Welcome the new blogger!

Yohoho! The Bebster is currently typing his first entry, folks.
You should all check his blog out because:

1) He's the Bebster. Simply put.
2) He's looking quite serious tapping those keys. I'm telling you, the guy's got a lot on his mind.
3) Well, we all know you have too much idle time on the net anyway.

Go now. And I mean, now! And post a comment while you're at it :)

Happy days are here again.

Wow, it's been quite a day. Work was crazy as usual, then my night got even crazier as we recorded BGVs for the album. In between all that was major mental preparations for Saturday's shoot (It's going to be exciting: Imagine a music video with lotsa rowdy kids from ages 2 to 16, all in either bright colors, formal suits or cutesy costumes). I'm excited to get my hands dirty, but all the action yet so early in the game has dawned on me a stinking realization:

My skills are RUSTY.

I haven't sung in so many months.
And my last video was a souped up Powerpoint presentation.

The truth is hilarious. So funny in fact that it's pathetic, and intimidating. So many details yet to be finalized and time is on the move. I'm hoping to get the vid out by third week of December, but as of today, my best possible venue is now not an option. I've also got three more songs to back up (the deadline of which is tomorrow), and then onto promotion and hi-tech caroling. And don't forget the crash review course on Final Cut Pro--I can't put all those poor kids to work only to stick them in a Powerpoint.

What of it then? Do we just pack up and go home? Retreat to the safehouse and twiddle our thumbs? Live the comfortable life and stick with routine?

Heck no! Bring on the challenge, because I sure am ready for it. If anything, I need the growth. I don't ever want to waste away doing nothing but blog for the rest of my life (although I admittedly have been enjoying the medium to vent :)

In all this, I just hope I don't ever forget what I have, what is given me, and what it is all for. And with the knowledge, I hope I make good use applying them.

...Let's just hope I don't die from exhaustion come Saburday.

Murphy's Law.

Boy, I am one frustrated lady ready to rip someone's hair out--and it's really most probably mine. Bebs has been using the powerbook to finish the Christmas album these past weeks, so I've been left with the PC to do my work. I've got a few things on my plate that need finishing as well, so I'm counting on the desktop to get it done.

But lo and behold, it decides to conk out on me just when I need it. The thing doesnt even see the light of day, it just shuts down halfway through the booting process. Either that, or it hangs right at the welcome page. Tell me how a custom built heavy duty media power machine decides to quit his day job and just leave you hanging like that? Major hassle. Goosfrabahs aren't even cutting it right now.

Good thing I've got this trusty notebook to post my anger away. I'd really love to make this a technical issue and say Get a mac dammit, this is not worth the agony! Yeah, well maybe it is. hehe. The grass really is greener, as they say ;)

But I've always learned that it's your response to these situations that make you come out a better person. Let's face it, the world and what it's become is bound to screw you over. Will you thus succumb to your frustrations and ruin the rest of your day? Or will you take a step back and believe life is much bigger than all this pettiness? Decisions, decisions.

What the hey, just get a mac! Life is short! hahaha. (Btw, for a definition of Murphy's law, check this online dictionary out. Pretty interesting.)

Lights out, folks. Night!

Gobble, gobble.

An awesome Thanksgiving gathering: (Clockwise from left) JJ O., Jackie G., Tita Dina, Tito Jack, Tito Monchu, Raffy L, the Bebster, Moi, Nikki G., Carol D. and Joey O. The only momoy missing here is Raffy E.

I had just about the best Thanksgiving since I got here. We celebrated the holiday with our closest friends at the Guingona residence, and Tito Jack just about outdid his cooking with the most amazing turkey I've tasted. Not kidding. Everything on the table was extremely good--so good in fact that we pigs practically hung out at the dining table from lunch to dinner. Hahah. Yeah, it was pretty much one smooth transition from one meal to the next. I don't think I've ever eaten so much.

