I indulged myself yesterday and ticked one off my wish list: a new phone. I finally got a Nokia 3120 classic and I love it! It is in graphite though because the mobile phone shops in SM Fairview do not carry it in other colors. That's fine, I will have it G-masked anyway. Ü

My baby Elixir died. Ruther sent me an SMS earlier today, saying he found Elixir floating, dead. He surmises it is because he is a different specie of fish; he is an angelfish while Phantasmagoria, Serenity and Chaos are all goldfishes, even though they are from different families. Now I need to buy a blackmoor goldfish later so that Phantasmagoria will have a companion, otherwise he might die on me, too.

Sad sad sad.

I will be back to the apartment later today, and then I will watch Twilight. Work again tomorrow, and then time to glam up for the Holiday Kick-off Party. My dress is ready and I have the sexiest shoes. But I am still clueless about makeup.

Sigh. I cannot get over Elixir's death. He was the most beautiful of the lot, and he's too young. He did not deserve to die.

Sad.

The only way to grow is to have the initiative to get out of your comfort zone and do things you thought you couldn't do.

Ruther, Asther and I went to Bioresearch at SM North EDSA yesterday to buy my aquarium, fishes and all the other what-nots. However for the aerator we were able to buy that at Under the Sea since Bioresearch did not have available stocks.

The aquarium itself has a name, and it is Stream of Consciousness. I got it from Miss Coni Tejada of Real Living magazine from the talk she gave us at the Spotlighting a Travel Piece workshop and it quickly joined the league of my favorite phrases of all time (together with "as mysterious as the dark side of the moon" and "serenity in chaos" but pfft I am veering away from the topic. Must go back must go back.) Anyway, I got the aerator, undergravel filter, background picture, white pebbles, anti-chlorine solution and pellets.

For the fishies, I got four. Somehow the original names I thought of - Deirdre, Altherstan and Gaian - did not fit with my fishies' personalities so I just came up with new ones. I want to post pictures of them but I did not have the camera at the apartment so I just got stock photos from the Internet. I got pictures of fishes who look like them.


What do you think of their names?

I am so thankful to my housemates. Since it is my first time to take care of a pet, I was totally clueless! But thanks to Ruther and his extensive knowledge on fishes I was able to get everything I needed. And of course thanks to Asther as well for augmenting my budget ;)

It is actually my first time to take care of an animal. We had a martinez (talking bird) before, his name was Koji, but he was a family pet. Same goes for Kong the turtle. For my fishes, I am the sole owner. I am responsible for them. And of course I have to make sure I take good care of them. I would not want them to die, would I? They're relatively easy to replace since they're cheap and all, but come on, this is not Tamagotchi. And it sure beats the feeling of having a digital pet!

As a tribute to my fishies I even created a new blog category for them: Ichthyological love.

I am one proud Mama Fish. Here's to showing some Ichthyological love Ü

Miss Arlene Paredes (from PinoyWriters) facilitated the workshop with the assistance of Jude (of last week's module) . Miss Coni Tejada of Summit Media's Real Living magazine also dropped by to share some encouraging words and insights.

It was really challenging and I found it a bit hard since I am not much of a traveler myself. I would want to travel, of course, and see more places and get a taste of other people's cultures, but I do not have the luxury of time (and money) to do so at the moment. Plus, I get prissy. I don't know, maybe it depends on who I am with and on what mode of transportation we will use. So anyway, going back, I found it hard to tap into that "stream of consciousness". Last week's topic was easier since we wrote about success stories and profiling; I have done that all the time so the words just flowed. But travel pieces? Nah. I don't know..

For the writing exercises, I wrote about Singapore. In the Philippines, the farthest I've been to is Albay, Bicol, and I was only 12 years old that time so I did not think I would have remembered much to write about, except that hellish 10-hour train ride back to Manila that I would much rather forget. But if you were young like I was at that time, then that memory would have been seared into your memory and will forever haunt you.

So, enough of my travel experiences (or rather, my lack of). Here is a photo of our group:


I would love to see more of the world and experience things that are different from what I am accustomed to. Hopefully someday I would be able to. And then, by that time I would certainly have a helluva lot more to write about.

Eep! I just remembered! Next Saturday's module would be How to Write Delicious Food Articles and Restaurant Reviews! How would an undomestic goddess like me fare with that? I, who do not even know how to chop onions and tomatoes. I, who am only able to cook rice (with or without rice cooker, hah!) and everything fried. I, whose collection of words in her vocabulary to descibe words is only limited to the basic food tastes. What am I supposed to do?? Oh well. I signed up to learn. I guess that I have a lot of learning to do on Saturday. I am a bit scared yes, but I guess I always have the choice to just walk out and shop; workshop's inside a mall anyway. Tee hee.

