Chronicles of Maya 4: Angsty Juvenile Poetry

While cleaning out my old stuff, I found this piece of paper with a poem written on it. I recognized it as my handwriting from way way back. I probably wrote it for Sir Sam's High School English class. I just realized that this poem could have been the beginning of my life as an angsty "Emily the Strange"-like teenager. And that with this poem, Sir Sam could have sent me to see the school psych-person. It's so much fun finding old stuff. They're like relics from your past, in this case, one decade (or more) ago. My own piece of history. Don't laugh at my juve-y words. I think I was inspired by the song "My Favorite Things" and I read too much Sweet Dreams and Anne Rice books. But yeah go ahead. It's amusing. This makes me look like a disturbed kid when in fact I wasn't. I was just...what's the word? Morbid. It has no title. So I just made one up.

tough love

loving you is like a cup of hot chocolate on a cold rainy night
a gentle sweet kiss after a weary fight
it's like a big present wrapped up in dainty strings
a bunch of freshly picked flowers on a warm day in spring

it's like fluffy pink nightgowns with matching pink slippers
a furry little kitten with long silver whiskers
white lace with pearls on a blushing bride's gown
a party with balloons, cake and a red-nosed clown (ugh!)

loving you is like stars shining brightly in the evening sky
waiting on the porch steps for the ice cream man to pass by
ice cold lemonade on a sweaty hot day
innocent little toddlers, in the sandbox, at play

it's like watching a murder with your eyes unclosed
taking cocaine until you're overdosed
puking your brains out after twelve vodka tonics
burning the school down while the principal panics

helping an old lady cross a busy street
then snatching her bag and tripping her feet
it's like treating some orphans to a good Christmas feast
then telling them "Hey kids, Santa doesn't exist"

loving you is easy, loving you is hard
getting kissed and hugged, bruised up and scarred
medicine for pain, pain that won't go away
cancer that spreads in you with each passing day

loving you is sweet
loving you is tough
loving you is everything
yet it ain't enough.

Chronicles of Maya 3: Loving London

I found these pics from our trip to London last April 2004. Fell in love with this city. It still tops my list. So many good memories here with my sisters. Everything was just brill. Hopefully, we can go there again someday. Love the people, the culture, the arts, the sights and sounds, everything modern and historic can be found there. And no language barrier + that lovely accent. The weather's just a lil gloomy (blimey!). A small country that produced so many great people from Shakespeare to Gaiman, Winston Churchill to Diana, The Beatles to Sting. There were so many things to see. It was just, in their words, bloody marvelous!

famous red telephone booths. oxford circus.

windsor station/ shopping center. near the castles and home of the British Legoland!!

hitting it off with hitler. madame tussaud's wax museum

Harry Potter's famous platform 9 and 3/4. stood between platforms 9 and 10 at the King's Cross station

we missed the ride to stonehenge. just "pissing around" in salisbury

i'm a scots guards(wo)man!. touring old castles.edinburgh, scotland

moin, ate and our good friend stella (artois) at a pub in edinburgh, scotland.

wallowing around worthing, west sussex.

Can't Wait

Can't wait to see them :)

Bittersweet valentine Flashback

written last February 14

It seems that my Valentine’s Day celebration has fallen into a pattern. I realized it just now (with so much time on my hands spent oversleeping, thinking and planning). Yes, my V-day this year is quiet. No date, no flowers, no nothing. This is okay because Chev is in Santa Clara and I’m here in Manila and no we didn’t send each other Across the Miles To My Mahal greeting cards. But I realized that over the years, my V-day date book has been alternately empty and full. So I made this flashback and realized that my, my, it has been either happy or sad for me for 5 years now.

2004 – Bitter. As bitter as bitter gourd, dark chocolate, and double espresso shots blended into one disgusting choco veggie shake. I was broken up and hating the world and everything connected to love. I hated the sight of hearts and cupids and flowers and balloons. And I secretly murmured (to lovers around me) the line I made famous for a while “maghihiwalay din kayo…” I was the V-day grouch. And a man-hater. And a couple-hater. And yes this was my party girl year.

2005 – Sweet. I was with someone then and V-day was brighter than the year before. The lovebug bit me and I somehow learned to like flowers and balloons again. I was still a party girl. But a little subdued.

2006 – Bitter. My friends and I celebrated the S.A.D. (Single Awareness Day) V-day together. Yes I was single again. And we drowned our sorrows in wine, wine and more wine.

