if you can’t fly, float!

As I was watching the tv series Bones last week, an idea came to my head. The episode was about an astronaut who was murdered, and the suspects were the US government and/or the space tourism agency.

The investigators, for free, were able to board a space shuttle. And at that point of zero gravity, the two of them floated. The badass FBI agent Booth and the forensic anthropologist Bones were, unexpectedly (by the looks on their faces), thrilled and ecstatic by the floating sensation that they’ve experienced. Naturally, I wanted to try that as well! Oh, the bliss of floating!

Wikipedia said: 

As of 2010, orbital space tourism opportunities are limited and expensive, with only the Russian Space Agency providing transport. The price for a flight brokered by Space Adventures to the International Space Station aboard a Soyuz spacecraft US$ 20–35 million.

So there, I only at least 20 million dollars to buy me a seat. I already have 3 dollars from my last trip. =) I wonder if they would give me discounts like shoebuy coupons when I beg them that, “hey, this is not just a fancy; this is my lifelong dream–the purpose of my existence!” Or maybe I should just wait for Oprah to make my wish come true. She makes things happen, right?

A thought crossed my mind. Which would be easier to find in my lifetime: (a) the secret to flying or (b) 20-35 million dollars? Oh, well. Guess I’d stick to flying.

photo from the web

just a dream

Because I have so many things to say, or rather, because I have nothing to say, I am now sharing not what’s happening in my life, but what happened in my dream last night.

It was a weird dream. Or at least I do not know what to make of it. I was in a coffee shop with people I know, but only as acquaintances. Even while we were on the open area, the temperature was cold for my tolerance. Then I saw a childhood friend, the one I’ve been with when I was in LA last April, and it seemed like we and some friends have a plan that night. So I went with them and walked around the neighborhood of houses with no fences.

As we were walking, they wanted to have cigarettes, and I volunteered to buy for them at the nearest 711. When I got there, the store was full of African Americans, those that looked like gangsters; I wondered why but did not give it much thought. At the cashier, I asked for a pack of cigarette, and when he was asking for payment, I was surprised that he was asking for dollars! I panickingly searched through my pouch, and all I have are peso bills!

I didn’t know I was in America. I had no idea how I got there; I have neither briefcases nor extra clothes. I had no idea why I was there; I have no reason to be there.

I guess we speak to ourselves through our dreams. They say that dreams were born of inner desires. If I have to make something out of it, perhaps it is that I need a break, again. Or I want to disappear, again, among people strangers to me, in a far, far away land…

photo from the web

Then again, it might be just a dream.

looking forward

I bought a book last April; I knew I couldn’t read it anymore until the first semester ends (at that time, I was still finishing a documentary/commentary on the existence of aliens by Zecharia Sitchin). But I still bought it…so that I have something to look forward to.

I have read through all of Anne Rice’s vampires (and absolutely fell in love with them) and decided to start one of her older books on witches (published in 1990), specifically the Mayfair Witches. Amazon books describes it:

In this engrossing and hypnotic tale of witchcraft and the occult spanning four centuries, we meet a great dynasty of witches–a family given to poetry and incest, to murder and philosophy, a family that over the ages is haunted by a powerful, dangerous and seductive being.

Anne Rice recounts:

The first in the Mayfair Witches series, The Witching Hour introduces the fictional Mayfair family of New Orleans, generations of male and female witches. This tight-knit and deeply connected family, where a death of one strengthens the others with his/her knowledge. One Mayfair witch per generation is also designated to receive the powers of “the man,” known as Lasher. Lasher gives the witches gifts, excites them, and protects them. Unsure as to exactly what this spirit is, the Mayfair clan knows him variously as a protector, a god-like figure, a sexual being, and the image of death. Lasher’s current witch is Deirdre, who lies catatonic from psycological shock treatments.

I can’t wait to get my hands on this book. I need to be bewitched again.

a certain kind of love

Oftentimes, we are touched by great love stories. We are awe-inspired by love that moves mountains. We are touched by unconditional love. True love is so elusive, we are always mesmerized by the sight of it, even if we are seeing it from a distance.

But there is another love that touches my heart, the one called friendship. This one warms my heart, even if seen from a distance. I know of a story of two women who were very good friends. These women had a long and adventurous history together, back since they were pretty teenagers up until they both now have, what they themselves call “matronic beauty” (though they’ve tried Lipofuze and others). They have the same comedy and strong personality, although they too have contrasting behaviors. From my view, they seemed to jive so well.

But as all  good stories, this one also had its conflict. For 10 years or so, they fell apart. Not a word spoken. But in that one fateful day, when the other learned of the “trial” of the other, she came running to her friend’s house. She just had to see her friend again…to once and for all end the silence between them. There may have been tears, for all I know. But I didn’t see them. What I saw was a beautiful friendship rekindled, a certain kind of love.

graphic from the web

exempt the elderly, please

“Under the last two years of Gloria’s (Macapagal-Arroyo) term, we lost about P100 billion from all those idiotic tax exemptions that Congress passed,” Senator Sergio Osmena said.

Though I am not really into economics, I must agree with his arguments, more like insult, to the tax exemptions provided for big corporation, to wit:

You cannot seek too many exemptions because it makes the system more inefficient. The tax incentives given to big corporations should only be given if the big corporations are still not here. And, I found out another idiotic thing where we are giving big tax exemptions to someone who has no place to go but here.

