Ooops I Did It Again...

Mmmmm.
I was mumbling while I was fumbling for my phone which is ringing somewhere in the vicinity of my head.
It’s three-thirty in the morning and Isnit is trying to give me a wake up call. Yeah, we have a date on-game. So I crawled out of bed and blinking back sleep, tried to find my slippers in the dark by the means of my feet. And all it grasp was a hanger.
Damn, one of my sisters kick my slippers under my bed or theirs again. After finding my glass slippers, I went down the stairs and headed towards the computer room. And to my surprise I found the lights where open and I could also hear the subtle whirring of the PC.
“What the freak are you doing?!”, I asked my brother.
“Can’t sleep. Got hungry.” He answered in his usual laconic way.
“Well, Isnit is waiting for me.”
“Ok.”
“Move.”
“Fix the bots first.”
I just gave a sigh.
While fixing the bots I tried to give a private message to AEP. But alas he wasn’t online. Then I heard my cp announcing an incoming message:
Isnit~ Lag ba talaga ng sobra or ako lang? D kc me galaw. San u? Pakshet nag hang ang pc! Naakupoo! Nag auto shut down na! Waaa!! Doomed na me!
“Anu yan? Nagtetext sya habang nangyayari lahat yan?”, my brother asked.
“Seems so.”
So I told Alain that I’ll be going back to bed.
About eight in the morning I heard Alain moving around the room, who bunked down on the bed on my left and got ready to sleep. So I got up and went down and checked on our minions. Yen was already up and watching some Jude Law movie on Cinemax.
Sitting on the counter top I watched it too. Halfway through it Nana came down, went straight to the informal dining table and started breakfast.
After the movie, I told all the girls that we will be doing some grocery today. Taking Bubuchacha we were all out by the gate when Ate Rose reminded us that we forgot the grocery list.
We just said to forget it. We’ll just do what an unorganized person would do.
Browse.
So heading toward the grocery we had some detours on the way. Withdrew money. Got some gas.
Later we found ourselves by the parking area at Cherry. After finding a good parking spot I told Yen to lock her door because it was semi-stuck even with the automatic lock. She turned off the aircon while I grabbed my cell. Then I got out of the car and remembered I’m wearing a cap, which I removed and dumped it on my seat. Locked my door, which automatically lock every other door, and help Ate Nida with her door.
After crossing to the other side. I had this feeling that I forgot something.
Something vital.
Keys.
Ooops…
“Shit, I forgot the keys.” I told the other four.
“And I think you also forgot to kill the engine.” Na added.
“Did not.” I retorted.
We walked back to the car and found out to my horror that every door is locked and the engine is indeed running.
“Damn me.”
“Amazing, this never happened before to any of us. And now Atching, after six years of driving you…” Yen was chortling.
“Arghhh! Who has extra keys?” I asked.
“I do.” Yen answered with a smile. “It’s in my wallet.”
“Don’t tell me your wallet is in the car too!”
“Nope.”
“Yeay!” I said happily.
“It’s in my bag, my school bag, which is at home.” She continued.
My spirit plummeted.
“Give me a ruler. I could open it up.” Ate Rose confidently said.
“You can?” I aked her showing my doubt about her and an Orion ruler.
“Yeah. I did it once with your mom’s car…”
I suddenly had a quick vision of mom’s car.
“Err…”
“Let’s just go to Mr. Quickie and have them looked at it.” Ate Nida advised.
“Yeah, good idea.” I said marching on ahead.
“It’s still closed.” Na said.
“Ask the guard if they know anybody who could open it up.”
And with good cheer the guard told the sweeper the problem… and the lady sweeper was the one who called maintenance and told us that the guy who’ll be opening up the doors will be there in a minute.
Na and Ate Nida that they should go on ahead with the shopping.
Ate Rose , Yen and me waited to the maintenance guy, who came with a steel bar curved like a hook.
After fifteen minutes out there in the sun, the guy got it right and we got the keys. Browse at the food. Haggle over which is inexpensive. Looking the other way, when we where at the desert aisle. And paying it all with Nana’s credit card.
“We bought more than a cart of food. Anu tayo? Patay gutom?” Nana asked.
After paying for the grocery, me and Na bought Nilupak. Ate Nida bought Suman. And Yen bought herself a corn in a cup.
Then we accompanied the guy who pushes our grocery to the car. Gave him a tip. And drove off. Bought coconut juice. Went home. Brought all the groceries inside.
“Hey we are all here. Let’s cook lasagna.” I said.
“Cool.”
So Ate Nida and Nana sliced the hotdogs. Alain peeled the onions and garlic. Ate Rose brought some ingredients that we forgot to buy at the grocery. I was cooking the pasta. And Yen, as usual, is taking pictures herself.
While cooking, we had some signs of fluctuations coming and going.
“Atching, the pc keeps on rebooting.” Alain told me when he found me in the dirty kitchen.
“Turn it off. Seems we are having a power failure again.” I told him trying to give my whole concentration on my pasta.
Later. Al Dente!
And Ate Nida just was just finished cooking the sauce at the house kitchen.
So we arranged the lasagna’s layers and put it in the oven.
“Tong-its!!!” Ate Nida fairly screamed in her excitement to play.
“Yeah!” Yen and Na answered at the same time.
So while they were playing cards, I went to the computer and opened it but every time I got to the botting section our electricity will fluctuate thus rebooting our pc for the third time, a time where I gave up.
“The circuit breaker broke again.” I told the lot.
I got three unconcerned nods from the gambling table.
“This sucks.”
Again, three unconcerned nods.
“Ate Rose! Your cellphone is sucking all the power we have!”
“Hah!” she retorted.
“I’m bored.” While trying on the microwave which keeps on dying because it was fluctuating.
Then the phone rang.
It was dad. He was asking if where we will be eating tonight. I told him that we just cooked lasagna. He said he’s already on the diversion road. I told him to hurry up. He told me he will be still going to Caloocan. I told him that about the electricity. He told me that he shall call an electrician. I told him we should watch a movie.
An hour later he arrived bringing foods. Then ordered the gamblers to stop playing and get dress because we will be watching a movie.
We watched The Longest Yard.
Later when we got home, I saw that only the living room lights was on.
After entering the house I saw the TV was on.
“Ate Rose! Is the electricity OK?”, I shouted.
Getting no answer, I went to the microwave and turned it on, to find the answer to my question.
Then the whole house had a black out.
Ooops…