2007 – Sweet. Celebrated my first V-day with Chev. While we didn’t celebrate on the day itself, which we both consider mucky, we still found a way to make it more special than regular days. He gave me nice flowers and we had a nice dinner the weekend after. The bitter me in 04 is just a shadow of my present self. I have to say that Chev made me believe in love again. And changed my party girl ways. Yes, he is the man who tamed the shrew. At this time, I had no idea he would make a fiancé out of me in 7 months. But we knew back then we would last for a long time.

2008 – V-day without a valentine. But it’s cool. At least I know, following the pattern over the years, that 2009 will be better than this year and the past 5 years. By then hopefully, I will be with Chev. By then hopefully, I will be celebrating V-day with a different last name.

I'll keep you posted on what happens next year ;) Bitter or sweet.

What A(n awesome) Day

Written last February 12

Whew! This day has been one of my busiest days this year. I finally got out of the house and ran my errands like a mad(wo)man. For the past weeks, I’ve been busy only because of work. Nothing gratifying in turning over an old job that has been dead to me the day I decided to resign and in hunting for a new job in a country where they prefer H1B-vers. But today. Ah. Today was purely about me preparing for a new life that does not require slacks, blouses and stiletto heels to function. Today I wore jeans, sneakers and a sports shirt, got off my Interneting-Diner-Dashing-dvd-marathoning ass and spent a day like the busy but happy bee that I should be. While it has been tiring, I feel really good about myself. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.

9:00 am – Woke up a couple of hours earlier than usual. Had breakfast of leftover Christmas ham and Four Seasons juice. I downed a cup of coffee while moping over the fact that I’m going to miss my Wheel of Fortune-Jeopardy-Entertainment Tonight-Insider routine

10:00 am – Drove my sister to work over in Sucat. We battled pranela selling boys along the way. (K: I see them every day. Do they really think I need a fresh 10-piece set of pranela each time? M: Well maybe they think you wipe your ass with it). Yup, we’re no Maria Claras. 11ish – went to the office to drop off docs, pick up checks and withdraw money.
The office ATM for me is the safest ATM here in Makati

11:30 am – went to the bank to deposit checks pay bills, etc. Adult banking stuff. Then headed back to the office to print some docs and check email. I also finally surrendered my ID to HR.

1:00 pm– went to the travel agent to get my e-ticket. March 8’s the date! Can’t wait! (ok the rhyming thing is just lame). I encountered a couple there planning to tour Europe. They’re flying first class, up in the sky... the flossy flossy. They’re prolly loaded! 2:00 – had late lunch at the McDonald’s across the street. They had milkshake! And I pondered a little on whether I should spend 40 precious bucks on a stupid milkshake or on an even more stupid parking space. Decided that the milkshake is luxury. Parking space necessity. Chow Chow.

3:00-4:30 pm head office of an account I have handled for a long time. I gave them some documents and bid them goodbye. Some of the assistants where teary-eyed because according to them they have seen me grow up and transform in my 4 years as their account manager. Most probably from Overeager Trainee to Stoic Employee. Or from thin to chubby to thin to chubby.

5ish - I went to SM to pay for some bills I couldn’t pay at BPI. The BDO bank branch is open until 7. I learned that from the TVC. Then I went around the mall waiting for my sister’s text on whether I will pick her up or we’ll meet somewhere in the area. I also did a bit of window shopping and drooled over chocolates in their Happy Valentine’s Day section.

Around 7ish - I just got here. Bluewave. After looking for free but safe parking, I am now seated here in Starbucks. And this is where I’m writing this entry from. I wish I had my laptop so I could type this straight but no, I’m writing on my journal with my pencil which I keep sharpening from time to time with my handy dandy Faber Castell. I just realized how odd the crowd here is. To my left, we have the young magic-card trading boys pretending to be old and to my right we have an old Japanese man clad in shorts, K-Swiss high tops, gigantic blings and lady bug sunglasses, obviously pretending to be young. They both gave me disgusting flirtatious smiles.

