top 10 signs there may never be a second date

Artwork: Courtesy of ~nanaraposa

Dating boo-boos, as related by friends. (I've been out of the dating game for about 8 years now, so it's safe to say I did not experience all these. heheh)

10) All throughout the date – from the coffee shop, to the dinner, to the movies, to the late night drinks – you’re texting like the world cannot function without the messages you’re typing out. If you’re bored with me, we might as well have bid each other sayonara while we were still at the coffee shop and called it a night. I also have more interesting things to do than stare at your blank face, you know.

9) Talking non-stop about your job. Listen, we’re here on a date, not a career counseling session.

8) Letting us girls pay. If you asked us out, you’re paying. If we make like we’re reaching for our purses, "pretending" to split the bill with you, insist (gently) that it’s on you tonight. If we still insist on splitting the bill, that's when you say, “Well, you can buy me drinks later.”

7) And when it’s our turn to pay, don’t order everything in sight. You don’t want to seem like a freeloader. Us pretty girls can maybe get away with freeloading from you guys. But when you do the freeloading, no matter how pretty a guy you are, it just leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

6) Mentioning sex. No matter if it’s a green joke, or a very suggestive innuendo, or just a seemingly offhand comment – Just. Don’t. Sex is not only a touchy subject; you also cannot predict how we will react to that topic. It could set the mood for the date, or it could totally ruin the evening. Unless we mentioned it first, second, third, and the fourth time. Then, by all means, talk all you want about it.

5) Talking about our future together. Because, excuse me, this is just a first date and does not necessarily equate that we will be spending our lives together from this moment until forever! Plus, doing this just makes you come across as desperate. And creepy.

4) Badmouthing the ex. Your ex. Each time you do that, we’ll think that a) there’s something really horrible about you which is why your ex was acting that way, or b) you’re gonna do that to me, too, when we part ways.

3) Eating with your mouth open. Or making smacking noises while eating. One word. Eeww.

2) Checking out every hot girl who passes by. A big no-no. Save that for when we’re comfortable enough to be totally secure in our relationship (if ever we do have one), and THEN we can check out girls together. I might even point out to you how that girl manages to sport such perky boobs.

1) Talking about yourself. All night loooooong. *yawn*

I'm challenging the guy readers to come up with their own list, this time from a guy's point of view.

song of the week: great dj

Photo: Courtesy of The Ting Tings

The Ting Tings is an indie-pop band based in England with two members: Katie White (vocals, guitar, bass drum) and Jules De Martino (drums, guitar, vocals).

This is the track I first heard from their album, We Started Nothing.

fed up with your indigestion
swallow words one by one
your folks got high at a quarter to five
don't you feel you're growing up undone

nothing but the local DJ
he said he had some songs to play
what went down from this fooling around
gave hope and a brand new day

imagine all the girls,
ah ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
and the boys,
ah ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
and the strings,
eee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee
and the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums

nothing was the same again
all about where and when
blowing our minds in a life unkind
gotta love the bpm
when his work was all but done
remembering how this begun
we wore his love like a hand in a glove
there's a future plays it all night long

nothing but the girls,
ah ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
and the boys,
ah ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
and the strings,
eee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee
and the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums, the drums.....

imagine all the girls,
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
and the boys,
ah ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
and the strings,
eee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee
and the drums,
ah ah ah ah, ah, ah, ah, oh

all the girls
ah ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
and the boys,
ah ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
and the strings,
aee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee, eee
and the drums, the drums, the drums, the drum

I realize the lyrics look weird on-screen, but you got to hear the beat to appreciate the song. Also, check out other neat tracks from The Ting Tings: That's Not My Name and Shut Up and Let Me Go.

it's my blog here, and i'll write what i want to!

Got this tag from Faery Dancing.

My blog's readability is:

Hmp. So this means my blog is not idiot-friendly then. (Disclaimer: I'm not saying a college graduate is never an idiot - I've encountered many a yuppie who made me doubt the educational system here, believe you me.)

But what I was actually hoping for was to get an "Elementary" rating. You know, those blogs that don't require much brain exercise, won't have you poring over those baffling words nor slaving over labyrinthine sentences.

That's the kind of blog I was aiming for.

Well, the plus side here is that if you've been reading my posts and thinking that what I've written (so far) makes sense, then, congratulations! You're not an idiot! :D

*Since this is actually a tag, here are the rules:

1. Check out your blog Readability Test here then post the result on your blog.
2. (OPTIONAL) Stop asking yourself regarding the results of the test (LOL!)
3. Add your blog from the list together with the results.
4. Tag as many friends you like.

