It's COMPLETE!

Yes! My collection is complete for now. I got the last CD - Gary Valenciano's Out of the Dark CD in the mail today :) hehe. I thought that I got all the CDs when I went back to the PI last year. I was a total dork too, cuz, okay, my first couple of hours in the Philippines, a place I haven't been to in 15 years, and the first thing I do is run into the nearest mall looking for and buying every Gary V CD there is! I'm kind of a fan. And then I realized that wait... where's the CD that was released in the US? the one where he promoted when it was Gary V day in SF and he was supposedly only going to play 3 songs that turned out to be a whole concert for free... which I missed! that was when BJ first turned me into a fan.

But I digress... cuz I got it! And to top it off, all but 2 of the songs are arranged differently from all the other CDs I have. So, it's like 8 brand new remixes of Christian Songs... :)

nyt.

A GREAT LAUGH!

After a great couple of hours of writing, I got home just in time to see Alec Baldwin role play as Tracy Morgan's dad, mom, etc. on 30 Rock and I fell out of my chair laughing SO HARD! OMG! That's one of the funniest things I've ever seen. If I find it on youtube, it's so going up on here!

And then one of my best friends posted on her blog a site of what I'll call Filipino Witisisms, http://nakanampucha.wordpress.com. OMG! I died laughing again. Basically, it's a site with a whole bunch of signs and posters which Filipinos have written in English some not so grammatical statements. Bless their souls though for trying! There's also great pictures that show the differences between what other nations have and what's in the PI. Here's my favorite of the moment that killed me for a good 15 minutes:

These are images of some sleeping quarters for Flight Attendants as seen in their respective Airlines (scroll down SLOWLY and appreciate the images):

BOEING 747 - 400

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BOEING 777

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CANADIAN AIRLINES

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AIRBUS A340

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SQ and SQ with In-Flight TV and Telecommunications

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KLM

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PHILIPPINE AIRLINES

LOL!!!

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Okay, that was hecka funny, but at the same time, it makes me think, "Poor thing! She must be hecka tired passing those pan de sals around!"

On the for realz tip, it just makes me think that, yeah, i do get sad and feel bad when i'm there and know that I'm so lucky, in some respects, to be here in the States. But I guess that's why I admire and RESPECT the Filipinos living there because of the huge amount of humor that can come out what little some have. If things work out, I'll be able to help out in a way that I've always wanted.

Lazy Sunday

Okay, I mentioned earlier that I have a defect in getting mad, right? Well, guess what? I'm mad! or maybe more upset. At any rate, on this lazy Sunday, I'm flipping through the channels and stumbled across a recent season of Dancing with the Stars on the BBC America Network and, luckily for me, it just came to when the judges were about to render their opinion on Master P's performance. I watched like one second of it before I switched channels. URGH! He makes me SO MAD! It's just the total disrespect that he had for his partner and the show that he didn't try any harder. He didn't want to change his shoes. Did he want to practice? Did he even want to be there? URGH!

Tama Na. I'm done. but I had to get this out. I felt so bad for his partner... what was her name? Sorry, I couldn't wait to hear what her name was? Was it Ashley?

I Should Be WRITING...

But before i start, i needed to get a little creative blast from a friend on YouTube! Thanks Kits! This vid's called Emo Dino. This hecka cracks me up... especially because i feel like this sometimes :) andden :(

Gary V Podcast

I just wanted post his podcast below because, well, I'm a fan of Gary Valenciano. I got this from his website and needed to grab this before this podcast goes away like the first one that i missed! Anyways, on this podcast, he previews some of the tracks from his upcoming CD called REBIRTH.

Tracks previewed:
- Only Hope
- He Won't Let Go
- Mary, Did You Know?
- Lean On Me
- Better Than I
- Ohhh
- Father's Love
- Natatulog Ba Ang Diyos (Piano Remix)

I can't wait for this CD to come out and now the task is to find out HOW to get it since the last CD felt like it took forever to get here. As always, I look forward to seeing him in concert. Take care and God Bless!

Gary Valenciano - Podcast 002

miserable

i'm sick. it's been a while and i'm MISERABLE! i fricken' hate feeling like this. there was a time when i didn't care if i was sick, cuz i just went on and did my thing. but that changed when i worked for the school of health and human services at sac state. i was sick as a dog and i got a stern talking to by one of the auditors there, a really cool guy whom i showed the playboy site right when the internet was starting back in 93 or 94, but i digress... he got into my grill and said how selfish i was being for thinking i was coming into work being macho, but what it did was be a way for the other employees to get sick. after that, i have been really good about staying home when i'm sick and come back when i'm not contagious anymore. oh, a good tip i learned from the epidemiologist i worked with when i was working at the health dept in monterey, when your snot isn't yellow anymore, that means you're not contagious anymore.

