Freefall

No regrets, just LOVE

I have said it over and over, but I will say it again: Last year was life changing.

The changes that 2011 bought were for the good, come think of it. Things are falling into place somehow and frankly, for those life-changing moments, there were very thin, very fuzzy lines that separated the good from the bad things. But things are falling into place, and right now, that’s what’s important.

There are things to hold on to, and there are things to let go. You win some, you lose some, I guess.

And I will freefall into all those: No regrets, just lots and lots of love.

Little Kid You’re All Grown Up Now

I found that I still enjoy immensely the Saturday Morning routine that I had as a child. The past few weekends, I have been doing just that. I have, yes, been watching cartoons on the small screen.

I have found that among the three cartoon channels that I used to watch (Cartoon Network, Disney, and Nickelodeon) only Cartoon Network managed to retain all of its cartoon glory.

For instance, Tom and Jerry: No matter how many years they spent chasing each other already, the slapstick comedy is still as funny as ever. Not that they made any new episodes.

The Looney Tunes Show is getting amazing: apparently, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig and their gang grew up with us. The past few shows I watched, they were talking about stocks and bonds and business. The down part is that Lola Bunny turned blonde, like in the “dumb blonde” sense,

The best however, was the Mystery Inc., gang: their monsters are getting awesome, and the villain is never who we expect, unlike when we were kids. And yes, even Shaggy and Velma got together. I mean, we all knew at some point that they will become more than just friends, but what the heck. There’s also this theory that Fred and Daphne were actually incestuous since honestly, Fred looks like Daphne’s dad. But maybe that’s just me.

Disney still has good cartoon movies, but as far as Disney channel and Disney Original movies are concerned, they are significantly less awesome than say, Parent Trap, or Lizzie McGuire. And the talents they have now are nowhere near the league of Lindsay Lohan (pre-scandal) or Hilary Duff. And what is it with all the Malaysian shows that air here in the Philippines anyway? If there were to be anything else in Disney, it might as well be a Filipino Production rather than Malaysian.

And then, there’s Nick. I have no idea what happened to their shows, but I never can seem to find the time slot where the awesome shows (even the reruns from way back) air. Tsk. Maybe soon.

Anyway, yes, it’s all cartoons, but heck, wouldn’t you want to be a kid again?

And it’s that time of the year again

Is there any way to get out of having to see couples on valentines?

It’s the fourteenth, and soon as February hit, the malls filled up with all the love crap: balloons, flowers, hearts, and teddies everywhere and frankly, it’s the reminder of this Hallmark Holiday that gets me going since right now I am still extremely bitter because I am in a relationship and yet, I still don’t have a date.

Yes, because the sort-of long-distance relationship works that way. And besides, my boyfriend is up in Manila because his interview schedule for Med School is on the fifteenth. So yes, I am, for the second year in a row, alone on Valentine’s even though I’m supposed to be dating.

I’m pretty sure I’m going to be dateless next year too, so what the heck.

I know, I always said that February fourteenth is an overrated holiday. It’s propaganda for malls and restaurants to rip off more money from people, and well, basically an excuse for couples to show extra affection to each other even in public, no matter how barfy it becomes; for singles to either flirt or finally ask someone they like out, or feel sad and alone.

Then there are those, who like me are in long-distance relationships. The ones who, no matter how happy and in love, just can’t go out on a Valentine’s day date because our partners don’t live in the same city or province (or in my case, island) as we do.

I’ll just have to wait for my boyfriend to get here later in the month so that we can have our very late V-day date.

As for me, on the day of hearts, I will make spaghetti, maybe continue reading A Game of Thrones, and later in the night, watch The Vow with my friends.

Because life’s like that.

Shoot.

On the 54th Grammy awards

I was scanning the channels on my television when Star World was showing the 54^th Grammy Awards live from La.

Congratulations to Adele. Her voice is truly amazing, and she deserved each and every award that she got.

