The 12 Days of Christmas

On the TWELFTH DAY of Christmas, my true love sent to me:

12 months of loving and caring
11 reasons to hug and to kiss
10 sweet ways to say "I Love You"
9 out-of-town vacation getaways
8 cuddly, fluffy pillows
7 Havaiannas for each day of the week
6 hard bound, adult edition Harry Potter books
5 Dishwalla CDs
4 Bath And Body Works Body Spray
3 Lord Of The Rings Limited Edition DVDs
2 His and Hers watches
And a shiny, spiffy Apple iBook

Merry Christmas everybody! To those who have found and is spending this Christmas with their true love, keep on loving, respecting and inspiring your beloved. For those who have yet to find their true love [like me!], learn to love yourself so that when your true love comes along, he/she will know that he/she has found his/her most wonderful gift in you! =)


[Posted December 18] I know I'm supposed to update this special project of mine everyday, but I'm invoking, yet again, the age-old justification of being busy and I hope that will excuse me! So, anyway, here's the list (pictures to follow) and hopefully I can start updating this daily!

The Rules:
Starting December 13 and lasting until Christmas Eve, I'll be posting my own version of the 12 days of Christmas.

Every day, and just like in the song, there will be different gifts that my true love gave to me - assuming that my true love does exist and has tons and tons of money hahaha... Anyway, it would probably showcase the materialistic me, but it's not like I'm really expecting these gifts! It's just a fun exercise and sort of parody of a Christmas song that I love singing [because I still can't memorize the other gifts other than the 5 gold rings and below!]. I hope my true love, whoever he turns out to be, will not be scared off because of this list hehehe!!!

I haven't really finalized the gifts, so if you have suggestions, feel free to speak up. If you have your own version of the 12 Days of Christmas, I'd be glad to hear about it!

Christmas Eve Gifts

My eldest brother gave me these CDs:



Outside Looking In: The Best of the Gin Blossoms

U218 Singles





A piece of trivia: "Outside Looking In", a line from the song "Til I Hear It From You", was one of the title I contemplated having for my blog. Ain't it nice? =)



There's no point in this entry except to say that I'm happy with my gifts!

My Top 5 Christmas Movies

1. Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost In New York - Macaulay Caulkin was such a cute, naughty kid in this movie. It's mostly slapstick humor but you can't help but still laugh - and cry a little as little Kevin learn vital life lessons from the most unlikely people.
2. Die Hard and Die Hard 2 - it's bloody, it's action packed. I never really cared for the 3rd film and I'm not sure I'm thrilled with the latest sequel, but Bruce Willis is so attractive here as the macho but funny protagonist. Oh, and Alan Rickman was just as attractive as the macho but funny antagonist in the first film.
3. Edward Scissorhands - two words: Johnny Depp. Also, the scene where Winona Ryder danced as it started snowing for the first time in their town. Love it.
4. While You Were Sleeping - a must see movie for the hopeless romantics.
5. The Lord of The Rings Trilogy [The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of The King] - not exactly Christmas movies, but I love marathon watching these movies.

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows

Yep, that's the title of the 7th and last (waah!) book of my most loved book series in the world.

And I'm pissed with myself for not knowing this piece of information sooner. Because I had been busy, busy, busy.

Wala na ba kong life?!

Okay, before this becomes a full-blown rant post yet again, I'll go back to Harry Potter.

What is the Deathly Hallows?! I have no freakin' idea. Is that a Horcrux? A place? How long am I going to wait to find out?

It was pointed out at Mugglenet that the title was released on the winter solstice. During the memorable fight between the DA and the Death Eaters at the Department of Mysteries in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", two prophecies were shattered and we get to hear the part about "...at the solstice will come a new..." and "...and none will come after". At the winter solstice, the title of the new book was revealed, but after this book, no more will be released. Sigh. Don't you just love J.K. Rowling?

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas...

Finally finished wrapping Christmas gifts and my back is killing me!

I'm posting a picture so that I could have a few moments to appreciate my effort, because the kids sure won't take time!

Seriously, I love shopping for gifts and I love wrapping gifts. It is my dearest ambition to have my own gift shop. But that's not to say that the job is not tiring, because it is! Super! But I love doing these things, and knowing that is enough reward after a tiring day.

