Sunday, January 24, 2010
Thursday, September 3, 2009
the injustice of it all
A friend's FB status caught my attention the other day. She was asking everyone if it's true that Alexis Tioseco has been murdered.
First, I did not know Alexis Tioseco. Second, there was a hint that a lot of people knew this guy for my friend to make a big announcement like that.
As I have gathered online, Alexis was a well regarded film critic and teacher in Manila. His girlfriend, a Slovenian film journalist, lived with him as well. Both were shot multiple times in their home last September 1st, suspected were burglars who were connected to one of the couple's housemaids.
Some of the reports here and here.
The manner in which they died was horrible. As I read more about Alexis in his own blog, his film criticism website and in the articles he had written, I realized that his passing is a great loss to the Philippines.
From all that I've read about him in the last few days, one thing resonated the most: Alexis had so much passion for film and specially for Philippine cinema. He had so much hope for it that it consumed all of his remaining years.
This letter, which he wrote for the magazine Rogue last year, is a beautiful portrait of Alexis. It explains not only to Nica his girlfriend but also to us Filipinos about his love for local cinema.
I cried as I read the letter. I cried even more when I read his wish list.
We need more people like Alexis and none of the useless and senseless people like Philippine politicians who do nothing but disgusting things to the country.
As I was saddened about a great guy's death, I remembered a recent video of the president's son, Congressman Mikey Arroyo also known as sorry excuse for a human being!
This video felt like an eternity! The question that he could not answer was "Where did you get all of the money and property, you disgusting pig???"
It's the saddest thing that we lose good people like Alexis. It is so sickening that we have to contend with a greedy beast of a politician like Mikey Arroyo.
First, I did not know Alexis Tioseco. Second, there was a hint that a lot of people knew this guy for my friend to make a big announcement like that.
As I have gathered online, Alexis was a well regarded film critic and teacher in Manila. His girlfriend, a Slovenian film journalist, lived with him as well. Both were shot multiple times in their home last September 1st, suspected were burglars who were connected to one of the couple's housemaids.
Some of the reports here and here.
The manner in which they died was horrible. As I read more about Alexis in his own blog, his film criticism website and in the articles he had written, I realized that his passing is a great loss to the Philippines.
From all that I've read about him in the last few days, one thing resonated the most: Alexis had so much passion for film and specially for Philippine cinema. He had so much hope for it that it consumed all of his remaining years.
This letter, which he wrote for the magazine Rogue last year, is a beautiful portrait of Alexis. It explains not only to Nica his girlfriend but also to us Filipinos about his love for local cinema.
I cried as I read the letter. I cried even more when I read his wish list.
We need more people like Alexis and none of the useless and senseless people like Philippine politicians who do nothing but disgusting things to the country.
As I was saddened about a great guy's death, I remembered a recent video of the president's son, Congressman Mikey Arroyo also known as sorry excuse for a human being!
This video felt like an eternity! The question that he could not answer was "Where did you get all of the money and property, you disgusting pig???"
It's the saddest thing that we lose good people like Alexis. It is so sickening that we have to contend with a greedy beast of a politician like Mikey Arroyo.
file under wtf
I had an ultra sound earlier today, as part of our We Want to have a Baby Soon project. My blood work was viewed by the doctor as "normal" although my hormone level could be improved. Nothing appeared to be waving a red flag that's why the next step was to peek into my uterus.
Two surprises from the ultra sound:
1. I have what is called a Fibroid. Nothing to be worried about, ALTHOUGH the question of "why do I pee all the effing time???" and my tireless numero uno complaint "I go crazy for not being able to sleep all the way through the night because I have to go to the bathroom every effing hour!!!" have been answered.
This "harmless" mass of tissue has been resting comfortably near/beside/on top of my bladder. The thing pushes into almost half of my bladder, causing the latter not to fill to capacity but is always fooled into thinking it is. I saw the visual proof.
I have always complained about this to my primary physician. Since my lab tests did not show any cause for alarm and I have had no pain or difficulty urinating, I never got any satisfying answer until now.
The good news is that the fibroid's position is of no consequence to my fertility. It's also good to know that there is only one right now. I pray that it stays like that.
2. The doctor could not find my left ovary. Say what??? The ultra sound probing and poking took a bit longer than I expected. The doctor even had to press his hand on my tummy a couple of times. Nothing.
I started to get scared but then the doctor said it is quite normal for an ovary not to show in the scan. Varying factors affect its visibility, he said. Like it could shift its position; or because their ultra sound probing tool has a fixed lens, its visual reach is somehow limited; some muscle tissue or intestinal organ could be blocking the view.
The doctor did not show any sign of worry that my left ovary was missing today. He said they'll do another scan on my next appointment and then it may reappear.
When I got home, I just had to google and find out if this is a common thing among women. I guess it is. I found some discussions here and here.
