WAP Blog

Stupid me. I forgot that my badminton group is meeting to play at 630 and here I am at the courts at 530 pm. Boooorreeedom. Aaargs.

Haaachoooo!!!

Drat, I had my worst sneezing bout early this morning. It went non-stop for about 15 minutes when I woke up at 6:30, then resumed a few minutes later. This went on until past eight.

I spent the whole morning at bed.

I've consumed two rolls of tissue paper, 2 cans of juice, 1 liter of water, 2 doses of Decolgen, and must have produced enough decibels from the sneezing to power the TV, Playstation and airconditioning.

And I've got a major headache. If I sneezed some more, I'm afraid that I may have blown my head off.

Body temperature's okay, but I'm still experiencing body chills now and then.

Thank goodness it's Friday. I'll be able to rest a bit, and hopefully be fully recovered after the weekend.

++ A Mindwreck's Noon Nightmare

Yesterday noon, I had a surreal dream and possibly an out-of-body experience.

For four days I’ve been experiencing body chills occasionally, a prelude to a flu attack. At lunch hour I’d travel back to my apartment and sneak under the comforter to rest my body and give my immune system a better chance at keeping the flu symptoms at bay. I would doze off for about 45 minutes, just enough rest to sustain myself until five pm when my workday officially ends.

I dreamed that I was walking along a golf course. It was high noon, and I was in my workclothes.

A teen girl was waving at me from a distance, trying to catch my attention.

Eventually, I was at her location. She gestured towards her side. My eyes looked at the direction to which she is pointing. A forest village. Several treehouses resting on massive tree branches. But the forest had a dark shadow to it. It wasn’t a bright, lush forest. It looked like a somber one.

“Follow me,” the girl’s eyes told me.

Mesmerized by the forest village, I followed the girl to the biggest treehouse. While walking down the path to the treehouse, I noticed several village children scampering about carrying macabre costumes and props. I saw a child lug an ax. A boy no older than ten was lifting a bundle of clothes stained with rust and blood. I saw a girl tossing a pair of dentures with hideous fangs as she skipped down the path. “There’s a special event later,” said the girl. “Something similar to your Halloween. The children dress up in clothes.”

“You mean costumes?”

“No, I meant clothes. Those things you saw were the actual items used by the person they took it from.”

“Explain.”

“You saw the child with the axe? That axe belonged to an axe murderer. Those teeth with fangs? It belonged to a vampire.”

We eventually arrived at the treehouse. Inside was an old man. “A sage,” I thought.

“How would you like to experience death?” the old man asked me.

“As long as I am able to come back to life I have nothing against your proposal,” I answered.

“Good. We are right in choosing you. Take off your shoes and your shirt, and lie down.”

I did as the old man said. I took off my shoes and my shirt. Then I lay down on a mat. The old man knelt beside me. He placed dabs of cream on my fingertips and toes. And then he chanted.

The girl who escorted me also placed some cream on her hands.

“Are you ready?” the old man asked me.

“Yes I am.”

“Then it shall be done.”

The old man placed his palms on my chest. I felt my breathe leaving my body. I felt the cream at my fingertips and toes hardening like cement. I felt light-headed all of a sudden, and then I was calm.

All ambient noise was immediately gone. I could not hear anything. My eyes were still open, but I could not blink nor move my eyeball. I could see the old man and the girl talking above me. I could see the roof of his treehouse. I could see the kids gathered around me, dressed up in their halloween costumes. And that’s when I panicked.

The kids were dressed up as characters from my childhood nightmares. One was dressed as the Lord of the Vampires. Another was dressed as The Axe Serial Killer. Another dressed like Freddie Krueger. A small female child came as the Singing Witch.

I tried to stand up, but I could not move. And I realized that I was not breathing. But I felt that there was still a little breath inside of me.

Then the girl pressed her palm on my chest, and the last of my breath escaped from my body.

