A Fractured Heart

I'm looking at him, but not really
The truth is I'm focused on the outskirts of my vision where you lie
You're turned towards someone else and the ache is burning within me
I wanted to reach out but it's pointless, there's a chasm between you and I

I don't know why I endure the pain, I should forget you completely
But your memory lingers, like a sad old melody

Hidden

you're a stubborn stain on my hanky
that would not go away
I can wash the hanky to tatters
but you'll still be there anyway

I love my hanky
I dare not throw it out
so I'll hide you infernal stain
and fold my hanky inside out

A camera, a box and a cave

Today, I watched 3 movies straight in a row! I've been meaning to watch a movie but never had the time, so when I had, I made the most of it. You see, when I watch a movie, it has to be something I think I'll truly like, not just because it's a blockbuster or everybody's ravin' about it. Whether it makes me think or makes me high with emotions, I try to savor the movie - you know, you appreciate a movie like food. Sometimes, a movie makes such a mark on me, I think about it the whole week. And here's the list - and my own review - of the movies I saw today.

1) Paranormal Activity (http://www.paranormalactivity-movie.com/)
    I guess with all the good reviews, I expected too much from this film. I was waiting to be scared the hell out of my chair but I wasn't. It's a story of a girl, named Katie, who had been haunted since she was 8. She now lives with a guy, named Micah, who bought a camera to record videos while they are sleeping so they can find out whether Katie is really experiencing supernatural things or one of their neighbours is just trying to play tricks on them. I think, in the real world, a guy - after seeing what happened to the ouija board and the supernatural foot marks - would have immediately sought help from experts. But Micah had to be this total macho and egoistic fool assuring Katie that it's his house and he can solve the problem. And Katie lets him talk her out of seeking professional help! And why, for cryin' out loud, can't they get a room in a hotel, away from the house and where there are lots of people around? Also, come to think of it, the hauntings mostly happen upstairs in the master bedroom where they sleep at night and they slept in that same room all throughout the movie until the end even after Katie said, several times, that she never wanted to go and sleep inside that room again. 'Nuff said.
2) The Box (http://thebox-movie.warnerbros.com/)
    I loved Cameron Diaz eversince the "There's Something About Mary" movie. However, hearing her in this movie with a southern twang did not sit nicely with me. Anyway, this movie made me think. It reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock's works. The story started when a couple received a mystery box with a red pushbutton on top. A disfigured man appeared in their doorstep on the same day who explained to them that they will receive the sum of 1 million dollars (tax free!) if they push the button but it also meant the death of someone they do not know. They can live comfortably (after all, they are in a tight spot, financially) but they have to bear the guilt that someone died for it. The story gets more complicated from this point forward. For me, it's something in between science fiction and religion - an alien invasion with the purpose of judging whether mankind is fit to be saved or exterminated because of their selflessness or greed, respectively. Overall, I liked this movie.
3) The Descent (http://www.thedescentfilm.com/)
    I watched this movie because a blog featured in Yahoo! said it was one of the scariest movie of all time. It's a story of a woman (Sarah) and her group of friends who are fond of extreme adventures. Sarah's husband and child died on a freak road accident on the way back home from one of her escapades. She recovered and requested her girlfriends for another quest to help her gain back confidence and move on with her life. Juno, the most athletic and the one leading all their exploits, dishonestly brought them to an unknown and unexplored cave with the thought of getting the group more fun and adventure, but she got more than what she bargained for. Vicious humanlike creatures stalked, attacked and made dinner of them one by one in the darkness. The surprise and the gore excited me at first, but the underlying tension and deceit were what kept me fascinated to the end.

kornik...

ang pag-ibig ko sayo
parang dry cough

mahirap pigilan, masakit sa dibdib
para kasing sasabog sa loob

magtakip ka man ng panyo
maririnig pa rin

pero kahit ibulalas
kulang sa lakas

kasi di talaga mailabas
kung ano ang nasa loob ko...

Pacquaio does it again! (Pacquaio vs. Cotto - 15th November 2009)

One more victory for the Filipinos as Manny Pacquaio worked his mojo and knocked-out Miguel Cotto in the 12th round. Hurrah! Though I feel we still have to give it to Cotto for surviving until the last round. This is Manny's 7th division domination and this fight made him $13 Million richer. Ahh, some of us can only imagine having that much zeros in our bank accounts...

Here's to another year!

... of love ♥
... of joy ☺
... of peace ♂♀
... of harmony ♫
... and of course...

... here's to another year full of fun and laughter! ☼

I love you babe! Happy Anniversary!

The Oatmeal Challenge

Our Challenge:
Lose weight by 1 to 2 kg within one month (easy peasy!).

Our Plan:
To have only oatmeal (and nothing else) for dinner every night for this month.

Our Method:
1. Go to supermarket.
2. Buy oatmeal (to look for the no-cook variety because we're lazy!)

Notes:
We took the Jungle Oatso Easy Banana Toffee Flavoured No-Cook Oatmeal which comes in a box of 10 sachets (Strawberry and Chocolate flavors are also available, but this one's the winner because it's two flavors in one).

Implementation:
Day 1
Boil 360 ml of water. While waiting, prepare 2 bowls and pour the contents of 2 sachets (1 bowl : 1 sachet). Pour 180 ml of boiling water into each bowl then mix. Wait for about 2 to 3 minutes, then dig in!

