2003-08-06 12:30 p.m.
Finally...
I can read OTTP. Wow. ANd I didn't have to shell out a single penny too. A friend of a friend lent me the entire word-processed copy in a diskette. Oh joy. I can finally relate. I can finally blackmail my sister, the cheapest human being in Metro Manila, except in the case of anything regarding Harry Potter. I can finally understand why a lot of people are bitching about the death of Sirius Black. Yeah, so I have plenty of spoilers already but hey, it's not like I'm a staunch fan or anything. I just like Ron, the twins and Remus. I hate Snape and Draco.
A lot of people like those two. Am I the only one who despises naturally despicable characters? I don't like slimy nepotistic nepotistic professors (speaking of which, the first one I have in Ateneo, will be the head of my black list when I graduate and become leader of the Mafia-- no wait, I forgot I'm heading for law. Oh well. Still on the black list) I don't like spoiled unfunny brats. So sue me. And pardon me if I vomit when you say Snape is sexy. I just don't see it happening.
To each our own. I'm just mildly expressing my dislike for popular characters here because I can't get a word in edgewise in oral conversation. I'm tired of getting a truckload of verbal fireworks thrown in my face whenever I say outright that Snape is an asshole. They tell me, "YOu don't know Snape the way they do. HE's beyond what the fannon makes him out to be." As if I want to get in deep with the "desirable mystery" concealed beneath the grease and slime. (Eve, that's not you, okay? I'm referring to more hot-blooded fans who suddenly stopped appearing in my MSN messenger after a not-quite-diplomatic debate)
I seem to have an unhealthy habit of disliking generally (pertaining to fandom) likeable characters. Like in Fushigi Yugi (which btw, I didn't bother watching after the episode of Nuriko's death) I hated Hotohori-- the arrogant, long-haired, supremely gorgeous emperor and Tamahome, the trying-hard Cassanova of Miaka. In Final Fantasy 8 (the only FF that I didn't enjoy and unlikely to ever play again thanks to the goddamn junction system) I despised Squall Leonhart-- the cold jaded, my-frigid-personality-can-bring-back-the-ice-age heartthrob of the FF series. I loathed Dias Flac of Star Ocean 2, another stunningly gorgeous, jaded character who's personality resembles that of an unfrozen neanderthal. Name a character who generates a lot of 'ooh-la-la's' in a fandom and I'm likely to dislike him.
It's not like a force of habit or anything-- I just seem to be averse to everything blatantly conventional.
Okay, enough blogging. Book five is already in my possession and the sooner I read it, the better. Til then everyone. No spoilers unless I officially declare that I've read the entire thing.^^ Or else.
2003-08-05 11:30 a.m.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TINA-CHAN!!!
*throws confetti* I have a surprise for you! Wait for it! It's cute and you'll love it, promise.^^
Ooh, I just realized that I'm gonna have consecutive birthday greetings in my blow. Wowie's next tomorrow. Gotta finish her present too.
2003-27-07 6:10 pm
My brother's rather stupid, but interesting query...
My "crush ng bayan", egotistic, unusually wholesome (he's fifteen but he still gets uncomfortable about the topic of sex-- how's that? ^___^),badminton/billiards- crazy brother was reading the All Systems Go section of the Guidon and immediately swooped down to the Badminton team. And this is is his reaction:
"Blue Shuttlers?" he said, his face twisted in blatant incredulity tinged with derisive amusement. "What kind of a title is that?"
I, being one of the subtle yet no less sincere in conveying the Atenean spirit, combatted his question with cop-out route number 1: answer a question with another question. "What better names can you suggest then?"
David just shrugged. "None. But it's kinda tacky, you know? I mean, the basketball team is called the "Blue Eagles" but the rest of the varsities have tag-on entities resembling a certain element of the sport. Blue Spikers. Blue Booters. Blue Netters. And of course, the original Blue Golfers." Then he jutted his chin out and flung my question back at me. "What about you? You're the smart-ass. What other names can you think of?"
