but I don't have a lot of moolah...

Whoever can point me to the direction of a travel agent who can get me an awesome deal for a trip to any of these places would be a godsend...

Thailand (bangkok is ok, phuket would be better...the cheaper alternative is always best)
Vietnam (really want to go just for the food, Anthony Bourdain has poisoned my thoughts)
Bali (this is pushing it since I know this will cost me)

An out of country trip is very much ideal but if my wallet fails me, this is good too...

El Nido
Coron
Sagada (last option since a beach trip is preferable)

This is a serious shout-out. If you know anyone, please holler. I need options.

Naka-ng-teteng, na-jedi mind trick nanaman ako. Sabi ko dapat ayoko na eh. Ano ba itoooooo. It's funny how I prepared for them to try to talk me out of it and I had my response all practiced in my head. Then the moment comes and I FOLD!

That's one trick I need to learn. I will continue to be their padawan then.

pero in fairness, ang ganda ng top ko. ayluveet!

preeeesenting! ang pinaka-cute na bulldog sa balat ng lupa,
GEORGIE BOI
tired and spread out on his spongebob blankie

Dampa dinner followed by drinks at Paul's. Paul played more, uhm, "jogging" films which drove Pam to TEARS! We spend more than we thought we would but the food was awesome!

omg si ate, sumama. ngumiti talaga eh!pang-pawala ng pagod ang mga lalakeng ito.
sumasakit tiyan ko sa katatawa pag kasama sila.bawiin nalang sa gym ang kinain ok?

magusap nga kayo!

sumasakit na ulo ko ha!

ang hirap magdesisyon ng ganito!

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I had a whole thing planned for my blog's birthday. Was planning on re-designing it or at least adding a bit of flair to commemorate the occasion. Work got in the way though so design version 3.0 will have to wait. Nakakasira ng personal life ang trabaho mein. Tama na trabaho, ok? Take it from me, money can't buy happiness. Seriously, it only sucks you into a sticky web of sin, depression and loneliness.

more photos here

First two pics from Niki's multiply are with me trying to NOT look drunk. When I got home, I mixed a quick screwdriver and took it on the road with us. By the time we reached Podium to pick Bea up, I was desperately trying to sober up.

Surprise video below. Watch the galloping Kari.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE (F)!!!

Grace was bloggin about how she wanted a surprise on her birthday. So indeed, a surprise was given, complete with a side of heart attack. Her shift at eCost started at 11pm so me, Niki, Bea and Paul waited for her near the elevator with a half dozen Krispy Kreme donuts and 10 balloons. The minute she walked out and was about to enter her office, we jumped out screaming after her. I was not able to see her expression since Bea and Niki ran ahead of me and their balloons blocked my line of sight but they said her face was hilarious. So there, Grace, you got your surprise, I had to drive home for an hour and a half from Rockwell only to get picked up by Paul the second I got home and head back out to Ortigas to do it, but the ninja style sneaking around alone was worth it.

Another greeting would be for this blog.

Notestopaul.blogspot.com is now a YEAR OLD!

Well technically yesterday was a year after my first blog entry. I have been complaining on this new blog for a year now and there's no indication that I will stop anytime soon. The news I received this morning only told me I will be whining for quite bit longer. So read on folks, lots more bitchin coming at ya right here.

Photos and video from today will have to follow when Niki uploads them. I'm too sleepy to wait for it and I have to wake up early tomorrow and hit the gym. My thighs have been killing me but my gym buddies say I can't stop now. I'll keep pumping but if the trainer makes me do squats tomorrow, I just might hit him.

I am so tired I want to go home now. Should I under time? I could stay here an hour longer but I don't know if I can get any more done with my current state of grogginess. I keep thinking of my nightcap and I can't wait to make myself a drink.

Watch a movie snuggled up in bed and slightly weezy with my drink. mmmmm...I want to go home now!

First time I wore a hat to work. My hair just hasn't been in top shape lately. I need a haircut. Got so much work to do I don't even have time (and money!) to enjoy a nice sit-down meal. This spicy ramen will have to do. I got a bag of beer match cracklings salt and vinegar chips in the bag too. Whee!

Isang taon na po akong andito sa Maynila. Gaano katagal ko pa kaya kayang itigil ang galaw ng buhay ko? Naka-ilang ikot na ko sa merry-go-round na to. Nagsasawa na ko at pagod sa kahihintay sa hindi ko alam kung ano. Sana naman may sumagot na sa mga tanong ko. Nagmumukha na kong tanga dito. Ina-awaan at pinagtatawanan na siguro ako.

Because you love David Bowie...and I love the Labyrinth...



According to imdb.com, Sting was one of the choices for the character of Jareth the Goblin King.

and of course, I can never forget those grey tights. They're embedded in my memory forever...


thanks for the sandwiches...

Watch it before someone takes it out for copyright reasons. I Love Barack Obama. I smell a big change coming on in the world.

