy about the day again.
I dunno. Maybe its cause she just knows how to make me smile.
With or without tickling me.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
PUSHING THROUGH THIS WEEKEND
Its going to be a double-gamer this weekend:
6:00p.m. - 12:00midnight
Giovanni Chronicles continues as the Children of the Conspiracy of Isaac find themselves in Transylvania to bear witness to one of the greatest moments in Cainite history, the coming of Vlad Tepes.
12:00midnight - 8:00a.m.
Orpheus: The Comedy is Over moves forward with two earth-shattering revelations that will change the way they see themselves... and their enemy.
Its going to be a double-gamer this weekend:
6:00p.m. - 12:00midnight
Giovanni Chronicles continues as the Children of the Conspiracy of Isaac find themselves in Transylvania to bear witness to one of the greatest moments in Cainite history, the coming of Vlad Tepes.
12:00midnight - 8:00a.m.
Orpheus: The Comedy is Over moves forward with two earth-shattering revelations that will change the way they see themselves... and their enemy.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
COULDN'T SLEEP AGAINWith a feeling under-the-weather Seth having to be checked on every now and then, I decided to try to check on him and grab some shut eye between hours. But then, I realised, the shut eye option was impossible. Pandabear Isha and Daddyhunk Ken2ts kept me company through the wee hours of the morning. Both kept me occupied with interesting chats (with Hearthrob Heartbreaker Ibil_Ay, Hamz (Isha's cousin) and others), discussions on music, sex, neopets, kayla, nakedness, wounds, and (in Isha's case) a set of challenging literati games. Had a few songs playing on loop as I plunged through the night/day unable to feel a hint of sleepiness cross over me.
Sadly, Yahoo! Messenger opted to die just as Isha was win the third game. Logged back online and started a fourth one which was one head-to-head battle of words and scores. By the time we were nearly done with our fourth game, the sun was rising even as the rain poured down strong and cold against the world outside.
Isha "The Lost Panda" and Ken2ts "Too hot to wear anything but Boxers"I anticipated a heavy day at work later, not to mention a majorly rushed project which was due later this afternoon. Staying awake would be a problem. Part of me was thankful though that I was in the mindset to go to work, to say the least.
Here's to a better Tuesday, eh?
THIS COMING WEEKEND
It's going to be an Orpheus weekend this coming Saturday, but with Sam having a trip out of the country in the next two weeks I was wondering if the gaming group would be willing to split this Saturday into two games:
6:00p.m. - 12:00 midnight = Giovanni Chronicles
12:01 - onwards = Orpheus
So that we get to move Giovanni (which has been two weeks delayed now) forwards before Sam leaves for his vacation trip? Hope to hear from my players.
FEELING MUCH BETTER
I guess I can say that. Things are less in the air and all that but yeah, I am feeling much better in many ways.
A.E.G.I.S. OPEN MEET THIS 24TH
Going to most likely be running another one-shot demo there. Hoping Seth, Elaine, Isha, Joey, Marianne, Jen, Tenzil and a host of others can make it. It will be held in Waltermart, Makati (in front of Don Bosco Technical Institute).
It's going to be an Orpheus weekend this coming Saturday, but with Sam having a trip out of the country in the next two weeks I was wondering if the gaming group would be willing to split this Saturday into two games:
6:00p.m. - 12:00 midnight = Giovanni Chronicles
12:01 - onwards = Orpheus
So that we get to move Giovanni (which has been two weeks delayed now) forwards before Sam leaves for his vacation trip? Hope to hear from my players.
FEELING MUCH BETTER
I guess I can say that. Things are less in the air and all that but yeah, I am feeling much better in many ways.
A.E.G.I.S. OPEN MEET THIS 24TH
Going to most likely be running another one-shot demo there. Hoping Seth, Elaine, Isha, Joey, Marianne, Jen, Tenzil and a host of others can make it. It will be held in Waltermart, Makati (in front of Don Bosco Technical Institute).
Monday, September 05, 2005
If you go away on this summer's day,
Then you might as well take the sun away
All the birds that flew in the summer sky
When our love was new and our hearts were high
When the day was young and the nights were long
And the moon stood still for the night bird's song
If you go away, if you go away, if you go away.
Then you might as well take the sun away
All the birds that flew in the summer sky
When our love was new and our hearts were high
When the day was young and the nights were long
And the moon stood still for the night bird's song
If you go away, if you go away, if you go away.
But if you stay, I'll make you a day
Like no day has been, or will be again
We'll sail on the sun, we'll ride on the rain
And talk to the trees and worship the wind
But if you go, I'll understand
Leave me just enough love to fill up my hand
If you go away, if you go away, if you go away.
If you go away, as I know you will
You must tell the world to stop turning
Till you return again, if you ever do,
For what good is love without loving you?
