Year in Review.

the week in between

So its the week between Christmas and New Years. I'm at work unlike most of my friends who have the week off. I'm a bit under the weather with a cold that could still turn for the worst. Its raining like no tomorrow, but this I sort of like. I'm getting nerdier because I've played Halo 2 at work 2xs and I'm starting to like it. There's a hat on my head because I was too lazy to do my hair. I don't really want to be here at Disney today. Last night, I went to bed at 11pm, woke up at 2. I couldn't go back to sleep so I watched First Wives Club from 2-4 and then still couldn't sleep so I then watched Princess Bride from 4-6. I should taken vacation days this week.

Cheers to Holgichen if you are reading this.

another Christmas come and gone.

So I stuffed my face again this holiday season hardcore. The fam really over did it with the food. I just can't help it. There is just so much food and I think somewhere deep inside I feel like I have to try it all because I may never get the chance to again. Lame, I know. Stupid, I know. But its all oh so good. I believe at last count there were 16 different entrees on the dining room table and thats not even counting dessert.

The fun all started when my huge extended family got together at my grandma's house around 2pm Christmas Day. After a round of familial gluttony and then another round, it was all about the liquor. Now they all don't drink that much, so I was pretty surprised when Aunt #1 busted out shots of some fruit liquor for all to have. The karaoke machine then got busted out and it was the beginning of the end. I knew Aunt #2 was lit like a tree when she sang her song giggling between words while her iPod was affixed to her ears. Aunt #2 was done when I noticed she was doing interpretive ballet to She Bangs and every song there after. Aunt #3 joined her soon after. After a few too many hours doing the singing thing, my family turned their attention to a bit of dancing. It got pretty crazy. I'm not sure if its genetic because everyone seemed to have a dance moved very similiar to a flapping chicken wing. Can anyone of my friends tell me if I dance that way? It would be nice to know. I'd have to say the final kicker was when about 90% of the family was being led in dance by my flamingly gay teen cousin to a song called Spaghetti as they all gyrated up and down in the living room. The whole night was alot of laughing, making fun of each other, and just loving each other's company. I think the meaning of "reserved" just flies out the window when we are together. I love my family and I love that we can just let it all hang out. And they let it all HANG OUT!

On this very Merry Christmas I'd like to welcome TiVo to the family. 

Feliz Navidad all! I hope you have a great one with your family and friends.  

your mama she's so pretty.

The things you learn at a work party. Apparently this is a little ditty that a colleague of mine would sing as a child in Oklahoma. By nights end...this became the song of the evening.

Your mama she's so pretty.
She got meatballs on her titties.
She got scrambled eggs between her legs.
Your mama she's so pretty.

I brought her to a party.
She turned around and farted.
I asked her why she did it.
So she pulled down her pants and schited.

Anyone got anything good?

Simbang Gabi old skool stylee

This morning I woke up at 4:45am to take part in an old Filipino Christmas time Tradition called Simbang Gabi.

Simbang Gabi was adopted from the Catholic Misa de Gallo, which literally means mass of the rooster, to indicate it is held at dawn when the rooster crows. It is a traditional nine-day novena of Masses, which begins on Dec. 16 and ends on Dec. 24, in preparation for Christmas. This uniquely Filipino custom dates back nearly 500 years. Originally these set of masses were intended as a novena for the bountiful harvest of the next year. The masses were set at 4am so farmers could come to mass before working their fields. Soon it became an annual tradition.

Because there was no electricity to see in the early morn, the church bells would ring to notify the villagers that mass would soon start and the community would light parols to light the way to church. THESE LANTERNS WITH THEIR 5 POINTED STAR REPRESENT THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM THAT LED THE 3 WISE MEN TO THE MANGER THAT HELD THE BABY JESUS. Parols have since become symbols of a truly filipino Christmas.

After the mass, churchgoers would typically join together to eat pilipino snacks like puto bumbong, kutchinta or puto. Coffee and hot chocolate would be made to warm the body from the early morning cold. The atmosphere is truly festive with christmas carols sung and fellowship happening all around.

Although I'm terribly tired, I'm glad I made the effort to experience the tradition here in LA. As a pilipino american I hope I can adhere to some of the traditions that are so very pilipino and not forget them when I have a family of my own. To ease up on us here in the states, St. Gen's Church has made the masses at 5:30am instead of the traditional 4am. But I think you'd agree 5:30 is still a bit early. That being said there is no way I can get up everyday at 4:45 to go to mass, but I do think I will make the effort a couple of more times.

Cant really see them but Midnight Movies are in there in the darkness. Good show but short. But I guess thats what you get for $11 in a small venue. I'm impressed when any lead can sing and drum at the same time. Phil Collin's be warned..this girl is good. She kinda looked like Parker Posey in a way. Am I crazy? Maybe I had one too many beers. I'd go to the Silverlake Lounge again. Danke Schoen to those who came along.  