Choco Ate

“Nana. Wake up.” I tapped Nana’s foot. “We need to get ready, it’s seven already.”
It’s Green Hills/ Shopping day.
Today is the day where I shall buy a peasant skirt and top.
My dream shall be fulfilled!
At exactly eight, Raymund came. Bringing with him our chocolate experiment.
Past nine we fetched Isnit by his house. Then we went to Capitol Medical Hospital to accompany Nana with her physical examination. Which we found out when we got there that they don’t do physical examination during weekends.
Yeay, more time for shopping.
By ten we arrived in GH.
Isnit bought some boxer shorts in blue and orange colors. And one in a FEU design.
Go Tamaraws!
Raymund bought wood bracelets.
Nana bought a mini knife for Alain as a birthday present.
I bought a peasant skirt and top which where I was almost strangled by my companions.
Then we went to Circle C to buy Zagu. Isnit bought the complete Lost DVD season 1. I bought Nilupak. Raymund bought Shawarma. Nana bought a dark glasses.
Then we got home and started making chocolate.
It was awesome. Isnit was obsessed with his chocolate Easter Bunnies that I tried to take most of the chocolates and put it in different molders before he could complete his rabbits. Then later the whole house pig out on all the chocolate. I ate so many that I feel nauseous.
Even looking at a chocolate bar in a magazine ad makes me sick.
Then we decided to watch The Skeleton Key, which Isnit left by the middle part because Tita Ini was summoning him. After Isnit left, I slept through most of the movie.
And it was raining.
Then Raymund wanted to watch another movie so we watched Cursed. I have a pounding headache that I also slept through the movie. But hell, I already watched that movie four times now within a month. Then after that the rains wasn’t letting up, so Raymund wanted to watch Seed of Chucky. I told him that I just watched it once so yeah I’m go in watching it again.
I love Chucky.
Then after that Raymund said that he really must be going. So walking him to the gate, we said goodbye.
Then Roy called and asked me to accompany him to Eastwood. All expenses paid. He’ll even pay for my gas. But I told him that I’ll join him if we take a taxi… because I have a pounding headache that seems to have to do something with my eyes. And driving at night is such a strain to my eyes. After that we decided that he should go alone.
After giving him my best in his boy hunting, I called Nana.
I drove her to the hospital.
Then me and Ate Rose went back home talking about how piggish we are.

