A couple of days ago, Jammi texted me saying that my favorite drink in Bona, the highly popular Kona Mocha is finally back. They have been out of stock of the said drink since NOVEMBER. I went to their BF branch all hyped up and ready to be reunited with my drink again only to have them tell me that they still don't have it (or rather, they have it but have not received the go signal to start serving it yet...huwat?!). So I left with a sad smile, not even bothering to order anything else since my taste buds have been preparing to have a sip of my beloved drink and nothing else can serve as a worthy substitute.

Today, after watching Wanted with the usual people, we went to Bona in Westgate and I ask if they had my drink already. To my delight, they said yes! I tell Niki and Paul and they order the same thing. When my drink arrived I couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement as I take my first sip in over six months.

PURE HEAVEN! It was as good as I remember it. Bea takes a sip, loves it and requests to have the same, only this time, the barista gives us the worst news. They have, once again, run out of the drink. They only had it on sale for a couple of days and they are out of it, AGAIN! I shrug it off and give up. I have been disappointed way too many times to bother getting upset. At least I had one last drink before I say goodbye to it forever.

I am exhausted from the day's activities. Was unable to sleep at all last night (again!) and went straight to Nasugbu with the girls and Paul without a wink. I slept a little on the way to Batangas and I had a short nap while sun bathing early this afternoon. I was hoping to edit the videos to upload with this post but I just don't have the energy to sort through my footages at the moment. Will do that tomorrow. You can view photos that Grace took by clicking here.

Met up with Dex, Alain and Jad after the beach trip to watch Wanted in ATC. Most people who know me know that I absolutely LOVE Angelina Jolie, so naturally, I would love this movie. Every time she was on scene, my eyes would be glued to the screen. I read an article about how the creator of the comic hoped that the movie would not suck and was genuinely surprised that he loved the film adaptation and even noticed that a lot of the scenes were shot in the exact same way that the comic was drawn.

**slight spoiler alert**

Angie aside, I thought the movie was generally good although the first half was a bit slow moving. The part where James McAvoy's character was being trained to become an assassin was dragged on longer than it should have, time which could have been used to show him applying his newly learned skills. Sure, he gets his action scenes in the end, some people may think it to be over the top but the trailers should have told you that already prior to seeing the movie. I loved it and it's safe to say that it's the kind of movie you wouldn't mind seeing again and again.

[Wanted photo source]

For those of you who have never heard or seen Flight of the Conchords, here are a few of my favorites from the show.

Business Time (includes slight nudity. Viewer discretion is advised)


Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros


Frodo

Been lazy to use my flip lately. I've realized that I keep taking footage of useless scenes and the videos keep piling up and my hard drive is now clogged up with videos I don't use.

at The Palms Country Club

Just got back from my first ever kiddie party photo coverage. Maaan...birthday parties have evolved since I last had my own. Parents nowadays spend hundreds of thousands on a single party!

Gaya ng sabi ni Paul S., hindi na uso yung nagbibiyak ng sanga ng puno ng saging at sinasaksakan ng toothpick na may hotdog at marshmallow. Wala ka na rin sigurong makikitang gumagamit ng pukpok palayok ngayon. Sayang, ang saya pa naman magbasag nun.

In a way, I am sad. My mom threw the best kiddie parties when we were young. We were always a hit on our block. Everyone would come! My mom would prepare awesome lootbags she would arrange herself, host the games, make the decors. Prizes for the games were very much sought after since a lot of those were bought from the states! Walang sinabi mga kapitbahay namen!

I also remember my mom keeping a cabinet filled with toys. They were a collection of unwanted birthday presents from our parties that my mom would then give as presents to other kids on their birthdays or would serve as additional prizes for next year's party. Wa-is ang nanay ko eh.

Happy Birthday
Georgie Boy!

Our little boy turned one yesterday so we all gathered together for dinner and drinks. Sat around the couch watching movies while Georgie kept playing with his squeaky toy and throwing it under the couch then barking at it until we would stoop down and fetch it for him. He's such a brat.