While the left ovary is still unaccounted for, what has been said about my right one? We caught a glimpse of it too. Dino was sitting right next to me, holding my hand. Both of us were looking at the small video screen as the doctor checked me. Honestly though, I had a few minutes of wishful thinking inside the examination room.I've had dreams and fantasies of this scenario before, although in them we were looking at a tiny baby.
The reality is, I may or may not have enough eggs. The doctor cannot say for sure at this moment. There will be more tests in the following weeks. They will actually perform a follicle count and it seems inevitable that they will prescribe me some medication too (something to wake up my eggs and invite them out in case they are there and just too lazy to do what they're supposed to.) It all sounds like a deranged easter egg hunt.
When Dino asked him about the possibility of some problems, the doctor confidently answered that there is always a corresponding solution and treatment.
I know that I have no legitimate reason to be worried and depressed about all of this yet...still, I'm feeling weak.
Two surprises from the ultra sound:
1. I have what is called a Fibroid. Nothing to be worried about, ALTHOUGH the question of "why do I pee all the effing time???" and my tireless numero uno complaint "I go crazy for not being able to sleep all the way through the night because I have to go to the bathroom every effing hour!!!" have been answered.
This "harmless" mass of tissue has been resting comfortably near/beside/on top of my bladder. The thing pushes into almost half of my bladder, causing the latter not to fill to capacity but is always fooled into thinking it is. I saw the visual proof.
I have always complained about this to my primary physician. Since my lab tests did not show any cause for alarm and I have had no pain or difficulty urinating, I never got any satisfying answer until now.
The good news is that the fibroid's position is of no consequence to my fertility. It's also good to know that there is only one right now. I pray that it stays like that.
2. The doctor could not find my left ovary. Say what??? The ultra sound probing and poking took a bit longer than I expected. The doctor even had to press his hand on my tummy a couple of times. Nothing.
I started to get scared but then the doctor said it is quite normal for an ovary not to show in the scan. Varying factors affect its visibility, he said. Like it could shift its position; or because their ultra sound probing tool has a fixed lens, its visual reach is somehow limited; some muscle tissue or intestinal organ could be blocking the view.
The doctor did not show any sign of worry that my left ovary was missing today. He said they'll do another scan on my next appointment and then it may reappear.
When I got home, I just had to google and find out if this is a common thing among women. I guess it is. I found some discussions here and here.
While the left ovary is still unaccounted for, what has been said about my right one? We caught a glimpse of it too. Dino was sitting right next to me, holding my hand. Both of us were looking at the small video screen as the doctor checked me. Honestly though, I had a few minutes of wishful thinking inside the examination room.I've had dreams and fantasies of this scenario before, although in them we were looking at a tiny baby.
The reality is, I may or may not have enough eggs. The doctor cannot say for sure at this moment. There will be more tests in the following weeks. They will actually perform a follicle count and it seems inevitable that they will prescribe me some medication too (something to wake up my eggs and invite them out in case they are there and just too lazy to do what they're supposed to.) It all sounds like a deranged easter egg hunt.
When Dino asked him about the possibility of some problems, the doctor confidently answered that there is always a corresponding solution and treatment.
I know that I have no legitimate reason to be worried and depressed about all of this yet...still, I'm feeling weak.
The World is Flat
I love discovering "new" music through friends, on Facebook even! This group is called The Montgolfier Brothers. Allan McGee from the Guardian said they came out with their first album in 2000.
This song is from their 2nd album; it's about breaking up but you don't know that until towards the end.
Journey's End is the video on the Guardian article. It is much slower and I thought it must be the band's signature style: cinematic music plus melancholic vocals.
This music fits my emotional state these days. There's been some bothering news from Manila. They do not involve me personally, none on my family's end too. I'll write another post soon.
This song is from their 2nd album; it's about breaking up but you don't know that until towards the end.
Journey's End is the video on the Guardian article. It is much slower and I thought it must be the band's signature style: cinematic music plus melancholic vocals.
This music fits my emotional state these days. There's been some bothering news from Manila. They do not involve me personally, none on my family's end too. I'll write another post soon.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
the worst
I feel horrible about myself tonight.
I have friends visiting from LA and I met up with them for dinner. Before their plane landed, I took the liberty of choosing the restaurant and making the dinner reservation for 8pm. So when they finally arrived, all we had to do was drive to the place.
After the meal, I helped put left overs in boxes/styro containers. As I was doing this, they convinced me to take most of the food home. I agreed.
Only WAY AFTER I had driven them to Walgreens for supplies, then back to their hotel and when I was already back home here in San Jose that I realized: I DID NOT GIVE MY SHARE OF THE FOOD BILL.
I AM SO DISGUSTED WITH MYSELF RIGHT NOW!!! How could I be that distracted that I didn't pay for my share? It is not me.
