30 things i learned

Image: Courtesy of DHD Multimedia Gallery

1. There will always be people whose sole purpose in your life is to annoy the hell out of you. The trick is to not be affected. At all. Because the moment they get under your skin, you lose.


2. From Dr. House: "Everybody lies."


3. If you’re a pretty girl, then most of the girls you meet will not like you.


4. If you’re an intelligent girl, then most of the boys you meet will not like you.


5. If you’re a pretty and intelligent girl, then you better be damn charming as well.


6. Never go into a relationship thinking that you can change a man. Because you can’t. He is who he is, honey.


7. You get what you give. Always.


8. Don’t sweat the small stuff; it’s just not worth it.


9. Choose your battles, and choose them wisely.


10. There are some heartaches that can never be shared with anyone else. That’s just how life is.


11. Rare is the woman who does not make petty, spiteful comments about other women. If you’re lucky enough to have met this woman in your lifetime, then take the time and effort to cultivate a friendship with her.


12. Never underestimate a person with strong, religious beliefs.


13. Do whatever makes you happy, even if doing so may hurt other people. But do remember this: karma can be a nasty bitch.


14. Be prepared for life’s little (or big) surprises.


15. If you don’t feel comfortable with it (whatever it is), just say NO. Life’s too short to be catering to every person’s whims, anyway.


16. Recognize what’s important to you, and live your life based on this awareness.


17. Sometimes, retail therapy does help in shaking off the stress. But, just sometimes.
    


18. Although a day in a spa works, too.


19. Take care of yourself. Nobody else is gonna do that for you.


20. Yes, people can be mean. But if you find yourself whining about these people, then tough shit. You’re letting them win.


21. Don’t flatter yourself – not everything is about you.


22. You can be beautiful. All you have to do is just think that you are.


23. Booze and loud music do not a good time guarantee.


24. Growing old is waaaaay different from growing up.


25. Having your househelp wear uniforms while you’re at the mall (or anywhere outside your house) simply screams insecurity.


26. If a friend borrows a thousand pesos (or twenty bucks) from you and you never hear from him/her again, then it’s money well spent. (I read this from somewhere.) But if your friend borrowed more than that, well then, that's estafa.


27. How a person responds to stress gives you a pretty good idea of his/her integrity.


28. Smiling with your eyes really works wonders.


29. Love yourself first. Everything else will just fall into place.


30. Thirty is the new 24. ;p
    

are you a nerd, a geek, or a dork?

Your result for The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test...

Pure Nerd

61 % Nerd, 35% Geek, 22% Dork

This is me, if I were a man and pretending to understand what I read.

For The Record:

A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia.
A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one.
A Dork is someone who has difficulty with common social expectations/interactions.

You scored better than half in Nerd, earning you the title of: Pure Nerd.

The times, they are a-changing. It used to be that being exceptionally smart led to being unpopular, which would ultimately lead to picking up all of the traits and tendencies associated with the "dork." No-longer. Being smart isn't as socially crippling as it once was, and even more so as you get older: eventually being a Pure Nerd will likely be replaced with the following label: Purely Successful.

Congratulations!

THE NERD? GEEK? OR DORK? TEST

Take The Nerd? Geek? or Dork? Test at HelloQuizzy

song of the week: times like these

Photo: Courtesy of Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson is a singer-songwriter from the island of Hawaii. I'm dedicating this song from his second album, On and On, to the American people as they vote for the next President of the USA.

Vote wisely, America. The whole world is watching.



in times like these
in times like those
what will be will be
and so it goes
and it always goes on and on
and on and on it goes

and there's always been laughing, crying, birth, and dying
boys and girls with hearts that take and give and break
and heal and grow and recreate and raise and nurture
but then hurt from time to times like these
and times like those
what will be will be
and so it goes

and there will always be stop and go and fast and slow
action, reaction, sticks and stones and broken bones
those for peace and those for war
and god bless these ones not those ones
but these ones made times like these
and times like those
what will be will be
and so it goes
and it always goes on and on
and on and on it goes

but somehow i know it won't be the same
somehow i know it'll never be the same

this one goes out to the one i love

Eight years ago this month, we decided to take a leap of faith and plunge into this world we call our own. I can still remember that look in your eyes when I let you know that I am pledging myself to you. That look, when the times get rough, gets me through most days. And I’ve grown to love you more.

Over the years that we’ve known each other, I’ve discovered the real you: that warm, charming, funny man behind the reserved façade. And I’ve grown to love you more.

I cannot count the many times that I’ve given up on us. But always, you stood your ground and remained firm with your conviction that our love is eternal. And I’ve grown to love you more.

Sometimes when there’s a screw loose inside my head (or I’m PMSing), I become nasty and mean, I hurt and humiliate you (sometimes in front of our friends), maybe even to the point of breaking your heart. But always, you never backed down, continuing to fight for what we have. And I’ve grown to love you more.

So today, before our month ends, you need to know this: I am forever grateful that our paths met, and I am glad to be sharing my life with you.