This Christmas season has been exceptionally toxic for me. I hate to say it, but I'd be glad when the season is over because I can at least get some rest. But I'm still looking forward to Christmas. Two more days to go people!

Advance Christmas Greeting

I’d like to be the sort of friend that you had been to me.
I’d like to be the help that you’ve been always glad to be.

I’d like to mean as much to you each minute of the day,
As you have meant, my dearest friend, to me along the way.

I’d like to do the big things and the splendid things for you,
To brush the gray from out of your skies and leave them only blue.

I’d like to say the kindly things that I so often heard,
And feel that I could rouse your soul the way that mine you’ve stirred.

I’d like to give you back the joy that you have given me
So that sunshine on your horizon is all that you will see.

I’d like to make you rich as I, who travel on,
Undaunted in the darkest hours, with you to lean upon.

I’m wishing at this Christmas time that I could but repay
A portion of the gladness that you’ve strewn along my way.

And could I have one wish this year, this only would it be
I’d like to be the sort of friend that you have been to me.

-author unknown

The Love Life Curse May Have Been Broken But...

Do you have those days when you don’t feel like making an effort to dress up or to look nice? I sure do have those days when I just wear the first clothes I laid my hands on, stuff my hair in a pony and go out without even putting powder on my face. Feels sort of liberating, isn’t it?

But... I just have to ask: why do these days have to coincide with my accidentally meeting my crushes?! Why do I have to see my apple of the eyes when I know I don't look nice, when I feel so panget, panget, panget?! Ugh! It makes me wonder if the world is conspiring to doom me to a pathetic love life.

World, it’s like this: I am not asking for him to be my boyfriend or anything. I’m not even really searching for one! The only break from fate I’m asking is to please, pretty please make us meet when I am about halfway decent-looking for him to at least find me sort of interesting – enough for him to leave his current GF. (Hey, you know I was just joking on my last comment, right?) (World: see, there is a reason why fate is playing with you.)

Well, other than the fact that I had not groomed myself well last Monday (and the fact that I had confirmed that he does have a GF), I’m glad that I was to able to carry a decent and long conversation with my crush (codename BM). He did initiate the conversation, though, because stupid me is still so stupid as to pretend not to see him and waited for him to call me instead! Since this is the third time that he initiated the contact when we accidentally meet (I swear, our meetings' are purely coincidental. The few times that I, uh, stalked him I was unsuccessful), I guess it would be okay for me to talk to him first the next time around, right?

But first I have to make it a habit to look nice and pretty.

Who's Been Naughty This Christmas?

I am.

I drove my car alone. Without a license. Twice. Both times I had to pass through EDSA.

I filched a Spanish sardines from our company’s basket give-away to clients (in collusion with my officemate).

I was snappish and impatient with an officemate of mine today who was on 'sick' leave for two days because: 1) she was supposed to handle the distribution of the Christmas give-aways and I had to do it for her for two days on top of my [already monstrous] regular load; 2) her list was not in order so I had to make revisions and decide who gets what; 3) when she came in today, she still has no clue how to go about the distribution of the gifts and I had to give her instructions; 4) she complains loudly that she's still not feeling well; 5) she tried to play the 'martyr' card by insisting on going to work tomorrow, a Saturday; and 6) she keeps on asking pointless questions. I probably sound like a whiny bitch but I'm just so damn irritated with her that I can't muster an ounce of sympathy since she's getting some sort of cold treatment from my other officemates.

But overall, I have been pretty good and nice this year. So I hope Santa won’t take these against me.

Friday's Feast 123

Appetizer
What is one of your Christmas traditions?

A lot, actually. Simbang Gabi, Noche Buena, pamamasko even if I’m the one now who’s giving the gift. Also, something I had commented to a friend – that Christmas is a time for friends’ reunion. So I can say that I really love the Christmas season, even if this year has been the busiest so far for me, even if it’s freakin’ hot here in the Philippines!


Soup
Who is the easiest person on your list to buy presents for?

I had an easier time buying gifts for my Dad and my 4 brothers. Most of the time, it’s just shirts that they wanted. Honestly, I am better at buying men’s clothing than women’s clothing!


Salad
What is your favorite Christmas scent?

Mostly Christmas foods, like bibingka and hot chocolate. Although I haven’t smelled it yet for this year, the air has a certain scent in the evening and at dawn during Christmas season, which I think has something to do with the weather.


