September 30, 2013

Today marks the last day of September, supposedly the greatest month of 2013. There were a lot of surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant, and I am thankful for all of them. They made me realize how lucky I am to be surrounded by people who love me and support me. That realization, that's what makes this month the greatest month of 2013.

I am just overflowing with positive vibes right now. It's funny how everything sort of works out if you just let things happen instead of forcing them to happen.

Nothing exciting/adventurous actually happened this month but it definitely is one for the books. Hands down, the most memorable birth month I've had in years.

Great friends are great.

Here's a list of how my grade school friends spoiled me rotten over the weekend.

• They were supposed to pick me up from Pasig then head to Tagaytay last Saturday. They're all from Paranaque.
• When I convinced them that I'd just meet up with them in Bicutan, one of them picked me up from the bus station, armed with an extra umbrella, because I forgot to bring mine.
• Same friend allowed me to smoke in his car because I told him I wanted to. Windows were closed because the rain was so strong. He is not a smoker.
• I called shotgun and no one disagreed with me, even that one friend who has polio and preferred sitting up front.
• They let me play hiphop music in the car the entire trip to Tagaytay. They all listen to party/dance music exclusively.
• They let me choose which of their hoodies I wanted to use.
• My friend who owns the house in Tagaytay asked us which bottle we wanted to open first. I said Jack. He gave us Jack.
• He also allowed me to play hiphop music in their house, even with all the adults there.
• One of our friends was supposed to head back home at 12mn because he had a basketball game the next day. He's a varsity player. He stayed because I asked him to.
• I told them it'd be great to have coffee - tea, in my case - first before we headed back to Manila the next day because I didn't want to go home yet. We went to that new Starbucks place there.
• They let me sit up front again.
• They brought me home to Pasig. We all didn't sleep the night before and they were all so sleepy...well, except the driver, though, because he took a nap early Sunday morning.

Very funny, Universe.

So, the Universe decided to throw something in this already weird mix of emotions I am having just in time for the last day of September. This surprise is good, too. Not as good as this one but good enough to make me more confused than I already am.

Not that I'm complaining, Universe, but these types of things really mess up my head, I probably will have to set-up a new blog for it...but I'm not gonna because I don't think whatever's going on in here is going to progress in any way.

Good thing about this, though, is that I didn't think of him the entire weekend.

I'm feeling so good!

I'm feeling so good.
I know that I would.
Been taking care of myself like I should.
'Cause not one thing can bring me down.
Nothing in this world's gonna turn me around.

I knew reading back on my previous posts will bring me positive vibes. :)

One thing's for sure: I made December 2012/January 2013 Ale really, really, REALLY happy. Law of Attraction...you really don't disappoint! Konting tiyaga lang ang kailangan...

Also, thanks to Jennifer Lopez for today's song.

Buddy system.

Disclaimer: My whiny, annoying, clingy alter ego is taking over this blog post.

You have been warned.

The buddy system has been introduced to me way back in preschool, when we were required to walk side-by-side someone while we paraded on school grounds in our costumes.

When I got into grade school, the concept was still there, mainly for field trips so we won't get lost and it'd be easier for the teacher to count the class inside the bus.

High school came and the buddy system is all about finding someone to cut classes with you, someone to share her soggy fries with you and someone to sit with you on the ramp while you both waited for your sundo at around 8 in the evening.

The college buddy system is somewhat the same as the high school buddy system except in college, you smoke your lungs out in Agno, drink unlimited shakers of that red alcoholic drink in Green Place, follow the "love of your life" all over campus (and the vicinity surrounding it) and wait in line for tickets for the La Salle - Ateneo games in the Yuchengco lobby at 7 in the freakin' morning even if it means you both don't make it to your 8 and 9am classes. (AHHH SERIOUSLY THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE!)

Then came work. You find someone you can share your (rebellious) thoughts regarding your company with, someone you can trust to cover for you when you are late/absent/going undertime and someone you can bully into smoking downstairs and come back 2 hours after.

