You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do

More recently, I've been doing a few of the things I've been putting off. Things I probably should have done a long time ago. Nothing overly metaphoric here. Haha.

First of all, I finally summoned the guts to visit Tito Mar for my cauterization session to remove some of the bothersome pigmentations around my neck. Tita Alda injected the local anesthesia (which was actually the mre painful part of the procedure). Fonzie was my very effective distraction. While Tita Alda was doing the painful needle stuff, I was saying my usual, "Aw.... Aw... Aw...". Fonzie laughed out loud, saying, "Tita Ten, para ka palang aso!" ("Auntie Ten, you're like a dog!"). I'm glad I got that out of the way. It wasn't so bad! Eyebrow threading is actually more painful!

Second, I've given up YBs just recently. Probably about two months now. Thanks to running! I think this has somehow contributed to the better state of my skin asthma. I need to get a refill of Kuya Lan's miracle solution to take it to the next level. And maybe a hypoallergenic moisturizer.

Next stop... Saving. A healthier bod. Garage Sale. Interior Designing/Decorating.

[Movie Shmovie] My Best Friend's Girl

Howard Deutch, I'm so disappointed! I'm a huge fan. Being the director of 80's cult classics ("Some Kind of Wonderful" and "Pretty in Pink"), I had high expectations! This movie... Well. Even cute Kate Hudson couldn't save it. The movie tried its hardest to be sort of like "Hitch", but with an a**hole-ic twist. Dane Cook. Hmm... I dunno if I like him. He kinda reminds me of Jerry O'Connell. The movie itself had a lot of crass, over the top moments. The ending was confusing, and well, I didn't really get the whole point of the movie. The soundtrack was pretty ok. For all you cinema loving peeps out there. See "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" instead. I haven't seen it, but I think it's waaay better than this.

Hectic Friday

Meetings, meetings, and more meetings. Guess where I was at for the most part of the day? Yes, genius. Meetings! They were interesting meetings anyway. Our morning meeting with our Sydney senior exec was the venue of Schmenten's booboo. Because the effing mute button looked very much like the hang up button, I accidentally dropped off from the conference when one of our senior managers was in mid-sentence. Teehee.

Our afternoon meetings were mostly eating and sharing about more goals. Poooey. Fulfilling our new role remarkably well is a great challenge. Not a walk in the park, definitely.

Mike and I have been trying to stay on a diet this week because of our evening plans! As promised, Yas treated us to a filling dinner at Chilis, in celebration of her victory. Haha. It was a three-hour chat fest, which ended with a ten minute black out and the guys teasing me about my Esmeralda/Do-the-Conga blouse.




2 Epals + 2 soon-to-be-Aussies + 1 Wireless Headset buying chap = a fun Friday night. It was great stress reliever, especially after all the stuff we've been dealing with during the week.

I'm just happy it's the weekend. Plans for tomorrow? Got an appointment with Dr. Tanquilut in Teoville. Then maybe mass at Sofitel again for my brother's last Bar Exam weekend! And then meet up with Karina maybe after dinner.

Sunday, Tonton and I will do our final Bar Ops gig, hopefully BE EARLY for the tips we need to give Rommel. I'm excited to see the celebrations afterwards. They say all the water throwing typically leaves taft semi-flooded.

Sweet Sweep!

After six years waiting, the Blue Eagles reclaim the UAAP Men's Basketball crown! Woohoo! I was in the office when it all happened! I desperately looked for websites with live score and game highlights updates. I quickly scanned through the status of my online Yahoo buddies. Lo and behold, Kim had "Go Ateneo!" beside her name. I popped her and she gave me score updates! We were both very tense! Happy for the 15 point lead and worried when it was down to 3. I called Rommel during the last minute of the game, and the joyous cacophony in the background made me regret turning down Bebet's offer the day before for lower box tickets at the Big Dome. Sweet, sweet victory! Kars and I wanted to go ADMU for the victory party. Haha. But we restrained ourselves. It was raining pretty hard! The team's performance during game one convinced me they were a strong team. The 2002 UAAP finals saw the Archers and the Blue Eagles on equal footing in terms of skilled players. I really couldn't call that one out. This year, stats and sports experts agree that Ateneo was the likely victor. Woohooo!

I was talking to Karina over the phone and she shared some of the funny shirts they're selling in Ateneo. For Baclao, there's an "I AM Nonoy" shirt. And for the team heartthrob, "Iglesia ni Chris Tiu". Mwahaha.

