Oh My Jux!

Yesterday, my friend and high school batch mate, Chokie (Lalaine to you!), asked me if I've seen The New Web's (TNW) article about Jux, the new blogging platform I told you about in a previous entry. She says that my Jux page/site was featured! I was ecstatic upon learning about it but I simply couldn't check it out just yet! I was minutes away from defending my thesis, finally achieving 99% of my university requirements, and eventually that college diploma.

So today, I checked out the article from TNW, and voila!

I feel a bit guilty that I've neglected Jux for a long time. And this blog, too! I promise to post more frequently from now on, since I really have no excuse about being busy with thesis anymore. (OMG, I'm done with thesis. It hasn't sunk in 100% yet. Haha!)

On the side, last August 17, Lalaine recognized her favorite bloggers by giving out these awards:

Guess what? I got my first (second and third?) blog award! Haha! I don't think I'm worthy, though. My blog might be one of Chokie's favorites but to be awarded with these... I humble myself and thank Chokie with all my heart!

P.S.

I know I'm supposed to include some information and answer a few questions and all that but I'm afraid this entry is too long. Maybe in another entry! ;)

Impulse Killed Dilemma

To cut or not to cut my unbelievably thick hair has always been a question I've battled with for years. I can't keep it short because it's hard to manage the fly-away in all directions. I can't keep it long because it's still hard to manage because length and volume is bad combination for hair. Haha.

THE PEG:

Of course, I never really expected my hair to turn out like this. Blonde. Haha! I mean, this is staged. And my hair's too thick for a 'do as short and sassy as this. But I like the layers. I haven't been this vain in a long time. It's literally been years!

Haircut done out of impulse... Well, sorta. It usually takes me at least overnight to decide. I thought about just trimming my bangs, as usual. And mind you, it's only my bangs and it took me more than three days.

Ack. This is too much. :-S

Randomly, the thought about chopping my hair into a different style came to me yesterday morning, and hello, in less than 12 hours, I've lost this much hair! I can't believe it, too! Haha.

All together now! LOL.

P.S.

I wish my hair is blow-dried everyday. I kind of had a hard time keeping it neat and tidy today after my first shower. A few more trial-and-errors and I hope I'm good to go. See, this is why I need to think this kind of thing over. Hahaha.

Introducing... Ze Lipistik!

This was taken hours before Taft Ave. became a water park, river, or whatever you wanna call it. "Falcon" is the typhoon name, FYI. My best friend and thesis mate, Meryl, and I were editing our thesis video under these weather conditions, both of us fairly far enough from our homes to cause innate panic about being stranded in the university, and stuff like that. Haha.

Sorry, I dunno how this video blogging goes; I'm more of a writer, hence the earlier birth of this blog. So I've been informally blogging for years, mostly just journal-type entries documenting the mundane to interesting things that happened in an eventful day. I've been really busy with a lot of things recently, mostly thesis, as you may know if you're updated with my life. Because of that, I don't have much time to compose my thoughts and write about anything. Well, maybe I can but let's just say I think I finally got my priorities straight. Hah!

So here's a video blog! As much as I want to write about that day, I think a video would be the best medium to remember the day by!

Lipistik Vlog#1: Pre-Falcon Wrath Randomness

WHY THE SUDDEN INTEREST AT VIDEO BLOGGING?

I've finally decided to ditch my old account in YouTube (dimple106) because I wanted a new username. Haha. But! I really meant to start a vlog. I've been thinking about it for maybe about a week, after one of my high school batch mates, Lalaine Inumerables, asked for a video recording saying hi-hello to our other batch mates back in Davao City; it's for a mini-reunion party for our batch. That way, we who are unable to attend the party because of geographical constraints will be present at least digitally. Haha. And that made me wonder if I could ever consider doing what a lot of video bloggers do: talk in front of hundreds or thousands, maybe millions.

