Thu - July 28, 2005
29 and counting
But who's
counting?
As I type this I have officially turned 29 years old for two hours now. It is an interesting experience. Twenty nine. Veinte nueve. I hope I got that right. I feel no different. Except maybe older.
I always get sentimental during my birthday. I count the years that have passed. I remember the people who have celebrated this day with and those who have not. Those who were with me before and those who are no longer with us. But one wonders, then what?
I did something that most people don't do on their birthday, I went to work. Although it would have perfectly excusable for me not to show up at work, under the present working circumstances we have today I have to show up.
My friends sent messages and email today. My father sent me an SMS message I didn't get. My officemate sent me a message I didn't get. My grandmother won't be taking me out to lunch this weekend because she has other plans. I'm still waiting for a certain birthday card.
It didn't rain today. It usually pours down on my birthday. I took my car out on a very sunny day. Not bad. I wanted some good Chinese food but Italian was the nearest and most convenient at the time. My sister asked me if I wanted a cake and I said yes. Instead, she decided to experiment and use new ingredients and it didn't look anything like a cake. It looked like brownies. I'm serious. I should take a picture and post it here. I ate my spaghetti and went to bed.
I discovered Gizmo today. I may subscribe to it for a while. It seems very practical and much cheaper than what I'm paying in long distance calls.
It's almost the end of my day. I'd better go to sleep while I'm still young.
As I type this I have officially turned 29 years old for two hours now. It is an interesting experience. Twenty nine. Veinte nueve. I hope I got that right. I feel no different. Except maybe older.
I always get sentimental during my birthday. I count the years that have passed. I remember the people who have celebrated this day with and those who have not. Those who were with me before and those who are no longer with us. But one wonders, then what?
I did something that most people don't do on their birthday, I went to work. Although it would have perfectly excusable for me not to show up at work, under the present working circumstances we have today I have to show up.
My friends sent messages and email today. My father sent me an SMS message I didn't get. My officemate sent me a message I didn't get. My grandmother won't be taking me out to lunch this weekend because she has other plans. I'm still waiting for a certain birthday card.
It didn't rain today. It usually pours down on my birthday. I took my car out on a very sunny day. Not bad. I wanted some good Chinese food but Italian was the nearest and most convenient at the time. My sister asked me if I wanted a cake and I said yes. Instead, she decided to experiment and use new ingredients and it didn't look anything like a cake. It looked like brownies. I'm serious. I should take a picture and post it here. I ate my spaghetti and went to bed.
I discovered Gizmo today. I may subscribe to it for a while. It seems very practical and much cheaper than what I'm paying in long distance calls.
It's almost the end of my day. I'd better go to sleep while I'm still young.
Posted at 10:54 PM
Fri - July 22, 2005
Just something to add to this week
My technolust is in full swing right now. I need
a Palm Lifedrive. I mean I need a PDA! And the Lifedrive will fill that need. I
just absolutely gave up on my last PDA, the Palm IIIc, which was by the way the
very first colored unit that Palm released. It served me for quite a long time
compared to my father's three other PDAs which he purchased two years after I
got mine. Oh well.
But this time I really need it. Maybe I should just revive my Palm. But seriously, with all the meetings that I go to and my constant need to check email I need something compact as that to keep track of my life. I've been lucky so far that I haven't missed a meeting just yet.
Something else to save up for. A new computer. I'm dead set on getting a desktop but which one? Next year is a good idea since I still have to save up for a lot of it. We'll see when Apple's new models arrive. Maybe I should get a PC? I still have Doom 3 in my drawer and I don't have a PC to run it. If that works I'll absolutely just keep on buying games and upgrading and it'll never end. I should just stick to macs. The prices are about the same.
But first things first. I need a PDA. Revive or new?
But this time I really need it. Maybe I should just revive my Palm. But seriously, with all the meetings that I go to and my constant need to check email I need something compact as that to keep track of my life. I've been lucky so far that I haven't missed a meeting just yet.
Something else to save up for. A new computer. I'm dead set on getting a desktop but which one? Next year is a good idea since I still have to save up for a lot of it. We'll see when Apple's new models arrive. Maybe I should get a PC? I still have Doom 3 in my drawer and I don't have a PC to run it. If that works I'll absolutely just keep on buying games and upgrading and it'll never end. I should just stick to macs. The prices are about the same.
