Entries for October, 2004

Theater Snatcher

I got to watch The Bourne Supremacy the other day. I was so excited about it I was hopping and skipping on the way to our seats. My excitement was not in vain. The movie was great.

But.

It seems like every time I watch a movie in a theater now, something bad or weird happens. Just as the movie started, this guy sat one seat away from me. I didn't mind him but after a while he was giving me bad vibes. He kept on glancing my way and shifting around in his seat. I was under the impression that he was an old guy who was doing things to himself and wanted some attention. (read: pervert) I didn't really glance his way because I didn't want to give him the satisfaction if he really were an exhibitionist. Then came a scene where the lighting became dim. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the guy's hand moving toward my seat, reaching for my bag (which lay unprotected on my lap). I grabbed my bag and put it beside me and talked to my friend in a loud voice. I made it a point to act like I knew what he was up to. I wanted to report the guy. I really wanted to. What kept me was the fact that I would miss a good part of the movie if I did. (Yes, the movie was that good.) Stupid, 'no? After a few scenes I felt him staring at me. I got irritated so I looked him in the eye. I was surprised that he looked like he was only in his late twenties. (I was still under the impression he was lolo-like.) What was funny was his head was turned my way, but when I looked at him, he shifted his gaze back to the screen. He was trying to act like he was watching the movie with his bent away from the screen. What a freak. After a few minutes he got up and left.

I know I should have reported him when I had the chance, but I really didn't want to miss the movie. I know we should have moved from our seats but I didn't feel like I was in any real danger. (I was praying.) The lessons from this story are:

1) place your bag beside you, not on your lap. If you place it on your lap make sure the straps would not be easily reached by other people;

2) report these people while they're still in the theater so that security can do their job. When they leave the theater, nobody can pin anything on them anymore;

3) always watch movies with companions;

4) be wary of people who sit beside you or just a seat away from you most especially if there are a lot of other available seats around.

By the way, this happened in Robinson's Galleria at Cinema 6, at around 5-8 pm.

8 tweaked.

unbeknownst | 04:50 AM

Up for a Cup?

Free coffee! Wuhoo! Run off to Glorietta 4. They're having a coffee festival of some sort that will run until the 17th. There are around ten stands there, all offering free tastes. I was fortunate enough to get three cups. I wanted to try them all but it was the most my poor bladder could afford. Loving coffee has its drawbacks. I've found that any form of liquid passes through my system faster than normal. Oh well.

Free coffee!

AND!

Upon entering G4, there's this store to the right called Bread Talk that sells an array of mouth-watering bread and pastries. Nothing beats being greeted by the tantalizing smell of baking bread. I wanted to try everything. The store's ambience was so welcoming - it was just beckoning everyone who came in to pick up a tray and pick out some goodies. Mmm-mmm.

Coffee, pastries. Ah, it was heaven for me.


_____

An hour ago I read the last line of The Da Vinci Code. No wonder there was an uproar about the book.

"In the end, which side of the story you believe becomes a matter of faith and personal experience, but at least the information has survived." (The Da Vinci Code, page 343)

It was a good read. It was one of the few books I couldn't put down. I was armed with a pen, a notebook and a dictionary. I looked up the words I didn't know and took note of the paintings and the places I wanted to see. (Google, you are a friend, indeed!) The novel was fast-paced. I loved it. Those who want to read it have to keep in mind that they will encounter some things that may make them wonder. Good thing I am fortunate to have enough personal experiences with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to say that my faith did not waver. Oh but yes, I wondered. But fiction is fiction is fiction is fiction.

HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS TRUE?
The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist... These real elements are interpretted and debated by fictional characters. - taken from www.danbrown.com

Faint-hearted? Don't read it. Simple as that.

Can't wait to get my hands on another Dan Brown.

9 tweaked.

unbeknownst | 02:16 PM

Remedies

Ginger broth with calamansi.

1000mg ascorbic acid.

Lotsa oranges.

Gargle.

Scarf wrapped around my neck.

Oh yeah I need to drink a lot of water. (See, I'm not a big water drinker.)

...

HOW will I get rid of this scratchy throat by Friday?? (Eep! Gig.)

