This year's holiday season is probably the worst I've ever had. I'm doing well at work lately, and that's perfectly good, but when I think about life outside work, I realize that I'm not exactly the happiest person I can be.

This is my first holiday season as part of the employed. During the previous years, as a student, I've always looked forward to going back to school to meet with my friends again. There was always something to look forward to after the vacation and there were always people to talk to during the long Christmas break. But now that I'm part of the corporate world, there's no longer such a thing as a Christmas break and there's nothing to look forward to after the vacation anymore, since I don't really have a holiday break anyway. So forgive me for the One Tree Hill title and forgive me for posting such a crappy entry that doesn't fit my usual self. I just realized that I miss my friends so bad -- that and a few more complicated things going on with my life that I have no plans of revealing here for everyone to know about.

Ok, so just to clear things up, I'm writing about how much I miss my friends. I was never the type of person who shows how much she loves the people around her, so now that my close college friends are no longer a phone call away, it has sinked in that I won't be seeing them anytime soon and I won't be hanging out with them as much as I did before.

First, there was Charm. Actually, we've known that she'll be leaving for London even before Charm and I became close friends. But when she left (and both of us still haven't gotten over our love for our thesis then), I realized that I will have to find a new Star Cinema movie buddy. Nevertheless, no one will ever take Charm's place since I know that no one else (no potential movie buddy, at least) will be seeing movies the way we see them in the "thesis mode" perspective. Back in college, Charm was just 30 steps away from our house. Now, I would have to wait for a year with CX just to take a chance at seeing her again. And if ever I want to meet with her again, that would mean another year at work, unless she comes home to Pinas.

A few months ago, Grace left for Dubai to enter the profession she never saw herself being part of. Being an FA is totally not a negative thing for her; in fact, I know that she's enjoying herself right now. It's just that I really really miss Grace. She has been my superfriend even before we officially entered college and I have my mom to thank for that. She's the only person I can talk to about America's Next Top Model, PBB, and Rockstar. Above those, Grace is the only person I know who can cook, as in cook. Those, and sleeping over at their house are what I won't be able to experience anytime soon.

And before November 2007 ended, Charisse left for Colorado, and Gaor for Dubai.
Charisse, Charisse. I haven't seen her after our univ grad. I haven't even had a lengthy conversation with her since then. I just knew that once her documents get approved, she could be leaving anytime soon. But "anytime soon" came too soon and the Mean Girls and I haven't gotten the chance to have a Charisse Day. Those who know Charisse sure know how special she is, in so many ways; and not being able to hang out with her one last time before she left was a total loss on my part. No, this is not lesbo lovin', you pervs. It's just that Charisse is so special that what she does is better left being thought about rather than being talked about.

As for Gaor, I'm soooo happy for her that she has finally made her dreams come true (so she says). I just realized that it would be harder to go places without her. Gaor is the only person patient enough to help me navigate the streets of Makati (or what have you), and the only person patient enough to constantly remind me of such directions I honestly can't pick up even after so many times of being told about. And Gaor is almost always the one who initiates get-togethers. Too bad, she won't be "on-call" anymore when we have our bonding sessions.

If only these girls were here, we probably have met during the Christmas / New Year days-off. We probably have gone to Batangas, or to EK, or to Tagaytay, or to wherever... or we probably have slept over someplace or bummed around watching MMFF films... *tears tears* Ang arte arte ko. And I just miss you more when I see our syllabus.

There. Enough with the drama. Ito ang nagagawa ng may relatively long New Year break. I'll be going back to my normal self soon.

Ngayon ko lang na-re-realize that I missed out on UP's Centennial Celebration. The kick-off ceremony happened last Jan8 while I was at the office, basically doing nothing, dahil wala namang tumatawag na pasahero. After browsing through my friends' multiply pages of UP@100, it dawned on me that I missed a once-in-a-lifetime event. I've been in UP since birth; took up pre-school at the CCCC, then been in UPIS for 11 years, then 4 years in college. As Von puts it, we should be getting loyalty awards already.

UP just turned a hundred years old. You only live to see one centennial celebration. And I, the ever-responsible Gdwn who can't bear missing any chorva she's engaged in, wasn't able to attend the kick-off ceremony. I, being the sleepyhead that I was that night, didn't go out (or even peeked out our window) to watch the ever-bonggang fireworks display. I missed out on THE event.... BIG TIME!!!!

Sana pala nag-request ako ng half day nung Tuesday! hmpf!

*looks down, ayan, nagsisisi tuloy*

Mega song of the year ang Umbrella ni Rihanna nung 2007. In fairness to her, ang laki ng iginanda niya nung nagpagupit siya ng buhok. So anyway... nahanap ko tong video na to sa stage6.com, at minahal ko nang bongga ang version nila ng Umbrella video.



link @ stage6



I sooo love the continuous take na malinis ang pagkakagawa and I love the "Rihanna" in this video who reminds me of Ugly Betty's Justin Suarez. :D Enjoy!

Global Fun Carnival Part 1:
11Jan08, CX Resa

Naaalala nyo pa ba yung hinanakit ko sa Peninsula Coup, dahil naudlot ang aming lakad? Well, almost two months later lang naisakatuparan ang lakad na yun. HMPF. Finally, after the loooooong wait, natuloy din ang Global Fun chever namin. So mega excited naman ako nung gabing yun... para lang ma-disappoint sa rides. Hindi naman pala kasi lahat, extreme rides. Peryang-perya pa rin ang dating, plus walang kwenta ang Whore House (horror house).

Flying Fiesta: Masarap siyang sakyan kasi para ka lang nagsi-swing effortlessly sa playground.

Ferris Wheel: Maganda siyang picturan. Period. For that, ito ang favorite picture ko. Wala ako sa picture, pero ang ganda nung kuha.



Ranger: Kinabahan ako nung una, kasi marami-rami kaming nakain ni Aika bago sumakay. But lo and behold, mas masarap palang sakyan ang Ranger kesa Achors Away kasi hindi masakit sa puso at sa panga. Pwede kang hindi maghihiyaw nang hindi pumuputok ang eardrums mo. Nakaka-relax siya in a way. Pero ang hangover kasi, kinabukasan pa, kung kailan ang sakit na lang bigla ng batok mo pagkagising.

Roller Coaster: Cheap ride. As in.

Flipper: Base sa feedback, nakaka-down daw ng spirit ang pagsakay dito. Tipong masusuka ka talaga. Pero dahil sayang naman ang pera, tinry namin ni Apple ang Flipper. I enjoyed the ride. Bitin pa nga ang ending eh.



Fine, wala na akong konsepto ng hilo. And for that, nagkaroon pa ng:

(Global Fun Carnival Part 2)