Gray

I could not pick out the accurate way to describe it.

Another hard-hitting blow from her has changed the course of almost everything and everyone around her. I do not know how she is able to do it, how she can take it, and how she can fake it right from the outset. She has no idea what the most important people in her life right now are going through. Devastated does not and will not cover every dull pain she has caused. It is much heavier.

Have you seen your mother sobbing so damn hard every night until she falls asleep? Have you seen your brother talking less to your mother because he could not take the things your mother would tell him knowing that he could not do anything about it? Have you seen your kid lately?

Do you even recognize the outrageous mess that you have invented?

*****
We'll get by, Gab. Tito and T'nin promised. *kugos*

Forks

"I stared because their faces, so different, so similar, were all devastatingly, inhumanly beautiful."

That was a fine vampire movie date last night. Honestly, I dig it, except for some seatmates-- a group of overexcited ladies-- who just could not contain whatever their thing was.

I got hooked on Twilight and the rest of the series, but I was not really expecting too much from the movie. I was just curious on how Catherine Hardwicke would pull off a high school emo love story without turning it into a typical teenybopper or chick flick.

Well, it is sort of a chick flick-- having the beautiful, overprotective, but dangerous vamp Edward Cullen and the smart, tough, but clumsy high school mortal girl Isabella Swan as protagonists, plus bumping into a few girls wearing Team Edward shirts on our way to Cinema 1, and some members of the audience clapping as the movie starts, and screaming to some extent as the couple's scene intensified. [I only experience that kind of frenzy at the UP Film Center when the end credits of an indie film starts to roll.] My buddy would just slump in his seat and cover half of his face whenever the crowd cheered. But he admitted that, in fairness, he liked the "chick flick", too. =)

Anyway, here are some personal tidbits about last night's Twilight:

• No need to fall in line for a 455 PM screening because everybody is still at work.
• Prime seats are a must. If you plan to watch at Greenbelt 3, choose row F, middle (10 and 11 to be exact).
• Extra hot coffee and warmed oatmeal cookies are good substitutes for cheese popcorn and cold soda.
• Kristen Stewart is too pretty and hot to be Bella.
• Robert Pattinson is not too beautiful to be Edward but yeah he could qualify as a beautiful but dangerous bloodsucker. At least now, he's not just the Cedric Diggory of Harry Potter. And he looks like James Dean, particularly on the scene where he is sporting his Ray-Ban sunglasses as he and Bella walk through the parking lot.
• Jason Castro of the American Idol 7 would pass as Jacob Black. IMO. Hehe.
• I adore Alice Cullen, both in the novel and in the movie.
• We were both touched by the car scene of Jasper and Alice-- the simple, assuring gesture of holding hands.
• Watch out for the speed. I forgot the camera that they used. But the details are incredible.
• New Moon is coming, I'm sure. =)
• I saw Nats with his date. Text ko sana, ayaw namang mag-send. Hehe.

*****
7.5 for him, 8.0 for me. =)

You needed that break, kulet. Sana kasama natin si Nay.

In Progress

Help files have started to pile up lately. The project tasks reminder has been updated to accommodate the new release schedule for wInsight and the approaching release of the EPM Security Administrator next month. Each reply to the existing thread has uncovered another bulleted list of changes or information about a related application. At last, I have had the nerve (without being embarrassed) to click Busy on my Communicator status and the excuse not to log in to Meebo every single day. [Besides, it's a bit of a hassle because the latter often gets me disconnected. Argh.]

The best part so far is discovering more tricks on Robohelp-- something I had not been able to utilize significantly three years ago.

=====

I'm done with the four vampire novels of Stephenie Meyer. And I know he finds Twilight rather a chick flick (based on his little research) but I'm glad he is so willing to go and watch with me this Wednesday. Thank God for sureseats.

=====
Ashtece buzzed 13 minutes late. I didn't get the self-assurance that I had been expecting. I was given some time to prepare for that conversation but I don't know. I've been absorbed with my projects. [When my mobile rang, I was still in front of the monitor, figuring out how to reorganize some topics.] I could've done a whole lot better. I could've made that exchange very interesting, blew their minds, and left a sound impression. You know, the works. But honestly I don't know why I faltered. And I'm a little sad. I want that break. My buddy and I need that break.

I told him and Kat about the call. They both said I felt the same way two months ago. But this is different. Transactions like this one rely too much on how well you say things. And I think I've just lost one chance by 80%.

Natch

*****
Yeah, yeah, make some noise!
Ayan Nats ha, full support. =)

Dirty Rice

Sunday was unfussy. Everybody was in a relatively good mood, with some diminutive exceptions at the latter part of the night. But all in all, it was fine. Quite normal in this family. The weather had also been behaving well, probably matching the vibe of everyone.

Before meeting my buddy at Market! Market!, I invited Nay, Giselle, and Gab to our unit in BCDA. Gab was totally worn-out when we arrived. Giselle and Nay took advantage of the nap time slash temporary peace, reading Kat's food and fashion magazines, and playing Solitaire on my laptop. You bet who was playing. =)

Gab was a bit disoriented when she woke up. I can tell because she was hesitant to throw tantrums, and she was just sobbing. We then headed back to the Global City to meet him. It was their first visit. So my buddy and I played the hosts and tour guides.

After an hour or so of roaming around the mall, Serendra, and Bonifacio High Street, we settled on having a dinner. There was a teeny weeny dispute between the two of us as to where we eat. We finally agreed on Conti's. But the place was jampacked as usual. We then tried my pick (his pick earlier), Claw Daddy. So it was a seafood fest night for us. Plus the creamy carbonara that Giselle ordered and Gab shared with her, as if it was the most scrumptious food on the planet.

By 10PM, we wrapped it up. But instead of waiting for a taxi at the last block of Boni High, we crossed the Net Quad. The walk served as bonding time, with Gab, of course, as the center of the gag.

*****

Happy Birthday, Giselle! Be good. Be a good mom, daughter, and sister. Please be that good. For Gabi.

Claw Daddy is a bit pricey. But you have to expect that from a seafood resto [particularly, a seafood resto in Boni High], right? In this case, it is a little dear given the serving size + taste + price. Medyo lang naman, based on those three factors. Try to budget around P1500 for a platter, drinks, and rice for three to four heads. And try to order their dirty rice, fried rice cooked with chicken liver and spices. But what I like most about dining there is the notable customer service-- very attentive and friendly without being annoyingly invasive. =)