Slow Week
Aside from getting a lot of issues of Captain Marvel and Wizard from the SM City sale and playing with my nieces Mia and Jasmine, nothing else came up last week that I'd consider worth mentioning. Okay, there's the 3 big wins on Ebay, but those items weren't exactly on my "must get" list... more like "I got them at bargain prices (Alias hardcover, Green Arrow hardcover, 2 Daredevil and JSA trades at almost half the price)."
Received an email from Paul Eric So Tiu (aka Pest), who's currently living in London and from what I can gather is rubbing elbows with so many celebrities the sleeves on his suits have worn out. (I kid, I keeed...) I've told Eileen of Pest's exploits and she thinks he's making it all up. I'd prefer to take his word on it, since it's nice to think at least one other batchmate aside from Tim Yap is living the high life. Still, it wouldn't hurt for him to email me some pictures.
Speaking of friends abroad, it turns out Cathy Sy is now stationed in Hong Kong. Guess that's why she didn't reply to my text invitation for lunch this Friday.
Aug 14, 2002
Aug 5, 2002
Chicken Run
Philip and his friend Dee stayed over for dinner, so we ordered a bucket of KFC. When we sat down for dinner the chicked tasted like it was laying under the restaurant's warming lamp for quite a while, then tossed into the styrofoam bucket in a hurry. No biggie, I thought, as long as it wasn't spoiled or some shit like that. Ma, on other hand, thought otherwise. She wanted to call KFC and have the chicken replaced. This after we've already eaten more than half of the order. Forget it, I said... like I had any real say in the matter.
After dinner she did end up calling KFC. After being given a slight runaround by that branch's staff, not only did she get the "bad" chicken replaced but she got a whole new bucket. As a consolation she wrapped up 4 pieces for Philip to bring home. I'm taking some with me for lunch tomorrow.
Maybe KFC did it because they thought they were in the wrong. Maybe the did it to shut Ma up. Either way, it's funny how things clucked...er, worked out.
Philip and his friend Dee stayed over for dinner, so we ordered a bucket of KFC. When we sat down for dinner the chicked tasted like it was laying under the restaurant's warming lamp for quite a while, then tossed into the styrofoam bucket in a hurry. No biggie, I thought, as long as it wasn't spoiled or some shit like that. Ma, on other hand, thought otherwise. She wanted to call KFC and have the chicken replaced. This after we've already eaten more than half of the order. Forget it, I said... like I had any real say in the matter.
After dinner she did end up calling KFC. After being given a slight runaround by that branch's staff, not only did she get the "bad" chicken replaced but she got a whole new bucket. As a consolation she wrapped up 4 pieces for Philip to bring home. I'm taking some with me for lunch tomorrow.
Maybe KFC did it because they thought they were in the wrong. Maybe the did it to shut Ma up. Either way, it's funny how things clucked...er, worked out.
Aug 2, 2002
Ebay (Mis)adventures (No Thanks to Paypal)
Well, two days ago Paypal rejected my application, even though the items I won on Ebay would go either to California or Vancouver. Guess where the money's coming from is more important than where the stuff the money's paying for going. Billpoint, on the other hand, is less troublesome.
My current dilemma is how to pay for the items that won't accept Billpoint. No Paypal; money order's too expensive (Pay 30 bucks to send 10? Forget it.); cheques are risky; giving the buyer my CC number even riskier. I may have to open a dollar account. One that isn't stuck in a time deposit.
Lessons learned? Well, for one, don't bid on items right away. Put it in a watchlist first, and then see how it goes. If it gets too pricey delete it from the list, so your Ebay page won't get cluttered. It also saves you from either regret for bidding too high, or disappointment from being outbid.
Second? Until Paypal accepts applications from The Philippines pay attention only to items that go for Billpoint or Ebay Payments via Billpoint.
Third: Cheap DVDs are harder to come by than I thought.
