President GMA a Skrull?!?

From this month's Secret Invasion #5:

If you recognize (and can name) everyone in this 2-page spread, go take a geek shower, you otaku, you.

Mmm, Free SPIT

All this month S.P.I.T. was waiving the P200 entrance fee for their shows, so naturally my cheapskate self jumped at the chance to catch it.

I picked up Lola at her place, then we went to fetch Dee at the Dusit Hotel. Arriving a wee bit early, we had to drive around the hotel entrance half a dozen times (security finally recognized us by round 4 and skipped vehicle inspection) before she finally came out. Off to Mag:Net Cafe on Boni High Street. Dee called KV, who said he'd catch up.

This would be Lola's first time to watch (or even hear of) S.P.I.T. , and after the elevator brought us to the 2nd floor (Dee hates having stairs meet high heels) we were "greeted" by the team warming up with something akin to a Black gospel choir and campfire song mix. Whatever helps bring the funny, I guess.

Place was packed, so we made do w/ the smoking section patio table. View wasn't so great, and did I mention the smoking part? Glass panels separating us from the main floor made for bad sound reception, and having Joel Trinidad (one of the performers) block our view for awhile as he checked out the videotaping didn't help. Still, despite alla that (and missing female cast members), the show wasn't too bad. As usual the beauty contest portion brought the biggest laughs. The song improvs fell flat again, but I still gave them an 'A' for effort, as that sh*t ain't easy.

I did get annoyed when they started late and finished early, but I guess they were that eager to start their "Disney-oke" session. The first couple began w/ A Whole New World (Aladdin), followed by another duo who sang There's Something There (Beauty & the Beast). KV and I were determined to go onstage, with him undecided w/c songs he wanted to sing but didn't know the lyrics to (or wanting to sing non-Disney songs). As for myself I was undecided between Hakuna Matata (The Lion King) and Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid), so long at least one funny Disney song was sung before it all got too sappy.

Some castmembers of a local production of Mulan, Jr. went up and did Be Our Guest (nothing hides a bad voice like singing w/a crowd), but their tempo was slowed down to an oompa oompa beat, like something you'd hear on Oktoberfest in a German pub. Worse, the guy who did "Lumiere's" voice --half-empty Pale Pilsen bottle in hand-- couldn't sustain the accent. Too busy being sloshed, probably.

When we finally approached Gabriel Mercado to put our names on the list of wannabe singers, he told us to go onstage and browse thru the sheetmusic books scattered behind the pianist. Unfortunately KV took too long in long and picking a song (and Gabriel was kinda picky of singers, too) and like Cinderella had to go once his watch struck midnight. See ya around, chance for fame.

(On the bright side, when I got home I found out I couldn't exactly hit the higher notes called for in Hakuna Matata. Close call, then. Grr, shoulda picked Under the Sea.)

The 'P' Stands for Pain: My P90X Review

(NOTE NON-GYM BUFFS OR WORKOUT NON-ENTHUSIASTS: The ff. blog entry may either bore you or give you the impression that I'm a narcissist.)

Last week I completed the P90X Classic workout course. Ninety days and 12 videos of resistance training, cardio and yoga. While I agree that this program isn't for amateurs, as an experienced workout guy even this had me wanting to pass out (or throw up) in the first few weeks. The results:

CHEST: What I found telling is how my chest muscles "inflate" and "deflate" easily, whether from barbell presses, or in the case of P90X, multiple pushup techniques. I'd look pumped immediately or during the workout (this is the male underwear model's secret in looking buff on the catwalk or on photoshoots), but in 24-48 hours I'm back to where I started.

BACK: The difficulty in achieving the Y-shaped torso was from a lack of proper upper-back exercises, w/c in turn comes from not having proper equipment. My Nike workout bands weren't working (pros in the video could be seen managing only 20 tugs or less, yet here I passing 30 reps, so either I did it wrong or these "maximum resistance" bands are rubbish), and with no chinup bar, the best I can do was to place my barbell stands at maximum elevation and lift myself with resting barbell. This modification was definitely a cheat, because instead of muscle strength lifting I was using the momentum of my upper arms and shoulders in a diagonal upward thrust. (And as such our teacher's warning of "If you cheat during a test you're really cheating yourself" comes true.)

