WHAT NOW?

So what to do with this blog?

Lot of things in mind.

Travel. Airplanes. Airports.

Finance. Technical Analysis. Charting.

Goodness. Shackled. Married to the job.

Haha! Staccato.

My current state.

Will be back.

More coherent.

More fun.

COMING HOME

This is probably one of the shortest Christmas breaks I've had. I used to pack and leave the moment I heard the first peeling of the bells for simbang gabi. But since I just started with a new company (loosely translated as haven't found my rhythm), I chose to cram the holiday break into one short, hopefully sweet week. Okay, a little over a week.

The first two days in Manila were, shall I say, kickass! Got inebriated on the first night and stoned on the second. Kidding on the stoning part. Nice thing about having different sets of friends is that you get to have a diverse way of having fun. SMB and Red Horse vs. wine and cheese. That sort.

Now I'm in my beloved Ampayonville. Had my first home-cooked meal for the year. Pata ng baboy, dinuguan and of course, the best macaroni salad in the world. They don't actually match but heck, not complaining. I was so full, bundat to the point of catatonia. Dozed off after.

Time check, 1:48 AM. Just woke up after passing out.

Merry Christmas!

EGYPT-ISRAEL-JORDAN

I am currently following the footsteps of Jesus Christ. Crossing my fingers, I don't trip.

Egypt: March 29 to April 1

Israel: April 1 to 7

Jordan: April 7 to 9

Will be posting details (and pics) soon.

VIRGIN RUN

Good morning Singapura!

Up and about for my first half marathon.

Gun start: 6:30 AM. It will be a scenic route from Sentosa, traversing through Universal Studios, ending at Padang.

Aiming for a 2.5-hour chip time.

LO HEI

My 4th Lo Hei! (yes sir! i'm counting 4 in this sterile island state)

It is a Singapore dish that is traditionally served during Chinese New Year festivities. Families (in my case, officemates) gather together and toss up for a good fortune ahead. The higher you toss, the more luck you have.

The dish is basically a chop suey of achara-like ingredients. The non-chef in me couldn't identify the mix of shredded vegetables, sauces and other condiments. So, I consulted Mr. Wiki:

"The Singapore-originated Yusheng (Lo-hei) had fish served with daikon (white radish), carrots, red pepper (capsicum), turnips, red pickled ginger, sun-dried oranges, daun limau nipis (key lime leaves), Chinese parsley, chilli, jellyfish, chopped peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, Chinese shrimp crackers (or fried dried shrimp), five spice powder, and other ingredients, laced with a sauce using plum sauce, rice vinegar, kumquat paste and sesame oil, for a total of 27 ingredients. Originally, the dish used raw mackerel, although in deference to the popular wishes of customers, salmon was later offered as an alternative due to the growing popularity of Salmon." - from Wikipedia

Weird blend! You're like nibbling plastic strands. Pickle-like with some sweet after-taste. But with my fortune at stake, I tossed as high as I could.

Eating was a different matter. My Pinoy palate was just too picky.

FROM DUST TO DUST

I was rushing to catch my 6 PM train to Novena when a colleague in her late forties caught me along the frantic flow.

"On your way to the gym?"

"Nope. Catching the 6:30 mass at the Redemptorist."

"Oh! It's a holy day or something? Aaii yoh, totally forgot!"

I have no idea she is Catholic. Baptized just last year. In a society with a motley mix of culture, ethnicity and beliefs, you can't tell.

Really.

A guy named Christian is in fact Buddhist. Sulainti Binte an Indian. Tarhata a devout Christian. Vikram a Moslem. And all other fascinating permutations.

"What's the feast again?"

"Ash Wednesday."

"What's the significance? Sorry lah, I was absent when I had that lecture!"

I almost choked. Amused that even Singaporeans have that excuse.

In my Romano-esque, smart-alecky tone, "we came from dust, to dust we return!"

She had that bewildered silence. Mine a confused smugness.

I could get her puzzlement. What? Just like that? Mere dust! Nothing great? Thought God created us in his image. Something special! The fuss then?

Geez! I could see the eyes. I could hear the taunt. Ms. Romano was back!

"Errr, reminds us of our mortality. Start of Lent, y' know!"

