Notes to Self, Che

The plan was to just write this down in a piece of paper (in other words, notes) but hey, it's even better that it can be a useless blog entry.

To download later this month:

+ The Big Bang Theory (Sept 22)

+ The Mentalist (Sept 22)

+ Fringe (Sept 23)

+ Gossip Girl** (Sept 26)

(**For the wife* only.)

Lumang Eskwela, Green Dazed, Etc

10:37 AM: Bamboo screams, "... sa panaginip lang ako nakakatulog!" Inarguably, this is the best song (entitled "Hilo") written by Rico Blanco. In the days when rivermaya was still rivermaya, Rico wasn't a sellout (Imortal Ampotah.), Bamboo just sang and danced and sang (and not try to compose songs which sound alike other songs in the same album.) Nathan Azarcon was cool (and i think he's still cool) and Mark Escueta just played the drums (and not revive a hapless, tasteless new rivermaya, which basically destroyed the legacy of the old River Maya) Oh well and oh fuck. To the old times.

1:39 PM: Billie Joe at the background, "i saw my friend the other day, and i don't know exactly just what he became. It goes to show... It wasn't long ago, i was just like you. And now i think i'm sick and i wanna go home." Fiel at the back of my mind.

2:42 PM: By the way, the wife* ate lunch buffet-style at Shang as she had a meeting there. i had a rather bland boneless bangus from Reyes Barbecue right across our building. Not fair.

The Early Bird...

10:25AM: ... Gets to open the air con at the office. Which pretty means i was really, really very early coming in to the office today (more/less at 7AM) and its paying off: the office is way too cold to everyone's liking. *hands up* yes it's my fault, and i like it the way it is (*puts on the thick sweater with the hoodie on*)

12:50PM: Beef steak for lunch. The wife* prepares the meals these days and thankful that she does (Else: i have to wake up at 5AM) The Little Prince says what is essential is invisible to the eye. Preparing beef steak is as invisible as it gets in this lifetime. (And don't quote me quoting Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

12:52PM: Wife* (yes with the asterisk should be a staple now) which should mean Che would be happy despite the asterisk. i think. (If she's not too happy, am willing to put add as many asterisks as needed)

Random Rants: Aray, aray

9:12 AM: Arrived at the office at 7:23 AM. A "career-high" so to speak. Arthritic ankle and all, i am proud of the accomplishment. i might even celebrate this when i get home. Maybe throw a party for the friends.

10:53 AM: i never liked Guns N' Roses then. Though, i remember Bong Bio (r.i.p.) gave me The Spaghetti Incident album (cassette tape) as birthday gift in high school. Axl Rose is screaming Paradise City now and its giving me the chills.

12:37 PM: Pain on the throbbing ankle won't go away. Misplaced modifier, intentional.

End.

Random Rants: Green Day, WNBA on a Wednesday

2:03 PM: Day started badly as i lose another 50 pesos to my (new) officemate over a WNBA game (Phoenix failed to cover and actually lost the game). Double bad news right there: actually betting on a WNBA game and being a bad influence to my officemate. Total down for this week: -150 pesos. i would like to believe it's beginner's luck for him. (well, i can't think of any other excuse really)

2:08 PM: Random winamp declares Green Day shall be the band of the day. So i unclick random and this means its all day Green day from now 'til 5PM or so.

2:56 PM: Billy Joe sings, "i was a young boy that had big plans, and now i am another shitty old man."

3:01 PM: Billy Joe sings, "i can not speak, i've lost my voice, i am speechless and redundant."

3:57 PM: Just learned that salary will be released on... the 31st! Ffffuck.

And that officially ends (and kills) the day.

Return of Random Rants

It's tough when you can't write full paragraphs coherently. Meaning: i can't write like i used to write anymore. While i have been in a writing job (see last post) the last 6-8 months, i forgot how to write. Well, there are certain notes at facebook, at best i saw it as mediocre writing-- still honest, but i am simply not satisfied with my work there.

It's even tougher when you can't think coherently. Meaning: day-in day-out (and/or night-in and night-out) there are literally a million thoughts running inside your head. And i just want 0.01% of these thoughts to come out, maybe written into a blog entry, make sense out of it.