I twisted my hair and everything.
In case you're wondering who Kat is, she's the one on the rightmost part with the booties.

more retarded shots here

Bato-bato sa langit, sana tamaan pero wag magalit.

It was my day off as usual and before the dinner at Ella's we had a list of plans to do for the day. The usual suspects were supposed to go to the gym in the morning, then head out to MOA to have lunch at Jatujak then either watch a movie or go bowling just before heading to Ella's. But Bea had the sudden bout of the flu and plans went out the window. The rest of us went to the gym as planned but instead of letting the day off die, we took the day off to Bea's house. Had a North Park lunch delivered to her house so we could visit and see how she was (she looked liked crap, ha!). Posting this just now since Niki just uploaded visuals.

calamansi juice yumyum

stir fried veggies w/tofu, lemon chicken, yang chow fried rice, nanking beef with noodles followed by Moo mini ice cream sandwiches

don't mind my man arms

I haven't been to the gym since 2002. I've just started again last Wednesday. Niki and I joined the same gym Paul S. goes to in Pilar. It's definitely no Fitness First but it pretty much does the same thing.

I force myself to wake up early now to go before work. My thighs are stiff and it hurts to laugh and I'm rediscovering muscles I didn't know I had. I don't know if it's going to make any difference but I sure do like the feeling that I'm doing something about my health. If anything, I'm doing this for that. I'm not very self conscious about my weight. I never weigh myself. I always say for as long as I'm fairly satisfied with the way I look and my clothes still fit, I'm still good. But since (my) Paul's visit in November and I saw how (uncomfortably) scrawny he looked, I felt ashamed standing beside him. I look like his mother for god's sake. I have no desire to be just as scrawny as he is. In fact, I plan to fatten him back up when I get back. He don't look healthy no mo' and I feel like I'm going to break him every time I gave him a hug. Don't worry babe, I'm not going to make you so fat, you just can't continue looking the way you do, you don't look like my husband anymore it's freaking me out. I just need to insert a bit more meat under that skin.

Sa states na tayo magkita. Bisitahin mo nalang ako.

Bea was sick so she wasn't able to come. Everybody else flaked. FLAKERS!

Earlier today...
Niki: Kari, bakit wala kang bagong post sa blog?
Kari: uhm, Niki, mukha ba akong nasa kondisyon mag-blog kagabi?

Was not having a very good workday and desired to get seriously get sh!tfaced. My darling friends obliged and Paul whipped us up screwdrivers and I was out after a couple of pitchers. Georgie was extra adorable last night sleeping on his new "bed." I wanted to lie in bed and snuggle his wrinkled face.

Today I was in ATC and wiped out my ATM. Wala na po akong pera. Will have to subsist on instant noodles over the next two weeks. Hurray!

They were way over my budget but I swear they're worth it...really.

Bea's photo by Pia
Nukai's photo by me
enhancements once again by moi

this is a photo response to this.

I hate opening shifts. Waking up this morning was a bitch. My shift at Fort is at 10am and I woke up at 9am. Huwaw. I managed to get to work at 10:10am. I had my spam and egg brekkie to go and gobbled it up as soon as I got to work.

I had the weirdest dream last night. As in W.E.I.R.D. I dreamt I was GAY and I asked some girl out from work. She met up with me in this non-existent place in BF and she OBVIOUSLY was uncomfortable being asked out by a superior. She said something in the dream like next time she preferred that we go out somewhere up north instead. Then I went on trying to distract her by talking about work stuff. Pucha labo. I was half-laughing while re-playing the dream in my head while showering half-asleep.

For the record, I am NOT gay.

(Bea, Niki, manahimik na kayo...feeling ko hihirit nanaman eh)

Bastos lang po talaga ako. I'm probably more bastos than most of the guys you know.

I keep blogging about my days the day after since I end up getting home late, sleepy and (sometimes) too inebriated to write anything. Well this was my yesterday. Worked from ATC since I had to do something (which I ended up not being able to do). Niki and I had dindin at Itallianis where we had our usual salad plus chicken parmigiana.

We hung out at my place after waiting for Bea and Paul to finish their dinner then we headed out to Porch in BF for Aila's birthday. The four of us got hooked up on pink slush shots (which we had two pitchers of). It was my first time in Porch. I keep hearing about it from Pat who says they have Drum and Bass nights every week. They did play DnB last night for a while and it was cool up until they changed the music and started playing trance and (Bea says) someone started dancing with glowsticks (uhm, ano to? highschool?). Drunk enough, we called it a night around 2am.

Photo evidence below and on Niki's Multiply. I don't have access to the ones from Aila's camera but those contain the really weird ones.

anong ginagawa namin niki?

ok! I heg pengkeyk.

Niki, payat ng braso oh.

We love our pink slushies.
"Boss! Penge pang isang pink slush!"
We had to pool (what's left of) our money together to order another pitcher of the pink drink. Aila ended up spotting for us anyway. :)

Green gangsta

more photos here.