I love ...

Relatives are coming over from abroad that I have actually been to several get-togethers for this week and the past week.

Last Friday, I hung out with my 19-year old nephew and her three girl friends. How cool is that? Haha. Well, I was supposed to accompany my cousin, Little J, who is here for a visit since she might be bored to death hanging out with the oldies. The nephew was supposed to take Little J to Eastwood to watch a concert with his friends and I was supposed to keep Little J company and entertain her or something like that. But guess what? Little J was too tired from shopping in Greenhills that I was left alone in the nephew's company. But it's okay since I enjoyed the concert. It was just a little stuffy and humid but everything else is fine. The only effy thing was that my nephew borrowed a big amount of money from me and I don't even know when he'll pay me back and I need it to pay my rent.

We met again with the bakasyonistas for Saturday lunch at Secret Recipe. We were informed (or so we thought) that Secret Recipe was in Serendra. So we parked the car in Serendra and walked all the way to Secret Recipe which is near McDo and teh S&R supermarket. It was a looooooong walk and to think that it was 12 noon. We arrived the restaurant all sweaty and amoy-araw from all the walking we did. And so we met Little J for the first time after 14 years...

It was all small talk with Little J at first. We didn't know what to expect, what we should talk about, etc. From all her pictures in Facebook and all those other networking sites, I assumed she's some kind of a party girl and that maybe me might not be able to relate with each other. And so I was a little apprehensive since I might come too eager and excited and I don't want that. So I just took it easy... and around nighttime she opened up already. She is so niiiiiiice. Too bad we don't spend much time with her since she goes around with her parents. We might have another get together when Big J arrives with hubby.

Yesterday, I met with my 2 other cousins in Greenhills for movie and dinner. MR's going back to New York so we had a little salu-salo before she leaves. We watched Caregiver and thought that it wasn't that good... well it was good but not commensurate to what other people were saying, that it's really really really good. It didn't even make me cry. Maybe because I can't relate.

My cousins and I talked about a lot of things. We talked about our cousins, cousins and cousins. And also about our own lives and my sister's impending wedding once in a while. It was a little scary how I still can't really say how's this particular cousin of mine is like. We email each other once in awhile and she doesn't really come across as disinterested but when MR talked about her, it's like she's not at all excited to come back here. So, whatever na lang. Que será será.

Summer break from Spanish class will be ending soon and I don't know if I should be happy about it. It means I have to pay tuition again. Plus, they added 4 more levels to the existing 24 which makes it 28 levels in toto. So it's a little effy since they do these things without consulting their students. According to Christmas, it seems they need a lot of money. Haha. Basta bad trip. It made me think of not continuing with this Spanish crap but when I think about how far I've gone with this crap, it seems to be unwise to do so. So I think I'm deciding to go on with it. If they add more levels, then that's it for me. Adios! Crappy admin!

So to compensate for the effy stuff... there are two things that are currently making me happy: Wu Chun and Chuck. I love Chuck. Not Chuck of Gossip Girl. Chuck of Chuck, the series. It's fun to watch and I love the love story bit of the show. The DVD I bought wasn't the complete season so I'm downloading the other episodes from the net. Currently, the show's off-season and will be back September 29th. Another reason for September to come as soon as possible...

Brain freeze

“Tandaan mo anak ang batang sinungaling ay di na tatangkad, uusli ang ipin, liliit ang binti at tutubuan ng nunal sa mukha.” - Diosdado Macapagal

Funny.

***
I just took the civil service exam yesterday. Sheet. It was difficult. I mean, is it really important to know the meaning of termagant?

To prepare for the exams, I did some reviewing- reviewed mathematical concepts, formula, english and filipino vocabulary and grammar. During review, I aced the vocabulary and grammar part. As usual, math was the enemy. I hated math. I wished the exam to consist of everything except math, which is impossible. Surprisingly, the easiest part of the CSE was math! At least with the math part, I was sure whether or not my answers were correct. As with the english grammar and comprehension part, I am totally unsure whether or not I arrived at the correct conclusion or made the correct assumption. As in pare, hebigats! I was able to finish the exam but I don't know if I picked the right answer.

I hope I'll pass this one.

***
I take it back. I don't "crush" him anymore. That declaration was only valid last, last Saturday when he was in smart casual attire. And now that he's back sporting his casual-sporty clothes, wis na.

Pam and I think he looks like John Malkovich. Joji thinks he looks like Will Ferrell. Haha! Ang leveling!

A wedding, a birthday & a new motivation

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOLA JUNO!

After class, AD fetched me from IC to go to a wedding. She made the bride's and the entourage's gown and she wanted me to tag along to take pictures of the dresses she made. I'm not very fond of weddings for I think they entail so much work. Don't get me wrong, of course I would like to get married in the future. It's just that when the time comes, I wouldn't want to fuss over all those things. But actually, it's quite ironic since my business is largely related to weddings. Hmm...