It's not happening though. So why try? Fuck coherence, i'll just have to write and write and write. Maybe they'll take form on their own.

1:22 PM: About an hour ago, i just texted Che that my shit smells like the shit of Qube. So it's either his shit really smells now; or we've been eating the same food. i am sure i DID NOT partake any of his Gerber (mixed veggies) the last three days; but i AM NOT sure if i shared during his breastfeeding sessions during the wee hours of the morning. So that could be the reason. (Note: i did not text Che that this will make the blog so...)

1:42 PM: Back to back songs from Soul Asylum and Blur from the winamp (randomized) playlist. And i think of the fucker named Ronald James Panis. Fuck fuck fuck. The guy had to die before he could meet Qube. The guy had to die before countless Marvel films too. And a Gaiman HBO series in 2014. Oh shit, i miss the guy badly.

2:59 PM: Not sure if the boss will like me posting in my blog during work hours. However, i doubt he reads the blog. And if he does, i just hope he understand that every 15 or 30 minutes my mind has to wander away from American Football-- else the work suffers. (Excuses actually but really i need to get away from it every once in a while.)

5:21 PM: Today is offset day. Went home early last Friday because of Qube's vaccination. So i have to grind two extra hours today to offset for that under time. Well it's a better option than salary deduction. So i stay... It's a ghost town already when the office is full. What more now?

5:42 PM: So yeah, the former boss name is Jeff and a new boss is named Jeff as well. Does this mean i shall last for ONLY 6 months only as well? i won't delve into specifics but this is United Kingdom vs. Canada right here.

In the Name of the Son

i miss Writing for the sake of Writing. Every press release, news article or TV script i did the last 5 and a 1/2 years brings me to some sort of anti-orgasm--- it's just not fun anymore. Until you realize that this brings food to the table.

Provided, you still write about things that really interest you (in my case, sports and basketball; and now, poker.) Provided, it's not bad a job considering other people get stuck with work they really don't like. Provided, the juice is worth the squeeze any way you look at it. Provided, after all you still have a job to speak of.

Ah, Writing, i fucking miss you and miss fucking you. We should do this again soon and often. For now, i'd like to (re)introduce you to a person i should be writing about the next 30 to 40 years:

Pac's explanation on the Pompyang Punch

(From FireQuinito, off the Sweet Science:)

He does it in a gym all the time,” said Roach. “I don’t think there’s been a guy he ever sparred with he didn’t try it on, and Steve Forbes, in this camp, was the first guy who’d even retaliated. When he talked about doing it in a fight I warned him ‘Manny, don’t even think about it, because they’ll take a point away if you do.’”

“No they won’t,” replied Pacquiao. “The first time I do it they’ll just warn me.”

That, people, is Pinoy logic.

The Horrors of the Dislocated Pinky Finger

The first reaction was almost priceless: It was so numb i almost tried to dribble the basketball again. Fortunately, i stared at it long enough and saw that it was pointing at the other way. Sticking like a sore pinky finger.

So there and then i had to leave the court with a finger joint turned wrongly. Ugh.

6TH SABL CONFERENCE : EVOLUTION

6th SABL Conference: Evolution AVP
Script by: Ogie Belenzo/Pierre Salas/Xtian Encarnacion/Raul Maningat
VO by: Ogie Belenzo/Pierre Salas
GFX by: Ron del Mundo
Edited by: Richie D' Horsey



Evolution daw!

Yes. That's the theme of the sixth conference of the Solar-Antipolo Basketball League--- time goes by so fast i did not realize that i have already played for four "franchises" in this fledgling league (currently slightly better than the PBL since they have five teams and we have seven.) i have a collection of a Yellow, Black, White and Purple jerseys to show for it which means a couple of possibilities: a) Teams demand my services and they need me. or b) Teams trade my ass as soon as they realize me and my turnovers are detrimental to the team.

Either way, the fun in being a journeyman? Yes, i can collect those jerseys. And the shoes (when budget permits) adjust to the team motif.