SHOULDERS & ARMS: My triceps didn't get much in terms of shaping or definition, and I think I sprained my left shoulder, w/c made the last few weeks difficult. But I learned a lot about rep sets (8-10 for bulk, 12-15 for toning), and the fact that w/ a sprained shoulder, bicep curls on resistance bands hurt more than w/ a dumbell.

LEGS: My old Muscle & Fitness leg workouts did a better job of shaping my thighs than P90X, w/c seemed to furthen maintain my chicken legs look. P90X has better calf exercises, though.

CARDIO: For my money, nothing beats Billy Blank's first Tae-Bo Advanced and Ultimate Bootcamp workouts, but P90X's Plyometrics (or jump training) and Core Synergistics came awfully close. I still need to run to get rid of love handles, but treadmill's on the fritz right now.

YOGA X: As a first-timer, let me say that I will never mock yoga again. This sh*t can get hard. Due to lack of heavy movement the video is 30 minutes longer than other 1-hour workout vids, but after 12 weeks I've yet to perfect my Warrior Three, Half Moon and Crane poses. It also had me wishing I had full length mirrors (or a proper yoga partner/instuctor) to check if I'm doing it right.

X STRETCH: This one bewildered me at first. Why would someone want to stetch for an hour? Beats having to pay for a massage if you're a cheapskate like me, but come on. It even had stretch excercises for the wrists, w/c I admit were hard, but I doubt it made my future pushups any easier.

AB RIPPER X: I first tried out this 15-minute exercise on its own before starting the program. Turns out this was supposed to be done after a resistance training video, and not to be done everyday. While it was tiring, I think my abs "plateaued" on this workout after the 8th week.

Overall, I liked how P90X kept me on a regular exercise schedule. I just wish it did more for me physically than previous workout programs. I think another mistake on my part lies w/ not following the diet program (w/c isn't all less-carbs-more-protein), and proabably why I have trouble maintaining muscle mass. And since I'm too cheap to buy their Recovery Drink I make do w/ a tall glass of cold Ovaltine (3 big tbsps, no sugar). Also by Week 11 I was experiencing workout burnout instead of "muscle confusion."

After this I'm supposed to follow-up w/ a P90x+ Program, lest all my hard work be "undone," but I'd better give the shoulder time to heal, sans wearing a splint.

Musical Monday

Watched 2 amazing musicals today, but unfortunately neither of them at the theater.

I was at first wary of seeing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as the title evoked a 70's hippies feel that I had enough of w/ Jesus Christ: Superstar. And to watch Donny Osmond? Willingly?!?

So thank God (no pun intended) it was good. And fun. And funny. Great catchy songs, ironically by the guys who made the previously maligned JC:S, Andrew Llyod Webber and Tim Rice. Even though Osmond played the title character, it was almost as if he was a supporting player in this film, and most of the cooler musical numbers (evoking a mixture of genres like country western, reggae, disco and Elvis, among others) went to the Narrator, the Pharaoh and brother Simeon.

Other name actors like Sir Richard Attenborough, Joan Collins and Ian McNeice weren't given much singing lines, w/c was just as well. Look what it did for Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia!:

(Move to 00:46 to listen to the horror)

But I digress. Next!

My copy of Wicked was courtesy of a diligent patron who diligently recorded the entire performance on a camcorder from the view of the theater balcony. Sure , it got shakey sometimes and I swear I heard someone sniffling at the final duet between Elphaba and Glinda (crybaby...), but the whole play was recorded (and uploaded-- thanks, Demonoid!), and it was spectacular. And since I also watched my last live musical from the balcony I was used to the angle. Stephen Schwartz's music and lyrics here more than makes up for the insomnia curing Disney versions of Pochahantas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. (Then again, it was the movies that sucked, not the music. Focus, man. Focus.)

From what I've read it's only faithful to the original novel by way of the outline, but still I loved the foreshadowing w/ the origins of the Tin Man and Scarecrow, and did not see that bit w/ the Cowardly Lion coming. Favorite line: "Well, we can't all come and go by bubble!"

