Run Fat Boy Run

50:30 - 51:04.
Because I thought that spoiling your day was better than ruining your life.

Abril at Mayo

What is it about May and April that makes people want to go to cool places? Ah, yeah. The god-forsaken heat. Well, in any case, my cousin was married in Baguio one weekend. Smart move, really. All my wedding experiences usually involve hot barongs, hotter churches and even hotter bridesmaids. I'll leave it to you to sort that one out. In any case, congratulations Ate Edelyn! And yes, more peanut brittle is always a good thing.

But here's the catch: I didn't go to the wedding. Instead, I was stuck here for one weekend. I had to feed my sister's dogs, take care of my grandmother and give the workmen (my sister is currently building her house right next to ours) their salary for the week. Oh...and watch the house too. It may sound chore-y (and sorry) but it was about two days of silence. Silence because with my two nieces and two nephews (all between the ages of 3 and 10) out with my sisters and their husbands to Baguio. You'll understand if you have four kids in the house.

And yeah, they took the only Nokia phone charger.

So, what else happened? My laptop's adapter broke down. I had to wait until this May's 27th to get a replacement. That means I had to rush the comic preparation for the survival kit. But I still think it's going to be OK. (READ: Execom, Kithead, don't worry! and EDIT: Toldja!)

The old high school batch had a swimming/drinking party. It was that weekend with the storm. Oh yeah, this was after my Uncle's renewal of vows. The reception was held in Kamay-kainan, near the old Mahinhin boarding house. After that, we hung around the condo. All the while, I was thinking that we'd go straight home but my sisters had another idea. So I went home to Cavite by myself. Back to the swimming party. Generoso is a traitor. I didn't throw up, but it was really, really close. Bread really helps. A bit. Jorn advised me about matters of the heart. I think I really needed someone else to tell me what I think I already know, deep in this heart.

The morning after, only seven of the original people who showed up talked and shot the stuff. We also changed a car tire and had lunch at McDonalds and then home.

Two months of OJT, two months of really cool 5 o' clock sunsets. I learned a few things, met a few new people. That was my April and May. No regrets.

Tagged?

The rules:

1. Each starts with ten random facts/habits about themselves.
2. Bloggers that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their ten things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose ten people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

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Random facts?

1.) I read a lot. Even in the bathroom. If I'm going somewhere where I know I'm going to do some waiting, I'd probably bring a book with me. And something electronic in case I get bored.

2.) OC ako sa laptop ko. Filenames, folders, directories...you name it. Or rather, I name it. I hate improperly named files and folders. Lalo na sa songs. Pero minsan if I'm rushing things, I'd name them using numbers but I'll probably rename them again later.

3.) I hate wrong grammar and spelling and punctuation and capitalization and... Should I continue? I know I'm not perfect but when I know something is wrong, I correct it as soon as possible. Tsaka people! If you're using a keyboard, don't type things like you're texting (omg, lyk...i h8 dis kind of riting. wat is rong wit u?)! MY GOD, PLEASE!

4.) As a consequence of #2, I am an RPG fan. RPGs are video games that play like books. Maybe that's why I like them. They're also games that you have to spend a lot of time with. It feels like you're actually doing something than just pressing buttons. But don't get me wrong! I still love playing fighting games or action games once in a while.

5.) I hate bitter food. I even tried to force myself to like it, but even I won't let myself. It's just so...BITTER!

6.) I am afraid of cockroaches. I don't know why and don't go Freudian on me!

7.) I hate local TV. Prime time? I'd rather turn of the tube or play games. Except for some shows. Emphasis on 'some'.

Around this time, nag-habits na si Earl so...

8.) I can sleep with the lights on, but I prefer them turned off. Dunno why. I think that is the generally accepted thing.

9.) I walk slowly. Or try to. When I find myself walking fast, I slow down. When I'm late for class, it depends on the teacher and the time. If the teacher is OK with being late, I slow down. If not, I proceed with my speed.

10.) I still play Kingdom of Loathing. It's a browser game, kind of an RPG. I find it hard to explain it but it's fun! And also, it's my daily habit. Check me out in-game: Kawamura.

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From Multiply actually. And I'm in a writing mood. Bakit puro hate ito? Is there not something that I love?! Para mas madali, I'll just tag some people that Earl did. Para share na lang sa pag-tag! Tsaka yung 07O. Tinatamad ako mag-comment. Bahala na! Nyahahaha!

I tag:

Earl, Issang, Nina, Kx, Chad, Jore, Gigil, Hazel, Mykel, Janell, Ping.

Naoki Urusawa's Monster

Picture also from the Wiki.

Ah! I have just rediscovered something that I really, really like. It's Monster by Naoki Urusawa. Search your favorite manga or anime video site for this one. I started reading this manga about two years ago. It reads like a more twisted Stephen King novel.

As for the plot overview (as taken from the Wiki because I'm mostly lazy):

"The series follows Dr. Kenzo Tenma (天馬 賢三, Tenma Kenzo) as he pursues a young psychopath/sociopath named Johan, whose life Tenma once saved. The story rapidly progresses through a number of locations: it starts in Düsseldorf, Germany, passes through Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Wiesbaden, cities in the Czech Republic such as Prague, and other cities and villages."