The better part of it? i have had a couple of Finals appearances. That's 2-0 versus the TMacish-jinx named Kristian Encarnacion.

Anyway, today should be the last day of the sixth conference. As of this writing, White is battling Blue with the latter leading the best-of-three Finals, one-to-none. Don't tell Pierre and Ron that though; they might prove me wrong, and we'll hear the news when we meet later on.

Since it's the sixth conference of the SABL, here are SIX FAST FACTS about this conference:

1) FROM FRIENDS TO FOES:

This list is as big as Blue's point spread over their opponents this conference but i don't have insider info on other team's i'd stick with what i know and the rumors:

+ Paul Navarro versus former teammates Pierre Salas, Ron del Mundo and Kristian.
+ Donjie C/Toto versus former teammates Gelo Pazcoguin and Crosby Menodiado (after three championships in the first three conferences it's weird that you see them on opposite ends of the court.)
+ Ron versus Kristian.
+ Kristian versus Ogie. (i am not sure if they were friends before.)
+ Sir Binoy versus Ryan. Former franchise players for the one-time champion Green.
+ Clear Boys Ermil and Mac.

2) FROM ENEMIES TO COMRADES
+ Kristian versus myself, now with White team. i demanded a trade the moment i knew we'd reunite. (It's actually a friend-to-foe-then-comrade-to-enemy-cycle. i miss trash talking with him though.
+ Raul and Paolo versus Ryan A. and Ariel. i knew they had some pretty interesting battles during the Red versus White championship a conference ago. Now teammates with Blue.
+ Jojo and Toto and Binoy, now with Purple. Inarguably, franchise players for their respective teams in the previous conference.

3) MVP's and (MOST) IMPROVED PLAYERS and other NOTABLES.
+ Pierre versus everyone else. ('cause you see, this is the year Pierre used his "varsity" experience and bullied everyone smaller than him ... i have been saying it for so long, if Pierre plays to his potential his team should win the championship.
+ Kristian is actually the third leading scorer for the Purple team. Which is a good thing because that's his game, and not a point guard. And which is also a bad thing, because you'll hear from him all day long after a good game.
+ THE ENTIRE BLUE TEAM. All star squad. More on this later.

4) THE LUCK OF THE DRAW AND CONSPIRACIES.
+ i was with Clear during the drawing of players (draw lots for the draft) and when i've learned that the Blue team had picked players like it's for All Star Weekend. With Paolo Mariano among the tribunal of commissioners who handled the draft... You know where i am getting at. (And Paolo will deny this of course.) Then again, they just worked hard on their consistency and chemistry--- something you can't easily do. So i guess i'd have to congratulate Paolo tomorrow.
+ The second and last conspiracy is that they forced me to team up with Kristian.

5) THE COLORS HAVE CHANGED BUT THE PASSION (and personalities) REMAINED THE SAME.

This is oh-so-true:
+ Andrew's consistent and loud trash talk? Heck, he's more enjoyable to watch than the entire Coca Cola Tigers, Barako Bull and San Antonio Spurs combined. (And the opposite when you are one of his nemesis on the court.)
+ Paul Navarro's veteran moves. Heck, whoever said height is might have not met Mr. Navarro and his elbows.
+ Pierre Salas' crazy bulk and mad stares. Heck, good luck with running into him.
+ Ron del Mundo's pre-game huddle prayers.

And of course, the usual whines and realizations about...

6) REFS and THE BUDGET.

+ Referees for this conference took the traveling call to another level. Even the FIBA referees are not that strict. And everyone agrees that they disagree with the refs call regarding this one. The verdict? CHANGE THE REFS! (Again.)

+ That Paolo is still short with the budget. Meaning the cash prize is again in dire straits. The verdict? Enough with the moolah as antes, trophies-of-pride-and-bragging-rights will do!

---

To end, congratulations to everyone. We have a seventh conference by February and that means all of us will be winners once again. (Though that's what losers say all the time.)

B.S. is a Pacman Fan

Yup. Bill Simmons is a Manny Pacquiao fan.