And I just gave them both my best “Go find someone your age” look. For the boy it means “I am old enough to be your mother had I been a slutty/ curious 13-year old.” For the man it means “I am young enough to be your daughter had you been here in Manila 27 years ago.” They both left already. Thank God. But they have been replaced with a bunch of tambays drinking C2’s. I know it’s a free country but at least, out of courtesy to Starbucks, at least buy one short cappuccino. And oh my God, someone even took out a ceramic Mitsubishi mug and he’s pouring C2 into it. I’m not acting obnoxious here. I’m a bum with about 300 bucks in my wallet and no idea where I’ll get spending money once I use up all my savings. The only luxury I have spent on myself so far is my P 150 worth of arts and crafts supplies (pointless stuff, hence luxury), this white chocolate mocha frappuccino (which I charged on my credit card), a gray cotton hoodie (from SM teen brand Redhead), and a P20 bottle of Nail Polish (purchased out of the points I got from my SM Advantage Card yey!). I am not better than them or anyone else. But I’m not hanging out at places I can’t afford for the ambience or the image. I wish they’d get some common sense and transfer to the equally metal and uncomfortable tables in the courtyard where they can have all the C2’s they want and gab about their Valentine plans all night long. Oh yah. It’s Vday. But today is also an important day. It’s Abe Lincoln’s birthday. He was born today four scores and seven years ago. Haha.

Here’s to you Abe-bay-bay.

So here I am using up my journal on what started out as a post about my day but turned out to be a post about other people. My sister’s taking so long. I just drafted wedding plans. Prolly my fourth draft. It’s so hard to decide on themes. I feel like the theme I want is too modern for my family. People say I shouldn’t care since it’s my wedding. But they’re my guests, and like a hostess with the mostest, I care about whether they’ll enjoy or not. Vegas is beginning to sound like a fun plan more and more by the minute. Not to mention inexpensive.

I’m in my poorest state at the moment and having a grand wedding when you can only afford a Vegas wedding is like drinking C2 at Starbucks. Ok it’s not the perfect metaphor but get my drift. Thank God my future hubby will not let that happen :P He wants a nice wedding. He’s been dreaming about it since….well since he was a little girl :P

Despite my current major tipid mode, I’m still happy. Because now I value money more than ever. And I value what’s necessary. And I find happiness in the simplest things (like free nail polish). It’s been a good day. For errands. For wedding plans. For coffee. For America’s independence. And for realizations over 4 pages of my journal. I’m happy with who I am and where I am now. I hope this year will see my Multiply filled with entries like this. I hope my life will be filled with feelings like this. Right now for me, life is good and I know it’s going to get even better.

Simpsons Vs. Family Guy

Speaking of Stewie and Family Guy. I went online and searched for pics and articles about this funny Adult Swim cartoon. I have to say there are some hardcore fans out there criticizing them for their similarity to The Simpsons. I also read in Wikipedia that the criticism doesn’t end with the fans but also on the show itself. The Simpons actually featured a Halloween special wherein the Family Guy dad “Peter Griffin” was portrayed as a clone of Homer Simpson and as a fugitive accused of “Plagiarismo” (faux-Italian for plagiarism) in the episode “The Italian Bob.”

I wondered where they got the idea that Family Guy is a rip-off :)

Anyhoo, here's a funny pic of them on the cover of MAD Magazine

For me both shows are extremely funny. I've been an avid fan of The Simpsons since I was young and the plot has been amusing but lately they seem to be running out of good story lines. But they say the newer episodes are a big improvement. I don't know since the last I saw of the Simpsons family was their movie.

Family Guy has really shallow plots but I like the witty repartee ("What should they call San Francisco? Heaven. Because of the fabulous shoe shopping"). Makes me laugh hearty and belly laughs. Their movie was straight to dvd though. Maybe because of all the lawsuits. Haha. But for me, right now I like the Family Guy better because of little Stewie. I love his wit and the fact that he's a baby and an evil little man rolled in one. He plans world domination and then plays with his teddy bear Rupert and begs for ice cream the next. He's like a psycho version of Marvin or Calvin minus Hobbes. And Brian the clever martini-drinking dog who reminds me an awful lot of Snoopy only he's a womanizing, bar hopping, cleverer version of our Peanuts character.

But I don't know, I think I better catch up on my Simpsons since they have been my favorite adult cartoons eversince. My favorite baby-ish cartoon TV shows are Gummy Bears, Care Bears, and My Little Pony and Friends while the teeny ones are TMNT and X-men..oh oh and does anyone remember the Thundercats?

Family Guy Quotes

Ok I can't stop. I just searched and searched the web for funny quotes from Stewie Griffin of Family Guy. And here are my picks.

Lois Griffin: Come on Stewie, don't be afraid. It's just water, it's not gonna bite.
Stewie Griffin: Shut up! I know it's not going to bite, stupid! What a stupid thing to say. You drown in it you moron! It doesn't have to bite you!