And then I decided to work from home... I still need someone to accompany me everywhere but there's no one here but my daughter and our kasambahay most of the time and obviously, they can't go to, say, Frankie's for a bottle - or two - of beer at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Which really sucks, especially when my period is coming up because my emotions are just all over the place and I just want my brain to shut down.

Here's why I am making a big deal out of this: I have 2 tickets for the special screening of Runner Runner in Shang tomorrow night (Again, thanks, Nuffnang Philippines and Globe!), a beer festival in Eastwood on Friday where Rico Blanco, Ely Buendia and a whole lot of musicians are gonna play and no one to enjoy them with. I know these are small things that I shouldn't be worrying about but I have my period and I'm usually overly dramatic when it's my time of the month.

Anyway, I know what the solution to this problem is: Friends. Simple, I know, but you have to understand that I don't really have that one friend who I can bring wherever I want to go, whenever I want to. That sounds selfish, I know, but that's what I want. A buddy who I can call up at weird hours and do weird (non-sexual) stuff with as long as my requests are reasonable (yeah, I'm not that selfish). I'll do the same for him/her, too, of course...

Good god, who'd want to spend time with me, right? Ugh.

FINALS, BABY!

It's been a long, long, looooooooong while since I last raved about the Green Archers but only because it also has been a long, long, looooooooong time since they've made it to the UAAP Finals.

But now, WE'RE BACK, BABY! Let's do this, boys! Wag na paabutin ng game 3!

"Hindi ko rin alam pero mahilig lang ata talaga tayo magpaka martyr. Yung tipong nasasaktan ka na di mo padin kaya i-let go. Yung alam mo naman na you deserve better, pero matigas padin ulo mo. Yung tipong ayan na, harap harapan ka na nya sinasaktan dedma ka padin. Yung tipong, sabi mo sa sarili mo dati di ka na magmamahal ulit pero yan ka nanaman, nagpapakatanga sa pag-ibig. Bakit? Hindi ko alam. Pero ang alam ko lang, kailangan mo lang makahanap ng tao na kahit hindi mo alam bakit sobrang hirap, e alam mo naman na worth it."

- Joyce Pring (from her Ask.fm account.)

Relapse.

Why does tonight have to end?

Why don't we hit restart and pause it at our favorite parts?

We'll skip the goodbyes.

If I had it my way, I'd turn the car around and runaway, just you and I.

I GoBigger and GoBetter with Globe

I know I have this love-hate relationship with Globe but here I am, still a Globe subscriber after - what? - 12 years of owning a mobile phone.

Anyway, with regards to going bigger or going better, I think I'm more of a GoBetter girl. Yeah, I might be all caught up with the drama of my (non-existent) love life and maybe I want some things bigger in terms of that (no friends, not literally) but, yeah, I'm a GoBetter girl. I'd want better things for me. Better guy, yes, but since I am not really in the right mind for that, better prepaid promos sounds a lot easier to bear.


Good thing Globe has these new prepaid promos to help me maximize my credits and maybe even help me, I dunno, get friendly with guys if you know what I mean. After all, only Globe Prepaid gives me Bigger and Better unli offers:

Go Bigger
– GoCALL100 gives me more call minutes (500 mins) VS Competitors offer (200 mins). No need to use prefix to enjoy unlicalls.
– With GoUNLI30, I get real unlimited service with unli allnetwork texts, unli calls to Globe TM, plus the real UNLI-chat experience with the best apps available. It’s the real deal compared to competitor’s UNLI offer. 

Go Better
- GoUNLITXT49 gives me the same UNLI texts to Globe/TM at a BETTER prices VS Competitors offer.
– With GoUNLI25, I get real unlimited service w/ unli Globe/TM calls and texts, plus unli Viber chat to the rest of my friends. It’s the real deal compared to competitor’s UNLI offer.

To be honest, I love how the GoBetter promo includes Viber in the bundle. My friends are almost always on it, sending over photos of big toes and hot guys. That and the fact that, well, he's there, too. (I really need an intervention)

Anyway, for this Globe promo tie-up with Nuffnang, I'd love to bring a friend who loves JT as much as I do to the premiere so we can fangirl all we want in the cinemas. I would bring him...if I ever get the courage to actually ask him out to a serious date but I doubt it so girlfriend it is!