Watched The Ruins and even sat through
the entire length of The Impossible Kid.

[Weng-Weng Poster Source]

Taken two days ago with Paul, Bea and Alain.

Video by Poorfish


I swear I wanted to sock Alain in the face after he told me that dumb story.

I tweaked the Sagada itinerary a bit. Paul has signed on to join us so there will be four of us going on the trip. *ahem, paging Bea* Paul, Niki and I are heading out to Baguio on the night of the 17th. We will reach the summer capital by 6am. Paul and Niki will then go ahead to the next bus to Sagada while I stay and wait for Grace to arrive 7 hours later. Grace is unable to join us on the night trip because of work so I shall wait for her in Baguio and catch the last bus to Sagada by 1pm.

Now the question is,
What can I do in Baguio for 7 hours without breaking my budget limit?

I planned out this trip relatively well so that I won't be spending too much money. I've only been to Baguio twice in my life and have gone to the basic tourist spots. The first one was the usual tourist trip with family and the second one was to attend the Philippine Ad Congress that was held in Camp John Hay.

The Victory Liner bus from Manila will stop at their terminal along Session Road so I will pretty much be at the perfect drop-off point since it's the center of the city. Is there anyone out there who could give me quick tips on how to keep myself occupied during my wait? I'd like to know where is a good place to have breakfast AND lunch. Where can I score reasonably priced Tamtamco Ube jams that I can take with me to Sagada? I have no plans of going to the Good Shepherd convent to score the really good jams. I hear the cues to buy one of those things are long and I know they don't come cheap. I also hear the ukay-ukay along Session Road charge higher than the ones located around Burnham Park? If this is true then where along Burnham should I go? What are the things that I shouldn't leave Baguio without? I found a map of Baguio here and I'd like to know how accurate and drawn to scale it is. For example, if you look at the map and see the Victory Liner Bus Terminal near Session Rd., would it be wise of me to walk from there to, lets say, People's Park?

Please note that I can't and will not travel to places not within city limits. I will either be walking or cabbing my way around and will need to be of easy distance to the Dangwa bus terminal where I am to meet Grace by lunch time. I know traffic can get pretty bad in the city and I don't want to miss the bus.

Tips and suggestions are greatly appreciated. You may either leave me messages through commenting here or messaging me through YM. I thank you all in advance.

*****

By the way, invitations to Sagada are still open. Paul has signed up and Niki is analyzing her funds to see if she can have her brother join us as well. My sister has expressed her intention but feels her work schedule may not allow it. Come! Come!

For those who are interested, I made a possible itinerary and expense list for the trip. I've indicated how much it will cost for 1-4 people so you can compare. Please note that according to the sites I've read, the magic group number is FOUR and adding additional people may need extra fees in terms of hiring guides. The group will split everything equally so no one pays more than the other. Besides, the only thing that may adjust if this happens are the cave tours since a guide can accommodate only 4-5 people at a time. The date is now set to July 18-21 (Friday to Monday).

You may view the itinerary by clicking on the link below
Kari's Sagada Extravaganza 2008

To possible Sagada tour guides who stumble upon this blog, please excuse my itinerary if I did anything wrong. I only based my list on whatever I found online. Hopefully everything is accurate. Corrections are welcome.

Again, the invite is open to people in my social circle. If you can stand being with Grace, Niki and I for four days and you think you won't feel weirded out with how vulgar and loud we can get, then hop on and join the fun!

Bea, I'm looking at you.

I'm infecting a couple of people with my travel itch. Here we go...

I am opening invitations to PEOPLE I KNOW to go with me to Sagada. TENTATIVE dates are July 14-17 to as early as NEXT WEEK! If you are able to get VLs on those dates then let me know. Dates might change (since Grace might not be able to get leaves on weekdays) but keep yourselves open. I'm pretty much open to the idea of doing this trip alone (it's scary as hell but I'm gonna say "f*ck it! I'm going to Sagada!"). Doing this alone allows me to do things at my own pace (staying an extra day, going to where I wanna go, etc) but I can't deny how much more cheaper (and FUN!) it will be if I am with friends. Niki is already itching to go and so is Grace. Even my sister wants to go but since she just started her new job, she is unsure if she can be away for that long.

