Something from Calvin and Hobbes.

Amazing. How a comic compilation full of sarcasm can give you shock by coming up with something heartfelt and much-needed like this.

It seems that the “bum-hood” I am in now gives me the reason to post, though frustrated and all for the fact that Grace and I are still in the “Pa/Ma, pahingi po ng pera pang-alis ng bahay. Promise, maghahanap po ako ng trabaho” mode. Tsk.

Anwei, the company situated somewhere in Para�aque where we first applied seemed to have lost our contact numbers for it had been more than three weeks after we took their examination. According to the person in charge, it would only take 2-3 weeks for the results to be released. But the heck, guess when we took the exam? Exactly four days before April ended. And you do the math in calculating how many weeks had already passed.

Or is it their subtle way of saying, “Sorry, you didn’t qualify for the position.” Crap!

Honestly, I really don’t mind if I still don’t have a job right now, that is, if I’m numb whenever my mom unconsciously slash does-not-mean-to slash does-not-face-to-face-force-me-to find one. But the fact that I really need to earn now ‘coz my needs are really growing and growing, even if my parents don’t tell me yet “O anak, magtrabaho ka na rin para may pandagdag tayo sa pambayad sa gastusin.”

Huhuhu.

It just really frustrates me whenever I think of the could-have-been — that I could have been a freshman again and pursued a medical career. It’s just that a “sign” whether to continue or not that I have been asking for had already been sent. No need for any elaboration.

I just wish that life would still be good for us for the coming days. And who knows, we might land at the jobs best suited for us. God only sets where we could be in our best. I still believe.

I would like to think, that I have never been so…what’s the word…embarrassed?–to put it slightly–of my self today. No, it is more of this developed amusement in my own lax on actually waking up, realizing the truth.

…that I am an arrogant dad-reliant bitch who wouldn’t even bother showing up for an exam earlier to save her ass from becoming a near-bum. So far, I haven’t thanked my father yet for saving me more than a hundred times by actually trying to monitor my house differentials (am I using the right word?) and pairing it with the amount of time I spent outside. He would merely tut, look at me smugly, and ask while slightly cocking his head: “Bakit nandito ka sa bahay?” Then adds a disturbing amount of weight unto this next line: “Wala kang pera, ‘no?”

Believe me when I say I have never been soooo humiliated this month. Sad to say, though, that I haven’t really undergone much humiliation this month anyway. so it was just too obvious.

Sigh. And so, along with the brave and valiant Paul on my side, trying his luck as a walk-in applicant, I go and trudge on this certain building in Makati and find two things afterwards:

That 1) Paul couldn’t get in because he forgot his ID upon changing bags this morning,

And 2) I came just a few minutes late, thanks to my new phone’s automatic time adjustment system, upon which it adjusts itself every time it connects to the computer, which is not very current with the time. Apparently, it is a couple of minutes late. Also, it self-adjusts itself to some weird time, which I do not really care right now where in the galaxy my phone extracts it from. Of course, we conveniently learn about it HOURS after the harm done, after fixing it almost 15 minutes ahead of Paul’s phone time hours before, and then finding it back to its usual late time after comparing.

Oh, have I said my phone’s new? I just nearly had the impulse to trash it.

And have I mentioned that I actually like THAT lone company because of its corporate suit-free policy?

Now, that’s not even the problem. See, there’s an actual salt-to-the-bruise event that would throw things up on my pasty face. Paul and I, after walking around Makati the whole day, emerged victorious with a slightly low self-esteem (at least I did) after bumping unto come blockmates who we least thought of seeing around. Apparently, they were there for work. When they asked us, we were there because we just wanted to go around. Oh, and yeah, we’re still jobless, thank you very much.

Am I the only one NOT LOOKING for a job? Sigh.

Chii told me before that she envisioned me as a person who wouldn’t want to work as soon as possible. Hoping because she didn’t find me lazy, I asked why. “Because you’re idealistic,” she says. “You’re not ready for the real world.”

Fuck it. I may not be ready for the real world, but I’m sure as hell ready to earn some money. But see, there IS a reason why I’m not in a hurry to apply. Lame, but still a reason. I’m still waiting for that last great summer getaway that would cap off my 4 years in college.

