Like Grown-ups Do

After months of battling over boredom and being plain Jane, I have finally tendered my resignation - leave my comfort zone and pursue some challenging tasks to hone my skills.

Most of the people I work with were pretty much surprised about this "adult decision", I have been receiving "farewell" messages since the announcement of my resignation. Reading their email messages stirred certain feelings but I am pretty sure it was a toss between being sad and happy.

It is sad to "temporary" part ways with those people I work with for almost 3 years and most of them have seen me in my many hats. I hate goodbyes. It sometimes makes me sick like having dysmenorrhea while watching The Devil's Advocate with your nanny.

But you see, this goodbye is not all that bad. The beauty of this is that I am making adult decisions and being brave enough to conquer other worlds. These make me be at peace everyday.

I am turning 25 this year and there's no way that am going to procrastinate conquering the conquerable.

The Spiderwick Chronicles

The movie started with a single Mom and her kids (Grace family) moving into a spooky old mansion that once owned by their great-great uncle.

One of the kids discovers a book that has been hidden for quite a long time and it was sealed with a note saying not to read it but obviously, Jared (Freddie Highmore, who played twins here) dismisses the note and continued reading the book. As he reads it, he realizes that his great-great uncle, Arthur Spiderwick, wrote it.

The book is entitled "Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You" where it describes in details these creatures' powers and other spells on how to defeat an evil ogre named Mulgarath, who desperately wants this book so he can assume power over the world.

The 7 year-old in me, almost screamed and got a little scared as Mulgrath and his followers attacked the Grace household when they found a way on how to destroy the magical spell that protects that very house where Jared and his family now lives. These goblins and other creatures are really that ugly and monstrous.

The young actors in this movie are just awesome and the movie paints a picture of the universe beyond us - of honey, tomatoes, fairies and more.

While the movie tells about how evil some creatures can get, it also features that good triumphs if we choose and work at it.

Dear Sunshine

A thousand times I've tried to stay

Alone by pushing you away
Time after time and tear after tear
I find myself back here with you

The Bucket List

The Bucket List is a funny, heartwarming story of two dying men and have a limited time to accomplish their life's goals.

Two strangers (a mechanic and a millionaire) who find themselves sharing the same room at a hospital owned by the millionaire guy played by Jack Nicholson When they were both told that they have like less than a year to live, they decide to travel around the world together, following the goals they've listed on their "bucket list" which was originally the mechanic's (Morgan Freeman) idea.

Being the internet surfer that I am, I've noticed that this movie did not get much good reviews but I am still glad we watched it. While this movie will never probably grab an award or two but promise, this is really entertaining and touching that anyone will appreciate.

Cloverfield

When we watched this movie a couple of weeks (or so) ago, I was pretty much expecting that its going to be like Blair Witch Project of long time ago - and found out that Cloverfield is very intense and the story is better compared to the BWP.

At the onset, like around 10-20 minutes of just watching it, I felt really nauseous already and after awhile I seriously rushed to the bathroom and threw up. I left the theater a bit exhausted. Seriously. Yeah, I know that's gross. What can I do?*wink

I cannot describe how the monster looked like - except that it was huge, really scary and it has babies that look like a spider or something. Gross.

The style of the movie which relies heavily on a handheld camera is impressive as it helps tell the story effectively - it keeps it's viewers pay attention even to the smallest details.

Aside from the major motion sickness attack I experienced, this movie is still worth seeing as the story was presented differently and the creativity is just good.

Juno

Juno is about a sixteen year old high school girl who gets pregnant after her first time of having sex. Being in this situation, she initially opted for abortion but chicken out and decides to find a couple to adopt her baby.

I never expected this movie to be this funny and I actually loved it.

I think one of the "coolest thing" about Juno's condition was that, she has her family to back her up. But please don't get me wrong, I am not saying that teenage pregnancy is okay but in this movie, she was able to pull through with this - with the help of her family and best friend.

Another thing I love about this movie is the endless witty, sarcastic quips and humerous remarks. Hilarious! One of my favorite lines is when the very preggy Juno comes home quite upset and her dad said something like "Hey big-puffy-version-of-Junebug." Oh, I am telling you there are a lot of quips like this in the movie.

