Strokes of a BrownPen

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas... la la la... oh yeah, it's sooooooo cold outside.

Since my family is no longer here, and the last of my Manila sister had migrated abroad, where will I spend December's freezing nights? Might as well buy pre-season airline tickets & go home to the province? Or crash into a good pal's family celebration?

Am up for temporary adoption this early... huhu. Pick me, pick me! ;)

I have been waiting for this day to come--one of those 'this is it' days where something big is usually due, and you want to get it over & done with.

You psyche up yourself by saying "This, too, shall pass.", occasionally slap yourself as zero hour nears, or take a few trips to the restroom to 'de-pressurize'. If only a smoking receptacle is nearby... After all, this is my first authentic big day at 6750.

If I may share, to keep the pressure off my chest, I usually promise myself a good reward. That way, I re-focus my attention to the prize, the tension becomes more manageable & it's a good excuse to have something new.

...now, what will I get myself after Wednesday next week? Pressure, pressure, esep, esep.

"Courage is grace under pressure." -- Ernest Hemingway

As I shared two blogs back, despite in extreme pain, I was looking forward to Monday since I'll be in my first badminton tournament in more than 3 years.

It came and went.

I was assigned to pair up w/ a Club mate who's in his 40s already, so we expected that each game would potentially be dug deep. They were. We only won 2 of the 5 games, each one a couple of points away from victory, but can never quite finish it.

Losing makes me feel sad, but not winning is worse. If this was during my heyday, it's unforgivable. Admittedly, the circumstances are different this time--I was pushing myself too hard & trying to be as agile, swift, and spectacular on the court.

While there were flashes of brilliance (ehem!) every now and then, the new breed to players have become more adaptive to new techniques to win points and, eventually, matches. Often, their athleticism & finesse leaves me in awe & sometimes applauding.

I failed my partner today, and I know he expected a lot from me, so did the Club. I gave my best, but the adversaries responded better each time. Sigh. But we all have our hits & misses, so I wouldn't be hard on myself ;)

Winning isn't everything, yeah we know that. But, really, losing leaves you with nothing. There's the lesson,. There's the rub. There's the winning in losing.

...to sport a tattoo, would a Scorpion sting? How about my favorite number 15?

(Borne out from watching too much of Discovery's Miami Ink.)

It's been twenty four hours since I had this terrible pain in my knee. Am certain  I got it from siting in a wrong position for 3 hours during a 1-on-1 discussion w/ my Client.

I know I was in trouble when, after standing up, I was reduced to baby steps going out of the building, limping all the way. Thank God for elevators otherwise I would have opted to sleep-over than go down 21 flights of stairs. Thank God for an On Duty cab otherwise I'd crawl my way back to the office doing handwalk.

The pain was insanely throbbing I wanted to do emergency operation on myself--do deep incisions, remove my knee cap and re-align the strayed ligament or vein. Good thing I faint at the slightest drop of blood that I forego the quasi-surgeon in me.

I survived the trip back to the office, the new challenge is the drive towards home. The troubled knee smacks right at the accelerator. Double whammy!

So, Sam trod gently along corners, to stoplights, to uphills & down. I know I was cruising along just fine. But since Metro drivers are not used to average land speed, no one wanted to be the car right behind me. Pfft! I thought the journey would never end, it nearly lulled me to sleep.

But my guardian angel saw me through--pushing Sam safely home, albeit slow.

And then my day was through--almost hitting the sack immediately after parking, completely missing out swimming, gym and dinner w/ a friend. Itinulog ko na lang ang sakit--which woke up instantaneously when I did, around 11PM. I was really screaming with my pillow as makeshift silencer.

Stretched hard. Twisted like a gymnast. Marched the PLA cadence. Folded as much as Origami. I was looking for a snapping sound. But none. I gave up.

...until someone's prayers finally reached the heavens.

Feeling much better now, with nothing in mind but my badminton tournament on Monday. I can't fail my partner, he mustn't know am still in pain. I know I'm gonna miss my jump smashes, or won't be as fluid in the court. But we have to win--it's a tournament I can't lose (my first in more than 3 years).

I've been forewarned & discouraged to play by a PT friend, after being certain I'll do more damage. but I am stubborn at the moment. I just hope we have less shots to miss and it's the opponents unlucky day.

To my guardian angel: you already know my prayers...

