Drive

I've been asked so many times why I chose to live where I now live, as it is so far from my workplace, and the traffic is reputedly terrible that I feel I should really address the issue. So, finally, when the question was asked the umpteenth time, I reached deep inside and found out why: I like the drive.

I like to feel that, after one whole day of bullshit and kowtowing to the powers- that-be, I am actually leaving all that behind. I like to see the difference in landscapes and topography from one city to the next as I drive by, traffic or no traffic. In fairness, the traffic in that area where I live is not so bad. It's no worse than that in any other part of the metropolis.

I love to see the change from towering concrete electric posts to the short, thin wooden posts of fluorescent lights along the road; from the hard, concrete five-lane highways to the softer, asphalted two-lane back roads flanked by rice fields and old trees; from skyscrapers to wooden houses. It's a change that heralds the homecoming, no matter how short the time I actually spend "at home."

Back to Square 1

So. I've let go of my efforts to become a lawyer. I'm no longer going to classes. I'm not taking the bar exams ever. I'm looking to earn more money. I'm looking for financial security. I'm looking at life in the long term.

Omigads, but I've grown up.

ADB has called to request for a statement that I've no relatives working at the bank and that I'm available as a consultant on call at any time. I've submitted. Next stop: the Consulting Services Office for some creative price haggling.

Nelson has been invited to be Vice President of a local bank. I hope he's chosen. Remember, long term financial security. We both have the same goals and aspirations at this point in our life. Might as well help each other out, become an economic unit, a business partnership, with benefits on the side, like kinky sex.

Well, at least, things are moving. I intend to go back to grad school and finish my master's degree in education. Then go on to an industrial relations graduate course for a possible HR career in training or something or other. Makes sense.

Nothing's for certain, except that I've gotta keep moving. And I gotta move fast.

Emyn's next big grand adventure takes off. I just hope she survives it this time.

Big Life Decision

Last Saturday, Nelson was at my place to talk to L and his wife, T, re: possible business ventures. He cut a deal with T who left shortly after to put the kids to bed. L stayed behind. The two were up discussing business till 3 in the morning.

It wasn't all business, though. Nelson informed me that he had decided to buy a house in the locality, and that he wanted me to live with him. He was very clear on marriage: he didn't want it. But what got me was his plan to register the property in my name. With that, I could then, according to him, present him to my folks.

That was met with stunned silence. I could feel myself withdrawing from Nelson.

Do I love the guy? No, but in all practicality, there couldn't be a better guy to provide for me. I would assist him in all his business dealings, help him with the management of any business I'd be qualified to oversee. I think that he sees in me someone he could count on and trust, especially in money matters. I'm very flattered, and overwhelmed.

Does he mean what he say? I don't really know the guy well enough. That's the bottom line. But I think he's sincere, as he did ask L to look for a house for sale. And he did bring it up without any prodding or hints from me. I told Mara about it today and she could only roll up her eyes and call me an idiot for not grabbing at the chance.

I'm overwhelmed. I'm terrified of this decision. But it's been made. Gung-ho and all that.

There's also news from the ADB front. I'm being considered as an editorial consultant by the Energy Division of the East and Central Asia Department. My main task would be to edit and/or write reports on projects financed by the bank in the region. Interesting stuff. Tough job, reading and distilling engineering technicalities into the language of laymen. That shouldn't be too difficult. After all, I don't have to bother with content, only with form. And there is a handbook.

Things are moving very fast. At the start of the year, I had this very strong feeling that I was in for a change, another one. It's going to be a wild and bumpy ride. Forth, into unchartered waters! Let's hope that, this time, it works. Actually, I have no choice. I have to make it work.

LOTR: ROTK

I saw LOTR: ROTK last night for the fifth time. I'm not going to write a review about it, no. Let me just say that Peter Jackson and his crew did a really great job on this last installment of the trilogy. Although I still hate the way he shot the fight scenes, I must admit that Return of the King is a true cinematic experience. You can fully experience the work only on the widescreen. And it totally transports you to Middle Earth.

It is so difficult to leave that place where Jackson takes you, back to this dismal existence. It makes me want to die, get on that last ship for the Grey Havens. To finally see those white shores and, beyond that, a green country under a swift sunrise.