Kalapati, outside Malate Church

View from the hotel room

I was late for my Spanish class again. When the new level started, I promised not to come late to class again. The reason: we have a new professor who actually teaches and when I come to class late, I miss a lot. And since I want to get my money's worth, I try, as much as possible, to make it to class on time. That was my primary reason. But I think I would have to add another one: the professor himself. Cute. Now there's another motivation to come to class early... ;P

The family (minus daddy who's still in the province) celebrated AB's birthday yesterday. We had dinner with relatives at Amici in Tomas Morato. I was sick so I wasn't able to enjoy the food that much. I bet the pizza's really really good but my taste buds weren't in tip-top shape. Despite the fact that I had cough and colds, I still had gelato- Cioccolato. It was good but I think I still prefer FIC's Strawberry. Maybe I have to try gelato again another time, when I'm feeling better.

Another update I almost forgot to write about... I didn't make it to the radio thingy. Which is fine by me since I kind of knew it right from the moment I stepped into the room. Of course I wish I were chosen since I'd be 25k richer every month! Who wouldn't want that? Kahit na struggle mag-translate, I would try HARD, really hard. Di bale, next time na lang. By then, I promise I'd be better grammar-wise and when it comes to speaking the language also. And now that I have my motivation, it's not hard to do so ;)

Leap of Faith...

It's a Leap Year!

The date today only comes once in 4 years.

Happy happy joy joy! The pre-selección period has ended. I am not expecting to get selected since my Spanish is terrible. Well actually, since day 1 we were not expecting na naman. We just pushed through with the workshop kasi nga certificate din yun. Anyway, we were interviewed after classes to ask us whether or not we have the time and the means (ie. do you have a computer and an internet connection chuva). Although the chances are slim, I hope I get chosen since I meet all the criteria: 1) that I can speak Spanish; 2) that I have a computer; and 3) that I have an internet connection. I don't speak perfect Spanish but I can manage. I think... Ano'ng ginagawa ng elmundo.com, et al? And also, this could be an opportunity for me para mejorar mi español.

***
I'm scared that I might have ulcer already. If I don't get to eat on time, my stomach hurts. And it's not just your regular hunger pangs cos it feels different. I just hope it's not ulcer. Or maybe I'm getting too acidic cos my excessive soda intake?

Speaking of my soda (aka Coke) intake, I've had a relapse. I quit drinking Coke when I went on a South Beach diet. The diet was short-lived. And so was the promise to not drink soda anymore. I drink coke everyday... again. I have to practice self-discipline before my fats outgrow me and then I'll be one huge mass of lard. I've tried Coke Zero and it doesn't taste like Coke regular, as it claims to be. Surprisingly, Pepsi Max is better. Coke Zero has an after-taste which is akin to the after-taste rootbeer has.

***
March na! After this month, hello Gossip Girl! I miss GG. I miss Dan. And I miss the pretty clothes. I wonder how they'll pick up from where they left off. That was a perfect season ending~ when what happened to Serena happens to Blair. I liked the twist. Supposedly, in the coming episodes, Chuck will have a new love interest. Oooh.. interesting. I'm so excited to watch new episodes!

I'm thinking, if they resume GG this April, will it be a new season altogether or just a continuation of the first season? If it's a continuation of the first season, when will they air the second season? Cos I kinda liked it when they shoot GG during the autumn season since I like fall fashion- the tights, boots, trench coats, etc. I really really hope that when season 1 ends, they'll air season2 right away. I don't really like lengthy waits.

I am fighting the urge to blog... but as Fergie says, the girl can't help it.

Only one week until my civil service exams and I haven't reviewed yet. The workshop keeps me busy every morning. I know I still have the afternoon to do everything else but when I get home and turn on the computer, everything in my to-do list is forgotten. I need to review for the exams on March 9 because it would be a total embarrassment if I flunk it. Supposedly, it's something similar to college entrance exams so I assumed it would be easy but a lot of people who took it already said it is actually difficult. Hmm... I just wish I'd pass this one. And so I need to rehash my fractions, algebra and science. I should have taken this right after graduation. I should have listened to my father. Tsk..

***
One day more and we're done with pretending. Whew! Time really flies... even when I'm not having too much fun. The workshop was fun at times and mostly boring but at the same time it also caused me panic attacks. And whaddyaknow, it is Friday tomorrow! I never thought I could make it alive 'til tomorrow but I did. But for the past 4 days, nosebleed to death! Today, we had to prove our translating skills and I think I just proved how much of a loser my Spanish is. In an hour, I was able to translate only a page and I am frickin' unsure whether or not my sentences actually made sense. How do you exactly translate Indonesia's Shadow Play into Spanish? I translated it verbatim, as in juego de las sombras, but is it? Sheet. We were allowed to use a dictionary but there were some words not in it, like depiction. Mierda, I just checked the translation of depiction online and it is representación and I put representante! Grrr...

