Thursday, July 28, 2005

Getting Old with God

As I get older, I feel myself going closer to God. Yeah I know, difficult to comprehend.

Monday, July 25, 2005

Target Shooting


DSCN5504.JPG, originally uploaded by rhettvpascual.

As I mentioned, I got pretty decent shots from seven yards away with a Model 10 Smith & Wesson. The SO did much better though. Most of her shots landed at the Level 9. Mine had some spreading to the right side due to my left eye. Once I correctly used the right eye to shoot, my groups got tighter.

Sunday, July 24, 2005

Target, target, target star

Seven months ago, a friend had promised that my birthday gift is going to be a day at the gun range. This past Saturday, we managed to focus and were able to go to Jackson Arms in South San Francisco. It is rather difficult to find, but well worth it.

We were at first apprehensive because we were supposed to show that we knew how to disassemble semi-automatic handguns. Well, considering that we had not ever fired semi-automatic weapons, it was not a good sign. All of the classes were full so we could not have taken a class that day. It's a good thing that I mentioned that I had shot a Ruger Blackhawk handgun. It turns out that we could shoot with revolvers because theey were easier and safer.

The SO also joined us for the gun practice. We got some nice orange targets which let us see where the shots landed on the target. Very nice. I started out with some shots that landed on the right side of the target. In the troubleshooting,I realize that I probably was pulling the gun to the right. I then remembered that if the gun was cocked, it was easier to shoot. Well, guess what! It worked. It actually was easier to hit the center mass when I cocked the gun!

Also, I managed to figure out that my right eye is my natural shooting eye. Use the left eye and the bullet goes everywhere else excpet the target. It ended up that I managed to begin hitting the center of mass. I just had to remember that I had to hold the gun steady.

When the SO began shooting, she managed to start hitting the center of mass immediately. Talk about a ringer! She ketp shooting and placing the bullets in the middle of the target. It was awe-inspiring and disturbing at the same time. She was so good that it almost made me feel incompetent. But then again, she is a martial artist teacher. She says that you just have to concentrate and you will be touching the target. Well, it works for her but I have a lot more to travel through before it works.

I guess I didn't realize just how much fun shooting guns can be. Yooohooo!!! It's fun. And I thought I was going to be one of those gun control freaks. It turns out that I'm just a brown redneck!!!

Bwahahahha!

Check out the Smith & Wesson Model 10 or the Model 386 or the Model 64.

Thursday, July 21, 2005

Ka Uro

One IT professional who settled in New Zealand (got it wrong the first time: Australia). Ka uro is the Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 21st day of July, in the year of the Pin@y 2005. Check out the migratory patterns of a Pin@y.
Things to Make Me Thankful

As the wedding day approaches, I reflect upon the women who could have been the wife. And I realize that I have a fatal flaw. I used to select, like or be attracted to women with baggage. Women who had parental issues. Women with psychological problems. Women who were arrogant. Women who were selfish. Granted, those women could have changed now as opposed to ten or fifteen years ago. (Just to cover my b*tt).

I remember E who had this magnificent low self-esteem problem emanating from her familial problems. She was beautiful by most modern standards. But, her family screwed her up so much that it was not funny. I wonder if she is herself torturing her children. "You did not do this properly. You should be more like so-and-so. You should be better." The words that parents wield have even greater effect as evidenced by the pscyhology of E.

As an example, one day, she was going nuts over her boyfriend's-ex. Apparently the boyfriend still had some feeling for the ex. She thought it was based on looks. So when I saw the ex, I was surprised. Now that I am nicer, I would call her homely. Back then, I was thinking about not so nice things. How can this person who looks like a television anchorwoman (Connie Young or Julie Chen for those of you younger) be paranoid about a homebody?

I realize now that it is not all outer beauty. Sure, you might be all 10 in the outer, but if your inner beauty is 0, it's a no win situation. So I give thanks to god who has many faces but one truth. Thanks for your blessings, specially the SO.

Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Any ideas for honeymoons?

Do my dear readers have any ideas about where the SO and I can spend our honeymoon? Somewhere local would be nice. apparently, the groom takes care of the honeymoon arrangements.

Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Full Moon

when
the fullness
of the moon

strikes
the color
of my skin

my
mind reverberates
back to beginning

Monday, July 18, 2005

Weekends

Well, it started off right. I had been obsessing over this problem on Friday afternoon so instead of just going to Costco or Ikea, I took the SO to an Indian restaurant called Khana Peena. As with all things, change is in the restaurant also. The restaurant used to have about 5-6 Souteast Indians working. Now, there are about three with three more Hispanics working as busboys. It's the power of economics. I hope some of the previous people who worked there now have better jobs elsewhere.

We end up the night buying some clear plastic storage containers for my photobooks and negatives. I'm starting to begin the migration of my stuff to the SO's place. First up are negatives and photo things.

Saturday was busy. We went to complete opposite directions. In the morning/noon, off to Ware Designs to see the reconditioned ring of the SO which came from her grandmother. The original stone was synthetic. We had it replaced with a real topaz. Several months ago, we had gone there and found some matching topaz earrings. It's nice to buy the SO some jewelry. She usually does not buy them. Well, not to the extent that I thought women bought jewelry.

Lunch on Saturday was at Bo's BBQ in Lafayette. I had previously written about them. I wonder if they boil their ribs. Probably not. It was soft and good. The sauce is not too spicy. Perfect for those of us who did not grow up in the South.

Then off to Vallejo. and let me tell you, it was great to travel to Vallejo at 1PM rather than 4PM. The freeway was still moving at 1PM. We went to Barong & Formal at 3495-D Sonoma Blvd in Vallejo CA (707) 556-3680 to get my Barong Tagalog. It was a little tight. But I guess they are supposed to be tight. Otherwise, it probably does not look too good. But the embroidery was nice. I wonder if I will be able to fit in it after twenty years. The thing took a while to make. I'm gonna try to wear it with a blue undershirt. That should set it off a little more.

Saturday afternoon and eveing was spent with the sister's family. Hadn't seen them since two weeks ago and 4th of July. Had to give them the food from the So's brother's party. We ended up eating at Fenton's Ice creamery and at a Vietnamese restaurant. Good evening and good chatting. The little niece was vvery nice and laughing all the time.

Sunday was Tubig the money group. A review of things in the past that need to be ingrained. I feel bad in that I am not saving as much as in the previous years. I sometimes worry that we spend too much for the wedding. The costs just seem to go up. But then again, we do have some money to spend. I am not going to a bank to bankroll the whole thing. It is a reasonable amount given that we ahve been working a while.

We are not paying for the foo-foo stuff like the chair covers and such novelty. We paid for the things that mattered. Photography, the wedding dress, the rings. The hotel is an unavoidable cost. But for approximately 300 guests that might swell to 400, it is not too bad. I just hope everyone gets a good time.

Sunday evening, dropped by one fo the So's cousins. She's a bridesmaid so the swatch for her dress was dropped off. The other cousin is starting at Cal State Hayward. She's the bright one though she took a while at city college. I went over the schedule for her so that she could finish her BS in biology. I'm sure she will make it. But she is rather impatient. She wants to help the family now. I keep telling her. YOu can help them out more if you make more money.

Is life better today than when I was at the photofinishing place? Yup. It's a lot better. I am not as bitter. I am not as stressed. I have some social life. I can find time for the wedding stuff.

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Second Month at Work

Have I told you how much better work at the law firm has been than the photofinishing place? Well, it has been great. Maybe twenty times better. Let me enumerate:

1. Less stress about dumb things. Now, instead of worrying to perfect every single thing, I just look at problems and say, "Hmm, I have to write a report on that."
2. Instead of having to solve everyone else's problems, I look at the problems I have and try to solve them.
3. Instead of having to complain about another department, I don't complain about other departments because everyone is at least doing something.
4. Instead of complaining about head count, I look and notice that at least people don't have three or four jobs.
5. Instead of being alone at the end of the day, other people are there waiting with me.
6. People complain of how inefficient or bad the product is. I laugh at them because I have seen really bad product and really lazy people fake it.
7. I have seen dumb suck-ass people get promoted. In the law firm, you have to be really good to become a freaking manager. To become a director, you have to be a visionary.
8. Matching 401K.
9. I get to buy stock at a 15% discount.
10. My boss does not micromanage me.
11. The other people I work with actually are proactive.
12. Other people are better than me and they actually help me out.