Lazy & Spontaneous Sunday For Now Means...

...availing myself of the WiFi (but not the electricity, as there seems to be no easily accessible electrical outlets --unlike in Starbucks-- for my laptop) at Alexa's Deli in Makati, waiting for Dee and listening to the last chapter of David Sedaris' audiobook When You Are Engulfed in Flames. She seems to excel at riskier forms of multitasking, e.g. grooming while driving or using her cellphone while parking her Honda CRV. We ordered 2 iced lattes and one molten chocolate cake, the latter living up to its name when the waiter served a melted piece of pastry they overthawed in the microwave. I could practically taste and feel the sugar granules and wished I could move that to my apparently tasteless latte (another plus to S-Bucks), but I settled for their sugar packets instead.

The spontaneous part of the blog title comes from my having no plans on what to do other than drink lattes w/ Dee and hang out. Laptop battery was dying, so web-browsing was pointless. For her part she was busy preparing a PPP on Pan Pacific for some DLSU-CSB marketing honchos, while at the same time taking calls from male clients and playing armchair love therapist while they discuss their social lives (or lack of). While listening to Sedaris I find myself thinking that I preferred her grooming-while-driving.

When a davidbriantiu YMs her, I wondered if this was the same Brian Tiu who was my nursery and kindergarten classmate in back in SJCS (I have strange long-term memory). When he says he doesn't remember me I started to have my doubts, but when I found out his brother was Terence Tiu (i.e. brother Wilbert's classmate in SJCS, and coincidentally worked at the Marketing Dept. of DLSU-CSB), that clinched it. Well, that and the F'Book and F'ster search I did when I got back home. I barely recognized the longer hair, squarer jaw and darker complexion, but the eyes haven't changed. And he gets around online. (No, I'm not stalking the man. The links are to prove a point.)

After her work was sorta done (low batt) she was set to visit another male client on a non-travel-agency related matter, but didn't know how to get to 6th Street in New Manila. And guess who did...?

So off went our short Honda CRV convoy, crossing Mandaluyong bridge and driving thru Shaw and Aurora Blvd and finally to Broadway Avenue. After I left her at 6th street I saw 2 white mini-coopers of the same make and model meet up at the intersection of E. Rodriguez and whatever street that Jollibee E. Rod branch is on. Also noticed that one cooper driver was more reckless than the other. Country Cooper and City Cooper, I thought. I could've followed them had they not beat the red light at the E. Rod - Araneta Ave. intersection and made their right turn on the latter. The things I do to satisfy my curiosity...

Chatty Cathy

As I type this , the hyped 08-08-08 (or the catchier sounding LingBa LingBa LingBa in ping yin) Beijing Olympics opening ceremonies had just finished (via delayed live telecast). China's (I'm guessing) oldest living gold medalist, after being hoisted up by a harness a-la Peter Pan, just fake-ran the whole length of the upper perimeter of the "Bird's Nest," moving like The Flash running on water. He was being followed-- and finally overtaken by a video projection of a carpet that featured video montages. (Some ideas just seem to better during rehearsal, I guess.) While it ended spectacularly w/ the Olympic torch lit like a giant firecracker (complete w/ fake fuse), it's funny how with all the complaining Western (read: US) Media did about the poor quality of Beijing's air, no-one thought to ask if having big-@$$ fireworks and explosions going off all over the city during the entire program was a good idea. Oh, well. They can try asking after the smoke clears.

(Holy crap, BMX racing is the new Olympic event? I don't even give Formula 1 Racing that much credibility, much less bicycles going around in muddy circles. Ugh. Tony Hawk's bike stunts would've been much cooler to watch.)

I also came back from SM MoA after meeting up w/ old DLSU/EngLiCom buddy Cathy Sy (who's now technically Family, as her brother married my sister's sister-in-law). Dinner was at Gumbo, where I suffered through the spiciness --we ordered stuffed crab and ribs w/ a side dish of cajun rice and mashed potato -- w/ a sweaty head. After dinner she treated me to almost-fat-free frozen yogurt at White Hat , while I provided the "1 Free Topping" coupon. With that first mini-spoonful (and the free chocolate chip sprinkles) I remembered why I disliked yogurt in the first place. It's ice cream's answer to "sweet-n-sour" food.

