184 (including this) Entries.
Three years.
Through all the weird stuff that I've been through and survived.

I'm saying goodbye to my LJ blog (and along with it is my Multiply blog, I guess).

No, there no chance in earth that I'll stop blogging. I'll still blog, but I think I finally found the website/blog that I can finally call my "own" here in the world wide web. ^^

New Website/Blog. 

Oh, and pardon the layout. I won't have a lot of time to edit it for the next several months (most probably a year), and no, it's not my emo website. It just so happens that I really like how "Mopish Poetry" sounds.

For those of you who live in Winnipeg, you probably have used Route 90 (Inkster Blvd?), especially if you're from the NW end of town. You probably know that it's a really busy highway with vehicles going 70km/h.

I checked Winnipegtransit.com earlier today, right after I woke up at 2pm (I slept around 7am watching Avatar: The Last Air Bender), to see what options I have to go to work. Suprisingly, Bus 28 (an express service) is available from our house to Downtown. So I went, "Meh, might as well try this route because I don't feel like leaving 1.5 hours before my shift."

So off I went.

This seemingly bright and novel idea to get to work faster caused me to experience my whole life flashing right before my eyes.

I walked along Lucas Ave towards the bus stop at Inkster to wait for the 28 bus; before I got there, it felt like I had to run across a stampede of elephants. ~.~ As I watched the cars, SUVs, trailer trucks, and other types of trucks pass by, I thought I wasn't going to make it across the other side. Why didn't I turn around to ride the usual bus? Because I will be late and I'd still have to walk about 15 minutes to get to the regular bus stop!

Oh the humanity! Never again! Never never never again will I put my life in danger to get to work faster. :S It's not worth it to dodge cars running 70km/h along the freeway. And what I don't understand is why would they put a bus stop over there when there is clearly no pedestrian lane? >_< There were about 2 people when I boarded the bus, which was 2 minutes early. 

If you haven't tried crossing Route 90 or catching the 28, DO NOT BOTHER. I don't recommend it. X_X

On the bright side, I think I know why there's a lot of crickets dwelling around our lot. We're in a corner lot and behind us is a vast grass field with all sorts of living things. While I was walking, there were more than a handful crickets varieties! >_< While I didn't see any black ones, the ones dwelling in our basement, there are tons of the brown species and I think I saw some green ones. Yulk. ~.~ Aside from dodging vehicles, I don't think I'd like to walk in the midst of creatures that I try to kill everyday. 

I think I can hear them chanting outside. I feel that all the crickets are conspiring against me to have their day of revenge against the cricket terminator. :O

I don't know if it's the mating season or whatnot, but our basement has been semi-infested with crickets. -_- It's not like they're damaging anything, but it's their constant leg rubbing and cries to get laid that "bugs" me! D: I've tried killing every single one of them that I manage to see and despite all the efforts they're still hanging around. T^T

Methods I've used to kill them:

* Using the Conair hair dryer box: I hit them with the box. It's a pretty big box so it has a lot of coverage.
* Using the packaging box used for my iTouch. It's a smaller box, but it's handier than the Conair box.
* Using the Conair hair dryer. I set it on max heat and pointed it at one of the darn things til its insides burst out of its little thorax. Gross? It felt awesome! Kinda reminded me that time back home when I caught a beetle in my room and sadistically cut off all its limbs and hammered its body afterwards.

I don't know what to do with them, anymore! D:

The other night, I think a couple of them were doing "it" and one of them almost sounded as if it's moaning. ~.~ Seriously, these crickets should quit make-shifting my room into some kind of motel! T^T PL0X!
 

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Okies, so I haven't written anything on my blog and I'm not sure why, I just felt that things lately have been so trivial. But honestly, things haven't been as trivial as I want them to seem to be.

What have I been doing during the summer?

Well, basically, I'm just going to work doing the night shift and bugging people to renew their subscriptions (with the bonus of taking their credit card numbers against their will because I've been a very bad girl). Aside from that, nothing really has been interesting at work. I barely saw my friends (or so I feel) because we seem to have been coming to work at different time shifts.