Holy cow, that is a great job! Sure there are challenges, but these challenges are workable. We actually have some people for some jobs. It's not that some people are faking their job and everyone but the VP is being fooled.

It's a 9. That's right, a NINE.
Sean Penn, Take Heed

Apparently, Tom Cruise has crossed the line so much with his unshaven, without make-up look of craziness that someone in the upper heavens has sent me a message. Sean Penn, Go to Tom Cruise and tell him that he needs to hire a publicist, stop talking about his religion in public and start making good movies again.

I actually dreamt about talking to Sean Penn and convincing him that he must speak to Cruise who is on the way to oblivion or a sanctuary. I actually told Penn "Who is there left who is a better actor than Cruise? Who understands the nastiness of fame? Who but you Sean?"

Jesus Christ! Is it not enough that I have to worry about Filipino-Americans and their state of mind? Do I have to worry about f*cking crazy-ass white actors who just want to say something about Scientology? Shit, why can't Cruise be more like Travolta?

Alright, alright, what do I do now when other crazy ass actors and actresses call me? God knows, sometimes, I can't help their bad acting or their bad scripts.

Friday, July 15, 2005

Jawbreaker, an office worker who belongs to the Middle Class

Apparently, this piece has been spreading in the Philippines. It was written by a member of the middle class. It critics the current socio-political landscape in the Philippines.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Galing sa isang ordinaryong manggawa sa Pilipinas
-------------------------------------------------

Walang kwenta ang Pilipinas

By: jawbreaker. (isang ordinaryong office worker na ayaw nang magbayad
ng
tax...ever!)

Walang katapusang corruption, walang kamatayang pangbabatikos,
pagbabatuhan
ng tae at pagpapa-taasan ng ihi ng mga pulitiko sa bawatisa, walang
tigil
na imbestigasyon ng kung ano-anong isyu pero wala namang matinong
resolusyon, walang puknat na pag-aagawan ng kapangyarihan sa pagitan ng
mga
partido, patuloy na pagdami ng tamad at tangang Pilipino, SILANG patuloy
na
pakikipaglaban ng ideolohiyang wala namang
silbi.

SINONG "SILA"? EH DI MGA CORRUPT NA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND WORKERS,
MGA TAMBAY NA PILIPINO NA ANG LALAKI NG KATAWAN PERO HINDI NAMAN
NAGTRATRABAHO AT HINDI NAGBABAYAD NG TAX, MGA MAYAYAMAN AT ARTISTANG TAX
EVADERS, PATI MGA AKTIBISTA, NPA AT IBA PANG IDEOLOGICAL GROUPS NA HINDI
NAGBABAYAD NG TAX PERO PANG-GULO!!!

Lagi na lang sinasabi ng mga pulitiko: Ipaglaban ang masa! Tulungan ang
masa! Mahalin ang masa!

MASA LANG BA ANG TAO SA PILIPINAS?

SINO BA TALAGA ANG BUMUBUHAY SA BANSANG TO?

SAAN BA GALING ANG PANGPAGAWA NG MGA TULAY AT KALYE? SAAN BA GALING ANG
PORK BARREL? SAAN BA GALING ANG PERANG KINUKURAKOT NILA?

KAMI NA MGA MANGGAGAWA AT MIDDLE CLASS NA BAGO PA MAKUHA ANG SWELDO
BAWAS
NA - KAMI ANG BUMUBUHAY SA BANSA NA 'TO!!!!!!!!!

BAKIT YANG BANG MGA MASANG YAN NA LAGI NA LANG SENTRO NG PLATAPORMA NG
MGA
PULITIKO EH NAGBABAYAD BA NG TAX cla???!!!!

KAHIT ISA SA MGA NAG-RA-RALLYING MGA SQUATTER NA YAN, KAHIT SINGKO HINDI
NAG-RE-REMIT YAN SA BIR!

PERO PINAPAKINGGAN BA KAMI NG GOBYERNO?

LAGI NA LANG OPINYON NG MASA ANG INI-INTINDI NG GOBYERNO.