We got to talking about the trials and tribulations of the Tsinoy Family Business Model, as it's success sometimes means accepting unsavory practices as the norm. She tells me to be thankful that I've inherited one, even as, unfortunately, unsavory practices and politics are part and parcel of the whole thing. A glass half-full outlook, so to speak. While my formally educated brain tells me that a more organized (or legal) way of doing things is called for, Cathy suggests to only implement new rules after I've gotten a handle on how to things their way. Bad enough I'm no good at wrapping my head around numbers, but it's unlikely the 'Rents would retire full-time and leave things to me. Then again I wouldn't want that to happen right away, either.

On the drive back home I passed by G's street in Del Rosario (between Buendia and F.B. Harrison) to avoid the traffic in Taft Avenue. The first thing I noticed were the new and numerous street lamps installed. It used to be that this street was enveloped in pitch black darkness that was only pierced by automobile headlights. Now it's so well-lit people can better avoid using jaywalkers as fender benders, as well as see at how decrepit the place still is like it was daytime. Would-be muggers can't hide, but neither can the garbage littered on the streets.

Whose Meal Is It, Anyway?

As I write this I'd just finished dinner and my head --and head alone-- is perspiring like someone squeezed a whole orange too hard. This is because I placed too much pepper in my latest original (to myself, at least) pasta recipe.

When cooking for myself (as I often do when I find the already prepared meals wanting of a healthier flair and flavor) I usually just improvise. Take tonight's dinner, for example:

• Half a bowl of uncooked corkscrew pasta equals 2 servings of cooked ones, or one-and-a-half when I'm really hungry.
• So as not to risk letting the remainder of a newly opened can of spaghetti sauce spoil (since I only need a single serving's worth), I go for sauteing (w/ olive oil, 'natch) 3 whole tomatoes and a good portion of onion, all sliced thinly. Caramelizing them took a while to perfect (and I suspect I still haven't), and I occasionally add water so they won't burn.
• To taste I add a little bit of butter and instead of salt I sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese (and unfortunately too much pepper) over the sauteing veggies. I used to add some sugar too but I now realize this was redundant (caramelizing, duh).
• Note to self: don't bother adding salt to the boiling water if you just wash it off the pasta after (to stop the cooking process).
• The meat of choice was shredded chicken meat seasoned w/ pepper, stir fried with garlic and enhanced (last minute) w/ rice wine, w/c did wonders for the taste. Move the now cooked tomatoes and onion out of the pan first, then cook the chicken in it, then add those veggies again, folding them in thoroughly. Finally add the cooked corkscrew pasta, folding it in, as well.
• Add some Italian seasoning to fool yourself into thinking the whole thing smells marvelous, then move the pasta to an appropriate bowl (presentation counts!) to serve.
  
• I always try to do this while Pa's occupied/not around, so as not to catch hell in the process. Catching hell is fine afterwards, since I'm already eating.

Daze Gon Bye

For months I've been contemplating what to do about G. My thoughts turned to having A Big Talk w/ her in person to discuss Where We're Going. In the end I chose inaction. Ceased all modes of contact, and I honestly (but sadly) believe she won't notice.

It occurred to me that in all the time I've known her she's never called me once, and often let work or her own personal free time supersede anything that might have given us more opportunities to spend time together. During all this I didn't think of her as "my girl," as it sounded crass and possessive, so I referred to her as Milady (shut up), as in "milady-in-waiting," while I was "boyfriend-in-training."

Ladies, some points-of-fact about Men: We suck at subtext, reading between the lines and non-verbal communication. Tell it to us straight, even when sometimes we don't or won't, because we're dense that way.

Also: While we may not say "I like you" straight out, if we constantly call, text, write emails everyday when you're out of the country, send flowers and/or try to plan our weekends around wanting to see you, it should at least give you the impression that we're interested in pursuing a long-term more-than-just-friends relationship.

