some things are better left unsaid...

Wow! Ten days of blogless existence...I never thought I could go that long. I found myself at a loss these past days. I had nothing to share. Sure there was a lot of content I could share with everyone but the need to reach out and communicate wasn't there.

All around the world Pride Marches were happening but I wasn't even slightly interested. I've gotten gigabytes worth of music but still, no compelling need to broadcast and share. Definitely a weird week...

Not that there's a huge gaping hole in my being right now...it's just that I've been pretty "preoccupied" with goings-on in my own life.My brother and his wife arrived last Friday as scheduled which pretty much meant I had another fresh bottle of perfume to add to the collection. Honestly, I was hoping he'd come home with a new laptop but it's ok. I kinda knew it wasnigh impossible...I mean after the huge expenses covering the house and everything. Oh! And the house! The new floor is finished and my sister and my brother now have new rooms. Bad news is, my room was left in shambles (read this: UNINHABITABLE) and it seems there's no pressing need to fix it...and people say I'm the "favorite"...idiots!

For those concerned, I think it's quite obvious that I've kept mum about the whole "me leaving and all" schtik. YES...the answer is YES...I am leaving after all. It might be a little later as was originally planned. I'm not leaving with my brother on the first...yeah, he's only staying a week. Due to some problems concerning my passport, I still have to wait a few more weeks.

My brother also told me to apply for an employment pass that's good for (get this) ONE YEAR!!! WTF?!?!?! I think he plans on having me cook for him and do his laundry for a whole year! The good news is, I'll be there in time for January when the companies usually hold massive hirings. Also, we already checked a few companies and we already have a list of jobs I might want to consider. The best part of this whole ordeal is, I discovered that my brother actually gives a damn. We saw multiple job listings that I'm qualified for, except the whole "2-5 years experience" part but he told me to pick out positions from a list of departments. I was dumbfounded at first but I later discovered that he knew the managers in those departments and he could actually get me the job without much preamble...NICE!!!

He's also quite adamant that I try to get into his functional group first. That way, he could keep an eye on me and no one would give me much grief lest they incur the wrath of my brother...who happens to be quite the higher-up. So it's nice to know some people give a shit about my future. All that remains is to get new luggage (I want really chic bags) and a few semi-formal to formal outfits and I'm gone.

I might not be able to post much in the following weeks but I'll try to update my friends as much as possible.

you never make them touch!!!

BOOOOOSSSS!!! BOOOOOOOSSSSSSS!!!

Gummy Bear song

Damn...song...stuck...in...my head! Can't stop...singing...devil song...

let's learn Engrish!

Cool way to learn a new language...BY MUSCLE MEMORY!!!

Bastards of the Beat will be up in a few...

I'm sharing another album today! Yipee for my contacts!

I decided to put up Bastards of the Beat from a little known band called The Damnwells. I've been very vocal about enjoying pinano rock and these guys should be the poster boys for the genre. Their sound varies from the usual melancholy and outright serious songs to very lyrical tracks about very amusing topics.

If any of you enjoyed my last upload, the album by Augustana, you'll definitely like this one!

another guilty pleasure...

Over the holidays, I got seriously ribbed by my cousins from Perth when I stupidly blurted out I actually watched and like...a few..."choice"...Aussie soaps. There's McLeod's Daughters (talk about overproduction of estrogen!) and Home and Away (they rode my back hard on this one!) just to name a few.

I recently stumbled upon another soap with Austatsic vibes! I got hooked on All Saints...no, not the girly band but a soap on the Australia Network. Don't you just love cable? Hahahahaha.

It's like the Aussie version of ER, Chicago Hope...Grey's Anatomy (ok...that might be pushing it too far) and it's actually good. I haven't gotten the show times to a t yet, but I'll start jotting down specific times I'm able to catch the show on the telly.

Here's the current cast...I guess my fave character (the med intern) didn't make it to the current season....

finally...

What was supposed to take a few minutes took the better part of the day!!! I made a humongous booboo earlier. While I was uploading the tracks from Twelve Stops and Home, I accidentally overloaded my antiquated laptop and the poor thing crashed!

It's all good now and the album is up for my contacts to listen to and hawk (aka "pirate") to their heart's content!

I'm feeling...The Feeling!

Yeah...I know! I just couldn't help myself...

