The Guys' Rules

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down. Finally, the guys'
side of the story. (I must admit, it's pretty good.)

We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side. Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it
down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about
you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let
it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that
way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not
work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what
we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact,
all comments become null and void after 7 days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to
act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways
makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done.
Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during
commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for
example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea
what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say nothing," we will act like nothing's
wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you
don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...
Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to
discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or monster trucks.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round is a shape.

1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch
tonight; but did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

~ forwarded from @email

BABY the Musical

Meralco Theater, Sunday, 3:30 pm was the call time for the musical that I watched with my fiance and my shopaholic friends. It was the first time for me to see the Tony and Lawrence Olivier awardee, Lea Salonga in a musical (I was not able to watch Miss Saigon when it was staged here in Manila).

BABY is based on the book written by Sybille Pearson, Music by David Shire and Richard Maltby, Jr. creating the lyrics. The musical play depicts the heart-warming stories of three soon-to-be-parents couples. Their adventures, joys and pains as they wait for the baby. It shows the rewarding and agonizingly funny consequences of the universal experience of "parenthood". There are the college students (played by Lea Salonga and David Shannon), barely at the beginning of their adult lives; the thirty-something (played by Jett Pangan and Agot Isidro), having trouble conceiving but determined to try; and the middle aged parents (played by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo and Miguel Faustman), looking forward to seeing their last child graduate from college when a night of unexpected passion lands them back where they started.

Lea Salonga as Lizzie

The musical was entertaining at some point especially when the cast displays their funny side and some part are boring because the songs were not sang clearly. Undoubtedly, Lea has the most perfect crystal clear singing voice and near perfect diction. Whether she sang or delivers her lines you can understand every single word that comes from her mouth. I'm so surprise of how very good Jett Pangan played his character. I never thought a lead singer of a rock band would do wonders in theater. Another surprise was Agot Isidro's acting, she was very funny (the funniest among the characters) but she still need to work on the clarity of her singing.. I sometimes can't make out the words she's saying. The rest of the cast are good as well since they are all veterans of theater.

Over-all, it was good.. funny and delightful. But unfortunately, it was very irritating because the heads of those people in front of us are blocking our view (they can't sit still in one position...grrr!).

Anyhow, I must admit that I wouldn't have watched this if it weren't for Lea. I'm a fan and it makes me proud to see how great Filipinos can be in their craft if they put their best into it. Kudos to all of you!

The Cast

A walk to remember with Jason Bourne

I’m a couch potato today, after reading some chapters of Sophia Kinsella’s novel, I made myself some microwave popcorn and iced tea, grab the remote and turned the TV and DVD player on. I was feeling kinda mushy so I scanned for my favorite love story, a walk to remember and watched it all over again. I’ve watched this for the nth time already and it still makes my eyes water and a tear or two just rolls down my cheeks, specifically (if I may) during the scenes where Jaime finally told Landon that she has leukemia and the other one is when Landon went to his father’s house to thank him for taking care of Jaime’s home care – those were my favorite scenes as well as the last part, where Landon was narrating about their “Love, is like the wind.. You can’t see it but you can feel it”...ahhhh..


Star Gazing, the most romantic scene in this film.


After overcoming my mushiness, I’ve decided to check our Bourne Supremacy.. Matt Damon is the man! I like this 2nd installment than the Identity, probably because finally everything was now clearer and had closure. And there was more dialog or drama to it than action, though the car chase was still very much evident like the first one. Its just such a shame that Julia Stiles’ character was just a passing and was merely on screen for no more than 20 mins. My overall rating.. 3.5/5 My favorite scene was when Bourne was talking to Pam Landy through her cell while aiming a sniper gun at her..and she’s startled when he knew that Nicky was just beside her.. its like having a video phone..hahaha!



I wont think twice to hail a taxi if Matt is driving

Confessions of a Bookaholic

I’m an addict.. I’m addicted to books.. I bought 2 books in 1 week, which is so much way above average already since I usually buy books or novel once every 2 years. Is it because of PowerBooks’ sale? Is this just a phase I’m going through? I don’t know.. I hope not.

Two days ago I bought Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic Ties the Knot even though I’m not yet done with Bookends (nearly done but not quite). And then today, we passed by Powerbooks again to buy Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons but unfortunately it was out of stock.. and as I pass by the fiction section, there—I saw again, Mitch Albom’s the five people you meet in heaven this time in paperback. I was having second thoughts of buying it since I’m only done with the first 10 pages of Sophie’s novel, but Adrian pointed out to me that the sale is only until month end. So there, I took out my credit card and swipe it away.

Ocular Visit

Next year i'll be changing my status to married. But before anything else, my fiance and I need to find and agree on the perfect place for us to unite as one.

We went to Nasugbu, Batangas and Tagaytay yesterday to do an ocular visit to our desired place, Caleruega and also scout for reception venues while where at it. I've posted the details in The True Wedding Story blog if you want to read it, feel free to browse.

