[Music From the Baul] Life in Technicolor

I heart Coldplay. Props to Mailer for introducing the magic of Coldplay to me. They rock. And my heart is just breaking into little, itsy, bitsy pieces because the guys are on the road and I don't think I'll see them live this year. Boohoo.

Anyway, this one's my current favorite track from the Viva La Vida/Prospekt's March album. The video's pretty cool.

Life in Technicolor
By Coldplay

There's a wild wind blowing
Down the corner of my street
Every night there the headlights are glowing

There's a cold war coming
On the radio I heard
Baby it's a violent world

Oh love don't let me go
Won't you take me where the streetlights glow
I could hear it coming
I could hear the sirens sound
Now my feet won't touch the ground

Time came a-creepin'
Oh and time's a loaded gun
Every road is a ray of light
It goes o-o-on
Time only can lead you on
Still it's such a beautiful night

Oh love don't let me go
Won't you take me where the streetlights glow
I could hear it coming
Like a serenade of sound
Now my feet won't touch the ground

Gravity release me
And dont ever hold me down
Now my feet won't touch the ground

[Music From the Baul] Dog Days Are Over

This song is super catchy. I was surprised though at how weird the MTV is. If you have a phobia for clowns, don't even bother watching it. Hehe. But it's interesting. :-)

Dog Days Are Over
By Florence And the Machine

Happiness, it hurt like a train on a track
Coming towards her, stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled
With every bubble she sank with a drink
And washed it away down the kitchen sink

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming so you better run

Run fast for your mother run fast for your father
Run for your children and your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your loving behind you
Can't carry it with you if you want to survive

The dog days are over
The dog days are done
Can't you hear the horses
Cuz here they come

And I never wanted anything from you
Except everything you had
And what was left after that too. oh.

Happiness it hurt like a bullet in the mind
Stuck them up drainpipes
By someone who should know better than that

The dog days are over
The dog days are gone
Can you hear the horses
Cuz here they come

Run fast for your mother and fast for your father
Run for your children for your sisters and brothers
Leave all your love and your loving behind you
Can't carry it with you if you want to survive

The dog days are over
The dog days are gone
Can you hear the horses because here they come

The dog days are over
The dog days are gone
Can you hear the horses because here they come

The Killers & Coldplay in one concert!

O.M.G. This has to be music heaven!


January 28, 2009

On Thursday, January 29th, 2009 at 5:00 PM (local venue time), members of The Victims, the official fan club of The Killers, will have exclusive access to purchase a VERY limited number of pre-sale tickets to the following show:

War Child presents: The Killers and Coldplay
Wednesday, February 18th - London, UK - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire - 18+ Only

To purchase tickets, login to (www.TheKillersVictims.com), go to "The Road" section of the site, click on the event to view information and secret link, and click the "Buy Pre-Sale Tickets" link. The secret link for the pre-sale will become available shortly before the pre-sale begins. Tickets are available on a first-come first-serve basis. Tickets are non-transferable. Limit two (2) tickets per person. Purchase your tickets as soon as possible because this venue only seats 2,000 and quantities are extremely limited. General sale tickets will be available to the public through a lottery system which will open on Friday, January 30th, at 9:00 AM (local venue time).

Pre-Sale Start: Thursday, January 29th, 2009 at 5:00 PM (local venue time)

Source: http://www.thekillersmusic.com/story/News/the_killers_with_coldplay__victims_exclusive_presale_on_12909__london_uk

[Music from the Baul] Single Ladies

Single Ladies
By Beyonce

All the single ladies (7x)

Now put your hands up
Up in the club, we just broke up
I’m doing my own little thing
you Decided to dip but now you wanna trip
Cuz another brother noticed me
I’m up on him, he up on me
dont pay him any attention
cuz i cried my tears, for three good years
Ya can’t be mad at me

[Chorus]
Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don’t be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

wo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh oh x2


(Chorus)Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don’t be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it


I got gloss on my lips, a man on my hips
hold me tighter than my Dereon jeans
acting up, drink in my cup
I could care less what you think
I need no permission, did I mention
Dont pay him any attention
Cuz you had your turn
But now you gonna learn
What it really feels like to miss me

(Chorus)

Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don’t be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

woo oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ooh oh oh ohx2

Don’t treat me to the things of this world
I’m not that kind of girl
Your love is what I prefer, what I deserve
Is a man that makes me, then takes me
And delivers me to destiny, to infinity and beyond
Pull me into your arms
Say I’m the one you own
If you don’t, you’ll be alone
And like a ghost I’ll be gone

All the single ladies (7x)
Now put your hands up


Cuz if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it
Don’t be mad once you see that he want it
If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it

End of Month Blog Before the End of the First Month of the New Year

I can't believe the first month of the new year is almost over. We've been living in our renovated house for over a month now, and I still feel like everything's brand new. A couple of changes here and there, but basically everything's steady sailing...

** What is the difference between settling and compromising? In relationships, couples compromise. As single ladies, we're taught not to settle for anything less than what we deserve. I think the rationale behind the two is similar. We don't settle because we love ourselves enough to know it should be worth the wait. And couples compromise because they love each other enough to know that they should do whatever it takes to make it work.

** Lately, I've been trying real hard not to harbor or entertain negative thoughts and emotions. I figured, it's just exhausting to be angry or upset with someone. The more we try to figure someone out, the more confusing it gets and the more frustrated we become. So I say, "what the heck?" Some people never change. Some people you will never figure out completely.

** Save, save, save. This year, I will try my very very best to save, save, save. I have my "Tenten's Shopping Guide" sheets tucked inside my wallet to guide me through shopping urges. I have goals for next year and I'm hoping to see more of the world when I'm the big 3-0.

** I've put my 2009 Starbucks planner to good use! It's become my gratitude journal for the year. So far, this journal has helped me focus on the good things about the day.

** I can't seem to get Beyonce and Justin Timberlake's Single Ladies SNL skit out of my head!

Tagaytay with mah girls again!

Last weekend, my Casa Maria girls and I went on our first road trip of the year. We drove to Tagaytay and had lunch at Sonya's Garden. Salad, freshly baked bread, spreads, and pasta galore. Yummy! We made use of the girls' DSLR, taking pictures of the flora, fauna, and our beautiful selves. Haha.








After Tagaytay, we drove back to Paranaque to hear Saturday anticipated mass. Then we had dinner at home. And post meal, we baked the best chocolate chip cookies. And then we had a mini movie marathon. We saw Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Slumdog Millionaire. I didn't make it to my 12MN curfew (and well, neither did Rommel nor Mark anyway).

Sigh. My girls are so big!! Waah. They grow up so quickly.

[Movie Shmovie] Slumdog Millionaire

Golden Globes Best Picture. Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. I finally saw this movie last weekend, and I must say. It's a triumph! The story's engaging and it was pure movie magic It kinda reminds me of "City of God", only less violent and more hopeful. It makes a social commentary without being too obvious. It just focuses on the journey to finding a love lost. I loved, loved, loved it! I particularly liked the last scene prior to the credits. And I didn't mind at all the Bollywood dance sequence while the credits were rolling. Editing and cinematography were good! I hope this movie snags best picture at the Oscars.

[Movie Shmovie] Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

I've always wanted to see this movie. It didn't seem like your formulaic teenage romance. And it wasn't! I was ecstatic to see a DVD of this movie in Ate Love's room. Ina picked it out. My girls sure have great taste. Hehe. Anyway, Michael Cera is the usual lovable geek. Not the Seth Cohen hyper kind of geek but the more timid and sweet kind. I love his gay band mates! And the fact that Nick and Norah are musical soul mates. Not something you find everyday. There are several "kilig" scenes, and it's funny! In the end, it just reminds you that good guys are worth the wait.

[Movie Shmovie] Yes Man

Despite Jim Carrey's overacting tendencies, I still love him to pieces, which is why this movie was a must see for me. After some cajoling, I finally convinced Mike to see this movie last Friday. "Yes Man"' is sort of like Liar Liar, only this time, instead of telling the truth all the time, he needs to say yes to everything. Zooey Deschanel's his love interest, and I must say! She's cute! And a pretty decent singer. The laughs are plentiful. Our favorite part was the Harry Potter Party where Jim Carrey's character came as Harry Potter. A perfect movie for unwinding, after a week of work. And Bradley Cooper's eye candy!