I can't think of a reason why I would forget to do such an important thing. It's so weird!
As soon as I realized my mistake, I sent a text message to my friends, thanked them for dinner and told them that I will treat them to lunch tomorrow.
Gosh, how could I be so absent minded? I hate it.
On the drive home, my eyes were so heavy that I was fighting to stay up on the wheel. I realized I didn't get enough sleep last night and I suffered the embarrassing consequence at the dining table.
I have friends visiting from LA and I met up with them for dinner. Before their plane landed, I took the liberty of choosing the restaurant and making the dinner reservation for 8pm. So when they finally arrived, all we had to do was drive to the place.
After the meal, I helped put left overs in boxes/styro containers. As I was doing this, they convinced me to take most of the food home. I agreed.
Only WAY AFTER I had driven them to Walgreens for supplies, then back to their hotel and when I was already back home here in San Jose that I realized: I DID NOT GIVE MY SHARE OF THE FOOD BILL.
I AM SO DISGUSTED WITH MYSELF RIGHT NOW!!! How could I be that distracted that I didn't pay for my share? It is not me.
I can't think of a reason why I would forget to do such an important thing. It's so weird!
As soon as I realized my mistake, I sent a text message to my friends, thanked them for dinner and told them that I will treat them to lunch tomorrow.
Gosh, how could I be so absent minded? I hate it.
On the drive home, my eyes were so heavy that I was fighting to stay up on the wheel. I realized I didn't get enough sleep last night and I suffered the embarrassing consequence at the dining table.
30th
This may be a new compulsion forming: a blog post every 30th of the month. Well, I hope it doesn't take that long for me to write...I got mounting stuff to purge.
I've been thinking of deleting all of my networking site accounts. I am close to doing it!
Believe it or not, I still have Friendster. Why on earth do I still want to take up space there? The silly reason that I can't kill it yet is because I signed up for it in 2003. It is such an antique.
MySpace can eat dirt for all I care. Wait, let me go there and end its uselessness...
Dang! They ask for too many things before they let you go. I just wanted out and they made me check my email, click on click stuff and was told to wait 48 hours for cancellation to take effect. You suck, MySpace. I'm glad to be done with you!
Next on the guillotine: Multiply. Next next: Twitter? We shall see...
I've been thinking of deleting all of my networking site accounts. I am close to doing it!
Believe it or not, I still have Friendster. Why on earth do I still want to take up space there? The silly reason that I can't kill it yet is because I signed up for it in 2003. It is such an antique.
MySpace can eat dirt for all I care. Wait, let me go there and end its uselessness...
Dang! They ask for too many things before they let you go. I just wanted out and they made me check my email, click on click stuff and was told to wait 48 hours for cancellation to take effect. You suck, MySpace. I'm glad to be done with you!
Next on the guillotine: Multiply. Next next: Twitter? We shall see...
Thursday, July 30, 2009
heyyyy
It's been a while.
I'm back here cos I'm suddenly sick of Twitter. I wasn't the most active Tweet-er anyway. Like Facebook, I've gotten tired of it. Until the next popular networking site comes along, I'll be dumping my nonsense here.
So what's up? I've been playing Mom yet again. Poor Boxy, I hardly have time for the fishy. If only my new baby, Lazer, is allowed in the aquarium room, they could be friends. Alas, the kitten is not to play with the fish! Everyone knows how that always end.
It wasn't such a tough decision but I now spend most of my time with the kitty cat.
This girl dominates my life right now. First thing in the morning and before I do anything else, I feed her and let her use the bathroom. It's our morning ritual.
In her first few weeks with us, she would wake me up as early as 3am and would be in a playing mood. I've indulged her many times but realized that if I'd continued, I would never get enough sleep.
Eventually, I learned to ignore her between 3 and 6 in the morning. She could play on her own as she has tons of toys in the room. Instead of waking up to her tiny meows (the only two times she meows: when she's hungry and when she wants to play with me), now I get woken up by sounds of her bell collar and cat toys being kicked around.
I'm back here cos I'm suddenly sick of Twitter. I wasn't the most active Tweet-er anyway. Like Facebook, I've gotten tired of it. Until the next popular networking site comes along, I'll be dumping my nonsense here.
So what's up? I've been playing Mom yet again. Poor Boxy, I hardly have time for the fishy. If only my new baby, Lazer, is allowed in the aquarium room, they could be friends. Alas, the kitten is not to play with the fish! Everyone knows how that always end.
It wasn't such a tough decision but I now spend most of my time with the kitty cat.
This girl dominates my life right now. First thing in the morning and before I do anything else, I feed her and let her use the bathroom. It's our morning ritual.
In her first few weeks with us, she would wake me up as early as 3am and would be in a playing mood. I've indulged her many times but realized that if I'd continued, I would never get enough sleep.