KUNG SINO ANG NAG-RA-RALLY, SA EDSA, SILA ANG NASUSUNOD.

KUNG SINO ANG MAS MALAKAS SUMIGAW PERO WALA NAMANG ECONOMIC
CONTRIBUTION,
SILA LAGI ANG FOCUS PAG MAY PROBLEMA.

SILA LAGI ANG BIDA.

KAMING MGA ORDINARYONG OFFICE WORKERS, OFW'S, LABORERS AT IBA PANG
NAG-TRA-TRABAHO AT NAGBABAYAD NG TAX - KAMI ANG NAGPAPAKAHIRAP PARA
BUHAYIN
ANG PILIPINAS. KAMI ANG MGA TUNAY NA BAYANI NG BANSA!!!

Tuwing nakikita ko ang payslip ko, nag-iinit ang ulo ko at gusto kong
maiyak sa inis. Napakalaki ng tax na binabawas sa akin pero ginagamit
lang
sa walang kwentang bagay ang perang pinaghirapan ko.

Lahat ng pagtitipid ginagawa ko para suportahan ang sarili ko, pamilya
ko
at ang bansang to. Ni hindi ako makabili ng chicken and spaghetti meal
sa
Jollibee kahit gutom na gutom na ko. Nag-tya-tyaga ako sa waffle na
tig-P10, o kaya pag may konting pera, junior bola-bola siopao sa
Mini-Stop
sa halangang P20.

Eh kung yung pera ko na pinapangbabayad sa tax sa kin na lang napunta,
eh
di sana nakakapanood pa ko ng sine at least 2 beses sa isang buwan.
Nakabili na sana ako ng bagong rubber shoes. Nakapagpagawa na sana ako
ng
sarili kong bahay.

Yung tax na binabayad ko, karamihan nun derecho sa bulsa ng mga corrupt
na
mga government officials at workers. Habang hirap na hirap akong
i-budget
ang pera ko, sila naman nagpapakasarap sa mga mansyon. SUV's at luxury
cars
pa ang dina-drive nila, samantalang ako sa pedicab lang sumasakay!

PERA KO YANG PINAPAGPAPASASAAN NYO!!!!!

Yung tax na binabayad ko, pinapangsuporta sa mga mahihirap. Saan ba
galing
ang pera pangpagawa ng housing at pagtulong sa mga mahihirap, di ba sa
mga
manggagawa na nagbabayad ng buwis! Pero karamihan ng mahihirap, kung
umasta
kala mo inaapi sila ng sobra.

SA TOTOO LANG NO, KAYA ANG MGA MAHIHIRAP LALONG NAGHIHIRAP KASI MGA
TAMAD!

Ang daming mga tambay sa kalye na walang trabaho pero ang laki ng
katawan.
Eh kung sila ba nagkargador sa pier eh di sana may pera sila.

TAPOS WALA NA NGANG PERA, ANAK PA NG ANAK!

LALO NYO LANG PINAPADAMI ANG TAMAD AT TANGA SA MUNDO!!!!!

Naaawa ako sa mga batang pakalat-kalat sa kalye at namamalimos. Imbes na
nag-aaral, dumadagdag lang sila sa bilang ng mga future criminals sa
Pinas.
Hindi ako magtataka na yung batang nakita kong namamalimos sa Cubao,
pagkatapos ng ilang taon cellphone snatcher na.

YUNG MGA MAGULANG NAMAN DYAN, COMMON SENSE LANG! HIRAP NA HIRAP NA NGA
KAYO
SA BUHAY, MANGDADAMAY PA KAYO NG IBA?! PAPARAMIHAN NYO PA LAHI NYO!

Palibhasa walang mga trabaho at walang pinagkaka-abalahan, kaya
nagkakalabitan at nagsusundutan na lang maghapon, magdamag. Sa totoo
lang,
nakakabilib. Kasi kahit sa ilalim ng tulay o sa kariton lang, nakakabuo
pa
rin ng bata! Ibig sabihin, maabilidad ang mga Pinoy. Kung gugustuhin,
gagawan ng paraan. Kahit sa makipot, mabaho at maduming lugar - SOLVE!