Can I tell you now, as you turn to go
I'll be dying slowly till the next hello
If you go away, if you go away, if you go away.
But if you stay, I'll make you a night
Like no night has been, or will be again
I'll sail on your smile, I'll ride on your touch
I'll talk to your eyes that I love so much
But if you go, I won't cry
Though the good is gone from the word goodbye
If you go away, if you go away, if you go away.
If you go away, as I know you must
There is nothing left in this world to trust
Just an empty room, full of empty space
Like the empty look I see on your face
I'd have been the shadow of your shadow
If you might have kept me by your side
If you go away, if you go away, if you go away.
------------------
Emiliana Torrini 
IF YOU GO AWAY
For those who are wondering, Emiliana Torrini is the singer who provided for the closing song for Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Golum's song). With haunting melodies, wonderfully emotionally-raw vocals and an approach to words that remains truthfully bare yet poetically whimsical, Emiliana Torrini is one very underrated musician with a world of creativity to offer.
ITS FUNNY HOW...
... a place can grow on you. How a building which was built for the sole purpose of making money by offering it to people who needed a place to stay in would suddenly be a home, a house or a sanctuary to another person. And its funny how one feels all these things the moment its time to move on.
Going to miss this place.
Keep you posted.
... a place can grow on you. How a building which was built for the sole purpose of making money by offering it to people who needed a place to stay in would suddenly be a home, a house or a sanctuary to another person. And its funny how one feels all these things the moment its time to move on.
Going to miss this place.
Keep you posted.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
SOME BRAIN FOOD TO CHECK OUT
Shark versus Octopus, who'd thought this would happen?
Color Perception is dependent on colors in the surrounding. Did you realise that?
Be afraid... when you visit the House.
SOME DANGEROUS BRAIN MATERIAL TO SEE TOO
Uh.. This is why North Korea is a scary scary place. Oh yeah, this is the sequel too!
Spooky eh.
Shark versus Octopus, who'd thought this would happen?
Color Perception is dependent on colors in the surrounding. Did you realise that?
Be afraid... when you visit the House.
SOME DANGEROUS BRAIN MATERIAL TO SEE TOO
Uh.. This is why North Korea is a scary scary place. Oh yeah, this is the sequel too!
Spooky eh.
DESPERATE WEEKEND
The weekend began with me having some great visitors to help tide the depression I felt lately. Headed off to sleep after waking up my two friends for their trip to Baguio. Didn't get to say goodbye or what before I fell asleep so there.
Woke up and it was one o'clock. Took a good cool shower, got dressed, then trekked to Galleria to pick Kent and Kenneth up at D'Angelos. There, grabbed two Jamacian patties (only one of which I ate) and a Green Apple milkshake from Taka's then headed back to my apartment with the two guys in tow.
At Paranaque, all three of us met up with Sam, Aldwin and later in the evening BennyLee for the d20 game.
d20 DESPERATE HEROES
We gathered at the Game Room to play a one-shot d20 game which I told my players was heavily inspired by Lord of the Ring's Helm's Deep situation and Dragonlance. But what I didn't tell them was that I was prepping two major twists in the plot: the first being that the enemy had actually already taken over quite some time ago, and the second being the way the heroes have been viewing non-humans... yes, I touched on racism in a role-playing game like d20.
STACK IT, BABY
Later in the morning, after the game, those still awake played a session of Uno Stacko with me. Had some hilarious moments with Awie and Kent tossing back and forth the dice having rolled Reverse* numerous times. Awie was out to get me, hoping to force me into trouble by rolling "Take Two" but sadly, my Kung Fu beat his Kung Fu. In the end, Sam made the fatal mistakes which lead to the Uno Stacko tower falling and Kenneth winning the game.
It was one cool weekend.
Now I need some sleep.
*Corrected as per Ken2ts notice. Thanks man!
The weekend began with me having some great visitors to help tide the depression I felt lately. Headed off to sleep after waking up my two friends for their trip to Baguio. Didn't get to say goodbye or what before I fell asleep so there.
Woke up and it was one o'clock. Took a good cool shower, got dressed, then trekked to Galleria to pick Kent and Kenneth up at D'Angelos. There, grabbed two Jamacian patties (only one of which I ate) and a Green Apple milkshake from Taka's then headed back to my apartment with the two guys in tow.
At Paranaque, all three of us met up with Sam, Aldwin and later in the evening BennyLee for the d20 game.
d20 DESPERATE HEROES
We gathered at the Game Room to play a one-shot d20 game which I told my players was heavily inspired by Lord of the Ring's Helm's Deep situation and Dragonlance. But what I didn't tell them was that I was prepping two major twists in the plot: the first being that the enemy had actually already taken over quite some time ago, and the second being the way the heroes have been viewing non-humans... yes, I touched on racism in a role-playing game like d20.
