Go to http://www.philippineaid.com/ to help.

I envy the relaxation smokers get after that first puff. I’ve been on enough smoke breaks with friends to see the complete and utter surrender look they get after they light the first stick and take that first breath.  I don’t know any other thing that gives people relief faster, as cheap, or easier than that oh-so-addictive cancer stick.

See I am a child of a lifelong smoker. My dad smokes around the house so much, I think I have the lungs of someone who’s smoked since they were 18. Suffice to say, I never had a smoking phase. The idea holds no mystery, and no appeal other than that instant dose of happiness I see smokers get.

Once or twice i tried to start. Extreme stress, utter frustration has gotten me yanking a stick away from a friend’s pack only to inhale 3 times just to hand it over, then buying a coke to get rid of the charcoaly aftertaste.

But hey, if they could bottle that relaxed, contented effect that a smoke gives to people without the smoky smell you get, and the wrinkles and oh yeah, the CANCER. I’ll jump on the bandwagon.

Until then, Imma burn holes in my tummy with my can of Coke.

That is not my cigarette, it’s a friend’s. 😛

Orchestras rock.

Well they don’t in actuality, but I love them. They rock in that a guitar can never portray deep longing quite as well as the mournful tones of a violin, and that the simple ting! of a well timed triangle can really end a long incredible song, unencumbered by words. (Don’t get me wrong, I am a sucker for song lyrics, I think I post a line a day. Whether it be in Facebook, or my twitter, but heck, sometimes when the accompaniment is that good, who needs lyrics?)

Take me to listen to an orchestra any day and I’ll be a happy bunny. It relaxes me, excites me, makes me giddy. I guess this is partly coz of my complete and utter frustration of never learning to play any instrument. Partly coz I’ve loved violins ever since I was a kid, when the brother of a friend played to accompany the choir I was in. Just one and I found peace in the world, imagine how I feel when the Philharmonic goes all out.

My mother and sister share the sentiment. So much so we used to troop to Greenbelt to listen to the mini concerts the PPO used to hold during the Christmas season. Then we’d go eat.

And if you’ve heard about Rockestra, it’s a fangirl’s dream come true. Philippine bands with the Manila Symphony Orchestra take the music to another level, imbibing rock with a classic feel. I never watched the concert series, I didn’t hear of them until they were over, but I caught Urbandub once with the MSO and I almost keeled over. You’ve never heard “The Fight Is Over” until you’ve heard it with the MSO, take my word for it.

There’s also the Sugarfree concerts with the MSO, both times, we went, swooning. It’s no secret I’m a Sugarfree fan. I love their lyrics, their drumbeats, and to have that with the MSO, well, it was all I could do to not faint in happiness.

Please bring back Rockestra. I’ll watch I promise. (I wonder how Parokya will sound with an orchestra)

And bring the PPO/MSO to Trinoma. Greenbelt’s already had the pleasure.  🙂

Finishing a whole tv series, with ice cream, huddling under the covers, so cold ’cause it’s raining.

That would be a perfect perfect day.

Last Saturday night, while on the way home from a birthday party, one of my dad’s best friends was shot and killed.

He was 57, retired from the police force a number of years.

Reportedly, he was trying to fix things with his wife, whom he was separated with for a long time.

The woman called, unable to go home for the funeral because she was abroad.

“Pakibulong sa patay na mahal ko siya.” (Tell him I love him)

We still don’t know who did it. Nobody knew of any enemies or threats. My dad was at the same party, and chillingly, was usually the one he brought home on his motorcycle, for once, my dad left early to sleep.

One shot, gone.

So before it’s too late, tell them you love them.

So today marks one year I’ve had with my d40. And what have I learned?

1. Settings are tricky, and having friends who are more adept with the camera makes you lazy to learn everything firsthand.

2. This is an uberbulky camera that is almost never used when island hopping and snorkeling.

3. It’s a commitment, buying a dslr. You have to learn stuff, and people  immediately assume you know what to do with it.

4. It’s actually not hard taking nice food photos, coz the camera does all the work for you.

5. Buy a freaking camera bag so that when you drop it, the lcd doesn’t break.

The day before my camera turns 1, my bag strap breaks, sending my bag to the floor, and i hear a crack.

Desperately praying it was my umbrella and not the camera, I check. Yep, it was the camera. The cover of the LCD with a spidercrack smack dab in the middle was the unfortunate sight that almost brought me to tears while on my way to work.

Fortunately, I kept my cool until i got to the office, where I bawled like a baby.

Took a half day to troop over to Mayer’s (where I bought it) and have it fixed.

I was told it was gonna cost about five thou but to call on Tuesday to know the final price of the repair.  I felt like crying, coz I just bought a point and shoot, and have plans to travel next month, it was like everything was pointing at “Jods, yer broke until Christmas”.

Then we went to Dong Bei to eat, and while I was staring into space worrying how I was gonna pay for everything while still having a life (and waiting for our food), i figured, it was just money. Things could be so much worse.

So now, that’s my mantra. It’s just money.

But in the meantime, Happy 1 year to Rrramon! 🙂 We’ve been through so much together, and we’ve so much to experience and record (for blackmail). Promise I’ll take better care of you, and will find out how you work.

*wink*

I was talking to a friend last week, let’s call her D. Now D is what I used to call a hopeless, sappy romantic. Watching every local or foreign romantic comedy, and praying that the same things she watched, would happen to her in her life. We used to spend hours contemplating life, love, and all in between, usually focusing on the second topic. I watched her four year relationship blossom, then slowly wither as her then prince fell short of her fairy tale dreams.

So you could imagine how shocked I was to hear this from her “It’s not forever, but it’s right now. He knows that.” about her new relationship.

Jaw on the floor, I prodded.

Apparently, this cinderella got tired of waiting for Mr. Right, and  Mr. Right Now came in the picture.

D then proceeded to tell me that I was too naive for my own good. That I should stop waiting for someone to sweep me off my feet and open my mind to every possibility. I could only nod as my former partner in crime in all that was mush and sweet then tore apart all what used to be her vision of the future and told me to do that as well.

Honestly, I don’t know if I’m waiting for FOREVER. I’m only 23. And relationship wise, I’ve almost zero experience in handling the intricacies of interweaving two lives and making it work.  And I do, I do keep my mind open for possibilities. I know now that what can hit you can come from the most unexpected places.

But til then, D, I do hope you know what you’re doing.