* * * * *
Speaking of lessons, my sister is learning a hard one: her son Han's Chinese assignments. All those years of studying (and forgetting) Mandarin in Saint Jude Catholic School, we Santos kids wondered when would any of it ever prove to be useful. Apparently it's when you want your kids to learn (but not forget) Chinese as well. Something like this might strengthen my resolve to either find a G.I. girlfriend or just have any future kids learn a European language, instead.
Well, two days ago Paypal rejected my application, even though the items I won on Ebay would go either to California or Vancouver. Guess where the money's coming from is more important than where the stuff the money's paying for going. Billpoint, on the other hand, is less troublesome.
My current dilemma is how to pay for the items that won't accept Billpoint. No Paypal; money order's too expensive (Pay 30 bucks to send 10? Forget it.); cheques are risky; giving the buyer my CC number even riskier. I may have to open a dollar account. One that isn't stuck in a time deposit.
Lessons learned? Well, for one, don't bid on items right away. Put it in a watchlist first, and then see how it goes. If it gets too pricey delete it from the list, so your Ebay page won't get cluttered. It also saves you from either regret for bidding too high, or disappointment from being outbid.
Second? Until Paypal accepts applications from The Philippines pay attention only to items that go for Billpoint or Ebay Payments via Billpoint.
Third: Cheap DVDs are harder to come by than I thought.
* * * * *
Speaking of lessons, my sister is learning a hard one: her son Han's Chinese assignments. All those years of studying (and forgetting) Mandarin in Saint Jude Catholic School, we Santos kids wondered when would any of it ever prove to be useful. Apparently it's when you want your kids to learn (but not forget) Chinese as well. Something like this might strengthen my resolve to either find a G.I. girlfriend or just have any future kids learn a European language, instead.
Jul 27, 2002
Ebay-sive Action
A couple of days ago after establishing a "base of operations" (Joceyln's brother Jeff in California), I starting bidding on items on Ebay. Like the first time I experienced ordering comics online, a small twinge of excitement came over me. This feeling had to be coupled with self-control as I wished to avoid going overboard. Cheap or not, I'm still paying with dollars that I technically don't have as it still has to be converted into pesos when the bill comes. And there's the risk of making what I call purchasing mistakes: stuff that looked cooler in the "catalogue" that it did in real life (i.e. Superman hardcovers, B&W indy comics and other things I regretted buying in the end).
It wasn't that easy setting up. For a while I considered acquiring the services of Johnny Air Cargo, with it's (what I thought was) enticing price of $9/lbs. per shipment. Turns out that price excludes other freight charges, which totaled $20 minimum. Suffice to say that would wipe out any cash I sought to save, not to mention defeat the purpose on shopping online. I opted for looking for a kind sucke...uh, soul who'd let me use his/her address in the US to drop the stuff at. And of course there's my relatives in Canada, as well. After registering at Paypal I was (almost) ready. (As of this blog entry I'm still 4 membership numbers short of completing my registration, no thanks to Paypal for taking so freaking long to send it to me.)
As with real auctions there's the matter of being outbid. Orange on Ebay is quickly becoming my least favorite color as it's always that dreaded orange text that tells me I've been OUTBID BY ANOTHER BIDDER. Personally I couldn't believe that someone else online wants that copy of Going Simpsonic with the Simpsons CD as badly as I do. Why I Hate Saturn was giving me trouble too. Not surprising, though, considering that it's currently out of print.
My real goal? Getting good quality DVDs cheap. Ironically from all the stuff I'm currently bidding on not a single DVD is among them. Hey, with all the piracy that's going on I've yet to establish what constitutes as "cheap," particularly for the complete 1st and 2nd season set of Sopranos DVDs.