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not wanting to bash on anyone, but my sister is into watching this show on mtv called the gauntlet. why? i don't understand the fascination with watching this show or most of reality tv. don't get me wrong, i like the shows that make sense, but this doesn't. to me, it's a bunch of people watching these nobody's do something. maybe i'm old, but i just don't get it. sorry.

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i hate being sick.

an honest survey - update

What is more difficult for you, looking into someones eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someones eyes when they are telling you how they feel?:
it's more for me to difficult for me to look someone in the eyes when THEY tell me how they feel, cuz I need to process their words and I would get distracted by looked at them.

Think of the last time you were REALLY angry. WHY were you angry? Do you still feel the same way?:
i have a defect where I can't get REALLY angry, however, I do get upset with people. and the last time that happened was when I saw whom I thought was a friend, exchanged pleasantries, but wala after that. URGH!

You are on a flight from Honolulu to Chicago non-stop. There is a fire in the back of the plane. You have enough time to make ONE phone call. Who do you call? What do you tell them?:
my mom and tell her that i love her. if possible, i'd call one of my other friends to pass along other messages to my other friends cuz she's responsible like that.

You are at the doctor's office and he has just informed you that you have approximately one month to live. Do you tell anyone/everyone you are going to die? What do you do with your remaining days? Would you be afraid?:
a month goes by so fast, but yeah, i'd tell the people that i'm closest to. I'd definitely put my life into gear to make sure that i leave something of me to be remembered. i'd plan my funeral. i don't think that i'd be afraid either, cuz of my faith.

You can have one of the following two things. Which do you choose? Why? Love and Trust.:
above all, i'd choose love. two things i do know about life, is that life moves really fast and that everything is temporary. given that, i can love someone or something with every ounce of my being and be happy. trust is important, but a friendship has to be fostered and nurtured for a long amount of time for trust to matter. i'd rather love and experience love right now and die, than not love because i'm waiting for trust to take hold. life's too short.

You are walking down the street on your way to work. There is a dog drowning in the canal on the side of the street. Your boss has told you if you are late even once more, you are fired. Do you take the time to save the dogs life? Why or Why not?:
i guess it's time to look for another job, cuz i LOVE DOGS and that's worth more than any job! if i did work for a cool boss than she or he would understand. if not, than i wouldn't want to work there!

Would you rather be hurt by the one you trust the most or the one you love the most?:
neither, but probably by the person I love the most, cuz once the trust has been fractured, then it'd take forever, if at all, to repair. i can fall in love with someone else, but it'd take a long time for me to trust that same person. again, life's too short.

Your best friend confesses that he/she has feelings for you more than just friendship. He/she is falling in love with you. What do you (or did you) do/say?:
this just depends on so much. like how i feel about her and what is our history and deciding whether that friendship can still survive if we broke up. just keeping it real. but if it's worth it, then i'm all in.

Think of the last person who you know that died. You have the chance to give them 1 hour of life back, but you have to give up one year of yours. Do you do it? Why or Why not?:
my dad - no. he was in pain the last hours of his life and i was there by his side. plus, he had cancer, and he got to spend time with friends and family before he passed for bj - definitely. in that hour, he could've maybe had time to say goodbye... crappy question.

Are you the kind of friend that you would want to have as a friend?:
no. i disappear from people's live's too much. but, leaving nothing to chance and being inspired by a really good friend, i have tried to make sure that i don't lose connection with those that i'm closest to, that's why i'm in sac so much... life's too short.

Does love = sex?:
update: i was sick when i wrote this so i answered this wrong. here's my real answer.NO! i answered a survey asking if i was old fashioned, and this is one of the questions that would validate my answer. what's more sad is the fact that because of media, sex is just meant NOT to have any more meaning than that. it pisses me off when i see stuff like on mtv with people hooking up just for a mere booty call. blah. blah. blah. human nature. but shit, that's not human nature, that's animal nature. humans are meant to feel from the inside of their soul not just with body parts, di ba? so sex without the feeling of loving the other person is just an "act". yeah... i'm old fashioned that way.

Your boss tells your coworker that they have to let them go because of work shortage, and they are the newest employee. You have been there much longer. Your coworker has a family to support and no other means of income. Do you go to your boss and offer to leave the company? Why or Why not?:
if i could afford to do it, maybe, but i gotta look out for me. honest.

When was the last time you told someone HONESTLY how you felt regardless of how difficult it was for you to say? What did you have to tell the person?:
this is the most difficult thing for me to do. to be honest with someone, and maybe that's why i want to be a writer, is that's it's far easier to be honest in a play world than in reality. i'll plead the 5th.