Moving on... We moved to our new home in July. Our possession date was the 28th of July but reality-wise, we moved in around the 30th. We love our new home, although there are some things that's best left unsaid, but to sum it up we really hate the previous owners. If you happen to meet a couple named Anthony and Chona Gonzales, can you tell them for me that they can rot in hell? And that's from the bottom of my kind heart. *sadistic/sarcastic smile*
Other than minor disappointments (well some are really major), we still love our home and we're starting to grow our roots. I walk about 7-10 minutes (depending on how much I indulge on the transition powers of my photochromic lenses) from our house to the bus stop. It's pretty far, but I'm getting used to it. Sunblock pl0x!
There's still some work to be done. We still haven't really indulged into buying the sofa set for the living room on the main floor, so til then, people who've been itching to see our house, please do wait til near the end of the year! LOL! (this is to my reach friends)

Hmmm.... Other stuff.... I've completely moved on from Lunia! Hurray!!! Minor detail, but seriously...take it from someone who knows. Online gaming addiction is a bad choice. I regret the 2 years I've wilted away in that game, along with the $300+ I spent on cash items which could have easily gone to an iPhone. Lol. But it's been a good experience because now I know that gaming isn't for me. Also, it was a good vent for the stress and depression for the past 2 years or so. Now, I'm happier.

Lastly, another thing I've been busy with is the Oral History Project and Exhibit that ANAK (together with Manitoba Museum and the Oral History Centre at the University of Winnipeg) is doing. I won't be doing the interviews, but I'm in charge of the tech and transcribing. I'm really looking forward to it and it's a really good experience as to my growth here in Canada. I know that I am Filipino, but at the same time I should realize that I am also Canadian. Change is always good and I'm really excited for this project.
The research team will be doing oral interviews with the 1st, 1.5, and 2nd generation of Filipinos here in Winnipeg. The first generation would be the first wave of immigrants to Canada. 1.5 would be children who were born in the Philippines but were raised in Canada. And the 2nd generation comprises of Canadian-born Filipinos. It will be so cool listening to those stories! Imagine that!
After all the interviews and history research are done, we'll be having an exhibit at the Manitoba Museum mid of next year. What we aim for is to showcase that we, as migrated people, have a history to preserve and that we want the future generations to know why we're here. There's more to a people's culture than the dances and the music and the food that you see at Folklorama every year. There's so much much to a culture that what's usually showcased and portrayed.

So I guess, that's everything for now. Oh, I forgot.... I've been nominated for the public relations position for the ANAK executive committee, but since I wasn't there I didn't know I am supposed to be there. But yea.... Well, I'm but a mere minion of Ate Darlyne, but I stepped up to the challenge because I think I really need it, and like Ate Dar always said: change is good. I'm hoping to learn lots from her because she's really one of those young Filipino women that I look up to.

School will start on Sept 9! Will be swinging by UofM on Friday (right after I go with Jem to UofW).

I ordered a Macbook pro 13.3" at the Apple Store online, and I'm still waiting for the shipment to come in. I'm excited (really) but the excitement is starting to get dampened because the shipment hasn't arrived yet! >_< And aside from the seemingly delayed shipment, my credit card balance skyrocketed and I have to put the next 3 months' paycheque to my bills. =X But I don't regret it, I buy good investment (or so I think). Anne's been sharing investment stuff back home in the Philippines. And I'm seriously thinking about it because I really do want to go back someday and live there. Two years countdown!

A burst of “Yes! Yes! Yes!” with matching arm gestures escaped me when I called the Faculty of Arts regarding my program check. Apparently, they decided to credit me for my 6-credit-hour Anthropology course which I took at UW. Having this done, the advisor said that I only need the following credit hours to finish my degree:

+18 English courses (strictly my major; I think I heard this wrong coz the numbers don’t make sense when I calculate them)
+12 Anthropology courses (my minor)
+15 Elective (6 for Science; 3 for Math)

 

 

( Academic Plan )

 

 

I am relieved because I’ll be able to finish within the next two years. Now, the question remains: my GPA.  