Done with Bookends

I have finally finished reading Bookends – a novel by Jane Green. And what can I say? A truly heartwarming tale of friendship and love. An inspirational story that tells you to make your dream a reality. Funny - I even grin while reading Si and Cath’s dialogs. Not so dramatic but a feel good novel. Gingerly written if I may say so for in the end Green gave justice to all her characters. I even cried at the ending.. It’s a very good book indeed.

My favorite character is Simon, Si as he is fondly called by his bestfriend Cath. And I also dream of having a Bookshop with Café.

Ta abo so

I'd like to commend Izaline Calister for writing such a wonderful song. Exactly my very thoughts and feelings about my center, my bebe, Adrian.



Its Only You

Translation


Only you are my love
My perfectly peaceful oasis
Only you, yes you alone
..are my strength, my support and my solace

You are my courage
The strong rock behind me
Only you, yes you alone..
are my center, my confidence and my home

And if I never told you how much I loved you
And never told you about the passion I feel for you
It’s because I lack the words, can’t find the sentences or maybe I’m just shy

But when you’re not around, I search in every eye
for the warmth I always find in you
My love, only in you

When I taste the sweetness of your lips
I realize I can’t live without you
When I’m not with you, I try to find in every face
The warmth that’s always in you
My love, only in you

My Tribute to The Corrs

Noticed anything new in my blog? aside from the template? I changed my Blog name to Talk on Corners.. my tribute to The Corrs.

I’m actually chatting with my friend Erwin (who’s in Virginia) as I write this blog..(I’ve mastered the art of multitasking you know). He sent me these pictures that he took from The Corrs’ concert in Kodak Theater in LA last weekend.






Wish I were in Erwin’s shoes that night. Though the images of the siblings are so small, just looking at it satisfies me. Gosh, I miss them so much! I hope they’ll include Manila in their Borrowed Heaven Tour. I’ve nerve felt this much addiction to any other artist. Something in them that lures me to their music and I don’t know what it is.. Is it their raving beauty, undeniable talent or their intense aura? I guess, it’s all of the above and so much more.

To this day, I still regret not falling in line to get their autograph during their mall tour in Megamall years ago (I think that was 1998… yes, I was in Megamall at that time) They were promoting Talk on Corners then; first single was I Never Loved You Anyway (my favorite of all time!) Talk on Corners is still their best album ever.. followed closely by Borrowed Heaven. Their music just grows on you each time you listen to their fantabulous songs.


P.S. Caroline is not with them for their US Tour bec. she's due to have her baby on September :)

Bookends Begins

They say reading is the best way to learn. Whether it’s a newspaper or a comic book, a fiction or non-fiction novel, magazine or digest, there is knowledge in each turn of page in every line. It doesn’t matter where and how you do it, what’s important is that you learn something.

I never consider myself as a bookworm. I never learned the art of fast reading. I’m amazed with how Maya and Adrian can finish a book so quickly. I enjoy my own reading pace… understanding every word and imagining it as if its right there in front of me. That’s why it usually take me a week to finish a Nicholas Sparks novel while Maya can finish it in a day or two.

Today, I bought a book on an impulse. Passed by PowerBooks and saw cardboards hanging in the ceiling with the word “SALE”. “They’re on sale!” I exclaimed to my fiancé, Adrian. I went straight to scanning the books on the table, a lot of books caught my eye. One of them was the new Mitch Albom novel entitled: The Five People You Meet in Heaven. But its in hardcover, the paperback is not yet due for release. I guess I need to wait for that to come out. After rummaging through another pile of books, an interesting cover caught my eye, the book entitled: Bookends by Jane Green. As I read through the back cover about the novel’s plot, I learned that this is a different novel from the usual collection of novels by Nicholas Sparks or the suspense fiction of Sydney Sheldon that I’m so fond of reading. – “Funny and poignant – you’ll devour it in one sitting” – Cosmo. I was in a middle of an argue with myself -- to buy or not to buy when my fiancé came back after checking out the IT bookshelves (his favourite spot in the store). He asked me if I knew anyone who have a copy of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown which was on displayed across where we stand. Though he is not fond of reading non-IT materials, told him that now is always the best time to start. So we head to the counter and paid for our books.

Can’t wait to get home to put a plastic cover on my newly purchased book and start reading it.

The yogi in me

I always enjoy my yoga class every Sunday. Not only because the number of students is smaller than the usual weekday classes that I attended but because of the new poses that the instructor introduce to the class.. Today, new poses were the pigeon pose, lion pose and even a tough exercise. My favorite was The Wheel Posture (Chakra-asan) because after releasing this pose, it was so relaxing. Though it was a difficult and challenging pose, I enjoyed it very much. I hope soon I’ll be able to do the Shoulder stand posture.

As I search online, there are so many meaning of the yoga exercises (asanas). Some says, Yoga assists in maintaining or restoring equilibrium to the body and mind so that good health can flourish. Others says it purify and strengthen the body and control and focus the mind. All these are true. But for me, its more than an exercise, it has become part of me. And eventually will be my way of life. Living the real freedom, the real happiness, the ones that are not temporary or of-the-moment kind, the ones that you can control, the ones that are stable.