Stewie: Let me guess, you picked out yet another colorful box with a crank that I'm expected to turn and turn until OOP! big shock, a jack pops out and you laugh and the kids laugh and the dog laughs and I die a little inside.

Stewie: Hello, mother. I come bearing a gift. I'll give you a hint. It's in my diaper and it's not a toaster

Stewie: I was under the impression the name of the show was "Kids Say the Darndest Things," not "Old Black Comedians Never Shut the Hell Up."

Bill Cosby: Stewie, what do you think candy is made out of?
Stewie Griffin: Sunshine and farts! What the hell kind of question is that?!

Meg: Everybody! Guess what I am?
Stewie: Hm, the end result of a drunken back-seat grope-fest and a broken prophylactic?

Chris: Hey little dude, how about some ice cream?

Stewie: Yes I could go for a frozen treat right about now. But no sprinkles. And for every sprinkle I find, I shall kill you.

Stewie: Oh forgive me for not being one of those anorexic babies from the diaper commercials.

Stewie: You know what else is disgusting? (He farts and his right eye turns red.) Oh damn, I broke a blood vessel.

Meg: Mom guess what! I made the Flag Girl squad
Stewie: Flag Girl? Ummmm, yes good for you... Now you can be somewhere else when the boys don't call!

Lois: What kind of egotistical, selfish, moronic and idiotic person would get liposuction... Who? WHO?
(Peter walks in at half of his weight)
Stewie: Oh my God... It has finally happened, he has become so massive that he collapsed into himself like a neutron star.

(Peter is trying to potty train Stewie)
Peter: C'mon Stewie, don't you want to pee in the toilet like a big boy?
Stewie: Well, perhaps I could give it the old college try. Would you put your hands there on the toilet seat, it'll help me relax.
Peter: OK. (Slams toilet seat down on Peter's fingers.) AAAHHHHHH!!!!
Stewie: Listen you, I'll use these facilities when I'm DAMN WELL READY!!!! Until then you shall continue to sanitize my crevice and be DAMN GRATFEUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY!!! Starting right . . .hmmp. . . hmmmp. . . . .hmmmmmp well then, not now, BUT SOON! (Walks off.)

Stewie: By all means, turn me into a child star. Perhaps I can move to Californ-i-ay and wrangle me a three-way with the Olsen twins.

Stewie: Easy! Massage the scalp. You're washing a baby's hair, not scrubbing vomit off your Christmas dress, you holiday drunk.

Robber: I'm gonna go bang my girlfriend and then I'm gonna kill Chris Griffin!
Stewie: Good lord! Can he really say "bang my girlfriend" on TV?

Lois (to Stewie): Come on sweetie, eat your broccoli. It's good for you! Here comes the airplane!
Stewie (to Lois): Damn you, damn the broccoli, and damn the Wright Brothers!

Stewie: So broccoli, mother says your good for me,well I'm afraid i'm not good for you!

Meg: Can I be in the play, Mom?
Stewie: Oh yes, you can be the dumpy teenage girl who cries backstage because no one finds her attractive.

Eliza: Ew, your breath smells like kitty litter.
Stewie: I was curious!

Chris: Can I go now? Stewie's gonna help me with my math homework.
Lois: Chris...he can't help you with your homework, he's just a baby!
Stewie: And I guess you're a Rhodes Scholar yourself. Where did you graduate from again, the University of DUH?!?!?

Stewie: Hey look! The fat one made a funny! Okay, I got one....if you were to cook any slower, why you wouldnt be cooking very fast now would you? (Pause.) Well that wasn't very funny....oh, oh...okay I got one (giggling) if you were to cook any slower, you wouldn't need an egg timer, you would need an egg calander....hahahaha!! Oh yes, I went there!!

Stewie: Now, I'm going to do something I like to call the 'Compliment Sandwhich" Where I say something good, talk about where you need improvement, and then end with something good.
Brian: Whatever you gotta do...
Stewie (flips notepad): Something good... something good... You look like SNOOPY and it makes me smile... but you have smelly dog farts.

Stewie: Well, Well mother we meet again.
Lois: Stewie I thought I tucked you in an hour ago.
Stewie: Not tightly enough it would seem, and now you contemptible harpy, I shall end your oppressive reign of matriarchal tyranny!

Lois: Look its the New Year's baby!
Stewie: Yes, I rather like the sash, but do the Huggies make my ass look big?

