What's In A Name?

I watched What Happens in Vegas last night and there was something Jack (Ashton Kutcher) said to Joy (Cameron Diaz) that inspired me to write this entry. Unfortunately, I can't remember what it was word for word but it goes something like this~ you're pretty hostile for someone named Joy.

And that's why I prefer people to call me Val...

Ever since I was a child, my parents already had issues about me and how I'd always frown and make faces. Oftentimes they told me that they were mistaken for naming me Valerie Joy. They said that they should've named me Valerie Sad or Valerie Mad. They even told me that they should've named me Ines instead dahil lagi akong inis and that when I grow old, people would call me Aling Ines. Perfect daw.

Actually, I've gone through various phases in my life. When I was a toddler, I was pleasant and bibo. I sing whenever I was asked to sing and my forte was dancing to Shake Body Body Dancer and Bop Girl (hence the title of this blog). However, when I was in my pre-teens, I became grouchy and would always wear a frown. This was also the stage where I hated having my pictures taken. It's not that I'm unhappy... I just don't like to smile much and I just don't like how I look like in pictures. High school and college were happy stages of my life but now that I'm in a very vague phase in my life, I'm starting to become Valerie Sad and Mad once again. However, in all stages, irritability never escaped me. I always swore I'd improve on that but somehow it's too hard. I feel that if I suppress it and keep it to myself, I'd just explode or die from cancer which was caused by all the suppressed anger.

As I've mentioned, I am now in a very very vague chapter of my life. Still conflicted on what should I be, I am actually dying to find out for myself what it is. If before I was only irritable, nowadays I am hostile. Maybe it was brought about by feelings of uncertainty and frustration. I actually didn't notice it until my sister pointed it out to me and asked me why I'm being hostile to mommy, to everyone.

I just wish the day would come when I could actually live up to what my name means...

And what was she trying to imply?

ABS just announced that the the Pinay Betty La Fea would be Bea Alonzo. Personally, I dislike her but she's a good actress naman, so let's see.

Anyway... I wrote this entry because of what she said during her interview...

"I'm sure maraming Pilipina ang makaka-relate dito."

So ibig niya bang sabihin ay maraming pangit na Pinay?

Hmmm...

V-Day

Oh wow! I'm so glad I was able to watch Vanessa Carlton's mini-performance at Glorietta today. I'm so so so happy that my sister got me seats to this event.

I arrived at Glorietta an hour and a half earlier than the start of the show. My sister was instructed that I have to be at the entrance by 6:30 pm or else they'll give up our reservations at 6:31 pm. Wish ko lang ginawa man lang 5 minutes ang leeway, diba? Anyway, beggars can't be choosers, right? While waiting for Crissa and 6:30 pm (whichever comes first), I just went around the mall. By 6 pm, I settled into a seat in McDonald's and waited for Crissa. I panicked already when it was 6:15 and Crissa hasn't arrived yet. She must have arrived around 6:20pm. After we finished eating, we hurriedly went into the entrance and hoped that they haven't given our seats to someone else- they didn't :)

Quality's not so good since picture was

taken by my phone's measly 3.0MP camera
and yes, Vanessa's somewhere there

While waiting for the show to start, I asked Crissa if she knew who Vanessa Carlton is. The thing is, aside from that video with the girl and the piano, she doesn't know anything else about her. Poor Vanessa. She wanted to make start anew and do-away with the image of the girl-with-the-piano video. According to her interview with CNN: "That image kind of trumped everything else. It became almost iconic -- the girl and the piano" ... "They don't know who I am, they don't know the song, they don't know any of it. But they know the traveling piano video." But guess what? Crissa is a convert. She now likes Vanessa Carlton and her music.

Nolita Fairytale excerpt

Vanessa Carlton said that she feels at home here since she thinks she looks like most of the people. Ohhh-kay... at saan naman siya nagtatatambay at nasabi niya yun? She even said that she could pass off as a sister of anyone in of the audience. Talaga lang ha? Eh the closest I can think of as who could pass off as her sister is Clara Balaguer, the ex-MYX VJ, whose of Filipino-Spanish descent. So I think Vanessa's just pulling our leg...