Skating Through

I was rollerblading around our village this afternoon.
I accompanied Ate Nida and Ate Rose in getting some of our DVD at Ate Nida’s house. Between Ate Nida’s house and ours, they stopped and bought some vegetables at our neighbor's place. I decided to go ahead of them... when I saw Ronald.
I turned around and went back to where Ate where buying some of her vegetables.
And started praying to a higher power that he’ll go straight home and try not to have any small talk with me.
Yes, he went straight home.
Unfortunately, I didn’t know that he lives right where Ate Nida is buying her vegetables.
At the corner of my eye, I could see him staring at me while walking towards me.
Being pummeled since birth to be courteous and polite, I faced him and gave a nod of greeting.
Still staring at me, he keeps on walking.
And tripped at the water drainage.
“Careful.” I said.
Still staring, he keep on walking, and bump his head on the wood which holds the tarpaulin.
Ouch.
I grimaced.
“Nice skates.” He commented, while scratching his head.
“Thanks. I’m trying to get the hang of it.” I said.
“Hey, Ronald!” Ate Rose said in a very loud voice, “You don’t even say hi to me anymore.”
I skated away. Disappear.
Then Ate Nida said that she need to buy something at the other store.
So I again accompanied them, Ate Nida being pregnant.
In about three minutes I saw Ronald again coming my way.
“Here comes Ronald.” I said.
“Why is he coming this way? He never comes this way.” Ate Nida said.
“Hello.” He said when he reached us.
“What are you doing here? You never go this way, you always go the other way around” Ate Nida asked.
“I need to buy something here too.” He answered.
“Right.” Ate Nida said.
“So, this is what love feels like.” He said. “You get excited without any reason as long as you see her.”
There is something phenomenally wrong with this man.
“Do you want me to smack you?” Ate Nida challenged.
“Okay. Let’s go home Ching. I don’t need to buy anything anymore.” Ate Nida said when she found out that the store doesn’t have the ingredients she needs.
“Oh yeah. Me too,” Ronald said, not even asking the store about his stuff. “I don’t need to buy anything yet.”
I just rolled my eyes and skated away.

Clean Bot

5X!
Weeeee.
That means additional watching my life passed right before my eyes in front of my computer. My siblings told me that I should marry my pc.
Yeah I'm obsessed with it. It took me me more than three hours to clean it the other day.
Well, I decided to clean my Mac.
My Mac being white is such a pain to clean. I actually had to use surgical gloves just not to leave dirt tracks that my fingerprints makes.
And my white iPod too.
And it's white mini speakers.
And my white optical mouse.
And my white pallet.
And the Mac's white cables.
And its huge white adaptor.
And the white cable for the iSight.
And the most taxing was it's white keyboards. I had to take a screw driver and remove each keyboard buttons, wipe it with alchohol, clean beneath it, then put them all back. Since I'm in the zone, I decided to tackle the PC too. But our PC, being black is much better off than my Mac. But the problem is, you can see all the dust and dirt between keyboard buttons. So I took up my mini screwdriver and got to work.
When I reached ground zero with all buttons off... I was aghast.
What is this?
Tar? Dust balls? Hair? Bread crumbs? And lo and behold a couple of moth wings [selling for 5k each ro-wise].
I almost depleted half of our cotton too. And Ate Nida's alchohol.
Now that's what you call commitment.

Zelousy and Obssessions

I'm obsessed.
With Jack Skellington.
I wanna collect hordes of Jack Skellington stuff.
Most of all I hope mom finds what I ordered.
A 16-inch Jack Skellington complete with coffin.
A 'll I've got is a hair chopsticks with Jack's oblong face at the end. And a round pillow with his face on it which is given by my friend Kidong.
I hope Corpse Bride comes out soon.