Being a Globe prepaid subscriber is not all that bad, if you think about it. That's why I've been one since 2003 (I was a Globe post-paid subscriber all the years before that). Need more reasons why it's great?

Non-negotiable.

After the 2 heartbreaking weeks I just had, I finally managed to recover (a bit) and I thought of a non-negotiable. Non-negotiables are these things my friends told me I should have in order to have this sort of quality control over the guys I get into relationships with.

Anyway, I already have two from a previous blog post: the guy should accept and love my daughter fully and that he is on-board with all the goal-setting and universe-attracting that I do ('cause I do those a lot...A LOT! SERIOUSLY A LOT. I can't stress that enough).

The third non-negotiable, I guess, is that he should love me more than I love him. I know that sounds so mean but I've had it with putting jerks ahead of myself and getting hurt in the process. It just gets really, really, REALLY tiring.

It's a given that I would be head over heels in love with this guy but he should be fvckin' crazy about me. Not in the freaky, psycho kind of way. The annoying-to-other-people kind of fvckin' crazy about me. Complete with the Facebook/Twitter/Instagram couple photo updates, accompanying me/me and Brianna to wherever, meeting and loving my family and friends as much as I do (especially the friends!), the gifts, the non-stop landian in person, online, etc, the works! Plus, of course, keeping up with all the serious relationship stuff I screw up in all the time and great, great, great mind-blowing sex.

Yes, I am looking for the perfect guy now. I am done giving idiots excuses for the way they treat me.

I can only hope...

Monica: Why would you do that?
Chandler: Because you shouldn't be with him. You should be with me.
Monica: Really?
Chandler: Yeah. When you were talking about Roger, that was killing me. Look. Things like last night, they don't just happen, you know. At least, not to me. Now, with the other two women...in the morning, you know, I would just lie there and I couldn't wait to just go hangout with my friends but with you, I was, you know, already with a friend.
Monica: Chandler...
Chandler: And I know you prolly don't wanna go out with me, you know, that I make too many jokes and I've never been in a serious relationship and I guess I'm not technically a "doctor"...

Friends Season 6 Episode 16 - The One That Could Have Been (2) 

"She was the third beer. Not the first one, which the throat receives with almost tearful gratitude; nor the second, that confirms and extends the pleasure of the first. But the third, the one you drink because it's there, because it can't hurt, and because what difference does it make?"

(Excerpt from Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, grabbed from Tumblr)

Pare Ko by Eraserheads

Not bragging or anything but I can't recall one other time when I actually pounded my chest because of a song/guy as much as I did when this song played in Tides the morning of my birthday. Seriously.

"Ba't ba ang labo niya? Di ko mapinta. Hanggang kailan maghihintay, ako ay nabuburat na..."

Birthday Weekend

I was in a different place 2 weekends ago, thus the birthday request (solely related to him) to the universe in this post. I didn't really fully understand how lucky I am because I was so into the whole idea of us finally happening (and falling apart, all in less than one week and without him knowing anything...yes, that's possible) until my birthday weekend happened.

September 13-14, 2013 | Tejada Residence, Pasig | Photo from Angel

September 14-15, 2013 | Tides Bar and Grill, Pasig | Photo from Beth

Yes, this weekend definitely topped that weekend. This birthday weekend made me realize that whatever it is I lack in attracting quality men, I make up for attracting understanding and supportive friends.

NAKAKATAWA.

I finally caught a break from all the negativities of today. I was browsing the internet instead of working, as usual, when I stumbled upon the website that I've been looking for for two years now. No, I didn't actually look for it and yes, that first statement is a lie.

Anyway, I found 2 songs from that website I could add to my new playlist (The Day You Said Goodnight by Hale and Tell Me Where It Hurts by MYMP) but that's not the reason why I've been laughing my head off for the past 30 minutes. The way these songs have been interpreted gave me the chuckles. For a, what, 17-year-old, the writer makes great observations of the songs the writer listens to.