Isa pang mga grupo ng tao na nakakainis, yung mga aktibista, NPA at kung
ano-ano pang ideological political groups. Sabi nila, mahal na mahal
nila
ang Pilipinas kaya pinagpalalaban nila ang kanilang mga adhikain.

EH HINDI RIN KAYO NAGBABAYAD NG TAX! ANG KAKAPAL RIN NG MGA MUKHA NYO!

MGA HIPOKRITO! MAHAL DAW ANG PILIPINAS AYAW NAMAN MAGBAYAD NG BUWIS!

WALA DIN NAMAN KAYONG MGA TRABAHO! KUNG MAY TRABAHO TALAGA KAYO, HINDI
KAYO
MAG-RA-RALLY DAHIL SAYANG ANG SWELDO NYO PAG ABSENT KAYO!

PAANO NYO MAIPAPAKITA ANG PAGMAMAHAL NYO SA PILIPINAS KUNG WALA NA
KAYONG
GAWANG MATINO KUNDI MAG-RALLY AT MAMUNDOK??!!!

ISA PA YANG MGA MAYAYAMAN NA ARTISTA, NA NANGDADAYA AT HINDI NAGBABAYAD
NG
BUWIS. ANG KAKAPAL NG MUKHA NYO! ANG DAMI NYO NA NGANG PERA NANGDADAYA
PA
KAYO SA TAX!!!! HINDI NYO NAMAN MADADALA SA IMPIERNO YANG MGA KAYAMAN
NYO.
MASUSUNOG LANG DUN YAN.

KAYA LALONG BUMABAGSAK ANG NEGOSYO DITO SA PILIPINAS, KASI MGA
NEGOSYANTE
MANDARAYA. PATI SHOWBIZ INDUSTRY, BAGSAK NA DIN. KARMA ANG TAWAG DYAN.
MGA
BALASUBAS KASI.

Sana magkaron ng POLITICAL AND NATIONAL CLEANSING.

Alisin ang lahat ng pulitiko at political families sa puwesto. Tibagin
ang
lahat ng mapanirang organizations at grupo. Itapon sa malayong isla o
kaya
i-pwersa ng hard labor ang mga sobrang tamad na mga Pilipino. Ihiwalay
ang
mga bata sa kanilang mga tamad at tangang magulang upang makapag-aral
sila
at maturuan na maging mabuting tao at mamamayan. Magkaron ng bagong
lider
na walang political ties at utang na loob sa kahit sino.

At higit sa lahat, dapat tax payers lang ang pwedeng bumoto!

Kung kinakailangang magka-giyera para magtino ang mga Pilipino, ayos
lang.
Masyado na kasing matigas ang ulo ng mga tao dito. Gusto ng kalayaan,
pero
hindi naman handang panagutan ang responsibilidad ng pagiging malaya.
Meron
daw pinaglalaban na prinsipyo at adhikain pero takot namang mamatay para
dito.

Hangga't hindi nagkakaron ng radical change, patuloy na walang kwenta
ang
Pilipinas at patuloy na magiging tanga ang majority ng mga Pilipino.

Sa dami ng nag-mi-migrate na Pilipino sa ibang bansa, dadating ang
panahon
na minority na lang ng population sa Pilipinas ang may utak. Yung mga
magagaling na Pilipino, malamang maubos na. Sobra na kasi silang
na-fru-frustrate at na-de-depress sa mga nakikita nila.

Ilang taon pa at aalis na rin ako sa Pilipinas. Wala kong balak na
magkaron
ng pamilya sa isang bansa na hindi pinapahalagahan ang kontribusyon ng
mga
taong tunay na bumubuhay dito. Kawawa naman ang magiging anak ko kung
dito
sya mabubuhay.

Sa totoo lang, broken hearted ako. Minahal ko din ang bansang ito. Pilit
kong pinagtatanggol kahit bulok. Nakarating na ko ng ibang bansa, pero
pinili kong bumalik. Pero ngayon, ayoko na. Suko na ko. Sayang lang ako
sa
bansang to. Simple lang naman ang hiling ko. Gusto ko lang mabuhay ng
tahimik at maayos.
Gusto ko na kahit paano eh maipagmalaki ang Pilipinas. Pero wala eh.
Doomed
to be jologs ang bansang to.