Uh-oh, I'm dead.

_____

(in other news)

Lyn said I'm funny. Wah. I find myself funny too. This situation I'm in is laughable. Why? Why? Why you?

...

I hate you! I hate you!

Not.

Arlene Chai's The Last Time I Saw Mother 9 tweaked.

unbeknownst | 09:00 AM

Durian Chips

I never thought that durian chips tasted so good. No, really. At first munch I thought the chip tasted like a cashew nut. A few more chips later I realized they tasted like pistachios. And man do I loooooooovvve my pistachios.

So try 'em durian chips! Hoo-wah!

13 tweaked.

unbeknownst | 01:38 PM

All By My Lonesome

I went to Makati yesterday, to the Center for Educational Measurement, to secure a duplicate copy of my NMAT result. I haven't been to their office before and all I had were instructions how to get there.

The MRT ride

Sheesh. It amazes me how the trains get so filled up. And it amazes me even more how people refuse to budge from their places, preferring to plant themselves near the entrance, thereby effectively blocking all traffic. This phenomenon works to my advantage, however, since I prefer to stay in that place where two trains join. Not only is it more spacious (since people never seem to want to stay there) but it's also cooler. I think the airconditioning vent is situated near that place.

Since I rode at the North Avenue station, I was fortunate enough to be able to get a seat. On my way to Magallanes, I just looked at people's feet. (I wonder how some women could ever even think that rocket-shaped nails are nice to look at. You've seen those nails, I'm sure. They're the kind that taper off to ends that look sharp enough to kill. Aptly painted blood red.) When we got to the Boni Station, the guy beside me started bobbing his head up and down. I realized he was trying to see where we were. I said, "Boni," without looking at him. I think he was caught off guard. He looked at me for a second then said his thanks. (Y'see, I'm nice to strangers. I'm the one who takes out her fan when it's hot and makes sure to let some wind reach the person beside her. I'm the one who almost always ends up handing the barya to the driver when I ride jeeps. I'm the one who doesn't lean back when there are already four people riding in the middle of an FX. Small things, really.)

I got off at Magallanes and rode a jeep to Citiland. I found the Center for Educational Measurement office, passed a friend's NMAT application and paid for my duplicate copy. While waiting for whatever it was they were doing to my request, I got a Reader's Digest and started reading about how honest Asians were. After a few minutes, this girl stood in front of me and was handing me an envelope with my name on it. It was the duplicate. I had the impression that it was going to take three days before I got my copy.

Total number of minutes inside the CEM office: twenty.

MRT Riding tip

On my way home I realized everyone else was on their way home too. Instead of crossing over to the north-bound side of the MRT, I got on the south-bound train. Oh, it was no mistake. Upon reaching the last station, everyone got off and I had the freedom to choose where to sit. When I was nice and comfortable, it was only then that people started riding the train. (Sssh, that's a secret. Try doing it. You get to park your arse wherever you want to.) The train then proceeded along its north-bound way. At the GMA Kamuning station, I saw a friend who manages an all-girl band. We got off at Quezon Avenue and spent some minutes just talking. He boosted my morale quite a bit. Hehe.




Ay, bitin.

6 tweaked.

unbeknownst | 11:30 AM

Toodle-dee toodle-doo.

I was all set to pass my Med school application today. I just needed one more character reference and I'd be all set. I forgot this tiny little fact that professors DO go on vacation during sembreak. Great. Another day down the drain. To think I wore heels today. Agh! Heh. My feet have lost their heel-wearing skills. After an hour out of the house every step was excruciating. Why submit myself to the pain? It was worth it. I felt quite pretty. Heels can do that, ya know.

Bumhood is killing me ever so slowly. I need something to do! I've already gained the pounds I lost from all the stress in college and I'm still gaining weight. Ugh. Buttered toast tastes extra good these days and that does not help at all.

I've been seeing more and more wish lists these days. It made me think about the things I want. Hmm.

6 tweaked.

unbeknownst | 12:19 PM

Whole

The notes rushed through my blood --
Filled the crevices of lifelessness.

The melody, the harmony.

They fed me.

They fed my soul.

3 tweaked.

unbeknownst | 04:16 AM