Happy anniversary to us! :D

that city by the sea

So the Boyfriend and I decided to take a little trip up north.

Dubbed as the beach capital of the Philippines, you'll know that they really meant business when they said "powdery-white sand." Add the conveniences of a city-life and a dizzying array of watersports to choose from, no wonder it's a favorite for a lot of people - Pinoys and non-Pinoys alike. Plus the locals won't even try to rip you off, either.

It's all a bit hazy for now, but I do remember this glorious sunset welcoming me when I arrived on the island.


And this one bade me "Good morning!" the following day.


Having learned our lesson the hard way the night before, we wisened up and took a tricycle ride to the island's mall to gawk at tourists dressed scantily like it's a violation of one's rights if one is all covered up.

Then again, maybe we didn't really learn that walking from the mall to our place is a bad idea, because at one point, we trekked from this spot here to about a bit farther than those outcrop of rocks there.

Umm, yeah, it was frickin' hot.

But the island must have deemed our sacrificial walk a proper burnt offering (no pun intended), because then we were rewarded with another exquisite sunset.

I wouldn't mind ending every day with this. Nope, I wouldn't mind at all.

It was nice to just be, for a couple of days, with no itinerary or plans, and the only worry is your hungry belly and then when that's settled, the only thing left to do is lounge by the beach and just chill.

It's even nicer when you don't have to shell out your own money for the experience. (Thanks, baby, for everything! Hehehe!)

And yes, this is Boracay.

And no, these aren't the only pics. Most of the photos can't be published here because they were tainted. With our faces.

All photos courtesy of Allan Soul.

we're having a baby!

Art from Rampant.

Let's all take a short break for this wonderful announcement: We're having a baby! :D

Just not mine, though.

I heard from my Nanay over the weekend that my sister is pregnant again! I mean, can you believe it? Kikik's gonna be Kuya soon.

Can't wait to meet the newest member of our family!

P.S. Pardon the overabundance of exclamation points. Just can't contain the joy!

watch this

Art: Courtesy of gamesmuseum.

30 Rock. Also the show's creator, Tina Fey stars as Liz Lemon, head-writer for an SNL-ish live sketch comedy series. Clever-funny, coolly outrageous, but just real enough to be believable.

House, M.D. The acerbic, politically-incorrect Dr. Gregory House continues to make people around him miserable. And yet, at the end of the day (or episode), you still find yourself rooting for him, hoping he'll save himself from himself, just like he saved those other patients' lives.

Entourage. Watch the über-cool Vinny Chase get around Hollywood in this HBO TV series that was made by the guys, for the guys. In this show, it's all about "bros before 'hos." Plus, Ari Gold's cute when he's furious.

Chuck. Chronicles of your average nerd next door who turned into an accidental spy-hero trying his best to survive mission after mission. Doesn't hurt that his handler's hot, too.

Fringe. A new show by JJ Abrams, it's somewhat like The X-Files with a little bit of Alias built in. I'm quite undecided about this one, but also mildly curious how their story arc plays out.

Gossip Girl. Because sometimes, I just need to stare at pretty boys and pretty clothes.

The Office (US). Even when the characters' personas make you cringe and look away uncomfortably, sometimes their stories hit a little too close to home (or the corporate life).

CSI Vegas. Word is that William Petersen will no longer be playing as the ever-philosophical Gil Grissom and that his character will be replaced by Laurence Fishburne. Hmm.. wonder how that will play out.

Criminal Minds. Maybe because I'm a Psych graduate = the reason why I'm so into this show.

The Amazing Race (US). Yes, I do also watch the Asia edition, but it's not quite as fun as the US edition. TAR Asia is just, quite simply, a carnage. TAR US, however, is fun and challenging at the same time. It makes you want to go and join the rest of the teams. TAR Asia? Makes you feel all warm and giddy that you're at home, watching the teams kill themselves.

Prison Break. Wentworth Miller plays as the intelligent, cool, and calculating Michael Scofield who mumbles and smirks his way into your heart.

Boston Legal. The latest gem that I've discovered (a bit late, I know), this was recommended by the mommy who morphs into a deity in the kitchen. A spinoff from The Practice (which I haven't watched), it's similar to Justice (which I have watched), but BL's comical lines are delivered with such conviction and aplomb you can't help but cry... laughing.

Additional Timewaster: Another serious player in the 2008 Fall TV game: True Blood. Hot on the heels of Stephanie Meyers' Twilight series comes this show set in a small village in Louisiana whose settlers are co-existing nervously with vampires. Because of the Japanese invention Tru Blood (also comes in O Negative and A), a synthetic blood- drink for vampires so that they may no longer feed off on humans, vampires have come out from their coffins and declared themselves to the public. The pilot's not so great, but the following episodes really got me hooked. Plus, some of the characters' Southern accent somehow reminds me of Lexington. And oh, some scenes may be graphic. So make sure the little ones are asleep before you settle in to watch.

So many shows, so little time!