Here's the thing, I really love talking. I frequently got into trouble back in grade school because I was too talkative. My calssmates get reprimanded by the teachers as well, don't get me wrong. But some of those times, I admit I was the source of it, too. Haha! I believe I'm a people-person, so anything that has to do with being oriented with people and engaging in conversations of any kind are my kind of thing. I can be very shy or timid at times, though. I'm not very good in public speaking, but I try. Haha. I'm more of a writer, like I said, hence this blog.

Recently, I've been so busy with a lot of things (READ: concluding college education) and I barely have time to prop up that blank Blogger page and write. And sometimes I have too much going on online *cough*Facebook Twitter YouTube*cough* that I find writing a bit tiring at the end of a long day. So here, I'm trying out my "skill" at vlogging, if there ever was any. Haha.

In my YouTube channel, expect:

1. Journal- / Documentation- / Narration-type vlogs
2. How-to's (probably about stuff you may already know but I do differently haha)
3. Music... Uh, stuff. No, not covers, I can never sing to save my life. Hmm, I plan to have electro/house/trance/dance music. Uh huh, exciting right? LOLJK.

P.S.
I wanted my YouTube username to be: "lipistik" because that's just how I want it, haha, but it's unavailable, says YouTube. Hmpf. So head on over to my YouTube channel: Ze Lipistik! (As in "THE" in a weird accent. Haha.)

100th Entry

How apt is it to start the year with my 100th blog entry? Not as apt as ending with the 100th and starting with the 101st! But oh well, I'll have to make do with the 100th.

Anyway, we all know how New Year's Resolutions go. You make a decision to do or change something, something big and drastic, and expect to have it done with by the end of the year. Honestly, I gave up on those a long while back. Say, high school. Hehe. I make a resolution, and mid-January, bam! It's gone; either forgotten or deliberately ignored.

As I always say, 2007 was a year of adjustment and adapting. 2008 was a year of pain, loss, and a lot of sadness. 2009 was the booming year of recovery! 2010 was even better! I really know already where I should stand and for how long, how tightly or lightly to grasp at things, stuff like that. So since last year ended two days ago, and I'll have nothing much going on with my life at the top half of 2011 but thesis, OJT, and GMG, I decided to have a resolution again. But this time, I'll be really goal-oriented and specific, and I'll make sure the goals are feasible, too. Haha.

I shall add the following list to my side bar so I could tick them off one by one. It didn't work when I tried to remember it; didn't work even when I wrote it down on paper... Or that time I posted my resolution on my bedroom wall. *sigh*

• Get an SSS number
• Start running again
• Take driving lessons
• Get a driver's license
• Enroll in boxing class
• Stop eating food with high cholesterol and starch content
• Stop eating Minimize intake of sweets (ice cream, cake, chocolates, etc.) hihi
• Wake up before noon, sleep before minight
• Gradually stop bad habits (Yes, vague, I know. But this blog is public. Heehee.)
• Have a boyfriend (Oops. Valid goal, but so not a valid resolution! Haha!)

Well, that's all I could think of for now. I just hope I get the motivation I need.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The End of The Beginning

Officially done with THESIS A! The meeting/orientation or pep talk/party or what have you that we had with our thesis mentor this afternoon was overwhelming. It made me realize how much I have to be thankful for since, yun na nga, after all the painstaking days and nights trying to perfect our proposal, well, I can't say that it's perfect per se, thereabouts.

And as it all ended, it's time to welcome the holidays with a merry cheer! (Whuts.) And after that, I come back to reality that the end of this term is only the beginning of a life-altering academic challenge!

Working Lunch Productions, lunchmates, we've only just begun! Let's go for gold! *wink, nudge*

P.S. / O.T.

I'm quite sad that the Philippines lost the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup to Indonesia by 0-1. It's the first time that I have ever been excited about a football game and we lost. *sigh* Anyway, we just need to score two goals on the second leg and we're good to go!

W_W

You know how text/chat emoticons are used to convey a particular feeling and it just seems so fit? Well, I created one today. One that suits the very inexplicable sensation I've been feeling for a long time, heightened only in the last 24 hours. Because of longing for sleep, rest, and recreation, I believe that W_W says it all. Meryl feels the same; check out her version here!

