#bum-tales

[armorhues]

All my bags are packed, am I ready to go?

I can't help it. On this day last year, I was worried about which LRT station would take me quickest to Liwasang Bonifacio, how the hell will I write what is now this article and what angles should I get to achieve acceptable photographs. 

Now I don't have an internship to worry about, I'm part of the unemployed statistic and I feel less of the person I was last year: when I knew that what I was doing that day was the one thing I'd want to do for the rest of my life.

Uuuuuuyyy drama. Haha.

I guess the thought of finally being in control of my life's direction is overwhelming me. And because I'm not getting to where I want to be....let's just say it's one of the worst feelings in the world.

So what do I do to curb this feeling? Say goodbye to an actual PC and swim at the rocky beaches of the town I've long refused to call home. If I'm not "coming home" with friends, I'd rather be where I was last year: drafting an article with a Blackberry while walking the stretch of Liwasang Bonifacio-Mendiola under the hot summer sun.

Hrm. Here's to hoping this three-day vacay would do me good. Later, everyone! XD

[armorhues]

I now officially declare myself B-R-O-K-E

It was my most expensive splurge ever. It also taught me the one lesson I must not forget once I get my hands at that oh-so-distant first paycheck as workingRach: must.not.give.in.to.temptation. No, that's not retail guilt sinking in. Just saying. But first, the goods Went to school on Thursday to file a request for TCG and CGM (best to get busy while stuck in bum phase). On my way there, Diana called and declared that my long awaited Graduation Gift Moolah has arrived. HOLYGUACAMOLEFINALLYZOMG. "Happy" as a status was an understatement. The Young Skywalkers---for lack of a better term; you know who you are---know how much I've wanted to get my hands on that moolah. So excited in fact that I've mulled over what I wanted to purchase long before my college life ended (an iPod and decent 'heads, in case you're not click-friendly). Upon reaching the CMC admin office, Princess Gina (Cay, 2008) had a news that surprised me: my SA paycheck is soooo ready. SAYWHATZOMGWTHFAINT. That's because I've long resigned that my Journ Dept raket was pro bono, given the horror salary stories of The Employer ranging from other SAs to the ever loyal Mang Meliton. Anyway, pro bono's really okay with me. Consider that my version of Rachel Gives Back (to her department, that is). And no, the pay really wasn't much, but no complaints here. Pandagdag din yun. Suddenly, the change of heart Over time I've also been thinking about just how practical a new music player can be to me. For one thing, I've got Rufus the fake iPod. I mean, I'm not saying he's superior; I'm just saying, why fix if it ain't broken? I could come up with a list of answers for that but my sister made me change my mind. Over lunch, she pimped her N5800 Xpress Music. Storage not as big as 80G, but pretty decent considering it's also a 3.5G phone. That can make calls and receive messages. That can surf the net through the phone or as a modem. That can play music and FM radio either through a headset or through the built-in loudspeaker. That has a touchscreen and a stylus, for crying out loud. So if Rufus = iPod, then 5800 = iPhone. Talk about going for the, in PP17speak, latak na kultura. Hahaha. But hey, not bad. Superphone? I guess. As if looking for a second opinion, I looked at my N6170, the flip phone that I loved dearly with its remaining buttons kept intact by Scotch tape and its scratched metal housing that has seen better days, and thought, finewhateverwhatthehell. And then, the fetish Now since Diana already has the blue version, I had to get a red version (just because we're sisters doesn't mean our phones have to be really, really freakingly similar). We went around Trinoma to look for dealers. One store offered it for a good price but they didn't have the red one. One store offered it at a really low price but alas, no red. Then we went into a pseudo-BuyMordia and was offered the highest price. But hey, they have the red version. "Eh, kulang akong 1k," I whispered. "Eh di ako, duh," the sister snorted. Deal. My ATM's maxed out and now I owe her a grand. "I'm really happy you now have a new phone," she smiled as we made the purchase. Say whuuut? *shrug* Oh well, I guess I'll just think of it as a good investment, and the moolah that came with it a big reason why I must not be relegated to being a snatcher-magnet.