[Movie Shmovie] Bride Wars

Two Fridays ago, Keyce, Epay, and I went to see "Bride Wars". Not exactly a victorious movie for either Anne Hathaway or Kate Hudson. Storyline was predictable. The best part for me though was Anne Hathaway dancing sexy. It was graceful yet humurous. My take away from the movie... Soulmates can come in the form of best friends. I suggest you just wait for this one to come out on DVD.

The urge to bake!

Since last Tuesday, I've had the urge to bake. New oven, you see. Hehe.

So I made choco chip cookies from scatch last Tuesday...


And brownies with cream cheese frosting last Wednesday.


I think I'm developing a sore throat from all the sweets I've been making and sampling. Hehe. Next on my list.... Banana bread!

First Love

This has got to be one of the cutest commercials ever. Haha. McDonalds commercials have always been great. This is no exception.

Enjoy!

Words of Wisdom: Happiness

I was surfing the net about Happiness (Yes, I wikipedia-d it!) and found this nice entry from the Dalai Lama.

Consider the following. We humans are social beings. We come into the world as the result of others' actions. We survive here in dependence on others. Whether we like it or not, there is hardly a moment of our lives when we do not benefit from others' activities. For this reason it is hardly surprising that most of our happiness arises in the context of our relationships with others.

Nor is it so remarkable that our greatest joy should come when we are motivated by concern for others. But that is not all. We find that not only do altruistic actions bring about happiness but they also lessen our experience of suffering. Here I am not suggesting that the individual whose actions are motivated by the wish to bring others' happiness necessarily meets with less misfortune than the one who does not. Sickness, old age, mishaps of one sort or another are the same for us all. But the sufferings which undermine our internal peace -- anxiety, doubt, disappointment -- these things are definitely less. In our concern for others, we worry less about ourselves. When we worry less about ourselves an experience of our own suffering is less intense.

What does this tell us? Firstly, because our every action has a universal dimension, a potential impact on others' happiness, ethics are necessary as a means to ensure that we do not harm others. Secondly, it tells us that genuine happiness consists in those spiritual qualities of love, compassion, patience, tolerance and forgiveness and so on. For it is these which provide both for our happiness and others' happiness. [Ethics for a New Millennium, by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama]

Dinner with Lery

We may not do this often, but every time we do, we have a great, great time. Lery Berry (not her real surname) and I had dinner last Thursday at the Stock Market in Bonifacio High Street. We gabbed and gabbed, not caring about the weird looks people passing by were giving us. Who cares if our voices were a few decibels higher than usual? Haha. I think the bottle of wine we finished definitely helped our very festive moods. Although with Lery, the energy is just there even without the alcohol. Hehe.




We first talked about her latest Aussie trip. We had a hoot comparing notes on Sydney. I remember The Rocks, George St., Pitt Street shopping... Ahhh. Sydney's such a magical place, and I'm happy Lery discovered it herself. The bottle of Merlot we finished, coincidentally came from Australia.



Then of course I told her about our Christmas adventures in Boracay with Maan. Wish we could have had a Condo girls reunion! Oh! The things we can reminisce about! Haha. Even though most stories are repeats and anecdotes we've all heard before, they never get old.



The resto itself looks really nice. In Schmenten's words, "very pretty"! I love the combination of green and white. Del Monte owns this resto, the waiter said. Lery and I enjoyed the grilled shrimps in Risotto with Aligue. Ler got a small pack of pomelos before we left.



Quotable quote for the evening... "Hindi ito contest!", referring to the fact that we (Lery and I) are the remaining single ladies in our block and our respective barkadas. She loves me for saying that. Haha. But she hates me for not thinking about her when I bought my SmartBro kit. Yes Ler, I should have gotten the Globe Visibility Kit instead!

I wish to see Ler more than twice a year this 2009! And I wish her continued happiness!!

Merienda with Arief

Happy New Year everyone!

My social calendar for the first two weeks of 2009 (a.k.a. the year I turn 30!) filled up rather quickly! I love meeting friends and just talking about anything.

Last weeked, I met up with Arief, Irene's beau, who was quite jetlagged from his Canada trip. Irene called while we were talking about alternative energy sources.




