Sixteen Degrees to Reality

PASKUHAN - It was tradition. Thanks to my cousin and my sudden snobbing of time, we didn’t see the fireworks (again). Thanks to all the guys who cancelled at the last minute, it was back to Andy and Me, again. haha. Paskuhan was brief, and the rest of YB were waiting for us ay Mayfield.

That’s me at the far left, after going on a dare to take a plunge in the freezing pool, at 2:00am, in the middle of December, TOPLESS. You get seven girls with brothers Granma, Gin and twins El Hobre, whipped cream, lots of ice and two videocams, what do you get?

We leave it to your imagination. *wink*

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4:00pm used to be always memorable for me. Not because "Ang TV na" (haha), but i was always around that time that me and my cousins would take a break for a day’s worth of playing and eat merienda, and get back to playing again. I don’t think we’d ever sat down and talked about a problem.

Years later we’d be eating on the same table, but without food. Just one red horse grande, iced tea (requested by yours truly) and ciggies… Talking not about life, but of death…

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You’re pretty good, you’ve managed to squeeze some sympathy out of me right after you decided to cross the river Styx. You told her she’d be the one most affected by all this, but, guess you’re not around to enjoy it, eh? Thing is, she’s got all of us to back her up.. Still. I hope God forgives your soul.

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AZZWIPES - Granma and Empoy. Is there really a difference between high school friends and college friends? You drink the same brandy, you laugh the same way, release the same barf. But there’s still this very thin line… and I’ve got a lifetime to search for it… Here’s to hoping we never run out of alcohol. *CHEERS*

A FEW MENTAL NOTES: The smell of cats and alcohol don’t match, just as well as bare skin and granite.

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CHRISTMAS -  This year was the first time our family had a very (and I quote my cousin) "Unconventional Christmas". After 19 years (or so, God knows) of celebrating Noche Buena, Dua-Garcia decided to take a break from late night celebrations and had a luncheon on the Day itself, and Gift-giving. Basically we hung around my place, drove to Starbucks Libis to FINALLY GET MY PLANNER, PEOPLE! haha… And just… went back to hangin’ out. Honestly, it was kind of better… Hmmmmm…

Which brings me here, sitting in front of the computer 22nd hour of Christmas day… I’ve got nothing to show but a knowing smile, and a nod… Pretty good, pretty good.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS for my Planner:

1. Daddy

2. Fatso

3. Allan

4. Fred

5. Kuya Baby

6. Ate Debbie

7. Hannah

8. Osh

PS. The pictures are MINE.

Two cries brought me back to the world of the Wake. People were shouting, and the dogs in this house were constantly barking. "CLOSE THE DOOR!" My father yelled. "AYANA, STAY INSIDE!" my mother ordered. And all the while, the hounds made that defeaning sound. It was a second, a moment, and Dream pulled me back to his realm.

An hour later, I heard a long wail, followed by a lingering whimper. My perception of the world was stil distorted, so I listened again. "WHACK!" went that painful sound, and another anguished cry filled my ears. It was coming from a dog which the drivers were going to eat as "pulutan", and my father was letting it happen right in his backyard. I covered my ears and attempted in vain.

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After a momentary lapse of my chickflick syndrome, I wasn’t gonna let an unwanted vision (or whatever’s the word for a walking nightmare) ruin my longing for some surreal, fluffy-mushy movie.

And get it, I did. SPOILER ALERT: Just Like Heaven is perfect for those who read love stories every night and eat chocolates from boxes that come from non-existent boyfriends. Besides the fact that my sister and I were lucky to be seated among the best audience yet (ergo, laughing/clapping/cheering at the same time)  this feel-good movie had a light atmosphere and a couple of plot twists I didn’t see coming (for a chickflick for that matter). My realistic side of me almost wanted Elizabeth to really forget about David and move on, but then again, what would a chickflick be without those perfect happy endings dipped in an oozing chocolate fountain?

What I don’t get though is what’s their promotional poster doing in another world? It reminded me of some old movie with Keanu Reeves… Reese’s dress is soooo 1940’s, and Mark holding a boquet of flowers is totally OOC (out-of-character). Oh, not to mention, spriit-Lizzie and corporeal-Lizzie.

But still. If happy ending’s your thing and you don’t give a flying f*ck about logic, patterns and reason, this is your movie.

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Finally, last Sunday, my mom and dad celebrated their 40th anniversary with the family, with me and Kuya Baby treating the whole clan. It was a good feeling actually, and I have a feeling it should be done again in 10 years. You’ll get your roses by then, Mom. Anyway, here’s a pic I thought you might enjoy. This is a candid picture that happens close to never. Might be a while to top that off.

*The first two pictures are NOT MINE so don’t sue me.