Note to Grace: Niki can't do the weekend of July 12 because it's her grandma's birthday so you need to file for leaves on the weekdays after our Coron trip.

I've spent the day reading these sites (visitsagada.com and sagadagenuineguides.blogspot.com). The site is pretty comprehensive and they have links to show you a breakdown of all expenses for the trip. The biggest chunk of expense would be for the transportation going and back. Lodging in Sagada can go as low as P250 and if you're going on a group tour, you can divide amongst yourselves the cost of the tour guide fees.

To make it easier for those interested, the links are here:

Busses to Sagada
Sagada Budget Information
Guide and Vehicle Rental Prices
Residential Lodge (my lodging choice)
Sample Itinerary, prices included (I'm adding a couple of things to this list)
Places of Interest
(although I already know what I want to see so you'll be sticking to my itinerary,hehe)

If weather permits it, we are DEFINITELY going spelunking!

All tourists are required to sign up in the town hall where standard rates for the tours, guides and vehicle rentals are posted so there's very little chance of us getting duped into paying more money.

[photo source]

It's not happening if you don't look at it.

Started watching this show when it started last fall but failed to continue after the writer strike ended. I've been catching up on the episodes I've missed and I've forgotten how funny this show was. I have to keep myself from laughing so hard since it's 2am and everyone is asleep.

I didn't mention it earlier because I wasn't sure if I could find people to share the trip with me so I could lower costs and everything. But I did! Grace and Niki are coming along with me to

CORON, PALAWAN!!!

Kayangan lake

I have been wanting to visit Coron for a very long time. Work and time has kept me from doing so but now I am finally going! I had to spend days online, reading forums and photos just to find the best and cheapest accommodations and tours. I have been in touch with Mr. Owen Ferrer of DIYCoron (http://diycoron.wordpress.com) who is arranging the tours for us.

I have to refrain from jumping up and down and doing the victory dance from all the excitement. Charlie (flip) and Kali (350D) will be going on a trip again! Woohoo!

Now if I can manage to go visit Vigan and Sagada soon, I'll be one happy trooper. But given the fact that it's the wet season, Sagada will most definitely be out of the question. I don't even think they allow tours there at this time of the year...

*With a sly grin, Kari starts to check out tours to Sagada...*

[source] [source]

Boredom led me here. I uploaded a photo and tried playing around with the different styles to see if giving my hair an entirely new do over would suit me. I found out that straight hair will never sit well with me.

There are two things that people remember when they
meet me, my height and my hair. People referring to me would always say the tall, curly girl. My voice and manner of speaking catch their attention next, Jammi once described it as "palengke slut." Thank you dear, I will never forget that. :p

Miranda: Smart, yes, sometimes cute, but never sexy. Sexy is the thing I try to get them to see me after I win them over with my personality.
Carrie: You win men over with your personality?

All throughout my lower and high school years, I never wore my hear in any other way but a ponytail. Curly hair was not the fashion back then and everyone in school had long straight hair and all the guys went gaga over the chick with the long locks. I hid my hair in the tightest of ponytails. There was a time though that I asked my mom to get my hair straightened so she took me to Freshaire (it was 1994, OK!) and I ended up like this, but with burnt ends.

I had an ID photo just like this once,

but with shoulder length hair

In college, most of the people who knew me from Benilde know me by this hair.

My then boyfriend just broke up with me
and I took it out on my hair

Then one time, I came to class and was greeted by gasps because I pushed it further to this.

think Cruella de Vil highlights

Eventually I grew it out but was still not at peace with my curls so I spent hours every morning blow drying them straight before work.