Immediately after that my point of view changed. My view was now from the window outside the old man’s treehouse looking in. There I could see my body lying down on a mat, the old man and the girl and the horror kids standing around me.

I tried to scream, and found out that I can pass through the walls easily. I made a dive for my body to protect it.

And that’s when I woke up.

My breathing was very shallow, and my pulse rate was very low.

Scary, isn’t it?

I still don’t know what it means.

+ Random Thoughts on my Vacation

"The first thing that I did when I got home after an 8-day vacation abroad was get a one-hour nap followed by a very hearty dinner of pork sinigang."

"Huh? Where did I went on vacation?"

"Singapore, Phuket and Bangkok. Yep, went to all those places in eight days."

"So was it good?"

"Good? Hell, it wasn't good. It was GREAT!"

"Sige nga, kwento ka!"

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

The PLANE RIDE. Trying the budget airline TIGER AIRWAYS for the first time, we departed from Clark International Airport to Changi International Airport in Singapore. The same airline will eventually take us to Phuket, then from Bangkok back to Singapore and finally back in Clark this afternoon.

TIGER AIRWAYS wasn't bad. The planes are brand new A-320s. You can actually smell the newness of the aircraft. Everything is spic and span. The flight attendants were pleasing and charming. But being a budget airline, there were no in-flight entertainment (not even cabin music) nor food. If you get thirsty or hungry, you can BUY it onboard the flight at ridiculous prices. Like a small styro cup of coffee costs 4 SGD (that's about 120 pesos for hot water, a styro cup, and a 3-in-1 sachet) and a can of coke costs 5 SGD. But since the flights were all less than 3 hours, the no-entertainment and no-food/drinks conditions make the flight bearable.

Oh, and another thing: there's no seat assignment for the budget airline. Seats are first-come-first-served, or if you're a true PINOY, you'd reserve seats for all your friends/relatives travelling with you.

Corny Mushy Tidbit

Overheard this exchange of words at a party I attended two weeks ago between a guy and a girl. Girl's about to leave the bar.

Guy: Favor?
Girl: Yes...?
Guy: Take care.

I swear I would have seen a smiley pasted on the guy's face if it wasn't so dim at the bar.

A corny, mushy tidbit. Hahaha.

+ Commendations for my 26th

A couple of days ago I turned 26 years old, but I only realized it now. Hey, I'm not suffering from oldienitis where old people tend to forget their age. I know I am twenty six years old, but I don't feel like it yet. I feel like... twenty two years old hahaha.

So what it is I do that makes me feel four years younger?

Well, it's no secret. I eat healthily. I exercise regularly. I play a lot. I read a lot. I love to travel. I pray. I mingle.

Commendations are due to the following:

My mom and dad, who have been very tolerant and supportive of me: my 9 a.m. daily phone calls just to catch up on the latest news with my family and relatives, my 2 a.m. arrivals after partying almost every weekend, providing me with groceries and lutong-bahay so I won't develop cancer from eating take-out food the whole work-week. Thanks mom/pops.

My kuya Ricky, who's currently based on Jersey, for providing me the replies to tell my parents and siblings whenever there's a family conflict that I need to mediate.

My ate-doktora-Chichay, for giving me the necessary advice for all of my medical predicaments in the last two years, no matter how odd the hour is.

Quito, party dude and bestfriend, and his mom Mrs S, for treating me as part of their family and giving me the necessary occasional reality check. And of course for the late night outs, drinking sessions and parties.

Maqui, my favorite godson, dealing me the necessary dose of innocent happiness (mababaw na kaligayan hahaha).

Marijo, Tintin and Chard, my Manila partners-in-crime, for the shopping trips, gimik plans, weeklong vacations, photo-ops, late-night coffee, and sharing their romance problems with me (always makes for an interesting discussion over coffee).

