dream destinations

What are your dream destinations?

Here are my top five:

1. Rome, Italy - Tinatawag talaga ako ng Rome. I just have this feeling that I belong there. Maybe I was a Roman in my past life. Hehe.  I would also love to see the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Duomo, among many other stunning sights. And eat authentic Italian gelato of course!

2. Florence, Italy - I will probably spend a day in the Uffizi, getting lost in all the masterpieces there. I'll visit the Duomo too and admire Brunelleschi's octagonal dome.

3. Athens, Greece - I want to see the Acropolis!

4. Barcelona, Spain - I want to experience this city and see all of Gaudi's works.

5. Cairo, Egypt - I want to see the pyramids!

Somewhere down my list are London, Budapest and New York! Sana tumama na lang kami sa lotto para magtravel na lang forever!

two days to go

And the weather in our destinations are looking good.

Macau

Hong Kong

But then again, these are just forecasts. Could be correct, better or worse. Correct na lang sana.

Or better.  

cannot wear heels lah

I'm such a klutz. Two weeks ago, I accidentally hit the corner of our bed frame and badly bruised my left leg. Last night, I did it again. Pero right leg naman. Growl. 

By the way, we're already using the habing Iloco bed spread we bought in Vigan. 

It's comfy and reminds me of Lola's bed in da prabins.

PS

I didn't include the kanto responsible for my injuries. Hehe.

criticize me

Always be grateful for criticism, Kat.

You're gorgeous,
The Universe

PS
As if there was ever a time to be ungrateful. Huh, Kat? 

*****

Criticism, constructive or otherwise, is very much part of being a writer, and I am thankful I came across really smart editors that gave me criticism I can learn from.

swine flu!

This is really scary. It's like SARS all over again. I hope the situation will get better soon.

nagpaparamdam ang Universe

Kat, in life there will always be challenges that have manifested, and dreams that haven't. But they'll always pale in comparison to the number of dreams that have manifested, and challenges that haven't.

Just look around you.

You are my dream come true,
The Universe

PS
Kat, nice work.

samu't sari

Congratulations to my brother Miko and my sister for graduating! Yahoo! One more to go mommy and daddy!!!

*****

Was on sick leave last Thursday and Friday. Didn't do anything but rest at home and slept. I'm almost well now.

*****

Five days to go before Macau! Lord Stowe here we come! (Yeah, there's one in Glorietta but still!)

Parating na din kami Hong Kong! Namiss kita! 

We Will Rock You

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Other

This review is one year late but, We Will Rock you is still my favorite musical so far.

See original blog entry here.

CATS the Musical

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Other

CATS is about, well, cats. It's based on T.S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats and musicalized by Andrew Lloyd Webber. I just had to see this one because it's one of the longest running musicals of all time and certainly one of the best. It has won several awards, including Best New Musical in the 1981 Olivier Awards in 1981 and Best Musical in the 1983 Tony Awards.

The story and plot are simple but the execution was excellent. The singing was great and so is the dancing. The costumes were as catty as catty can get, while the set served its purpose perfectly.

My favorite part was the one with Mr. Mistoffeles, and of course, Grizabella singing Memory (all alone in the moonlight). I also liked how the cast engaged the audience by coming over the aisles during the show and the break.

For experience's sake, watch CATS if you can.

catching up

I was on sick leave today. Nothing major. Just sinusitis. The doc gave me mean medication which would remove the blockage and make me sleep at the same time. Sweet. The drugs here are hardcore. They'll knock you out. 

I needed to be knocked out though. I've been feeling stressed and out-of-balance since we came back from our Ilocos trip. I guess blocked sinuses are my body's way of telling me I need to step back and rest. When we got back kasi I went straight to work then this weekend was all about doing the laundry and cleaning the room. Pero naisingit ko naman ang panonood ng movies: one Tagalog movie last Friday, two last Saturday and a Hollywood flick last Sunday (all already in the Reviews section).

I think what remained of my energy was sucked out when I cleared my closet. It depressed me! I realized that the clothes I bought last August were size 12. And I'm frickin' wearing 14s now! Oemgee! The truth hit me like a 10-wheeler: I'm getting bigger and bigger by the second and if I don't do anything about it, I could be bedridden in a few years' time! It scared me!!!

I made healthy switches already. From white I went whole grain, from whole fat, I went low fat. I think the problem is with the amount of calories I consume. I am exercising but I think I'm only reaping health benefits from it. Ano ba naman ang 30-minute, low to medium impact walk-jog? I think I have to be more aggressive if I want to control my weight.

B discussed the possibilities of joining a gym but I find it...impractical. I would if I had extra cash but there are cheaper/free options naman.