What would be (or what was) harder for you to tell a member of the opposite sex, you love them or that you do not love them back?:
it'd be way harder to tell someone you don't love them, i guess. i mean, if someone says they love you from their heart, and then you say,.... uh, thanks. that'd suck.

What do you think would be the hardest thing for you to give up? Why would it be hard to lose?:
it'd be so hard for me to give up being on the internet! it's my job, and my life to always be up on here.

Excluding romantic love, when was the last time you told someone you loved them. Who were they to you?:
my lil sister, xle. she got me a playwriting book and it meant so much to me. not only was it a nice gesture, but more importantly, it meant that she believes in me and what i struggle to be - a playwright. i love her so much for having that belief in me.

If there was one moment and one time in the last month what would you change and why?:
nope. everything's been pretty hunkydory so far!

Imagine it is a dark night, you are alone, it is raining outside, you hear someone walking around outside your window. WHO do you wish was there with you?:
i can kick ass on my own. plus, if something did happen to me, i wouldn't want them to get hurt.

Would you give a homeless person CPR if they were dying? Why or Why not?:
i'll be honest, i'm a germ freak, and if someone was dirty like that, just from my experience of homeless people in sf, i'd ask for help. if no one was there, i'd just have to suck it up and try to save this person's life, but i just wanted to keep it real.

You are holding onto your grandmother's hand and the hand of a newborn that you do not know as they hang over the edge of a cliff. You have to let one go to save the other. Who do you let fall to their death? What was your rationale for making the decision?:
jacked up question. next.

Are you old fashioned?:
yes.

When was the last time you were nice to someone and did NOT expect anything in return for it?:
yesterday, when i went passed my co-workers cubes and wished them a good morning. i don't expect a good morning back. i just wanted to wish them a good morning.

Which would you choose, true love with a guarantee of a broken heart, or never loved at all? Why?:
luckily, i've been there, done that, and pick true love and end up with a broken heart. at the very least, i know what "true" love is. love is in quotes because i don't think i'd know what true love is until i become a father. but with this romantic love, at least i know what true love is when i know it. and it's the greatest thing in the world!

If you could do anything or wish anything, what would it be?:
easy. for my friends and their families to be safe and in good health.

Once - Movie Review

I don't know if this is more of a movie review than a gushing commentary on one of the best pictures I've seen in a long time. Here's a synopsis (taken from Rotten Tomatoes where it got a 98% fresh rating):

The Irish romance ONCE may be a musical, but it is miles away from the traditional Hollywood idea of people bursting into song. Glen Hansard (frontman for indie rock band The Frames) plays the guy, a street musician who is playing for change when he meets the girl (Marketa Irglova), an immigrant from the Czech Republic. The pair immediately bond over their shared love of music (he is a guitarist, and she plays the piano), and the film chronicles their tentative relationship. Both are weighed down by plenty of baggage: his songs are fueled by a painful breakup, and she is a young mother who left her husband behind in her native country. Like the independent favorite BEFORE SUNRISE, ONCE is a simple, sweet drama that doesn’t rely on an elaborate plot. With its use of digital video and handheld cameras, ONCE matches its spare visual style to its intimate mood. Each moment feels stolen from real life, and the story is at once familiar and fresh. Driven more by music than by dialogue, ONCE features a stirring soundtrack of heartfelt indie rock sung by Hansard and Irglova.

I really loved this film on so many different levels. One - the music. OMG! The music is amazing! Some are a little bit too emo for me, but they were sung straight from the heart with amazing passion. Two - the indie film feel. I remember when I strongly disliked handheld camera action, but somehow with this film, it just made everything feel real and honest. Three - the ending. I really liked the ending, and that's all I'm going to say without giving it away. Four - the songs were sung LIVE. With the exception of a couple of songs used for the background, a majority of the songs were sung by the singers/actors in front of the camera.

Like most things I like, this film had some flaws. One glaring thing is the money aspect of it. As the synopsis gave away, it stars a street musician. Given just that fact, it's obvious that he doesn't have much money. But in the film, there are some things that are purchased that questions this bit of reality. Other than this little quibble of mine, I give this film two thumbs WAY UP!

For your listening enjoyment, I've uploaded my favorite, not necessarily the best, song from the movie, by Glen Hansard, the main character, singing Say It To Me Now. How this scene is directed just captured me. It's just him on a lonely street in the middle of the night singing his heart out. It's sung with so much passion reminiscent of my other favorite song from a movie, Prince's The Beautiful Ones from Purple Rain. Watch the movie and enjoy!

Glen Hansard - Say It To Me Now

Arroz Con Vocabulary

I just wanted to share a really cool FREE website that I've just gotten addicted to: http://www.freerice.com. It's basically a vocabulary site that asks you to match a word with it's correct meaning out of four possibilities. Words get harder and your vocab level increase for every definition you get right.