Q: If the boxing higher-ups had any sense whatsoever they would give us Pacman/Mayweather in six months. I would stop everything to have a fight night party for this event. I have not paid for a boxing event since Holyfield/Lewis in 1999 but I would spend at least $300-$500 to see this. What is the holdup?
-- Seth Johnson, Middletown, N.Y.

SG: It's going to be disappointing. Just warning you now. Floyd Mayweather Jr. could never in a million years trade punches with Manny Pacquiao. He will be on his bicycle for 12 rounds. There is no way that, at this point in his life, Mayweather wants any part of Pacquiao, a concrete-headed, indefatigable freak of nature who can finish with either hand from every angle. If Mayweather gets in the ring, he'll end up doing more laps than Steve Prefontaine did for the University of Oregon. Just keep your guard up when you're spending that $64.95.

(Important note: Will I be spending that money? Of course! Happily! I made the decision during Pacman's glorious evisceration of Miguel Cotto that he finally had reached the exalted "I Don't Care Who You Are Fighting, I Am Watching It Live & That's That" status, which puts him in the following company: Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Tyson. My own personal Mount Rushmore. Pacquiao hit Tiger/Federer status about a year ago, and nobody cared. That's why he needs the Mayweather fight so badly. We've seen dominant pound-for-pound guys these past two decades, but nobody with finishing power anything like what Pacman has. He's like a coked-up Aaron Pryor, only without the coke. Insane. If he's fighting, I am watching.)

The toughest part in losing in poker with friends is

It's fucking fun. Especially when the River is extended to the Ocean.

Shit. i have to stop gambling, even for fun, it's becoming really addicting (half-warning and half-kidding to self.)

They're Back!

Roughly two weeks before everything is CLEARED out. Am not sure if that is necessarily a good thing as everything is supposed to return to normalcy--- at least, work-wise and the daily grind.

Oh well.

The good news is that it's September and it's that time of year again that the women below return to my life:












































































(In any order)

[Insert Product Name Here] [Insert Product Tagline Here]

Ah finally. Writing something not about work. Well, sort of.

Customers are always right. But in the business i am in, the client is god. We could leave it at that, or we could risk something like getting fired. But heck, writer's write. Damn the repercussions. One of the greatest fears of many in this craft is the so-called writer's block. Five cups of coffee and a pack of cigarettes won't solve it. A bottle or two of beer won't work either. When you can't write, you just can't. It's one of the (non)mysteries in writing. Forcing it would mean a half-half-half-hearted effort (That's 12.5/100 for those who hate math) on any subject--- which could only mean that you shouldn't have started on it in the first place (Unless of course you want to settle for mediocrity)

But i have come to realize that this is not the greatest fear. There's also the so-called client's block. Five cups of coffee, a pack of cigarettes and probably more won't be enough to appease the violation on artistry. And no, please don't think that this is about the selfish me-me-me or that i put myself in a high chair and won't listen to any suggestions at all. This is about protecting the integrity of the craft and avoiding/going against commercialization of it at all costs. But to the ineffable gods, "at all costs" means shutting up and writing what they want to write. Damn the repercussions to quality. Damn the protection of integrity.

i love my job. Sports. Writing. Sportswriting. But the client's block just happened (Writer's block happens every other day, the level of tolerance is at an all-time high.) and i am starting to hate it because it just became commercialized writing. Product placement here, there and everywhere. Actually, come to think of it, this happened two months ago but it's only now that i am starting to NOT tolerate it. Key word: starting to. And like "fighting for what i deem right at all costs" means it is an empty threat; a lame attempt of opinion which would fall on deaf ears.

What's next then? Would QBE9 happen? (QBE9 is a bullet entry in my Digital Post-It Notes on my desktop which means Quit By Episode 9) i don't know. Let's cross the bridge when we get there. Assuming the bridge hasn't been burned yet.

(This entry is brought to you by cheezepaper.blogspot.com--- we have no readers but who cares!)

HBO Crushes the Carneys

Ah, maybe too late but a lot of other fans are (still) asking for the same thing:

Save Carnivale

Kamukha ko o dae?