Also, the writer seems to have lost compassion throughout the years. Good for the writer, bad for me.

New playlist

I was chatting with my good friend, Wey, a while ago and we came up with this particular playlist:

• Wag Mo Na Sana - Parokya Ni Edgar
• Kung Ayaw Mo Huwag Mo - Rivermaya
• Alumni Homecoming - Parokya Ni Edgar
• Listen - Stonefree
• Rebound - Silent Sanctuary
• Halaga - Parokya Ni Edgar
• Waiting In Vain - Bob Marley/Bamboo
• It's The Falling In Love - Michael Jackson
• Can't Help But Wait - Trey Songz
• Knock You Down - Ne-Yo, Kanye West and Keri Hilson
• Tadhana - Up Dharma Down
• Payphone - Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa
• Migraine - Moonstar 88
• Shiver - Coldplay
• Wonderwall - Oasis

Found the common denominator? Good. Now, will you so kindly suggest songs I can add to my new playlist? :) Thanks!

Also, can I just say that Listen is a jerk song?! I hate the guy singing the song. No, not the vocalist. Who he's supposed to be, that's the one I hate. JERK!

Just like that...

One full week hasn't even passed since the best day of 2013 - of my life, to be perfectly honest - when one of my greatest heartbreaks, ever, happened. I don't think I lacked the enthusiasm or the amount of positive vibes required by the universe for me to consistently receive all the lovin' but all of a sudden, I got dropped from the highest point of the "ride" and it feels like I'm plummeting to a tank full of piranhas that are my emotions.

But even if I've been let down, I still believe in the power of the Universe. After all, I'm in this position because of it. The best day of 2013 happened with the help of it. With that said, I am putting all these bad vibes to rest and will focus on attracting better things for myself again. Tomorrow, I will be better.

It won't hurt, though, for this weekend to top last week. I don't know how the hell it's going to happen because I've dubbed last weekend as such but I know it is possible. I have some ideas but they seem far-fetched now.

#68. For the freakin' record, I only sleep with people I am in love with.

So whether or not we're in a relationship, if I allowed you to take me there, alam mo na yan...

Can it go the other way around next time?

New favorite workout (old) song.

I don't even know if my title makes sense but what the hell...

While working out earlier today, I've stumbled upon Cassie's song, Me and You, after a long long time. I was so into the beat while working out, I didn't realize how relevant the lyrics are to my life right now. After cooling down, I actually listened to it again and thought "Hmmm... Interesting." Not that I can totes relate to each and every word of the song but, yeah. It's basically the perfect song.


"I was waiting for you to tell me you were ready. I know what to do if only you would let me..."
Also, once I get my rockin' body, I'd wear what Cassie's sporting in the video while working out. That's the dream!

The great September surprise!

I knew that September has a lot in store for me and as usual, the Universe hasn't failed me. There are a lot of things I am thankful for, starting off with the Oplan Balik-Alindog 2013: Full Throttle but the best of all the surprises (yes, I am saying it's the best even if we're not even halfway through September. It's that good!)... AHHHH! I don't know how I should write it but you have to take my word for it: IT'S THE GREATEST SURPRISE OF SEPTEMBER 2013! I didn't expect for it to happen. Yeah, I've been sorta attracting it but not fully but still, the Universe granted it. I couldn't thank the Universe enough!

We're on the second week of September and I know/hope there are more pleasant surprises - birthday gifts, if you will - that will be coming my way in the next few days and I am already sincerely thanking God and the Universe for sending them over to me.

(Dear Universe, I might've been emo on Twitter a few times yesterday and today and yes, it is in relation to the "greatest surprise of 2013" but rest assured that I am really thankful for what you've sent my way. It's silly of me to even doubt it. More, more please! But not to the point that I will regret it. Saktuhan lang please, pwede? :D)

Oplan Balik-Alindog 2013: Full Throttle Days 4 and 5

So much for documenting the whole first week of Oplan Balik-Alindog 2013: Full Throttle (damn, that's a mouthful).