But first things first. I need a PDA. Revive or new?
Posted at 07:25 PM
Tue - July 12, 2005
You stood eight hours for what?!?!
Those were the words that my parents uttered when
they found out what I did yesterday.
One of my favorite British authors, Neil Gaiman was in town for a few days to talk about his new book, new movie and sign books on a Pacific tour of various countries including the Philippines. It would be the first time he would visit the country and the minute I found out I was sooo excited. Not even the political crisis the country was in could stop me from meeting the man that created dream and death.
For those of you who don't know Neil Gaiman, he wrote DC Comics' famous series "Sandman" which started the mature line of comics under the Vertigo banner. He also wrote a number of successful graphic novels and novels. He adapted Hayao Miyazaki's "Princess Mononoke" to english and he wrote the screenplay for the upcoming Jim Henson movie "Mirror Mask".
I tried to go Saturday but as his blog said, 7000 people crammed themselves into a tent made for 300. (In my honest opinion way more than the crowds that have been gathering to overthrow the president.) So I gave up on that and just watched War of the Worlds. Little did I know that he would try and finish the crowd. He stayed until 1:30AM. I wish I stayed.
So thinking I would try my luck and line up on Monday, the last day of the signing. It would be a weekday. A schoolday and a workday. I didn't know that many people skipped work that day. I went to the office early. Took the train and I got to the mall at around noon, bought lunch and looked for the line. The line snaked its way down three floors and I was on the bottom. The only good part about it was I was still in the airconditioned mall with tiled floors compared to the hot concrete the other venues had. I came prepared with some food I bought and my powerbook to get some work done and the latest book of Kazuo Ishiguro (I'm not sure how to classify him though, he's Japanese writing one of the best English literature of late). After two hours of reading and listening to various podcasts, my old high school classmate James stopped by and he was also friends with the people in front of me, who were also friends with another set of people who are friends with an old pal from college. It was like seeing your friendster list in person.
Anyway while trying to pass away the time, I borrowed my friend's PSP for a few hours and I was hooked. I wanted to keep playing, but he said he had to go to his diving class. I think now I'll get one. It's just soo cool. We shared stories, favorite works of Neil Gaiman all the while receiving various news on what was going on upstairs.
We had some high points such as the line was moving. And low points when the security guys told us to move back and not block the passageway for other people. Another low point was when a guy from Fully Booked (the bookstore where the signing was taking place) was counting heads. There were a 150 people ahead of us plus an additional number of people from the overflow from the past two days. By the time I was issued a number, it plainly said 320. Wow.
We were told to try and keep our conversation with Neil very short since that took up a lot of time and that he will only sign one book per person in order to accommodate everyone. I already made the decision even before he arrived. I chose the very first Neil Gaiman book, "Angels and Visitations".
There was a group behind us who kept cheering every time they met a milestone. This included reaching the top steps, reaching the mall area and finally reaching the bookstore. Once I got into the bookstore, people were suddenly quiet. Everyone in line had smiles up to their ears.
The only sound you could hear was the shuffling of people, clicking of digital cameras and phones and Neil Gaiman's voice has thanked each and everyone who came. When I got to him. My book was handed out to him and he thanked me for coming. I was totally speechless. I was just in awe of not only his work and his mere presence in front of me. The fact that he travelled across the Earth to get here and I waited for eight hours to have my book signed by him. It was worth it.
I then proceeded to buy some doughnuts for my officemates. I was feeling absolutely tired with my body aching and the thought of me having to line up and take the train back with my heavy body was just too much. I took a cab.
The conversation with the cab driver was somewhat interesting. He complained about the traffic and how bad other drivers drive, particularly buses. It was just a short ride back to the office and I was solid ground again. I ran into my boss as soon as I entered the building and asked where I've been the whole day. I told her my tale of waiting for eight hours for my book to be signed by one of my favorite British authors . She laughed and went on her way.
I drove home relatively quiet. Once I got home I took a shower, had dinner and went to bed at 10PM. It was then time for me to dream.