Sabi kang tugang ko, kamukha ko daa ang aki niya--- na sabi man kang dakol na tawo, although sa hiling ko maslamang ang kuya ning dikit (Kaidtong same age niya si Jigs.)
Pero kamo na maghusga. Kung sa hiling nindo totoo yan (na lamang si Kuya), dae na kaipuhan magpost sa COMMENTS (since ma man nagco-comment... dahil ma man reader ang blog, dakol ang agree.)

And kung may reklamo ka man, sige na post na. Protesta na. And explain yourself tano dae ka naga-agree sako.

100 Unclear Things

But that would preempt everything, eh? So, there. We wait for things to settle down and wait for the clear picture in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 days...

SM NEgamall

Yes. 'twas SM's big mistake--- not calling it as i suggest above. Heck, it's the hippest, coolest rip-off ever. At the same time, you'd have little effort selling the name and the product itself. The idea that it did not at all float escapes me really. For the probinsyano's they'd always ask themselves: "Why go to Megamall when you can go to Negamall." Unintentional slang and all, Naguenos and Bicolanos alike will enjoy the ripped-off name. And the pseudo-mega shopping experience, after all, they've got it all for you!
Speaking of ripped-off names, i've talked to an Ayala insider and they are considering of putting a mall right across SM City Naga. The name? Yes, they'd be more creative this time: Tri-Naga. It's located in Triangulo (barangay) via your usual tricyle. And no, you won't get the joke if you are not from Naga, so don't try.
As emphasized by Enteng's post, the saddest part is the fact that most stores/restos are the ones you find only in Naga City. We had a nuisican mayoral candidate years back, i think his name is Herbas and one his campaign promises was to put a roof over the entire "centro" of Naga. On May 2009, it just happened. Courtesy of your SM City Naga.

As dead as Naga centro will become among the early victims (according to stories) is the E-Mall, previously the first (Ok, second there's the LCC Mall) 'shopping' center in the area. Good riddance, there's a reason why it's called the E-Mall: After the E-ntrance you can already see the E-xit. There goes your record-breaking 2-minute malling experience.

(And errr, pardon the pics, they were rushed when i took them. Not that it changes my status of being an ama-teur photographer and all)

+++

Another sad fact is the traffic. No left or right turns? One way street? i can see it in the tricycle (trike) driver's faces: "fuck 'em all, they are soon going to replace us with taxi/cabs." Or maybe not. Because after all, everywhere in Naga is still five minutes away from point A to point B. Case in point: i walked home earlier tonight from SM. Arhtritic joints and all (after a KFC dinner with the family) i actually enjoyed it. Much like walking from school to our house 15 years back.

And finally... i went home because i really wanted to this "malling" experience. Nyaha. Like there's no mall in Metro Manila (And where can you get Star Trek @ 100 pesos in Metro Manila?). But hey, it's not the same when you are at home and with your pamangkin, who by the way scored another one of those Transformers autobots.

The wrath of work, and payday awaits.

Anti-Boni Makeover

Sabi ni Ermana, i-post ko daa ni sa blog ko (kaya uyan na). Basically, the before and after kang sadit na harong ko sa Antipolo.

Medyo mahal man yan, worth 500 pesos and some! (Magulo na ulit these days, so i have to cough up another 500 bucks tapos pamasahe kung isay man ang mabisita sako para maglinig.) Iyo, tama, hamak na hugakon lang akong tawo kaipuhan ko pa ning ibang tao para maglinig ning sakong harong.

Before

AfterBeforeAfter
Before
AfterDagdag sa 500, ipopost ko pa ang picture ni ermana as part kang saiyang incentive para sa tultol na paglinig sa harong ko. (And dae ko yan kamukha, kung naging babae ako sigurado mas magayon ako diyan, ta hamak na mascute man ako saiya ever since aki pa kami)

Unholy Pac!

Haha. This youtube video is too damn funny. i must say, conspiracy theorists are the most creative people in the planet. Heck, i am not even sure if Manny understands 90 per cent of his accusations. That, or the maker of the Nike emblem is the real devil worshipper. Either way, maybe we should all start worshipping the devil as well so we can all be rich?!

The video: