definite deadlines - focus

dissertation for printing - waiting

rush - no coffee

finished 'to do's - laziness

journals - excitement

drive home - sing along

problems? - research!

music - passion

annie lennox - rebirth

recession - warriors

everyday - sweetest smile

rats and roaches - kill mode

life on the edge - alive

... i keep feeling lately that it takes a bigger dose of craziness to take life head on.

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we watched a movie a couple of days ago. before going inside, we bought soda and 'naked' hotdogs near the entrance. i surely remember saying more than twice that we'd like to have 2 hotdogs, 2 sodas and a plate of nachos. came collection time, there was only one hotdog, the sodas and nachos. so we reminded the lady in the counter about the remaining hotdog in a relaxed manner.

lady replied: 'isa lang ang inorder mo.'(you ordered only one hotdog)

i said still very relaxed, 'hindi, 2 yung inorder ko diba? inulit ko pa nga e.' (no, i ordered 2 right? i even repeated my order)

lady: 'hinde, isa nga lang inorder mo e'. (no. you ordered only one.) (irritated mataray tone)

i took a deep breath, closed my eyes and looked away. hyden talked to them and just re-ordered the remaining hotdog. all of a sudden, i told my housemate hyden loudly and matter-of-factly: 'gusto ko siyang patayin.' (i want to kill her.) while looking at the lady. good thing she became busy with something else.

i was shocked at myself.

anger. not good.

It is dinner break right now but before I go back to writing technical matters, I would like to share a story by my very creative friend Jeff...

Ang Alamat ng Electric Fan
(The Legend of the Electric Fan)

Once upon a time, there lived a young boy who walks from home to school and vice versa everyday. One day while waiting for the green light on a pedestrian crossing, an old lady stood beside her. When it was their turn to cross, he offered his arm to guide the old lady across the street. Upon crossing, the old lady turned into a beautiful fairy with a magic wand and said, "Because of your kind gesture, I will turn you into ... an ELECTRIC FAN!" From then on, we have electric fans.

Hahaaaa!

Anybody want to hear The Legend of the Hanger?

Thursday night. Selda casa. Proper dinner with Buhay & Hyden. Bought raw bulalo (beef shanks) and some fish from Karama Fish Market. We met with our good old vendor pals in the market. The Pakistani guys in the meat shop usually add a few pieces of beef taba (fat) and laman (meat) to our papaitan set upon request. The papaitan guy makes his eyes bigger as he says 'Tabaaah'. The guys in the fish shop greets us with 'Pare & Mare' and give us tips on which ones are the freshest. The Indian guys in the vegetable shop across the fish stall would always say 'Long time! How have you been?' After we've paid for our vegies, we'll say goodbyes and see you next times. That's your friendly Karama Fish Market!

Buhay will boil the bulalo tonight so we can have a savoury soupy lunch tomorrow with Papa Mar, Say & Jeff. Caught my mother on YM and had a nice brief inspiring chat. She's been working late - both Dubai time (10:40pm) and Phil. time (around 3am). She said they're just finishing something. Indefatiguable is how Red Constantino describe her. The adjective was very much in action a few minutes ago. Good thing my brother Giting fetched her so now she's off. I hope she'll sleep immediately when they get home. My brother is nearing his exam days. Goodluck & God bless!

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At home relaxing before bed time, Muffin copied Dale's whole collection of Janis Joplin to my hard drive. And there's more: Sade, Basia, The Who, Jun Lopito, Joni Mitchell, Dazed & Confused Soundtrack and even Coltrane! They've got an intensive collection of really good music that you don't need to go to Virgin.

John Coltrane, the acclaimed jazz artist, is of some significant interest to me mainly because i'm curious why they say his music is great. I tried his greatest hits collection a few years back and i must humbly say that it was too early for me to appreciate that kind of jazz on the deeper spectrum of freestyle. It was like there was no chorus or middle part or any trace of the usual song format we're used to. I do like jazz but most of the ones I have found to like are standards. They are easy, accessible, familiar and easy to nibble. Coltrane, on the other hand, is way up and out there. Maybe if I listen to it again this time, i'll feel some heart in it to me. Or maybe it will just elude me. Whatever it is, I've got the company of Ms. Joplin tonight.

Dubai felt relatively warm the past few weeks and there is a seeming sigh peeping on the minds of its constituents with the thought of summer creeping in. Add the sandstorm over the weekend and it could be a cry. Exaj hehehe.

This week though, is heaven. It got cold again but not as cold as the months before. It is just perfect. I wish it could be like this till the end of the year. But ofcourse, it will no longer be the Middle East without its hot charm.

I remember my father laughing at us when we were kids eating a salad of fresh ampalaya (bitter gourd) over lunch. We were cringing and complaining why it has to be so bitter. He said, 'Syempre mapait, ampalaya nga yan e. Pag di na yan mapait, di na yan ampalaya.' (Ofcourse it's bitter because it's a bitter gourd. It will no longer be one if it's not bitter at all.)

Syempre!

There are & have been lots of thoughts but not much is written. I would like to keep blogging to exercise & stimulate a writing mind. I need to write something - many things. Something really important. Something to look forward to. I need to get down & dirty writing and reading and writing and reading ... and discussing! No photos necessary. Just words words words wrods wdors wrdos...

As my mother said: 'Edited or unedited, you have to have something written as a start.'

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We saw the Chinese State Circus at DFC last night. It was fantastic! First time for me to actually be in a circus. There was the bicycle act - where up to a dozen ladies rode a single bike. The double pole stunt - they looked like ninjas in a bamboo forest hanging by the arm & torso and swinging from trunk to trunk using only their thighs. Jeff and I called it pitpit-itlog (crush-egg). Those guys must be very very strong. And there were many more. It was a very good show. Timings are 6pm & 9pm at the Dubai Festival City. Today is the last day though.

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and i haven't moved yet.