Now, was it so wrong to wish for a hassle-free vacation without worrying if my ass would get sacked anytime?

But I’m not as hopeless as you think. See, I have realized the need to be productive because I know right now that my lifestyle isn’t. You can see me now and might in fact pity me. I don’t eat, I drain hours in front of the computer, I drink a lot of coffee and I have shifted my waking time to 4pm and my sleeping time to 5am. I have become a full-fledged nocturnal vampire. Pasty as hell, and draining money from my father.

God, can you give me another chance at that corporate suit-free company? I promise I won’t rely on my fucked up phone anymore. And I’ll work now. I promise. Please?

——————–

Found something interesting while the boy and I were loitering around Greenbelt a while ago. A convention has been set up on the middle oval which served as the social area of GB3, apparently to serve the geeks and fanatics as they hail the newest and final addition to the saga of geekmankind. If you have failed to be acquainted with the dreamy worlds of Tattooine, Naboo, Corruscant and Alderaan, then you wouldn’t recognize the significance of today’s date: yes, the saga is finished. Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith will commence its first, official, and simultaneous screening on the theaters worldwide. Tonight’s party was to celebrate the eve of that occasion.

Amazingly enough, as a self-confessed Star Wars fanatic (Elvin Bañares, former chair of National Center for Culture and Arts, would attest to that, if he remembers me, that is.) five years ago, I found myself calmly looking at co-geeks at the festivity a while ago, but scoffing at a few glitches every now and then.

“Baba tayo, gusto mo magpakuha sa kanya [Darth Vader]?” Offered the sweet boy. I shook my head, almost indignantly, before asking him to leave as I was getting bored of the scenario.

Yet years ago, I have documentation of how the turbos and engines of each pod racer that raced the mountains-of-which-I-now-forgot in Tattooine ran. I read the specifics of the film Episode 1: The Phantom Menace and how it was shot. I can describe to anyone who would mistakenly lend an ear stories and technicals of the first movie of the saga.

Now, I’m not even as excited to see EP3 as that of EP2. And to think I didn’t want to see EP2 before–well, at least AGAIN–either.

Did I lose magic? No. I lost faith. Just of George Lucas and his ability to create fantastic movies which would still enthrall me to the bone.

Nothing, really. Just something I noticed.

Aminado naman.
Huwag mo nang ipagdiinan.

Baka

,

Magulat ka,
Nasa harap mo na,

                  Pero bitin ka pa rin.

hey, am i at the right site?

after moooooonths (yes, six Os for six months) of being pestered by either negligence or pure laziness, or either being dumped in a dust dwelling or just pure mind vacation, i am back.

yeah, as if YOU care.

Or if you do, you must be a good friend of mine or just my ever-gorgeous-and-sweet girlfriend. [ Ass-kissing is good, but I need cash! � - JC]

Apparently, the latest occurrences are the only ones i can share with you.

As if you also care. Hehehehe.

But anyway, i just had this conscience of mine (yeah, that’s also the one coming out whenever i use Safeguard. :p )persistently telling me to update. and i don’t know, for some or no apparent reason at all, i was able to do so.

so i’m back. (as if you care. bwahahahaha). Kidding.

***

First up, we (jp, jay, my better-half, and I) had been to Zamboanga City, April 8-18, for the coverage of PRISAA-Nationals (PRISAA needs not to be spelled out for it is a known acronym, and everybody is already accustomed to its meaning. Or if you aren’t, you should be. And the rationale? It is according to our Publication’s stylebook. Stylebook, where art thou? :p ) [ But for the people who actually ARE clueless about it, it’s short for “PATRIOTS RULE IN SPORTS, ANY ARGUMENTS?”. Also can stand for PRIVATE SCHOOLS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. - JC ]

Anyway, not much of an enjoyment for we weren’t able to explore the city that keenly and that long. Too bad, we had to do the coverage. Worse, it caused me too much tanned skin that i couldn’t even recognize myself from a burnt tocino or a grilled liempo. Tsk, tsk. Grace was even thinking twice whether she’d continue her relationship with me or not due to my drastic skin color change. Just kidding. She still loves me anyway. :p [ No. Well, okay, yeah. I do.ü - JC ]

I don’t know if you’d laugh at me with what I’m going to reveal in the next few lines, but i just feel the urge to blurt this out.