Anyway...

After the emotional and stressful closet clearing, I decided to take Monday off. I had a valid reaon anyway.

So. I managed to take two one-hour naps today, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. I was also able to finish Absolute Sandman Vol. 1 and I must say, I'm totally hooked. I loved the Sandman Miscellany at the end, especially Neil Gaiman's proposal. It helped me understand the story and the characters better. That Gaiman guy has a wild imagination! He's super. I admire him. He's awesome.

And my husband's back from work. So, till tomorrow!

Ang Tanging Ina Niyong Lahat

Rating:	★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Comedy

The first one was waaaaay better. Although there were funny moments, the whole movie seemed like it was made just to earn money. It was hugely successful--top grosser ito sa MMFF pero parang pilit na pilit, hindi gaya nung Tanging Ina which was so endearing.

You Changed My Life

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Romantic Comedy

Part 2 of A Very Special Love. Mas madaming drama than the first one. Some parts were just too mushy like candy that's too sweet. Still entertaining though. Not bad.

A Very Special Love

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Romantic Comedy

Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz's chemistry is undeniable. No boring scene. Very entertaining and super nakakakilig!

17 Again

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Comedy

Entertaining and funny. Not a bad way to spend Sunday afternoon. Zac Efron is so adorable and gwapo! He might be the next Tom Cruise!

may isang ibon

Kanina habang nagaabang ng bus, may nakita kami ni B na ibon na nalaglag sa kalye. Buhay pa siya nung nahulog siya pero saktong-sakto may dumaan na bus. Ayun, pag-alis ng bus, nakita namin yung bird, naghingalo ng ilang segundo before nalagutan ng hininga. Kawawa. Nalungkot kami ni B pareho na hindi namin maintindihan. Siguro iba lang talaga ang effect pag nakakawitness ka ng death. Except na lang siguro sa death ng lamok or ipis.

Wala pang limang minuto nang mamatay siya, may lumapit na black crow sa kanya. (Napakaintimidating ng crows sa neighborhood namin. Ang tataba!) Gamit ng crow ang malaking claw niya, inapakan niya ang katawan ng ibon tinuka ang ulo at hinila.

Narealize ko lalo na yung buhay talaga, any moment pwedeng mawala. Yung ibon siguro gumising this morning, lumipad-lipad, walang kamalay-malay na nalalapit na pala ang pagpanaw niya. Pero at least nagawa niya yung purpose niya sa buhay. Natuto siyang lumipad. Tsaka at least after niya mamatay, may nakinabang sa kanya.

Naisip ko, eh ako, pano pag ako na, masasabi ko ba na nagawa ko  yung dapat kong gawin? Ano bang legacy na iiwan ko sa mundong to? Siguro kung pagpalain kami magkaanak ni B, yung pagpapalaki namin sa kanya ang magiging legacy namin. Pero pano kung iba ang path ko? Pano kung hindi ako destined maging magulang? Anong iiwan ko?

Pero siguro hindi tama na isipin ko yun dahil andito pa ako. May magagawa pa ako. Ang hirap lang siguro nakundisyon na tayo ng society na we have to do something really big in our lives. Yung talagang makakarock sa mundong ginagalawan natin. Eh sa buhay naman walang malaki, walang maliit. Kung anong gawin mo, yun lang yun.  Nothing is good or bad, big or small. Sabi nga ni Eckhart Tolle, it just is. Our obsession with "the next big thing" has turned us into rats in an endless race.

Of course it's okay to have dreams, plans and goals. We need that. But we also need to live in the moment. 

I look at birds and realize that they don't want to be anything else other than what they are. They don't really care about leaving a legacy or an heirloom. They don't even think about death. They don't worry about any of the things we humans concern ourselves with before we die. They just do what they can every single second of their lives.

We should, too.

do-over

Oh yeah, Kat, I forgot to tell you...

You get as many "do-overs" as you like. Of course, you never know you're living a "do-over" until it's over.

There are lots of reasons for wanting a "do-over." Most of all, people want another chance to do things they were afraid to do the first time, and to say things they were afraid to say. Oddly enough, it's not their mistakes they want to rework, but their "unused" minutes.

Yeah, pretty nifty, but you should know that it isn't any easier the next time, and because no two ever go exactly the same, the gifts, opportunities, and loves of one, never appear the same way again. Never.

So all in all, it's better to live as if there are no "do-overs," so that you won't need one. But I thought I'd share this with you anyway, to work in the bits about fear, mistakes, and how precious today's opportunities really and truly are.

Crafty as a fox,
The Universe

PS
Kat, of course, more double-chocolate lattes is another reason for many "do-overs." 

and we're back!

