worth it

Much has been written about Nicole (there’s even a Wiki entry), starting from when she voiced her case. Like most issues in the country, it was a big deal when it first came out. People were enraged. Politicians offered help and support to dance in the limelight. But the latest is her retraction statement. While I am really disappointed with what happened, I can’t help but try to see why she did it. There’s more to it than that measly bribe.

Here’s my perspective.

You see, after years of going on trial, I figured that she got tired. The case has already lost steam, nobody cares anymore (meaning no politicians offering help), and things doesn’t seem to progress. Imagine all those years of crying (one good eye cream she has), testifying, and repeating everything over and over again to a system that doesn’t listen. We very well know that for our system to work in our favor, we must be willing to do “things.” To “play” with them and “dance” to their tune. And doing these “things” requires tidy sums, which I think she and her party have very little. They can’t “dance” and “play.” She took a way out. It was her only way to move on. If I were in her shoes, I would have done the same thing, no matter how righteous my endeavor was. Clearly, it was going nowhere. I’ll get my revenge from Somebody else when the time comes. He will judge.

date money

Marriage is no joke. If you think that the hard part of a marriage is preparing for the wedding, then you are seriously mistaken. That’s just a tip of the iceberg!

Let’s talk money. Money can ruin the happiest relationships around. While you might consider yourself not at all that materialistic, money issues somehow creep into the marriage. So before pushing forward on the wedding preps, couples should really talk about money, and debts too! Couples should decide on where their money will go, how to spend it, and who will handle it. In our case, since I’m very lousy managing finances, I let my wife do the budgeting. Every payday, we combine our salaries. Then, we list down expenses like rent, utilities (water, electricity, phone, etc.), grocery, savings, payday loans, etc.

I think it’s important that couples set aside a date money, like we do. That way, we can go on dates without ruining our budget. A friend told me that couples should go on dates at least twice a month. Sometimes, with all the complexities of married life, couples tend to drift apart and forget to nurture each other. And a having a constant date is a great way to relive the experience when they were still dating. It doesn’t need to be a fancy restaurant. We sometimes spend our date money going to Ruins at night in BF Homes or grabbing some kaya toast at Kopi Roti for breakfast. And it need not be a huge amount, just enough so you can both relax and enjoy.

Photos are those of Tagaytay Highlands, specifically Plantation Hills (top, left) and The Spa and Lodge (bottom).

ice cream galore

Have you guys tasted Selecta’s newest ice cream flavors? Yesterday afternoon, with the hot and humid weather scorching us, we decided to take arms, use that cash advance, and save ourselves with the aid of Selecta’s ice cream. We bought half a gallon of Pistachio and Cashew and another half gallon of Berry Strawberry (not too sure about the name).

And the verdict? While both were okay, I feel that Selecta’s ice creams are more creamy, whereas FIC’s or say Amici’s ice cream are more flavorful. FIC and Amici are still my top contenders for ice cream, but Selecta’s ice cream is a great alternative.

Photo from Kumareng Grace.

under the weather

I don’t know if it’s the weather or that blasted air conditioner blowing furiously on top of my work area, but a lot of people are getting sick, myself included (thank goodness for health insurance leads). I took the day off last Friday hoping that a 24-hour rest would do the job and I would be back at the office on Saturday to finish some work. But Saturday came and I was still feeling weakly. It’s only late (8 AM, because we’re usually at the office at round 6 AM) today (Monday) that I got back. Will provide details later (hopefully, I get to write more this afternoon). I’ve got some work to finish.

plus and minus

Photo Source

There’s so much negativity around. Lots of people are getting laid off. Understandably, people are pissed. Many people aren’t as good natured as they used to be. An architect friend was in Zamboanga last Monday. He took a cab from the airport to the hotel. He was trying to make small talk with the driver when the driver admitted that his last passenger (a woman) accused him on having a faulty taxi meter. Her exact words were “Na-lay off na nga ako sa Singapore lolokohin mo pa ako.” My friend stared at the taxi meter and noticed nothing particularly unusual. It looked legit. So he just said to the driver that she might be that harsh because of her current problems.

