back in manila

Three months shy to four years - it's been that long since I've been assigned overseas. And so I do expect some major adjustments in the next few days.

My room's a mess and i'd probably be spending most of tomorrow cleaning, throwing old stuff i've left behind, and buying myself new things to get by. I'm trying not to think too much of how I miss Japan and how I want to be there. For one thing, I miss my clean room - a far cry from my room now. But anyways, i'm here now so I just have to make the most of things and try to be just as bubbly as always.

Okay, enough blogging now. First, get a new mobile phone number and then inquire about internet connection.

reality hits deeper

Despite my hectic schedule, I took the time this afternoon to join JPhil Band's practice for the upcoming Beer Party. I was supposed to sing Duvet, but I won't be here anymore by that time. I'm thankful Edna is still here hence she can sing Duvet instead (the chords of that song is really impressive and a favorite of Emman, one of our guitarists). They had me sing the song earlier though, which was unexpected as I really just went there to hang out and listen to them for a few hours and then go around town running errands. But sing Duvet, I did. There was a part in the song that needs some belting out. And belt out I did. It-feels-so-good-to-sing! So I gave it my all. And the giving it all in singing released the emotions I've been keeping inside.

I would miss singing with the guitar accompaniment. It's much different and much better from singing on the karaoke.

Later on, I went to Yokohama via JR. It then reminded me of all the trips I had. Made me teary eyed. For a while, I was distracted from my emote sessions, as I shopped around (boy the queue in Zara's fitting room was loooong). But later on, after having dinner with Kitty at Afternoon Tea (such heavenly mango cake dessert they had for today!) and after she gave me a Care Bear Bestfriend, it was harder to keep the emotions within.

It's really gonna be hard saying goodbye.

Giving You the Best That I've Got

Arrghh, Youtube's such an MH (malaking hadlang ^^). Haven't found a sensible video of Anita Baker's Giving You The Best That I Got. This is such a beautiful beautiful song...apt for weddings..=D

Giving You The Best That I Got

Ain't there something I can give you
In exchange for everything you give to me
Read my mind and make me feel just fine
When I think my peace of mind is out
Of reach

The scales are sometimes unbalanced
And you bear the weight of all that has to be
I hope you see that you can lean on me
And together we can calm a stormy sea

We love so strong and so unselfishly
And I tell you now that I made a vow
I'm giving you the best that I got, baby
Yes I tell you now, that I made a vow
I'm giving you the best that I got, honey

Everybody's got opinions
'Bout the way they think our story's gonna end
Some folks feel it's just a superficial thrill
Everybody's gonna have to think again

We love so strong and so unselfishly
They don't bother me so I'm gonna keep on
Giving you the best that I got, baby
They don't bother me, said I'm gonna keep on
Giving you the best that I got, listen baby

Somebody understands me
Somebody gave his heart to me
I stumbled my whole life long
Always on my own, now I'm home

My weary mind is rested
And I feel as if my home is in your arms
Fears are all gone,
I like the sound of your song
And I think I want to sing it forever

We love so strong and so unselfishly
And I made a vow so I tell you now
I'm giving you the best that I got, baby
I bet everything on my wedding ring
I'm giving you the best that I got,
Givin' it to you baby

Missed fun, bugs and success stories

I should have been out with friends and colleagues the whole day, scouring the greater Tokyo area buying anime figures and possibly shopping at Harajuku (H&M, yeah!). For me who'll possibly be going back to our Manila office at the end of the month, this might be my last weekend for frolicking around before I seriously get started with my packing.

But lo, I woke up at 9:30am to a doorbell. I looked at the little screen showing whoever is at my front door but as I was still groggy from sleep, I didn't recognize who was at the door and just ignored the call as I thought it was just the usual weekend Jehovah's Witnesses callers. Went back to bed. Then with a jolt I remembered I was supposed to wake up early today. Then I realized it was Dougie who rang my doorbell. I checked my screen but he was gone already. Checked my phone, no call from Kitty. Turned on my laptop, and sure enough there were offline Y!M messages and on Facebook as well from should-have-been-frolicking companions. How to catch up with them? Sigh...I just might as well try to make my day as productive as I can.

I planned to get started with my packing and do my laundry. But I read "The Time Traveller's Wife" instead and had a looong nap. So no packing there. Huff.

Still groggy from my nap (this at 5:30pm), I went to my bathroom to wash my face. When I went back my bedroom cum living room, I yelped and did a tiny shriek when I saw a tiny roach lying on its back on my wooden floor. Apparently very dead. How it came about though, I have no idea. ~Shiver~ There might be other roaches lurking in other corners of my room...~Shiver~

Anyways, watched this short video from TED. Need to remind myself time and again of the formula. ^^

Electronic cigarette smoking, anyone?

Was concentrating on the work at hand when my seatmate told me about the reason for the ruckus several rows down our desks. Apparently, a colleague was sharing with everyone his packs of electronic cigarette. It was the first time I heard about this e-cigars and so after exclaiming my surprise at this and after looking at the racket from a distance (i can even see some faint smoke), I just went back to my PFDs.

But later on, when my seatmate, who was not a smoker took a puff, I asked him how it was. He then led me to our colleague's desk and together, they convinced me to try and take a puff. Told me it was safe as there's no carcinogen on it. Curiosity got the better of me so puff I did. It was awkward, having a cigarette-like stick on my mouth. When I didn't feel anything, I puffed a long one. Until I instantly felt some smoke on my lungs. Drat I can still even feel the smoke up to now, some 6 hours later, wuhuhu. It was sweet though. But most of the afternoon, I feel drugged, on a high. So that's how smokers feel...Won't be on it though. My throat doesn't feel well now.

Anyways, E-cigarettes are the latest addition to smokers' alternatives when they can't smoke on public places. It has a scent that similar to tobacco flavor and contains only water, nicotine and propylene glycol which the FDA deems safe. Supposedly electronic cigarettes doesn't contain cancer-causing agents. Check this out. And oopps, didn't know one still have to exhale the vapors. No wonder I feel bad up to now. I kept it all in! yikes! And still, it's not for people under 18, and not for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Yikes!

A curious experience. Especially one taken right in the office, where cigarette smoking is banned, in front of colleagues and the department manager at that!

Spring out, Time Travel in

Just finished reading Yukio Mishima's Spring Snow. And although it's time for bed already, i'm tempted to go start my next book in line - The Time Traveller's Wife (Zoey's "happy thing" for me on my 29th birthday) - for wanting to have some feel-good story erase the depressing mood that the Spring Snow impressed on me. The book had such a sad and very abrupt ending that I flipped the last pages again and again, which I very well know contained only Mishima's profile and ads about his other books, hoping each flip would give me the epilogue with a happier ending.

Hoh well. It was interesting, the ideas and rationalizations at least. And i'm glad this book is finally finished. Read this back to back with Eat Pray Love (Kitty's "happy thing" for me on my 29th birthday) just so there'll be some diversity (?). Took some 7 weeks for me to finish this, haha! Three weeks overdue on my deadline for returning to Noge Library. heh!

I'm looking forward to The Time Traveller's Wife now. =D