The cool thing is that for every correct word, the site DONATES 20 GRAINS of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. After some internet research, 7,200 grains = 1 Cup of rice! Who would've known? I don't think I could've counted each grain. "One... two.. three... ...four-hundred-fifty-two, or was that four-hundred-fifty-three? Uh... Crap! One... two...three..." It's cool to know that by taking the time to feed your mind, you're also doing a part, as small as it may seem, to end world hunger!

Note: if you want to keep track of how many grains of rice you've donated and your vocabulary level, go to the OPTIONS tab BEFORE you start, and click on the "Please do remember... " and 'Set options' buttons. I learned this the hard way after playing the game for a couple of hours, my "score" was erased after closing the browser and coming back.

Already missing RENT

I'm felling forlorn right now because I just found out that RENT is closing. I don't think that forlorned is even the right term i would use... I'm just really really sad. I've been a fan since 1997... let me rephrase, a loyal RENTHEAD for over 10 years and the show is closing on Broadway. To be honest, I've been, rather we've been, expecting this for a couple of years, but now that it's really happening. I was on ticketmaster trying to get tix for the last day, June 1st, but it was sold out for both times. I did however, find one ticket available for the Saturday show. I was really going to buy it, but then I thought to myself, I don't want to see it alone. Plus, when am I going to see it. Plus, I'm buying tix for the PI which reality reminds me that I can't go. Grrr... I hate being responsible! At the VERY least, I got to see the show with some of my CLOSEST friends, which is really how the show is supposed to be seen.

Looking back on the 21 times I've seen it, the greatest experience, other than seeing it with my friends, was watching the last performance of the Angel Cast in SF. Truly one of the greatest nights of my life when the proverbial fourth wall was torn to shreds as the cast stood there with tears falling after what seemed to be a 10 minute standing ovation BEFORE the opening number. From the beginning to the end, I've never felt so much emotion coming from both the audience and the artists themselves. Every song was met with the crescendo of applause, laughter, and at times very audible sobs. My Dallas and FOREVER RENT brother was there to my surprise, so that made that night more memorable and special. Michelle, who doesn't often publicly show saddened emotions, let me know that that night touched her. I was glad to know that especially since I felt like I was the one who was always dragging her to see it. But yeah, I don't think that there will ever be a time in my life when I was physically, mentally, and emotionally drained after watching a performance... much the same way I think that a lot of RENTheads back east will feel on that closing night.

Look! It's a new look!

Just decided that it was time to switch it up a little. I've been doing A LOT of CSS manipulation at work so there ain't no doubtin' that I'll be tweakin' this template as time goes on. Maybe, switch up the colors and graphics. We'll see what suits my fancy... I guess that's all for now. Don't have that much to talk about other than I've been HELLA lazy in getting this scene that's stuck in my head out onto Word. *sigh*

Bindlestiff Bio for the Stories High Reading

One of our awesome producers tasked us into writing a bio that will be used to introduce each of our plays on Thursday and Friday. Since I wrote a hecka long and formal Bio for ST, here's my attempt to just get 'Jiggy Wid It':

Conrad is a practicing magician who excels in the illusion of disappearing from the face of the earth every 4 months to inevitably surface to watch an episode of American Gladiators and a good shot of Patron. You will usually find him flailing unsuccessfully, but with incredible ferocity, in the act of conjuring up something that might be construed as witty reparté which will hopefully find it's way out of the mouth of an AMAZING BINDLESTIFF ARTIST onto the stage in another one of his random 10-minute plays. Not only is he currently a Resident Artist of the Sinag-tala Filipino Theater and Performing Arts Association of Sacramento, but he's also a big fan of sentences that run-on and on and on.

Survey time!

It’s fun and easy. You might be surprised with some of the things you learn about people you think you know…

IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE, WHERE WOULD IT BE?
Elk Grove...

FAVOURITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING?
don't really have one... and why is favOURite spelled this way?

FAVOURITE PHYSICAL FEATURE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?
eyes.

THE LAST CD THAT YOU BOUGHT?
wow. cd? i don't remember...

FAVOURITE PLACE TO BE?
with friends, the writing state of mind, or in rehearsal for something.

WHERE’S YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE PLACE TO BE?
work.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO BE MASSAGED?
traps

WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT, STRONG MIND OR STRONG BODY?
strong mind.

WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
5:55am... but got out of bed at 8:00am

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE KITCHEN APPLIANCE?
my tea maker :)

WHAT MAKES YOU REALLY ANGRY?
ignorant peeps and those that think they are better than everyone else

IF YOU COULD PLAY ANY INSTRUMENT WHAT WOULD IT BE?
the sax cuz it's sexay!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR?
brown

CAR OR MPV?
car cuz an mpv would take up more gas

FAVOURITE CHILDREN’S STORY?
charlotte's web cuz that's my only memory from story time in the 3rd grade

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SEASON?
fall.