* * * * *
Just finished watching the premiere episode of Project Greenlight on Cinemax. Cool stuff so far, in an I-was-a-film-student-so-I-can-relate sort of way. I do not envy these guys' (and girl, the co-president of production on Miramax, which made her the biggest kahuna of the bunch) job of having to pick out 10, then 3 then 1 screenplay from literally thousands of entries. I already knew who won but it was still fascinating to watch the process, particularly because it was like my screenplay thesis all over again. Same wrecked nerves, same deconstruction and intense scrutinizing of the screenplay in front of the finalists, same hey-it-sounded-cool-at-first-but-in-the-end-it-wasn't-actually-that-great ideas and vice versa. Brian Bendis was right on one thing: this is all a crapshoot. The right script and the right time get you the job. So that simultaneous feeling of envy and contempt (like I feel for Tim Yap) is around a lot for winner Pete Jones. His screenplay (from what I can tell) would probably mesh well as a Hallmark movie, but it was his zeal (and necessary arrogance mixed with enthusiasm), coupled with his felt-scripted-but-was-probably-the-editing speech to the panel at the end that got him the job.
Rachelle doesn't get Cinemax. I should tape this for her.
A couple of days ago after establishing a "base of operations" (Joceyln's brother Jeff in California), I starting bidding on items on Ebay. Like the first time I experienced ordering comics online, a small twinge of excitement came over me. This feeling had to be coupled with self-control as I wished to avoid going overboard. Cheap or not, I'm still paying with dollars that I technically don't have as it still has to be converted into pesos when the bill comes. And there's the risk of making what I call purchasing mistakes: stuff that looked cooler in the "catalogue" that it did in real life (i.e. Superman hardcovers, B&W indy comics and other things I regretted buying in the end).
It wasn't that easy setting up. For a while I considered acquiring the services of Johnny Air Cargo, with it's (what I thought was) enticing price of $9/lbs. per shipment. Turns out that price excludes other freight charges, which totaled $20 minimum. Suffice to say that would wipe out any cash I sought to save, not to mention defeat the purpose on shopping online. I opted for looking for a kind sucke...uh, soul who'd let me use his/her address in the US to drop the stuff at. And of course there's my relatives in Canada, as well. After registering at Paypal I was (almost) ready. (As of this blog entry I'm still 4 membership numbers short of completing my registration, no thanks to Paypal for taking so freaking long to send it to me.)
As with real auctions there's the matter of being outbid. Orange on Ebay is quickly becoming my least favorite color as it's always that dreaded orange text that tells me I've been OUTBID BY ANOTHER BIDDER. Personally I couldn't believe that someone else online wants that copy of Going Simpsonic with the Simpsons CD as badly as I do. Why I Hate Saturn was giving me trouble too. Not surprising, though, considering that it's currently out of print.
My real goal? Getting good quality DVDs cheap. Ironically from all the stuff I'm currently bidding on not a single DVD is among them. Hey, with all the piracy that's going on I've yet to establish what constitutes as "cheap," particularly for the complete 1st and 2nd season set of Sopranos DVDs.
* * * * *
Just finished watching the premiere episode of Project Greenlight on Cinemax. Cool stuff so far, in an I-was-a-film-student-so-I-can-relate sort of way. I do not envy these guys' (and girl, the co-president of production on Miramax, which made her the biggest kahuna of the bunch) job of having to pick out 10, then 3 then 1 screenplay from literally thousands of entries. I already knew who won but it was still fascinating to watch the process, particularly because it was like my screenplay thesis all over again. Same wrecked nerves, same deconstruction and intense scrutinizing of the screenplay in front of the finalists, same hey-it-sounded-cool-at-first-but-in-the-end-it-wasn't-actually-that-great ideas and vice versa. Brian Bendis was right on one thing: this is all a crapshoot. The right script and the right time get you the job. So that simultaneous feeling of envy and contempt (like I feel for Tim Yap) is around a lot for winner Pete Jones. His screenplay (from what I can tell) would probably mesh well as a Hallmark movie, but it was his zeal (and necessary arrogance mixed with enthusiasm), coupled with his felt-scripted-but-was-probably-the-editing speech to the panel at the end that got him the job.