I want a peasant skirt too.
No. Not just want. It goes beyond that. I need a peasant skirt. Bah! Anything will do. I just wanna have a bohemian outfit when my mode calls for it.
I already have a list of what I have:
::Sporty~ when I'm in a testosterone mode.
::Metal/Rocker~ when I feel antagonistic and rude
::Street Urchin ~ when I feel like my casual self; mostly big shirts and long shorts.
::Girl~ when I feel sexy or thin
::Eccentric/Unique~ when I'm feel fat, or in an undefinite mood.
::Skirts~ when I'm bored
::Bohemian ~ when I feel flighty
::Sexy/daring~ when my hormones gets the better of me.

A Series of Unfortunate Events

I went to Lemon Square today.
To apply.
I went there by jeep. I arrived there by past nine.
The Cipher Solutions [I did a research on the company but I misheard the guard and thought it was cyber and not cipher] was located at the third floor. When I got there there was this two skinny girls at the front desk who asked me if they could help me with something.
Yes. I'm applying for customer care. Then she said something which I wasn't able to catch. Then she look at me questioningly. She talked faster than me on that part.
Trying not to look like an actor who forgot her lines I just said yes. Judging by her expression I choose the right type of answer.
Then she asked me to take a seat.
Taking a sit, I looked around on what could be possible my working environment.
Hmmm. Different colors for each wall. Like in a nursery where you put all the color so that your kid would know the color's name they are facing. And all of it in bold colors and not pastels. Oh my, who was the decorator who picked the colors? I hope he's colorblind so that he has an excuse for his ghastly taste.
Anyway, skinny girl 1, asked me what name do I preferred to be called. Thinking back on the Convergys episode, I said that my real name will do fine. After ten minutes she called me inside and did a preliminary interview. The place was deserted.
Where are all the people?
Then we sat in front of the PC's and the interview started.
Later after answering questions in a mild pace, she told me I passed. She said that I should go back in the lobby [which consist of four uncomfortable chairs] and wait for her supervisor, who will handle my second interview. Who, may I add, she didn't know what time will be coming in.
So I sat there. Sat in a ladylike way. Which lasted for only ten minutes because my ass was getting sore. My bones are hitting the hard seat.
The hell with it, I said. I spread my legs, took a candy, and brought out Garfield's Easy Crossword Puzzles which is the only crossword book that I tried answering out of Khaloy's some twentish crosswords books that he gave to me.
Because it isn't fucking easy.
I mean, what's so easy about this? Some of my brain cells died in the line of duty just so that I could answer this... "_____ got no strings."
Is it Pinochio? Is it something to do with relationship and money?
Come on.
Later, looking at my watch, I discovered I've been there for more than an hour.
And skinny 1 is asking skinny 2, who is surfing her Friendster account, to check about Pinoy Big Brother's new update.
Don't they have any work to do? Any papers to push?
Later a guy, who I wished could be the surpervisor, came in.
After another ten minutes, he called me in. Taking my bag with me he let me sit in a seat facing his. Again, in front of the pc, which led me to think if they have their own offices.
And I also noticed the whiteboard written behind him consist of names and different amounts of dollar signs.
Hmmmm.
Sitting facing each other with no table between us, the interview started. Which is almost the same as the first one.
"Tell me about yourself blah blah blah."
I just droned on with my answer.
Then he sprawled on his seat with his knees a kilometer apart each other. And my knees where between the proximity of it.
Oh my what big balls you have to be sitting like that.
"You have no family?"
Do I resemble one of the Baudelaire orphans? But I explained that I have my siblings, where he cut me off saying that he was asking if I have my "own" family.
I said no.
Then he sat forward in his seat, stared at me and asked me in a meaningful tone, "Single?"
"Yes"
"How fortunate, that means..." he droned off apparently looking for a better choice of word.
"No attachments."
"Yes. That's it." He exclaimed with a snap of his fingers. Then he sat back and spread his knees again, impossibly wider than before.
Then he started to swivel his chair.
Then he told me that I have passed for the third phased interview. He'll be passing my resume to one of the department and they will be calling me sometime tomorrow.
And dropped the unfortunate news.
It seems I have applied in a Telemarketing company.