Main Course
If you could give a fellow blogger a Christmas gift, who would it be and what would you give them?

I’ll give it to anyone who reads my blog – patience to read my irrelevant and petty ramblings! I guess most of the people I know who blogs has problems updating their sites on a regular basis, so I wish that they would have more time, more drive and more inspiration to continue sharing their thoughts and a part of their lives.


Dessert
What's something on your Christmas wish list this year that you need (not just want)?

Oh gosh. I suddenly realized that among the materials things I wished for, there is nothing that I really need, just things that I want to have. Well, I wished for my family and friends’ peace of mind, wisdom, good health and happiness, but I guess it’s not really something that I need or something that’s within my capacity to give. Oh right, I need for my true love to find me! That qualifies as a major NEED! =P

Top 5 On Friday - Week 103

Top 5 musical things you are looking forward to in the new year.

1. New album from Stonefree – I really love this band, and I love their debut album and I love hearing them sing live (and I love the vocalist! Hahaha!), so I'm pretty much excited about their sophomore album.
2. The Beatles’ Love album – okay, I know it was released this year, but right now I don’t have the budget yet to buy this album (unless someone else volunteers to buy this for me!). But it’s a must buy for me next year.
3. iPod related – this isn’t exactly a priority for me, but it would be nice to get a new iPod with bigger capacity and an iTrip that will allow me to play my iPod in the car.
4. The OPM rock scene - The OPM rock scene has been alive and kicking for the past few years. I wish more bands would make it to the mainstream, especially the real talented ones.
5. The comeback album of Britney Spears. Hahaha. Just kidding. Oh wait - American Idol! It's cheesy, it's corny, but it's one of my guilty pleasures and I'm so looking forward to its new season!

emo mode

I am a bad person.

That’s all you need to know. I am not a saint. I am not the victim. I am the villain in this story.

Shit happens. And in my case, that shit is everywhere. The hideous sight, the retching stench, it’s suffocating me. I tried to clean it up, to cover it with beautiful pictures and flowery scents but the shit's still there. I can’t run away.

And this is happening because I’ve been bad. Because I was selfish, because I’ve been a narrow, judgmental bitch who think she knows everything. But I don’t. Because I have these thousand questions in my head but had been too afraid to ask them. Because I chose to believe in my truths. Because I chose to wallow in my blissful ignorance.

But when the truth began to unravel, I took cover. Because the truth is like a thousand knives stabbing at me. I wish it had killed me instead, but the cruelest irony is that it left me alive, hurting me but still letting me breathe. The pain is unbearable; it’s nothing I’ve ever felt in my life. And I tried to protect myself, but most of all I tried to protect the one I loved.

But I didn’t. And there’s no excuse. I was damaged, but I’ve hurt another, too. And knowing that truth, having that shadow chasing you everyday is the greatest punishment. The harshest punishment.

I am a bad person. You’ve been warned. Now stay away from me.


(I hate it that I have to make this disclaimer, but I guess one is warranted or this post might be interpreted the wrong way, so: this isn't about me. It's just something I wrote down months ago. I can't remember the exact inspiration for this, but I wanted to write something about how in life, there are no clear heroes and villains. And that's how far I would go in explaining!)

Rumble At the Garden!

Don't you just love it when basketball games get this intense and dirty?



Nah, I'm just kidding. True, I love it when basketball players get emotional and physical - it gives a different drama to an already intense, high-contact sports. But there's nothing to love about this brawl at the Madison Square Garden between the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets. It was an unfortunate incident, very unsportsmanlike and should not be tolerated.

(Oh, okay, I admit I did enjoy watching the sequence of events, especially Carmelo Anthony making that cheap shot and making a break for it at the center of the court. I guess I like how guys settle their differences through physical and violent means. I like how very confrontational men are hahaha...)

I just find it weird that Isiah Thomas, the Knicks' coach, seemed to justify the flagrant foul committed by Mardy Collins against J.R. Smith (which triggered the free-for-all) by saying that the Nuggets starters shouldn't be at court anymore with more than a minute to go since the Nuggets are already leading by 19 points. I can understand how frustrated and humiliated the embattled Knicks must have been to be whipped at their own homecourt by a team that's also struggling in their games. But fans expect these athletes to conduct themselves more professionally, or what else separates them from the guy playing in the streets other than their hefty salaries?