And then this morning, Bebs and I woke up at 530am and braved through two crowded malls for our very first "After Thanksgiving Sale." Check out the great bargains we bought:

Toaster oven (or oven toaster, whatever makes you happy) at $19.00, originally $30.00
Blender at $13.99, originally $30.00.
Crockpot $4.50 (who cares what the original price is?? It's $4.50 for crying out loud)
Three Tees for bebs at $3.00 each (nice colors too).
And a lot of other things...

Yay, I am so happy. Anyone who knows me well knows I'm all about the deal, so the great bargains have totally made my Thanksgiving. Plus, ofcourse the food, and the kickass Apprentice episode, and the friends. Definitely lots to be thankful for :)

Anyway, I hope your celebration was as great as mine.

Pollsters unite!

Heya peeps. It's Turkey Day tomorrow, so prepare for some major gorging.

Meanwhile, I've set up a poll on my sidebar. Humor me and vote so the thing won't be so pointless. heheh. Also, if you have interesting ideas on new polls, do send them over and I'll post them. Yay, the site's getting busy!

The most powerful woman in the world.

You gotta hand it to Oprah. Not only did she give away 276 brand new Pontiacs last month to her audience, she just gifted teachers with around $10k worth of hi-tech equipment, all the way from 30 inch plasma TVs to thousand-dollar watches to state of the art washer and dryers.

Man, next time I'm heading to Chicago I'm definitely lining up to watch her show.

Countdown to Thanksgiving

This Thursday will mark my third Thanksgiving in the US. There really is lots to be thankful for. In fact, this week alone has been awesome. Can't really get into details much right now, but I'd just like to say that God has been tremendous in his surprises. I mean just when you think the world has conspired against you, and you know (atleast you think you know) nothing can be done about it and you might as well accept what's coming, He goes and pulls a fast one. And I mean FAST. Like a "Whoa! What the..." kind of fast. Amazing.

Now I know some of you are probably thinking, Nikki's hyper spiritualizing, or Man, the poor girl's going loony on us. But I'm telling you, when God shows up in the most unlikely situations, you really can't help but be amazed. And yeah, I'm pretty stoked :)

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Delayed, but cute just the same ;)

Don't you love fake hair? That's me, Joey and Bebs in our crazy costumes last Halloween '04. I know it's kinda late, but I wanted to share the pic just the same. Joey makes the best Matrix, while Bebs pulled off the Reggae "Jaco" look pretty well too.

Speaking of which, guess who I convinced to set up his own blog? Yup, yup, The Bebster Chronicles will be available online soon, folks! I'm just excited as you are... I won't be the only geek at home now. heheh.

I seriously need some sleep now. Till my next entry, adios muchachos.

This is what I get for settling.

I just watched White Chicks on video and I must say it was a total waste of time. And I mean GROAN. What's this world come to? I seriously want my two hours back. How on earth did anyone get the green light to make that movie? And that low-angled shot of Big Hulky Man bathed in grease in his black speedos: So NOT sexy. I'm so worried I'll have nightmares later.

Sigh, someone's gotta suggest quality films for me to rent, or I'll seriously die a slow death here. Anyone seen a good flick worth recommending?

Oh, Vin.

We just came back from Blockbuster in our second attempt at getting The Chronicles of Riddick. Still out! Man oh man. Just when you want something so bad... Bebs tried to make things better though by making me the best poached eggs I've tasted. He's a great cook. Nothing like love (and food) to make you forget about your little infatuations :)

Well, I'm goin back to my movie marathon, so I'll catch up with you fogies tomorrow. Have a great weekend!

Sudan.

*Thanks to Tiff for the link.

These are Pulitzer Prize winning photos taken in 1994 during the Sudan famine. The first photo depicts a famine stricken child crawling towards a United Nations food camp, located one kilometer away. The vulture is waiting for the child to die so it can eat him.

This picture shocked the whole world. No one knows what became of the child, including the photographer Kevin Carter, who left the place as soon as the photograph was taken. Three months later he committed suicide due to depression.

Man. I saw those pics in my inbox this morning and it's not a visual you just leave on the monitor, really. I just hope that in my own way I get to help out somehow...