W stands for a lot of meanings: werla, windang, whatever, whoa, whuuut. And a lot more that don't begin with W. Hee.

Feeling Good

As the song would go:

It's a new dawn

It's a new day

It's a new life

For me

And I'm feeling good

I do feel good about today. Aside from the mid-week break from school, the inauguration of the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines happened at noon today. President Benigno Aquino III delivered an awesome inaugural address/speech. I kept a copy of his speech's transcript just so I could tick off his promises as soon as he fulfills them in a span of six years.

No, I am not cynical about his capabilities. I think that I should keep his promises in mind so that I know what and how to contribute in fulfilling this as a Filipino citizen.

I guess it's a new daw, new day, new life, not just for me but for all the Filipino people inside and outside the country. We all should be feeling good.

Give and Take

You know how life turns out to be a shiz-hole for a time that it feels like eternity and you can no longer find reason to be utterly happy? That's how I've been for the past week. Or weeks? With the org responsibilities piling up and the midterms coming up, I have never felt so stressed in my life. Add to that, I found out recently that my favorite uncle has been diagnosed with lung cancer. What is stress, right? I finally found the Achilles' Heel of my dependence on Stresstabs. There can never be too much tabs when there is so much stress. What. Hahaha. K.

Today has been pretty much a give-and-take day.

It started out as me being all grumpy cos I didn't wake up early enough to review for my two quizzes scheduled for the day. Despite the cold shower, hearty breakfast, and running late, my eyelids wouldn't stop drooping! And my mind tells me that my body is too tired that it's numb and that I feel extremely exhausted. (LIFE TAKES!) Like I said, I've never felt so tired in my life. I concude such because I had to stop by 10-Q, a convenience store along Taft, to down 180ml of ionized energy drink so I could stay awake, if not focused. I can't possibly screw up either quizzes. True enough, I didn't feel like dozing off the whole morning! (LIFE GIVES!)

Feeling pretty much alive, I go up to the office and find that it's crowded with so many newly accepted trainees! I planned to review for my next quiz but it didn't happen. Too much people! Well, not that it's a bad thing; we did want to hoard on newbies this term. (LIFE TAKES! LIFE GIVES!)

I headed out to meet Joh and AJ during my lunch break. Joh told me over the weekend that she bought something for me because it reminded her of me. ADORABLE, YES? Mini magnets in the form of my favorite creature on earth!

Look! It's on our fridge door already! Heehee. Oh, and yeah, I had to include that photo of my Lola, brother, and I in the frame. Hee.

I found out that she sat in AJ's Art Appreciation class wherein they made pretty little collages. She probably had nothing to do and there were art materials available. Look what she made for me! This is why Joh makes a perfect girlfriend. Too bad I'm interested in a perfect boyfriend. Haha! But she's an awesome bestfriend, that's for sure.

Snapping back to reality, I took a flabbergasting 100-point exam. (LIFE TAKES.) I head to the office in time to prepare for the highly awaited GMG General Assembly and Newbie Orientation. We hoarded new trainees. I'm not sure if it's a good thing, though, but I hope it will be. I had my apprehensions but as soon as we started, everything flowed as if they have been determined to happen in such way. (LIFE GIVES!)

We were... CROWDED. I'm not sure but I think all there were more than 50 of us crammed in a 45 seating capacity class room. Hahaha.

I forgot the title. Red Rover? Haha. Mimi's game.

Sir Brad giving a pep talk to the Green Media Group.

LIFE GIVES. Life gives a lot. When things turn bland from mundaneness, bitter from stress, and sour from ugly experiences, life gives. I waited and endured patiently, and alas! It all ends sweet after all.

Revelations

Half of my day was wasted on oversleeping just like any other weekend morning; what's new? I drag myself to school because of org responsibilities; what's new?

What is new, really?