Maybe being a professional, highly paid basketball player carries with it a lot of stress to win the game that to be on the losing end can get so frustrating. But still, basketball should be about having fun on the court. And most of all - basketball should be about respect - respect for the fans, respect for the players, and respect for the game.

I [still] love this game.

Gripe And Gush

Paksyet I forgot to watch the season finale of The Amazing Race yesterday!!!

How could I forget?! How the hell could I forget?! How the freakin' effin' hell could I forget?!

Could be because I am getting old. Nooooooooooo...

The Models (and Addicts) won. For a great season, the winners are kinda blah. Well, better them than the Bamas.

Can't wait for the All Stars Edition in February 2007!!!

***

Would I be considered too big a fan if I watch Reymond Sajor's first not so major solo concert at the Dish? No? Just plain crazy? Yeah, I wholeheartedly agree.

For Melissa

I guess I've always known that Melle was living on borrowed time. But knowing doesn't make the surprise and sadness any lesser when I heard the news that she passed away.

Melissa, or Melle as we fondly call her, was my high school classmate. We weren't particularly close, but our class had been together for 4 years (and managed to keep in touch even after all these years) that it felt like all of us are friends for life. She was one of our classmates who looked so "dalaga" when we were freshmen. She was our Vice President then and her loud voice was so suited in keeping the class in order (I can still hear her shouting "Classmates QUIETTT!!!). She usually took part in our class' favorite intermission number for school activities; i.e. dancing. She was one of our cheerleaders in 4th year. She is so prangka and mataray (she can raise her eyebrows to high heavens) but she's also sweet and very loyal to her friends. When we were in college, she gamely taught us how to conjugate French verbs. In our last reunion, she enthusiastically danced PBB's signature "Pinoy Ako" dance and told us jokingly that she would audition for the next PBB.

I suppose I am not the right person to speak up about Melissa, other than the Melissa I've known as a classmate. I wasn't there for the most part of her adult life. Certainly, I wasn't even there to see how she was when she was discharged from the hospital after her long confinement - and I chose so for purely selfish reasons. I couldn't bear to see this person - someone who's strong-willed and full of life - look diminished, for that is what her sickness has done to her. But only physically, for her resolve - and her family's and loved ones' patience and devotion - never wavered. Truly, something to be admired.

Now, more than ever, I realized how short life is. It's not entirely a depressing realization, but maybe a stark reminder that life is a precious gift, a gift we shouldn't squander. It seems that for Melissa to die at such a young age was a cruel fate. I know, it seemed that way to me. But knowing how she had triumphed over her many trials and struggles, knowing the depth of love showered to her by her family, her daughter, her boyfriend and her friends until the very last days of her life - yes, she might have lived a short life, but such an inspiring, love-filled life!

This isn't just a time to grieve for the lost of a beloved friend, but also a time to celebrate her life and the different ways she had touched ours. I'm sure Melle would have wanted it that way.


PS
a few hours before I received the news, ketz even called me and mock-demand why I haven't updated my blog. I guess this isn't the update she's looking for, or the kind of entry I relish writing...

Friday's Feast 121

Appetizer
Which language would you like to learn and why?

French or any of the Romance language. But I also would want to learn all the languages in the world, not really to master it but to know the basics so that I can communicate with the locals if ever I get to visit their countries - or just in case I join The Amazing Race hahaha...


Soup
What's the funniest thing you've heard or read so far this week?

One of my officemate, who is already married, suddenly blurted out to my other officemate, also married: "Uy, nag-sex ako kagabi! Ansarap!" ("Hey, I had sex last night! It was great!) (I guess the proper translation is "delicious" but, well...). My other officemate answered: "Talaga! Antagal na din nung huli mo ah!" (Really! It has been too long since you last had some!).

So the tactless and clueless me couldn't help but ask: "Talaga bang ganyan ang pinaguusapan niyo dito?!" (Is that what you really talked about here?!"). Which prompted a hearty round of laughter from them and a comment about me having a dirty mind.

Well, it turns out that sex stands for Sinangag (Fried Rice) EXpress. How should I know they're talking about that?! It's the first time I've heard of it! As it turn out, ah, SEX was quite popular and delicious.

And yes, this is funny even if the joke's on me.


Salad
Which movie was so bad you couldn't watch the whole thing?