“First times” happened, really.

Yeah, ’twas my first time to ride a plane. Honestly, yes. It was also my first to ride a ferry. Pota, kung hindi pa pala ako makakapunta ng Zamboanga para mag-cover ng mga laro e hindi pa ako makakasakay sa mga lecheng ‘yun. :p

Pathetic.

It was also my first time to eat balls and dick, literally… Balls and dick ng BAKA. Hehehe. I think I was not the only who had this first. JP, Jay, and Grace also admit it was also their buena mano.

A carinderia in Zambo offers this “Soup no. 5,” which apparently contains the abovesaid cow’s (or bull’s) copulatory organs. So we dared each other that before we leave Zamboanga, we have to taste such exotic delicacy. And we did. The taste? Somehow it tastes like an ordinary meat. It’s just that the thought that you are eating balls and dick… eewww! So the eating really was awful. But it only tastes like a typical meat with a touch of balut.

Thank God we didn’t have to rush to the nearest washroom to excrete. Hehehe.

We weren’t able to go to Sta. Cruz Island, the main attraction in Zamboanga City though flooded with NPAs according to townspeople. We were too late. According to the secretaries we talked to from the Departmet of Tourism there, they only allow people to go to the said island in the morning or at noon. But we came two hours after noon. Too bad that we already brought our “damit na pampaligo” and readied our smiles for the unlimited photowhoring sessions. Awww… :’(

And the replacement for the misadventure? We ended up going to a museum that only Biology peeps (as what Grace has exclaimed) could appreciate.

Yeah, as if there were no museums back in Manila. Pota.

Good thing there were popcorn and cotton candy vendors and stalls selling accessories. We just let ourselves enjoy and forget the disappointing encounter. :’( [ Talaga? Nalimutan mo na yun? Ako di ko pa rin nalilimutan. Lintek na Sta. Cruz Island yun. - JC ]

***

By night, we were boarded to the ferry, with constant airing of Superferry’s latest single by Sharon Cuneta “Kelan ka huling nasiyahan, bago ka dumating sa pupuntahan, sa bagong Superferry… Happy Trip.” Jp was glad to know that we could have more bonding sessions via the videoke tripping. Yeah, but we first had to pay for a meal that costs P50 above before we could have our vocal cords “an ooovernight’s use.” Hehehe. At dahil gusto naming apat na kumanta, nag-patak-patak kami para lang makabuo ng meal na nagkakahalaga ng singkwenta pesos. At walang hanggang videoke na ‘yun! Palakpak ang tenga ni Jp. :p

By the second night, we decided to go at the roof deck to view how the ferry was fighting against the waves at a speed of nearly 150 miles/hour. Naks, parang totoong nasukat! Kunwari lang pero ganun ang estimate ko.

At dahil sa likas kaming mga bata, natuwa naman kami sa lakas ng hangin na animo’y tatangayin ang isang patpating hindi lalagpas ang timbang sa 90 lbs. At dahil dito, kaming mga bata ay naglaro na kunwari ang isa sa amin ay may super powers na kayang patalsikin ang mga kalaban sa bisa ng hangin. In fairness, lumabas ang acting prowess ni Grace (At ang Tala ay iginawad kay… Marian Grace Pagtakhan para sa papel na Boy Hangin. Clap, clap, clap). Hahahaha. [ Right. - JC]

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Kakaawa kami. Pero hindi nga. Masarap kayang maglaro ng ganun. Promise. Hehehe. :p

***

After the two-day trip via ferry, we had our ways parted. And the four of us, being exhausted, scruffy, exasperated and all, headed to our homes to give the much-awaited pasalubongs by the ones we left for 10 days–ang isang tambak ng maruruming damit. Bwahahaha. For sure, na-miss din naman nila kami… kahit papaano. ;p

[ Jc’s note: sorry, tinamad lang ako kaya pinagtripan ko yung post ni Paul. :p ]