I am a yogi and proud to be one.

Are you happy?

As I go through my emails today, I came across this email and made me stop and think.. do I really know what happiness is? Do I understand the real essence of the word? Am I happy with what I have around me right now?

After reading this, I knew that I am happy because I choose to be.

Excerpts for an email forum: What is Happiness???

" Who are the happiest people on earth?" These were the four prize-winning answers:

1. A craftsman or artist whistling over a job well done.

2. A little child building sand castles.

3. A mother, after a busy day, bathing her baby.

4. A doctor who has finished a difficult and dangerous operation, and saved a human life.

No matter how the world strives for millions, riches and rank do not make happy lives.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.

Treasure every moment you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special and remember that time waits for no one. So, stop waiting until you finish school, until you lose ten pounds, until you have kids, until you retire, until you get married, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until the first or fifteen, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die to decide that there is no better time than now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

There is one thing no person can ever take away from you - and that is your freedom to choose how you will react to what happens to youself. Even under the most difficult of circumstances, happiness is a choice, which transforms our tragedies into triumph.

So you said you got a difficult boss? Your savings is running low? You've got problems? Welcome to the club! It's your choice. You can either groan, moan and whimper or you can choose to appreciate God's blessings and be happy.

Your friends? They're gifts from God. Your family and love ones? You'll never find people who would care for you the way they do. Yes! And that includes your in-laws! Don't take these daily miracles for granted.

Work like you don't need money. Love like you've never been hurt. And dance like no one's watching.

A remark made my day

So how did I start my day? With a prayer. A prayer asking for the spirit of wisdom and I prayed that I won’t stutter during my presentation and that the participants would be receptive.

Me and my wing-(wo)man Maya (she was kind enough to offer her support by accompanying me to my client call) went to meet the HR Manager for a multi-national company here in the country. The presentation went very well and was surprised that I was not nervous at all. Maybe its because Mr. Jerry was very friendly and was not intimidating when he entered the conference room. Thus, I was comfortable delivering my presentation. Maya was such a big help not only because she was the one pressing the enter-key in the laptop but she also said a lot of important points that I forgot to mention and what about that Security question that was thrown at us? Good thing Maya was a former “girl-scout” and was able to address the question.

It was my first actual IMPACT presentation to a client and I was glad it wasn’t traumatic. Maya commented that my presentation was way better than my mock. I was so happy and flattered hearing that kind of a remark from a colleague. It made my day :)

Meet my fiancé for lunch in Glorietta and we went to pick up a cheque from LBC after our delicious lunch at Choices.

Mid-afternoon, I craved for Starbucks and told Maya about my new discovery (Café latte with caramel syrup). So we (Kim, Maya and Me) went up to the 4th floor to satisfy our taste buds and bought ourselves coffee and pastry to go along with our drinks.

And before going home, decided to go to the gym to workout and loose those calories I got from oatmeal raisins, banana loaf and cinnamon swirl that I ate with my latte.

Cavite-Baclaran-Glorietta-Starbucks

My fiancé and I went to Imus, Cavite to meet with Ezra so we can plan the wedding. We were suppose to be there by morning but we arrived around 1 p.m. due to traffic. The planning went very well. I shared with Ez what I want and with her creative mind, she help me envisioned my wedding. Its gonna be a “Nature in Spring” kinda wedding. I’m so excited!

After the meeting, we decided to attend the anticipated mass in Baclaran Church since we were already in the vicinity. And went to watched a movie (I Robot, starring Will Smith) at Glorietta 4 with taters popcorn (of course). The movie is ahhhmmm. OK, but I’ve seen better.

Anyway, the movie ended at 10 p.m. and Adrian asked me if I wanted to have some coffee before going home. Since it has been sometime since we last drank coffee together, we decided to go to Starbucks at 6750. There, in the counter was a pretty cashier who took our order.. I had a tall café latte and agreed to add caramel syrup that she offered. Adrian ordered his favorite cold dink, Mocha Frappuccino (Grande)and agreed to add white chocolate syrup on his drink without even thinking and knowing that there is an additional charge. Curious on what actually men think when being offered something by a pretty woman, I ask Adrian why he took the offer.. and I knew all along the answer to my question..”She’s pretty kasi eh”.

We joked about the pretty Starbucks cashier as we walk past the light post and make our way to the park. Saw a bench where we can enjoy our coffee, as I sat, remove my sandals and sat on a half lotus position. We talked, laughed, kissed, cuddled and joked. And mind you, the caramel café latte was delicious...can’t wait to tell Maya (starbucks addict) about it. As for Adrian, he keeps complaining that his frap was sooo sweet and regrets agreeing to add the white choco syrup.

Lesson for the day: Don't be fooled by people with good looks.. make sure u know what your getting (in our case ordering) so you won't regret and complain :)