My yellow blouse matched with the wall! Hehe. It was good to see and talk to Arief again. I continue to be amazed at how much we learn from the experiences of our friends. I want my best girls to be happy, and I'm just glad they've found great guys who love them.



Irenie, thanks for listening to me. :-) And I hope I see Arief again!

[Movie Shmovie] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The jam-packed cinema for the last full show made it pretty obvious that a lot of people were curious about Benjamin Button. Post-MMF, this was a movie I really wanted to see. Golden Globes Noms. Oscar Buzz. And well, simply stating the obvious, Brad Pitt. Haha. It was a three-hour movie, and I didn't notice the time pass by at all. This is a tale of "a man born in an eighty year old body, destined to walk through life getting younger, as the rest of the world grows older." An interesting premise already. I waited with bated breath until the very end, to see if he was truly going to die an infant. The story is just superb. Like Forrest Gump meets Big Fish. It asks you to suspend your belief (I mean, really. Is growing younger even possible?) and it keeps you enthralled. Cate Blanchett was brilliant (luminious as ever). Brad Pitt was... Brad Pitt. Haha. As he grew younger (the more recognizable Pitt), the swooning in the theatre was audible. I highly recommend this movie. A very interesting story. Oh. And a very hot Brad Pitt.

40 Year End Questions

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Travel myself to poverty. And take running as a hobby.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Haha. Same as last year. Nope. Still need to start saving and getting fit. <-- I wrote this one a year ago, and I still have the same answer!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Marjorie and Ate Abi!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope. Thank God.

5. What countries did you visit?
The Netherlands, United Kingdom (England and Scotland), Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Singapore, Vietnam, China (H.K.).

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Self-Control and patience

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 6. No specific date really comes to mind. I just remember my beeday. It was wonderful, with lots of pleasant surprises.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting promoted this September.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Being more impatient and having more bad mood episodes.
Weight gain! Dengit!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The flu. But not so much.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My Alma Monogram Canvas. I should have gotten more! Oh. And my kick ass LG component.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Maan! For coming home after three years.
Sam for coming home after eight years.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Peeps from my project who are waaaay over their heads with the politics and scheming to get ahead. ß Still applies this year!

14. Where did most of your money go?
Restos. Travels.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Contiki Euro trip. The preps were stressful, but everything was soooo worth it.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Up Around the bend by Credence Clearwater
Your Universe by Rico Blanco
Sex on Fire by Kings of Leon
Viva La Vida by Coldplay
Won't Go Home Without You By Maroon 5

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Less analytical

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Take chances

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Whining and bitching

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Spent it the way I've been spending it for the past two years! Being Food Santa to the project peeps and being the eternal hostess to the family.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No.

23. How many one-night stands?
No.

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Gossip Girl and How I Met Your Mother! Wattup?!

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hmmm. I don't want to hate anyone. Waste of time and energy.

26. What was the best book you read?
Twilight! Haha! I was curled up in bed and kinikilig nang bonggang bongga. I want an Edward!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jack Johnson ("Better Together", "Bubble Toes"), Jason Mraz ("I'm Yours"), Rico Blanco ("Antukin"), and the Kooks (their entire album rocks!)

28. What did you want and get?
Several visas and stamps on my passport!

29. What did you want and not get?
the Christmas spirit? Christmas '08 was waaaay too busy.

30. favorite film(s) of this year?
The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, Juno (I think I saw this one this year)

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
A year away from the big 3-0. Dinner with the family and Kars in Crustasia.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
An honest conversation. More time in Bora (Maybe a week). And Blair and Chuck getting together. Darnit. Those are three things.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
More Zara, H&M, and Topshop. Girlie blouses. Blair Waldorf-ish.

34. What kept you sane?
My Casa Maria girls. Weekends with Ate Love, Ina, and Iris. The best spaghetti. Wonderful company. Seeing the girls grow up into young ladies. Waaaah! Not too soon, Ina!
My Jologzbitchin crew. Bora2008 was the bomb. So sweet Karina. Maan's great insights. Macky's priceless hirits. Irving's kindness. Bibay's candor and love for wedding coordination.
My Focus/Accenture family. Yas's antics and booboos (often unintentional). Pesem's sheer ka-EPAL-an, Cel's kookiness, Mike's level headedness and our perfectly planned lamon/shopping sessions.
Years of practice and simple facts/realizations.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Robert Pattinson.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Not really an issue. Barrack Obama winning the American presidency.

