freeway snacking ...

so ok, this morning i woke up pretty late. thanks to a late night visitor. i was in a total rush to get out of the house, hop on my car and speed down the freeway. but viola! this lady on the left- most lane was chowing down on a burger or a bagel, god knows what, while going 50mph!!! given that almost everyone keeps a pretty busy lifestyle, i understand why some people have to "snack behind the wheel". but for crying out loud, get off the f-ng fast lane!!! and not because you have an extra few minutes to spare and enjoy breakfast on the freeway, it doesn't mean every one else does!!! how freakin inconsiderate. i was totally pissed i was tempted to rear-end her!

if you have to snack-behind-the-wheel, please remember:
1) AVOID THE FREEWAY ... please! take surface streets. everyone will be happy. you'll have a satisfying meal and everyone else will get to their destination on time .. and in one piece!
2) if for some reason, you find a sense of content by chomping on a breakfast burrito while driving on the freeway - USE THE RIGHT-MOST LANE! and i'm almost positive the members of the MealOnTheGo club will welcome you with open arms (and maybe a greasy handshake).

*breathe* sorry, i just had to vent.

flying solo ...

it's saturday night. it's 59 degrees out - nice and chilly.

i had a nice dinner consisting of salad, roasted chicken breast and rice with a glass of chilled pinot grigio.

ALONE ...

it feels nice in an odd way. i could get used to this. sometimes staying in is good for the body and mind. life do exist even in solitude. happiness and content abounds for those who search.

time for long hot shower then off to read a book. hop into bed by 11 and then i dream away...

top of my list

my favorite dance by far...

Blake McGrath and Melody Lacayanga - Lyrical
from So You Think You Can Dance (FOX 11)

sigh ...

L: i know a song in tagalog
alex: oh yeh?
L: lapit manga kaybeegan at ma kanee kayo
L: ahoy medeladelung balita
L: galing sabayenko
L: nice koong imamahagi
L: amangabewndo
L: amanga pangayarin nagaganap salupong... pinagnako
alex: haha... wicked funny!

My Quit ... weee!

Quit 253 days. Cigarettes NOT smoked: 2532. $442.75 and 19 days, 8 hours of your life saved!

monday blues

is it just me or do relationships really get more complicated when you're older?

weekend blahs

i knew it! the symptoms were obvious - scratchy throat, sneezing, watery eyes, sore joints. i woke up this morning with a fever and yes, i am very upset! God knows i can't afford to get sick now. and i'm not exactly the expert when it comes to being sick and taking care of myself. being the youngest in my family, i've got so used to being taken care of whenever i fall sick as a little kid. reality check - i'm now a 28 year old adult living on my own and there's no one else to take care of me but ME!

the more sorry part is i had laundry and cleaning to do today. i had a huge pile of dirty laundry and a tall pile of used dishes that's been screaming for attention. my apartment is a big mess it's not even funny anymore!!! bottomline, despite my need to relax and try to get better i had to get my sorry ass out of bed and start working around the house. did i mention anything about my bathroom yet? ugh! major ugh! cleaning that one up would have to wait!

i napped pretty much the rest of the day after laundry and dishes were taken care of. i wanted to get out and do something. it was a perfect day for a stroll down ventura blvd but i knew it would be wise to just stay in and rest. besides, i have to be out tonight for a friend's pre-birthday weekend celebration. yeh, just what i needed - more alcohol to kill my immune system. sure dehydrate me some more and i'll render myself clinically dead by end of the evening. ehhh, it's all cool. my friend's birthday celebration is the perfect excuse to be out and about, to see and be seen! (just wishing i won't bump into people i don't really care for!)

it's dinner time and i haven't had a single bite all day!

weee!

Summer of 2005!

Pre-drinking at Eric's place before hitting the Sunset Strip.

From top L - R: Nina, Girlie, Raffy, Eric, Alex, Eliza

From bottom L - R: Kettle One Vodka, Doritos, Cranberry Juice

vodka shots anyone?

classic

May 22, 1966. This picture was taken 39 years ago at my parent's wedding at Santa Cruz church in Binondo, Manila.


I came across this photo during my recent visit to my second-degree aunt in Long Beach (she's the young lady on the left side of the picture). When i saw it i was in awe! First, because i haven't seen a picture of my parents as a young couple ever since i moved to LA. And second, it's amazing how a copy of this picture has survived over the years.

I was tempted to steal it really but i had second thoughts. Stealing this picture is like stealing a piece of antique - it's old, faded, hardly pretty but nevertheless precious and priceless!

jaina

I MISS YOU MY SWEET ANGEL ...

YM 9/8/2005 5:20pm

alex: im happy right now. there may be something that can make me happier, but i'm in no rush. i'm sure that something will eventually come along.
cm: That's a good philosophy. Pretty much the one that I have.
alex: like my dancing, i want to live life full out.
alex: regardless if it's a life with somebody or a life on my own.
alex: and with that i bid you goodnight.

sense of normalcy

i was back in dance class last night after a two week absence. it felt awesome. also, it gave me a sense of normalcy after two weeks of playing host/tour-guide. i had two sets of guests visit me recently and my daily routine was totally thrown off. i'm not in any way complaining coz the past two weeks has been the best so far this year...

cousin mei ... my dear "little sister" and i reunited after 4 long years. funny how seeing her at the airport brought me to tears. it felt surreal to actually see her and hold her. spending time with her gave me a sense of "being home". she bridged the gap between my two homes - LA and Manila. and most definitely. her visit was good for my soul. and everytime i will hear the lyrics "you don't know how much you mean to me. Whenever you down, you know that you can lean on me. No matter the situation, I'm gonna hold you down", i shall look back on mei's visit to LA and smile.

nina and girlie ... two friends of mine from college came out to LA for Labor Day weekend. it was a long weekend filled with good times and lol, alcohol! what amazes is me the fact that i've known these girls for about 9 years now and through the years we all managed to be friends. we may have grown up differently in some ways but when we're together, it all comes back. it feels like we're back in college - wandering free spirits in search of fun and maybe a sense of purpose. being with nina and girlie is one good reality check - that true friends are rare and i'm lucky i have them.

mei, nina and girlie - three girls i spent the last 2 weeks with reminded me to stay grounded. their presence made realize what i was in the past and in a lot of ways help me understand what i am today.

it's bittersweet when the day comes that it's time for guests to leave. every single time i would wonder and ask myself - when will we see each other again. only time can tell, i guess. as long as we stay in touch, special bond with relatives and friends will remain strong. it may be a lot of work but for sure, it's all worth the effort.