Hmm.. but I guess if I were to do some translating without the time pressure and with the online dictionary and with my notes, I'd do just fine...

***
I'm sick. Better yet, I think I'm going to get sick. I am not yet sick-sick.. but I am going there. This has been my pattern for forever! In my 25 years of existence, the sore throat comes first and then everything else follows, i.e. cough, colds, fever, in other words, the flu. If it were two years ago, I would welcome the flu with open arms since it justifies my bum-ness. But now I need to do lots of things, I can't because I don't feel too well. Wrong timing naman. Body ache and eyes feel hot, indeed the signs of an impending fever.

Sore throat, be gone!

I'm finally done with nivel 14! Diez niveles mas y estare terminado! But it doesn't end with finishing the course, albeit it's when it will really start. Cos by then when I have supposedly learned what I had to learn, I should be putting it into use. And it's hard to practice the language without someone to practice it with. I'd have to settle with watching Spanish movies, tuning in to TVE everyday and listening to Spanish music.

Nivel 15 va a empezar en Junio. Tenemos un mes de descanso y despues, continuaremos a estudiar un nivel nuevo. As a farewell get-together for the one-month vacation, my classmates and I ate lunch together. Again, I wasn't happy with my lunch. Chickenjoy would have sufficed but they insisted on eating at Pancake House, which I think is an over-rated restaurant. I paid almost 200p for fried chicken that isn't even juicy. And more so I wouldn't pay more than a hundred bucks for a measly pancake. Dang! I should train myself to decline lunch-out invitations next level just so I could save myself primarily from spending too much for a single meal. And for that, I've decided that among my classmates, Peaches and Josette are the ones who share with me the same preferences. I still think that Pancake House is super-duper-overrated! Next time people decide to eat at Pancake House, I won't join in and just eat lunch at home instead.

Right now, I am home alone. The eldest went to a party. The second sister is in Korea. The third sister is with her friends in Tagaytay. The youngest is with the boyfriend and would have go to work later at 3am. So I guess that'll be little 'ol me left here in the house. And no I don't feel pathetic because I'd rather be home than anywhere else.

The new tenants came and took a look at the space they'd be renting. They surveyed the space just so they could decide which things, appliances & pieces of furniture to bring. It'll be a family of 3 this time~ father, mother and a little boy. Although it would've been better had they have a little girl instead. Aside from the fact that boys are more malikot, you can't play dress-up with boys and do photo-ops like what I did with Charlee. Haaay... But this will do. At least they met the newest requirement we I added, that the tenants should have babies! Going up there is a little bit nostalgic for me. At one point, I got teary-eyed. Buti na lang hindi ako naiyak talaga. Nakakahiya kung nagkataon. They'll start fixing the place tomorrow and they are targeting to move in by next week. They seem to be a nice family naman and I hope I could say that about them a year from now. Who knows, right?

On that note, I'll be ending this post with an unrelated quote...

(Referring to the two lighthouses)
"It's so unfortunate... that they stand so far apart from each other."
"Well you know, it's okay... because they're still able to see each other from afar."
-- Eunha & Haeun (Han Ji Min & Uhm Tae Woong) // Resurrection

Brain: Drained.

I had my examen escrito y oral yesterday. I can't say that I've done very well on them. More like so-so. I just hope I will pass level 9 and go on to level 10.

We had our written exam in the morning. Sra. Trining was assigned to another level and cannot administer the exam. Instead, Felipe (our nivel 10 teacher) was our proctor. In fairness, he's nice.

The auditiva part was easy. Too easy. Maybe because we've already had that listening exercise before. It's raining... subjuntivo! Eeeew. I forgot all the other verbs that could be used; therefore, I stuck to using te recomiendo, te sugiero and te aconsejo~ which were used in the given examples.

I made a lot of boo-boos during the oral exams but generally, it was okay. I'm just a bit annoyed cos my partner was so OC. Palibhasa, bibo kid. Our teacher was already signaling that we should finish our dialogue but Partner just couldn't get it. He brought two pictures for the soporte grafico part. There was only enough time for one picture. One. He already took up so much time talking about the first picture. The teacher wanted us to wrap up our dialogue... but NO, kailangan talagang isingit ang second picture niya.

P.S. Just wanna share that he looked like Tweedledee (or Tweedledum) yesterday.

During the 4-hour gap in between the written and oral exams, I hah lunch with aunts, sisters and cousin. I was instructed to take a taxi and "get off sa likod ng DFA." So I got in front of DFA but alas, the Paluto was not anywhere near the area. It was located in Macapagal Boulevard pala. Just imagine my horror when I had to cross the verrrry busy Roxas Boulevard. Nagmistula akong pusa na nakikipagpatintero sa mga sasakyan sa Roxas. I never thought I'd get through it alove. All this happened at 12pm. Mainit. Super.

Naiinis na ako sa Starbucks na yan ha! It'll be February soon and they still don't have those planners!