Then just before I worked for TPC, I said "f*ck it." I was exhausted of having to spend hours every morning just so I can end up with hair that goes crazy when it gets rained on or when I start to sweat.

I would get a haircut every 6 months
but when I'd look at photos, they all end up looking the same.

I had long curly hair for years and I was getting sick of it so I had it cut to what it is now. It's harder to manage since I can't get lazy and just tie it up like I used to because of the short layers but I grew tired of looking like a lioness and needed a change.

hair on a bad day


hair when tied back


hair on a good day


hair when dried straight


hair when I wake up in the morning

Once again, I've wasted your time with this post. Wag ka na kasi magbasa eh.

This is one of the flaws of the flip. I am unable to take the macro-type shots that I love so much. I can only shoot up to a certain distance to my subjects so I can never take good detail shots. Once I get the hang of editing and shooting right then maybe I can score myself one of those HD cam babies.

Sino ang babaeng hindi nanaman natulog buong gabi at mapipilitan nanamang manatiling dilat hanggang mamayang gabi?

I would give anything for it to not be me.

But it is.

My body clock has gone upside down. I need the strongest sleeping pill I can find. Will have to score those later. My mind is on overdrive. I need to stop thinking!

In the meantime, I think they're serving breakfast outside. Both parental units and sisters are getting ready for work.

I've been telling people that I'm not really a cookie person. I keep making cookies but I don't really eat them much. I started making them before because Paul loved them so much and the expression on his face every time he sank his teeth into one of my cookies was enough to make me want to keep making them.

This may be the first batch of cookies I made that I loved. Not too sweet and not dull either. See how much fun we had making them.

Pardon my appearance. This is not usually how I look like in public.

Mocha ice cream in white chocolate chip walnut cookies

+
Vanilla in raspberry chocolate chip cookies

I sure do hope they taste as good as they look. Sorry, we only have enough for the both of us. Gumawa kayo ng sarili nyo! hehehehe

www.wingscareers.com
(if you click on the link now, the girl on the header is my sister)

Last year, I took photos of my mother-in-law's school when they relocated in Sucat. She wanted to update her photos yearly so I spent today taking pictures of her current batch of students. Niki was kind enough to tag along and help me as I was tasked to take photos AND video since I was requested to do a marketing video for the school as well. It was nothing fancy, I used Charlie to shoot everything and will just do my magic with iMovie. I managed to get started on sorting through the photos when I got home so here are a few of the ones I took from today. Watch out for Niki's cameo!

Thanks a lot to Paul S. for lending me his floodlight and also Pat M.'s reflector.

you can view the orders by clicking on this link.

this is my wonderful mother-in-law by the way

Niki, getting ready to jet off!

Kari and Niki's cookie fiesta

Cookies! Cookies! Cookies!

When Niki and Kari are bored, cookies come flying out of the oven. Niki went sprinkle crazy and embellished both kinds (white choco walnut and choco-raspberry walnut).

We also made larger sized ones and slabbed vanilla and mocha ice cream in between to make ice cream sammies! I haven't photographed them yet and will do so as soon as they're good and ready.

It's a cookie parade!

I *heart* cookie

Raspberry Rapture

It's the 4th of July!

more photos here.

So I could only stay awake for 30 hours straight. That's not so bad. I was hoping to do more. After a while I took it as a challenge to see how long I could stay up. I was in bed watching Unknown and I couldn't even finish the movie. I had 10 hours of sleep and woke up at 4am. It might have been because I just saw the Hulk but I woke up feeling like there was a menacing presence lingering and was prepared to jump me in any second. I felt like that until the sun was out. Even my dream felt eerie. I was in the car driving my mom somewhere. I dropped her off and was supposed to wait for her around the corner when I was forced to drive around and go back. I passed dirt roads lined with tall weeds on both sides. (imagine scenes from Children of the Corn) The sky told me it was a little before dawn. I kept driving along these roads until my car started getting weird. You know how when you're riding a bike and you're going uphill and you're pedalling as hard as you can but your bike just won't go any faster? Well the car felt like that. I tried to keep the car running then there was a faceless man standing at the top of the road. He didn't say anything but as I approached him, I noticed there was an old rusty truck on my right with two men in the front seat. They didn't turn their head but their eyes were following me. Then I woke up. It wasn't a slow stretchy-rub-your-eyes kind of wake up but my eyes just opened like I hadn't been sleeping that whole time. I finished watching Unknown then felt like I had to cancel out the dark feeling by seeing something light. So I watched The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, HAHAHA!