Anyway, I don't want this entry to be depressing, so let me just end with one of my favorite artists, and her response to the need that is all around us. She actually DID something, and I admire her for it. Watch THIS, it's got to be a sermon in and of itself.

Of pigs and tigers.

For some reason today, I got to thinking about Pattaya, Thailand, and my trip there almost four years ago. I had the privilege of visiting the place courtesy of my last job in Manila (Go Linksys!), and I must say it was one of the most unique places I've been to. Anyone who knows me can attest to my awful memory, but I do remember the trip quite vividly (You'll understand why in a minute)...

Imagine this:
- The cutest darling tiger cubs milking from the biggest pig you've ever laid eyes on. (Yes, you read it right. And man, that pig was HUGE).
- An asian woman wrapped in 200 real, live, DEADLY scorpions. There they were, crawling all over her body. And she was smiling.
- The amazing opportunity of actually having all them crazy thingies transferred to you.
- A man frolicking in a pool of about 20 seemingly agitated crocodiles. At one point he forced open a croc's mouth and stuck his head in there. And then some.
- Going up the tallest point of Pattaya, only to jump off the tower right after (with safety gear, ofcourse), and THEN go right back up again for a lunch buffet at their revolving restaurant.
- A porcupine--the first one I've seen, and probably the only one you'll ever find in Thailand.
- Cradling one of them darling tiger cubs in my arms. They're quite heavy, btw.
- Buying my very first pair of PERFECT FIT jeans for only 700 baht. Yeba!
- And an AWESOME beach resort to come home to for three glorious days.

Yes, quite unforgettable that trip. Would love to go back there and take Bebs to see the sights. Come to think of it, I'm grateful that the jobs I've had have enabled me to see so many places. When I came to the States I thought the world was huge. Now, after three years, a new job and many trips later, I marvel at the vastness of geography and God's handprint in it. So much to conquer, so little time. Sigh.

Anyway, if you ever find yourself in Thailand, Pattaya is the place to be. Otherwise, you only need to turn on your TV and watch just as much weirdness. But hey, that's another topic ;)

Say Cheese.

Interesting update: I just recently landed a photography stint with SF Examiner's monthly magazine supplement. I will basically shoot their cover for them, as well as other events that might merit some artsy fartsy photography. Though it doesnt pay much, I'm just as happy to add this sideline to my portfolio (although ofcourse i'll take the moolah anytime. heheh).

So anyway, my "Chief Editor" (I don't know her exact title yet) took me to a food fest prepared by the Philippine Consulate and Dept. of Tourism at the Marriott downtown SF, and instructed me to get to know the bigwigs, mingle and shmooze, and in short, hand out my business cards. Good opportunity for me actually, except 1) I didn't bring a lot of cards, and 2) my PR skills were kinda rusty. So there I was in my skirt and heels, shaking hands, putting on some semblance of a smile, makin' short talk.. For all of 30 minutes. And then I headed to the buffet table and stuffed myself silly. Hahaha. Mighty good food though.

Can't wait for my first cover to come out. Look out for it next month at your favorite newsstand :)

Let's get this party started

Let me take this "first" post to confess something to the general public:
I've just discovered this website where you can actually play scrabble with people from all over the world and get rated for it. Yes, folks, veeeery exciting. You actually get to climb up the ladder of scrabble pros (woop tee doo..) Sadly enough, I've gotten quite hooked with the damn site and now I'm playing NON-STOP! Hahaha. That cant be good...

I am proud to say though that my non-stop late night playing has upped my rating to E (Hey, it's hard to move up to an A with 1000+ geeks vying for the same position).

Anyway, wish me luck guys. Anyone care to play with me though?

P.S. BTW, I'm the only mokmok who didn't think to create a nickname on there, so yeah, no need to rag me on it.

New blog up.

Alas, I have finally joined all the geeks out there who feel the urge to express themselves on the web. I don't know exactly why I set this thing up, but for whatever purpose this may serve, I hope the good outweighs the bad.