To John and Eloi

I wish you happiness.
I wish you joy.
I wish you comfort.
I wish you pleasure.

But I also wish you hardships so that your relationship will be tempered further.
I also wish you trials so that your bond will get stronger.

And for that, I will wish you steadfastness.
I will wish you faith.
I will wish you love.

And here I am to offer both of you, as always, my friendship not only to celebrate with you your joyous moments but also to support you in times of trials.

Congratulations and best wishes on your wedding!

Regards,
Stiff

writer's note: john was the author's classmate in college and his best source of what's new in the videogaming scene. eloi was john's girlfriend for over 4 years and now his happily married wife. eloi has agreed not to take away john's PS2 console, or prevent him from acquiring future game consoles. :D

Wish List

Folks have been asking me recently what I want as gifts for the coming Christmas. Sabi ko, 'spontaneity'. Most of them had puzzled looks, so I had to explain it further to them.

You don't need an occasion to give gifts to someone, nor are you required to give someone gifts just because there's a traditional occasion.

If people were more spontaneous, I think the world will be a happier place. :D

But anyway, here's my Christmas wish list:

+ book: The Dark Tower VII, The Dark Tower by Stephen King (largeprint edition)
+ cd: Chicane
+ clothes: medium-sized collared light-colored plain shirt, gym shorts (adidas), hooded sweater, clamdigger shorts, half-shorts with parachute cord drawstring at the legs (for wall-climbing/gym)
+ iPod: gum/rubber protective sleeve for iPod mini
+ airsoft: new kneepads (Milforce, blackhawk), sansei mask
+ sleepwear: M&S boxers, hanes undershirt
+ electronics: Xbox360! hehehehe... just kidding. a scientific calculator
+ household: dvd rack
+ sports: chalk ball for wall-climbing, shuttlecocks (RSL Official)
+ supplements: ON Whey Protein chocolate flavor, Centrum vitammin

:D

Now and Next

NOW:

Currently reading: "The Zahir", by Paolo Coelho.
Currently listening: "Why Don't You and I" by Santana.
Currently playing: "Romancing Saga" on the PS2, by Squaresoft Enix.
Currently toying: with my new JBL speakers for my iPod mini.
Currently dating: love life is on hold. puro phone calls in the meantime.
Currently saving: for my next furniture purchase.
Currently watching: Desperate Housewives. puro hot mama!
Currently bashing: hehehe... our 'favorite technologist'.
Currently admiring: hmmm... someone far away from me.
Currently wearing: close-gapped brown-hued corduroy jeans.
Currently studying: 3rd-overtone Spectrum Identification and Modelling for my benzene model.
Currently drawing: Calvin and Hobbes.

NEXT:

To read: "The Dark Tower, Dark Tower VII" by Stephen King.
To listen: Michael Buble 3 CD
To play: Indigo Prophecy on PS2
To toy: Dance Dance Revolution with Eyetoy for PS2
To date: not sure... but there's this wedding I'm attending two weeks from now. Weddings provide great opportunities to meet someone interesting.
To save: a new ride? *hopeful*
To watch: The Great Raid.
To bash: nobody in particular.
To admire: hehehe..
To wear: i'm developing this fondness for bold-striped patterns with blue on it.
To study: pass na muna. i don't want to overwork my brain cells.
To draw: Snoopy and friends.

+ Asaan Ka Nung Long Weekend?

Just for a little bit over five thousand pesos, I went on an ADVENTUROUS and HILARIOUS trip to Boracay on the recent long weekend (October 29th - Nov 1st).

UNO: BATANGAS LEG

Chard, Mond, Tin and MJ picked me up from our housing compound at Batangas around 1120p on the 28th. Medyo nilalagnat pa nga ako nun (naulanan kasi ako the previous night) pero sige "FIGHT!" pa rin. The RoRo ferry departs at 12 mn, and we still didn't have tickets.

Buti na lang I had the foresight to reserve tickets the day before. We arrived at the Batangas Port with about 5 minutes to spare, hehehe. Talk about tight scheduling!

*mental note* Definitely, sasayad yung Sentra ko pag-board ng RoRo. Buti na lang hindi namin dinala. Chard's Corolla just about made it with less than half-an-inch to spare. Otherwise kawawa yung bumpers nya.

The RoRo trip from Batangas to Calapan port took about two and a half hours, including the waiting times. We were on the road again by 3 am.

Also took my first dose of antibiotics. Lakas ng ulan.

---

DOS: CALAPAN-ROXAS LEG

Nanigurado na kami, so before we left Calapan port we made a quick stopover at the booking station of Montenegro shipping line. We booked our return trip for Nov 1st.

Pucharaga... anlakas ng ulan.

The drive from Calapan to Roxas takes about two-and-a-half hours. But with the rain and wind, it took us about 3 hours.

Atsaka baha for the first 15-20 km of the trip. Hindi pala baha. DELUGE! Hanga ako sa driving skills ni Chard and capability nung Corolla nya. If you chanced upon a flooded section of the road which is almost as deep as your sedan's headlights, would you cross it? Well, we managed to do it... although lahat yata kami breathless a

Chard and I had the chance to play Good Samaritan that night. At one portion of the drive, we came across a poor guy trying to get his motorbike back on the road. Naanod kasi siya sa sidebank, and hindi nya maibalik sa kalsada. Tinulungan naman namin ni Chard despite the rain and the floodwater (thigh-deep). May casualty nga lang... tinangay yung isang tsinelas ni Chard. Kawawa naman yung tsinelas... Hollister pa naman yun. Brand-new, fresh from tate.

The rest of the drive was a blank to me. Nakatulog kasi ako. Lakas pa nga daw ng hilik ko. Symphony number 8 daw, according to Mond.

(to be continued)