Aha. Verbal challenges. I just so love those. Unbelievably, but true, after fifteen years of living with my bro, he hasn't realized that yet. So here's my impromptu, half-sensical, unfunny defense of the Ateneo sports line-up. "Okay, tennis. Blue Racketeers? Possible, but Tennis isn't the only sport that involves a racket. Blue bouncers? Nuh-uh. So Netters it is. Golf. Well, golfers is normal, dull, but functional nonetheless. YOu don't want ATeneo to call their golf team Blue Tees. And most certainly not Blue Clubbers. I mean, a golf club calling themselves the Clubbers? Sounds like an oxymoron, seeing as golf is such a sophisticated sport and that "clubbers" sounds like something from the the Flinstones era."
That spoken, I proceeded to the most pertinent sport (to my brother that is). "Now, on to badminton alternatives. This is a kinda thorny inquisition coz even though there’s plenty of variations I seriously doubt Ateneo will issue any sports team with such names. Badminton involves a net, a racket and a (the origin of “shuttlers”) shuttlecock. We can't say, "Blue Shuttles. Shuttle pertains to a certain type of public transportation. Blue Bird-smashers? Sounds kinda kinky.... And I seriously doubt anyone would want to call themselves Blue Cocks. Or even worse, Lady Cocks."
Surprisingly, there was no further comment after that.
2003-07-24 11:31 a.m.
What should count more in a story: innovation or grammar?
Sorry, I just came across some people who claimed that they wouldn't read a story with occasional grammatical errors even though the plot is superbly done and the characterization very much engaging.
Personally, I'm quite disturbed. I know grammar is important-- that's why I got myself a beta-reader because I'm usually quite careless. I am very disorganized when I write. Sometimes, when I'm too bored to continue where I left off, I jump to another later part of the story and piece together the stuff to create a semblance of coherence later on. So instead of staring at an empty screen for hours (this I learned after attempting to write to cure depression) , I can start off to another portion of the story then work on the connections and transitions when I'm sufficiently inspired. In conjunction to that, I usually write the dialogue first then add the descriptive details later. It works for me, uncoordinated as the method is.
Well anyway, back to the topic. I don't have much problems with my grammar-- I think its pretty decent enough-- but in my previous works, I didn't bother much with editing and beta-reading and stuff. I realize my mistake now, when i went back, a week later to read it. Lo and behold, when I thought I had assumed everything as taken care of, I discovered several points of embarrassing grammatical and spelling errors. Oh the shame. I'm have no grade less than 90 in my English but my literature didn't reflect it. I was almost afraid to click the reviews button, but I told myself that it was my fault for being careless. Hence, whatever they dish out, I shall handle.
(Warning: Major Self-absorption Ahead. Also, some bashing of unnamed people. Either bear with me or get lost.)
But my rather irrational fear immediately shoved aside by astonishment. Not to sound conceited or anything but out of thirty-eight reviews, only one pointed out the grammar issue. ANd the one who did, told me that the innovation, the dialogue and the humor still made it an interesting read. The rest didn't even notice and just pegged me to go on and showered me with heart-warming compliments. Not the usual stuff (this is good! sugoi! More more!) but real reviews focusing on the originality of the plot and the style. And they weren't just so-so reviewers too. They're fellow writers and I know they are credible and good. Probably even better and more experienced than I am.
The thing is, they failed to single out the one aspect that I lacked. Which means, that my story, however scattered the syntax errors, was still a decent read. And that, I think is the best compliment that anyone could give. Not the words themselves, but the fact that my mistakes were more or less overshadowed by the more positive aspects of my written piece. The fact that they appreciated my story because of the imagination I weaved into my words-- more than the actual words themselves. They also appreciated what was not tangibly written. And that, in my simple standards is worth more than a hundred compliments on flawless syntax.