Result:
It was over from day 1. Arns could not (and will not) survive on a bowl of oatmeal for dinner... heehee!!!

In memoriam

My cousin's boyfriend broke the sad news to me because nobody in the family would dare. They probably thought I'd howl like a banshee. You were long gone, about a couple of weeks, before they told me.

I know we weren't really that close to each other anymore, though I adored you when you were still young and so innocent. We used to take those long walks together. I liked watching your silky brown hair glisten in the sunshine as you ran around... wild and carefree. But I liked the night-time walks even more, because I loved feeling secure and peaceful as I walk with you under the dark sky, gazing at the stars and the moon.

And do you remember your favorite treat that I used to buy. Oh, how you loved them! You always jumped for joy whenever you caught me with the red plastic wrapper. I often wondered how you could sense that I'm coming home with a bag of beef jerkies. You had those beautiful but sad brown eyes, like they've always known these moments won't last.

As time went, we grew apart from each other. You became this mischievous rascal, hard to control and always up for trouble. You delighted in chasing girls, too! You sure have sown a lot of wild oats. And then came the time that I had to leave home, but somehow I knew you never forgot about me after all those years I didn't even visit.

I remember the last time we met. You seemed too shy to come near me, like you're almost afraid. Did you fear admonition from me? Yes, you probably did. And what did I do? I just came over and gave your head a small pat of affection then promptly ignored you for the rest of the time. It never occurred to me how lonely you were because I felt you no longer belong to me. We've lost that connection. And now that you're gone, acknowledging the loss, and the fact that I am to blame, is like a knife cutting and pushing deep in to my chest...

I am so sorry Hugo, for letting go when I should have held on... and now there's nothing left to do but to let go... How can I when there's so much regret? But I know I have to, so you can finally rest in peace.

I love you Hugo. And I will miss your warmth, your loyalty, your company...

Goodbye my friend... my ally... my precious pet...

... I'm keeping your blue collar.

Pizza la sera...

Just when I thought the day would pass uneventful and I was about to take a shower, brush my teeth and turn-in for the night... Arns surprises me with a box of pizza! Yay!

Pizza courtesy of Anabel

Windbreaker

Have you ever farted while making out? I have!

I know it's totally gross but how can you stop it? It would be like trying to outrun a high-speed train. And perverse as it seem, I found the situation very funny indeed. I will never forget how my partner's face contorted when he caught the whiff... it was precious!!! He was a bit annoyed at first but we both ended laughing out loud.

Looking back...

Maybe it was really better that the romance got nipped in the bud, 'coz it damned hurt too much when we parted.

How much more had I known his love? Maybe I'd gone crazy!

Driving to work...

Cheche almost hit the bird...

Roni: Uy, muntik na!
Gina: Bakit ang baba naman ng lipad nun?
Perry: Ibon na mababa ang lipad.
Roni: Ah, e di callboy!

Schezwan Prawns for dinner!

There is this Chinese Restaurant in the area where we've first tasted this spicy dish. The entry in the menu is actually "Chilli Prawns". They serve it boiling on a vessel with a small stove underneath (they put out the fire - and the fun - after setting the vessel on your table) and we really love the smell and the smoky flavor. We like it so much but eating outside is always expensive so I thought of trying to make it at home. I wondered what makes the smoky flavor. We went there and ordered this dish siguro twice or mga tatlong beses pa and every time, tinitingnan ko talaga lahat ng kasama ng prawns doon so plato ko. I thought it was the dried chilli at first, pero may nakita akong parang paminta and it was giving that signature "smoky" scent. I googled Chinese herbs and spices and landed on a page describing Schezwan peppercorns (also called Sichuan). Eureka! I found my secret ingredient!

And what a coincidence! Kuya Rey is visiting from China! Kaso, di rin niya alam yung Schezwan peppercorns. Buti na lang he had help from his Chinese colleagues and after a few hits and misses (may language barrier e!) and another help from Google (I mailed him the pictures), nakabili rin siya! In the end, I got 2 kilos of Schezwan peppercorns, 1 kilo each of black and white peppercorns, and some dried red chilli (yay!!!). Bait talaga ni Kuya Rey...

Finally, I made my first batch... and it was a hit! Hurrah!

And with 2 kilos of Schezwan peppercorns, I can make this any time.

Yum! Bon appetit!

And here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

Tiger Prawns (you can shell and chuck the head if you prefer it)

Schezwan Peppercorns, toasted

Garlic, chopped

Dried Red Chilli

Bell Pepper, deseeded and sliced into strips

Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce

Canola Oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

Heat canola oil in a wok. Saute garlic until fragrant, then add bell pepper. Put in the tiger prawns, toasted schezwan peppercorns, dried red chilli, salt and pepper. Saute for a while until the prawns become pink. Mix in enough Thai sweet chilli sauce to make it saucy and simmer for a little while. Voila! Your Schezwan Prawns are done.

This is very simple and basic, you can revamp this recipe by adding some more herbs or spices, maybe like shallots or paprika to suit your taste.

At work...

Kuya Jhun (Overheard): May iba akong nararamdaman, parang nahihirapan akong huminga...
Roni (Butting In): Alam ko yan kuya, may DSS ka!
Kuya Jhun: Anong DSS?
Roni: Delayed Salary Syndrome...