Eh-hum # 209

Sloth is one crazy, uh, sin.

The great thing about being back home is you can slack-off (most of the time, anyways) with no worries. That's how I have been in the past weeks. I don't have to get up at an ungodly hour to prepare my food, do chores, prepare for school, catch the train, etc. Though I miss Japan, there is not place like home...especially when you afford to be lazy.

But I must say that things will different in the next few months. For one, my dad went overseas to work, which means I have be more active within the household. Also, will be returning to grad school in the coming weeks, so I have to channel my inner serious student/nerd soon. Right now, I don't have the motivation (fancy way of saying I am too lazy) to read the books and hand-outs I brought home from Japan. Perhaps once I get back to school, I would be in the right condition to do so. May be a sloth sometimes, but I am determined to graduate.

***

I am so addicted with this show so much, its important I get my daily WLIIA fix. Nothing brightens my day like watching improv geniuses like Ryan Stiles and Colin Mochrie perform on the WLIIA stage. Astig talaga!

Eh-hum # 208

Great, just what we need, a potential terror attack.

At first, the blast that ripped through 2 to 3 floors and left a crater at the Glorietta 2 Mall in Makati (a major business district in the country) was caused by an LPG tank exploding coming from a certain restaurant's storage room. However, the PNP clarified that it was caused by a "hard explosive", implying it to be a deliberate attack (nonetheless, authorities also said that the explosion was further exacerbated by exploding LPG tanks from nearby establishments). Update: PNP findings say the explosion was an accident because of the structure of the basement and the (explosive) gases that accumulated.

Now we know the what, the PNP will now the determine the why, how and the who. The explosion left 8 people dead and hundreds with (minor to fatal) injuries. Ayala Land, the owner of Glorietta and other major malls in Makati, have agreed to shoulder the hospital bills of the victims.

As if on cue, the ever opportunistic politicians (a bunch of mostly certified know-it-alls) of the country (administration, but especially those from the opposition) gave the bombing a political angle. Can't we just deal with the facts or let the authorities do their investigation first before we start flooding the media with unfounded speculations and so-called intelligent guesses? Sigh, this is the problem when everyone in the country feels/thinks he or she is smarter than their peers. If our politicians are so frickin' smart, why are we still poor?

Eh-hum # 207

For Pinoys only...unless you have a strong bond/affinity with the Philippines/Filipino people, you may proceed.

FRIENDS! I have an IMPORTANT announcement!

Meet Marco Torres; and

Noel M. Novicio.

Both are Filipinos living and working in China. Why you may ask they're featured in me blog. Well, Marco and Noel are being considered to be two of the eight(?) torchbearers in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. That is, if they get enough votes. Hence, I am doing my part by featuring them here. I want them to be part of such a prestigious event and YOU should too. If both (or at least, either one of them) will have the opportunity to run in the streets of Beijing and carry one of the enduring symbols of the Olympcis, it will be for the whole Filipino nation and very good for morale (by the way, while late, Congratulations to PACMAN for proving that his first win against the Babyface Assasin was NO fluke. Congrats also to Michael Farinas).

There is an online poll and we must vote, vote and VOTE!!! Let us prove that we not only get our way through texting, but through the information superhighway as well. Log on the Internet and get busy. For Marco, visit http://pub1.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/torch/members.shtml?mid=117. For Noel, visit http://pub1.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/torch/members.shtml?mid=345. (Or if these don't work, look for them in Google).

Pinoys (and friends), spread the word!

Yun lang, heheh.

(pictures also from their respective webpages)

Eh-hum # 206

A rather serious post.

One of my goals while living and studying in Japan was to lose some weight. Unfortunately, that didn't work out. While I develop an appetite for vegetables, cooking my own meals allowed me to eat as much rice as I wanted, which was not a good idea. Most people would cite chocolates and other sweets as their guilty pleasure. In my case, my biggest temptation is rice. I know you can't eat it as it is, but when you pair with with a delectable viand, its a killer. And I mean it.

So, a week ago, my mom put me on a strict rice diet, meaning, I am only allowed to eat half a cup of rice every meal. Moreover, I was "instructed" to eat more vegetables, lessen my red meat intake, and drink more water. And she said I should spend at least 30 minutes on the treadmill everyday (the difficult part actually).

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I am not one who thinks too much of my body image. I am happy with who I am and how I look. I am not beautiful, but I am definitely not ugly. I'm cool with that. But ever since I arrived home, I am constantly reminded of the problems I could face when I do not look after my weight and my health. My mother has diabetes (thanks to eating too much rice) and other ailments. Being the eldest, there is a huge that I could develop these illnesses. To have a better picture of where I stand healthwise, early this week I went to a laboratory and had my blood and (excuse me) urine analyzed (blood chem). The results came in the following morning, and its not all good news. While most of my vital signs are normal, I found out that I needed to monitor my cholesterol level and my triglyceride level went beyond the normal or healthy range.

Hence, I went to my mom's doctor this morning, and she gave me a prescription to take this medicine for two months. I am not too happy about it, but its definitely a wake up call for me to shape up. While it has nothing to do with vanity, but I could benefit from losing all those unwanted pounds. I just hope I will be able to keep it up.

Eh-hum.

Eh-hum # 205

I really love this show, it never fails to make me laugh out loud. While the show began as a British radio programme, people are more familiar with the American version hosted by comedian Drew Carey.

Its a improvisational comedy show that takes the form of a fake game show. The host, also the "judge", awards fake points to any of the four performers/comedians who create characters, scenes and songs on the spot (hence, improv). The said four comedians' performance depends on the type of game the host assigns and scenarios suggested by members of the audience. The performer awarded the most "points" (or whoever the host chooses) is declared the "winner" and gets to sit on the host's chair by the end of the show (while he/she is seated, the host does a little acting/singing with the "losers").

The four comedians composed of three regulars (Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie and Wayne Brady) and a guest (Greg Proops, Brad Sherwood, Jeff Davis, Chip Esten, Kathy Greenwood, etc). Big names in comedy, such as Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg, have also appeared in the show as the fourth performer.

Unfortunately, it was canceled in 2003 due to, what else, poor ratings (but they did broadcast reruns and unaired episodes afterwards). Thanks to over the top and senseless reality shows flooding American television, funny and innovative programs like WLIIA get less attention, ergo, lose ratings.

But we will always have YouTube, DVD compilations and fond memories. Below is a clip of one of the popular "games" on the show, Living Scenery. It features Colin (wearing lavender shirt) and Ryan with three cheerleaders as the props. Funny stuff (before and after the actual skit). Enjoy!

Eh-hum # 204

Part of being a (good) older sister is being supportive of your sibling's (school or everyday life) endeavors.

Ergo, if you are living in the Philippines (preferably living within Metro Manila) and are in dire need of some sleek, cool and high-quality footwear, please visit http://benjostore.multiply.com/ to view, choose and order a pair(s) of Adidas and Nike shoes to your liking. (By the way, he's also selling Rubbermaid products, JanSport bags and JBL headphones).

Thanks in advance.

(You may ask, did I buy any of these shoes? Unfortunately, I cannot. Well, I would if I have some cash. After my Japan stint, I decided to return to grad school to finish my MA. So, I am a "bum" as of the moment. Sigh)

Eh-hum # 203

On September 28 (my last day in Japan), I:

Went to school:

Went to Sannomiya and visited a bookshop (Junkudo) and:

Read the first few pages of Gabriel Garcia Marquez' Memories of My Melancholy Whores.
Oh yeah, also went to the bank and withdrew my remaining money and cancelled my cellphone account.

Ergo, I did not do anything out of the ordinary (though I attended a Sayonara party a week earlier, which was a blast).

But I couldn't help feel a little bit sad that I am leaving all of these familiar places and my way of life (no matter how mundane) in Kobe behind.

But I said to myself, it ain't over yet. Hmmm...I smell a plan (though this will take a while). Abangan.