I know I'm about a couple of decades late, but I'm jumping on the british invasion bandwagon. It seems like I've recently cultivated an inkling for britpop. Perhaps the band I've fallen head over heels for the most is The Feeling.

They're more playful than the Arctic Monkeys, does not induce melancholia like Keane, doesn't bring me to sleep like an overdose of Feeder, has a good moral fiber (LOL) unlike Oasis, easier to understand than Paolo Nutini, and aren't geriatric like The Beatles! There's also the widely known fact that theie lead singer, Dan Gillespie Sells, is openly gay! So they've got practically everything I look for in a band.

I'm uploading their first full length album, Twelve Stops and Home. It should be up in a few. Here's to sharing their music and hoping you guys like them too...CHEERS!

AMEN! so true...

Here's a very factual ad from the makers of Guinness...



Now who could disagree...huh?! Most women would've gotten up and left or nagged the hell out of their boyfriends or husbands!

Augustana...their time has come

Piano Rock...well...ummm...ROCKS!!!

My boys from Greenville, Illinois have finally arrived! I really appreciate the presence of bands such as The Fray, Snow Patrol, Keane, Coldplay, and Augustana. Their music tugs at your heartstrings and you find yourself warped into their melancholy mindset.

I've been following this band for a couple of years now and I'm surprised that they're just getting their just desserts recently. In celebration of their success, I'm posting their first album, which they released before they got signed by Epic Records. The album is entitled "Midwest Skies and Sleepless Mondays" and features ten of the most heartfelt tracks I've ever heard (think "Daphne Loves Derby") and it has become a staple in my iPod. It's actually racked a formidable play count which, I'm sure, will be followed by their recent release "All The Stars and Boulevards.

Their first album should be up in a couple of minutes for my contacts. I really urge you guys to listen to their music. If you like it, head on to iTunes to purchase "All The Stars and Boulevards" to support the band. They only released 1,000 copies of the album I'm uploading so it's a real treat!

If you need more convincing, just watch this video. They recently performed this song, "Boston" in Ellen and Late Night with David Letterman.

iPhone (drools...)

Well Apple released 30 second clips introducing (officially...) the iPhone to the waiting US market. Note that at the end of all the clips, the June 29 release date is shown!!! Yum!

twins...twice the yum, twice the fun!

NEMESIS...is the duo of Jacob and Joshua. Jacob and Joshua Miller are identical twins from Montana and they're set out to carve a niche for themselves in the music industry. They're openly gay and sooo in LA. If you yearn for yummy poptarts then they will surely float your boat! Nemesis is the perfect mix of catchy tunes, skin, muscle, smoldering good looks, perfect teeth...what was my point again?

Here's what they sound like and look like when their hot bodies are moving. This is their first single "Number One in Heaven".



Oh, and for those who give a damn, Jacob's the bleached blond and Joshua's the pretty brunette.


I'm so putting an advance order for their upcoming album: Nemesis: Rising

clarity...

My parents threw a curve ball at me last night. It all started when my dad was having his dinner. Since, we don't get to eat together often nowadays, he was having it late. He usually finishes other stuff up in the new floor even after the workers have gone. So I was just lounging around in our sofa (I've transformed the living room into my new HQ...for the meantime) just surfing away and probably chatting up Mich when the topic of my impending departure came up. For those who have gone to the trouble of reading my blog these past couple of years (the blogger account) would definitely know that my dad and I don't enjoy the most "close" relationship. So imagine my surprise when he said: "If you go, we'll miss your cooking." It was a really simple thought but somewhat of a giant step (leaps and bounds if I may...) in terms of our relationship.

Later on that night in my parents' room (I'm sleeping there in the meanwhile...I can't use the A/C in my room yet) I was telling my mom that I spent much of the day surfing the net for tips on how to get my hair done. I was fussing over possible styles that I could get when I have my locks cut. She segwayed by using my friend Walter's hair as an example. She told me to cut it to that length (I was surprised because Walter had longish hair as well before) and just tuck my locks behind my ear when I want to look more professional. On the other hand, my hair would still be long enough for me to tie back. So we enjoyed a few minutes silence after that. Thanks, in large part to the steamed buns (siopao) we were eating.

Then, out of nowhere, my mother blurts out: "I don't want you to leave. You don't need a high paying job anyways. We manage to get along just fine with what we have. You could even return to the call center industry if nothing good comes along." I honestly didn't know what to say. The past few weeks she was all but ready to pack my stuff for me and chuck me out our door! Then she completely blindsides me with such a comment. I mean...WHAT THE FUCK?! It was also worth noting that my dad was totally agreeing with my mother!!!