Ellen Page as Juno, played the character really well - enough for her to get an Oscar nomination for this. And of course, the other actors like Michael Cera (I loved him in Superbad!), Olivia Thirlby (as Juno's best friend), Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman (as the adoptive parents of Juno's baby), J.K. Simmons and Allison Janney (as Juno's cool parents) were just as awesome.

Give yourself a treat (forget about the ZTE scandal for awhile, please) and watch this comedy flick as this does not rely on some fart, cheap jokes.

So there. *wink

Being a Girl

While surfing the internet today, I read somewhere about the curse of being Eve and how it can sometimes be a challenge to be a girl. Not to be stupid now, I've decided to write something about that too - Eve's curse and her blessings.

Here goes:

Blessings (Tops)
1. Eve is allowed to cry.
2. She can show her emotions and nobody will think that she's gay.
3. She can talk about anything.
4. She is almost always organized compared to Adam.
5. She takes care of the littlest things (but important) that Adam usually ignores.
6. She can go strut her stuff in a mall the whole day and be fulfilled even if she didn't purchase anything.
7. Her shoes are almost always cheaper than those of men.
8. She can go out in a color coordinated outfit.
9. She does not have to worry so much about hair legs.
10. She strongly tries to avoid violence.
11. She has ability to bring out another life to see the world.

Curse (Tops)
1. She has to suffer and endure the uncomfortable and often painful experience each month of having our periods.
2. Unexplicable mood swings during that period and craving for something sweet, salty and sometimes, sour foods.
3. Birth pains.
4. She is often perceived as the delicate little soul.
5. She is almost always expected to be all dolled up.

And one writer puts it quite bluntly:

“To the woman God said, 'I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to your children. Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you.'"
- Genesis 3:16

"Most women generally find their value in relationships than in their achievements. A woman feels most fulfilled when she’s beside her man, or while caring for her kids, or while nurturing any other human being, for that matter. And this is what’s hard about being an Eve: When she sometimes feels a longing for Adam and she doesn’t know where he is."

And yes, as hard as it is - I still love being a girl.

Fairy Tales and Dragons

It is most unlikely to happen that she would ever be cheesy about the 14th of February. To her it is just one of those days but to most, it is considered special, no - very special. Flowers, gifts, lovely cards and the likes have never been more "so everywhere" during this day. It was one of those days in a year when people started to become extra mushy.

To her limited mind, this only happens in fairy tales, bedtime stories of some sort and then wake up being eaten by some monster dragon.

Fantasy.

She never really understood why most people would take an extra mile ONLY on this day to show that special someone how much the world meant to him/her but today is different. Slowly, she quite had a grasp of it.

Around 3 in the morning when sleep finally got hold of her, something happened. Her mobile phone was ringing like hell. She tried to just ignore the call but it was persistent, soon she heard herself mumbled "hello." An old friend was on the other line, he said he was sorry for calling up at this time and he was asking, no - almost pleading if she could come out and see him. He was outside the girl's house.

She went out to see him.

He just wanted to tell her what his plans are for the 14th. He is proposing to his girlfriend and he wanted his dear friend to be the first to know about this. She was stricken and quite immobilized - she wanted to scream at his face and remind him of the time and that she's supposed to be asleep but she just hugged him and gave her a pretty and sincere smile. She was very happy for him.

She listened intently as he tells her his plans - yes, all those cheesy stuff but it was really something. Her friend is about to sweep someone else's feet. The thought made her heart jump like crazy. When it was time for him to leave, he said something like - "I cannot imagine myself NOT being with her." And that was enough for her to cry again.

Nicolai is a prince and after awhile, he finally found his princess.

Walking back to her house, she caught herself smiling - yeah, a pretty good smile.

She realized that fairy tales happen and dragons can be defeated.

Pulp Fiction Lines

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

- Jules, Pulp Fiction

Awesome Photos

Got these wonderful photos through my email today and I am in awe.

Aren't they nice?