She sang all of her hit songs plus songs from her new album. My favorites are Nolita Fairytale and Ordinary Day. I also liked how she interacted with her audience and told the stories behind each song.

After watching Vanessa (first-name basis, close kami eh) perform, I now want to grow my hair long, learn how to play the piano AGAIN and wear dresses (sans boots- I don't think I could pull it off).

After 45-minutes of watching Vanessa Carlton perform LIVE! and recruiting a new fan in the club, I'd say we can call it a day. And my sister can expect a week of Vanessa Carlton songs playing over and over.

PS. I used to hate the name Vanessa but now I oh-so-love it. I even used the name when I ordered my coffee ;)

**GG Spoiler**

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!!!???!!!

Serena killed someone???

Next episode please!

El Razón

Alam ko na kung bakit nabuksan uli ang paksa ng dapat pagkuha ng abogasya. Ito ay dahil ang anak ng kanyang kaibigan, yung kinakapatid ko, ay kukuha na ng abogasya sa Ateneo Law itong pasukan. Samakatuwid, naiinggit ang tatay ko.

And it frustrates the hell out of meeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm giving myself one year...
After one year and I haven't proven that I can be successful in whatever field I choose to be, then I'm succumbing to the pressure.

Must. resist. taking. the. path. of. least. resistance.

Mommy's Birthday
The family celebrated mommy's birthday a day earlier. It was celebrated a day in advance since AC was supposedly going on a trip to Vietnam and would not be here on May 2nd (today). Originally, it was planned to be a lunch date at Trinoma; However, since my daddy just arrived from the province, we had to postpone it for later so he could rest even for a while.

We were never really fond of big fiestas. We just had a family dinner at Conti's with one of my aunts. The food was really, really good but their service really, really sucks. As in. They would get our plates from the table without even asking if we're done. While I was reaching for the cake, the waiter got my Coke can without even asking, semi-shoving my arm aside. It took forever before the food was served and the most bastos thing was when they gave the bill to my mom. My mom was still looking and double-checking the order when all of a sudden, the waitress abruptly took the receipt from my mother's hand upon learning that it's my sister who's paying. I saw her do it right before my very eyes and I couldn't believe what I saw. Good thing my father didn't see what that waitress did or else, nasermonan siya. Good thing the food was really good and it compensated for the terrible service.

Market Research
AD and I were late for dinner since we conducted a little market research on the side. She actually had a meeting scheduled at 4pm but we managed to squeeze in a nail spa visit before that. The nail spa was located at Timog. It was a neighborhood nail spa, a lot similar like ours, but their neighborhood is much more upscale and encompasses a much larger area.

The place was small and a little cramped. I guess it's their way of maximizing space. It was also a little noisy since their staffs kept chatting even when there were customers around. The seats were cushy but they're not conducive to relaxation. What I liked was the fact that they use imported polishes such as OPI, Essie and China Glaze. I also loved the body scrub they used on me, I think it's that Tropical Fusion schnitz. It smells soooo good. *idea*

I really need a better air-conditioning system. Or maybe I just need to transfer it somewhere where there's better air circulation?

BTW, something in here made me smile and proud of what I currently do.

Ano ba talaga, koya?
Actually, more of Ano ba talaga, father dear?

And so we tackle again the subject of whether or not I should go to law school. I managed to escape law school a few years back and just when I thought that my father has accepted the fact that I will never be a lawyer, we're back to square one.

Just tonight, over dinner... the topic of me going to law school was reopened. And now I'm torn whether or not I should go back. A part of me feels guilty of being not able to fulfill my father's dream for me and do just that, fulfill my father's dream I mean. Personally, I don't want anything to do with the legal profession. I just don't think I'm cut for that type of job. I can't even get my 5-peso change, 'no!

According to my father, I am taking the path of least resistance. Honestly and sadly, it's true. I'm not proud of it and I'm frustrated about it. And so I'm giving myself one year to prove that I don't need a title to be successful. If after one year and I'm still an aimless soul, maybe I'll give law school a try. Wow! Pressure on myself to do good... What to do? What to do? Kailangan ng mataimtimang pagdarasal at pagninilay-nilay ito. I need to prove myself. TO ALL OF THEM!