She went on to say that I should be happy because if I don't go, then I get to keep my hair in its current length. COME ON...it's just hair. Yeah, I'll be the first to tell you that having my hair cut does, in fact, suck big time but I've always planned to grow it back once I get a steady job!

My mind went to overdrive last night. I just had to speak with someone. So I sent an SOS to Mich. After she didn't reply for a few minutes, I thought she was busy or (as usual, just like back in college) she had no credits (Mich, honestly, you're 22...GET A POST-PAID PLAN!!! LOL) so I SMSed the next person that I though of. Jana (an old officemate of mine) replied promptly and told me that my mom probably had an epiphany of sorts and realized how much she'll miss me.

My point is this, up until now, everyone has been progressing with their own agenda. No really gave a thought to what I MIGHT WANT...but apparently, my own parents don't even give a damn about my future as well. We all know that our parents won't be with us forever. What happens to me when my parents have gone? I'd be left with a mediocre job and wanting...NO, NEEDING support from other people. It looks to me like they're willing to sacrifice good working opportunities just to hold on to me for a few more years. Don't get me wrong, if I had no dire need to leave I really wouldn't. But after I've gone through the PROs and CONs it really looks like this Singapore trip might reap good rewards.

What happens now? I'm screwed over...SERIOUSLY. I had a long chat with Mich the entire day (I wonder if she even got work done today...) and just vented. I'm more confused now than when this whole ordeal started. Dilemma? That's a massive understatement. I don't know who to listen to anymore.

go Obama go!!!

June 01, 2007, CHICAGO , IL-- U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement to commemorate Pride Month.

"Pride Month is a reminder that while we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do."

"Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."

"It's time to turn the page on the bitterness and bigotry that fill so much of today's LGBT rights debate. The rights of all Americans should be protected -- whether it's at work or anyplace else. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" needs to be repealed because patriotism and a sense of duty should be the key tests for military service, not sexual orientation. Civil unions should give gay couples full rights. And those who commit hate crimes should be punished no matter whether those crimes are committed on account of race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation."

"This Pride Month, let's make our founding promise of equality a reality for every American."

non sequitur...

Everything I have done...all the preparations I planned...ARE ALL FOR NOTHING.

Yes, I will be leaving. That much is certain. How I feel about it is of no importance. All that matters is...IT SHALL COME TO PASS.

The words of support from family and friends, messages from well-wishers, and expressions of sadness from people I'll leave behind...AMOUNT TO NOTHING.

Hair that I grew and conscientiously took care of for two years...WILL BE CUT IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.

Personal style, my favored piercings, and my favorite clothes...WILL ALL GIVE WAY TO A MORE PROFESSIONAL LOOK.

My days of 24-hour blogging, incessant chat with friends...WILL STOP.

Evrything I've become used to, all the things that make me happy...MEAN NOTHING NOW.

EVERYTHING IS INSIGNIFICANT.

NOTHING IS CONNECTED TO THE PAST.

WHAT I WAS ONCE SHALL CEASE TO EXIST.

I AM NOTHING MORE THAN A MACHINE PROGRAMMED TO FOLLOW ORDERS AND TO GARNER SUCCESS FOR MY MASTERS.

the here and now...

I got really heavy news earlier. Van, my trusty Intel insider, informed me that apparently, salary offers were going to be given to candidates that have been identified for the positions I applied for. Since I didn't get a call from Intel telling me to report to the factory and bring my shiny pen to sign my contract, it is only logical to assume that I did not get the job.

This also means that I really am leaving the country...for two months at least. Edissa, my brother's wife, coincidentally was here when I got the news from Van. Edissa was packing her bags for her short trip to Singapore to fetch her PR papers. It is safe to assume then that by around 7 PM tonight, my brother would be aware of the news.

My mind is now in overdrive.

I'm thinking about what I'll do with my long hair.

Should I keep my piercings?

I should probably try to lose as much weight as I can before July...

I'm going to buy new slacks and long-sleeved crisp polos, lots of polo shirts...proper shoes.

I wish I could be one of the characters I read in books. You know? When something dreadful happens they just go on auto-pilot? I can't do that. I have to think of everything I have to do between now and July.