Anyway, day 4 was all about strengthening and toning. I didn't get to run last Thursday since it rained in the morning and I had something to do that night. Breakfast and lunch were egg and baked fish, with a serving of veggies on the side. I had carrot sticks and chicken fillet for dinner. I also met up with a couple of friends Thursday afternoon for coffee and I had far too many cigarettes that I dreaded waking up the next day for my first-ever 10k.

Which leads us to day 5... I finished the whole 10k without walking! OHMYGOD! Achievement: Unlocked, indeed! I don't know where I got the energy to do it but I finished it. You know what makes it even better? I didn't feel like my lungs were going to give out! I've finally found my pace. We didn't do any strengthening and toning after the 10k run, just a few stretching exercises that will help alleviate the soreness of my thighs.

My tita treated me to mani-pedi later in the afternoon to celebrate my achievements for the week. Since I didn't get to take a photo of the notebook my tita used to keep track of my progress last Friday, here are my statistics (?!) as of September 6:

Weight: from 128.5, I am now at 123 lbs. 13 more pounds to go and I'm down to my desired weight.
Waist: from 31 inches, I'm down to 30. It doesn't look much but I am happy with the result.
Arms: I lost an inch on each of my arms, from 12 inches to 11 inches.
Hips: 38 inches to 37 inches.
Biggest loss goes to the thighs: I lost 2 whole inches in 5 days, from 23 inches to 21. How great is that, huh?

Right now, I am continuing the workout and I've been balancing and managing my meals for the day even if I'm here in Pasig. I send my tita reports every time I finish working out. I don't run anymore since there are a lot of stray dogs here but I have a cardio routine I do even if I'm just at home.

I feel sore but I feel so much stronger now, being able to finish circuit after circuit. I now am pushing myself to do more of each circuit so I can maximize my 20 minutes (Yes, my workout only takes 20 minutes a day. I am very thankful to my ever-generous and motivating tita, Ate Lizza Declaro, for helping me jumpstart Oplan Balik-Alindog 2013. I'm on my way to my desired weight and dream body. Manny Villar got it right years ago: Sipag at tiyaga lang ang kailangan.

Oplan Balik-Alindog 2013: Full Throttle Day 3

I don't have any photos for Day 3 because as soon as the food were served, I wolfed them down right away. Plus, taking photos of the food is really, well, silly. I don't understand why a lot of people (in Instagram) do it but... well, I just don't think that's for me.

Anyway, yesterday, we did a 7k run for 54mins which, according to my tita, is a good time. To be honest, I was really tired at around 5k and starting cramping up at 5.5k but I pushed just to finish the whole 7k and I did! Yay me!

The workout was bru-tal. It was high intensity and my armpits still hurt now from all the push-ups I had to do. I was screaming the whole time, Brianna called on to me, panicking. I had to reassure her while doing burpees so I don't think I sounded convincing but she calmed down so it worked.

I thought we were weighing in again today (cause that's what I saw written on the notebook) but my tita decided to do that on Friday instead, so it's more rewarding to see the outcome. Which, I honestly think, is a great idea but I just can't shake the feeling of wanting to step on the weighing scale whenever I see it in the bathroom.

Going back to the food, well, breakfast and lunch were alright but dinner was heavenly. We ate at this stall in the ATC foodcourt called C Verde and the healthy burger, zucchinis and nachos were so freakin' good, I didn't feel guilty devouring everything in less than 5 minutes! I ordered their spaghetti for Brianna and I think it tasted good, too, since she couldn't stop eating it. Best of all, bottomless mango SHAKE! Woohoo! C Verde, I think, is a subsidiary of Big Chill. I haven't seen it anywhere else but Town but thing is, I wasn't looking for it then.

We were supposed to beat my time for 7k today but it rained this morning so we just worked out instead.

Oplan Balik-Alindog 2013: Full Throttle Day 2

As usual, we started with a 5k run, which frustrated the bejeezus out of me. At the 3k point, my right foot started having cramps and then a few steps after, my (thunder) thighs followed suit. I was so disappointed by the end of the run, I almost didn't want to do any toning and strengthening exercise (as if it's my choice).