STACK IT, BABY
Later in the morning, after the game, those still awake played a session of Uno Stacko with me. Had some hilarious moments with Awie and Kent tossing back and forth the dice having rolled Reverse* numerous times. Awie was out to get me, hoping to force me into trouble by rolling "Take Two" but sadly, my Kung Fu beat his Kung Fu. In the end, Sam made the fatal mistakes which lead to the Uno Stacko tower falling and Kenneth winning the game.
It was one cool weekend.
Now I need some sleep.
*Corrected as per Ken2ts notice. Thanks man!
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Relativity
An eyeblinks
A thought shifts
A second passes
A camera clicks
Fingers snap
Computers boot
A phone rings
A car engine roars
A modem squeals
Stars twinkle
Water drips
A candle dies
A man lies
A woman sighs
And I
remain
Counting the days that pass
in every second.
-----------
So this is how it happens.
You cancel your weekend plans to accomodate others. You barely attend a birthday party which you promised to be at. You cancel a gimmick with some friends in greenhills. You throw away the option to go all the way to Las Pinas to do your responsibilities and you don't get a single proper note of thanks. No message saying they appreciate the fact you didn't get any sleep or cancelled your plans, or stayed pretty hospitable despite beingemotionally a wreck and physically expended.
None. Except perhaps a thank you verbally sent while you were half-asleep.
But do you hate them for it?
No. You just realise that's how real life is. People have priorities. And there's far too many people for those you concern yourself with to realise you'd appreciate they'd be concerned back. People have lives. They have their own happiness. They have their own worlds to shape, share and do with as they please. And you're just having a fucking emotional episode again. So you lock yourself in your room, hide in a corner and listen to music to block out the sounds of a world that's happy and living and breathing on without you. You tell yourself it will pass and you're just having another one of them stupid depressive swings since you're an artist and its part of the price of being in touch with a creative soul. And you be thankful you're no longer the self-destructive twat you used to be in college.
Although, in your little corner, you're stuck in a second that passes like a week and your feeling worse than you've ever been without any choice but to carry on as if nothing happened. And yes, you're desperately hoping to hear an apology but you really shouldn't. For it would have been given if it they felt they should have.
Grabe.. thank God this isn't what I'm going through right now.
Yes, Tobie, it could be worse.
An eyeblinks
A thought shifts
A second passes
A camera clicks
Fingers snap
Computers boot
A phone rings
A car engine roars
A modem squeals
Stars twinkle
Water drips
A candle dies
A man lies
A woman sighs
And I
remain
Counting the days that pass
in every second.
-----------
So this is how it happens.
You cancel your weekend plans to accomodate others. You barely attend a birthday party which you promised to be at. You cancel a gimmick with some friends in greenhills. You throw away the option to go all the way to Las Pinas to do your responsibilities and you don't get a single proper note of thanks. No message saying they appreciate the fact you didn't get any sleep or cancelled your plans, or stayed pretty hospitable despite beingemotionally a wreck and physically expended.
None. Except perhaps a thank you verbally sent while you were half-asleep.
But do you hate them for it?
No. You just realise that's how real life is. People have priorities. And there's far too many people for those you concern yourself with to realise you'd appreciate they'd be concerned back. People have lives. They have their own happiness. They have their own worlds to shape, share and do with as they please. And you're just having a fucking emotional episode again. So you lock yourself in your room, hide in a corner and listen to music to block out the sounds of a world that's happy and living and breathing on without you. You tell yourself it will pass and you're just having another one of them stupid depressive swings since you're an artist and its part of the price of being in touch with a creative soul. And you be thankful you're no longer the self-destructive twat you used to be in college.
Although, in your little corner, you're stuck in a second that passes like a week and your feeling worse than you've ever been without any choice but to carry on as if nothing happened. And yes, you're desperately hoping to hear an apology but you really shouldn't. For it would have been given if it they felt they should have.
Grabe.. thank God this isn't what I'm going through right now.
Yes, Tobie, it could be worse.
PASSING THROUGH
They were in the area, so they opted to drop by.
Isha and Maui gave depressed ole me some company today. It was slightly embarassing, with my room looking much like a nuclear bomb testing ground. But I guess it went okay. Part of me was more concerned about them finding my geek-dom too weird. Thankfully, that wasn't the case.
Too bad the chances of me ever becoming an Incredible Hulk were as likely as Bush and Bin Laden being twin brothers. Gave Maui a hear of what "The Blower's Daughter" sounds like. The camera had a bunch of more fun shots, but I better ask permission before sharing those!Their visit helped cheer my somber mood up, that much is certain.