Our trip to Ilocos was awesome. I fell in love with the beach, Vigan and the food! It was salty and fatty and oily. In short, yummy! Haha.  Will definitely go back.

I also loved being with my family! I missed them so much. Summer outings are a tradition for us and last year I'm bummed that B and I missed the Bohol trip. This year's outing, albeit short, more than made up for it though. 

I'm also glad I was able to meet up with Marge and catch up. I missed her too! Medyo bitin nga lang ang kwentuhan dahil over lunch lang. 

It was a wonderful trip. I really had a great time. 

*****

I received good and bad news from my boss today. The good news is he has authorised my one-month unpaid leave. However, we still have to wait for the higher-ups' approval before I can actually take it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The bad news: no more work from home! Boooo! Our boss in London prefers daw na the copywriting team be based in the office. Naku, WFH pa naman yung thin thread na nagkikeep sa akin from exploring other opportunities. Ngayon natastas na siya ng tuluyan! Gusto ko pa naman yung WFH arrangement kasi nakakatipid ako sa damit at kain at pamasahe. Tsaka yung pag inaantok ka pwede kang manood muna ng TV or mag-nap. Hehehe. Oh well. Nothing lasts naman talaga.

100% batting average

You do realize, Kat, that your batting average is 100% when it comes to prevailing in adversity, setbacks, challenges, and recessions?

No wonder you're so famous here.

Mwah, baby - 

The Universe

PS

In fact, I learned about your batting average last night from watching the Kat Zuno Channel.

with ex officemates and my new hair

Nagkita-kita kaming mga Singapore-based ex-factory workers sa Jumbo sa East Coast Park last Saturday kasama si Selena at ang Obina-Cabel family. Nice to see you again Tita S!

Sabi ni Deniceous, mas masarap daw ang chilli crab sa Changi Village. Dapat namin masubukan namin ni B yun!

Ang cute-cute ni Gav! Sana nakunan ko siya ng madaming pityur pero napasarap ang kwentuhan at kainan! Hehehe. 

Ito si Gav nung birthday party niya. Pinagtitripan si Reden:

At ito pala ako at ang bagong buhok ko:

Hallo! 

Gusto ko nang umuwi!

happy birthday mom!

To my mommy, who is ever beautiful, happy birthday!

I've got a lot to thank you for.

Your genes, which God has graciously passed on to us (hehe).

Your smarts.

Your zest for life.

Your time.

Your support.

Your understanding.

Your love.

Thank you so much for being a wonderful mother and above all, a great friend. 

I love you!

look

These are the times, Kat, when hopes are dashed and chaos abounds, that golden opportunities, prized ideas, and new friends emerge into the view of all, but are only seen by the few who look.

Let's go crazy, 

The Universe

PS

They're everywhere, Kat, everywhere.

finally

I got the much-needed haircut! I feel so gaan now. Hehe. 

When the stylist asked me what kind of cut I wanted, I showed her my grad pic. She said, "why you want cut like that ah? So old fashioned." Haha. Oo nga ano, 2002 pa nga pala kinunan yun. She said she'll cut my hair short but with a hint of modern. I dunno if it looks modern because it still looks 2002 to me. Hehe.

I like it but I didn't feel as WOAH! when I got a perm from Bench FIX or when I had my hair cut by Rachel at H Salon. But the new cut works, and I'm sure I'll have fun accessorizing it. 

i could hold you for a million years

This is such a beautiful song! 

Lyrics | Adele lyrics - Make You Feel My Love lyrics

sinabi na nga ba (see previous post para konek)

Just thought you should know, Kat, you're one of my favorite people of all time.

Shhhhh-
The Universe

PS
I do love our little talks, Kat.

intense!

I'm skurred! Hindi ko alam kasama pala sa options ang voluntary redundancy. TA-DA-DA-DAAAAN! Kinabahan naman ako ng marinig ko ang word na yan.

Pag daw hindi enough ang magvolunteer na tumanggap ng pay cut, the company might resort to more severe measures, that is redundancy of the involuntary kind. Since blurry ang kinalalagyan ko ngayon, mataas ang chance na palayasin ako dito. Kaya sana madaming maging generous at pumayag na lang sa pay cut para maligtas kaming mga maaaring matanggal.

Ang pakiramdam ko ngayon yung parang nagising ka sa kalaliman ng gabi tas lumilindol. Yun ang feeling! Nayanig ang mundo ko! As in left right left right up down up down!

Pero siguro ito ang kailangan ko ngayon para magawa ko ang kailangan kong gawin.

Ang galing talaga ng Universe.