Toning and strengthening was suprisingly tolerable today. I didn't have as hard a time with the planks and the raises like yesterday. I even had a volleyball in between my legs while doing my leg raises. And the yoga part is still my favorite. Super relaxing. The best improvement, though? I didn't see any stars - parol, as my tita fondly calls them - after the run and the workout. Wooh!

The menu today was so yummy! Everything tasted so garlic-y, which I love and I was served potato salad. Potato freakin' salad. A small serving of carbs for the very good student. Woohoo!

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Right now, though, my right foot and my thighs are sore. I hope this goes away before the run tomorrow. Aiming to run 7.5k tomorrow. Wooh! Push!

Oplan Balik-Alindog 2013: Full Throttle Day 1

Since I've been looking forward to this program for months now, I will be documenting it here. I'm sorry about the photos. Most of them will be taken at 7 in the morning so a lot of my icky morning face will be covered with a cracker Kawai character. I am being trained by my tita who learned all the techniques from her children's trainers (I think).

We started off with the weigh in. I almost cried when I saw the result: 128.5! I gained back the pounds I lost a few weeks ago. My tita said not to worry. I told her okay but I still am worrying right now, to be honest. My goal was to lose 10 pounds but after the weigh in, I felt like I needed to lose, like, 20 pounds.

She took my measurements and my "before" photo and we went ahead and started stretching.

A 5k run quickly followed which took me 40 minutes to finish. We then proceeded to strength training and a bit of yoga for 30 minutes which made me puke after (due to acid reflux, according to my tita/trainer). Sorry, newbie.

I forgot to take photos of my food for today, which strictly follow the Cohen diet plan, so I'll just list them down here:

Breakfast:
4 pieces of crackers
Cheese omelette
A cup of tea
A tall glass of water

Snacks:
4 pieces of crackers
One small apple
A cup of tea
2 tall glasses of water

Lunch:
3 medium-sized, handmade burger patties
Sauteed cabbage
A cup of tea
A tall glass of water

Snacks:
4 pieces of crackers
One small apple
A cup of tea
2 tall glasses of water

Dinner:
Calamari salad
A bowl of chips
A cup of tea
A tall glass of water

(Note to self: Take photos of the meals tomorrow!!!)

All of the food are carefully measured as a requirement of the Cohen diet plan. Yes, my tita prepares all of my meals. I feel like a kid.

Since I am used to eating rice - and a lot of it - I naturally get light-headed due to my body adjusting to the lack of sugar. To remedy this, I am allowed to down 2 diet sodas per day but that's it.

No carbs and no sweets...you can probably imagine how woozy I've been feeling the entire day. I was like on rice life support just yesterday then all of a sudden, it's taken away from me. No worries. I have my diet Coke with me. Hihi.

I should be sleeping now - strict instructions from the trainer - but I am not (#medyobadgirl) and I know I'll be so dead tomorrow so I am capping this post off now by saying I will be better tomorrow and hopefully, I won't need the help of diet soda anymore.

Good night.

Haven't thought of that...

Almost 24 hours into living in the South again made me realize I won't be able to see my friends here anyway because of Oplan Balik Alindog: Full Throttle's 9pm lights out requirement and the fact that most of them have 9-5/10-6 jobs.

I'm available after lunch, before dinner, though. Coffee/tea anyone? :)

First of September

I have been looking forward to this month since July and I'm not even sure why and now, it's here: My birth month!

I am pretty sure I won't celebrate my birthday the whole month but I know it's gonna be the greatest month of 2013, starting it off with Oplan Balik-Alindog: Full Throttle. Then a week-ender with the usual college peeps in a new environment. First week palang, pakak na!

But the best thing about this month is the fact that this is the first time IN 10 FREAKIN YEARS that I will be celebrating my birthday as a single lady. How can I not be excited, right?!

Good God, I don't think I'll be able to sleep this whole month because I'm looking forward to every damn day of September!

Wake me up when September ends? More like keep me up til September ends. I know it doesn't make any sense but I'm so freakin' excited to find out what the Universe has in store for me this month, I most probably won't make any sense most of the time.

Woohoo! Let's do this!