In other news.... On my way home, I decided to pass by our house in progress. While I was making my usual rounds, one of the workers noticed that there was a huge fire a few blocks away from our house, visible from my bedroom window! So when I went home, Tonton, Ate Henny, Flor, and I took our usisero selves and a couple of umbrellas and walked close to the fire. So sad to see families, carrying their belongings and crying. I was relieved when the fire trucks arrived.

[Music From the Baul] You Don't Know Me

Who would have thought Ben Folds and Regina Spektor would collaborate? It's been a couple of years since I last heard something new from Ben Folds, and this one's a pretty great song. He's coming out with a new album, and I'm excited!

You Don't Know Me
By Ben Folds & Regina Spektor

I wanna ask you -
Do you ever sit and wonder,
It's so strange
That we could be together for
So long, and never know, never care
What goes on in the other one's head?

Things I've felt but I've never said
You said things that I never said
So I'll say something that I should have said long ago:

(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)

You could have just propped me up on the table like a mannequin
Or a cardboard stand-up and paint me (paint me)
Any face that you wanted me
To be seen.
We're
Damned by the existential moment where
We saw the couple in the coma and
It was we were the clich�,
But we carried on anyway.

So, sure, I could just close my eyes.
Yeah, sure, trace and memorize,
But can you go back once you know

(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)

(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me

If I'm the person that you think I am (Ah ah ahh)
Clueless chump you seem to think I am (Ah ah ahhh)
So easily led astray,
An errant dog who occasionally escapes and needs a shorter leash, then
Why the fuck would you want me back?!

Maybe it's because

(You don't know me at all)

Ahhh ah
Ahhh ah

(You don't know me,
you don't know me.)

Ahhh ah
Ahhh ah

So, what I'm trying to say is
What (What?)
I'm trying to tell you
It's not gonna come out like I wanna say it cause I know you'll only change it.
(Say it.)

(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)

(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all
(You don't know me)
You don't know me at all (at all)

What?

(Mmmm, ohh oh
Ah ah ah ah ah
Aha ah ah ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Aha ah
Ah ah
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Oh-oh-oh-oh oh ohh)

Breakfast & Bar Ops

More pictures of foodums!

Today marks my brother's third bar exam weekend. Tonton and I have been helping him by being his runner for the past two Sundays. Early today, we dragged our hineys out of bed to get the morning tips. We went back to sleep (on Rommel's ultra comfy bed) and got up just in time for the last hour of breakfast.

I made good use of my Accor Advantage card and got us a 50% discount on our total bill! Wootwoot!





After breakfast and bathing, we went to La Salle to give the afternoon tips to Rommel. He finished his exams early and wasn't there when we arrived. The Ateneo Bar Ops girl we spoke with was nice enough to find someone who might know him. We left when we handed the tips over.

This is my second bar ops weekend, and I can't help but smile at the brother/sisterhood of law schools, frats and sorrorities. The bar exams, they say, is the toughest government exam in the country and these guys who take the exam. Wow. Talk about undeniable passion!

Part of DLSU which Tonton calls "Warp". Haha. Home of the nerds.



Side street cuisine! My bro says they serve great grease-on-your-plate dishes.



The police closed this part of Taft.



Aspiring lawyers.



Here's where it all happens!



(Mental note to self: Will get back on the treadmill TOMORROW!)

Travel and Living

* Anthony Bourdain has the best job in the world. Haha. Today's episode of "No Reservations" finds Bourdain in Berlin. He visited a beer garden and had currywurst with pommes frites (french fries)! I suddenly remembered the local night life we sampled in Munich. We had curry wurst at 1 A.M. and it was good! I wish I had beer instead of the safe soda. Conclusions for today. Continue to be envious of Mr. Bourdain and continue to have a new appreciation of German food!

* Yesterday the world welcomed my new niece, Sophia Ysabelle Esguerra. Kuya Marlon and Pia shared they wanted to name their baby "Sophia" and I responded with a violent reaction. Haha. I've always loved the name Sophia, and I want to name my future daughter Sophia someday. "Sophia" is the Greek word for Wisdom, I found out about ten years ago (junior year in ADMU, Philosophy 101). Deng. Of course, I didn't really have the right to restrict them from using that name. Poooo.

* Travel. My girlfriends will be jetsettiing to different places in the world in the next few months. I have travel plans of my own which I'm pretty excited about. If moolah and vacation leaves weren't an issue, I would love to go to Hawaii. Just sunbathe, relax, and swim in pineapples and coconuts. I've been surfing the Contiki site for packages to Spain and Eastern Europe. I practically watch shows on Discovery Travel and Living channel every day. So I'm just dreamy for travel.

