Amidst the higher gods

darth_doom

I've commuted to the office from our new home thrice now, with just a wee-bit problems in the getting off part. What I hate about Makati is its inane regulations as to where a bus can load and unload passengers. It's really stupid. If the bus already stopped and is awaiting passengers, what's the harm in letting some hurrying passengers get off? I've lost count on how many times I've been late due to this idiotic rule.

Well going back to the point, in all three times I've commuted to work, I've gotten off on three different spots. Farthest by far was earlier today. I expected the bus to stop in front of GT tower, or at the very least, in front of the RCBC building, fraking driver just kept on going way past the post office. Good thing I had a few minutes to spare and made it to the office in time.

Commuting back home is another matter though. First attempt fell on a holiday, so there's not much bus around that time and I was forced to hail a cab. Second attempt was Fever Night, and rather than doze unaware and find myself way past my stop, I elected to get a cab for the fastest ride home. Third time's the charm as earlier this evening, I caught a bus with my new kasabays from work. Traded one group for another.

Think I'm slowly getting the hang of this. Next trick is to actually learn the name of the streets.

darth_doom

I didn't even felt my restdays. This week's really gonna suck.

Plus I gotta stay on a budget so gotta decline any pending dota or inuman sessions.

Need some heavy duty headsets to stay sane at home. See, this is the main reason why I proposed to have the computer be placed inside the room. Aside from the obvious fact that I can watch movies in the relative comfort of a bed, another important factor is that there's no damn television inside the room.

To compound problems, the tv inside the bum's room hasn't been fitted with cable yet. So he spends all available hours parked on the living room couch, watching his annoying chinese shows while smoking his lungs out. It takes great effort not to drag the computer up the room then throw the cabinet at him to make space. That way I can do my stuff in relative peace, and the cabinet's impact might jog some hidden responsibilty or shame in him. Win-win for everyone.

darth_doom

Woke up Monday morning feeling more trashed than ever. I recall only one shoulder cramping from the heavy lifting the day before, but when I woke up my entire back was in spasm. Can't believe 9 hours of sleep didn't even help. I managed to drag myself to work where after 8 hours of calls, a minor headache joined my list of problems.

I should have gone home, but for all the wrong reasons I still joined the office dota game afterwards. By then the minor headache has progressed into a throbbing migraine. Feeling a bit hot, I finished two games and declined to join the rest. I hailed a cab and got home safe in one piece, which was good since at that time I was already feverish.

With the last ounce of my strength I got dressed, ate something, and made sure that Blackest Night 4 and Star Wars Legacy 4 would be ready when I woke up (Smart Bro's up and running again). I crashed on the couch as the bed's already fully occupied. Four hours of sleep later I'm as good as new. I've lost count of how many times I've slept off a fever without as much as a paracetamol. Damn, I love this body of mine.

Still on restday for tomorrow, I guess I better put it to good use and do some exploring on the new place.

Yesterday, we celebrated both my parents' birthday. Too bad my dad is having the time of his life overseas! haha. It's okay, we will see each other soon.

Just some photos from dinner last night. We went to Bondi for one of the best Italian places there is, this side of the world. It's called Castile (formerly known as Old Castile). THey have the best pizzas! Afterwards, we headed for some yummy desert at San Churro in Glebe.

Martinezes + Mauen in Old Castile. yes, it looks like a bathroom. But food in this place is just heaven.

Martinezes + Tito Dong

with the absoutely gorgeous birthday girl

Happy Birthday, Ma and Pa!

darth_doom

New house looks real cramped. It's the type of house that would seriously kill claustrophobiacs.

It was quite fortunate for us that all of our stuff just conveniently managed to fit in every corner or place we assigned them to. But still, a lot of our old stuffs would need to be discarded. As much as we try, there's just not enough room in the new place. Can't believe the amount of stuff we've accumulated in three years.

I mean, I remember when we first moved in to Golden Valley. The place was so huge it literally swallowed our meager possesions. There was no bed, so we had to sleep Japan-style, ie on the floor with the mattress. Then three souls with steady incomes later, well, the amount of stuffs we've brought to the new house speak for themselves. Pity I wasn't able to get a picture.

Wasn't given a VL nor an emergency leave today, given that it was a legitimate reason. I even found someone willing to swap scheds but the decision was vetoed by her sup. So after a stressful day of moving, lifting, cleaning, organizing; I had to show up for work. Thankfully my TL managed to squeeze in a request of half day for me. Better than nothing I guess. Still, that didn't stop me from being half-asleep on most of the calls. I pity the quality agent who had to listen to my calls earlier.

Can't wait for the Smart Bro guy to come and fix the connection up. No urge whatsoever to open the computer if there's no connection at all. What a perfect time for Blackest Night 4 and Imperial Commando: 501st to be released.

It's final then, I'm no longer a Manileno. I'm now a Mandaluyong-ians.

darth_doom

Waited a year for this. And it couldn't have come at a worse time, in between moving and work and all that.

Came out on the 27th. Was so busy with so many osik that I completely forgot about it. Was reminded of the fact by new articles created on the Wook. Funny thing is, I called a bunch of Fully Booked branches intending to reserve a copy, and I was told by three different branches that it was sold out! Then when I went to RP earlier this evening for a quick dinner with the HS gang, I chanced upon several copies on National Bookstore.

On National Bookstore of all places! I didn't even bother checking Power Books. That place's a stinkin waste of effin time and space. Can't even remember the last time I actually got something from that place.

Wasn't given a VL tomorrow, and I managed to negotiate a half day instead with my sup. He was quite understanding of my predicament, moving to a new place and all yet being forced to show up for work. Wonder how will he feel if I don't show up for work at all because I got the book that I've been waiting for for over a year?

Must... resist...temptation.....

I'm really curious as to how these Star Wars books kept being sold out at Fully Booked. It implies that there's a large fanbase of Expanded Universe out there. If so, then why am I not in it or even aware of it?

Here are some photos from the simple dinner I was forced to, for my 20th birthday. Not that I didn't like it. I loved it. It was simple and the people who mattered most to me were there. 

Ate Aica, yours truly, Mama, Carl

Martinezes - Dad + Mauen (cousin)

Forgive me, this is my few-days-left-before-six-grueling-final-exams look (not that I actually look any better without exams. haha!).

Notice how emaciated I look. A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with Minor Thalassemia. Apart from that, my blood tests showed very low levels of TSH (Thyroid Specific Hormone) reflecting my high thyroid activity, hence an extremely fast metabolic rate. If you were lost by all those sentences, look up your Pathology.

Now I know the reason behind my scraggy look. I love how Pathology can explain my surface Anatomy! HAHAHA!

Tomorrow, both my parents celebrate their shared birthday! 

credits to Badong, my ever so reliable Ninong for the photos

darth_doom

Finished with the books and the trinkets, now comes the harder part, the clothes.

Went through my old college books just now and I find it a bit funny that I was such a lazy ass, still am, that a lot of my old quizzes or notes were wedged in between the pages of the books. Twas a quick trip down to college all over again.

Accounting notes and quizzes, a whole schedule from the 2003-2004 school year, an entire plastic of old quizzes we got from the upper batchmen. Our own quizzes were added into that binder-like tome of awesomeness. I considered giving it to the current bitches of Sir Jomin and etc but I don't know anyone taking up IT or Comsci right now, so to the trashbin it went. Kind of a shame though, whoever owns that tome is guaranteed a passing grade in any of the online quizzes.

Too bad about the books as well. I don't think they're being used anymore despite the same subjects still being taught at CKSC. Wonder if the second hand bookstores at Recto would take them in at half price.