I talked to a friend this afternoon and I found out something. Well, a lot of things. But that one thing got my eyebrows raised involuntarily. I'm glad that he told me. I'm touched as well, because amidst all the shiz that's been happening to me lately, it flatters me that I am one that can be trusted. I was told that out of all the (very few) people who came to mind, I was the one he could trust. And I'd have to say, he didn't make the wrong choice. I'm glad I got to talk to him; it was more like I'm glad he talked to me about it.

I found out that someone has been hating on me and a few others who are dear to me. Just because you don't like who you're working with doesn't mean you have the license to make their workload feel like hell. It's bad enough that you don't cooperate, it's worse that you don't make an effort at all. The worst part is, you do it on purpose because of a really shallow reason. I hate how you put on a mask of a damn smile whenever I see you because I know that behind that mask is a scowl so bad I wanna rip your face off. (Haha, too graphic.) No, really, don't make it look like I don't know shiz cos I do. I'm not stupid and you know it. Unless you make more wrong decisions and make a fool of yourself in the long run, let's see who surfaces as stupid.

Another person has been talking shiz behind my back (huh?) and I'm not even surprised. Not that I'm someone famous or interesting or whatever that people talk about. That's exactly why I'm irked and unresponsive at the same time. I am a nobody! I am a nobody except in one aspect: the organization. I am not one who abuses power when I have it, but I do know how to make power work. You've served in your own time and now I do things the way I believe would be for the better. Don't go thinking that I decide just because I want it my way. Do think that I have a band of minds working with me (of which the second person of this entry is not a part of, in any way) and we have thought about processes long and hard before we implement them. So don't go sticking your nose in someone else's shiz cos I guarantee you that if you don't stop, it will get dirty.

I've always said that hate is such a big word and it deserves to be associated with nothing else but crap. So pardon the next statement: I hate this entry. There's just so much hate. Like, try 2 of 3 topics? Haha. I might delete this entry when the time comes that I can't take the crappiness of this any longer. But for now, I'm glad that I word-vomited because I feel a lot better. :)

Hello, Senior Year!

It's the first time after an entire year that I'm taking up a major class again. It's my last academic term in La Salle to have 12 units, which is already the minimum required number to be eligible for the Dean's List. I am more than determined to make it to the Dean's List this term! I can do this, I know I can!

Speaking of things I can do... Today marked my first Green Media Group recruitment activity as its head. Together with my co-officers, I think we made the first recruitment day a success. I hope that the creases decrease (pun intended) as we go through this week. Here are some quick snapshots of our booth located at the Central Plaza:

Okay, good job, Carlo. Hahaha!

Everyone's baby boy, Juris!

Oh, and there's this new eating place and it's sticking out like an eyesore at a place like Agno. *SARCASTIC* I mean, a place like Agno (don't get me wrong, I love Agno to bits!) doesn't deserve such a fancy-looking food joint like the Castro 810 Cantina:

To the tune of If We Ever Meet Again Jay-Z intro: "What's some fancy joint like you doing in a place like this?" Hahahaha.

And to end this entry with the happiest note EVER, a pleasant surprise from AJ! A box of Panda Chocolate straight from Beijing! Best pasalubong he has given me ever!

Will die for pandas. Will die for chocolates. Combine, and I'm double dead!

Sign Language 101

Today was the annual Lasallian Enrichment Alternative Program (LEAP) Day. For the past two years that I've been in La Salle, I took boring LEAP classes, I admit. Here are my reasons:

1. I wanted a LEAP activity that didn't require me to leave the campus.
2. I'm sorta scared to leave my comfort zone.
3. It's cheap. Like, I don't have to shell out money at all. Hahaha.
4. But yeah, back to #1, I'm lazy like that.

On my frosh year, I took Digital Photography. I know, I can read about that online or whatever. Besides, I'm in a communication course so they'd probably teach us that one way or another. In my defense, though, I was really into photography (and still am) and maybe I was too excited and got ahead of myself. My curriculum flowchart indicated that I was to take a photography class, a major one, on the first term of my sophomore year. But no, I was too excited. It failed me. I won't delve into details, but ugh, I was so disappointed.