* The Project Runway bug has bitten me! I slept very very late yesterday (errr, today) because I couldn't stop watching Project Runway (seasons 4 and 5). I must say. For Season 4, Christian's just great. He has amazing talent and I can't wait to see what else he can do. However, I'm a bigger fan of Rami Kashou. Me likey the draping and the very girlie style! So apart from being dreamy for travel, I'm also dreamy for frilly, girlie tops perfect for corporate power dressing. Arnie posted a link, a spolier for Season 5 finale. Can't wait to see that show!

* Yesterday, Grouchy and I went on an impromptu spa date in Island Spa. And I must say. The best massage/spa place I've ever been to. I highly recommend it!

* Rommel's on this third bar exam week. Please continue to pray for my bro. I feel like sharing my sentiments about barristers and the brotherhood in Bar Ops. Hehe. Maybe tomorrow.

[Geeky Post] The Awakening

Uh_huh2004 saw the Jologzbitchin girls in Washington D.C. In one of our walking tour stops, we saw this cool sculpture. I don't remember what it's called, but I do remember being WOWed by it. And while I was lazily channel surfing on a Saturday afternoon, I came upon this feature in the Biography channel about the Johnson Family Dynasty. Well whaddayaknow? J. Seward Johnson, Jr (from the lineage of the Johnson and Johnson founders) created it. Just recently, this sculpture was moved to Hains Point.


The Awakening is a 100-foot statue of a giant embedded in the earth, struggling to free himself. It was created by J. Seward Johnson, Jr. and originally installed at Hains Point (East Potomac Park), Washington, D.C. in 1980 for the International Sculpture Conference Exhibition.

The statue consists of five separate pieces buried in the ground, giving the impression of a panicked giant trying to pull himself to the surface. The left hand and right foot barely protrude, while the bent left leg and knee jut into the air. The 17-foot right arm and hand climb above the observer while the bearded face, with the mouth in mid-scream, struggles to emerge from the surrounding earth.

Although its National Park Service "temporary permit" had long expired, the statue proved so popular that it remained for 27 years at the southern end of Hains Point, across the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. At times, the Potomac River flooded the statue.


The Awakening at the National Harbor
In 2007, the National Park Service announced that the sculpture would be moved to the National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside the District of Columbia, after the artist, Johnson, sold the statue for $750,000.
The sculpture was excavated and removed from Hains Point on February 20, 2008, and is now installed at National Harbor.

Yearbook Photos Part 5

Today, Schmenten pays tribute to Eyeslashes Mike. My personal favorite is his long silky hair look from the seventies. Haha.

Cafe Juanita Part Two

Grouchy reunion! Yas had a meeting in CG3 so we had an impromptu dinner at Cafe Juanita, a stone's throw away from the office. Dan took the TCoE execs there the week before and I was more than happy to oblige Grouchy's request. She's been reading about this resto in the OurAwesomePlanet website. Last week, I only had the mango jubilee because I already had dinner. I was pretty excited to sample their dishes.

So here we are. Miss 300% Chinese and Miss 12.5% Chinese (moi) exchanging Aussie dollars.



Here's Mike. Nagpapacute with the very good sinigang. The corned beef was tender and the dish itself was good.



This dish looks strange in the picture, but it's actually Sisig on Tofu! The combination's surprisingly good! The sisig was on the creamy side.



Fish with Kare-Kare sauce. It was ok. :-) The waitress did say the Juanita Kare-Kare's a best seller (a different dish than what we ordered).



We all used to be slaves to the same project. Now Grouchy has broken free. Of course we did the standard story-telling, griping, and sentiment sharing. Mike kept on saying how happy he was for Yas, that she's in a much better place (and more at peace perhaps?).



I was telling her how some of the things she's been worrying about are happy problems to have. The lady is almost fully booked! Haha. So much so that we've booked her Bridal shower waaaay in advance. So Celgee, we got some serious planning to do!

I would like to visit Cafe Juanita again! They seem to have a pretty good selection! We were pretty fortunate we got a table despite not having any reservations.

Up at 2:38am...

And why am I still wide awake at this hour? Three words! Entourage Season Five! It's been a couple of months since I last saw the boys. I finished season 4 in less than a day! This show is addicting! Jeremy Piven won several awards playing Ari Gold, Vincent Chase's agent. Of course, Adrian Grenier's pretty irresistible himself. I just finished watching episodes 1 and 2, thanks to surfthechannel.com. I was surprised to see Leighton Meester! Apparently, the Justin character appeared on Season 1. Episode 2 ended with a Phoenix song! "If I ever Feel Better". I'm hoping for Vincent Chase's comback. Can't wait for the next episode!