Rachelle doesn't get Cinemax. I should tape this for her.
Jul 22, 2002
Ass of U and Me
It's 8PM and I'm still at the office because Boit failed to pick me up...because Bebot called him telling him Ma was in the Makati area...so he just assumed I was going home with Ma. All of this would make more sense if any of them told ME about it. Granted when Bebot called I was at the gym sans the cell phone. But the point is: when I want someone else other than Boit to pick me up I DO THE CALLING. I make the request. When everyone starts assuming that one person talked to the other except to the person they should've talked to this shit happens. If it seems like I'm babbling it's because I'm "stranded," pissed and hungry.
It's 8PM and I'm still at the office because Boit failed to pick me up...because Bebot called him telling him Ma was in the Makati area...so he just assumed I was going home with Ma. All of this would make more sense if any of them told ME about it. Granted when Bebot called I was at the gym sans the cell phone. But the point is: when I want someone else other than Boit to pick me up I DO THE CALLING. I make the request. When everyone starts assuming that one person talked to the other except to the person they should've talked to this shit happens. If it seems like I'm babbling it's because I'm "stranded," pissed and hungry.
Jul 21, 2002
How I Spent My Weekend
SATURDAY-- Scheduling a date with Annette was about as easy as organizing my own birthday party: never works out as planned. Russell was supposed to join us for dinner at Country Waffle, but in the end scheduling conflicts (and the fact that she was too pooped from walking around all day after her appointment with her dermatologist) made it impossible. I opted to drive the 'rents to a wedding reception at Gloria Maris, instead.
As the evening dulled itself away, the maid of honor approached me and said she recognized me from college and said we were once classmates. She was cute, so who was I to doubt that claim. I thought finally, a reason to be glad I came here. I thought about asking for her phone number. I thought about wanting to get together with her in the future. I thought about how her friendliness to me that night was either an "exclusive" thing or just in her nature. I thought about a lot of things. Never did a goddam thing about it in the end, but it's the thought that counts. Right.
Driving home I slightly panicked while driving through floodwaters and made mini-tsunamis along E. Rodriguez Avenue.
SUNDAY--
Philip and Erson drop by with Philip's Caucasian friend Dee (also deaf) after flying in from Vancouver last night. Erson didn't have any extra comics at hand, which reminded me to strangle Delwin when I get my hands on him. Stayed home all day watching Time and Tide (convoluted Tsui Hark movie), Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO sitcom starring Larry David, the inspiration for Jerry Seinfeld) and more Alias. I resolved to "reserve" spots for future downloads of Alias and Six Feet Under.
SATURDAY-- Scheduling a date with Annette was about as easy as organizing my own birthday party: never works out as planned. Russell was supposed to join us for dinner at Country Waffle, but in the end scheduling conflicts (and the fact that she was too pooped from walking around all day after her appointment with her dermatologist) made it impossible. I opted to drive the 'rents to a wedding reception at Gloria Maris, instead.
As the evening dulled itself away, the maid of honor approached me and said she recognized me from college and said we were once classmates. She was cute, so who was I to doubt that claim. I thought finally, a reason to be glad I came here. I thought about asking for her phone number. I thought about wanting to get together with her in the future. I thought about how her friendliness to me that night was either an "exclusive" thing or just in her nature. I thought about a lot of things. Never did a goddam thing about it in the end, but it's the thought that counts. Right.
Driving home I slightly panicked while driving through floodwaters and made mini-tsunamis along E. Rodriguez Avenue.
SUNDAY--
Philip and Erson drop by with Philip's Caucasian friend Dee (also deaf) after flying in from Vancouver last night. Erson didn't have any extra comics at hand, which reminded me to strangle Delwin when I get my hands on him. Stayed home all day watching Time and Tide (convoluted Tsui Hark movie), Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO sitcom starring Larry David, the inspiration for Jerry Seinfeld) and more Alias. I resolved to "reserve" spots for future downloads of Alias and Six Feet Under.