Sophomore year, hello! I proclaim it the toughest time of my life. So much has happened that the new year (2009) wasn't much of a motivation for me. I was so addicted to Lomography and film and analog and la la la that time so it was a no-brainer enrolling in Lomography 101. It was interesting, but I knew that already. I've been doing it, see. I'm not being proud, I was just lazy. Heehee.

Having said that, today could be the exception! The one thing that broke the boring-LEAP-class curse: Sign Language 101! Sponsored by SC-EDGE 2008, I'm really glad I enrolled in that class. If I may say, I have been battling with a go or a no with that class since last year. I dunno why I went with a class whose topics I already knew about. This time, wow. I learned so much! The instructors may have crammed three months worth of sign language lessons into three full hours but I learned so much.

I have always wanted to be signs literate because I believe in the power of non-verbal communication. It also keeps the mind busy; searching for simple words that substitute a complex one in order to interpret it in sign.

Ah, the joys of language!

Some Announcements

I put up my old Cbox just this evening. I didn't want to sign up for a new account since I've stuck to the old Blogger URL anyway. What I did to this blog is that I deleted every entry prior to February 9, the day I resurrected this page; clean slate, revamped! I was struggling to find out back at Cbox.ws on how to delete all my Cbox messages from more than a year ago. Man, this experience is so 2008. I was a wretched mess. Ugh. *shudder*

So for a change, I wanted to just keep all the old messages. I don't mind that the last posted message was from a year and four months ago. October 2008. Gaaahhh. It's just too much memories for me.

That's it, actually. I just wanted to say that I've a chat box again. You can hit me up there anytime. You may remain anonymous, I don't mind. Oh, and I'll be plugging my Formspring.me page. I know, I know. It must be the most self-gratifying internet page on the planet and I indulge in it. Some questions are intelligent anyway, and they make me think when I'm already idle.

La la la. I didn't plan on making this entry long.

Advanced happy Valentine's day to all those who are celebrating a day of love with their significant other! Happy Single Awareness Day to all singles and bitter herbs out there. Haha. Kung Hei Fat Choi to all my Chinese (feng yeo) friends! (Or, uhh, Qung Xi Fa Tsai, if I remember it right? Haha, my Chinese xian xi/lau shr's will kill me! Hahaha!) Pardon me if I bastardized some Chinese words. I don't mean it; just trying to revive what's "left" of my Filipino-Chinese Catholic school education. Hahaha. ☮

Change

Hello.

My blog is reborn. Had you been a constant follower before (but I actually doubt that, haha), notice that I had the same URL and almost the same layout. Not much has changed, really. None except for the missing blogs from dear old 2008.

Since the year 2010 flew in, I have said that 2007 gave me a new soul; 2008 broke my heart; 2009 was a time of healing; and I patiently wait for whatever 2010 has to offer. Beggars can't be choosers. Besides, I think I've gone through a lot already and I'm confident that I'm ready to take on anything. Everything? Not really. Chill, cowboy, slow down. I plan to take it in stride. I still have my hangups. Hehe.

Word is that it's usually "out with the old, in with the new" when it comes to the subject of change. I never really liked change to play a role in my life. I was one who lingered in comfort zones. I learned to take risks. Yeah, that was an amazing feeling, realizing there's so much more outside my bubble. Maybe I enjoyed it too much cos I transformed into this impulsive semi-beast who does things without thinking them over. Ugh, 2008, don't remind me.

So that's when I learned that change is actually a good thing. It gets scary at times but when you get the hang of it, you'll see things in a whole different light. For me, I got more in touch with my experiential side. I never knew that my interests actually range from mundane to awesome to queer to weird to rare to la la la la la, I can go on forever.

There's a downside, though. I like change so much that my attention span got shorter. I'm a person of the extremes; I get so into something like there's nothing else that mattered but it lasts for a really short time. And then I'm back to square one. The process begins again. I'm pretty sure it won't end so soon.