Stewie: I say, am I to spend the entire day wallowing around in my own feces? A little service here.
Peter: Hey stinky. Have we got big plans for you.
Stewie: Plans? What the devil are you talking about?

Stewie: Well, I'd love to stay and chat, but you're a total bitch.

Olivia: You are the weakest link, goodbye. (laughter)
Stewie: Ha ha ha! Oh gosh that's funny! That's really funny! Do you write your own material? Do you? Because that is so fresh. You are the weakest link goodbye. You know, I've, I've never heard anyone make that joke before. Hmm. You're the first. I've never heard anyone reference, reference that outside the program before. Because that's what she says on the show right? Isn't it? You are the weakest link goodbye. And, and yet you've taken that and used it out of context to insult me in this everyday situation. God what a clever, smart girl you must be, to come up with a joke like that all by yourself. That's so fresh too. Any, any Titanic jokes you want to throw at me too as long as we're hitting these phenomena at the height of their popularity. God you're so funny!

Lois: I'm gonna go get some oranges Stewie. Here, hold the rest of these bags for mommy."
Stewie: Oh, what brilliant parenting Lois. Leave a tiny infant with a plastic bag. You know I might asphyxiate myself just to teach you a lesson. Here I go. Just like that boy from INXS..(Stewie tries to put bag over top of his head.)

*Pics from Planet Family Guy

Goodbye V

We’ve had some fun times together…V and I.

She’s been my travel companion and adventure buddy.

She’s given me warmth during cold weather, cool AC during summer.

We’ve had our share of ups and downs…smooth and rocky rides.

We’ve seen our share of road trips, drive thrus, carwashes and gas stations.

She’s a good friend. She always got me home in one piece even when I‘ve had a bit too much to drink. She’s always been there for me (never had a flat tire or a dead battery in the middle of nowhere), never let me down. And I’m so sad I have to let her go…

Goodbye Venice. You will be missed.

Steady V

unsteady me with V

long live the queen

Arrivederci Venice!

TGIF

T.G.I.F.
Thank God it’s Friday. Thank God it’s February. Thank God I’m Free.

Yey. I just resigned. I’m officially a bum. Returned my stuff today in a box, just like what they do in the movies. Then I said my goodbyes to the people I have worked with in and out of Wyeth. Of course I sent out my short but sweet goodbye email to colleagues and bosses before they deleted my profile. I felt sad writing the email but felt so much better when I received emails from well-wisher friends.

Before officially beginning my life as a bum, I attended a meeting today endorsing my replacement. We were talking business and as always, I was committing a bunch of things that I would do as action points after the meeting. Then we all laughed. And my replacement took over from there. While they were discussing problems that need to be resolved, I was thinking “I don’t care…I don’t need to care anymore after today.” And that felt so good.

Then I started thinking about happier things I would be doing at home when I resign. Dorky domestic stuff like scrapbooking, playing Sims2, making collages and other arts and crafts, cooking Valentine’s dinner for my mom and dad on Vday, reading books in the big comfy couch, playing PSP in my bed. And that felt so good.

Then I emailed lists of things to do to my replacements. And then I finished and just stared around and didn’t know what to do next. Cause I didn’t have anything to do anymore. And that felt so good.

And I thought about what I’m going to do tomorrow, which usually involves a bit of work (despite it being a Saturday) and realized that it’s just gonna be a laid-back Saturday with friends. And that felt so good.

I have to admit, I was anxious at first about this stage in my life. Kinda scared to not have a steady income after so many years. Kinda scared about what lies ahead. But I think about this scene that I play over and over in my head when I miss Chev. It involves the arrivals gate at LAX, Chev and a lot of hugs and laughs…And that felt so good.

It’s the first Friday of February. I just had a McDonald’s happy meal while watching Zathura on HBO. I’m closer to seeing my Chevy. I feel like a kid after the last quarter exams. I feel so free.

And that just feels SO DARN GOOD.

so long suckers!

and yes it's funny how it's my last day but i was there til 7:30pm. har.

Chronicles of Maya 2: Pics that made me go awwww...

In the course of sorting out my personal and work files from my laptop, I found these pics that made me go awww...

December 29, 2007. Ate and baby Armaan's first night in Manila. Astoria Suites

November 29 2007. Last dinner date with Chev before he left for the States. Vivere

Armaan doing ducky lips. Just. Like. Me. (I'm so proud)