I'm not saying that grammar is irrelevant. It is-- very much, and it plays a major role in holding the readers' interest. I've read some fics that could've been good, but poor, almost non-existent grammar skills drove away my interest. But assuming that the level of mediocrity is not in the extremes. That there are scattered errors, several at most and few at least, but not really notable enough to disrupt the flow of thought? Should this errors really prevail over the actual story itself? Does structure matter more than substance? Is there some sort of equilibrium of the two components where the deliberation of "good" from "poor" story is determined?
The answer to this isn't absolute for we are all entitled to different opinions. But for the record, here's my stand.
There are other writers like me, who pride themselves for their innovation. Things that do not exist matter to us. THough we may be careless at times, we are not bad. That's all there is to is. No one is perfect. Even James Joyce, the master of the English language had mistakes in his diction before he proppelled himself to to the apotheosis of ingenuity.
Well anyway, this really isn't important, but I just thought I'd mention it. I've read the works of some of the grammar-glorifying people and well, the grammar indeed needs no further polish. Outstanding I might add. They make sure to point that out to anyone who reads too. But well, not to sound offensive, but I've read like, a hundred other versions of the same plot. It makes me wonder if their pursuit for grammar perfection limits their vision for more interesting stories. I apologize if I sound condescending but really, I'm just irritated because these people (no names) keep on flaunting their impeccable English to anyone who'd listen.
*points to last sentence* That is not a hypocritical statement. This is my blog. I just write what I want here. And blogs are meant for self-centered people. So pardon the narcissism. At least I don't advertise my skills anywhere else.^^
2003-07-13 12:02 p.m.
I don't know what to blog about...
IRonic, coz I've been doing enough to write a novel of my life story. The thing is, I've been doing so much, I can't think of what to record anymore. Or rather, I don't have the time to document everything. I'm not really the most ardent blogger around, that much is obvious, because I tend to prefer living my life than writing about it. I'm a doer, but I'm also a writer.
WE had a topic on economics in fourth year high school. I've never been much of an economics buff, except maybe for discussions on legal matters, but this one lesson, about opportunity cost, caught my attention. I mean, finally something I can apply to real life without dissecting the hell out of it.
Humans are social creatures. (I'd like to refer to the non-partisan reference-- I am after all, a feminist in my own right, and "MAN is a social creature" just doesn't cut with my ideals.^^) And I am a human being. So, therefore (I'm inserting some syllogism here) I am a social creature. And I love life so much I'm torn between writing about it and just plain living it, and leaving it recorded by nothing more than the power of memory.
So, where does "opportunity cost" come in? Before I continue, let me define it for the benefit of those who don't know. Opportunity cost is the purposeful perpetuation of a certain element at the expense of another. Like say, if you want to buy new leather boots, you have to forego eating at Cibo to save you some cash.
Okay, now that I've defined it, I'll go on the exposition of it as related to my life.
A great part of my humanity is inclined towards writing. And another part is intermingling with other human beings. I love people, I love writing. But I can't be with one without abandoning the other. I mean, can you write while gabbing away with your friends at starbucks? I don't mean writing as in poising a ballpen on paper and scribbling away, but writing that involves the mind and the imagination. THe world is large enough to fit all the creatures but it is not large enough to fit the mind. And so sue me, even if this is just a blog entry, I'd still like it to have some semblance of coherence, so yeah, I do think before I record the happenings of my sick sad life.
So if I settle down to write, I stop being social for a moment. If I get caught up in the ever-sporadic movement of my world and the people in it, I'm too beat to sit down and work my mind, after I've worked the rest of my body. See? Opportunity cost. And I've realized, that opportunity cost can never be even. Lately, I've been leaning more to doing than writing, which isn't as surprising as I thought it would, since I'm in school six whole days a week. I never realized how much ROTC and three orgs can take from my free time until it was too late. Oh well. I'm as flexible as I am human, so I'll find a way to manage. A cadet always finds a way. That I learned from ROTC. IF you don't know the answer, don't reply "Sir, I don't know, Sir" unless you want to drop and do twenty push-ups.^^ YOu say, "Sir, I will find out, sir!" Pretty neat huh? Makes you sound smart and valiant at the same time.^^
* looks up at the entry title * Hey, what do you know? I lied. I blogged about not blogging. Huh. Amazing how thinking about not doing something can end up as doing something without thinking of it.^^
2003-07-15 11:51 a.m.