Body of Christ...

Today was a lazy day.
Woke up late and did nothing special.
Later after lunch we saw that it was kind of windy outside. So we decided to sit inside the gate.
I was talking to Ate Rose when she hailed a guy passing by.
"Ronald!" She waved, "Ronald si Ching. Ching si Ronald."
Giving her a killing look, I said hello. He on the other hand said hello and a lot more, which my brain muted out.
Leaving both of them, I played with Faulkirk.
After their chatting session, I went to Ate Rose and asked her why she did that.
She said it was just a harmless joke.
Yeah, I told her, as harmless as the Tonton joke.
I told her that, she should stop doing that, or else I'll do something so weird that her boyfriend will think that being crazy is contagious.
Later still playing with Faulkirk and talking with Incar who was sitting at our lawn, Ronald came by over. I was petting Faulkirk when he looked at me and said something to me.
Which of course, my ears tuned out again.
Incar giggled.
"What did he say?" I asked Incar.
"He said you're beautiful," She shouted.
"I said you really are beautiful." He said the same time with Incar.
"Is that so? Ok. Thanks." I replied still petting Faulkirk.
Then he keeps on telling me about stuffs. I just nod when there was a break on the conversation, while my mind drifts off.
Later I told him that I need to go in.
Later, still bored, I told Nana and Ate Nida that we should sit outside the gate and enjoy the air. So we were sitting there when there was this two guys who passed twice by us. Nicolo, the four year old child of our neighbor who knows all the capitals of every country ran in front of them, stopping them in their tracks.
Taking this as a sign from above, they introduce themselves and told us that they want to teach us something.
Looking at the book he's holding I asked him, "Dimsum?"
But he started talking about faith and God. The three of us just sat there. Ate Nida on the other hand had some bonding with them, being religous and all.
Ah yes, feel it.
Then Nicolo ran towards the assistant of the guy and hug his right leg.
Aw, isn't that sweet?
Then he bared his teeth and dug it deep unto the leg he's hugging.
Well done kid.
Nobody saw that coming.
I just looked the other way and snickered. Look back at the assistant rubbing his leg and said, "I hope you're vaccinated."