I need to talk to Joji about this, ask questions, etc.

Vintage Vanessa
I'm excited for Vanessa Carlton's Manila Tour! And so I'm getting re-acquainted with her songs just so hindi ako lost when I watch her perform on May 10.

I've been doing some research~ bio, songs and lyrics and recent activities. Apparently, she's currently into vintage. I'm not sure if she's the one into vintage or that's just the theme they adopted for her current album. Either way, I love it! Check out her Nolita Fairytale music video and you'll see what I mean ;)
I loved her songs ever since she started. I'm just not fond of listening to an entire album kaya hindi ko alam lahat ng songs niya. I'm more of a Top-40 kind of girl, I rely too much what's on radio and the music channels. But I know that I liked all of her songs that were released commercially. Her songs and that of Michelle Branch. Sila ang medyo magkapareho ng repertoire.

Super excited!!!!!!!!!! I wish she'll sing her songs from before and not just the songs that are in her current album. E-X-C-I-T-E-D A-K-O!

Hey Hey Hey

Here comes the month of May.
Baduy.
April has come and gone too fast. I don't know if that's good or bad. I'm thinking it's a bad thing since another month has passed and everything's still status quo for me; Good because May is pretty eventful and it might not be as boring as the past month.

April, Looking back
Ever since, I didn't like the month of April, because it is the hottest month of the year. Plus, nothing really happens in April- nobody in my immediate family celebrates his/her birthday, no big events to look forward to. Usually, because of the heat, I feel sluggish and too lazy to do stuff I should be doing. And to make matters worse, heat+price increase don't exactly make things any easier. First, you always think twice whether or not you'll turn the air conditioning on. And second, you just can't stop thinking how much the electricity bill would be.

The good thing about this month was the return of Gossip Girl on air. Hello Upper East Side! Hello Serena! Hello Blair! Enough with the roll call... Basta, you get the point... I lurve GG! And now that I got started on the topic... the plot's getting more complicated, I love it!

And so Georgina Sparks' character was introduced last Tuesday (Desperately Seeking Serena). It still is early to say whether or not her character is to be abhorred or liked. I'm guessing she is going to be hated by the majority but who knows, I just might like her. As Armida puts it, I go for the ones not usually liked by the majority. Not that I'm going to do what's expected of me, but let's wait and see.

Ahh.. Georgina... First and foremost, I love the hair! I am so envious of the hair. Okay, moving on... Georgina Sparks' character is played by Michelle Trachtenberg, known to many (and to Ycel) as Dawn Summers in the Buffy series. However, not being a Buffy fan and having never seen a single episode of the show, I only know Michelle Trachtenberg as Harriet the Spy.

Similar to Taylor Momsen (Jenny Humphrey), seeing her all grown up has sent chills down my spine. How come they grow up so fast? I even remember her as the annoying kid who had this annoying dance steps... and look at her now... and the hair. Man, I really like the hair.

Originally, the role was offered to Mischa Barton... thank God, she turned it down. I hate Mischa Barton. Am I the only person in the world who thinks she is not frickin' pretty? And why oh why was she hailed an IT girl? I never really liked The OC but hearing about all this buzz about the show, I tried watching it once but I couldn't stand seeing Mischa Barton for another second. Buti na lang the role went to Trachtenberg.

I could go on forever about this show... but I am commanding myself to stop. So there...

Aside from Gossip Girl, there's nothing much to life. Oh yes I'm that pathetic. My life revolves around a tv series and what's more pathetic is I'm kind of okay with it... for now. I could sit around for hours waiting for the download to finish. After that, I'd watch it... alone. Then after watching it alone, I'll ask my sisters to watch it with me. But according to the email my tita sent me, Do the things you enjoy but stay out of debt. Hey, I'm happy with what I'm doing and it is absolutely free!

May is the month of birthdays- mom, dad, BFF and a cousin.
I'll be meeting a cousin for the first time, too. Something work looking forward to but at the same time, a scary thought. You'll never know whether or not you could connect with each other and get along. Well, we could only try and if they find us lacking then that isn't our problem anymore. I just hope that it'll be fun and more open, less stiff like the last time. Last time was a little awkward and stiff but it turned out really good. We hope this time it would be even better.