*Photo from Ana.

Oh wow I haven't posted anything in a while now. Blame it on my busted PC, who until now sits in her busted-ness. Ugh. I need a new one so bad, but funds are low at the moment, so I am getting by through my beloved Tito's computer and the office's cybercenter.

So, some updates I guess... I had a blast at last Saturday's Creative Writing Workshop: Writing a Success Story at Powerbooks Megamall with my soul sister Anagon. The workshop was organized by PinoyWriters group with the help of some sponsors and was facilitated by Mr. Jude Catalaba. He discussed lots of things and gave us tips on how we can write our own success story. We were also asked to write some outputs (since it was a workshop after all and not a lecture) and I am happy to say that I was able to come up with some nice articles, if I say so myself. Ö First activity was to write a lead on either Arnel Pineda's or Charice Pempengco's success stories. Second was to write a lead on a success story of someone we know. Last was to write a success story based on an on-the-spot interview with Ms. Vanessa Suquila, a member of PinoyWriters. My favorite Vanessa Suquila quote? "Being a writer does not go away." Niceee.

Having only three "students" (Anagon, me and Jovee from Proudly Filipina) made for a more relaxing and focused atmosphere. Jovee will not attend this week's workshop so I do not know whether there would only be me and Ana there. I hope more people will come, it would be great to meet new friends. Ü This week's topic is "Spotlighting a Travel Piece" and I am a bit reserved about it since I have not written travel pieces before. This is something new for me so this should make for an interesting afternoon.

Here we are after the workshop:


After the workshop Ana and I had dinner at Sbarro. We wanted to have coffee originally but SM Megamall does not have Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (I still cannot believe it until now) and Starbucks is full. Since we were starving already we just chose Italian pasta.

I love it that even though we met online only, Ana and I never ran out of things to talk about. Our topics ranged from Twilight to Kikomachine Komix to Batman to other stuff. It was so fun! We really are soul sisters!

And she's so sweet, she gave me this:


If you haven't read the Twilight series yet, this is inspired by the third book in the series, Eclipse. So nice! I love it!

And I love that we were sporting funky-colored nail colors!


And... Ana and I came up with a VERY good plan while we were texting a day before the workshop. It is an absolutely brilliant idea, I cannot wait to start it! It would be our brainchild. Ü No details yet, we would not want to jinx it, would we? ;)


Today is Wednesday. I cannot wait for Saturday! Ü

I am posting this from the office, just some quick updates...

Some pictures from the said event:

with my friends/ housemates Ruther and Ar

I take back everything I said yesterday (about the stress part). The team building we had yesterday was SUPER FUN! Everyone from Team Jimmy was there, and I even saw my bestfriend Jerome with his twin brother Jonas and friends Jess and Ramil! Lots of good food, hearty laughter and great conversation! I was not feeling well before we started eating but everything became swell after the first jokes were shared. Ö

The highlight: TL made me drink a glass of San Mig Light! Yes, I'm a sissy. I've never been drunk. Ever. I don't really drink. I take 2-3 sips and that's it. Yesterday was a first for me. No regrets!

I took lots of good pictures, will post them on Monday or Tuesday when I go home. This is a quick post because I'm here at the office. Ü

There's only one problem, I do not know what to wear because almost all of my pretty clothes are at the apartment.

Moving on, I haven't done this for quite a while now. Let me spread some holiday cheer and materialistic vibes (haha!) by sharing some stuff I ordered online.


This is from her Reel Life collection which consists of charm bracelets inspired by movies. The main inspiration of the Girl Power charm bracelet are - what else? - chick flicks! It is made of "glass beads, two layers of chain (intertwined), US-made pewter charms (mask, clapperboard, film camera, gilded heart, Hollywood sign, antique car) and locally-bought charms (stiletto, flower, handbag, cherries)".


This is from her Fruitilicious Hoodies and Cardigans album. Sis Malou always comes up with very pretty and unique stuff to sell. I think that she is the online seller I've bought the most from. Whenever she has new uploads I just could not stop myself from buying. And she is super friendly and accommodating! Check out the album, there are other yummy stuff there like the Cherries and Apples cardigans.