Convey This

My first job interview!
That's what keeps running in my mind over and over again, when I woke up.
I have two more hours to spare before I leave. So, I took my sweet time in everything. Trying for a casual office type of outfit I wore a black slacks, my top was a one-piece that looks like a white polo with a three-fourths topping it, and not to look like an intimidating giant I wore my flat black Nine West doll shoes. And put all my nicessities [papers, two pens, candy, napkin, and a Christina Dodd book] on my black sling bag. Trying not to look like a student, I biasedly halfed my hair and pulled it back at my nape and put some hair cream on it to avoid frizz when I get to the jeep later on.
I also took out my tongue ring.
Then I was already dressed with another hour to spare. Talk about being excited.
Later Ivy came to fetch Nana, Grace and Anne to play badminton at their subdivision court at Saint Charbel. I came along with them. They dropped me off at St James, where I need to get a jeep going to UP.
Then blasted jeep that I rode on was doing more like a crawl, rather than the usual speed which you need to go to second gear.
Every stop possile or impossible, the driver tries to get riders. And I haven't even trecked the half of Tandang Sora.
Later, I went down at Commonwealth where I took a FX. In ten minutes I found myself walking towards the entrance of Convergys. I was fourty minutes early than my scheduled appointment which is ten-thirty.
I went to the receptionist's table, who may I say doesn't speak good English, and gave my name and my ID. Sat down at the lounge that look more like a classroom to me and took out my book and read. It was a quiet environment.
It was already ten-thirty and my interviewer haven't shown yet.
And the guy behind me started singing at the silence.
Fifteen minutes later our interviewer, Joy, called our names. We went inside a small room where we squeezed ourselves. There were six of us. Girls, except for the guy who was singing at the reception room who was seated at my left.
The interviewer excused herself for a moment and left the room. The moment the door closed the other four girls started talking on how tense and nervous they are. It seems the only people relaxed on the room was me and the guy, who complained that he was cold. I told him that at the least he has his jacket while I don't have one.
After a couple of minute, Joy came back.
She introduced herself and started the interview with Maricel, who stammers a lot. Poor thing. She's really scared.
Then next one to be called was the guy. He's speaking skills are good. He didn't stop and stammer. He spoke in a clear and quick sentences.
Next was the other one who's still studying, Rochelle, twenty three. She keeps on saying ummm and she has a lot of hand gestures especially the one where she puts her hand on her heart as if on a plea.
Next one was the girl beside me who took up four courses. And is still studying. She does a lot of aahhhsss.
By then I was getting bored. The table was made of clear glass. I noticed that the three girls except for me and Maricell where all wearing those killer pointed shoes. The one was wearing a conventional black one, the other one was wearing a black with beads and the last one was a Hindu design with more beads than you can count.
What's with the shoes?
Then the next one called was me. Yeah.
Joy asked what name do I prefered to be called.
Ching.
Why Ching?
So I explained. After my explaination, the other interviewees and Joy chuckled.
"What?", I asked them, chuckling too. "Do I speak very fast?".
At least after that the tension on the air lighten up.
But my interview only lasted for four minutes. The others lasted for eight minutes.
I asked myself if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
Then the last one was Keren Hope. She just quit her last job last night which was a call center too in Makati. She resigned, because the guy who was courting her at the office for a long time secretly have a kid.
She just found out this week.
So she slapped his faced and resigned. Good for her.
But for someone who worked for a call center for ten months... the guy can speak way better than her.
Then the interview ended. It was already eleven-thirty. We were ordered to come back by twelve thirty for a test.
So the five of us [excluding Maricel] went down and ate at Rice Box. We had a little get-to-know-each-other. Rochelle keep telling us stories of people we don't know. And her boyfriend, was the bald guy riding on the jeep at the "Coke ko to" Coca-Cola commercial.
The other girl is getting married this Friday.
To another woman.
Which will cost five grand.
Twleve-twenty. We took the elevator and went to the lobby and waited for further instructions. Keren then asked me if I have a boyfriend. It seems to me she's still pretty bummed about that guy at her office. It also seems she's asking if what she did was the right thing. Then, we were ordered to go up on the third floor. There where like twentyfive of us.
Then they they let us choose a booth.
Wow nice computer.
But then they gave us a questionare and an answer sheet.
How outdated.
Then one of the candidate forgot to bring a pen. Sheesh. And I'm the only one with an extra one.
Ha! Grade Two. Girl Scout. St. James of Quezon City.
Then reading over the questionaire I found out it was all technical questions. Is this right? I applied for Customer Care.
But, oh well. Breezing through the exam I put my pen down and munch a couple of Kendis.
Later, the "Examinator" came in and took our sheets away saying she'll be back with the results. So me and my new found friends just sat there and chatted. Were we went back to the topic of Keren and her officemate. Our guy friend is playing Devil's Adovocate were he keeps on telling her that maybe the guy she left is now contemplating death. She said that yeah that may be so.
I just rolled my eyes.
After half an hour Joy came back with some papers that were folded and stapled.
She said that the people she will be calling should get the papers she's holding and proceed to the reception desk. The second one to be called was my guy friend. I was fourth.
I was then thinking if we got laid off. Then after that there were bunch of people coming right behind me. While we were waiting for the elevator, someone from behind me was singing Sandara's "In or out?".
Opening the letter I told her were out.
Ahhh the bitter taste of defeat.
Then Maricel came out too. I said to her that half of our batched were eliminated.
Then the elevator gave it's customary ping.
We all squeezed ourselves into it. Right after the elevator doors closed, the guy on the middle of the lift, opened his letter and sang a woeful My Way by Frank Sinatra.
We all laughed.
I went back to the receptionist and got my ID back. Me and Maricel trecked together to the other side of the highway, drizzle and all.
Then saying our goodbyes, I climbed up the jeep that will take me to Marcos Highway.
What a bummer my shoes are all muddy.
Then I remembered the other three who made it.
I should have worn a pair of pointed shoes too!