Earlier, I was sort of wading through the internet, swishing between articles, websites and Neopets, and chatting with friends on Yahoo! Messenger without any real heart into most of what I was doing. I dunno. I felt tired. I felt spent. I felt like everything was just turning into one large bowl of "What the Fuck?". Now, I feel a lot more rejuvinated. I smiled a few times. Laughed too. Gah, I hate it when these mood swings hit me. Makes me fucking wonder if I got too much estrogen or something.
A;lso, the rain hasn't abated and the thunder-lightning storm seems much more alive as well though. So I don't know if that's a good thing. Hope it doesn't cancel the game tomorrow.
Can't take my eyes from you.... - The Blower's Daughter
Friday, September 02, 2005
To be in prison so long, it's difficult to remember exactly what you did to get there. Jack Henry AbbottSomehow, this does capture a lot about how I feel today. I don't really know why. Maybe its work? Maybe its life in general? Maybe its the way things seem to be... off-kilter without any true sign of it being such? Or maybe it just plain and simply is because I am too tied and grounded to so many friends and people I care about, and I'm starting to realise it only takes a shift of perspective to see safety net become spider-web... and spider-web become marionette strings.
Or maybe its just another mood swing and I've been having them so often, I'm trapped in them and can't seem to get out.
In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. Albert Schweitzer
Thursday, September 01, 2005
HAVEN'T SLEPT A WINK
Can't seem to get the urge to fall asleep today. I don't know why. I don't really feel depressed or overwhelmed. I don't feel tired. I just feel... like not sleeping. Maybe Ken2ts has the answer to this because I did earlier chat with him and he said he was having the same problem.
Oh well...
Had a fun day today, though it started late due to some private matters that I had to handle. On the lighter side of things: Good news finally was shared from work. How substantial that good news would be remains to be seen, but I personally have high hopes and belief in the management in treating its people well.
Headed out to Badminton for my fourth week of playing today. To make the game more interesting, Isha (who arrived with wounded knees from basketball) joined me and my officemates for what could only be another display of how much I have yet to learn in playing the game. As expected, I lost again. But I gained a win though during the one-on-one game between me and Isha. She claims to have let me win, which I don't actually doubt. I was never that good in sports after all.
Had a weird freaky moment when Ramil's shirt suddenly manifested some strange face on it. Weiiiiiird.
Returned back to ABS-CBN Global to make up for my hours at work and had dinner with Isha at the cafeteria! It was nice to see she enjoyed the food naman. The cafeteria in ABS-CBN is actually pretty good... so long as you don't eat there during peak hours, nor be too picky with food.
Eventually, Isha got her hands on my digital camera and from that, this was the result.
Please. Someone warm me next time. Hehehe.
Then had a nice heart-to-heart talk with Seth, as he reminded me of many things I may have forgotten and helped me focus on somethings I may have ignored.
All in all things went well. Hope Isha's wounds heal quickly. Hope work goes light today. And hope the games this weekend go nicely. Won't be able to hang with the Panda til next week again, since were both going to be busy, but that's no big deal, we still have the rest of our lives to get to know each other and spent some time together, eh?
I just can't believe I haven't slept a wink!
Can't seem to get the urge to fall asleep today. I don't know why. I don't really feel depressed or overwhelmed. I don't feel tired. I just feel... like not sleeping. Maybe Ken2ts has the answer to this because I did earlier chat with him and he said he was having the same problem.
Oh well...
Had a fun day today, though it started late due to some private matters that I had to handle. On the lighter side of things: Good news finally was shared from work. How substantial that good news would be remains to be seen, but I personally have high hopes and belief in the management in treating its people well.
Headed out to Badminton for my fourth week of playing today. To make the game more interesting, Isha (who arrived with wounded knees from basketball) joined me and my officemates for what could only be another display of how much I have yet to learn in playing the game. As expected, I lost again. But I gained a win though during the one-on-one game between me and Isha. She claims to have let me win, which I don't actually doubt. I was never that good in sports after all.
Had a weird freaky moment when Ramil's shirt suddenly manifested some strange face on it. Weiiiiiird.
Returned back to ABS-CBN Global to make up for my hours at work and had dinner with Isha at the cafeteria! It was nice to see she enjoyed the food naman. The cafeteria in ABS-CBN is actually pretty good... so long as you don't eat there during peak hours, nor be too picky with food.
Eventually, Isha got her hands on my digital camera and from that, this was the result.
Please. Someone warm me next time. Hehehe.
Then had a nice heart-to-heart talk with Seth, as he reminded me of many things I may have forgotten and helped me focus on somethings I may have ignored.
All in all things went well. Hope Isha's wounds heal quickly. Hope work goes light today. And hope the games this weekend go nicely. Won't be able to hang with the Panda til next week again, since were both going to be busy, but that's no big deal, we still have the rest of our lives to get to know each other and spent some time together, eh?
I just can't believe I haven't slept a wink!
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