Thursday, June 29, 2006

RIGHT BRAIN ::: My Teenage Pursuit

First things first: I loved Michael Jackson (still do) immensely when I was a kid and that Oprah interview from 1993 would have to be one of the most prized events in television history, whether you're a fan or not. Time magazine even had a double-page spread about that TV special with the headline "Peter Pan Speaks" — I still got a copy of it somewhere in our house.

It aired on a Sunday night in March. I was feeling guilty staying up past bedtime because Monday mornings were always difficult but I just had to see and hear MJ just sit down and talk like a normal person. Come to think of it, whatever he did back then was, for me, nothing like the ordinary anyway.

The man was my "idol" and I was only too excited to talk about him to anyone. Sadly, back at school the next morning, hardly any of the kids had anything interesting to say about the interview other than admiring Michael Jackson's theme park rides. They knew I was a big fan though and were nice enough to share every now and again about the cool dance moves and videos. But nobody cared to talk about the songs or about the person.

Through the years, I've become less and less enchanted with Michael Jackson. Partly because I've been jaded by things around me and because Michael has stopped creating. He's stalled and, being a fan who's seen all his material, I kind of wish he'd just go back to basics. I hope that with this recent announcement to rebuild his musical career, he'll finally remember that it IS about the music and not the costumes, big budget, publicity, or special effects.

But I will always have this in mind:

Remember that when Michael Jackson beatboxes, it's nothing like what your average boom-chick-a-boom-boom Timberlake wigga does.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

It's Only Tuesday, My Friend

I realized this only recently but never really refered to it as much. Now, I must. It's this truth: the more you let people vent their problems to you, the more they whine.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

TRANSPORTED ::: Hello, up there!



(Posted 29 June) My trip to Ilocos was so overwhelming that until now, over a week since I got back, I've yet to commit my thoughts about the entire trip on paper. Yeah, I know, some writer. Hopefully, this weekend I'll find time to do that...or just go see Superman Returns. For now, you may click on the photo above to see the slideshow I've assembled.

Friday, June 16, 2006

WHIMSY ::: 'Away' Message

Guys and dolls, I'll be on holiday for the next few days and should be back around the 21st. It's not a long break, I know. I ought to go on longer ones! But, alas, the funds aren't that plenty and work builds up so I'll make this trip short and sweet. (Did I just say 'alas'? How pretentious!)

If you're wondering, I'll be going on a road trip up to North Luzon and will be taking lots of photos for a future article in our little magazine. Hopefully, we'll have sunshine where it counts. Pray we get there safe and sound, my brothas and sistas.

It will be my first time up in Pagudpud and Ilocos so I'm very excited. There are some pretty amazing sceneries there which I didn't expect to be found in this country. That makes me love the Philippines so much more because it always comes around with nifty little surprises like wind farms, a rustic lighthouse, and dunes. Yes, sand dunes!

OK, I'll end here so I can finish packing. I know they told us to "pack lite" but unless all my clothes are nylon, I don't think that's gonna happen.

Tot ziens!

P.S. NED vs. Ivory Coast tomorrow night. Hup, Holland, hup!

Friday, June 09, 2006

All the Way for Oranje!

Netherlands match schedule*:
11 Jun SCG vs. NED 21:00
17 Jun NED vs. CIV 00:00
22 Jun NED vs. ARG 03:00

I just found out that lanky goalie Edwin Van der Sar and Phillip Cocu share a birthday, October 29, 1970. That makes them the two oldest members of the World Cup 2006 Oranje squad. Seeing them will definitely make me miss the old crew: Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars, the DeBoer twins, Jaap Stam, Edgar Davids, Patrick Kluivert, Clarence Seedorf, and even coach Guus Hiddink.

It's my third World Cup and I'm glad the KNVB team is playing. (Doesn't take a lot) The last one in Korea/Japan was not as exciting for me because Bergkamp, who retired last month after eleven years in the international leagues, and the Dutch squad were missing from the pitch. But the boys are back in the game so I'll be having occasional ridiculously early mornings over the next month.

Oh yeah, it's onnnn now!

*all times MNL

Wednesday, June 07, 2006

U2 ::: I Wunt That One

Buy Me NowFirst, thanks to C for delivering this and many other U2 scoops in the past. What's a fan to do without you?!

So I want one of these. It retails for $325 which is about a month's wage for me. Yeah, believe it. What's next? A U2 concert receiver that lets you pick up audio and video of any live concert or performance of theirs from anywhere in the world. Heh. See how stuff get obsolete in a blink?

I want to take a nap.

Sunday, June 04, 2006

RIGHT BRAIN ::: Mee-Choo-Fat (High Mandarin for 'babbling')

It was drizzling last night when I went out to load-up my phone. On the way back, I picked up a bottle of C2 green tea (lemon flavor, chilled), my favorite drink, at the 7-Eleven. I thought I'd put it in the freezer so it'd be extra cold later on just like how some people want their beer. I don't drink beer or any alcohol at all but you get the point. I then went upstairs to flip through the channels. The Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition finale was on but the unending commercials and Mariel Rodriguez flubbing her lines (She's had that hosting gig for ten friggin' months now! Why can't ABS fire her ass or at least send her off to a speech pathologist?!) made the show painful/unbearable to watch. Thankfully, my eyes had become watery by now so I went to bed and fell asleep. I had completely forgotten about my C2.

This morning, I got up at 8 AM, unusually early for a weekend. I opened the freezer and my C2 was solid as a rock. There're several ways to thaw it but every one of them needed me to wait.

Meanwhile, the sun was out and furious. Unfortunately, even after a few minutes on the pavement, it still wasn't a drink.

Saturday, June 03, 2006

WHIMSY ::: Horoscope for the Day

Sometimes when you're granted a wish you don't always realize it; something you've been waiting for is coming your way now, so you'd better open your eyes to see it. Dressed up in camouflage, it probably won't fit your physical ideal -- but it is perfect for you. Any adjustments you need to make to accept it are necessary. Choices you made in a work or school environment are paying off, and you will be given a chance soon to enjoy an extended stay in luxurious surroundings.
It's almost 4 o'clock now and so far all I got is half a palabok from Eloi. Should I assume my pay-off is a dud?