"Sali ka sa 'Army of God' this Sunday." "Kasali na po ako, Father." "Eh bakit wala ka kada Domingo?" "Secret Agent po ako eh!"

(Mom, I promise to not forward this SMS joke to you, hehe! And, I'll be faithful to my Sunday obligation.)

One week into my cable TV connection & I already despise it--it won't allow me to sleep (early)! There's just so much to watch on TV! And it doesn't help that the Olympics coverage provided by Solar is very good.

So what's a good homeboy to do? Turn on the TV to not miss the Phelpsian feat, open two laptops--one wired to The Internet while the other on Powerpoint slide #85, file version #20.

Of course, make sure the staples are within reach: a pack of Marlboro Lights, Doritos Cheese, Cheetos Jalapeno, Royce chocolates, banana, Pringles Garlic & Onion, and Choc-Nut--yeah, a marathon diet. Am in my own home-lympics anyway.

Pfft... There's more pressure at home as opposed to when am at the office. Not good! ;)

It was raining hard last Friday on my way home. Since there was heavy downpour practically the whole day, flash flood along my usual route was invevitable. So I began mapping out alternate routes in my head in order for me to reach the gym before 830 for my pool laps.

But somehow I was stubborn that night, said bahala na, and braved potential danger head-on.

My driving was smooth amidst the chaos: all cars doing 40KPH or less, hazard lights on, occassional headlamp flashing to signal very poor visibility, no crazy honks. Mandaluyong Rotunda was starting to become a car pool literally, and Brgy Addition Hills was opened to counterflow because of the crazy vehicular volume.

No flood. No sweat.

But then you can't disregard the gloominess--very few smiles along the way, handful sights of worried pedestrians, sighing drivers, impatient queues at the ATM.

I guess the only happy people that time were the Charlie Chaplins--those who love walking in the rain because nobody can see them crying.

Charlie would've been happy. But only when it rains.

Thirty minutes from Makati to QC was an unusual breeze on a very damp Friday. I had my 80 laps at the pool. Am happy, and am not crying.

If things mysteriously go wrong as they sometimes will, reflect on what had happened. If the world answers back at you and has cleared your conscience, it's OK to sulk on what could've been. Songs like these help you shrug it off--the good thing is, somebody else is in the front passenger seat who wants to come away with you... Beautiful, beautiful song.

...you know you have something important, but always throw it away; colorful, but two-dimensional; sticks to anything, but never for long; best on one side, insignificant on the reverse.

Only last week did I decide to finally have Cable TV at home. And in the coming days, I will hopefully be connected to the WWW via DSL.

I know that a geeky (sometimes) like me is way too late to have these connectivity, but I never had the urge to have them before. If you're only home from 9PM onwards, can enjoy the amenities at work anyway, and out during weekends, then sayang lang ang binabayad... ;)

Until now.

Certainly, my daily viewing hours will dramatically change from a few minutes to at least 4 hours just from NatGeo & Discovery alone. Just today, about 10 hours because of very good programs. I wonder how I'd spend my 24 if the DSL finally arrives. Crazy connectivity.

Now, more reasons to stay at home. Excited. Liking it.

For close to 4 hours, I wanted to become the 1,321,851,889th Chinese national last night--if only to authentically feel the sense of pride while witnessing the spectacle of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad unfold. Effing A.m.a.z.i.n.g! I envy those at the venue! 'Stig.

Who would've thought of "footprint" pyrothechnics? My personal fave was the LEDs, and the larger-than-life printing blocks. Whoa!

IMHO, while the lighting of the cauldron was in itself spectacular & spine-chilling, it could have been more dramatic. For a moment I thought a dragon would actually be brought to life and breathe fire... or a flock of (human) birds would drop balls of flame from up above (it's the Bird's Nest anyway)... or a herd of Chinese would build a bamboo tower instantaneously for the torch bearer to walk on until he scales the stadium heights... or anything ala-Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon gravity-defying swordfights. And, where's our martial arts heroes???

Anyway, hands-down the best opening ceremonies since 1988 at Seoul (the earliest I can still recall).

Had they lived long enough, my great, great grandparents would have been watching this in awe from the stands--they're from Mainland.

Congratulations to my Chinese neighbors... makes me feel proud to be Asian nonetheless. Can't wait for the closing rites. More importantly, Go For Glory & Gold, Filipinos!

