I smell a lurker...

Spotted.  Two soon-to-be housemates at a mall-wide sale when they are supposed to be at home...packing.  Here's the evidence:

I've been craving for steak for the past weeks.  Ever since chuvaness has been updating us bloggers with their newly- acquired franchise, my mouth has been watering of what was coming. 

Before going to Ortigas to continue our condo-hunting, Nick, Pao & I decided that we should go try what everyone has been raving about.

Ohh and it was well worth the wait!  Let my pictures tell the story...

                      

U7000229

YUM!!!

P/S 

We did celeb spotting (although we were really busy with our food) and saw Eric Quizon among others.  I wanted to have my pic taken with chuva's hubby but got camera shy.  Maybe next time, because we are definitely going back!

xoxo,

ACgrrrl

Excuse me, I'm bored.

This is me channeling my inner Blair Waldorf.

And I wasn't even watching GG at the time this pic was taken.

Coincidence?

Really.  That's what I want others to believe.

It seems that there's no escaping one's past even if there is a conscious effort to put it far behind me.  Just when I think life cannot get any sweeter, I get a call in the middle of the day only to find out something inevitable.  He's back.  

Not in my life, but worse than that.  He's around.  Can you believe that?  We are most probably breathing the same air.  GASP.  *CHOKE!*  

I already stopped asking the high heavens "why?".  Of all places to go.  Of all people to choose.  Why does this person have to go around and rain on my parade?  

Really.  My life is surprisingly calmer at this moment and I won't let anyone or anything shake it until it starts falling part.  Never again.  And why should I even be blogging about this?

Let me tell you.  Yes, honey, YOU.  Each and every single person who thinks my life is one good tabloid read.  I'm feeding your hungry soul.  Haven't you had enough, or are you too greedy to realize that your wasting your precious time on matters that do not (and will NEVER) concern you?

Well, eat it all up.  My life is good.

What is it with me and shows where characters break into song?

I found myself singing along to Olive's (Kristin Chenoweth) version of Hopelessly Devoted to You.  All this plus a pie-maker who can bring people back to life (and vice versa) with just a touch of his finger.  His life takes a dramatic turn when he brings his childhood sweetheart back from the dead after being murdered on a cruise ship.

Pushing Daisies

It has an interesting plot that reminds me of a comedic/fantasy version of HBO's Six Feet Under.  Like me, you guys in Manila can catch Pushing Daisies on  Monday mornings @ 10:00 on ETC's 2nd Avenue.

No, I am not talking about Britney's hit song.  

How can one even sleep at night knowing that s/he (consciously or not) spoke ill things about another?

I didn’t need the pain
Once or twice was enough
And it was all in vain
Time starts to pass
Before you know it you’re frozen

But something happened
For the very first time with you
My heart melts into the ground
Found something true
And everyone’s looking round
Thinking I’m going crazy

But I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

Trying hard not to hear
But they talk so loud
Their piercing sounds fill my ears
Try to fill me with doubt
Yet I know that the goal
Is to keep me from falling

But nothing’s greater
Than the rush that comes with your embrace
And in this world of loneliness
I see your face
Yet everyone around me
Thinks that I’m going crazy, maybe, maybe

But I don’t care what they say

I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open

And it’s draining all of me
Oh they find it hard to believe
I’ll be wearing these scars
For everyone to see

I don’t care what they say
I’m in love with you
They try to pull me away
But they don’t know the truth
My heart’s crippled by the vein
That I keep on closing
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I....

Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
I keep bleeding
I keep, keep bleeding love
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love
You cut me open and I
Keep bleeding
Keep, keep bleeding love 

[Bleeding Love lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]

Meet Britain's next Superstar, Leona Lewis,  the X Factor 2006 winner who wowed millions with her vocal stylings.


So many are loving her now...and I'm one of them! 

It's final.

I'm skipping my Deutschkurs just for today, for no valid reason at all.  The nice thing about enroling yourself in classes like this is, the only one to blame for failing is yourself.  You don't lose points for being absent and no one judges you if you fail an exam or say, get lost in translation.  Heck, my Deutschlehrer doesn't even care if we answer our exercises with the book open or notes laid out.

It's just that the past 2 weeks has been info overload for me, new work and all.  Second day at work my boss sends me, along with 3 colleagues, to a Call Center Convention for Trainers.  Week after, I'm in this T3 (Train the Trainer) class.  Too much stuff going on my Migraines are coming back to haunt me.  Boo. 

Anyway, Popo is arriving this week and I must say; he is much of a better teacher than the one at the Goethe.  I learn what I need, nothing more nothing less.

        Der, die, das. Wer, wie, was.
        Wieso, Weshalb, Warum.
        Wer nicht fragt bleibt dumm

Sheisse.  Ist hier noch frei?  :-P

Am I happy?