Ah, the art of cońosis... What would the world be without it?^____^
Hehehehe... here's a little something I picked up from the our block e-group. Call me shallow, but I found it amusing. See for yourself.
Tales from the Cońo Side
By Wanna Fellacio Torero
It's so hirap talaga to study in UP, the University of the Poor. You know, I
ever wanted to study here. But my parents kasi, they both went to UP and they
said na it was the best school talaga. Eh 'di I went. But no! When I got here,
Holy horrors! I was ready to make himatay after the first day pa lang. Would you
believe, there's no aircon na nga in the classrooms, the fan doesn't work pa.
And then this guy who was like,
wearing a sando, shorts and tsinelas lang made tabi next to me. He made pakilala
pa! The nerve! So I made takbo to the CR to make tago. But I couldn't make
hugas my hands that were so pawis from escaping such a near-death experience.
There was no liquid soap! Not even a couch where I could sit to make kikay.
Do you feel my pain na ba? But wait, there's more. Last Thursday kasi Daddy's
Volvo was bawal, eh the Eclipse was being repaired, so I had to make sakay with
my yaya in the Ikot jeep. It was so siksik! I could like, smell the putok of the
girl next to me. Like, it was sobrang mabaho talaga. Kasi naman, the Ikot jeeps
are old na nga, they're mainit pa! Sana they make palit na the jeeps with a
shuttle system. Okey lang naman even if there's an increase in pamasahe 'di ba?
So when the car is bawal, I can use my credit card na to make bayad.
Isa pa, you know the Shopping Center? It's so kadiri talaga. I'm forced na nga
to make Xerox there, (as if naman I could be caught in that place otherwise)
pero I'm so inis because it's so maliit and madilim, and most of the stalls
don't have aircon. They should tear it down na and build a mall na lang. Then I
wouldn't have to go to Katipunan pa to get my Starbucks fix.
My gosh, this place is so bulok I don't know nga why anyone would bother making
turo here pa. Just yesterday, my professor was kinda inis kasi her whiteboard
marker had no more tinta! Then she tried to make hanap a matino whiteboard
marker but of course there was none. Duh! Kasi naman if we had laptops instead
of desks in every classroom there
would be no more need for whiteboards diba? But you know evevn if there
were laptops na, the seats are so tigas sometimes I find it mahirap to
concentrate. Dapat may cushioning para malambot sa butt, like Downy.
Now I'm in my third year na. I don't want to stay in this place anymore. I don't
give a paki if UP's the best university here. I'm going to transfer to La Salle,
where the CRs have liquid soap. Now na.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Is this a she or a he? Or someone from the third sex? Whatever. But the scary part is that I actually think there's a possibility that this person exists.^^ Though whether he/she's in UP or La Salle, I don't know and I don't give a womp rat's ass. At least she/he's not in Ateneo!^^
2003-07-10 11:35 a.m.
HAPPY SENHANA DAY!!!
Here's to my most favorite yaoi couple in the anime fandom!!! * waves SenHana banner *
Sadly, I haven't finished my intended contribution but I just cooked up an idea in my dead as hell zoology lecture so I'm gonna work on it as soon as I get home (I'm using the school pcs)
Gosh, it's been so long since I've concerned myself with SD. I'm steering clear of SD Babble nowadays. I'm not even lurking. I've stopped coming, period. College took more out of me than I expected. But since I've been a good girl and did all my assignments on time, I'm going to kick back and gleefully return to my perverted hobby of shacking two of my favorite boys together. Ah, the joy of inhibition's absence.
^________________________^
PS: To those who don't know a shit of what I'm talking about or are horrified at my irrational fondness for certain homo pairings... just ignore this post.^^
2003-07-06 11:00 p.m.
I don't have a decent story to submit!!!