John, for his tireless attempts to invite me to join our college gang, despite the fact that my schedule's a bit tight, and also his tireless attempt to set-me up with his friends (sablay lang talaga mag-set-up 'tong kaibigan kong 'to) and labelling me as the most eligible bachelor in our group. And also for the frequent tips on what's the latest and hottest game for the PS2 and making the necessary game copy reservation at the retailer.

My airsoft friends for welcoming me in the airsoft community: Jayjay, RG, Papa Gabs, Alex and Roroy (Team RBG), Sid (Team SOE), Mad, Rhichie, Bettina, Nikko, Tin (TMS), the whole of Batangas Airsoft (BATAS) and Mark, Glenn, Jack (Team Zero). Playing with you guys and girls has really been fun.

Again, Mad and Chie for the power-up nights. Wall climbing is my new addiction.

Kaye and Glenn, my buddies at work, for making the exile at our workplace more bearable. Hahahaha... Kaye for my fitness aspect (badminton, yoga, swimming, balanced eating) and Glenn for the passive activities (smoking, drinking, video games, movies).

Chito, for the badminton training, particularly my backhand. From class D to class B/C player, thanks to you.

Ube for the sisterly advice throughout of 2004, even if we were continents apart hahaha.

Hannah, Pin and Carmi, my inspirations in the last two years. =) And Carissa. Sayang talaga... ohwell. Na-torpe kasi ako dati.

Pao and Weng, distant cousin and high school friends, for keeping me in the loop on the wherabouts and what's-up with our high school batch.

Hideo Kojima, for developing and producing Metal Gear Solid 3... the most fantastic game I have ever played in my entire life. Ahihihihihi...

My black and white dwarves. =)

and of course, the Eternal Supreme Being, for giving me the free will to live my life as I see it.

Hope everyone of you will still be with me in the next 364 days.

Friends

My best friend is currently on a 3-month long business trip to Singapore and Hongkong.

My favorite lady-friend is currently in Singapore on vacation with her family.

My next favorite lady-friend is on a tour of Europe.

My preferred video game buddy is on a diving tour in some exotic Pacific island whose name I can't recall.

My first ex-girlfriend, who just got back from Australia, is in Davao tending to her father's business.

My favorite comic-punchline kind of friend is currently addicted over photography, and he's been taking photography lessons. He's currently busy with his new hobby and is unreachable at the moment.

My airsoft friends can only play Saturdays, while I can only play on Sundays.

My male officemate-slash-friend has been a bit anti-social recently, and I'm not really sure why and how long he'll be like that.

My female officemate-slash-friend is currently enjoying the sea, sand and sun of the glorious beaches of Boracay.

Drat... it's getting a bit lonely suddenly. Good thing my PS2 can keep me company anytime. Can't wait for everybody to get back.

Read, Listen, Play

READ:

Most awesome read in the last 30 days --- Dragons of Summer Flame. The team-up between the descendants of my favorite characters in the Dragonlance Chronicles, white mage Palin Majere (son of Camaron, nephew of Raistlin) and dark knight Steel Brightblade (son of Sturm Brightblade), is definitely the best that I've read in any fantasy book. The book is a great follow-up on the combined stories of the Dragonlance Legends Trilogy and Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy. The gripping plot, fantastic storytelling and powerful imagery used in this 350+ page book allowed me to finish it in less than 36 hours.

Current read --- Quicksilver, by Neal Stephenson. I picked up this book last weekend while browsing through a local bookstore. I'm a sucker for a bookstore's "featured book", and I usually buy them after being satisfied with the critic reviews on the book cover and flyleaf.

Quicksilver is the first book in an epic trilogy set in 1600-1700s. I'm only into the first 90 pages or so, I've no idea of what the book is all about yet (I'm guessing it's related to alchemy), but I've already met Isaac Newton. What's holding my interest at the moment is that I get to read (and imagine) the human side of famous brains like Newton, Euclid (geometry), Leibniz (calculus) --- people termed as Natural Philosophers.