For several months now, I’ve avoided reading the news, which I used to do every morning. So I don’t know much about the Legacy scandal, just some tidbits. I rely on officemates and friends for the newest “scandal.” I stopped because I don’t see a lot of “good” news. I now crave for possitivity, things that will uplift me and my spirit, things that will nourish my soul. I’d rather read about cheap car insurance quotes than subject myself to the torture of knowing that yet again three teachers are beheaded and the lives of three more Red Cross volunteers are hanging in the balance. I’m trying to be positive and looking at the good side of things. Like looking at the glass half filled.

Next time you are unsure of something, or a decision you’ve made in your life, attempt to believe everything is going to be alright. Believing things will work out in the end shouldn’t be difficult if you’ve put time and effort into making every decision in your life. The decisions you have made over time will turn out to be the best for you, so everything has to turn out right. Right?

feeling rockstar

I think one of the best things ever invented was the video game. Perhaps even the greatest achievement of mankind. Do you still remember Game and Watch? I used to have that when I was small, with total envy from my cousins and other playmates. Then there was Atari. After a few years, the Family Computer came and thus began my Super Mario and Battle City days. My cousins and I would play from sun up to sun down and take turns, with my mom oftentimes interrupting our playing to let the TV rest for an hour at least.

The video games have evolved so much from that. With the release of PlayStation 3 (PS3), the games have required much more sophisticated equipment for total viewing pleasure. Although the accessories are somewhat familiar compared to the Family Computer controllers, it packs a lot more upgrades. Take the PS3 Chillstream accessory for example. It is equipped with cooling mechanisms to alleviate sweat from hands.

Have you played Rockband? It’s my favorite so far, right there next to Tekken and Ridge Racer 7. To be able to fully experience being a rock star, it requires an LCD TV with HDMI capability. Quite a mouthful I know. But the result is pure coolness. While we don’t have a PS3, and an LCD TV with HDMI capability, our friend has one. Yay! And we often drop by just to play for hours. Gone are the days of singing in videoke machines for us. It’s Rockband now.

have it good

Work has been toxic lately. I don’t know if it’s just me, or are the files really different and much more difficult from the regular ones. So I’m taking a breather from reading the highly technical performance analysis of IEEE 802.15.4 and POS (don’t ask, they’re too technical for me to explain), and sharing this site shared by Banana Man. If you think you have it tough, take a look at how other people’s lives suck and feel a sense of ease knowing we have good. Real good. Here are some of the good ones I liked. Read more and have a good laugh here. Expect some nasty words.

Today, my cat was in the bathroom with me. I was getting undressed to get into the shower. My cat looked at me after I undressed and then proceeded to throw up all over the rug.

Today, I went over to my uncle’s house for dinner and my stomache hurt really bad. I noticed there were two toilets and sat in the prettier one and proceeded to take a huge dump. Turns out I chose the brand new toilet that wasn’t connected to anything yet.

Today, I asked my parents if the outfit I was wearing made me look fat. My mom looked at me and paused for a while, and my dad said, “honey, that outfit doesn’t make you look fat. Your fat makes you look fat.”

Today, I turned 22, without anyone wishing me a happy birthday. In fact, the only phone call I received all day was from my brother. He wanted to borrow money.

infinite playlist

We took the day off yesterday (and Monday too) and got to watch Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist. In a nutshell, it’s a love story about Nick, who’s obsessed with his ex-girlfriend Tris, and Nora, who in a desperate attempt to prove she has a boyfriend walked up to a stranger and kisses him. That stranger was Nick. And that’s where the story pretty much evolved.

Nick, who pours his emotions by making and sending Tris a mix CD, plays bass in a gay band called The Jerk Offs (he’s not gay). Now Tris and Nora go to the same school. And since Tris throws away the mix CDs, Nora fishes them out, copies the playlist in her iPod’s memory card, and had a blast listening to the CDs made by her music soul mate. Then, they meet at a bar where Nick’s band plays, and thus kiss. They spend the night searching for a lost drunk friend and hunting down their favorite band’s (Where’s Fluffy) secret gig. Of course, after all the mishaps, they fall in love in the end.

The movie’s really light. And it’s a great breather from all the House and CSI series we have. It’s not too mushy so guys can stay tuned without getting bored. While its predecessor Juno was much more entertaining, all in all, I enjoyed the movie and recommend you watch it too.