You heard right. I, Cymone, author of several fanfictions, have no short story to present to Heights, the org I soooo badly want to join.
Not to say I don't have any original short stories but I don't have any serious ones. As in they're all just a bunch of wise-ass, hysterical, help-I'm-drowning-in-my-stupidity type of stories that reflects my natural sarcasm, and is good for a few cracks, but has the intellectual equivalent of Dr. Seuss. Oh why, why, why can't I write something that seduces the senses? Why can't I do a piece that intrigues the soul and elicits the all-consuming passion so characteristic of classic lit? Why can't I make a rite of passage out of flowers and the sweet flowing waters of a river?
Because I hate drama? Because I'm sick of balled-up angst and maudlin recollections? Because it's not really my style to make a character brood, harbor deep, dark thoughts and contemplate on the collapsible truths of identity and self-expression?
Okay. So I can't write serious because I don't like it.
Is that it? Well then, I’ll change that. Now, my goal is to want to write angst. . . . . . Oh fuck. I want to write something that I really don't want to write? What does that make me? Not much, I guess.
. . . . . I'm pathetic. I now realize that. But that doesn't help me with my problem.
2003-06-24 3:04 p.m.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (for lack of a suitable title)
I’ve had enough. That’s it. No more. I’m stripping off the ‘silent’ act. Next time, I’m really going to let everyone in the vicinity know what the thwarted culprit is doing and have him arrested for purposeful, indecent public exposure. What is it with DOM and their grotesque perversions? Do they really think that showing off their puny dicks to female passer-bys would make them feel less embarrassingly aged? I mean, don’t they have nothing better to do on a Monday afternoon than to sit around and fondle their dicks in their cars and get the attention of random females by doing the old standby line “Can I ask for directions?” Yes, mock me, tease me, it’s my fault for being ever so helpful to people--or creatures pretending to be people-- who haven’t gone through proper evolution. Dammit. That’s the second time I’ve seen someone masturbate. Correction, that’s the second time someone tricked me into seeing them masturbate. Ugh. It looks disgusting. I’ve seen cartoons do it, but in real life it looks… ugh. Repulsive. Unattractive. And don’t go about saying I shouldn’t be so disgusted since its common knowledge that masturbating is as natural as breathing to men. Or because I read and watch hentai. I write hentai but I am not a hentai. Haven’t you heard? I have SARS: Severe Aversion to Romance and Sex.
Tomorrow, I shall be getting myself a can of pepper spray, and if possible, a mini chainsaw. When I finish law school, I shall petition for a law that commands all purposely exposed male organs to be put in a vise. Then for extreme violations, the owner of said dick (which is still put in a vise) would be shoved inside a close-to-crumbling garage, be given a hacksaw, and then left alone. Then, the executors will give him one minute to cut his dick off before burning the garage down.
But for the meantime, here’s my news bulletin to Pinois out there:
Beware the DOM.Careful social statistics have uncovered a growing population of creatures mingling with and almost indistinguishable from the human race. They are called “maniacis jakolis“ or more commonly known as “dirty old men.” They are a sad and very sick race of subhumans who, due to their insistence to soak in perverse influences from both external and fellow DOM sources, have developed an EQ that fails to surpass their foot size and produces massive amounts of groundless hormones (mainly for solitary use) on a daily basis. They are commonly found lounging in their tinted cars, parked in the midst of bustling humanity and trying to one-up each other by getting random females (or males if DOM is homosexual) to be witness to the work their chubby wrinkled hands are applying to their rather pathetic and exposed dicks. More points if their dicks ejaculate just in time. Actually, dicks is a severe overstatement. Dicklets is more appropriate because the only way they can increase their condom size is to bash them until they’re swollen.
2003-06-18 1:40 p.m.
A day for the records...
I've always been known for my chronic lateness so it comes to no surprise that my first and second day in college had me barrelling through the doors flushed, disheveled, and about twenty minutes late.
Here's an inventory of what I've been through.
1)Traffic in katipunan is so bad and that the jeep I rode could be outstripped by a kid's trike.