Alam ko marami pa ang umaasa at naniniwala sa pagbabago. Good luck and
God
bless! Sana tama kayo at mali ako.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Ano ba ang Angas?

Ewan ko. Hindi ko alam. Pero heto si Kurimaw ang Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 14th of July in the year of the Pin@y.
Kobe's Back!!!

Notwithstanding the fact that Kobe could not carry the Lakers this season, I still have some sort of hope that he will in the future. Apparently, so does Nike because they showed an ad using his image.

A women's advocacy group saw the use of the ad in a less than flattering way:

"We would ask corporations like Nike to act a little more responsibly," said Cynthia Stone, spokeswoman for the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault. "They really are creating a role model that millions of young kids across the world are going to see. They could have put up someone who is not only accomplished as an athlete but also is a person who has a reputation as a fine, upstanding citizen." {La Times Sports, July 14, "He's Back in the Picture"}

Bwhahahahahha. I am going to assume that the women's group is a little annoyed at Kobe earning big bucks. They should be pissed off at the fact that Kobe's trial was thrown out because his accuser did not want to participate in the proceedings.

This is America. You have to fight and claw and bite for every single thing that you want. You accuse this star player of raping you. Well, then, you gotta take out every living cell of shame and implode them because you are going to have to face him in a court of law. That is one of the true essences of America. You can't hide and play dead and ruin someone's life. You gotta fight them to their face. At least in the court of law, you have some chance, unlike in some other countries.

So yeah, Kobe, you better get your money now. Because if you are so stupid as to get caught screwing another woman without having them sign a non-disclosure agreement, you just an idiot.
Ruminations on the Wedding

As each day passes, I check off a little list for my part. Still things to do:

hotel
honeymoon location
photos for wedding

As I lose hair, I am reminded that I am not as young as I used to be. I am still as immature as the old days, but a little more experienced now.

I am wondering if all this work is really worth it for just one day. But I have seen people who still talk about their weddings. I suppose it is like prom where everyone has to do it.

We now have a portal for poetry to enter the wedding courtesy of an idea by the poet Eileen Tabios. We have a decreased number of familial performances. We probably need to introduce more 70's and 80's disco so that the old-timers can dance. Hahaha. Won't be too much hip-hop. And there is a ban on ocho-ocho.

Yup, no little kid will be dancing that obscenity laden dance.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Hehhehehe

Okay, here's one for the ages. Bryan makes life interesting. He might not be a cup of tea for everyone, but he is interesting.

Monday, July 11, 2005

It's raining Men!!!

Sarikulay is the Pin@y Blog for the 12th of July, in the year of the Pin@y 2005. Check out his February entry on Santo Domingo where I used to cry.
Radio Star

Listen to Kel on the radio!!! He's the Pin@y Blog of the Day for the 11th of July 2005.

What Illegal Fireworks?


DSCN5238, originally uploaded by rhettvpascual.

Wedding Thoughts

It has been tradition for the fiancee's side that some of the cousins perform during the wedding. What has also been tradition, however, is that they sometimes do not follow-through on the practice session. More often than not, this results in a cute performance, but a sloppy cute performance. It's okay if the cousins are all small and cute.

But I think cute ends when you are around ten to teen-age years. By then, if you are sloppy, you are just lazy and did not follow-up on the practice sessions and embarassing yourself. For our wedding, I and the fiancee created an audition rule. Primarily because we did not want the wedding evening to become a family show. After all, with an expected number of 300 people, there might be an extended performance show.

Secondly, we figured that many of our guests danced with some of the premier Philippine dance companies. Now, do we really want to subject them to sloppy dance performances? Nope. They are artists and artists should only be exposed to the best art on a wedding occasion. So, we have probably two sets of people who will perform. One is a Tahitian dance to be performed by an 8 year old. She's still cute even if she screws it up. The other is a piano / song performance most likely.

~~

Yesterday was the future brother-in-law's grad party which was attended by a lot of people. I can just imagine the wedding. Triple the number from yesterday and that would be the wedding. I can become pensive with thoughts of 500 people maybe showing up. I suppose I don't have anything to worry about. There is plenty of parking in San Ramon.