WHAT’S YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE HOUSEHOLD CHORE?
cleaning.

IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
time traveler

DO YOU HAVE A TATTOO?
not yet.

CAN YOU JUGGLE?
yup!

THE ONE PERSON FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK AND TALK TO?
you know...

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE DAY?
saturdays

WHAT’S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR?
random stuff, but not as much as usual

WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SUSHI OR HAMBURGER?
SUSHI!!!

WHAT DO YOU SECRETLY LIKE THAT NO ONE KNOWS?
indian food.

FROM THE PEOPLE YOU WILL EMAIL THIS TO WHO’S MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
i dunno

Bindlestiff's 10 Stories High - Reading

Please spread the word and support BINDLESTIFF!

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Ready for the 10th Anniversary of Bindlestiff Studios' Stories High!!!!

2 Nights only!!!

Come support our new, emerging writers for an exclusive glimpse of potential screenplays that will be showcased in this year's Stories High production. In two nights, we will cover nine brand new plays in a professional reading by various actors and directors. Each reading will also have a Q&A session, where you can ask the writers anything you want!

Thursday, January 17, 2008
“2 Cheat” By: Josef Anolin
“Leaving My Heart in San Francisco” By: Conrad Panganiban
“Not Quite Unrequited” By: Ava Tong
“Brothers and Sisters” By: Mario deMira (aka Nomi)

Friday, January 18, 2008
“The Art of Waiting” By: Cristal Fiel
“Anytime. Anyplace” By: Jasmine Ty
“Non-Sequiturs” By: Cathlin Goulding
"One Year" By John Raposas
“Last Verse in Despair” By: Ed Mabasa

Show dates: January 17-18 Thurs-Fri starting at 8PM

Location: Space 180 at 180 Capp Street, 3rd Floor San Francisco, CA 94110
Ticket Prices: $5-10 Sliding Scale

Reservations are being taken immediately at
(415) 255-0440, or you can contact Susanna Yu at Susie54@sfsu.edu for ticket reservations

This year, Bindlestiff will be breaking ground with its relocation to its original space on 6th street, with its brand-new and cutting–edge facility as the only performing arts space for the Filipino or Filipino American arts in the nation. Stories High, as one of Bindlestiff's signature productions, will be one of the first shows (OR FIRST SHOW) to grace its stage. Make sure not to miss this historical event!

For questions or more information, please contact:
Susanna Yu
415.255.0440
Susie54@sfsu.edu

First Sunday - Movie Review

I watched First Sunday with the Taal Sisters and I'd have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Spoiler Disclaimer: In the cliched "shell of the nut", the movie is about a father's decision to rob a church in order to keep his son from leaving town. As with my previous post regarding Decisions, his, played by Ice Cube, decision to do this rather unholy act was plausible. How far would a person go to achieve their want/goal? And I thought Mr. Cube's character deftly answered this questions with his actions.

On the fo realz tip, I thought that this movie was going to be bootie. But this initial expectation was adverted as I saw that the flick was a David E Talbert Production. He happens to be one of my favorite playwrights! I've only seen his plays on DVD, but they focus on the African-American experience and all with a very positive message about love, faith, and community. And this movie absolutely mirrors this style. It was also cool to see some of the actor he uses for the stage were also on film despite the smaller roles, but it was refreshing to see them.

I'm not going to say that his film was far from perfect cuz there were definitely holes that made us question, what happened to.... where did the janitor get the... what the heck was the last courtroom scene about? So, there were confusing parts, but despite these "WhaHoppen" moments, Mr. Talbert touches of heart combined with the real reason for wanting to watch it, Tracy Morgan's humor along with Kat Williams' character's provided made me have more positive things to say about it. The scene that will stay with me though is one involving Tracy Morgan's character LeeJohn and a cool kid. He displayed the Jamie Foxx-like capability as an artist to not only shine as a HELLA FUNNY comedian, but the heart of a real character. I really liked Ice Cube's character as well and how he played it.

I heard that this movie got one-and-a-half stars, but I'd rate it a 2.5/3 out of five... but I hope that David E. Tabert continues to make more films... as well as plays!

The choices you make in life...

I just got finished watching The Devil Wears Prada with my sister and I'd be totally remiss if I didn't say that it made me think really hard about the decisions I've made in life to this point. The script was very well written because nothing, the details of the story and where was it leading to, was really handed to me and it had something that all great dramas contain - something that will force a character to make a decision.

