We Built Our Own World

It was a gathering of a core group of college friends. Jojo, J-an, Vincent, Aileen, Lala and me. We still hang out with each other after all this time. I think we will all know each other for a long time. We have to take care of ourselves so that we're there for each other for a while.

We ate at Mamou (poor service tonight) and then had some wine at D'Vine. We talked about different things, but mostly about people. On a selfish note, I am so glad that Lala's house in Fuego is almost done. We're already dying to go there and get smashed. I broached the idea of my birthday on the 9th and they agreed to go. . .

Our friends are very important. More important than many other things.

Army of Me

I have a workmate whom I enjoy working with. It all began when we were grouped together in a work seminar, and she essentially took charge in the direction of our presentation. Recently, she's been helping our team develop a functional work plan. What a blessing it is that she's around. She provides value to our team, and I don't have to explain myself 17 times.

It is also slightly shocking because it means that until this point I have not gotten the peer support that perhaps I should be getting.

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Today is Day 3 of me inadvertent vegan life. My last entry was about some revelations I had because I was starting to cook differently. Really who sautes in water. But there are a few more things I've discovered, which is a result of just eating different things, and being used to different tastes:

1. Tofu is creamy (I know, I know, DUH right)

2. Walnuts are sweet

3. You can eat just fruit for breakfast and not starve come 11am.

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I was reading some blog entries from 7, SEVEN, years ago. Life then was more . . . glamorous (?), interesting (?). The difference perhaps is that today everyday I do is out of my own pocket. So maybe that is progress. My blogging / journal style has not changed significantly over all these years. . .

1. Few things are grosser than over-steamed bok choy.

2. If you eat more bland food, you understand how flavorful a tomato actually is.

3. There are recipes out there that ask you saute vegetables in WATER (culture shock moment)

4. Apple juice is a horrible flavor enhancer in salad dressings.

Search for Tahini

I've started strictly following an eating plan (Eat to Live). It is rather strict, very little fat -- and mostly all vegetables and fruits. I've had 4 meals of it so far. . .and I already feel different. I made hummus for the first time today as well.

Things can change with relatively little effort. Momentum changes. Streaks build, for better or worse. Just watch a UAAP basketball game. What we have to be interested in, is what causes streaks to end, what causes slides, and how they can be turned around so progress once more is sustained.

I believe what arrests slides is vigilance. Is someone/something spotting it right away, and nipping it in the bud -- a zero tolerance for allowing such things to happen. This is why accountability, responsibility and a team that takes no BS from its members are quite powerful.

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Spent several hours today in the u92.3 fm studio this afternoon. Joined Kage, Mayn, and of course Sib in the show. It was pretty fun, and would be more so. . .if people actually interacted more with us. It felt like a total of 3 people were listening at any given time. (the number though based on the streaming access would have to be at least 25 ;P)

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Ateneo beat NU today. :)

US Open starts on August 30.

White Cow

I noticed that in some of my blog entries, I use the words, "I hope. . ." or "hopefully" so and so will happen. Some things we cannot predict, right? Some things we do not know if it will happen. Even things that we know should happen: a friend showing up, an exam passed. . .we know how the world works. I think that if I even deign to put it into words -- the world will conspire against it happening. So don't count your chickens. . .don't say what will be, coz things have a way of just not being.

* * *

On that happy note, I will share the events of today. I didn't go to work for the morning because of an emergency of having to bring my sister to the hospital for hyper-acidity. The MMDA cop stopped us on the way there, for a ridiculous traffic violation I will not get into. I merely got a verbal warning because my sister (deliberately?) cried in the front seat. That was my opening to say: sir, we have a medical emergency in our hands.

* * *

There's this milkshake place called White Cow in Southgate Mall and my Quiz Night friends are converging there in an hour so we can drink milkshake. It's a stone's throw away from our regular haunt -- 121 Allegro Bar. It's quiz night tonight.

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In other things to be thankful for, my flat mate told me that if getting someone in by August is going to be a bitch, then he wouldn't mind flying out a little later. Paying for the August is not a big deal, much. Thank you thank you.

* * *

apartment

My current flatmate is leaving for the US in August, and I have to find someone to replace him by then. I had two prospective replacements, but just today both of them fell out. Now I also face the unappealing prospect of having to leave this apartment and find something somewhere else.

A friend of mine actually suggests a four-share at a fairly large place in Pasong Tamo. Problem is. . .it's Pasong Tamo. NOT a terrible area, but I've grown fond of walking to work, and being able to go home at short notice. PT floods and walking from there to work would mean pollution.

I figure this will all sort itself out -- as I had managed to do some 15 months ago.

If I had the resources I would just take this place for myself.

Mag:Net High Street is closing

That is what I read from a twitterverse.

I passed by last night, with Namee and Justin to catch what will be one of the last music nights in Mag:Net. I caught Angulo, Us-Evil, and Ciudad (Justin plays guitar).

Mag:net always seemed to be a busy place, and I had simply presumed that the place was making money. My suspicion is that their rent was raised.

Though this site was a venue to many fun evenings, good musical performances and bonding moments, I am not sad about the closing of Mag:net. It is not because I don't think it was a good place. It is because this is in line with the creative destruction that moves the 'gimmick economy' of Manila. This place will close, but I am sure that something else will come up. The people who go these places are linked more than a physical site of congregation. I fully expect a yet another new way for all of us to be together.

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I never paid much attention to Ciudad's music till last night.