2) Due to my extreme hurry, almost all my important papers flew out of my folder (which I so stupidly carried instead of stuffing in my bag) and got lost somewhere, leaving me schedule-less, paperless and very distressed.
3)I've barely passed through gate 2 when my bag broke. I had to deal with clutching my bag the whole day. It's one of my best bags too. Though I guess it's partly my fault. Who the hell brings a dress bag to school anyway?
4) The only decent things about my otherwise traumatic first day was my English teachers brave attempt for levity. I had to thank the gods to bless me with funny (although slightly effeminate) male professors for my favorite subject. But decent things don't last long and just when I thought everything was okay, it rained. No-- poured is more like it. Which should just about clinch the diagnosis because--
6) My umbrella's broken by the way, and I had to wait til the rain mellowed down to a drizzle to sprint across the university (from Bellarmine Hall to gate 2. Anyone who has an idea about Ateneo's geographical structure would know how much distance I've walked). Wait-- that's only within the university grounds. I also walked along Katipunan road until the intersection with the fx and jeeps leading to Cubao. Hows that for power walking? And under a torrential downpour too. The heavens are not exactly being sympathetic by weeping for me, are they? -_____-;;
See? A day for the records. Goddamit. If my first day is any premonition, I have a sinking feeling this is gonna be one tough year...
PS: I'm using the school computers during my one-hour break... so pardon my incoherence. I still don't have internet access at home:^^
PPS: To Wowie: I've finished all that stuff you wanted for the site. As soon as I get my internet unfucked, I'll send them over, promise.^___^
2003-06-09 6:54 p.m.
Enrollment was a bitch...
My feet are aching. From 6:30 am to 5 pm, I have received a grand total of 1 hour sitting down and the rest standing in line and enduring mollasses-paced progress of Ateneo enrollment. Damn the random number system. After waking up before dawn to get my first choices in electives, I'm stuck in number 561. After the first of nine enrollment steps, I finished the first two at around 9:30 am and next thing I know, I've been waiting for five freakin' hours to get my forms assessed and head on to the next steps. After the orsem sangunian payment, id reg, tuition pay etc, I finally left the school grounds at 5:00 pm. God. Ten and a half hours of feet and butt torture to get my butt assured a place in college.
Ah well, at least, I can now officially declare myself an Atenean.^^ At any rate, its a good enough compensation for the lousy enrollment.
2003-06-09 6:42 p.m.
........
Shit. Someone shoot me. I just typed out my longest entry and it didn't show. Fuck it. Someone shoot me...
2003-05-31 5:00
Late replies and a Few Rants
Thanks for understanding you guys (Yot, Riezl, Twinkol, Meg). I'll try to be more tactful next time, since this isn't the first time I got reprimanded for my (I'm not proud of this, okay?) online offensive behavior.
To Twinkol: I guess I couldn't ask you not to feel responsible (even though I know you really shouldn't) but at any rate, I still think you did a fantastic job. Thanks for voicing out your sentiments. I really appreciate it.
To Yot: *snickers* Of course. Due to my unnerving focus on the grammars I totally forgot the good parts. I know it's a little late but yes, the annual layout looks great. Of that there could be no doubt.^^
Now... on to my insane ramblings.
1) The Spurs won. I'm glad, but I just realized that they're playing against one of my favorite teams in the championsips-- and having great odds of winning. But on the other hand, I wouldn't be as disappointed like last year when the glamour team of LA took the cup. I'm rooting for the Nets but if ever the Spurs take the championship the second time around, (first one was in 1999) I won't be so bummed out. The Spurs are a good team. Actually, good is an understatement. They're super. And from what I've been hearing, the Spurs are planning to recruit Jason Kidd for next season. If they manage to do just that then I'll be shifting from Nets to Spurs fandom in a heartbeat. The Spurs + Jason Kidd... whoa... can you say superpower? Even the Kings would have a difficult task beating them. And coming from me, that's saying a lot.^^
2) On other news, I'm hesitant to officially disclose I had been given a certificate authenticating my newly-enforced status as a Cosmo girl. (the subject I was supposed to blog about after the offending annual-thrashing entry) Actually, this happened last Saturday, at this very hour. I attended "Cosmo goes to work" a whole day personality development and women-empowering seminar, participated by jaded 21 year olds and older. Oh and female gender also required. Age limit can be compromised as long as you have a college degree and professional working experience, two things I wouldn't be getting in at least four years. So what was I, a minor of 17 years of age, who will only be starting college this 16th of June, doing there?