Jul 17, 2002
Yeeeeooooowtch!
What could be worse than having a painful, ugly gaping wound? Try having to shave the surrounding hair on that same painful, ugly, gaping wound. From removing ingrown hair popping zits on places other than my face, it seems self surgery is turning into a specialty of mine. With a high pain threshold (the secret: tell yourself it will all end soon) my now bald left knee is just begging to be soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Actually the shaving was less painful than expected as more hair than flesh (as well it should be) came off.
For lunch my co-worker Drake Co's girlfriend Giselle Uy treated all staff to lunch at the 18th floor in celebration of her birthday. At 25, she said she's been occupying office space for quite some time, since her parents work there. Cubicle (as opposed to Army) brat. She's only been an official employee for 3 years, give or take. Her desk has no computer, which has me wondering how boredom hasn't driven her insane yet. It's not like Drake's the most exciting guy in the world, either. Maybe she likes things quiet.
What could be worse than having a painful, ugly gaping wound? Try having to shave the surrounding hair on that same painful, ugly, gaping wound. From removing ingrown hair popping zits on places other than my face, it seems self surgery is turning into a specialty of mine. With a high pain threshold (the secret: tell yourself it will all end soon) my now bald left knee is just begging to be soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Actually the shaving was less painful than expected as more hair than flesh (as well it should be) came off.
For lunch my co-worker Drake Co's girlfriend Giselle Uy treated all staff to lunch at the 18th floor in celebration of her birthday. At 25, she said she's been occupying office space for quite some time, since her parents work there. Cubicle (as opposed to Army) brat. She's only been an official employee for 3 years, give or take. Her desk has no computer, which has me wondering how boredom hasn't driven her insane yet. It's not like Drake's the most exciting guy in the world, either. Maybe she likes things quiet.
Jul 15, 2002
Saving the World Before Bedtime
Watched The Powerpuff Girls movie (after getting a long delayed haircut) and as I expected, it was cool. Shorter than I expected but cool. The Dexter's Lab cartoon "first act" was very Bill Wray in terms of animation, almost a departure from past (and current) DL cartoons. ANYway, the movie's not really there to impart social lessons to kids. It's more for the devoted fans, like yours truly (hope that doesn't come off as kinda gay). When I entered the cinemahouse it was full of parents and kids. I worried about these parents that equate PPG (and Cartoon Network in general) as to "safe kid viewing." Then again I may be underestimating a kid's intelligence when it comes to being able to tell that the PPG's beating up of malevolent super-monkeys bent on world conquest doesn't mean that violence solves anything.
In the end, it's all make-believe. The Parental Guidance kind, mind you, but make-believe all the same.
And to end on a stupid note: I tripped badly while getting off the jeepney on the commute home. Left knee now a freaking mess. Ma doesn't think x-ray is necessary. Easy for her to say.
Watched The Powerpuff Girls movie (after getting a long delayed haircut) and as I expected, it was cool. Shorter than I expected but cool. The Dexter's Lab cartoon "first act" was very Bill Wray in terms of animation, almost a departure from past (and current) DL cartoons. ANYway, the movie's not really there to impart social lessons to kids. It's more for the devoted fans, like yours truly (hope that doesn't come off as kinda gay). When I entered the cinemahouse it was full of parents and kids. I worried about these parents that equate PPG (and Cartoon Network in general) as to "safe kid viewing." Then again I may be underestimating a kid's intelligence when it comes to being able to tell that the PPG's beating up of malevolent super-monkeys bent on world conquest doesn't mean that violence solves anything.
In the end, it's all make-believe. The Parental Guidance kind, mind you, but make-believe all the same.
And to end on a stupid note: I tripped badly while getting off the jeepney on the commute home. Left knee now a freaking mess. Ma doesn't think x-ray is necessary. Easy for her to say.