I really can't pinpoint a particularly movie that I hadn't watched in its entirety because it's bad. I usually managed to hang on until the end credits and just laugh about the experience afterwards.


Main Course
If there was a holiday in your honor that didn't use your actual name, what would the day be called?

The International Day of Procrastination - because we all need a special, guilt-free day to just bum around and be unproductive.


Dessert
Name one movie which is coming out soon that you would like to see.

Wow. It's like you've read my mind. I was actually planning to post my Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2007. Anyway, here's my top 3: Harry Potter And The Order of The Phoenix [what else?!]; Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World's End; and Wolverine.

For the short term (meaning for the rest of 2006), I want to see An Inconvenient Truth and Eragon. Also, Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo (or something like that) for the Metro Manila Film Festival. (oh shut up. jologs na kung jologs!)

Top 5 On Friday - Week 101

There are 2 topics for this week as Dec 8 has special significance for any Beatles fan.
Top 5 CDs you'd like to find in your Christmas stocking this year.
and/or
Top 5 songs written by or performed by John Lennon.

I'm going to do both. For the first topic, I'm breaking it into international and local CDs.

International:
The Killers - Sam's Town
The Beatles - Love
John Mayer - Continuum
Depeche Mode - Best of Depeche Mode, Vol. 1
Happy Feet OST

Local/OPM:
Stonefree - their second yet-to-be-released album
Narda - Discotillion
Cog - Conflagration
The Dawn - Tulad Ng Dati
Sugarfree - Talaarawan

For the second topic, here's my Top 5:
Imagine
Run For Your Life [best stalker song!]
Twist And Shout
Ticket To Ride
Come Together

Man, I wasn't even born when John Lennon met his tragic end. But truly, his music and legacy still lives on. I didn't have to live during their decade to know how talented he and the rest of the Beatles were.

Ask Me!

1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview Me".
2. I will respond by asking you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your journal with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

I left a comment to my friends' blogs, so if you receive one, it means I want to be interviewed by you! So ask away, friends! And if you want to get your own set of questions from me, just leave a comment on this post. =)

I guess I really couldn't take it anymore. I am not privy to the Subic rape case because I hadn't followed its development religiously. But I am surprised - and appalled - by the contempt that most people had shown towards the victim, "Nicole", now that the ruling had been carried out. Basically, most people were of the opinion that she is a whore who got herself seriously drunk, ergo, she "brought it upon herself".

Rape is rape, even if it's a sex worker who cried foul, even if a girl is in a provocative dress and acts in a certain way and seems to be "asking for it". It isn't all about violating a woman's hymen and chastity, it is an act of a bully against the weak. When a girl, or even a guy, says "no", you don't have the right to force yourself into her or him. Don't give me that crap about "no sometimes means yes". And just because a girl acts like a slut and goes to town dead drunk doesn't make her fair game and "deserves to be treated that way". Fuck. Nobody deserves to be raped, puta man o birhen, and to say that a person deserves it is downright mean and unjustifiable.

Bye BQs

Sad that the Beauty Queens got eliminated from The Amazing Race. Not just because they were competent racers and my favorite team this season, but more so because they could have been the first ever All Female team to make it in the Final Three – and deservedly so. Instead, that distinction went to the ‘Bamas, who, in my opinion, are not exactly the strongest and most intelligent All Female team in TAR history (they had benefited largely from the Cho brother’s stupid strategy of being nice. Nice isn’t bad, but you don’t have to give away whatever advantage you hold. It's a race dammit!). Also, they’re ungracious and unappreciative of the different places they’ve been to. Not only are they constantly whining about the other teams (the Beauty Queens in particular), but the other (was that Karlyn? the one with the permanent bitchface on) was even nasty to her own teammate!

I’m glad I was able to watch this episode after missing the last two. Tomato throwing? Awesome! Kimberly was losing her control and Rob still continued to throw back tomatoes at the locals instead of looking for the clue! It could have been annoying but I was just laughing. And I laughed so hard as I imagined if it were Colin and Christie or Jonathan and Victoria doing this task! Oh man, I hope Colin and Christie were included in the All Stars. They might be obnoxious, but they’re damn fine racers. And I would love to see another classic meltdown from Colin!

I do hope either the Models or Rob and Kimberly win this race. But the spoilers on the order of elimination had so far been accurate, so… (I guess you can probably read between the lines who is the eventual winner according to spoilers!)

Beybi You Can Drive My Car!