37. Who did you miss?
It used to be Maan, Keyce, and Irene, but I saw all of them this year!
I missed having my own bed when we were renovating houses.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Darlyein, Maryanne, Bawani, Santhi, and Arzi! Peeps we met on tour!
MG, our Aussie counterpart. I met him in person when they came over to visit, and he was just pleasant.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Don't sweat the small stuff. Know that you need to want something bad enough to make it work.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"Come on the risin' wind, and we're goin up around the bend"

Up Around the Bend by Credence Clearwater

Post Mortem

It's 12:31am, and I have to be at work in a couple of hours. I can't help but dread going back to the office. It's been so nice here at home these past few days. I've grown accustomed to my not so springy bed and my ultra soft pillows. I'm still sorting a lot of my stuff. I'm trying to keep my organizing mojo. Quite honestly, I'm wishing I could get a week of holiday extension to finish up on house stuff, to lounge around some more, and to enjoy our new home.

The holidays have been pretty hectic. One party or celebratory meal after another. Two holiday highlights for me. Uno, Jologzbitchin reunion. Dos, settling in our renovated home.

Kars, Maan, and I tried our very best to make up for the three years of being physically apart. We've had our heartiest laughs of the year in Bora, and we hung out at the Mina's Waling Waling home until 4 AM. Good times. Great times! No teary goodbyes though because Maan will be returning in May. Yay!

Despite a few major defects, we finally moved in the renovated house a few days before Christmas. My brothers and I have been sleeping in our new rooms a week before the parental units moved in. I got purchase-happy for a few weeks. I got new pillows, new sheets, welcome rugs, jars, and a whole lot of stuff for the kitchen. I look around my room with a satisfied grin. This is exactly what I wanted, and my bathroom rocks! Haha. I can't help but smile and be pleased when visitors say they like how the house looks.

I've been the delinquent blogger, I've got to admit. I need to set aside some time to just write about what happened over the holidays. So post-Christmas Day, a few other things happened...

** Jologzbitchin hit the beach! The Minas and the Del Rosarios take on Bora and it was just bonggang-bongga! It seems like a dream right now though, like it never happened! Highlights... the best hotel ever (Le Soleil), kwentuhan in the morning at the hotel room, lounging in front of the beach and having lunch by the beach, Fish bar dinner, Hey Jude, Hey Jude's Jude, Bom Bom's, Juice Bar, Discovery Shores (We're in Room 1!), Maan forgetting her eTicket at the hotel, Macky forgetting his shorts at the hotel, and our funny encounter with a drunken batch mate from college to cap off our last night in Bora. Sweet. Oh. And sleeveless galore. Love it!



** Hanging out at UCC after Bora, just us girls. Hanging out at Miss Desserts with Mau.

** Hanging out at Waling-Waling till 4AM. Reminiscing about college, family talks, and other topics. The time just flew.

** Dampa lunch! The family celebrated Issang's 24th birthday Issang-style. With gastronomic satisfaction.

** New Year celebrations at home. Happy that we have a working oven! I attempted the baked salmon dish from Conti's. This time, I used Cream Dory. Sauce-a-palooza. Thank heavens for Mom's electric chopper, and Issang's perseverance with grating cheese! Quickmelt and otherwise. Lola and Tita Marison welcomed 2009 with us. And I was just happy sleeping in my bed, with my arms sprawled.

** Geocaniga reunion here at home.

** Cutting my hair short. Bye fly away hair.

I can't say I felt the Holidays this year. We've been too preoccupied with settling in the house and JB reunions to notice Christmas and New Year's.

I haven't had the chance to reflect on 2008 in detail either. But this I will say. It was an awesome year. One for the books. A year of travel, reuniting with old friends, and just going with the flow. So I said goodbye to 2008 with memories of places I visited, an empty wallet, and stronger friendships. I'm a little apprehensive of what 2009 has in store for me. I want it to be a good year again.