I started work at this really awesome company and I'll be honest and say that I started really missing my old job. I miss everyone terrible. I missed the cafeteria... the work... the people I work with, especially my team. I began to question if I made the right decision. If I had the chance to go back I would've taken it in a heartbeat and wave a magical wand to make everyone forget that I left in the first place... but alas, what was done was done. But I had my doubts about what I had done. I made a terrible mistake, I told myself. I worked for one of the coolest places, by name, and I left. What did I do?

However, after watching this movie, it became clear. I made the right decision FOR ME and THIS TIME. Like Andy (Andrea) I felt like I was putting myself in that position of putting work in front of everything I loved. My family, my friends, and my art. I wanted to excel at pleasing everyone there, that I felt that the only way to achieve this was to put those other things aside. And after 3 really good years, I did. I continuously made choice after choice to work extra hard to make my company look good. And I was, and still am, very proud of everything I accomplished there. Yet, I lost myself. Plain and simple.

These last couple of weeks have been the best in a long time. I spent time with the greatest people I know. The ones who make me appreciate life beyond any comprehensible meaning of the word love. Since returning from an aloha holiday, I've rediscovered the joy of hearing sounds of laughter as each hit of a pinata created the frenzied anticipation of unpirated bootie of tootsie rolls and perverted matchbook covers sprawl on a garage floor. Spending time with ones sharing memories upon memories that seemed like yesterday over some serious grub, aka sushi, dim sum, and starbucks, not necessarily in that combination or order. My love for movies has finally returned since the comatose induced dread of watching Rush Hour 3 thanks to a spunky 16 year old who waggled a whizzed-on preggo stick in a rad flick named Juno. Add on to this current revolution of me, I proudly witnessed my brother's directorial staging of Angels in America. In short... life is good again and I feel parts of me are starting to gather in reconciliation.

Decisions. I've had to make a couple of hard ones lately, and the justifying outcome of them is not necessarily in their results, but rather that those choices were made with the conviction of what I know was right in here. *pointing at my heart*

Four Things...

About me

Four things about me that you may or may not have
known in any particular order. The directions are
at the end.

Four movies I've watched at least four times:
1. Grease
2. Karate Kid II
3. Sister Act II
4. A Few Good Men

Four Places I have lived:
1. Guam
2. Tacoma, WA
3. Vallejo, CA
4. Elk Grove, CA

Four T.V. Shows that I watch:
1. I LOVE NEW YORK 2
2. Heroes
3. Dancing With The Stars
4. Sports Center

Four places I have been:
1. Manhattan
2. San Diego
3. Waikiki
4. Makati

Four People who e-mail me (regularly):
1. N*A*G*
2. Facebook
3. chie
4. the stiff

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Mexican
2. Sashimi
3. ~silog
4. Psghetti

Four Places I would like to visit:
1. Melbourne
2. Paris
3. London
4. NYC
(The Australian, French, Wimbledon, and U.S. Opens)

Four Friends I think will respond:
1. Meb
2. Raine
3. Jen
4. Ben

Four things I am looking forward to in the coming year:
1. This new job
2. Spending time with friends
3. Working out
4. Finding someone...

I'm in that Kilig moment...

i'm not even in like with anyone, but i'm just in that mood. i have the hugest urge to write a really sappy romantic comedy and i've honestly tried to shy away from writing such a thing. fo realz, but i'm just in that mood.

sorry so short, but just wanted to write this tidbit that's floating in my snoggin'.

peace!

huh... a questionnaire?

stole this from Number 66!

1. Do you like blue cheese?
it's okay when i'm in the mood

2. Have you ever shot up heroin?
why is this question here? so random. and if someone's keeping score, no!

3. Do you own a gun?
nope.

4. Your favorite song?
so many for different emotional times.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?
if ever I went to one, I'd be.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
can you say Kobeyashi?

7. Favorite Christmas song?
"Have Yourself a Very Merry Christmas" by the Pretenders

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
a GTSL :) yum! thanks to both of my lil sisters since '95 for sharing the joy of my favorite green lactose-free warm elixir.

9. Can you do push ups?
not anymore... but have to start.

10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?
a necklace i recieved as pasalubong... sorry can't spell in inglish, nor in tagalog.

11. Favorite hobby?
making up stories and writing them for the stage.

12. Secret weapon to get the opposite sex?
my ability to remember every episode of Three's Company.

13. Do you have A.D.D.?
Another Dad Dreation?

14. What’s one trait you hate about yourself?
I can never get any work done at home!

15. Middle Name?
Almero, spank you very much.

16. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment…
1- man that lightning is hella close
2- i need to jet for marina soon
3- glad that mah friends can enjoy the happiness of looseleaf tea. who-woulda-known? i love it! jeez, louise after all these years of just drinking lipton... there's more than one flavor i can brew at home?

