Post-Birthday Happy Happy

Needless to say, I am a happy 22-year old.

My 22nd birthday would not have been the same if not for the people who greeted me, texted me, called me up, posted me as one of their topics in their blogs, and even thought of me and realized that it's my birthday but decided not to greet me because I didn't greet them on their birthdays. Thank you! Even when I'm in my old age and locked up in a mental asylum (a fine place to be in your last days, I think), I shall remember each of your faces.

I must especially thank my mean girls for providing me with one heck of a surprise. I love the fitting shirts and that funky belt! I have already plans of using them as weapons to flirt. But of course, of course, my loyalties are with you guys always. Thank you!

I must also thank my youngling and youngling-extension friends in the Actuarial Department! Exposing me in all my nakedness (well, not really), poking fun at my tremendous height (well, also not really), and providing with more weapons of flirtation (what's with all the flirtation, huh?) was truly an unexpected twist in what was turning out to be a very happy day. Thank you!

Finally, I'd like to thank Jel for that wonderful treat in the Spaghetti Factory! Please never leave me? Please? Haha. Thank you!

Needless to say, I am a happy 22-year-old.

(I'm sorry for that morbid image involving lunatics in caged cells-- I have no intention of being locked up during the next few decades, so there is no need to worry.)

Want to know more? Click on!

Just want the summary? Click on back!

Post-Birthday Melancholy

In my vulnerability, I am light, and in my lightness, I am free.

Melancholy is a state of being that strikes me often, hard, and unexpectedly. When I get melancholic, I feel like I'm floating in limbo, at peace with myself and everyone, and yet-- and yet there's something amiss. There's something lacking about something that which I truly do not understand. I cannot pinpoint the exact reason for this melancholy. It just is.

I am melancholic right now. By definition, I do not know why. It does not distract me from work, thankfully. It's one of the better things that this state of being sends my way. I become productive in this state: I study better, I work faster, I think in clearer terms. It feels as if all my defenses-- heavy, clunky, and definitely not worth the weight-- have been put down. In my vulnerability, I am light, and in my lightness, I am free.

I am free. And yet I am not free.

Everything about this is a paradox. I am free because I feel light. But if I were truly free, then melancholy wouldn't make me feel as though I'm missing something. This nagging yet mercifully distant voice weighs me down. And if something is pulling me down, then I cannot soar, and therefore I am not free. And yet I am.

If anyone can make any sense of what I just wrote, tell me. I've been searching for answers since time immemorial, and have found none as yet. Consider this your share in promoting world peace.

Want to know more? Click on!

Just want the summary? Click on back!

Kingdom Expansion

Travel on... to the land of Multiply.

The king has decided to expand his kingdom beyond the borders of Blogspot Land. Although the new land contains exactly the same letters and laws as that present in Blogspot, citizens will be surprised to see that the place is actually more visual in nature. Those clamoring for a portrait with the King can find themselves happier there. Travel on, citizens, to the land of Multiply.

Want to know more? Click on!

Just want the summary? Click on back!

August 13

Happy birthday to me!

This is going to be very short: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

[Added 12:23 AM.] My birthday's over. I'm officially starting life as a 22 year old. I don't know what awaits me out there, but I'm sure it's going to be exciting. Friends, get ready for another dose of the Dark-Skinned King!

Want to know more? Click on!

Just want the summary? Click on back!

Rent-isms

...don't you want your [boy] hot?

Some thoughts taken from the wonderful movie Rent (such a give-away as to how the movie review would go, hehe):

"How do you document real life when real life's getting more like fiction each day?"

"There's only us, there's only this, forget regret or life is yours to miss, no other road, no other way, no day but today..."

"Open your door, I'll be your tenant, don't got much baggage to lay at your feet. But sweet kisses I've got to spare. I'll be there, and I'll cover you."

"I think they meant it, when they said you can't buy love, now I know you can rent it, a new lease you are my love..."

"To days of inspiration, playing hookey, making something out of nothing... to communicate, to going against the grain, going insane, going mad..."

"...food of love, emotion, mathematics, isolation, rhythm, power, feeling, harmony, and heavy competition..."

"Every single day, I walk down the street, I hear people say, 'Baby's so sweet.' Ever since puberty, everybody stares at me-- boys, girls-- I can't help it baby..."

"Take me for what I am, who I was meant to be... and if you give a damn, take me baby, or leave me. No way - can I be what I'm not, but hey - don't you want your [boy] hot?"

I understand that what I wrote above are lyrics from the soundtrack rather than original thoughts, but you can be assured that each has a purpose as to why they're there. Hee.

Want to know more? Click on!

Just want the summary? Click on back!

A Tale of Two Bees

...the Jollibee in Powerplant stings, while the Jollibee in Guadalupe soars...

It was the best of Bees, it was the worst of Bees. One lay at the heart of cosmopolitan grandeur, the other lay at the heart of metropolitan bourgeoisie. But alas! None has ever experienced a discrepancy as great as that which struck the two artificial Bees. The supposedly classy Bee was yet the more obnoxious, stinging its victims with helplessness and a feeling of impending loss. The supposedly un-classy Bee was yet the more hospitable, spreading its nectar far and wide with super speed and unprecedented efficiency.

The first Bee can be found, as of the moment, in a little mall called Powerplant. The second Bee can be seen hovering about Guadalupe, near the MRT station. For those who are getting annoyed with this parallel way of blogging, what I'm saying is simply this: the Jollibee in Powerplant stings, while the Jollibee in Guadalupe soars above expectations.

It would not be difficult to find the irony in this. The rich patrons frequenting the Powerplant mall would not be so keen with unresponsive waiters, wrong orders, and spilled drinks. In other words, they are less tolerant with inefficiency than those, say, frequenting the Jollibee in Guadalupe. One would expect a fantastically efficient staff in all Jollibee outlets, but even more so in places where standards are exceedingly high. Unfortunately (and how unfortunate I was, indeed), this is not the case in Jollibee Rockwell. Jittery, slow, caricatures of blunder: these are but few of the negative terms to describe the staff.

On the other hand, the people manning the Guadalupe branch of Jollibee are icons of cleanliness, friendliness, and most important, efficiency. Anyone who buys their food there would never have to wait for their food for long; will be informed if the food is going to take some time; and will be given, more or less, an accurate estimation of the time that's going to be needed for waiting. The waiters and servers themselves are courteous, quick-minded, and don't look as though their grandmothers have died last night. Without fear of stepping into the boundaries of hasty generalizations, I would have to say that they are the best staff I have ever encountered in fastfood outlets. More power to them.

Want to know more? Click on!

Just want the summary? Click on back!