Eventually, I learned to ignore her between 3 and 6 in the morning. She could play on her own as she has tons of toys in the room. Instead of waking up to her tiny meows (the only two times she meows: when she's hungry and when she wants to play with me), now I get woken up by sounds of her bell collar and cat toys being kicked around.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
history
Manny PacMan Pacquiao
May 2, 2009
MGM Grand, Las Vegas
photo credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images via Yahoo Sports
photo credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images via Yahoo Sports
photo credit: Al Bello/Getty Images via Yahoo Sports
photo credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images via Yahoo Sports
May 2, 2009
MGM Grand, Las Vegas
photo credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images via Yahoo Sports
photo credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images via Yahoo Sports
photo credit: Al Bello/Getty Images via Yahoo Sports
photo credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images via Yahoo Sports
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Boxy
As the world knows, I've got the baby fever. Haven't been lucky so far but like they say "try and try again." It's fun for the most part ;) Though stressful and totally disappointing when I get the monthly dot,dot, dot.
In the meantime, I'm exercising some maternal instinct on my cow fish, Boxy. I never imagined I'd be this attached to a fish!
We have a bunch of other creatures in the tank like a Goby fish, a damsel fish, a shrimp (forgot what kind), emerald crabs, porcelain crab, zombie snails, pyramid snails and a bunch of different corals.
Boxy is the one I care for the most. I feed him/her (we're not sure about its gender) everyday using a baster (like the one you use for baking/roasting). Boxy has this beak of a mouth that fits the tip opening of the baster perfectly. It's like I'm feeding it from a baby bottle!
I'm not sure if I've completely conditioned Boxy not to look for food on his own. He/she is most dependent on me, and the baster, for meals. I rarely see Boxy swimming down to filter some food in the sand...or just roam around the rocks to eat food debris that gets spread all over the tank.
We have a video camera set up in front of our home tank. This way, we could stream the video online for the public to enjoy and most importantly, so that I could keep an eye on our pets when we're not home. All I need is my iphone and a wi-fi connection then I can watch our aquarium whenever/wherever I am.
The first thing I do when I open my eyes in the morning is watch Boxy's live feed on Ustream. I "spy" on them, see if they're hungry or observe what kind of shenanigans they do without any humans around. This is not extreme behaviour, is it? Or is it?
As soon as I go down to our home studio/office where we have the fish tank, Boxy positions him/herself near the tank's glass wall. I'm very much convinced that if there wasn't that glass dividing us, Boxy would be jumping at me like a pet dog!
So this is what Boxy looked like back in January. No horns yet!
This is Boxy today.
I sooo love Boxy.
In the meantime, I'm exercising some maternal instinct on my cow fish, Boxy. I never imagined I'd be this attached to a fish!
We have a bunch of other creatures in the tank like a Goby fish, a damsel fish, a shrimp (forgot what kind), emerald crabs, porcelain crab, zombie snails, pyramid snails and a bunch of different corals.
Boxy is the one I care for the most. I feed him/her (we're not sure about its gender) everyday using a baster (like the one you use for baking/roasting). Boxy has this beak of a mouth that fits the tip opening of the baster perfectly. It's like I'm feeding it from a baby bottle!
I'm not sure if I've completely conditioned Boxy not to look for food on his own. He/she is most dependent on me, and the baster, for meals. I rarely see Boxy swimming down to filter some food in the sand...or just roam around the rocks to eat food debris that gets spread all over the tank.
We have a video camera set up in front of our home tank. This way, we could stream the video online for the public to enjoy and most importantly, so that I could keep an eye on our pets when we're not home. All I need is my iphone and a wi-fi connection then I can watch our aquarium whenever/wherever I am.
The first thing I do when I open my eyes in the morning is watch Boxy's live feed on Ustream. I "spy" on them, see if they're hungry or observe what kind of shenanigans they do without any humans around. This is not extreme behaviour, is it? Or is it?
As soon as I go down to our home studio/office where we have the fish tank, Boxy positions him/herself near the tank's glass wall. I'm very much convinced that if there wasn't that glass dividing us, Boxy would be jumping at me like a pet dog!
So this is what Boxy looked like back in January. No horns yet!
This is Boxy today.
I sooo love Boxy.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
NightLife
One of Dino's dream parties came true. The California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco is having a weekly party for a whole month. How can you go wrong with Museum + Animals + Alcohol + Food + DJ music? Don't forget fun friends.
We just went last Thursday and have already bought tickets for next week.
The people pictures are on Dino's Facebook page. My pictures, which are all of stuffed animals, were taken with my iphone as I sipped on the first of too many cups of wine.
We just went last Thursday and have already bought tickets for next week.
The people pictures are on Dino's Facebook page. My pictures, which are all of stuffed animals, were taken with my iphone as I sipped on the first of too many cups of wine.
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