Slow Saturday

Managed to catch up on my 24 viewing, at least retroactively. Just as I started watching season 4 on Beijing I'm now in almost done with season 3, courtesy of Aissa and Raymond's DVD set. Here the fast foward button is put to good use. Don't get me wrong; I like the show, but the drama is just empty for me. Blah, blah, blah.... just cliffhanger me, already.

Work It...

Got to work at the One Gym and Spa (Banawe branch) with Lyndon, who came home from (but now is itching to go back to) Beijing. Nice little place, and the locker room's fancier than any other gym's I've ever seen. Only thing I'm not keen about is the fee. Then again I'm never keen about paying for something that tires me out.

God, We're Idiots...

Having sex results in babies?

AFP
Manila, March 1, 2005

As many as 30 per cent of couples in the Philippines are unaware that having sex can result in babies, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said on Tuesday.

"They do not know how pregnancy happens," even though some of them have had numerous children already, Dayrit remarked.

The discovery was the result of field studies by health workers who went door-to-door to determine population control program awareness, Dayrit said in remarks released in Manila.

He did not say how many couples in the mainly Roman Catholic nation were surveyed.

The field workers found that in many of these cases, the couples believed the children were simply gifts from God.

Burgers with Beijinoys

Debbie and Steve can't get enough of that greasy burger taste. 
Met up with a few of the Beijing Pinoys at Brothers Burger at Tomas Morato. It was difficult getting there at first since apparently everybody knew of the place, just not where exactly in Tomas Morato. Eventually we found it, it's large, lightless sign staring us in the face the whole time.

Almost everybody made it (Aileen Choa, Debbie, Steve, Kenny, Aimee, Vanessa, Robert, Dennis) except Edison, who was at a badminton match. I was shocked to learn the restaurant served 1lb. burgers, but strangely enough the double patty burger I ordered was so puny I ordered another single patty just to feel full. We had a nightcap at UCC later on. Deja vu, only this time I didn't order anything. After the 189 bucks for the pair of burgers (and the 150 bucks for the Dippin' Dots ice cream yesterday... man, that's expensive ice cream... note to self: ask how much novelty ice cream is before buying), cutting down was easy.

Speaking of food, two days ago I felt myself literally bloat up from the Shakey's pizza. The next day the size 31 pants felt too snug. To the bat-treadmill! So run I did, as well as ab-xercises. Today I went to the bathroom more times today than in the past week. Goodbye, pizza; hello size 31 pants.

What, it's not a gem entry every time. Or ever, come to think of it.

Now to shorten the legs

I'm happy to report that the size 31 pants that I bought in Vancouver all those years ago now fit perfectly once again. Being casual slacks it'll be awhile before they go out of style, too. Unfortunately the size 32 length is due for an alteration.

My theory for why I lost so much weight in Beijing (aside from mostly having nothing but sandwiches for lunch) is the lack of easy access to snack foods. Back here I find myself chewing on something salty or sweet every other hour. Man, did I look bloated in those old photos.

Happy Non-Working Holiday

First time in weeks I came downstairs to the office in my jammies (shirt and boxers). Another slow day. Wish I could ask someone out to a movie, but nothing good's on. Better work on those pictures...

What's been bugging me all week are news reports on Suzette See Huang, allegedly an accomplice of alledged kidnapping leader, former actor/polictician Dennis Roldan. When they showed her picture on TV I thought Holy crap, that's Suzette! As in Suzette See my friend from SJCS and sister to batchmate Auston. How could she be involved? Worse, was her reported suicide attempt an act of guilt or being wrongfully accused?

Meets and Greets

Had dinner with some Beijinoy balikbayans at Banana leaf last night (plus a nightcap at UCC), then today I spent the day with Aileen at Megamall, specifically at the gym, Jollibee and Starbucks. Coinkidink of the month was running into Nikki Wong (who promptly forgot my name, so I in turn neglected to place into memory her guy friend's name) at Starbucks. Diana was supposed to meet up with us but her ailing granny was first priority.

Yer Gone for a Few Minutes...

Computer underwent an upgrade, so nobody had internet access for most of the evening. Once I got online, though, this is what I found:

Hunter S. Thompson dead at 67

'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' author takes own life

Monday, February 21, 2005 Posted: 10:31 AM EST (1531 GMT)

(CNN) -- Journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, who unleashed the concept of "gonzo journalism" in books like "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," fatally shot himself in the head Sunday at his home near Aspen, Colorado.

As well as:

Lohan's dad arrested after fiery crash

Sunday, February 20, 2005 Posted: 8:05 AM EST (1305 GMT)

NEW YORK (AP) -- The father of teen movie star Lindsay Lohan was arrested Saturday following a fiery car crash and charged with driving while intoxicated, police said.

A car driven by Michael Lohan, 44, left a road and struck a utility pole shortly after midnight in the Long Island town of Syosset, said Nassau County Police Sgt. Patricia Scalzo.

Lohan, of Laurel Hollow, was the only occupant of the vehicle. He got out before it burst into flames and was not injured.

Police charged Lohan with driving while intoxicated and driving without a license. Lohan did not comment as he was taken from police headquarters to a court appearance.

Now What?

Back in assisting the family biz. The office now has a slower internet connection. We now have more reality shows on local TV then ever before. Now what? Same as before. Ah, well.

The More Things Change...

Hey, back from Beijing (and Hong Kong before that), with a new digicam, MP3 player and jacket. I turn on the news and it's still the same old corrupt, fuel-price hiking, polluted, country I come back to. Sigh, what am I doing here again?