Bit of a tentative smile. I wonder if she will rethink her joining the flock.

"Ok lah! I go this way."

Ha! Saved not by the bell. But by the turnstile. For that, I vow no Coke and dessert for 40 days.

Have a reflective Season folks!

ITALIAN and INDIAN (SG EATS 1)

I have 2 cheat days in a week. I choose Saturday and Sunday because I want them to be self-serving. Cheating should be delectably fun.

With my friend Shendee, my inner Anthony Bourdain (just the eating part) was unleashed.

Last Saturday, we had a quiet (and dark!) dinner at Amici in Holland Village. A cozy Italian restaurant which, that night, offered an enticing 1-for-1 promotion. We just got out of the treadmill running for good 5K (finished mine for 30 mins and 16 secs haha!), so we easily became suckers for the promo.

We ordered 4 for the price of 2.

I ordered Fettuccine Alla Russa (fettuccine with smoked salmon and caviar served in vodka cream sauce) and Pizza 4 Formaggi (baked with four different kinds of cheese − gorgonzola, buffalo mozzarella, scamorza and ricotta − and topped with tomatoes).

Fettuccine Alla Russa

Pizza 4 Formaggi

Shendee had Gnocchi Alla Frutti di Mari (dumpling-like potato pasta with seafood in tomato sauce) and Pizza Stagioni (fresh cut wild mushrooms, Parma ham, pepperoni, seafood, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese).

True to my tag as the resident alcoholic, I had 2 glasses of Chardonnay (an acidic Australian and a fruity Chilean).

One of the best Italian restaurants I have tried in SG. Bit pricy sans the promo.

On Sunday, we trooped to Little India for some piquant fix (perhaps hang over from friday's yoga). Indian cuisine is known for its abundant use of herbs and spices. A strong aroma of curry greeted us as we entered Banana Leaf Apolo. The place was casual with an interesting mix of caucasian tourists, local Chinese and Indian workers.

We had the standard chicken curry, mutton grilled in charcoal, spicy sotong (cooked like the Pinoy adobong pusit) and bryani rice.

Tangy food was spelled M-O-R-E R-I-C-E. Sad to lose the battle. Raising the white flag meant two helpings of bryani drowned by 2 cans of Coke light.

Great zesty burp. Food was cheap. Definitely worth the additional minutes on the treadmill.

HOT YOGA

Everything is falling into places. Not random, but proper places.

The second week (of the first month of the new decade) ended on a high note. Barring any last-minute fickles, I may cap January at 138%. Great start to a promising year.

It wasn't all charts and dollar signs though. I tried something new this week.

A friend invited me to a free 2-week program in a newly-opened yoga studio near the office. First, I was hesitant. Not really into those things. Might get bored. I would rather be eating metals than doing some stretching and balancing acts. But guess, I am just too positive about this year that I am willing to try new things and venture into unchartered territories.

I arrived at the studio 3o minutes ahead of schedule. Curse to be an early bird! Got to engage in some shallow chit-chats. But it was difficult not to be smitten by their coolness. Good sign! Nirvana seemed to be within reach. People were just too light and chill.

They were cool but the room wasn't. It was heated to 40 degrees and I was sweating like a pig, panting like a lost puppy. This for 90 minutes?

But as we progressed into different ways of breathing (okay, puffing and wheezing!) and balancing (er, shaking?), I got deeper into stillness and tranquility. Heavily huffing. Legs and arms vigorously trembling. I could feel I was releasing some negative energy. Bad vibes gone. I was serenity. All in harmony.

I wasn't in trance. I was letting go of stress and throwing away anxiety. I have never breathed that deep and stretched that much. And I wasn't a perfect sight. Wobbly awkward and all.

Nevertheless, it was a great experience. Taking in so much oxygen was invigorating. Breath is spirit. The act of breathing is living.

Whoever said that was damn right!

READY TO RUMBLE AND GROWL

I heaved a sigh of relief as I bade goodbye to a lackluster 2009. A year of a few hits and a lot of misses - missteps, mistakes, misdeeds. Dang! The year wasn't probably dull. I was.

I am not going to do a year-ender to a bland past. It will only leave a bad taste. A better way to embrace a new decade is to completely let go of old baggage. Face the future with much confidence, hope and passion.