Well, my dad's clients had a major say in it. I dunno what my dad was thinking when he volunteered me attend the seminar. Didn't he realize that Cosmopolitan has a specific section dedicated to the "S" word? The last time I was caught reading a Cosmopolitan mag, my dad reprimanded me for perpetuating reading materials unsuitable for my age. (I'm pretty sure my dad thinks I'm supposed to be terrified of the idea of two bodies plastered together in blissful fornication _____;; Suffice to say, I'd be prone to immediate disownment when he finds out about my stash of hentai vcds. Not like there's a chance of me being stupid enough to let that happen) Then two weeks after, he practically coerced me to haul my butt out of bed before dawn so he can drive me to Galleria Suites before registration time at 9 am. Talk about a total one-eighty.
It turned out that the seminar wasn't so bad. True, that's expected, given the saucy venue, the fact that a very distinguished magazine name was sponsoring it and the fact that I'm a feminist, who, on more than one occasion, have been known to totally sneer at the male species just because they openly admit that they can be effortlessly turned on by the sight of a nicely sculpted cleavage. (No offense, manly people. Oh, and Sir Faust is an exception)
The food was great, as to be expected from a five-star hotel. The talks were actually engaging. This one speaker, Ms Olen Lim, should be having her own talk show. They talked about marketing strategies, women's self defense, appropriate activities to burn those calories (I didn't need to know that... but you never know. I might just gain weight if I get stressed enough^^), make-up, books, self-confidence boosters and proper verbal etiquette. And we got a big loot bag filled with Avon, Black Shoppe and Cosmopolitan goodies to boot.
Even though my current status as an incoming college freshman didn't apply to their power-talks on the professional worker's social map, I honestly found the whole thing very informative. I've learned a lot of things. Useful things that would probably help me four years from now if I remember them correctly. I learned how to wrestle out of possible assault from bad men and their sticky groping hands. And *gasp* I learned how to put on make-up. Well, at least the stuff beyond lipstick and face powder. I've got tons of the stuff at home, given to me by my relatives abroad, but they just wasted away due to my ignorance of their proper use. I admit, I didn't know how to put on mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, blush and foundation til after that seminar. So really, despite my previous belief that simple (in relation to make-up) is elegant, I've convinced myself to dab on a little gunk on my face on special occasions. I'm not planning to turn into a heavily-painted bimbos who's make-up layer makes one wonder if there's still anything under there. I'm just gonna let loose some of my inhibitions. ^^
3) Lastly, my dad just told me that he'll talk to the Ateneo athletics department to snag me a spot on the badminton training program. The good news is, aside from the physical benefits, it could help me acquire an academic scholarship, which I so badly need. The bad news is, the training program is MWF from five pm to eight pm. And considering how so damnedly traffic it is in Katipunan in those hours, I should be getting home not earlier than nine in the evening, granted that I go home straight away without having dinner first. Considering that schedule, how much time does that leave for me to make assignments, projects and stuff? Definitely not enough. Which means I'll still be sacrificing sleep just to get my schoolwork done. It's gonna be tough, no doubt, but I'll manage. I hope. Hey, I've got the deal on make-up already (see number 2, last paragraph) I should manage to fix my face just right so I don't look like shit when I glide in my first morning class with only three hours of sleep.^^
~*~*~*~*~*~
*flutters hand* Whew. That was looooonnnggg. I never typed so furiously for a very long time. And considering that almost everything was good news too.^___^