17. Name 3 things you bought yesterday?
1 - tix for Juno
2 - Nathan's Hot Dog - Kobeyashi, I'm coming for YOU!
3 - GTSL =p

18. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink
1 - GTSL
2 - Agua
3 - The Root of Beer brewed by Senior Barqs

19. Current wonder right now?
when's the rain gonna stop so I can get outta here!

20. Current hate right now?
Nada. No hatin' goin on up in here.

21. Favorite place to be?
Anywhere my friends are :)

22. How did you bring in the New Year?
with friends waiting for dick clark to be wheeled out at the strike of 12 like a big coo-coo-clock! but i really do love the man! fo shizz.

23. Where would you like to go?
NYC, with the caveat that my friends can go too.

24. Name three people who will complete this…
1 - ms. gigi van tran cuz she already did.
2 - rowena, if she'd come through...
3 - *shrug* yo no se?

25. Do you own slippers?
yupperoonie.

26. What shirt are you wearing?
a hecka too big dickies black shirt i bought for a play but when i tried it on during the rehearsals, it looked like i was wearing a fricken' Mrs. Roper Moo-Moo (ha! like the Three's Company reference?)

27. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
not if i'm gonna be slippin' all over the place.

28. Can you whistle?
that be a big 10-4!

29. Favorite color?
brown... or either Custard or Cheesecake? (a freebie Juno reference)

30. Would you be a pirate?
ok.

31. What songs do you sing in the shower?
a scrubba scrubba scrubba. a scrubba scrubba scrubba. a scrubba... you get the picture... well, you shouldn't! ew. hehe...

32. Favorite girl’s name?
i've always liked "clarke" don't know Y. just do.

33. Favorite boy’s name?
same thing... Clark, but without the E at the tail.

34. What’s in your pocket right now?
a chili cheese dog. oh, nothing.

35. Last thing that made you laugh?
a very obscure line in Juno where Jason Bateman's character says, "yes... keep it in the oven." HIGH-LARITY!

36. Best bed sheets as a child?
camel.

37. Worst injury you’ve ever had?
broken ankle after sliding on a small carpet while jumping onto it using the Crane Technique from Karate Kid. TRUE STORY! I broke my ankle. Honest to God, and I love God too much to lie about it.

38. Do you love where you live?
It's okay.

39. How many TVs do you have in your house?
3.

40. Who is your loudest friend?
hehehe.... how about, loudest friend after a couple of Chocolate Cakes and Washington Apples! *sniffle* missing Joe Marty's :(

41. How many dogs do you have?
none, but miss millie loves me :)

42. Does someone have a crush on you?
gotta check my chemistry.com profile first... hold on.

43. What is your favorite book?
When the Elephants Dance.

44. What is your favorite candy?
whoppers. i was so disappointed when I didn't see the box at the movie theaters. i'm major lusting after some right now. mmmm... chocolate malted balls!

45. Favorite Sports Team?
GO NINERS!!! Forever, no matter how much they suck!

46. What song(s) do you want played at your funeral?
What good would it do, I couldn't hear it. What you want me to do, after my lil sister sings it, I'd sit up and start applauding? Seriously...?

47. What were you doing 12 AM last night?
reading Diablo Cody's blog! through sheer osmosis I want her mojo.

48. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?
hmmm... the lights are still on.

49. What is your current job?
i start at homegain.com on munday! can't wait!

50. When is your birthday?
in 49 days... but who's counting?


WhaHappen?

Feeding my own bit of Narcissism

Taken from my other blog which i maintain at the same time as this. I feel like I'm kinda back to feeling like a writer again, and I like how I wrote this, and I wanted to 'show and tell' this entry...

INT. IONE OLSEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. MRS. SHROEDER'S 4TH GRADE CLASSROOM.

MRS. SHROEDER: Conrad, it's your turn for Show and Tell today. What did you bring?
TROPA23: I brought a blog entry.
KIDS: Ooooo...
MRS. SHROEDER: How wonderful. Now, remember what I said about the profanity?
TROPA23: Keep it to a minimum?
MRS. SHROEDER: Right. Now go ahead and show your tell.

And I'm posting this here to also feed my own bit of narcissism which I wiki'd to make sure I knew what I reference about myself meant exactly (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism). I needed to make sure that it didn't mean, "One who likes the smell of gasoline." Which I guess I could've kept cuz I do like that AM/PM 87 grade Regular Unleaded aroma. Well, until everthing starts to blackout. At any rate, I'm just letting ya know just how narcissistic i am. Just out in the open like that. I do something that I am 'SKIPPY with NUTS' about and I have to look at it over and over again. like this...

===

Hi... geez, getting back to this blog (http://conradsplayspace.blogspot.com) kinda makes me feel like I haven't seen the friend in a long time that I purposely didn't want to meet and now I fumble for the right excuse... not that I've ever done this or anything. lalala.