Loud and clear. I will be passionate in 2010.

Having that oomph and extra pizzazz. Spice in a meal. Zing in a bite. Tingle in a touch.

All ye tigers! A roaring 2010!

NUMBING

Beyond words.

Beyond emotions.

All we seek is action.

Swift justice.

DISCOVERING THE SHORES

Finally, the much-needed and well-deserved break . . .

It's not yet party season in Boracay. The plan was to just strap ourselves to the beach chair and let time pass by, blithely unnoticed.

A quiet witness to the famed sunset.

With my trusty ice cold beer.

In my pitstop.

PWIT NO. 1

It's as basic as the three Rs.

Now, the four Rs?

Reading . . . wRiting . . . 'Rithmetic . . . and . . .

Red Horse !

*PWIT - Pinoy Wit

NOVEMBER RAIN

In my own intermittent, unpredictable way, I'm back!

Blogging has been sidelined by the rigors of my job and of course, my advanced state of ennui. Oppressive boredom or general lack of interest, according to Mr. Wiki.

While the market is poised to dive, I am frozen in my room by the cold November rain. Tribute to the Guns', not! But literally recoiled in my bed, having colds (and cough!) listening to the gentle spattering of November rain.

Despite the frosty welcome to a brand new month, I have a lot of things to be excited about:

1. Hitting the b*tch, er , beach next week.

Yes, I need a breather. (hoping the typhoons will take the cue from me too)

2. Friends coming over to SG

Yes, I need additional souls to roam around my flat. It has taken so much of a breather already.

3. Goals on track till year-end

Not personal. Purely business. It's been quite long since I tasted that B or C.

4. Total healing from a back injury

I badly need the endorphin fix and can't wait to eat metals again. And this time, I'll be gentle and cautious.

5. Christmas

Bonding time with family and reconnecting with old friends. Those-are-silver-these-are-gold kind of thing.

So there.

25 RANDOM THINGS (A REPOST)

Initially posted on FB. Transplanted to a newly-revitalized blog. =)
So there!

1. joined amateur singing contest at 4. lost. got ice drop for a prize. (mama wanted a crooner son)

2. went to grade 1 at 5 (since i was a failure in #1, mama then wanted a scholar son) but took grade 3 twice.

3. rumored to have fallen from the monkey bars in grade 3 (probably the reason of the "BUT" in #2). can't remember but accepted the rumor as fact.

4. became out-of-school-youth due to #3. so i smoked my first yosi at 9. B.I.? ang tambay nga silingan sa Ampayon.

5. first disappointment: ralph got accepted to volleyball team in grade 6. i got rejected. i taught ralph how to play. classic case of student outsmarting (or outplaying) the teacher. ;-)

6. nobody knows this: i was a stalker at 12. she was 2 years my senior. volleyball player. her brother is my batch. ;-)

7. never got elected as President/Mayor/Governor. always VICE. next: P.R.O.

8. tardiness is next to godliness: HS: missed the first-period classes; COLLEGE: i was a nerd so N.A.; BPI: office at 9 AM; CITI MNL: office at 9:30, CITI SING: office at 10. i just love Singapore!

9. nick evolution: ingking-id-ed-eds-etch-etchiks-edz-eggshells-edge-edsul-sul-eggshulls-sarge

10. hate sunrise, love sunset

11. owl/evening person/insomniac (in other words: i hate morning persons with their chirpy good mornings)

12. addiction: alcohol (faves: tequila shots, vodka lemon drops, SMB, Hoegaarden, asahi, red horse para tipid hubog dayon and my ultimate basagan long island I.T.)

13. this year, cutting down on # 12 due to advancing age. status so far: SUCCESS!

14. hated music until i stumbled into trance/house/club/techno. yes, they're music

15. i work hard, i party harder. (can be related to #14. go figure)

16. dislike sharings during prayer meetings. they all seem to have the biggest problems. i get pressured coz i don't. sometimes i just make them up so i have something to share. 

17. restored the FAITH. had my epiphany in 2008 in ironically, non-Catholic Singapore. God works in mysterious ways.

18. always the optimist. not a quitter. in short, stubborn.

