queen vic

Living in a foreign land makes you think of ways on how to make it bearable. One approach is to make it feel like home. Or something remotely like that, no matter how undesirable it may be.

My friend here who, eventually became my roomate, found this establishment called Queen Vic. It's an acoustic bar a few blocks from where we work. In our frequent visits there, (frequent is.. well, frequent) we have made friends with the staff, specially the band. A duo of telented musician and singer. I understand now what the theme from "CHEERS" meant. When we go there, everybody knows our name and, honestly, it feels nice to be acknowledged by the performers and be called their friends.

Sadly, they closed a week ago. They were demolishing the building they occupy and they were forced to go home. Some of the bar staff stayed and were promised a relocation. The performers weren't though. They said goodbye to us through text.

Now everytime I hear songs they used to play, I can't help but feel bummed out. They used to sing them for us. Literally. It sounds a little silly to be sad about something like this but we both do. It sometimes feels good to be welcomed in a place where a lot of people also go to and be treated differently.

Arla and Josh, I know we'll meet again. Thank you for all the MYMPs and Nina's you dedicated to us. You made us feel at home in this difficult place. Most of all, thank you for being our friend.

dream, dream, dream..

Dreamless sleep. That's usually what I have. That's why I'm always in a different "waking" mood when I dreams. But the past couple of days I've been having dreams. Weird ones. I know what you're thinking - they usually are. But some dreams are reflected in some day to day activities or past experiences you had. But mine are beyond those. I wish I can describe one for you but, sadly, I only have bits and pieces of them. Although, I can say that they have a common theme - butterflies in the stomach. It has been a while since I had those in a conscious state. I guess the last time I had them was when I saw my girlfriend come out from the arrival door at the airport when she came here. I can't remember when I was more excited to see her than that. Sadly, that may not happen again. She went home for a chance to work in another, greener country than where I am. It broke my heart but I had to respect her decision. I went to hell and back to get her here and I made it known to her that I'd do it again if she wants to come back here. She may not though. I was lost after that thought sinked in me. Guess I'm not as strong as I thought. I'm re-aligning my priorities to fit that fate.

Today is our 35th-month anniversary and in a month, we'll be 3 years. A solid foundation you might say. I plan to settle down. Yes, I am. Although, there are times in the day that I'm thinking about our relationship. If I was too giving. If I'm patterning my life to fit hers. Not ours. If I am so numbly afraid to screw it up and lose her. Hell and back... hmm. It may as well be my seasonal trip.

Dreams. Butterflies in the stomach. Airport. Settling down. Hell and back.

Life.

irony

Probably one of my most favorite words.

A very, very good friend of mine in the philippines suffered head injury today and is now in the ICU as we speak. Kiko and his wife, together with 2 friends were in a car accident this morning. We were inseperable for a while, even before he met his wife. I was supposedly the best man in his wedding if I wasn't scheduled to fly here. I just talked to him 2 days ago and he was so happy to hear from me. I miss him and he's one of the reasons I want to come back home. His wife is recovering now, thank God. Please pray for them.

Around 5:15 this afternoon, I was on my way to work with my roommate and it got to the point where I was telling him a story about kiko and me in a car and we checked how fast it can go. It was still his old car. His first car. I mentioned how scared and thrilled we were back then. 45 minutes later, I heard the news.

But the accident and me telling that story was pure coincidence.

The ironic part is - he's the only one who still reads this blog.

I'm calm now...

In lieu of the same topic, there's a song on captain barbell that struck me. The melody is nice and slow and so are the words. This seldom happens. Anyway, I used the power I have on my fingertips (work) and searched for the song. I got it like 2 weeks ago but I had to memorize it coz I rummaged the net and didn't find the lyrics for it. I did it the old fashioned way.

So, without further ado, here it is... (the bolded line is my favorite)

Sana
Shamrock
(Captain Barbell Love theme)

I
Langit na muli
Sa sandaling makita ang kislap ng iyong ngiti
May pag-asa kaya
Kung aking sasabihin ng laman ng damdamin

Refrain:
Pinipilit mang pigilin na ika'y aking isipin
Wala na yatang magagawa

Chorus:
Sana'y hindi ipagkait sa akin ang sandali
Na masilayan ka at marinig man lang ang tinig
Laging bukas ang puso ko upang ibigin ka
Laging wagas ang aking pagtingin at aking pagsinta

II
Pinapangarap ka
Tinatanaw sa ulap ang iyong mga mata
Dinarasal kita
Hinihiling na sana ay lagi kang masaya

Pinipilit mang pigilin na ika'y aking isipin
Wala na yatang magagawa

Sana'y hindi ipagkait sa akin ang sandali
Na masilayan ka at marinig man lang ang tinig
Laging bukas ang puso ko upang ibigin ka
Laging wagas ang aking pagtingin at aking pagsinta

(Repeat Refrain)

(Repeat Chorus)

Shut it!

I still am watching Captain Barbell on a daily basis coz I feel connected to the people back home. Because in a very small way, I feel I'm at home...

Okay, fine! I like watching it alright? You happy? But seriously, I do feel those things too. I know it has smallville written all over it but I still like it. I think my parents like it too. So everyone who depicts this show, SHUT IT! You know, just because you watched smallville doesn't give you the right to depreciate CB. Have your parents watched smallville? You think they would not have enjoyed it if they did? Now they have a chance to watch something like it. And even understand it better coz its modified for Filipino taste. It's just the same for people who commented on the English movies that were "tagalized". Shame on you! Who paid for your education for you to learn english? Who worked with sweat and blood for you to finish school? And now that some people made something that YOU seen and liked before, available and suitable to the masses, you depict it? Try to think before you start showing off how cool you are. Look at your chilhood photo album before you flaunt your superiority you don't even deserve.

3 - 0

I almost forgot. Congratulations Penalosa, Jaca and Pacman for again, giving our country bragging rights. hehehe. Pat on the back for you guys!

book high

My True Love Hath My Heart

My true Love hath my heart, and I have his,
By just exchange one for the other given:
I hold his dear, and mine he cannot miss;
There never was a better bargain driven.
His heart in me keeps me and him in one,
My heart in him his thoughts and senses guides:
He loves my heart, for once it was his own’
I cherish his because in me it bides.
His heart his wound received from my sight,
My heart was wounded with his wounded heart;
For as from me, on him his hurt did light.
So still methought in me his hurt did smart.
Both, equal hurt, in this change sought our bliss:
My true Love hath my heart, and I have his.

Ahh... Sir Phillip Sidney. One of the world's most romantic poet. He's more of an underground sort of poet for his works were under-appreciated in his time. The 1500s we're already ruled by the mainstreams. This particular poem was originally sung by a young woman to a man.

My love for poetry has always been obscured by the things that currently occupy me. Like music, fiction, bars and what not. But it's been intact for years and it ushers in when the opportunity arises. Like moments ago - there's this book that a friend lent me about 6 or 7 years ago.It's a book about the last 100 year's best romantic poems. It blew me away. I was literally flying with their words. Eventually I had to return it. Fast forward to the present, I received word a few months ago that it was thrown away or burned or murdered in it's prime. Eventhough I haven't thought about it for years, it still crushed me. I admitted to the owner that I almost brazenly asked to have it when I still have it. She, in turn, thought of giving it to me. Talk about irony huh?

Now, today, around 6 PM dubai time, she sent me a message with the poem above that she FOUND tha book. Imagine my relief. So, I have the chance of having that book again. Go back in time where I was young-er and thought nothing but romance, love and sentimentality. I will LIVE again. (evil laugh here)

That's all I got today boys and girls. I'll catch you again in a few days. God bless and stay in-love!