I have no idea why I just wrote all that. I feel like I've wasted your time reading this. Sorry! Back to whatever it was you're doing.

Since I woke up at 4am, it feels like I have HOURS ahead of me. What to do....

EDWARD NORTON, I LOVE YOU.
don't worry RDJr., I still love you too.

I had very little hopes for this version of the Hulk because the last one sucked ass. Eric Bana I'm sorry but your Hulk was weepy and pathetic and I couldn't even finish the movie no matter how gorgeous Jennifer Connelly was.

I LOVED THIS ONE! Edward Norton was awesome! Sure, the action was all animated but it was so good you'll forget it's CGI. I want to watch it again! This movie and Ironman have earned their spot on my DVD shelf.

and because I'm still on an Edward Norton high...

***SPOILER WARNING***

I couldn't suppress my glee when Tony Stark sashayed into the scene in his killer suit. Edward Norton + Robert Downey in one sitting turned me into a silly girl with a high school crush. LET'S WATCH IT AGAIN!

I can't sleep yet. I have to stay up otherwise I'll be awake all night again. I'm surprised I'm not as beat as I ought to be. I'm really hungry though.

Congratulations KARI!

You have been officially awake for 24 hours! Here's to hoping you don't collapse anytime during the day.

Spent three hours tossing and turning since my last post. I've given up trying to sleep. My head hurts from trying to keep my eyes closed. I've surrendered and reached for my only Sandman comic, Fables and Reflections. I've never read a Sandman comic before and felt like it was a good time to start.

My mind's a mess. Too many things that refuse to go away. One of which is the reminder that I still have no direction. I've been blogging since 2005 complaining that I don't know what I want to do with life. Here I am, 3 years later, still with no clue as to where I'm going. I spent the past year doing something that I was told I was good at, in a job that I was told would get me somewhere. Only to realize that whatever it was that I was doing, no matter where it would take me, was not what I wanted to do. I was attracted to the lifestyle it gave me. It afforded me the many luxuries I indulged in this past year. It's only been three weeks since I've been unemployed but I'm very sad to announce that I do not miss my job. That realization made me question the decision that has cost me my future. I left. I stayed. For what? Was it worth it? I sure as hell hope so. Because the next few months would probably be the scariest I have ever been in a very long time. What will I do now?

I was once told that knowing that you needed direction was already a step towards finding your answer. Well I've known it for a very long time and my answer still has not come. If my fear unveils itself, I'm afraid I will have lost my place. I've done a very good job of concealing my apprehension. I've been convincing myself that for as long as I appear unfazed, my fear will be kept at bay. I hope those people who have been waiting for me to speak will understand why I choose not to do so.

*****

I don't think a career as a career is normally defined was meant for me. I obviously can't stand doing the same thing for a very long time or it may be that I just haven't found my spot in the world. My old job might have been a step towards a future of job security and (maybe) financial stability, but it's not what I want to do. It doesn't excite me. I most definitely didn't skip to work with glee. I've been refraining posting anything derogatory about my job for a long while because I know quite a few people from work read this blog. Don't get me wrong guys. I loved that place. Loved it so much that I went back to it without question. Being in my position just took a lot out of me. For the longest time I felt like my job consisted of keeping the place in balance and keeping both the people and my bosses happy. Imagine doing that and keeping sane amidst all the personal issues you might have. A lot of times I felt like I was going to lose it. I had to leave before I made a total mess of myself and my work.