Jul 13, 2002
True Faith for Free
Tonight (and by that I mean a few hours ago) Lynette invited me to watch a True Faith concert at Onstage in the Greenbelt Mall. Ma wasn't too enthusiastic about the idea as it was raining hard again and the concert would most likely start and end late into the evening, so I might end up stranded. I was able to convince her otherwise. The show wasn't too bad (front row seats), as I found myself familiar with the band's songs but unable to muster up the proper amount of excitement I would have had, say, The Corrs been performing. The real fans went nuts. Three women even went up onstage and boogied (or jiggled, to be precise) to lead vocalist Jun Dizon's (had to look his name up) rendition of Satisfaction and Just Can't Get Enough. Thelma came, as well. Ryan Agoncillo was the only "celebrity" sighting of the evening. I missed the one last encore song (slow one) just as Ma came to pick me up. Close calls with the floods on the drive home but (obviously) we made it.
Earlier in the workday Rachelle showed up to audition for the Touch Mobile voice icons. For a mousy voice she sure can do sexy. Charmaine came in the day before for the same. Little off in comic timing but otherwise okay.
Tonight (and by that I mean a few hours ago) Lynette invited me to watch a True Faith concert at Onstage in the Greenbelt Mall. Ma wasn't too enthusiastic about the idea as it was raining hard again and the concert would most likely start and end late into the evening, so I might end up stranded. I was able to convince her otherwise. The show wasn't too bad (front row seats), as I found myself familiar with the band's songs but unable to muster up the proper amount of excitement I would have had, say, The Corrs been performing. The real fans went nuts. Three women even went up onstage and boogied (or jiggled, to be precise) to lead vocalist Jun Dizon's (had to look his name up) rendition of Satisfaction and Just Can't Get Enough. Thelma came, as well. Ryan Agoncillo was the only "celebrity" sighting of the evening. I missed the one last encore song (slow one) just as Ma came to pick me up. Close calls with the floods on the drive home but (obviously) we made it.
Earlier in the workday Rachelle showed up to audition for the Touch Mobile voice icons. For a mousy voice she sure can do sexy. Charmaine came in the day before for the same. Little off in comic timing but otherwise okay.
Jul 11, 2002
Drowning in Books and Loving It
When I got home yesterday a bunch of trade paperbacks and graphic novels were on top of the filing cabinet waiting for me. Eleven books, half of year's worth of orders from the Discount Comic Book Service Shop December to May. Books that would've arrived earlier had my cousin Delwin not mixed them up with the comics I gave him to put up on Ebay for auction. But I can't bitch about that now 'coz the books are here! Sweet was all I could think of. Sweet. As usual though when I'm faced with this many comics I can't get worked up to read any them right now. Information overload.
Let's see, there's Powers: Roleplay, Murder Me Dead, Safe Area Gorazde, Captain Britain, Jar of Fools, You Are Here, Queen and Country, The Complete Copybook Tales, Definitve Goldfish, Definitive Jinx and Spider-Man's Tangled Web Volume 2.
Sweet.
When I got home yesterday a bunch of trade paperbacks and graphic novels were on top of the filing cabinet waiting for me. Eleven books, half of year's worth of orders from the Discount Comic Book Service Shop December to May. Books that would've arrived earlier had my cousin Delwin not mixed them up with the comics I gave him to put up on Ebay for auction. But I can't bitch about that now 'coz the books are here! Sweet was all I could think of. Sweet. As usual though when I'm faced with this many comics I can't get worked up to read any them right now. Information overload.
Let's see, there's Powers: Roleplay, Murder Me Dead, Safe Area Gorazde, Captain Britain, Jar of Fools, You Are Here, Queen and Country, The Complete Copybook Tales, Definitve Goldfish, Definitive Jinx and Spider-Man's Tangled Web Volume 2.
Sweet.