Yahoo! My baby’s plate is finally freakin’ available! It took a while to get the plate because I requested to have a plate ending in 8, not knowing that ending 8 plates are in demand, especially among Chinoys who believe that 8 is a lucky number. Well, I’m neither a Chinoy nor do I believe in lucky numbers, but I chose 8 for the simple reason that it is my fave number. So even if my dealer suggested getting another plate, my stubborn self insisted on my heart’s desire. Now I got it and it was worth the wait. =)

And yes, the arrival of my plate couldn’t come at a better time as I received yesterday my first traffic warning from an honorable police officer hahaha… It was one of those weird incident that we got accosted after more than a month of driving without a plate, and it happened very near our place! I mean, my car’s been practically everywhere, from Manila to Quezon City to Pasay to Makati to Mandaluyong. Heck, my baby’s been to Candelaria, Quezon! (yep, my heart broke a little that my car had traveled that far. Pero hindi ko naman binili ang kotse para igarahe lang di ba?). But I guess luck was a bit on our side because it wasn’t me who’s driving the car – me the one without a license! Imagine how much trouble that would cost us.

It was also one of those rare instances that I felt shutting up my mouth would be to our advantage, since I had a dozen or so retort I'm inching to say to the police and his lecture. And I never said anything to him that sounded mataray! Well, I guess in the process, I also almost sold my younger brother (who was driving the car) down the river. The police asked who the owner of the car was and I said that it was me and then he asked me what my relation is to the driver and I said that he’s my brother. Then the police said: “eh pano yan, yung kapatid mo ang titiketan ko?” and with the merest hint of hesitation I said: “Ok.”. So how’s that for sisterly love?

As it turned out, we escaped with just a first warning scribbled at the back of the C/R, since the police didn’t have any traffic violation tickets with him (and how fishy is that?!). And no, I didn’t bribe the police with money or anything. I was willing though, to tell you the truth. I was just waiting for them to broach it, which they didn’t. So, props to these distinguished members of the police force from leading me away from my first act of bribery hehehe… Although, come to think of it, we don’t really have a traffic violation, do we? My car was duly registered with the LTO and I have the O/R C/R to prove it. It just so happens that the plate is not yet available, and whose fault is that? (The Chinese’ fault, of course, for hoarding the ending 8 plates. Hahaha. Just kidding.)

***

I realized why I never really warmed up to the idea of me driving my brothers around. They’re the worst kind of backseat driver! Last Saturday night, my younger brother (the one who almost got a traffic violation ticket) and I decided to drive around in the Baywalk area (which was such a bad idea, by the way, as the traffic situation there was horrendous on that particular day) to, uh, improve my driving skills. Well, it was my multitasking skills that I had called upon to salvage me, as I found myself driving (which in itself involves multitasking) and having a shouting match with my brother. I mean, I think I could have driven better if he wasn’t shouting his criticisms and making me more nervous than necessary. Among other things, he had issues with me hogging the lanes (oy, nawawala ka na naman sa linya! san ka ba talaga?!) and my distance on the passenger side (masyado kang maluwag dito!). The first one, I grudgingly admit, is a valid observation, while the second one I had to protest. In the first place, he volunteered to check on the right side as I can’t see clearly the right side mirror (mag-drive ka na lang, ako na bahala dito). And that one instance I almost crashed into a center island was because I got rattled by his loud, panicky voice (OY! SAN KA PUPUNTA?!!!). I didn’t really have to mind the center island because the road is divided into four lanes and the two lanes were separated by an island but all the lanes are going in the same direction and I was following this car because he told me to stay in one lane and the car was on the third lane and it should have been that lane we take because we’re going in this freakin’ direction! If my explanation is too long (and kinda magulo. but believe me, my excuse is valid), well, imagine me saying those words (in Tagalog, or course) to my younger brother while I was driving. So, yeah, I don’t think there’ll be much coaching happening between us. And I think the feeling is mutual.

I still like driving, but if I have a choice, I would rather be in the passenger seat. I like looking out of the window at the sceneries, at the other motor vehicles around me, and I like observing my surroundings, and not in the way that a defensive driver is expected to do, for my and my passengers’ safety, as well as that of other motorists and pedestrians.

Oh, and the best part about driving your own car? You get to sing out loud, to your heart’s content. Try doing that when you’re commuting!