1.Big Eyed Gal - High School 2. The Chronic Shopper - Elementary 3. Vital Sighs - Genius 4. Princess Vien - High School 5. Em’s Detour - Junior High School 6. Strawberrygurl and Busy Mom - Elementary 7. Reflexes snapshots of life (on manillapaper) - Junior High School 8. expressions and thoughts - Genius 9. our family story - College (Undergrad) 10. MOMEMO - Genius 11. Deranged Insanity - Genius 12. Blessings and Beyond - Genius 13. Aeirin's Collections - Genius 14. Faery Dancing - Junior High School 15. Caffeinated Muse - College (Undergrad) 16. YOU'RE NEXT!

So now, I'm tagging The Fab & The Furious, Divas & Bitches, Chitgoks, and you (if you have a blog, that is).

UPDATE: So, O.C. that I am, I submitted this blog again to that Blog Readability Test, and guess what? This blog is now declared ready and open for the high-school audience! I'm not sure what happened there, but if I add more posts that don't boggle the mind, will I get an "Elementary" rating? Please pretty please?

the real blair waldorf

Photo: Courtesy of Gossip Girl

Ever had that feeling when you're watching a TV (or a movie), and then this TV/movie character eerily reminds you of someone you do actually know?

That's exactly how I feel each time I watch Blair Waldorf strut her stuff in Gossip Girl.

Yes, Blair Waldorf. She of the headband-craze-inducing fashion victim of CW TV's The OC wannabe. Wait, I take that back. I'm not sure yet if, in later seasons, GG will trounce or become a sorry version of The OC. And that's all I'm taking back. ;p

And no, I don't like The OC.

So anyway, each time I watch a downloaded episode of Gossip Girl on my trusty HP, this Blair Waldorf character easily brings to mind a certain girl I know.

Her bitchy ways and catty lines, that smirk, the utter fear of failure cloaked with such seemingly blasé attitude. But also her fierce loyalty to her only friend, S. And even when you've been stung a few times, you're still somehow drawn to her. And when she's in desperate times, you find yourself rooting for her.

A villainess you just can't hate.

Minus the swanky outfits and limo, of course. Because, hello, this is the Philippines, and we're just along the bottom lines of poverty here. Plus I don't personally know any of our so-called VVIPs. (Me and them, we're not in the same social circle. 'Nuff said.)

So, yeah, I watch Gossip Girl. Not because I find it exhilaratingly shallow, but because sometimes just watching something mindless is the only decent thing to do.

...You know you love me. ex-oh-ex-oh.

ten years ago

Photo: Courtesy of Anchela Yap.

Muchas gracias to The Fab & Furious for this tag.

The rules are posted at the beginning. At the end of the post, the player tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leave a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

1. What were you doing ten years ago?

Wishing I was as young as that girl on the photo! But that was like, eons ago. So in reality, ten years ago, I was getting psyched for college graduation (pun intended). I just also learned my sis was pregnant with her ex-boyfriend (who is now her husband), but my parents didn't know about it yet. I was 98 lbs (I kid you not). I hadn't discovered coffee yet (which must have explained those mood swings).

2. What are 5 things on your to-do list today?

Finish a project (ehem-ehem. as if it I can finish it today!). Answer e-mails. Visit the gym (and hopefully get worked up to work out). Finish CSI Vegas season 8 (am I damn ambitious, or what??). Finish this post (now this is more realistic).

3. Snacks I enjoy

Hmmm.. where do I even begin? Let's just say if it's not spicy, bitter, or super-sour, it's going into my mouth.

4. Places I've lived

Cebu (of course!). Tagaytay, for a few weeks. Summered in Molave (Zamboanga del Sur) and Bantayan Island when I was a kid. Lexington, Kentucky (for a coupla months).

5. Things I'd do if I were a billionaire

Read this.

6. People I want to know more about

Eh. I dunno. Maybe you?

So, okay, I am now tagging faery rowan, purpled sky, diva wears nada, blog gurl, onyxx, and van.

Get to it, girls! :D

*embarrassed mode*

Well, the title says it all.

My Lakbayan grade is D!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

If you haven't taken this quiz, you should. And hopefully, we'll all be embarrassed together. :)

how classic.

Artwork: Courtesy of KyokoKurosaki.

I've always been known to my family and friends as that absent-minded, her-head-in-the-clouds drama queen prone to bouts of lucidity. And really, I couldn't care less what they say about me, until a series of incidents made me stop and think: hmm... blog material!

Thusly, I show unto you

Exhibit A

As you can probably deduce from the two YM dialogs, I sent an IM to myself, which was intended to be for my sister. I knew something was off when I saw that first dialog on the right, but couldn't quite point out what. So when I asked help from my bro:

me: dude, nganu mani ako YM (what's wrong with my YM)?? *agitated*

bro looks at the screen for one second, and then: DUH! tanawa o! (can't you see!) you sent a message to yourself!

me: aw. (oh.) *bonks head, grins sheepishly*

Bro laughs maniacally in the background.

Exhibit B

This afternoon, I dropped by the mall intending to withdraw cash from the ATM and then detouring by Watson's to grab some kikay stuff.

So what actually happened?

Yes, I did stop by Watson's and did some shopping. But, I forgot to withdraw cash (I realized this when I got back at the office). And then on the way home tonight, I realized I had left the items I bought from Watson's at the office.

Sheesh.

Exhibit C

Last week, I exchanged text messages with a friend of mine (Friend 1). We were happily swapping sinfully juicy stories about another friend (Friend 2). Well, at least I was giddy. Now, these friends are both girls, mind.

So a few minutes later, my Nanay entered my room and asked about some stuff (I forgot what about). And when I got back to my phone to send another SMS to Friend 1 about Friend 2, guess who I sent the message to? (yikes, it rhymes!)

Well, who else? I sent the SMS to Friend 2, of course.

*******

These incidents are all very classic me. So if by chance we bump into each other and I just happen to be looking at you and I smile and then I sneer - don't worry. That's just the ordinary me telling the voices in my head to settle down so we can start our weekly meeting.

top 10 signs you're addicted to coffee

Artwork: Courtesy of asuka111.

The idea for this post came to mind when I realized that 2 scoops of ground coffee beans no longer work for me. I am now at 3 scoops per 6 ounces of water, two times a day.

10) In the movie Meet the Robinsons, you had an a-ha moment when that Lucille character introduced the caffeine patch. You wonder why that hasn't been marketed before. So you google it, and learn there is actually such a product. And then you do cartwheels. In your head.

9) You dream in shades of caramel, cappuccino, flat white, and espresso.

8) You think men (or women, as the case may be) should be like coffee, too: rich, dark, and coarsely grounded. Mmm, perfect for that shiny, new French Press you just bought.

7) You've noticed your officemates avoiding you on early mornings, when you haven't had your morning coffee yet.

6) You have to have coffee in order to sleep well at night.

5) Your boyfriend knows that whenever he takes you out on a date, the first stop in your itinerary is the coffeeshop.

4) On a similar note, he also knows (or learned from experience) to never, ever pick an argument with you if you haven't had your caffeine fix yet.

3) As an anniversary gift, your boyfriend tells you you can do whatever you want to him. Giddy with possibilities, you rack up your mind for ideas. And then you tell him to dress up in that cute barista costume and serve you coffee all week long. Or even a whole month, if you can get away with it.

2) When you enter your neighborhood coffee shop, the baristas automatically take down the "Coffee Refill at Half the Price!" sign.

1) If you had children, they would be named Latte, Macchiato, and Coffee Jelly. (Frappuccino is for wimps.)

a ray of inspirational sunshine

Photo: Courtesy of the muse's bro.

So, I've been trying to get me that elusive ray of inspirational sunshine (read: any material for this blog post) the whole day today. Several thoughts bounced in and out of my mind: some mildly interesting, some eyebrow-raising, some blah.

But since it's a Sunday (as if it's an excuse), and I'm feeling laaaazy, I thought I'd just post here the list of what my topic for this post might have been. :p

• my favorite tv shows, and why i like them
• do social networking sites encourage stalker behavior?
• why do women find it hard to like other women?
• what could be the story behind this single-finned sea turtle?
• why do some people (read: ME) have an irrational, gripping fear of all things paranormal?
• am i really envious of my boyfriend's iPhone? if so, can my motorola v9 appease this envy? (iPhones don't have the copy-paste feature, btw. HAHA)
  
• why haven't i showered yet? (ewwww!)
  

That's my list. I might explore/write about these topics one by one later on; I might not. In the meantime, if in the future you find yourself getting stuck in the corner between writer's block and blog depression avenue, feel free to write about any of the topics I just listed, but don't forget to leave me a link to your story/post. I wanna hear what you've got to say!

P.S. I just know my boyfriend will say I'm sour-graping, again. But, whatevs. *shrugs*