BUT I disagree with him as to the tax exemptions extended to senior citizens, which he also wanted to abolish. He said that with all these tax exemptions,  “we won’t be able to educate enough of our children, pay our teachers enough, pay our doctors enough.”

Probably he has a point from the macrofinance point of view, but mine is from the empathy I have for the elderly. The 20% discount on drugstores, for example, is a significant help in their arthritis problem, eczema treatment, and some much more dreaded disease. I am coming from purely emotional viewpoint, and well, my arguments probably wouldn’t pass for a rational one.

But my point is, many elderly in this country remained poor. Since their childhood up to the last moments of their lives, they had to always make ends meet. Our elders are the selfless type, those who would give everything to care for their children, and grandchildren. Up to now, I still see lolos and lolas on the streets, selling flowers or newspapers. There’s even an old man outside Beda who sells cigarettes, and he isn’t exactly in good health—poor eyesight, poor hearing, difficulty walking. I just hope that, even just at the final stages in their lives, our country could care for them, or at least exempt them from taxes. After all, they don’t exactly have a long time to enjoy these.

take care, everyone

Indeed, the flood season has already come. Last night, going home from school was again a challenge, and last night of all nights, I forgot to bring my umbrella. At least I was wearing rocawear jeans-like denim fir for running. Some inconsiderate drivers though would speed up in flood, getting us people in the sidewalk all wet. And last night of all nights, there was a long line waiting for FXs to come. I had no choice but to find some other way. Anyway, I was able to go home by taking long routes and long time.

The storm last night was strong and violent. I couldn’t sleep because of the frightening sound of the wind. It felt like some flying object would smash into my window. I was just thankful I was able to go home before the heavy rain started pouring and the strong winds started blowing. This morning, the streets were a mess, and some streets were flooded. Some trees were cut down by the winds, and in our street, there were pieces of roof scattered in the streets. I hope those roofs weren’t really from houses. Many areas still do no have water and electricity, and even celphone signals.

What easy plight I had last night compared to families who had no shelter from the storm…

I hope everyone’s okay.

establishing protocols

Because of the numerous natural disasters that happened to our country, I guess we already know that we should take care of the environment and of this one world. I hope we actually learn that.

But there’s another thing I learned from the recent typhoon Bashang: that I am not prepared for the blackouts, water supply lost, and lack of celphone signals.

I only have one little candle in the house, and I had to find it in the darkness. Probably it’s best practice to put candles or other emergency lights at an easily reachable area and to make sure you have supplies, just as Mom makes sure she has her vitamins. It is my practice to make sure that the water container is empty; I had this idea that stored water would elicit worms or mosquitoes, etc. But I guess it’s better to have water on stock in case of deficiencies.

And this time, I’d make sure I have extra phone batteries and exta sim of other networks in case of lost signals and drained batteries! Lost communication gets families worried sick.

consciously wrong

I am very, very poor in drawing.

Last Wednesday, it felt like I had the most embarrasing moment in school. Why? The professor asked me to illustrate through drawing a provision in the Civil Code. I was supposed to draw a river, lands on both sides, and the sudden change in the river course. The idea was to present which of the two landowners have the right to the old bed due to the change in river course. Anyway, I couldn’t really refuse, could I? So I went to the board and whispered to the professor, “Sir, I have poor drawing skills.” With what seemed a mocking tone, he said, “of course.” (Does he really know my inability to draw? haha) So there I was, drawing in the board, which drawing even a preschooler could draw, and which drawing even a college graduate could not reasonably fathom without explanation for me. After my illustration and recitation, I sat down. I saw my drawing on the board. And it was, without exaggerating, really ugly. My seatmate was actually laughing at my drawing (at me) haha.

The next day, a classmate told me he noticed something wrong when I was drawing. I expected that it was my poor illustration. He said, I had a bulging stomach! haha. I guess I need some help (i.e., apidexin) in that, and not really in my drawing. I was so conscious and anxious about my drawing, I forgot to tuck in my tummy. Nahalata tuloy na malaki. haha.

Photo from the web

Guyabano—cancer cure?

Because of mom’s cancer, we had been receiving helpful tips from friends and relatives on how to fight cancer. Majority of them told mom to eat plenty of our very own guyabano! It helps a lot in colon cleanse, protects immune system, boosts energy and outlook in life, and fights CANCER!

Below are some interesting cancer-realted stuff I got from the web:

• Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer.
•  The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug!
• What’s more, unlike chemotherapy, the compound extracted from the graviola tree selectively hunts down and kills only cancer cells. It does not harm healthy cells!

Unfortunately, I never liked the taste of it. But my parents were practically forcing me to better like it now.

My Friday Holiday

It’s Friday already. Whew! I’ve been looking forward to this since Monday. Why? Because it’s a school holiday (St. Benedict’s Day), meaning NO CLASSES!

And later this afternoon, PJVP, eks, and I would try that chicken all you want at Max’s. Ever since I’ve read of that promo, I couldn’t wait to try that for myself. In preparation, I didn’t eat dinner last night and breakfast today. haha.

And I got myself a bonus, figuratively I mean. We have nothing to do at work today, hence this blog. :p My officemates were exchanging links of vides on Skype, checking out www.weightlosspill-s.net, and Facebooking. I, on the other hand, was blogging, chatting,  and finishing the episodes on Naruto Shippuuden, which by the way has a very very very engaging episodes!!

Have a nice Friday everyone! Hope you could also say, Thank God, it’s Friday!