...so, at what year will Manila be ready for an Olympiad hosting? My guess, no earlier than 2040. Hmmm, I'd be in my twilight years then, tsk... More exhilirating ceremonies, am sure.

I came across the image above while doing my strategic planning duties--yeah, it's not work, it's dedication--and it made me think that such a simple representation of the three (dreaded) words could actually cut both ways.

Was it a normal "I LOVE U" to you?

...But what if I rotate the image, and show you this instead?

Doesn't it become "IOU Love"?

What was heartwarming before became stone-cold... with just a flip. Hmmmm, this could be a nice gift to someone unassuming or clueless, hehe! :)

I love u--bliss!

IOU love--unrequited!

It's crazy. It's clever--though I don't know if it was intentional from the makers at Trivista. In their website, it's just a nonchalant "Paper Photo Cube".

Love it, like it. And what impeccable timing this image has in popping up my screen during times of searching... or Googling, if you may. Technology cuts both ways, too.

...so, which is which for you (at least for today)?

The sun is the center of the Solar System. Moving around it are the planets... asteroid belts... comets... Ang labo.

I don't know what am talking about--because I am just from Mars. Disregard this post anyway--wherever you may have accessed it either from Venus, Pluto, Saturn, Neptune... Lalong lumabo.

...so, how do you try to understand if someone teleports from Venus, to Pluto, to Saturn? Build an inter-galactic rocket ship so you can cross-planets? Or just devise a super, mega, ultra powerful ala-Hubble telescope & just view from homeland Mars?

Sobrang labo na 'to. Hehe, wink ;)

7AM + Smile + Thank You = Hot Cappuccino

The moment you enter a coffee shop, flash your smile at the counter, and pay for your item even before ordering it is indicative that you have established a habit--manifested uniquely in everyone, but never fails to give a sense of comfort.

Figaro at Leviste, Thank You--warmth to chilly mornings, mood-setter for the day, comfort beyond the cup.

...always a favorite. Fitting post for the day: Live Video | Audio Stream

The Difficult Kind | Sheryl Crow

I think I was wrong
I think you were right
That all my angry words
Will keep me up at night
And through the old screen door
I still hear you say
Oh, Honey won't you stop
Treating me that way

If you could only see
What love has made of me
Then I'd no longer be in your mind
The difficult kind
Cause babe I've changed

Tell it to me slow
Tell me with your eyes
If anyone should know
How to let it slide
I swear I can see you
Coming up the drive
And there ain't nothing like regret
To remind you you're alive

I crossed the canyon a thousand times
But never noticed what was mine
What you'll remember of me tonight
Well, it almost makes me cry
Yeah, it almost makes me cry

Cotabato is back on the newsmap again...

After the flood, here come the bullets.

Whoever has them rules the land.

I hope prayers alone can chastise them dimwits.

Maybe this is it, maybe it’s not.

I sighed over unheralded politics.

But am not part of the insensitive lot.

Sometimes Peace can make sense.

 No. In fact, it always does.

Maybe it’s just never given enough chance. -- MGCC/August 4, 2008

Read related stories here: SC Stops MOA Signing | Constitutionalist Bernas Calms Fears On Bangsamoro MoA | With TRO, Palace To Woo Critics of Bangsamoro MoA

During the three times I visited Makirina the past two weeks. I can't help but marvel at how everything is in order--completely bare of trash, manageable traffic, learned pedestrians. Way too clean for a bustling urbanscape. Amazing.

Everywhere you look at, everything is in their proper places that you begin to wonder if you're in Metro Manila. Crazy.

I haven't been to many cities in the country, but am sure Marikina's sense of pride is one of the highest. They just reside adjacent to the rest of Metro Manila, but are way too disciplined as neighbors. Are they the exemption to the rule, or are we?

While bingeing on growing-up favorite Choc-Nut, the sometimes sweet-tooth me was actually humming to a familiar tune (at least to someone who knew about M&Ms only later on in life, hehe).

It was a musical score to a classic TV ad in the 90s, and perhaps everyone's favorite cute-sy tune long before Sinabawang Gulay, et al. (If you have the actual MP3, send it to me please.)

I actually remember giving Nips as a pa-cute gift to someone... only to find out she's gonna be my boss. Bad move. But, anyway, I got my sweet smile & "Thank you." while she indulged on the one dozen pack, and hummed---