Braising my Beef

2.5 hours, tops.

that’s about how much time you would spend in a laundromat when you do all your four loads of laundry in one go. even if it becomes 10.

i remember one of my friends telling me how she loved the way her ex’s shirts smelled all the time — it smelled so much of downy and she loved it. frankly, i wouldnt be surprised if she was addicted to it.

i have an unspeakable love for the smell of fresh laundry and laundromats in general. its funny how no matter how bad my day is, just a whiff of that laundromat scent brings a smile to my face. i have gone as far as buying "clean laundry" air fresheners and try to duplicate the aroma, but no go.

i’ve been lusting about demeter’s "laundromat" perfume, but i havent really bothered to buy it. i keep lusting and forgetting at the same time that i barely bother to put any kind of perfume on, except perfumed lotion. but that’s something that i shouldnt be pondering about… maybe i should just buy a huge bottle of febreeze and use that instead? hmmm.

nicknames in HS:
>> stella.

**clubs or organizations:
>> wala.

**ano-ano ang usual topics of discussion
with ur friends?
>> shopping, boys… chismis…

**favorite tambayans?
>> bench nearest to the gym, the plants near the start of the hs building and sm city north edsa and mcdonald’s quezon ave.

**favorite merienda or lunch?
>> usual fare

**hobbies sa classroom?
>> chismis, eating, and watching elinore put makeup on at the back row

**ano ang kadalasang ginagawa mo after
dismissal?
>> tambay, uwi

** nag-dissect ba kayo?
>> thank god, no.

**sumasali ka ba sa quiz bees?
>> i think i did in grade school. i got stupider as the days went on.

**eh sa sports activities?
>> oh wala.

**sa school beauty contests?
>> hinde kasi ako pretty enough. hahaha. ask pauline. miss australia siya sa UN eh.

**favorite subjects?
>> geometry (i was pretty good at it) statistics and bio.

**favorite teachers?
>> sir astro (rest in peace), miss delena

**hated teachers?
>> the chem teacher, i didnt learn anything from her.

**Nag COCC ka ba?
>> no
**ano rank mo sa CAT at the end of the
year?
>> refer to previous answer
**Eh position?
>> grr.

**Sino corps commander nyo?
>> si mr. navales. was kicked out by the school 2 years after i graduated kasi hinila niya yung earring nung isang student. bwahahaha.

**kasali ka ba sa varsity?
>> Nope.

**favorite field trip?
>> i wasnt allowed to go

**kamusta naman ang prom?
>> ok naman

**san kayo nag prom?
>> manila diamond hotel and westin i think.

**may ka-date ka ba nung prom?
>> wala. kasi coed school ko eh.

**did you take the UPCAT?
>> YES!

**Sa UP k b naman nag aaral ngaun?
>> hinde na. graduate na ako eh.

**first choice mo ba campus mo?
>> YES!

**msaya ka naman sa college school mo?
>> YES!

**most memorable HS moment?
>> passing the upcat.

**best thing about HS?
>> the friends i met there. funny, ive known them for sometime 15 years already. aaaah were so old!

**worst thing about HS?
>> the lack of interesting guys (compared to the ones in college, of course)
**given the chance to relive your HS
days what will you change?
>> nothing, i think. i got pretty good grades without trying too hard and i had a great set of friends.

**what items from the present will u bring with u?
>> digicam, internet

**did you enjoy high school?
>> Yes!

i heard it through the grapevine.

at least, in my world, friendster is my grapevine. ive browsed my friends, my friends’ friends, ive used my friends’ friendsters just to get to the juice of what i really wanted to know. (yeah, im that much of a chismosa)

people who got married, engaged, broken up, separated, etc etc. ive even hunched some bad things through the friendster, only to find out the truth served up straight with no pretensions.

ive shown my mother her friends’ grandchildren, married children and in-laws and other things that she wouldnt give the time of day for (on her own, but is happy to sneak some chismis info anyday) and she was amazed. hahaha. the gossip wonders of modern technology.

but a friendly friends tip: better be using an alias for your friendster, and never use that login email address for job applications… you dont want the HR to see you handstanding on a keg, right?

1130am, yesterday. My boss approaches me with folded prayer hands and bows down and asks me for forgiveness for all the bad things that he has done to me in the past year.

its not a dream, and he’s been doing it for the past three years.

later on, he asked me to type this on the company letterhead and fax it to a couple of people.

Day of Divine Message of Tolerance and Power of Endurance

On the auspicious day of Paryushan Parva, we would like to ask forgiveness for any of our deeds, thoughts, words or actions that may have directly, indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally hurt your feelings in the past year.

With folded hands (prayer hands), we ask for Uttam Kshama (your kind and wholehearted forgiveness)

Kindly accept it to help us attain a state that is free of resentment towards ever single living being in this universe.

It feels blindingly humbling to receive this kind of gesture, especially thinking of the fact that he is a man who commandeers a huge company that is relied on by about 200 workers here and abroad.

In the spirit of Paryushan Parva, I ask for Uttam Kshama. (although, i have to admit, i will have to greatly work on the bowing down with folded hands in front of you.)

1. In one sentence, explain what ended your last
relationship:
– it was time to move on

2. What made you smile today?
– that hilarious woman behind me at the bank.

3. What were you doing this morning at 8a.m.?
– sleeping

4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago?
– getting back from blockbuster

5. Something that happened to you in 1985?
– it would probably be skipping prep

6. Your prom night?
– was boring, i guess.

7. Last thing you said out loud?
– please dont bag my dvd, lets try to save the earth bullsh!t (the attendant was laughing)

8. Last thing someone else said aloud?
– do you want free online dvd rentals with blockbuster?

9. Worst thing currently on television:
– i don’t know, i haven’t watched tv in a while

10. What was in the email today?
– birthday announcements for melissa, karen and karla.

11. How many different drinks have you drank
today?
– water only

12. What is your favorite part of the day?
– nap time

13. Your current To-do list?
– clean my room. it never gets out of the list, you know.

14. Where is your best friend right now?
– i dont really have one.

15. What color is your toothbrush?
– white and blue

16. What is out your back door?
– the shed

17. Any plans for Friday night?
– hmm. dunno yet.

18. Least favorite place to shop?
– basta shopping, i like ‘em all! (hahaha. i agree!)

19. Last thing you bought?
– vans descendents for my kuya and jong. (do groceries count?)

20. Last gift you received?
– maybe a magnet.

21. Funniest thing you heard all day?
– ?

22. Favorite mug?
– looks like a flower pot with a handle. its funny how i only got the joke of the mug 2 years into my using it. (pot of coffee)

23. What color is your front door?
– blue

24. Beauty:
–is in the eye of the beholder

25. Describe your keychain:
– tiffany valet key ring. it was a gift.

26. Where do you keep your change?
– in an oldfashioned milk bottle. (milk money)

27. Say something to the number 1 person in
your Top 8:
– huh?

28. What kind of winter coat do you have?
– depends, i got lots

29. What was the weather like on your
graduation day?
– hot

30. Last ice cream flavor?
– the one im gonna be eating next is ube macapuno.

31. Last rainbow you saw?
– do the flags on christopher street count?

32. Something you are excited about?
– labor day sale! (hahaha)

33. Are you happy with your life?
– yes.

34. What are you thinking now?
– to eat ube macapuno ice cream

35. Person you trust the most?
– does myself count?

36. What makes you excited?
– loads of things.

37. Are you inlove?
– tee hee

38. Places you want to be with your special
someone?
– here, there and everywhere!