Yearbook Photos Part 4

This is a special entry! :-) I pay tribute to her royal Grouchy-ness!! Enjoy!

Running and GG

** It's been almost a month since I last wore my runnin shoes and got on the treadmill. Running used to be part of my routine, and my body responded to it quite well. So did my overall mood and well-being I think. The last few weeks have been pretty crazy (crazy good though), with all my friends visting from out of town. They've all gone back to their respective countries, and my feet are still reluctant to go back to their old running ways. Poo. I need to get back in shape.



** Gossip Girl Fevah!! I saw the first two episodes of season two and I am loving Blair!!! My favorite line so far is, "I'm sorry my Lord." Mwahaha. I think what I love about GG and The O.C. is their interesting love teams. The O.C. finds the viewers rooting for the geek and the stuck up popular girl in school. Here in GG, stealing the scene are the two villian-esque characters, Blair and Chuck. Can't wait for episode three!

My Life According to Google

Taken from Gengen's blog...

Type in the following and choose the first choice:

1: Type in "[your name] needs" in the Google search:
Christine needs to know where her inventory is located at all times [Haha. This just means I need to keep my stuff organized]

2: Type in "[your name] looks like" in Google search:
Christine looks like she could kick my ass [You betcha!]

3: Type in "[your name] does" in Google search:
Christine does it. Back in the UK now on the early morning flight, and to a pile of correspondence to catch up with. [Oooohhh... I wouldn't mind this at all!]

4: Type in "[your name] hates" in Google search:
Christine [hates you] [I'm not really the hating kind. Well, I try not to be]

5: Type in "[your name] goes" or "..has gone" in Google search:
Christine goes Hollywood [Artistahin!]

6: Type in "[your name] loves" in Google search:
Christine loves apple bottom jeans [Hehe. Not really]

7: Type in "[your name] eats" in Google search:
Christine eats a seahorse [Among other things!]

8: Type in "[your name] has" in Google search:
Christine has landed on iLike [what's iLike?]

9: Type in "[your name] died" in Google search:
Christine died 1882 in Edinburgh Canongate, at less than one year of age [Scary!]

10: Type in "[your name] won't" in Google search:
Christina Won't Work With Timbaland [Weird that this came out when I typed in "Christine won't". Apparently Christine and Christina are pretty close.]

11: Type in "[your name] can't" in Google search:
Christine can't whisper [Hehe.]

12: Type in "[your name] wants" in Google Search:
Christine Wants Me to Have a Blog. She was very adamant about it. [Sounds like something Irene would say!]

Seafood, French Macaroons, Drinks

Friday was lagare day! After an exhausting day in the office (which ended rather nicely with laughter (see previous Yearbook entries)), I went with the MW team to eat dinner at Dampa Ortigas!





We were so hungry. We ate at this place called Sis, after the very effective coaxing of a lady called "Ala" ("Ala" by day and "Alanis" by night). I was dubious about their cooking, but I found out Ala was indeed telling the truth when she/he said they cooked good food.

I'm not a big crab fan, but wow. I loved their deep fried pepper crabs. Super good!



Baked Tahong.



The shrimps that made dampa famous! Buttered Chili shrimps. I've sampled a couple of these in other Dampa-esque places, and this one's close to the top.



Huge huge thanks to Roselyn and France for the treat! My treat next week!

After dinner, I met up with Karina. We had dessert at Bizu. We did a lot of catching up. P.I. is in Kuwait, and I have a g.f. for two months. Teehee.




After dessert, I went to Tides (celebrating their first year anniv) to prove to my grade school friends that Schmenten was no flaker. Better late than a flake! Haha. No picture here though. We were too caught up with Carl's soap opera-esque love life. Haha. I got home at 4 A.M.!

Yearbook Photos Part 3

"Jewel, you're sooo hip!"


"WOW! Dalawa pala ang P.C. sa Middleware!"



"Mark Boy and Mark Girl!"

Yearbook Photos Part 2

"Hi Sir Angelo."


"Boogie Nights!"


"Umm... Aattend ka ba ng PRAM? Pa-approve naman ng CARS."

My Yearbook Photos

While checking Facebook, I saw pictures that Domi uploaded. I couldn't stop laughing. I found out later that there's this website, www.yearbookyourself.com, where you could create these! Haha! And off I went. Uploaded my picture. And laughed again. I luuuuv my 80's look!