But, since I can’t really spoil everything for those who did not watch yet, I am not going to go into the details of the winners.

Frankly I was concerned about a performance by Nicki Minaj. Everything that is offensive is there. Frankly, even to me it was darn offensive, and I’m not even that devout or hardcore as a Christian. I don’t know if that song was her version of Lady Gaga’s Judas, but come on man: church windows, a torture chamber, exorcism, dancing friars with Gregorian Monks…with a sort of occult performance and choreography.

And yes, I know that people are free to do what they want and that America is a free country and she’s an artist and she has her artistic rights, but…

It was sacrilegious and disturbing to watch actually.

Anyway.

I’m ranting.

On the upside, there were lots of great performances, so what the hell with that one.

Congratulations to all the Grammy winners and nominees though.

Dumbo no more

I’ve never been interested in the Circus…I mean, sure, I liked them, but I’ve never been interested in how they work, or if there’s a story behind the people who worked for them. And yes, I like elephants, but not to the extent of reading a fictional novel about one.

Last December, my former roommate, Leanne, sent me a copy of Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I had no idea what to expect from it, because no, I have not watched the movie yet.

A forgotten and alone man in his nineties, living in a nursing home, Jacob Jankowski found a need to get a seventy-year-old secret off his chest: he was still a young man in his twenties that time, when he jumped a freight train that changed his life.

The chronicle of his life in Depression-era America was a twisted story of mayhem and murder, full of unforgettable characters, human and animal alike. Those days, the thrill of the big top is a form of escapism for those who are running away from something — anything in their lives. Life in the circus, however, wasn’t glamorous: heck, it was far from that. He jumped the train one day and he then found himself in the hustle and bustle of the Circus.

I got engrossed as I turned page after page of Jacob Jankowski’s story about his three and a half months with the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth…In the dazzle of circus freaks and mystifying acts, poor workers and wicked bosses, he fell in love…with the beautiful performer Marlena…and a 2500 pound beauty.

With praises from The New York Times Book Review, Publisher’s Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, The Times and many more, Water for Elephants is a page turner and a mesmerizing read you won’t soon foreget.

“I loved Water for Elephants… Great story, loads of fun, hard to put down. So what if the heroine weighs 2500 pounds?”
-Stephen King

Bitten By Bugs

It’s that time of the year again: when Hallmark gets the most out of everyone.

If I’m talking like I’m in a bitter mood again, wait until the fourteenth, when I go over the usual Valentine’s Day Tirade.

All the red started appearing in the malls last week, and I cannot go anywhere take a turn without seeing all the chocolates and stuffed animals and balloons, and frankly, it’s a bit unnerving.

If I go buy myself a magazine, without any doubt, there will be Valentine shmuck all over.

Like this one here: See that big “Love Struck” label?

This February, since I am, for the nth time, without a date on the day of hearts, and frankly a bit bitter about it since I’m actually in a relationship… I will have to fall in love my way:

Cuddle with books in hand, write more short stories, consume cup after cup of Hot Cocoa and coffee, and well, continue on with my personal “Happiness Project”

Because this year, I choose to be happy.

With or without a date this Valentine’s Day.

Corruption, Murder, and Secrets better left untold

I have had the book for awhile, but due to the many things that had me occupied for a long time, I only had just finished reading Stieg Larsson’s The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

Take an unresolved mystery, some disturbing Bible verses connected to unresolved murders, violation of women, corruption, and a journalist who had no idea what a mess he had gotten himself in to.

Add a small girl with piercings and tattoos, and a knack of digging up the most intricate, personal details of your life, and you have a good crime story.

Harriet Vanger, scion of one of Sweden’s wealthiest families, disappeared over forty years ago. All these years, her aged uncle continues to seek the truth. He hires Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist recently trapped by a libel conviction, to investigate. He is aided by the pierced and tattooed punk prodigy Lisbeth Salander. Together they tap into a vein of unfathomable iniquity and astonishing corruption.

I will admit: Reading the book had me on my toes. Once I really found the time to read it, I got hooked. It was thrilling, it was psychotic, and it was creepy. I found myself scared of getting out of bed at nine in the morning to make breakfast because the book is terrifying, and not in a horror story kind of way. I had half a mind to call my boyfriend, or anyone at all for that matter to keep me company in my house because I am scared that I might see Martin Vanger in my living room.

This first book was described by Vanity Fair as “ a blazing literary sensation” and “a dark hearted thriller.” I am excited to read the next book in the Millennium Series, although it has to wait awhile, since I have a few more books pending on my list.

So to all the bookworms out there: a large cup of coffee (or cocoa, whichever one you prefer), a comfortable place to read, and a Steig Larsson novel, and you have got yourself a good afternoon.

Sinulog 2012

My first Sinulog in Cebu with friends!!!

=)

The Grammar disturbs me, but it was a great movie

It’s not that it has anything to do with bad writing, because the script and storyline were both good. I am just not used to the African-American southern slang, and no matter how hard I try not to, I was regularly checking the grammar in my head while the movie was playing. But anyway, it wasn’t about the grammar, but the movie.

I must remark though, that Kyle will have to be my movie buddy when it comes to the less mainstream ones. He tends to scour the stores for independent and award winning movies, which we can’t watch passively because of the good story lines.

We also recently watched “The Help”, with our friend, Nursalim.

Today, the most powerful man in America is black. The big and small screens star African-Americans. They even take up the airwaves. The acceptance of the blacks in today’s society is a far cry from that of just a few decades ago, when they are discriminated against.

The story is set in Mississippi during the era of the Civil Rights Movement.

Emma Stone stars as Skeeter, a southern society young lady who came back to her hometown in Mississippi, determined to be a journalist. From writing a house keeping column with the help of a black maid, she decided to write a book, interviewing the “colored” help who raised kids and kept the households for white families in her hometown. Her book gave light to the population of what it is like from a black’s point of view, of life in a racially discriminating era.

The story was tear-jerking, humorously witty, and moving. I’m not American, and I wasn’t born in the 60′s, nor do I know anyone who lived in southern towns in the USA to know how accurate the film is. But all the same, it is eye-opening, touching, powerful.

This one has a good script, a talented cast, and a powerful story.And if you’re going to watch a movie, better watch one that will help you learn something.

“Though arguably guilty of glossing over its racial themes, The Help rises on the strength of its cast — particularly Viola Davis, whose performance is powerful enough to carry the film on its own.”

-Rotten Tomatoes Review
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 76%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 91%

PS: If I used a seemingly politically incorrect, or racially discriminating term, then my apologies. I am not sure of the sensitivity of this particular topic.

50/50 means to either die, or survive

Kyle and I recently watched another movie. This time, it’s a dark comedy nominated for two Emmy Awards, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen, with Anna Kendrick.

Adam’s (Levitt’s) life changed forever when he heard that one dismal word: Cancer. When you’re 27, and planning to build a beautiful life, that one word will chase after you. The spark of light in the dark tunnel was his girlfriend, who said that she’s willing to take care of him. He did not exactly want his crazy mom and sick dad to move in. Then, as his cancer progressed, his girlfriend cheated on him, his mother seemed to get crazier with worry, and his best friend was a jerk who uses his cancer to pick up girls. To top it all off, his therapist was a newbie who did not seem to get her techniques down pat as of yet. He is after all, only her third patient.

Based on a true story, the movie is dramatic and humorous in a dark way. Love, friendship, survival. This is the struggle of a person who was too young to be so sick, but in the end, he survived.

Guaranteed to make you laugh, and guaranteed to pull at your heartstrings, 50/50 is a movie with heart.

This is for every cancer patient out there, and for their families.

For every day that is a fight for survival.

 

 

“A good-hearted film about a difficult topic, 50/50 maneuvers between jokes and drama with surprising finesse.”

- Rotten Tomatoes Review
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 93%