Anyways, as you can obviously see, I took a break from writing. Subconsciously, because of what happened at my last reading of the play entitled Leaving My <3 in SF. It went horrible. Understandably so. And as a creator of art, I should have the forethought of knowing that any sense of make believe I conjure up will be subject to ridicule, but... it hurt. Again, the battling forces of what my mind thinks and how my ego responds ensued. For the last couple of months, the emotional ego got the best of me.

The best cure against this kawawa moment of writer non-worthiness... a deadline. a producer from stories high (the one i'm secretly in love with can't say this cuz i don't need the drama... plus i'm a total dork around her - which might be possibly construed as a sign of liking someone. hmmm... dorkiness factored with the i like lust after you variability. but i digress...) called me and asked where was my script for a reading that's take place on one of my BEST friend's birthdays in a couple of weeks. If this script is selected, I hope it goes well... hint, hint.

here it is: the obligatory click here leads you to my new 10-minute play, LEAVING MY <3 IN SAN FRANCISCO.

Juno - My nominee for BEST movie of 2008

Fine... it's only the 4th day of 2008, but it's in front by a mile. I spent an awesome day today with one of my favoritest people in the world :) the original plan was to watch the Walking with The Dinosaurs Live, but the weather was just crazy, and i wasn't about to risk either one of our lives driving up I-5 and have a fricken' big rig optimius prime-mobile roll over on us. So, the next best thing on a day like today was to watch a movie, and Juno was it's name-o! I love this movie SO MUCH! I can't wait to watch it again, it was that good.

Oh... and I just found out that the screenwriter, Diablo Cody, is only 29! Daymn!

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the movie:

Juno: Whoah. I don’t want to see pictures. I don’t need to be notified of anything. Can’t we just kick it old school? I could just put the baby in a basket and send it your way. You know, like Moses in the reeds.
Mark: Technically, that would be kickin’ it Old Testament.

===

Juno MacGuff: If I could just have the thing and give it to you now, I totally would. But I'm guessing it looks, probably like a sea monkey right now, and I should let it get a little cuter.
Mark Lorring: Yes... keep it in the oven. (I added this line, cuz it cracks me up EVERY time I hear him say this! And it's not even in the script! Jason Bateman Rocks!)

===

Juno MacGuff: You should've gone to China, you know, 'cause I hear they give away babies like free iPods. You know, they pretty much just put them in those t-shirt guns and shoot them out at sporting events.

===

Rollo: That ain't no etch-a-sketch. That's one doodle that can't be un-did, homeskillet.

===

Juno MacGuff: I could like, have this baby and give it to someone who like totally needs it.
Leah: You should look in the PennySaver.
Juno MacGuff: They have ads for parents?
Leah: Yeah! 'Desperately Seeking Spawn.'

===

Juno MacGuff: [yelling through the house] Uh, dad?
Mac MacGuff: Yeah?
Juno MacGuff: Either I just wet my pants... or...
Mac MacGuff: "Or"...?
Juno MacGuff: Or... THUNDERCATS ARE GO!

===

Juno MacGuff: I think I'm, like, in love with you.
Paulie Bleeker: You mean as friends?
Juno MacGuff: No, I mean, like, for real. 'Cause you're, like, the coolest person I've ever met, and you don't even have to try, you know...
Paulie Bleeker: I try really hard, actually.

===

Mac MacGuff: [a very pregnant Juno enters the room] Hey there, big puffy version of Junebug!

===

Vanessa Loring: Your parents are probably wondering where you are.
Juno MacGuff: Nah... I mean, I'm already pregnant, so what other kind of shenanigans could I get into?

What'd you think?

So, I'm starting this year totally new. New chapter in life: attitude, fitness (physical and mental), and love... speaking of which, i'm on chemistry.com, which i think is the coolest from what i've tried, and after taking their questionnaire, this is what the computer thinks of me:

You are an EXPLORER/negotiator

You are a highly spontaneous person who always likes to try new things. Novel and unpredictable situations don't bother you; instead you find them challenging and exciting.

You tend to be focused and resourceful and you are able to juggle a lot of projects at the same time; as a result you are sometimes a whirlwind of activity.

You have a firm grip on reality and enjoy living in the present tense. But you have a keen imagination that enables you to lift off from time and space to be remarkably creative.

You are humorous. You are able to laugh at yourself, and you like entertaining others.

You have a deep sense of compassion. You can show genuine insight into the needs of others; you are good at listening and talking; and you express a genuine desire to be helpful.

Yet you are easy-going. Your tolerance for others and their beliefs, your lack of prejudice, your ability to compromise and your occasional antics make you popular with others and a great companion.

===
daymn! pretty good! there's even a listing of matches... ttyl!