A lot has been going on ever since the new year started.  I told AJ I think this is gonna be our year, as is every year (Think positive, daw!).  There's no harm in kidding ourselves with this "attract good vibes" mumbo jumbo.  No kidding, there are a lot of new things in my life it's sending me on a whirl wind.  Now, let me count the ways.

1.  New love.  Oh, yes!  Who would've thunk silly jaded little me would snag me a boyfriend (and a great one, at that)?  I call him my good karma.  After all the coincidental misnomers that is my love life, I finally got what I deserved.  Actually, I'm still thanking the high heavens for sending me this one.  My head's still in a daze and I'm still trying to convince myself that this is the real thing.  It's a bit scary and more exciting, honestly.  Friends know how much crap I've been putting up in the last years...hence my ongoing disbelief and paranoia.  I could not ask for more.  I found myself my guardian angel and this time he has the most beautiful pair of blue eyes I have ever seen!  *SIGH*  I just wish he didn't live so damn far away from me.  Owel, he's arriving this THU PM for a 2 week visit "just to see me" because he is sweet like that!  And gee whiz, I did not have to beg, cry or grovel.  He's coming out of his own volition...TO SEE ME! I love him already. *SWOON*

2.  New job.  I know what some of you are gonna say.  It's that time of year again.  Actually, you are all wrong.  January is the fulfillment of my intense finding yourself phase (which happens during Winter).  Wala naman Winter season sa Pinas deba?  Pero to those who don't know, I follow a different timezone kaya I follow the 4 seasons.  It started fall of 2006 pa.  Anyway, it was the start of the beginning of the end, so to speak.  My so-called SO (significant other) at that time decided to pullout at the very last minute.  Reason:  he couldn't break my heart again.  Whatevs.

Going back, I was at the peak of my career but everything seemed to just fall apart.  It was like I had it all together but deep down I was dying a slow death.  Work wasn't like it was.  It did not inspire me anymore.  By the time I wanted out, it was too late.  Almost all what was left of me was nearly sucked out.  People (close and otherwise) preyed on this obvious vulnerability and it was too much for me to bear.  I tendered my resignation 1 year after.  I am, once again, out of my comfort zone and challenging myself to make it in this new path.  I ditched the security blanket and am now treading in unfamiliar territory.  It's both scary and exciting...something to keep my blood flowing again.  Who knows?  This new role might actually be THE ONE.  Teaching IS in my genes and I'd still be around OPs people.  I still get to learn new things.  I am exploring new possibilities.  I luhvhet!

3.  New outlook in life.  It's true what they say, you know.  One can truly find him/herself at his/her weakest and darkest moment.  At that pivotal moment in your life, when all of a sudden you see the world through a different set of eyes; you just know you are never the same person again.  I've been through this catharsis more than once in the last 4 years and it wasn't easy.  My emotions were erratic and I was like a ticking time bomb.  It seemed like I was at the very bottom of the pit and I was desperately seeking help.  At one point I thought I was gonna seriously lose it.  Like literally go crazy. My mind was in a spin and I couldn't sleep for days.  Then I just woke up thinking I couldn't do this to myself any more.  I wouldn't allow all these negativity get the best of me.  Lying on my bed in the darkness, I muttered a little prayer.   I surrendered to a more powerful being than me. 

Truth be told, ever since my lola died I had not uttered a prayer for help.  When she was dying in the hospital all I could ever do to calm me down was to pray in my head.  At first I prayed to God to cure her of her Cancer.  Then I prayed for God to take away her pain.  Finally at her deathbed, I prayed for God to take care of her and take her to a better place.  We buried her in a Musoleum beneath the Church she and I would go to.  It was also the last time I set foot in any church.  It was like my faith died when my grandmother died.  It's sad, I know. 

But I could not allow my pride to take over.  I finally realized that I should just learn to accept and let  go.  And for those who know me well ought to know that it took more than an arm and a leg, many ranting sessions, almost-nervous-breakdowns to finally convince myself that I deserved all the best things that life has to offer me. Everything does happen for a reason. Then all of a sudden, life began to matter again.  It all just started making sense.  All of a sudden, I was reciting the Serenity Prayer in my head every time I felt like life was being too mean to me.  I just let it be.  And for the first time in many years I was able to breathe normally again.  It felt so damn good to be free.  And it gets better,  they say!

So in a nutshell, 2008 is really my year.  Whether or not the stars are willing to agree, I am making it my year.  All it takes is conscious effort and action.  Starts with the mind and ends with a soul.  I'm taking it one day at a time.  Patience was never my virtue but I'm making it mine now.  Worry not, my dear friends.  I am better, bigger and BRIGHTER...and guess what?  I am finally HAPPY-er.