My father has his book signed by Formula 1 legend Jackie Stewart, now I have a book signed by Neil Gaiman. I now have something to give to my children.
One of my favorite British authors, Neil Gaiman was in town for a few days to talk about his new book, new movie and sign books on a Pacific tour of various countries including the Philippines. It would be the first time he would visit the country and the minute I found out I was sooo excited. Not even the political crisis the country was in could stop me from meeting the man that created dream and death.
For those of you who don't know Neil Gaiman, he wrote DC Comics' famous series "Sandman" which started the mature line of comics under the Vertigo banner. He also wrote a number of successful graphic novels and novels. He adapted Hayao Miyazaki's "Princess Mononoke" to english and he wrote the screenplay for the upcoming Jim Henson movie "Mirror Mask".
I tried to go Saturday but as his blog said, 7000 people crammed themselves into a tent made for 300. (In my honest opinion way more than the crowds that have been gathering to overthrow the president.) So I gave up on that and just watched War of the Worlds. Little did I know that he would try and finish the crowd. He stayed until 1:30AM. I wish I stayed.
So thinking I would try my luck and line up on Monday, the last day of the signing. It would be a weekday. A schoolday and a workday. I didn't know that many people skipped work that day. I went to the office early. Took the train and I got to the mall at around noon, bought lunch and looked for the line. The line snaked its way down three floors and I was on the bottom. The only good part about it was I was still in the airconditioned mall with tiled floors compared to the hot concrete the other venues had. I came prepared with some food I bought and my powerbook to get some work done and the latest book of Kazuo Ishiguro (I'm not sure how to classify him though, he's Japanese writing one of the best English literature of late). After two hours of reading and listening to various podcasts, my old high school classmate James stopped by and he was also friends with the people in front of me, who were also friends with another set of people who are friends with an old pal from college. It was like seeing your friendster list in person.
Anyway while trying to pass away the time, I borrowed my friend's PSP for a few hours and I was hooked. I wanted to keep playing, but he said he had to go to his diving class. I think now I'll get one. It's just soo cool. We shared stories, favorite works of Neil Gaiman all the while receiving various news on what was going on upstairs.
We had some high points such as the line was moving. And low points when the security guys told us to move back and not block the passageway for other people. Another low point was when a guy from Fully Booked (the bookstore where the signing was taking place) was counting heads. There were a 150 people ahead of us plus an additional number of people from the overflow from the past two days. By the time I was issued a number, it plainly said 320. Wow.
We were told to try and keep our conversation with Neil very short since that took up a lot of time and that he will only sign one book per person in order to accommodate everyone. I already made the decision even before he arrived. I chose the very first Neil Gaiman book, "Angels and Visitations".
There was a group behind us who kept cheering every time they met a milestone. This included reaching the top steps, reaching the mall area and finally reaching the bookstore. Once I got into the bookstore, people were suddenly quiet. Everyone in line had smiles up to their ears.
The only sound you could hear was the shuffling of people, clicking of digital cameras and phones and Neil Gaiman's voice has thanked each and everyone who came. When I got to him. My book was handed out to him and he thanked me for coming. I was totally speechless. I was just in awe of not only his work and his mere presence in front of me. The fact that he travelled across the Earth to get here and I waited for eight hours to have my book signed by him. It was worth it.
I then proceeded to buy some doughnuts for my officemates. I was feeling absolutely tired with my body aching and the thought of me having to line up and take the train back with my heavy body was just too much. I took a cab.
The conversation with the cab driver was somewhat interesting. He complained about the traffic and how bad other drivers drive, particularly buses. It was just a short ride back to the office and I was solid ground again. I ran into my boss as soon as I entered the building and asked where I've been the whole day. I told her my tale of waiting for eight hours for my book to be signed by one of my favorite British authors . She laughed and went on her way.
I drove home relatively quiet. Once I got home I took a shower, had dinner and went to bed at 10PM. It was then time for me to dream.
My father has his book signed by Formula 1 legend Jackie Stewart, now I have a book signed by Neil Gaiman. I now have something to give to my children.
Posted at 06:00 PM
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Published On: Jul 28, 2005 10:54 PM
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Published On: Jul 28, 2005 10:54 PM