Gotta go in this.

So my friend G.House put this picture up on his blog. I find it troubling that there is no toilet paper in close vicinity, but I digress. Its of a toilet in China where he now resides for the time being. To quote him "Traditional Chinese toilets here are like holes in the floor. Not necessarily rugged, I've been to some decent places with them. Porcelain and all that. But it's just not raised above the floor. So... you gotta do what you gotta do. Build up the quadraceps and that shin muscle and I suppose it becomes natural."

I have to say it does come pretty naturally. I've partook of such a toilet in the past, but not in China. I think I was probably in the Philippines. At first its a little disconcerting just because when you squat your not quite sure where you are actually gonna hit. Plus, there's the gusts of air that seem to come out of nowhere. I don't really want to think about where they come from. But once you get into the swing of things, it makes the public restroom experience much more enjoyable. Plus...being a woman there is no longer the hassle of prepping the toilet. Unless you are a hoverer, women typically smother the toilet seat in toilet paper and seat covers. You just don't want to touch anything you don't have to. Wasteful yes, but almost hygenic--very much so.

no more oldies...

After a long couple month stint of listening to the Carpenters, Bread, Todd Rungren, Leo Sayer and other such famously 70s poppy balladeers(I was in that mood, no explanation necessary)...I'm finally back into the modern day music fold.

So happily I say that I am finally going to a show this thursday at the Silverlake Lounge to check out Midnight Movies. I've liked what I've heard so far...so lets hope for a good show. Its only $11. I've never been to the Silverlake Lounge but from what I've heard its teeny, its divey, smaller than the Echo or Spaceland. I think Ill like it.

MIDNIGHT MOVIES"Spacey, sexy, nihilistically psychedelic, this is an art-rock band at arrogant ease at both ends of the hyphenate. MM's not so much gloomy or gothic as self-consciously providing LA with a score worthy of the big horror movie we're all living through. The discovery of the year and goddamned near the best thing ever to arrive in my pouch." (Mean Street)

no more oldies.. 

style? Me?

"You guys have so much style!".

This is what the cashier girl at Hollywood Video said to me and my friend Jon. I was kinda left in a Robert DeNiro moment and wondering "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me?" Seriously no one has ever said that to me. Granted, I think Jon was in way more stylish clothing than me but the comment was directed at the 2 of us. I would never call myself as stylish hip person but at the same time my style is not stuck in the 90s wearing flannels and scrunchie buns. I don't think she was mocking us either. I mean she preceded the comment by admiring jon's shirt and complementing my purse. So for now...I'm going to bask in the glow of being called a fashionista by the Hollywood Video girl because it will never happen again :$

Where do you fall on the Christmas List?

I kept telling myself that I would do all my Christmas Shopping before December. Did I do any? Not. The mall is a freakin' nightmare in december and the closer we get to the 25th the worse it gets. I know I'm not telling any of you anything that you don't know already, but schit, I'm screwed. But its good to go into the mall battlefield prepared. You should have a christmas list on hand. I have a sort of finished christmas list with all the people I need to buy gifts for. And looking at the list it seems a bit too long. Well longer than I'd like it to be. The people on my list are not the easiest people to shop for either. In general the people that you have in your list fall into certain categories. First and best part of the list are the people that actually mean something to you, so you want to get them something that is well thought out because you care. Its these gifts that will take more time and energy to purchase. Then you have the people that you know are going to give you gifts but ordinarily you would never give them a gift in a return. You now have to have a gift ready to give them or else you look like an unreciprocal punk. Next you have the people on the list that I like to call the sorry receivers. They get very generic gifts like frames, mugs or even paper weights. By and large, co-workers get these. By receiving a gift like this it is blatantly obvious that you don't really like this person and they mean nothing to you. And lastly you have the"just in cases". Usually these people get regifts. I usually wrap a couple of things from last years Christmas and have them on standby. There are usually one or two people out there that are nice enough to give you something and you have nothing in return to give them. This is where the regifts come in handy.

So...I hope you all fall in the good part of the list.

channeling your inner manilow.

So it was my dad's birthday yesterday. I debated long and hard as to what to get him for his 67th year. It was either go with the Tivo or go with a Karaoke machine. I chose the karaoke machine and I chose correctly. The man was so cute. When we got home from his birthday out, he proceeded to sing and sing and sing til midnight. Now mind you, my dad is usually an early sleeper. So it was really neat to see him so excited to get a present that he was actually excited about. Him and my mom are finding genuine enjoyment singing the standards of their day. I'm not going to lie though, I really dig it too. I found myself singing on it for about an hour straight tonight. haha. Watch out American Idol!!