I have sworn I will never buy another pair again. I am even contemplating of selling the pairs I have not worn yet. But Sis Beth uploaded the Havaianas 2009 collection earlier today, at rock-bottom prices (with an additional 5% discount) and I could not resist. So there, I got myself this one. I was also tempted to get the 4Nite Black Grey Skulls or the Slim Peacock in White or the Slim in Light Lilac but I was successful in stopping myself. Credits also to my officemates and friends Frank, Mich and Watcher whom I was in a YM conference with earlier today. Ö

There is nothing like retail therapy to chase the blues away. Ü

My planned reprieve has been interrupted. My TL texted everyone of us asking us to go to Trinoma tomorrow for our team building.

It kinda sucks because I planned on going to the office tomorrow straight from home and not return to the apartment until after work tomorrow. Now I have to go to Trinoma and meet up with my teammates (two of which I am not in good terms with because of two keywords: liar and cheating face) and hobnob and return to the apartment afterwards.

I had my period this morning and you know the lazy feeling you get when you have your period? Like you would just want to lie down or laze around in the house all day? I am having that feeling right now. Which I cannot oblige because I have to go out.

After that I got another text from TL saying that if we are not complete then the team building will be cancelled. I have a teammate who cannot go because he has an appointment for a medical check-up, which was already set before the team building was planned. Now what do I do? Should I go to Trinoma even though there is a chance that the team building will not push through because we will not be complete? I asked my teammates who are at the office right now and apparently the team building will push through. BUT if someone will not come then it will be cancelled. So I guess I will know later. Once I am already there. Instead of resting at home. Ugh.

And then, just when you thought it could not get any worse than that, it looks like it is going to rain. Ugh ugh.

Ruther told me before that I tend to stress myself over the littlest things, and yeah, he's right. I am feeling very stressed. Add to that the fact that I have post-PMS symptoms right now. I know I am probably magnifying it and am just making a bigger deal of it than I should. Blame the hormones. I am so not feeling like a very happy camper.

I admit that I am a nerd. I devour books and I am a total trivia junkie. I have an assumed love affair with words and I am perpetually amazed at how a string of letters can construct - and deconstruct - words.

And of course, it is quite obvious by the over-all look of this site that I love the color pink. Almost all of my stuff are in pink; pink phones, pink glasses, pink cases, pink shoes, pink Havaianas pairs, pink everything! I even wanted to have a shirt made with the statement "Everything I touch turns into pink." (No copying, please!)

So you could just imagine how I want to have this:


I saw it in the Certified Pink Lover site which features - you guessed it right - everything pink. This Special Edition of Scrabble is made for the funding of Breast Cancer Research and "includes pink board, pink tiles, pink tile racks, and a pink bag, all inside a pink box!"

I hope they release something like it in the Philippines as well so I could get one. This would be a perfect match with my pink and blue Chess set (yep, pink and blue, it's very nice, actually I might post a picture next week. It's not here at home because I brought it to the apartment).

The Scrabble Special Edition can be purchased here.

Of all the days in a week, my computer chooses the two days I am at home to break down on me. I am only able to use her every Tuesday and Wednesday since I stay at my apartment in Quezon City the rest of the week. I am only able to catch up on my emails and accounts on these two days. I am only able to read the blogs I follow on these two days. I am only able to cull interesting tidbits and thingamajigs on these two days. Heck I am only able to online shop on these two days. And she decides to fail me. C'mon, I know life is not fair but can't she oblige me a bit? Can't she break down on Thursday? That way she can be repaired and then be ready again for use when I come back home the next Tuesday.

Pffft.

So I am at a computer shop now, renting.

Ugh.

I am so not smiling.

The event will be held on 27 November 2008 at the PICC and will have "Super Nightclub" as the theme. I only have 24 days left to prepare, and I NEED to find the perfect outfit! I bought a very nice metallic slate gray dress from Freeway last week, but I have yet to decide whether it is THE dress or whether I will find something prettier.

Here is what I wore to this year's Holiday Party. Theme was Discovolution:


Hopefully I will be able to put together an outfit even better than this one. Ö

Must schedule shopping trips! I need help. What do you think should I wear to the party? Ü

The gloom normally associated with the commemoration of the All Saints' Day was further enhanced by the gray, cold and very rainy weather. I'm on leave from work for today until tomorrow to observe the family tradition of going to the cemetery. The flowers and candles have already been prepared at least three days ago. This year we will visit my grandmother's, cousin Jane's and Tito Eric's tombs at the Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Park in Malabon, and my sister Kim's tomb at the Immaculate Conception Memorial Park here in Navotas. I hope it would stop raining later since it is quite difficult to slosh one's way through muddy and wet grass.

That being said, Happy All Saints' Day everyone. Let us all take a moment from our busy lives to reflect on our loved ones who have gone to eternal rest. And I leave you with this: