on ghosts
Neal and I went to Alabang with Pauline and Ronnie (my sister and her boyfriend) and we had a chance to go through some developing subdivision. We got there at around 7 in the evening and since it was really dark there. Lots of houses built with no one living in them. We only saw one house with people and electricity. We passed by this row of 5 similar houses and I saw a man looking out the window out of one of them. It was strange because I couldn't see his face though he was standing behind a closed window. He was wearing a white shirt and he was bald. I already knew it wasn't possible since workers aren't allowed to stay there and no one is living in that subdivision yet. There weren't even any streetlights yet. When we passed the row again less than 5 minutes later, he was gone. I started getting this cold creepy feeling up my back. I knew it was a ghost. I wasn't the only one who saw him too. Ronnie saw him as well. So I guess the question is, does that make the ghost real? When more than one people sees it? Or does that make him human?
on Watching new moon
Last Friday, Neal had to leave work early. Not because he wanted to but because he had to. They had a policy that day when everyone had to leave the office at exactly 5:30 PM. I love that policy. I wish they would have that more often. Anyway, we had a date night in Greenbelt 3. The only place Neal wants to go to and park. We thought we could catch an early showing of New Moon since it was a Friday and everyone else seemed to have watched it last week but no. The 8PM and 10Pm showing were already booked. We had to settle for the last full show at 11PM. We didn't particularly want to watch it but since the only other option was Christmas Carol and Ninja Assassin, we took our chances with New Moon. Neal even warned me to keep quiet since we will be watching the movie. It turned out, he was the one who couldn't keep quiet. He kept yawning, making comments, and reacting to the movie.
I could have kept quiet throughout the whole thing except for the scene where Alice showed Aro(Michael Sheen, who was a werewolf called Lucius in Underworld) how she knew Bella will be a vampire. I had to laugh out loud. If you have watched it, you'll understand. I'm sorry.
Neal kept making remarks like, "was this written by a thirteen year old? or "this is 300 all over again." So much for being nice amidst die hard fans.
Dakota Fanning has grown old! She's great and she looks so mature but the movie (or should I say the book?) could have developed better. If they were real vampires for instance, Edward wouldn't be having such a hard time killing himself. Where does all his angst come from anyway? Everyone else in his family seems normal compared to him. And true to the Twilight Saga, they managed to make werewolves cute and cuddly. So much for scary vampires and werewolves.
on spending on books
I bought a cheap copy of wicked. Cheap for a new book since it was only 349 pesos. Did I say it was cheap? You'll understand why when I explain what happened next. We bought it in Greenbelt 3 and we knew the person manning the cashier. She pointed out something I never really bothered with: my purse points. She said "Wow, you have a lot of purse points."
I only have 210 purse points in my Powercard and I didn't think it was a lot until she explained it. You get one point for every peso you spend in Powerbooks. For every 1000 points, you get 1 purse point and I have 210.
If you do the math, that's 210 purse points x 1000 points = PHP210,000.00.
I can't believe I've spent that much in books in a period of more or less 12 years? All for personal reading material. Sure I've bought gifts, like an average of 1500 every year for Dawn and Arf so that still leaves me with a whole lot of books. I wonder how that will grow now that I'm about to move into a new house?
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wave to Google
I read Rocky's facebook post and I realize that Google Wave, would be perfect for the DnD aka Dungeons and Dragons group Neal is currently in. I'm actually a part of their mailing list so I know what I have to deal with. The mailing group is a big mess of emails where the group schedules games, talks about their characters ( old ones, dead ones, new ones, characters waiting for other characters to die...), the new plots, their characters' backstories, other related DnD stuff, other non DnD related stuff... You get my point. SOmetimes, though I love reading these mails, the sheer number that their group produces each week can be daunting and it's hard to find the mails that you want to focus on.
Google Wave is perfect for them. It allows people to reply and get their messages in real time. The emails will not get confusing even if someone doesn't reply to the latest email because only one document or wave is kept updated and what's more, you can replay the wave. Replaying the wave is like looking at the email progress from its initial form to the current version, inserting replies as they happen.
I'm actually writing this while I watch the Google Wave introduction during the Google I/O. Secretly, I've wanted to work for Google since I saw their qualification exams for developers. This Google Wave video just makes me want to work for them more.
Go through the website and watch the video. Or if that's not your thing, read the Wikipedia version. It's a tool that may replace all the current online tools you may be using now. It's certainly another brilliant idea from Google.
Basically, I'm also writing this to get an invite from Rocky. Google Wave is a promising OPEN SOURCE(!!) application and the secret developer in me is itching to read the code.
I hope I get an invite.
Google Wave is perfect for them. It allows people to reply and get their messages in real time. The emails will not get confusing even if someone doesn't reply to the latest email because only one document or wave is kept updated and what's more, you can replay the wave. Replaying the wave is like looking at the email progress from its initial form to the current version, inserting replies as they happen.
I'm actually writing this while I watch the Google Wave introduction during the Google I/O. Secretly, I've wanted to work for Google since I saw their qualification exams for developers. This Google Wave video just makes me want to work for them more.
Go through the website and watch the video. Or if that's not your thing, read the Wikipedia version. It's a tool that may replace all the current online tools you may be using now. It's certainly another brilliant idea from Google.
Basically, I'm also writing this to get an invite from Rocky. Google Wave is a promising OPEN SOURCE(!!) application and the secret developer in me is itching to read the code.
I hope I get an invite.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
A very eventful week
I promise I'll place a picture here. Right now though, since I'm stuck in the hospital I have to make do without one.
Technically, the only noteworthy days were Monday and Friday. The rest of the week was pretty normal. SO far. I still have two days to go.
Last Monday, I was still lying in bed when I heard a big boom. Then the electricity turned off. I wouldn't have stood up but another boom went out. I stood up and started getting all the electrical equipments unplugged. My sister rushed inside the door as well. Apparently a Meralco pole cause the explosion and it was the one nearest our house. We went down to check it out and to take the dogs out as well. They were right beside the gate, near the wires and I didn't want them electrocuted.
Now, I wasn't really worried, we've had around 4 fires in the street in the last couple of years. The wires between the poles near our street are so intertwined it's not even safe to look out the window and reach out your hand if you're on the second floor. However, most of the fires in our neighborhood are short, dangerous but not fatal. No one's ever been killed and the fires thankfully, never reach the homes. It's surprising to see how many people there have fire extinguishers and if you look at the houses in our neighborhood, they're not exactly the kind of people who will be prepared for fire.
So this particular fire wasn't really scary until we got down and heard the news. One of our neighbors was constructing additional levels to their house. They were in the third floor and a welder, was killed. Have you ever seen a man electrocuted by a main line? I didn't want to see his body as they carried him past our house.
We went up again and this time we turned off the main line to our house. Then my sister and I took the dogs out of the cage. We just got back to get our office bags and since our relatives advised us to go out and stay in my aunt's car wash, a couple of blocks away, we left the house with the dogs and ran out. There was smoke everywhere. Later we learned that a fire did break out but someone used a fire extinguisher on it. So after staying near all our other neighbors outside their houses checking the fire, the firemen, the police and our house, my sister and I walked the dogs the long way around to the car wash. Tammy, our oldest dog was clearly out of shape and we gave the dogs water when we got there. However, all the excitement had stopped on our street. The fire was out, the firemen didn't do anything ans since nothing else was happening, our neighbors all went home. So did we. When we got back home, Meralco was already there fixing the line. We got our electricity back around lunch time.
Fast forward to Friday. I woke up and my scalp was itchy. Since Neal was still taking a bath, I tried to go back to sleep again but suddenly every part of my body was itchy. I don't exaggerate. I was itchy everywhere, and my ears felt like cauliflower and when I looked in the mirror, well.. all I can say is, Manny Pacquiao looked better after the fight with Cotto. My face was read, my ears were big, my eyelids were partially covering my eyes. When you watch people getting allergies in the movies, like in Hitch, I always thought that was exaggerated, until that morning.
I was red everywhere. They looked like small insect bites so we did the rational thing and went to the hospital's emergency room after we took a bath. My first choice was St Luke's. It's the closest hospital and I know from previous experience that their emergency room had good doctors. It's a good thing I also had Neal's HMO card, I wouldn't be typing this in a private room if I didn't.
We actually stayed in the emergency room for 6 hours. We got there around 7 and had to wait for a room till 1. I could just imagine myself walking up to the office and saying in a hoarse voice "I think I'm having an allergy attack." My face and my voice was enough to get their attention and I had my diagnosis and medicine within 30 minutes. The doctor said it was Anaphylaxis, an acute systemic hypersensitivity reaction. I get allergies in one form or another every month. Even I was shocked at how intense it was. If you watch House, this happens a lot. Imagine a scene where the camera zooms in to the patient's throat, "tok" the throat clamps shut and the camera zooms out to the patient who can't breathe. That's Anaphylactic shock, the most severe reaction to Anaphylaxis and since my voice was already hoarse, it was already getting there according to the doctor.
I was asleep for a couple of hours because of the medicines they gave me, I slept because Neal told me to go to sleep and I woke up because Neal was already bored and wanted me to keep him company. They gave me diphenhydramine(Benadryl), ephinephrine (adrenalin) and Solu Cortef (I keep forgetting. I'm always dizzy after they give me the Benadryl). The first shots were given directly through the muscle which makes the medicine more effective as opposed to directly in the IV where the medicine can react faster. The muscle shot hurts a lot too. The doctors say the shots hurt but the pain is after they give you the shot.
They kept me in the hospital for more medicines and to keep me under observation. Neal wants to go home and I know this because he has been saying that since last night.
I'm being fed hypoallergenic food. I thought it was fun at first because hospital food amazes me. I really like it and this is the first time my food actually fell into a category different from normal. Apparently hypoallergenic food is not that great because I have to stay away from food I loved: chicken egg, all forms of dairy including milk and chocolate, mangoes, strawberries, watermelons, eggplants, seafood ... The list goes on. I ate almost all of that yesterday which explains my reaction today. Correction, according to Neal, I could have eaten all of that but now I can't for the next few weeks.
I now have an allergologist. Who I may have to see regularly from now on. Funny, my dad never had one and he has more allergies than I do. I'm still here, taking advantage of the WiFi here at the hospital. Neal and I still have tons to do for the house and I want to go back to reality. I still need to take pictures of the home improvements, buy bathroom stuff and hopefully, choose the paint for the rooms. We also need to get permission from Camella to start on the fence outside the house. Arrgh. Too may things to do!
Technically, the only noteworthy days were Monday and Friday. The rest of the week was pretty normal. SO far. I still have two days to go.
Last Monday, I was still lying in bed when I heard a big boom. Then the electricity turned off. I wouldn't have stood up but another boom went out. I stood up and started getting all the electrical equipments unplugged. My sister rushed inside the door as well. Apparently a Meralco pole cause the explosion and it was the one nearest our house. We went down to check it out and to take the dogs out as well. They were right beside the gate, near the wires and I didn't want them electrocuted.
Now, I wasn't really worried, we've had around 4 fires in the street in the last couple of years. The wires between the poles near our street are so intertwined it's not even safe to look out the window and reach out your hand if you're on the second floor. However, most of the fires in our neighborhood are short, dangerous but not fatal. No one's ever been killed and the fires thankfully, never reach the homes. It's surprising to see how many people there have fire extinguishers and if you look at the houses in our neighborhood, they're not exactly the kind of people who will be prepared for fire.
So this particular fire wasn't really scary until we got down and heard the news. One of our neighbors was constructing additional levels to their house. They were in the third floor and a welder, was killed. Have you ever seen a man electrocuted by a main line? I didn't want to see his body as they carried him past our house.
We went up again and this time we turned off the main line to our house. Then my sister and I took the dogs out of the cage. We just got back to get our office bags and since our relatives advised us to go out and stay in my aunt's car wash, a couple of blocks away, we left the house with the dogs and ran out. There was smoke everywhere. Later we learned that a fire did break out but someone used a fire extinguisher on it. So after staying near all our other neighbors outside their houses checking the fire, the firemen, the police and our house, my sister and I walked the dogs the long way around to the car wash. Tammy, our oldest dog was clearly out of shape and we gave the dogs water when we got there. However, all the excitement had stopped on our street. The fire was out, the firemen didn't do anything ans since nothing else was happening, our neighbors all went home. So did we. When we got back home, Meralco was already there fixing the line. We got our electricity back around lunch time.
Fast forward to Friday. I woke up and my scalp was itchy. Since Neal was still taking a bath, I tried to go back to sleep again but suddenly every part of my body was itchy. I don't exaggerate. I was itchy everywhere, and my ears felt like cauliflower and when I looked in the mirror, well.. all I can say is, Manny Pacquiao looked better after the fight with Cotto. My face was read, my ears were big, my eyelids were partially covering my eyes. When you watch people getting allergies in the movies, like in Hitch, I always thought that was exaggerated, until that morning.
I was red everywhere. They looked like small insect bites so we did the rational thing and went to the hospital's emergency room after we took a bath. My first choice was St Luke's. It's the closest hospital and I know from previous experience that their emergency room had good doctors. It's a good thing I also had Neal's HMO card, I wouldn't be typing this in a private room if I didn't.
We actually stayed in the emergency room for 6 hours. We got there around 7 and had to wait for a room till 1. I could just imagine myself walking up to the office and saying in a hoarse voice "I think I'm having an allergy attack." My face and my voice was enough to get their attention and I had my diagnosis and medicine within 30 minutes. The doctor said it was Anaphylaxis, an acute systemic hypersensitivity reaction. I get allergies in one form or another every month. Even I was shocked at how intense it was. If you watch House, this happens a lot. Imagine a scene where the camera zooms in to the patient's throat, "tok" the throat clamps shut and the camera zooms out to the patient who can't breathe. That's Anaphylactic shock, the most severe reaction to Anaphylaxis and since my voice was already hoarse, it was already getting there according to the doctor.
I was asleep for a couple of hours because of the medicines they gave me, I slept because Neal told me to go to sleep and I woke up because Neal was already bored and wanted me to keep him company. They gave me diphenhydramine(Benadryl), ephinephrine (adrenalin) and Solu Cortef (I keep forgetting. I'm always dizzy after they give me the Benadryl). The first shots were given directly through the muscle which makes the medicine more effective as opposed to directly in the IV where the medicine can react faster. The muscle shot hurts a lot too. The doctors say the shots hurt but the pain is after they give you the shot.
They kept me in the hospital for more medicines and to keep me under observation. Neal wants to go home and I know this because he has been saying that since last night.
I'm being fed hypoallergenic food. I thought it was fun at first because hospital food amazes me. I really like it and this is the first time my food actually fell into a category different from normal. Apparently hypoallergenic food is not that great because I have to stay away from food I loved: chicken egg, all forms of dairy including milk and chocolate, mangoes, strawberries, watermelons, eggplants, seafood ... The list goes on. I ate almost all of that yesterday which explains my reaction today. Correction, according to Neal, I could have eaten all of that but now I can't for the next few weeks.
I now have an allergologist. Who I may have to see regularly from now on. Funny, my dad never had one and he has more allergies than I do. I'm still here, taking advantage of the WiFi here at the hospital. Neal and I still have tons to do for the house and I want to go back to reality. I still need to take pictures of the home improvements, buy bathroom stuff and hopefully, choose the paint for the rooms. We also need to get permission from Camella to start on the fence outside the house. Arrgh. Too may things to do!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Morning gloom
I woke up to a bright and sunny morning. I got to work and I was shocked at how polluted our city becomes during rush hour. My friend and I had to get our phones to take a picture. This was taken on the 11th floor of our building. Note that the pollution seems thicker in the north rather than in the south. This is what we are breathing when we go out the street everyday.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
new post rules
I've been thinking about adding pictures to every post. The fun thing is, it will help me develop my skills as a photographer and force me to learn how to fit photographs into my posts. However, I'm so busy right now so I may just use a stack of photos that I already have. Including the one posted here. It was a spur of the moment thing in Pagudpud. The sky was perfect so I decided to make a silhouette shot with Neal as the model. It reminds me of our mountain climbing days. I hope I can post our photos of it here soon.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Research
There are certain things I want to do this year, or next year if I'm lucky...
1. Study Japanese and pass JLPT Level 3 (December 2010)
2. Go to Japan
3. Go to Prague
4. Go to Greece
5. Revisit Cambodia
6. Go to Hong Kong
7. Go to Bangkok
I need to research though. Hopefully I can go somewhere nice next year. Whichever of the listed destinations are cheapest. Hehe.
1. Study Japanese and pass JLPT Level 3 (December 2010)
2. Go to Japan
3. Go to Prague
4. Go to Greece
5. Revisit Cambodia
6. Go to Hong Kong
7. Go to Bangkok
I need to research though. Hopefully I can go somewhere nice next year. Whichever of the listed destinations are cheapest. Hehe.
Tuesday, October 06, 2009
bad omens
I've been scared to go back to bed recently. I haven't been sleeping properly and sometimes I go to the bathroom convincing myself that I just need to pee. The last two nights though have been rough. I feel like someone has been watching in the living room and I can't cross 10 feet (bathroom door to bed) in the darkness without someone awake. That someone is always neal.
I also had a nightmare last night
I dreamt that insects were crawling out of me. At first I though they were just inside my clothes but when I took them off, I realized they were coming from inside me. I had two running stitches on both sides of my body where my skin was just healing. I had one big worm stuck to my ass and I pulled it off against Neal's wishes since he was worried but I just wanted them to go away and I killed it with my hands. I woke up with my butt feeling strangely violated.
A short trip to Google and I found out that the insect type was important. I knew that the insects crawling out of me were cockroaches but the one in me was like a worm from Dune. Cockroaches symbolizes need for renewal and a need to rethink major aspects of my life. The worm is a little more complicated. It was inside me partly and I knew it was feeding off me so it probably represents something negative, a low opinion of myself or negative thoughts (most likely the latter). Freeing myself from the worm even if it was painful means I may be striving to free myself of negative thoughts. Killing the worm after getting it off me is a good omen I guess. After the worm killing thing, the cockroaches stopped coming from inside me and my stitches were partly healed. It's been a while since I've had symbolic dreams.
The ghost hanging around our house bothers me. It's usually a sign of a friend dying. Someone whose death will affect me. I hope everyone is okay.
I also had a nightmare last night
I dreamt that insects were crawling out of me. At first I though they were just inside my clothes but when I took them off, I realized they were coming from inside me. I had two running stitches on both sides of my body where my skin was just healing. I had one big worm stuck to my ass and I pulled it off against Neal's wishes since he was worried but I just wanted them to go away and I killed it with my hands. I woke up with my butt feeling strangely violated.
A short trip to Google and I found out that the insect type was important. I knew that the insects crawling out of me were cockroaches but the one in me was like a worm from Dune. Cockroaches symbolizes need for renewal and a need to rethink major aspects of my life. The worm is a little more complicated. It was inside me partly and I knew it was feeding off me so it probably represents something negative, a low opinion of myself or negative thoughts (most likely the latter). Freeing myself from the worm even if it was painful means I may be striving to free myself of negative thoughts. Killing the worm after getting it off me is a good omen I guess. After the worm killing thing, the cockroaches stopped coming from inside me and my stitches were partly healed. It's been a while since I've had symbolic dreams.
The ghost hanging around our house bothers me. It's usually a sign of a friend dying. Someone whose death will affect me. I hope everyone is okay.
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