[armorhues]

Perhaps a CPR is in order

Some things I wish I could revive but the level of feasibility ranges from difficult to impossible:

My anxiety and excitement over the next Harry Potter book (yes, not movie).

My addiction to the exchange of quotes and jokes through SMS.

My addiction to watching movies.

Being in math classes that I actually enjoy and getting good grades at the end of the day.

Having regular foodtrips and constant communication with my first college friend Betsy.

Spending long weekends without a care in the world with the people I am most comfortable with (that'll be both of you, TAMErs and MCO friends).

Sitting on my favorite spot in the Lagoon on a cloudy, windy day.

Writing, finalizing and/or arranging songs when a melody or line hits my head.

Writing creatively, which results to my works that may suck for others but may be satisfactory to my taste.

Cheap, discounted Internet connection minus the catch (hey, it's dial-up).

The days when I could go offline for a week and I wouldn't even care less.

The days when I was more of a talker than a listener.

The days when I was braver (even if not necessarily rational).

Holding and squeezing the hand of the person I adore, who happens to adore me just as much.

My being affectionate to Mom, whom I haven't talked to for almost a month until two weeks ago.

The gruelling but awesome days of internship - I'm not too sure if I should include this. I'm waiting on something that may not be as similar as the experience, but related nonetheless. Until then, I shall wait, pray and keep my fingers crossed.

Keeping my Multiply blog up to date --- emphasis mine, of course --- and crossposting to LiveJournal in the process.

[armorhues]