We have all become orcs.

And what is that with those Jackson kids? First, they were adorable hobbits listening to Bilbo's account of the trolls. Next, they're in Minas Tirith, forming part of that sad crowd taking leave of Faramir and his small company. It's things like this that ruin the experience. What does Jackson think I am? Needless, it's an insult to my intelligence. It totally stretches "willing suspension of disbelief" beyond endurance.

Despite this, I think that the casting is perfect. I can't think of anyone else playing the starring and supporting roles. But the most perfect, I think, is Cate Blanchett. When she helps Frodo up (in ROTK, after he's fainted on the path toward Minas Morgul), she gives a smile like that of a child. You can really see the innocence on her face.

The attention to detail in this series is amazing. But I really would have wanted a closer look at all the creatures and flora and fauna of Jackson's universe. The orcs, the trolls, the Uruk-hai, the beasts, and especially the dragons. I just love it when they swoop down from the skies.

Another show-stopper is Shelob. The audience just gets into the act when it creeps up behind Frodo. Pure Hollywood. Fantastic. And, yes, the reason why I keep watching it (ROTK) is because audience reaction is such a sure thing, it's just heaven. I can imagine the thrill that Jackson must have gotten when he saw how the test audience was so enthralled by his work. His work. Hmmmm. When the work was produced by hundreds. But I must give him this: leadership counts. A lot. What vision. Entire generations to come will owe him such gratitude for faithfully bringing Tolkien's universe to life.

LOTR, the films, might have been built on Tolkien's universe, but it is Jackson's, entirely.

Did I say I wasn't going to write a review?

4 kids & a dog

Sunday, and my folks arrived at a little past 10.30 am. They got lost. My dad just enjoyed the open highways too much, he went up the fly-over instead of going under it. Anyway, they got to my place alright.

All four of the little devils were with them, including my beloved little doxie, Pippa. Her real name's Pippa Pepita Petunia Preponderous ____. But we all call her Pippa. My mom calls her "si pandak" (the short one).

Earlier that morning, I had gone to the daungan (the small pier) where the bancas dock, and bought some kilos of freshly harvested mussels and oysters. They turned out to be fat and sweet, dipped in a garlic-butter sauce (for the mussels) and vinegar with chili peppers and garlic (for the oysters). I had a crash course in preparing the shellfish from my mom. Nothing to it; you just pour boiling water on the oysters, and steam the mussels in a pan.

The kids ran up and down, up and down, up and down the stairs with the dog who was barking every half second or so. And they got onto my airbed and created a make-believe circus with trapeze artists. The only circus in the world where you can find a doxie trapeze artist.

Lunch was served and that gave us some half hour of relative quiet. My mom had brought these small plastic disposable cups and so I was busy refilling four of them every two minutes while their owners busily applied themselves to rice and pork adobo. Pippa was so hungry, she didn't need prodding to finish her food. It was actually gone in four seconds flat.

While the kids and my dad were at the table (which could seat only four), and myself waiting on four small disposable cups, I noticed my mom had gone over to the corner shelf and starting putting my very few knicknacks in order. I patted my dad on his shoulder and pointed this out to him. We both snickered as we didn't dare laugh out loud.

My mother is an obsessive-compulsive woman. She loves knicknacks and decor and has them all over her house. It's a lovely house, hers. But I wouldn't want to own it with all those small porcelain or ceramic things to clean and dust and put in order everyday. I have very few, myself, and these were given to me as presents by friends, too precious to give away.

After they'd gone, at around 2 pm, I proceeded to clean up the place (at least, the ground floor) as it looked like a tornado had gone through it. And the floor was sticky with spilled water and food. The toilet floor was muddy with small footprints, and a paw print here and there. But I felt good. The house felt like it felt good. So many warm and excitable bodies in it, even for just a short while.

After an hour resting, I ironed my clothes (which I had washed the night before!) and prepared the bedroom (read: put up the mosquito net). Then I plopped in front of the tv set and watched the second half of "My Cousin Vinny," consuming the last of the pan de sal. I was in bed by 9 pm, bushed and out a few minutes after that.