Hans Henrik Gronsleth on the Piano

Playing blistering blues and boogie, Norwegian, Hans Henrik Gronsleth on piano. It's been said he's never had formal piano instruction. 

2007 July 30 - Of Old Friends Some 20 Years Ago

It's hard to imagine it's been nearly two decades since graduating from high school. Harder still is the fact we were once lean and thin. Even harder to imagine is the fact that we have all, like good wine, aged. 

Classmates we once tolerated or didn't get along with now become likeable people. We are now able to reminisce and laugh about old times. The awkwardness dissolves when you find out you went through the same gawky stage called high school. We all wanted the same basic thing, to be accepted. Now that years have passed, when we finally have someone who we can say "do you remember when...?",  we find out that acceptance is easier when shared experiences turn into memories. And even when you're catching up on what has been happening recently the past finds its way back into the present and laughter ensues.

The imagery fits, wine grows better with time as do people. Well, some people. Okay let's be generous and say most people.

Traveler

Showing on ABC for a summer run, "Traveler" has a story more gripping than "Nowhere Man" and has the suspense of "The Fugitive". It was originally set to air 13 episodes but was cut down to 8 at the last minute by ABC. There won't be a second season as was written in the writer's blog which frankly, to put it succinctly, sucks. Every episode was gripping from start to finish. It was too good to cancel.

"Two graduate students are framed for a terrorist attack in New York (by a third student, the roommate they believed was their friend) and must fight to prove their innocence while fleeing the federal agents who pursue them." (metacritic.com)

2007 June 20 - One Word / Lost in Translation

Why?! Why?! WHY do people insist on translating Filipino expressions into English?! Hindi talaga pwede, please lang ano. Minsan papasa pero don't push your luck! Please, for the love of all that's sacred, don't give fodder for people to make fun of you. I mean, "ISANG SALITA" does NOT directly translate to "ONE WORD"! And yes, having an American accent does not validate your translation. Even if you say it with conviction hindi talaga pwede. Gamitin nyo "doesn't keep his/her word" pero, my God, not "one word"!

"One word" as an expression is used in statements such as:
- No, don't say another word! Not one word do you hear?!
- Sum up your experience in one word.

Go forth and sin no more.

10 Year Old Plays Chopin

Jordan Adams

Melinda Doolittle - Top 10 Performance

From the Top 10 Females Night, Melinda Doolittle performs "My Funny Valentine".

Inspector Gadget Remix (Beatbox Flute)

Check out Greg Patillo on http://www.myspace.com/pattillostyle

Melinda Doolittle - Memphis Audition

Melinda Doolittle's audition with comments from the judges as requested by Sheila. =D

2007 January 31 - Slush

The cold season struck a bit early this year. Contrary to popular tourist belief, Baguio doesn't get really cold during the "ber" months this past decade. The air gets brisk around November but it really gets cold in the early weeks of February. This year though, the temperature dropped to 10 degrees a week ago. This morning it was 9.8 which makes texting hard. Not medically speaking, I think the blood becomes slush at this temperature. You know the semi-frozen drink you get at 7-Eleven? That's how I think the blood looks like around 7 in the evening when the sun sets hehehe.

If you're headed out here for a weekend getaway make sure to bring thick jackets and thick pants/jogging pants/pajamas. =)

2007 January 31 - Summing up the end of December 2006 to January 2007

I wasn't able to go online that much after arriving in Manila. A day after Christmas, I went out with my LST barkada. We went to Chicken Bacolod which was out of "paa" so most of us had breasts. Not for augmentation purposes HEHEHE. Barbecued chicken breasts that were surprisingly tasty despite being white meat.

On the 28th, my sister had to be brought to the hospital. She had gotten a strong flu strain that shot her fever to 44 and she was also getting dehydrated fast because she couldn't get food and water down. I stayed with her the first night. There were no private rooms available so we stayed at the ward with 3 other people separated by curtains.

You think it'd be quiet considering the room was occupied by 3 other sick people. Pero sosmaryosep parang palenke. As in!!! Welcome to jologs country. We had to summon the nurses to keep their "bantay"s quiet several times. And siempre, hindi sanay sa aircon kaya may pesteng nagbababa ng thermostat.

My brother-in-law was finally able to get my sister transferred to a private room the following day. She was discharged after three days and just in time for New Year's eve.

We were supposed to spend the New Year celebration in Baguio but, since my Mom and sister were sick, we spent it at my brother-in-law's place in Eastwood. We watched other people's fireworks until it ended around 30 minutes after midnight. By the next morning, I got the flu and was bed-ridden with fever and cough til mid-January.

It is my personal observation that during the time a person has flu, the liquid in one's body is 80% mucus and 20% blood. Forget what you learned in school. The mucus that comes out of a person with severe flu just defy the laws of science HEHE.

I finally headed back to Baguio and back to work on January 23.

=)