Baby Blues

Uly, a dear friend who is now based in the US sent me these comic strips that really made me laugh and cry afterwards - I am reminded of how I have been getting myself all prepped up to be that-title-I-should-now-forget. Silly, I know.

Seriously, the strips are witty and funny.

Soundest Sleeper

It'll take awhile -
Before my whole system shuts down.
From the memory of you;
My certain fondness of the whole you.

It'll take awhile -
Before I could say, I am sure okay.
When I know - sadness is quite everywhere;
I just sit and throw those blank stares.

It'll take awhile -
Before I could forget your smell;
Your whispers - yes, they linger!
And that lovely warmth of your hands.

It'll take awhile -
Before I could ever forget the senses of your mouth.
Look; taste.
Oh that crooked look and such sweet smile.

It'll take awhile -
Before my feet could move few steps forward;
Avoiding that look -
Such look that tears and burns me.

It'll take awhile -
Before I can be the once gentle soul.
Hush;
Of love and madness.

Forgive me -
Really, this will take awhile.

New Song

So many things have been said already about the very recent turn out of events - JDV got an oust and was replaced by Nograles. Bluntly, I don't know what exactly to feel about what just happened - mixed and all blur. At one side, I am convinced that we totally need some changing already yet something in me is quite appalled.

Some newspaper writers said that it was inevitable - that it is high time for JDV to resign and give the ship's floor to others, maybe they're right about that but I am sure hoping that this sudden change is not merely because of the Joey's singing abour the ZTE Scandal. Oh well! What was thinking - it was surely about that or at least that started the fire.

My dark brown eyes are now solely fixed on JDV's next move.

I remember him emotionally saying about the things he know about the 2004 Elections fraud and the many favors he did for GMA. I am placing my hopes that he'd better start singing his song, too and give the taxpayers' (and otherwise) what we all deserve to know.

Just sing us a new song, please?


It is never too late to be what you might have been.
- George Eliot

Someone You Need

You need someone there when the world isn't fair;
It's all just too good to be true.
Someone to care for you, wish you were there;
When the moment comes, you need to fly.
- Duncan Sheik

Dreaming of Boq

It was dark and there was not a single soul quite available at the time when she needed someome to talk to. Talk about what? Anything. Sometimes, all she just wanted is somebody to talk to, someone who is most willing to lend her some ears - aside from herself and her notebooks.

She walked and roamed around, something is out there - or is it someone? She cannot tell just yet. Curiosity and necessity got hold of her, that she forgot about being afraid even for awhile. She is most willing to risk something just so she could see upclose who that something or someone is. Someone who will listen?! She was excited.

With her hands clasped, shaking involuntarily - she gave in to this longing of having someone who will just listen and tell her that everything is going to be fine. Like the conversation of the little boy and his Papa in The Road. She walked slowly towards the stranger. Soon, she realized she was standing in front of a beast. A hairy and huge beast. She wanted to scream but nothing came out of her mouth when she opened it. There's no backing out now.

Took a deep breathe and said something friendly - like Hi or something. The beast looked at her and said nothing.

She started talking, hoping to find some connections with the beast. Soon, they were talking - the beast can actually talk and his name is Boq. But the moment she opened herself up - telling Boq how sad it is to be alone, her dreams and little triumphs, he started getting annoyed, acting like a beast (of course, he is a beast!) and talked down on her.

He pushed her away - literally and figuratively.

Terribly wounded and with a heavy heart, she walked away. No matter what, a beast will always be a beast.

And then she woke up. It was a very bad dream, she thought.

A very bad dream, indeed.

Freedom 101

In tyrannical times, doing nothing in the face of oppression is in fact doing something: It is helping to murder yourself. It is participating in your own homicide.
- Conrado de Quiros

Dancing Through Life

Dancing through life
Skimming the surface
Gliding where turf is smooth
Life's more painless
For the brainless
Why think too hard
When it's so soothing
Dancing through life
No need to tough it
When you can slough it off as I do
Nothing matters
But knowing nothing matters
It's just life
So keep dancing through
- Fiyero, Wicked