19. loves flying & fascinated with airplanes & airports. i now collect airplane models. 

20. travel trivia: was denied boarding & left by my plane several times (domestic & international) reason? refer to # 8.

21. i love blogging but i hardly post in my DEACTIVATING THE AUTOPILOT blog coz i can't rant about my job there. so i have a secret blog. gained several hits, anonymous cyber-friends & loyal followers. embrace technology! 

22. i splurge on travel. next stop: Australia in May (will skydive)

23. a chronic ningas cogon: enrolled in a photography class but didn't even attend a single class; took Masters of Stat in UP but went AWOL after 2 sems; recently read 4 books but stopped halfway . . . 

24. comfort food: Mama's macaroni salad

 

25. doing this is quite fun. so MORE!

BUPAK TOT BABOL # 1: CHEAT

Some do it to earn a bigger windfall. For Ninoy’s sake.  Manong driver does a batingting so his meter can run faster than the speed of light.

Others, to fill a void. For Cupid’s sake.  Hubby (or to be gender-sensitive, wifey) scours the great plain, finds a willing prey and lands in a ready nest.

Manay Lolit did it for fame. Apo Ferdie for greed. Pareng Wristband due to sheer stupidity. La Gloria out of habit.

For the act to be consummated, two participants are needed. Both are assumed to play equally-important roles. One cannot exist without the other. Active and passive. Cheater and cheatee.

Now before we pass judgment on the cheater and shed a tear for the cheateee, let’s mull over the following:

Who cheats who?  Quick reply. Cheater cheats cheateee. How about cheater cheats cheater? Think self crime.

Who's better off, worse off? Manong driver goes home happier, car barn earlier. Hubby (yes, wifey) ends up emotionally filled, carnally satisfied. In the case of the "offended" party, "what you don't know wont hurt you."

Who's to blame? Manong driver who  knows how to smell opportunity. Passenger who’s oblivious and doesn’t care. A libidinally needy hubby (yes, wifey). A “ barren” spouse.

Does it serve the common good? Think emancipation of both.

A PIECE OF JAPAN

I'm starting to believe Life is full of surprises.

I took a Northwest flight from Chicago to Manila via Japan. While I was waiting for my turn to board the plane in Narita, the NW agent announced the flight was overbooked and they needed volunteers who were willing to give up their seats.

Smelling freebies, I immediately had myself bumped off to a JAL flight a day after.

The deal i got?

Overnight stay at Radisson (i was tempted to go to downtown Tokyo but time wasn't on my side). A free roundtrip ticket to the U.S., redeemable within a year. Two thousand Worldperks miles. USD 50 airport voucher.

How's that to cap a week-long respite?

And oh, i also got a Sakura lounge pass. For a moment, I thought i earned a business class upgrade too.

ANTI-ALZHEIMER's

Indolence. Languidness. Lethargy.

Hmmm, i'll say stupor or coma.

Before it's too late, i will now embark on my own anti-alzheimer's regimen.

1. Blog. min 3x/wk

2. Read a good book. 1 book/wk

3. Watch a thought-provoking movie. sat/sun

4. Drop Van Buuren/Van Dyk/Chicane . . . at least for the time being

5. Forget SMB, Hoegaarden, Sapporo, L.I. iced tea . . . okay, okay! just reserve for December drowning

6. Hit the sack early. latest 1 a.m.

7. Run 11.5 kph, 20 mins tops

8. Forget work, take a break!

IN LIEU of CNBC and BLOOMBERG

Beware of an empty mind with abundant time.

Domain of worthless views and hapless sighs.

While anxiously waiting for the credit squeeze to claim its next victim, I decided to start my own blog. I got fed up with so much carnage on the trading floor, made worse by inevitable wails emanating from client meeting rooms. So before apathy and numbness set in, i pick up a new hobby.

Given the circumstances, it's the sanest thing to do next to lemon drops (yup! another learning).

Blogging isn't really new to me as i made few attempts two years ago. Sloth caught up with me that i only had two posts.

Now what a more appropriate way to restart my journey to the exhilarating, sometimes nasty, world of blogging than by paying tribute to my two jurassic works.

Click on and know my BEGINNINGS . . .