While talking to a mutual friend (from her side of the Pal Pool) we theorized possible reasons for her behavior, w/c ranged from conservatism to cluelessness. Neither impression was appealing. I settled for her simply not being ready for a relationship. Too bad it took me years to realize this, after much time and emotion was invested. After awhile it felt like a long-distance relationship --except both parties lived in the same region-- or a listless marriage w/ one spouse complaining how the other one was always at work. She was not as into me as I was into her. Hell, I might've been a Friend Zone resident all this time.

Anyway, I'm moving on, setting aside the mixed feelings of anger, sadness and disppointment. I am grateful to friends for their support and for helping me cope. Lots of other things to occupy my time and mind (thanks, Internet!). This might be for the best. Who knows? I'm out of cliches to spout.

Putting the Nut in 'Health Nut'

Sometimes my well-intentioned, know-it-all dietary experiments go awry. The last time it didn't go well was when, instead of rice, I ate lots of mashed potatoes and salad slathered w/ mayo. Long story short it didn't work miracles on my cholesterol levels. Switched to tomatoes and carrots since then.

Tried that one-glass-of-red/white-wine-a-day thing. Not being much of a drinker the buzz hit almost immediately. At least I fell asleep quicker but overall it wasn't pleasant and tasted even less so.

Last night after my workout I tried to make a fruit and vegetable smoothie for dinner. Blended 1 carrot, 1 Fuji apple, 1 tomato, 1 banana, 1 mango and 2 oranges (tip: place soft fruits before hard ones in the blender next time) mixed w/ ice and some honey. It made for 2.5 glasses. The mini-convulsions buzz I felt was unexpected but not altogether good, either. It was like my body knew this was the first time I've done this and and wanted it to be the last. Natural sugar rush or vitamin overdose? In the end I relented and had a tuna sandwich as well. Dumped the second glassful in the sink.

Where Have I Been?

Honestly, my lack of updates have been either from outright laziness or waiting to more stuff to happen and just blog it all in one big chunk. That said, the former is giving less chances for the latter to happen, so...

Two Sundays ago I dropped by unannounced to milady's house, hoping to surprise her w/ a couple of frappucinos. The surprise was on me when no-one answered the door (made more difficult w/ the lack of a doorbell), phone or cellphone. My chagrin over her abscence (and the overrated and romanticized notion of surprise visits) was thankfully subsided when friend Des said she was free to hang. Drove out to Star City but ended up shooting the breeze by the bay near MOA, instead (there is so much crap in those waters). Bought myself a Subway Club for dinner.

Last Saturday (July 5) I met up w/ Diana and TinTin after dinner for a nightcap, first at the Half-Moon "bibingcrepe" restaurant (where Di ordered --while Tin and I partook of-- her chocolate-peanut crispy crepe, w/c resembled a flatted pie base w/ the thinnest layer of crunchy chocolate), then later at Starbucks' E. Rod branch. Di recently recently resigned from her freight and shipping job in Hong Kong (she worked logistics and mentioned having her iPod swiped from its speaker dock in the office), while Tin is contemplating doing the same w/ ther job at Citibank. Speaking of comtemplating, the discussion also went towards Tin's pending engagement/marriage (I forget which one) to her Thai boyfriend Pei, and my self-imagined troubles w/ milady.

Last Sunday I sorta spontaneously kidnapped Des (her term, not mine) again (and met some of her male siblings) and we grabbed some chow at one of the many Italian restos at the Fort (note t0 self: never order vegetarian lasagna ever again). And fruitless search for a gelato stand had us almost reaching the South Luzon expressway (stupid lack of road signs) before a crucial left U and left turn finally brought us back to Makati.

Now, no offense to my lady frendz, but all of those activities I would've/should've preferred to have done w/ milady. But at times when I tell people, "I'm seeing someone," part of me is lying, since the "seeing" part is becoming less frequent. Sure, there's the occasional phone call (when I'm able to catch her not on conference w/ US clients or just plain asleep), but saying, "I'm talking to someone by phone" doesn't seem to have the same impact.