Hindi ata ako mabubuhay ng ganito. I keep second-guessing myself. Can I do it? Is it enough? Is it worth it? Should I risk it? Blah blah blah. Kung mabubuhay lang ako sa pagpapaka-"artist" ko eh di mabuti sana diba? Napa-loser ko. Kanina nung hindi ako makatulog at nakikita ko ng umaakyat na ang araw, ano ang ginawa ko?

Nilabas ko ang camera ko at kinunan ko ang sarili ko ng litrato. Kating kati ako kumuha ng litrato dahil nakikita kong maganda yung ilaw. Natatawa nalang ako sa sarili ko. Hindi na nga ako makatulog, yung camera pa din yung iniisip ko.

Hay nako. Itulog ko nalang kaya ito.

4:20am and I'm up and crying after having seen this stupid, cheesy movie. I am such a girl! I HATE IT!

I'm stuck in the 90's having grown up to movies like this and Sleepless in Seattle, While You Were Sleeping and every single one of Meg Ryan's movies. Oh how I loved Meg Ryan! There's something about that decade's string of romantic comedies set in Europe and having these people get mixed up in the dorkiest relationships. UGH! WHY?! Why does it work!?! Something about it still makes my stomach turn and makes my face screw up in tears. CRAAAAP!

I have to sleep. I'm getting picked up in about 6 hours to watch Edward Norton turn into an over sized green man.

After four days of not being able to see the light of day, mostly due to the itty-bitty fact that I am flat broke, Ms. Jamila picks me up and takes me out! Went to Bona for tarot classes then drove to MOA where she treated me to another fabulous Jatujak dinner. Thanks sweetie! I'll take you and Matthew to dinner once my funds have kicked in. I promise!

Want more silly videos? Check out Poorfish's tribute video to the usuals by clicking this link here.

[source]

part of the effort to continuously laugh at myself

last of the lettuce with cucumber and Italian dressing,
apple slices and leftover tom yam from Som's yesterday

Here is the official trailer for the crap we shot this morning. We also took some footage in SM later in the day. Enjoy!

Credit goes to Poorfish Entertainment for the video.

I've ran out of words and have only videos to show you. Mama lent me the pickup truck to meet with Bea, Niki, Paul and Grace in Rockwell where we waited for Bea to finish her meeting then we all had lunch at Som's again.

Paul's first visit to Som's

Niki's Aunt's french bulldog, Peachy, gave birth to a lone puppy without any of her owners knowing she was pregnant. They woke up one morning with an extra dog in the house. I present to you Peacham! (don't ask me about the name, it's not my dog)

Bea and Paul wanted cheap manicure/pedicures + foot spas so I took them to the place I go to in BF that's behind the church. We managed to get the manly Paul S. to have his feet scrubbed too. The lady who handled his log legs was sweating bullets trying to get it done.

See below for an edited bop bop video

Intermission en route to the parlor

Getting nails done

*****

We were in Rockwell by 9:30am and the mall officially opens at 11:00am so we had en empty mall at our disposal. Inspired by Michel Gondry's Be Kind Rewind, we sweded a famous movie of our choice (Hint: bits of it was shot in a closed empty mall, DUH). Paul is editing the short film as I type this and I will post the video here as soon as it's ready.Video posted!

ATC with Mama and Kim. Shoe shopping for Kim as she needed new work shoes since she'll be undergoing her OJT.

Watching Superbad right now and I'm laughing my ass off so hard. I can't believe I didn't watching this sooner.

Saw Kung Fu Panda last night and it was hilarious! Plus added laughs when we all realized the panda looked like Dex.

Dinner at Cafe Med + movie + Bona Westgate + Jeek's

It's 4:20pm and I'm only about to shower to head back out to ATC for the 3rd consecutive day this week. This time with my mom and sister since Kim wants to check out the other shoes on sale. She loved the pumps I bought and wants one for herself. Gaya-gaya!