~~

Called the photographer. We will be going to LA for the photoshoot. Hawaiian shirt, Barong Tagalog and maybe an Igorot clothing if I get buffed soon enough. Bwahahhaha.

~~

The photo above was from our fireworks display in Union City.

Imploding Blogs

I will never understand why writers will obliterate their blogs. I suppose, they do not want to be reminded of the past. But then again, just don't visit it. I specially decry for those who are great writers who then just vanish. One hopes that their life turns out well.

Here's to all of you bloggers who decide to disappear. May you find peace in the obscurity you created!!!

Friday, July 08, 2005

London and Terrorism

Forgiveness is something that I struggle to do. In every single aspect of my life. I have tried to forgive people over betrayal. I say that I forgive them. But a few months later, I remember what they did, and I realize that I have not forgiven them completely.

But, as Joel Osteen says, if you can not forgive, you can not go on with your life. You must forgive so that God can take his vengeance in his own way and his own time. If you take vengeance, you will be the one who is blocking God.

And so, in an abstract fashion, I forgive the terrorists in London and in New York. In a very abstract sense, I try to understand that they do it because they see no other option. But in a very personal level, I wish that they will relive over and over in their minds a life of someone who is seriously injured in the terrorist attack.

It's just a suggestion God. A suggestion so that I can live and forgive.

Thursday, July 07, 2005

Wedding Preparations? What Preparations?

It should not be a surprise that I am not participating actively in the wedding preparations. After all, planning the "pamanhikan" and my own proposal almost stressed me out to no end. And all I had to do in those two events was get flowers, prepare some food, get a musician, arrange for video, and get the dowry material together.

Now that it is three months till the wedding day, the SO is the one who is busily arranging for things to be just right. (By the way, I just heard that we got our very first invitation back! Whohoo! Those invites WORK!!!) Who's been naughty and who's been nice? Who's been invited and who's been not? But seriously, I apologize in advance. It's just that we have now run out of space.

As a groom, I just try to supply the fiancee with information and money. Need addresses? I got sent off to the living room to call every single person I invited. Need money? Off to the bank! It's not such a bad part. At least I don't have to worry about stamps, color of invitations, etc, etc. If it were up to me, I would use phone calls and e-mail to invite people. But, that might just lead to a wedding party of 500 people.

I am inviting the relevant people in my life. And that includes relatives. The big sister has done an excellent job of cutting some branches from the family tree. Don't like that branch? Don't worry, they were not invited in a previous party. The way it looks, the family tree is more like a family sapling.

As for the invitation, it was all SO. If it were up to me, I would have gotten the seven layered invitation and everyone's title and knighthood would have been mentioned. But, that would have been overly OA. You know, overacting and corny. So, I remained silent and am just enjoying the ride. Yesterday, the future mother-in-law showed the SO a copy of Mayor Brown's wedding brochure. I think the SO is being asked to provide a similar brochure for our wedding. I don't know where to get a gospel choir. Bwahahhahaha.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Paris in 2006

The continuation of the honeymoon is set for Paris in 2006. But today, I just heard that London was chosen as the site for the Olympics in 2012. I wondered why Paris has such bad press. But I remember what I saw in the movie "Troy" and in the book "Iliad" by Homer. Paris is the doofus who whisked Helen away. In doing so, it started the Trojan War. Well, really, it precipitated the war. The war is more likely a result because someone wanted to unify the Greek isles.

But back to Paris. In the movie, he fights one on one and loses. He crawls to his brother's foot. Hector protects him. But in the war, Hector dies from Achilles's hands. And Paris, Paris shoots Achilles with an arrow through the heel.

Of course, my other complaint is that all those Greeks sure do look like beautiful Caucasians. I wonder... If Hollywood created a movie about Marcos, would they get a white person to star in it?

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

LSQC Class of 1985


85ShirtsGroup
Originally uploaded by rhettvpascual.
Twenty years is a long time. Time enough for white hair to make an apperance. Time for children to be born and to run. Time for boys to become men. Time to realize that doing one's best is sometimes good enough. Twenty years is a long time to spend wondering whatever happend to whats-his-name.