Toodles, gang.  :-)

And so the story does not end.  Another freakin' low life decides to make my personal business his own.  Once upon a time I thought the Internet was the next best thing to put your feelings out in the open.  To share your experiences so that others may learn...or to make freedom of expression felt all throughout the world, online or otherwise. 

And then there were the abusers.  People whose souls are not intact that they have that urgent need to spread rumors and lies about other people whom they have not even met.  I've been a victim once and I am suprised that I am a "victim" once again.

Some people have nothing better to do but to destroy an innocent person's integrity by writing lie after lie in a venue where it is easy to mistake a lie for the truth.  And for what, you may ask?  It is a big mystery to me. 

I would be lying if I said these untruths do NOT affect me at all.  In fact, now that I am in my lowest moment, it cuts like a knife. But the wound is not deep.  It's merely a scratch that will never scar my soul.  I'm so much better than that.  Now it makes me wonder if this world has no hope for people who genuinely care about others.  Isn't there any saving grace for people who go out of their way to make sure they are minding their own business, living a normal and peaceful life without hurting others? 

I know I shouldn't even spend so much time mulling about the evil people of this world.  I know I should see the brighter side of things and just think positive.  But how can I think positive if complete strangers try to make sense out of one's "series of unfortunate events?"  It really takes conscious effort to tread on life with that smile on your face if bad people just smack you in the face and kick you when you are down.

But to hell (no pun intended) with all the haters of this (my) world!  To me, these people will pay their dues in due time.  I am, in no way, about to surrender to the dark side and think ill of those who in avertedly and intentionally hurt me.  I don't have to, anyway.  They will reap what they sow and get what they rightfuly deserve.

So to those who think that my personal business is their business and that my name is theirs to destroy:  think again.  Soon you will be face to face with your karma and it won't be a bright and sunshiny day.  And when that time comes, I won't even stop and take time to laugh at you and say, "I told you so."  Why?  Because I'm so much the bigger and better person than all you haters are.

Go get a life, just not mine.

...your employees surprise you with a huge bouquet of flowers right at your doorstep, just `cuz they are sweet like that.  :-)  (Uhhm, how they know where I live is beyond me!)

                     "This is a token of our appreciation for all that you've done for us."

Oh Snap! It's way past my birthday.  Isn't it just suh-weeeeeeet?

OK.  Gotta go shower and dress (look decent, at least!), I'm having breakfast with them.  Who cares what the doctor says?  This beats any prescription any day!  I think I'm gonna cry now.  I abso-BLOOM-lutely love my team!!!

I'm feeling waaaaaaaaay better already.   Toodlers, y'all!

This quote was taken from one of my fave movies of all time (my time, that is), Meet Joe Black.  I wouldn't have defined love as aptly as Bill Parrish did. 

"Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. If you don't start with that, what are you going to end up with? Fall head over heels. I say find someone you can love like crazy and who'll love you the same way back. And how do you find him? Forget your head and listen to your heart. I'm not hearing any heart. Run the risk, if you get hurt, you'll come back. Because, the truth is there is no sense living your life without this. To make the journey and not fall deeply in love - well, you haven't lived a life at all. You have to try. Because if you haven't tried, you haven't lived."  -  William Parrish, magnificently portrayed by Sir Anthony Hopkins.

If death looked as good as Brad Pitt, who would fear it?  Not I! 

After endlessly dodging silly and pretentious rumors about me for what seems like forever, another one surfaces this month.  The funny thing is, it's been almost a year since this first came about, all I could think about was, "Can't you think of a better rumor to pull me down with?"  I mean, c'mon guys! You can do better than that!  Dig deeper and at least try to get the RIGHT skeletons out of my damn closet, will ya?

Like they say, rumors are not rumors if they ain't true right?  Nevermind if it comes from another place where you can't even think of any connection, be it 6 degrees or what have you.  Man, this shit is bananas!

Well, like the trooper that I always am (and will be), I laugh it off as if I was some hot movie star before her opening night.  I'm flattered to the core coz people actually take time to talk about my really "exciting and colorful" life.  Right.  It just gets better and better.  

And to all my detractors (and loyal fans), I am and will always be proud of my skin color!  I was born sans the pasty and white shade but who cares? At least I'm less prone to those deadly UV rays.  My mom always taught me to be proud of who I was.  And why wouldn't I be?  My mother raised a well-mannered, smart, respectable and beautiful Filipina woman who does not have to step on any one to get what she wants. Now that's what you call BREEDING, my friends.  *VEG*  If anyone begs to disagree, that's their problem, not mine!  

Toodles, gang!

When Jaeger shots and cool 80s music make *the* perfect excuse to go crazy on a stormy Saturday night...