This is the part where I get all happy, senti and feel old at the same time

Hey guys! Una sa lahat, salamat sa inyong lahat na nakita at nakasama ko today whether briefly or not. Ang saya lang na ang dami kong nakita at nakasamang MCOers today than my last visit to Diliman post-graduation day. Resident mems, grabe, I loved that I saw a lot of you guys today. Dapat talaga ata bumisita ako pag may event kayo kaysa on a regular school day. Hindi ko rin pinagsisihan na mas kayo ang kausap ko at mas binigyan ko kayo ng atensyon habang nasa UP pa ko kanina, kasi I really missed being with you guys! Nakakatawa, at random ko lang piniling mag-black shirt but lo and behold, black pala ang dress code niyo for today! I soooo belong! Hahaha. And I'm also glad na dahil nakasama ko kayo nang bonggaly on my last year in UP, hindi ako culture shocked sa mga changes in CMC---lalo na sa vocabulary na hindi matanggap / hindi magets ng mga kasama kong "tanders" k? Hihihi. On the Docuniversity, sayang lang na hindi ko naumpisahan at late ako (bilang FAIL ang paggising ko nang maaga k?) kaya I really don't know if my opinion on the event matters. Pero on my limited POV, I think you guys did a great job. Internet-speaking, the publicity was oh-so-fine. You clinched a tie-up with Journ Dept---kahit bitchessa na ang bagong chair---nang hindi na kinailangang kumindat si Cheurman kay Rachel Khan (hohoho). The turnout of non-MCO audience is also commendable. At in fairness nakijoin din ang mga alaga niyong freshies! All is well. I've heard a bit of the postmortem of the EB 2009-2010 on the event, so kung tutuusin my rating of the event can easily be swayed by the what-could-have-been-done's and yung mga butas ng event. Alam ko rin na karamihan sa residents ay UBER perfectionists pagdating sa events kahit sabihin ng lahat na "Job well done!" (Yes Kea, Jedd and Twin, I'm looking at you.) But let's put it this way---and I think I've told this to Ana on our personal email exchanges---you have a lot more events, a whole school year's worth of it in fact, to learn from and override those mistakes. Sabihin niyo man na "But this is an ABS-CBN event we're talking about! Big time 'to nang bonggz 'te k?" IMHO I don't think the ABS-CBN people feel it was a flop. After all, karamihan sa mga yan ay kapwa nating iskolar ng bayan, so don't fret. I'd like to think those waaaay tanders at ABS have seen worse. XD On an almost concluding note, guys, resident mems, wag niyong bigyan ng sakit ng ulo ang EB ha? Hindi porket seemingly perfect ang EB niyo eh magbaba-Bahala Na Ang EB ang attitude kei? UP MCO isn't just about its EB. Isa kayong unit so work together and work cohesively. Yuck, now I sound like a tander making sermon, but seriously, it's not about what the EB can do for you and the org but what all of you can do for the org (and not just for the EB). Vice versa na rin yan for the EB ha! Keribels? Kei. Okay, for the other shoutouts. Oy Jean, pare, dude, hindi man tayo nakapag, er, nagkamoment sa may pishbolan, alam ko namang marami pa tayong moments para er, makabili ng kendi sa may pishbolan. Debbanga. Jedd, utang na loob, alam kong naguumapaw ka ng kamachismohan, pero wag mo naman sanang kalimutang humingi ng tulong sa mems! Hayop ka, binuhat mo lahat ng yun! Hindi ka na talaga tatangkad niyan. Paano ka na lang makakatalon sa ladder kung, well, kulang ka sa height? Hahahaha! Twin, not a great day to wear a skirt huh. Good luck kay Aguila (and that goes to you as well Rachelgurrl), marami namang residents na nakapag-Aguila so take a cue from them. I miss you! XD Vicky, take a cue from Twin and I's girlcrush Karen Davila: move on lang nang move on. Hindi ko sinasabing madali, hindi ko rin sinasabing mabilis, pero putsa, with a man boy like that, tangina he doesn't deserve you. You're made of waaaay better stuff than that, in your words, asshole. Naniniwala pa rin ako sa lakas at resiliency mo k? Hughughug! Pardner, ikaw ang nagtulak sa akin to get my ass off and visit UP and attend the Docuniversity, pero hindi naman kita nakainteract nang bongga. Pero kebs, I'm happy you're working again. Ryan, can I just say, bakit parang ang haggard ng outfit mo kanina? Pero anyway, keri lang. Ivy-chan and Ynna, my Bolinao girls, can I just say I'm so happy to be reunited with you guys again? As in super. Flau, it was really nice seeing you again. Ingat sa biyahe, at pati na rin palagi. XD Reuben, Adie, I swear nag-enjoy ako sa SM Annex lakwatsa natin. Putsa bespren, nahihiwagaan pa rin ako na nagbago ang tono ng text ni Mom nang ma-name drop kita! At 'ben, wag mong kalimutang banggitin ulit ang music recommendations mo dahil bilang nag-empty batt si George eh nakalimutan ko na yung mga musikerong pinagsasasabi mo. OA man, pero sobrang ang saya-saya ko because of this Friday. As in sobrang happy mood pa rin kahit nagsisink in na yung pagod ko. Haha. See, I've been stuck in a depressed non-PreMenstrualSyndrome-related rut for the past few days, so I guess I needed this whole day lakwatsa to psych up my spirits again. See, I'm even back to blogging again (albeit privately). Thanks, you guys. Sobrang salamat. *big, big hug to all*

[armorhues]

Late post: The TAME 5 weekend from Daren's ultra-bading camera

June 12-14, 2009 Pansol, Laguna Fine, ako na nga ang mahilig sa long album titles. XD I promised Daren over FB that I'd be the one to post this na lang on Multiply because she's tamad that way. Besides, this album has prettier pictures than this one. Yun nga lang labo-labo na ang arrangement. And yes, this album better documents the weekend that was. Le sigh. I love you guys. XD

[armorhues]

I guess it won't hurt to make this semi-public and sorta official

Fifteen months ago I posted this blog that barred comments because I didn't want to jinx it. Entitled "Boom. Yeah. C'mon." the entry went like this:

It's a long shot, but I'm going to take a stab at it anyway. *fingers crossed*

Well, I have to admit that though I genuinely had fun with my internship, I've kept my fingers crossed ever since. And on Tuesday, I received the news, the news that marked the day of counting down the last days of unemployment and the day the long shot has been stabbed. Bow.

[armorhues]

A few excerpts from Docuniversity

July 3, 2009 TV Studio, Media Center Ma'am Karen is so pretty! Sir Abner was very lolo-ish ("Oh mga bata, ganito ha..."). Too bad I didn't get there on time, but then again I had the pimp spot in the open forum, so I feel smug. Congrats MCOers! Fine, fine job. Cheers to more successful events.