Eh. It's not really a tour or so. You get to follow Tenma around as he tries to find out who Johan really is. Along the way he'll meet Johan's sister and other interesting people. And that in itself is the adventure. Or the horror. Whatever you like.

It starts a bit slow, but once you get to the fifth episode or so, you'll be most likely begging for the videos to load up faster. Just a heads up if you're currently trying to find something new to watch.

Delusion_009 - Everything should be

This picture was taken while waiting for my goddamn plane in Charles de Gaulle airport. It was mostly OK...it was mostly cold, lonely and boring. I arrived there at about 0600 and my flight was at 2300. Next day. Fortunately, I had my DS, one thick book and the Shuffle to keep me company. Oh, and some PS3's that were on display. Limited to demo games but still. It's so hatefully beautiful. Emphasis on 'hatefully'.

The title? It's missing 'free'. I just saw the sky. After that long night and still waiting for my plane, the dark sky lightened up until it became that. It was perfectly blue and calm against the airport windows. It's also one of my favorite subjects to capture on camera.

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I'm in my third week of the required Summer Plant Practice right here in the Failure Analysis Department in Maxim, Cavite. It's about two rides from home (three if you count the tricycle to the jeep terminal) and one long walk from Gateway's gate 2. I can't really say it's fun because it's work...but it is fulfilling to use something you've learned - Mat E 173, 105, 125 and all that. Once you get past your noobish questions and re-orientations, that is. I think I've made a few friends, at least I don't eat lunch alone anymore.

The first week was actually for orientation and observations, the second week for preliminary training. I've already done mounting and cross-sectioning, and now I'm trying out the SEM and EDX. My 'training menu' says that by the last half of May, I should know how to handle my own FAR (Failure Analysis Report). Very scary and exciting, that one. I hope they give me an easy one.

After my first day, I just wanted to lie down. I think that I've adjusted since I'm still awake at 2200. Downside is that I'm now running late during mornings. Also, the afternoon sky when I'm going home seems to help. Look up at a patch of open sky at exactly 1700 and you'll see what I mean. It's like 'being with the people that I want to be with the most'. There is no word to explain that, so there.

Oh, Zero II's AC Adapter is on the fritz. Had to order from Dell, so I'm using my old laptop for the Potatochop stuff. And...The World Ends With You - best DS game, since ever! The wiki won't do it justice. You have to play it to believe it. So there, things that I've been up to until the 07 Omega's FR. Let's see if I can make it to the 8th week.

Delsuion 00X - Isko II

Second comic for the org's Freshmen Survival Kit. Isko I was a rushed venture with no plot whatsoever, but still, rough as it was, it was a start.

I started this while I was minding my sister's bookstore in Cavite. The first draft was drawn at the back part of her transaction book. I don't think the plot makes sense but one thing I did learn is that making comics = hard work. The story has to be coherent and funny...the characters have to be consistent when drawn (something I fail at...just look at them!). And let's not talk about my drawing. I don't even know how to shade faces properly!

I started drawing (now that I think about it) somewhere around Grade 1. I also received my first comic book around that time (X-Men, Storm and the Shadow King. Anyone remember?) and I had my sister draw the cover in one notebook. It was my first doodling notebook, which by now should be in one drawer at home or burned in some pit somewhere else. In that notebook, I drew my first characters: tiny stick heroes that have elemental powers or something, fighting it out in a landscape I also created. I wish I could've saved that one. By my second grade, these sticks became people whose structures were heavily influenced by Combatron from Funny Komiks and the Robot Masters from Megaman games. I remember I had a clipboard full of pages where I put all these ideas for new enemies, new powers and histories. I wish I could've saved those too. I could've used a good laugh.

Through drawing, I think I learned those hidden rules you make up as you go along. How a face is long or round, how a stroke can make a picture smile or frown. And then I just look at those characters I made. You'd think after some years I would've improved or something. But one thing I know: like singing, I draw for fun.

Delusion 008 - Sa Mahinhin

And this is No. 1 Mahinhin. The view here is from the 'living room', where the TV is situated. Or was. During the last months of my stay here, I guess the only thing below were tables for our laptops. That place behind the stairs was our kitchen. I spent at least three years here, almost half of my college life. My old roomies from #30 Matiwasay talked about moving, mainly because our old boarding house felt too constricting and was renovating. We wanted somewhere else to stay, somewhere more free, where no old snoopy landlady could disturb us. We planned it for months and then we did see one empty house while walking home, when we almost gave up. Not too far from Matiwasay. It was in Mahinhin, and in here I learned more.

So it was me, Gino, Renz and Paolo. You guys...I'm sorry if I lost touch. It's a bad habit of mine. The first time we moved, the house didn't really feel like a house. We all had beds (and by beds we mean mattresses on the floor). We assembled our dressers, put up our utensils, folded the clothes. Set-up our laptops. I saw how the light is like entering my room when I wake up and I have no classes for the day. I felt the damn cold water when I'm just about late for class. This house where I stumbled and slumbered into, after a day of gaming and school and friends and applying for the best damn organization in Engineering and thesis-making and friends and most importantly love. In this house I learned how to enter locked rooms from weird places. In this house I took baths standing on a small hump because the drain was clogged by god-knows-what. In this house I learned more about life than I could ever have in a classroom.

In this house I learned what it was that makes a place a home. It is the memories that you leave in it. #1 Mahinhin, I'll miss you something fierce.