Okay, okay... it's a bit of high-interest-material for nerds as of the moment. I'm hoping that there'll be some development later on in the book to make it qualify for general patronage. Otherwise, I wasted 1200 pesos on it.

LISTEN:

Maroon5 - Songs for Jane. Two songs on my last-song-syndrome playlist: (1) Harder to Breathe and (2) This Love.

PLAY:

Badminton thrice a week. My backhand cross-court drop shot is definitely improving. Wall-climbing once a week. Gonna buy climbing shoes by next week. I believe that I'll get a +5 rating for my agility and dexterity, and a +2 rating on my form (hahahaha!). Playstation2 every night. Just finished Growlanser Generations 2, and I'll move on to Generations3 next week for my PS2 gaming.

It's Friday, wahooo!

Laugh a Little

Need a laugh? This might do it.

http://www.funpic.hu/swf/numanuma.html

Ma-ia-hiii... Ma-ia-huu... Ma-ia-hoo... Ma-ia-ha ha!

+ Friday Hilarity

Officially, January 7th was the first hilarious day of my life for 2005.

I was having a nightcap with some of my airsoft friends at Starbucks in Metrowalk. It took me some time to decide what to have. By the time I was ready to order, everybody else were seated at our table outside sipping on their drinks while exchanging stories and jokes.

I was telling the barrista that my hot chocolate will be a size "Tall" when I felt a hand squeeze my ass. Hard. "What the...?" I jumped in surprise!

I turned around quickly to blabber something like "Did you just do that?", with a matching stern look on my face, to the person behind me. Lo! The person behind me was a girl. Pretty cute one if I admit so myself.

Silent mental talk to myself: "Okay. She's cute. If she did it, I'd be flattered." "If she did it though, it's still an inappropriate thing to do." "Should I say, 'Did you just do that?'" or "'What the hell...'".

Then my peripheral vision caught sight of a familiar shine from a bald head. Now there's the culprit: Rhichie Brown. And he's got that unmistakable smile of someone who just did a naughty thing.

Being the good (but mischievous/funny) person he is, he readily admitted that he pulled the joke on me. Afterwards, he introduced me to the lady behind me. (Yikes! Good thing I didn't try to get fresh on her.) She turned out to be Rhichie's friend and guest for that night. After getting our drinks, we made a beeline back outside to join the rest of the group.

He made a fool of me once that night, but it could have been worse. He could have made a fool of me three time over that night.

Nevertheless, it was a hilarious incident.

Ninety six thousand two hundred twelve...

... that's how much I spent in pesos in 2004 on gasoline, lubricants and periodic car maintenance.

Drat... I've been on the road too much. But I've no regrets. It means I travelled a lot in the past year. I've a lot of pictures and souvenirs to prove it. Best proof of all: I gained a lot of acquaintances.

Funny thing is... I work for an oil company and here I am complaining of high fuel prices.

Battling New Year's Resolutions

A lot of people undergo the practice of creating new year's resolutions for themselves. We hear the usual litany of going on a diet, quitting smoking, drinking less, being a one man/woman person, excelling in their studies or jobs, spending less on shopping --- the resolutions are focused on being a better person than they were in the year that has passed. Some seem to write it on water, for no sooner than a few days they have managed to demote their self-esteem to low levels by breaking their resolutions. Others have a determination with a glow of a burning candle and trace their resolves on sand, but they can only hold out for a certain length of time until the wind blows and snuffs the candle out and shifts the sand. A select few manage to cast their resolutions on stone with great effort and determination. If they don't die in the process (I know one person who died of a diabetic shock because she went on a diet and she didn't know she was a diabetic), they emerge triumphant.

Making and accomplishing New Year's resolutions is a war in itself. It's like a fortified medieval superpower where individuals who make resolutions are the battlefield tacticians and generals. It is not an easy conquest: many have tried, but few have succeeded.

And I am not among those who make New Year's resolutions. I'm no war general.