I want to quit my job before the year ends (after I buy all my wants). The work itself isn’t that stressful (seriously, you can’t be stressed when you’re the one asking for the goddam payments the customers miss – usually it’s not there fault), BUT bantay stresses the heck out of me. He’s everywhere with his ever-so-keen ears, ready to eat you when you don’t make the sales. If he can do a better job than me, then go ahead, I’ll give him my goddam position. But nooooooo. He never even tried doing the calls we do. Sigh. If I’m not so strapped with money, I wouldn’t even be there. The factors that keep me there really are my friends and the pay.

 

~~~~~~~~~~

Well, we’re moving on the 28th. I’m really excited! So far, we haven’t packed so much stuff as we would have wanted to. Pretty much, the only thing we’re done with are the books and other minor stuff.

We held our chicken wings night yesterday. This time we went to Players because Ben didn’t feel comfortable going back to Hooters. (Seriously, he swore never to go back to Hooters ever again! haha! talk about conservatism!)

I’m happy that I’ve been able to go out lately. Whenever I go with my friends, it’s always my first time. The Ex, Hooters, Players, etc. Somehow it seems that the past 2 years of my surreal life is finally feeling more like reality. This is my home now. Canada is a home now. Winterpeg is home. And it seems that no matter how much I miss the Philippines, I’d want to stay in Winnipeg as well. Is this finally my “crossing-over” chapter? Is this the series of events in my life wherein I will finally be open-minded AND open-hearted about being a Filipino-Canadian? That there is something else out here that can and will make me happy aside from the possessions, dreams, and friends and loved-ones that I left back home?

Here, it’s easy to buy stuff. True, I have to almost put it on my credit cards, but still, to be able to pay it off in just a couple of pay days is pretty awesome. If I was in the Philippines, I may never be able to afford my computer, my iPod, etc. I would never have gotten photochromic lenses. I would never have been able to go out in the snow. I would never have had the ease of paying my bills online. Speaking of bills, I somewhat feel more grown-up because I can pay my own bills and some of the household bills. I’m not merely a free-lodger courtesy of my parents. If I was home, I won’t be able to feel the same independence similar to what I have now because I have to follow ground-rules my parents would set for me.

There’s so many things to love about this new home, and I am happy that I am finally appreciating it. I know I’ll be able to appreciate it more once I go back to the Philippines. But for now, this therapy is good enough to patch up 2 years worth of depression and hatred towards the whole world. Hehe.

Chicken wings or not, I’m content. The ambiguous, burning questions of “Am I depressed because I don’t go out?” and “Do I not go out because I’m depressed?” are slowly fading out of my system. Finally. It just took me a little longer to realize.

Whenever I feel down and low, I know that it’s just me and not the whole world caving in on me. Hehe!

~~~~~

10 days left before the big move!!!

Five weeks of being Lunia free!

Still things to do:

1. Have my degree plan for a major and a minor approved by my advisor. God, I’m so lazy to call the university!
2. Call Student Aid to freeze my loan.

~~~~~

Things to spend money on (in order):

1. Pay my tuition fees for A.Y. 2009-10.
2. Buy a dSLR camera
3. Buy a Macbook Pro
4. Buy a Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet (Medium)
5. Stuff to put into my room
6. Maybe a couple boxes of contact lenses (still not sure if I really do want to wear these)
7. so on and so forth.

We are moving into our new home a month in advance! Woot!    The previous owners found a place to stay in so they are giving us the opportunity to move in as early as the 15th of the month. I am so excited (and I just can’t hide it)!

I filed my vacation leave from the 20th – the 1st of August. Plenty of time to get used to everything.

Michael Jackson died a week ago. I dunno what the relevance is to me, but I just thought it’s appropriate to acknowledge a great man whose walk on earth has ceased.

I am so broke. I’ve spent so much on so little… And apparently, I’m putting too much emoticons on this blog post.

So, I am gladly accepting alms for people with kind hearts.

~~~~

Things to do before the week ends:

1. Call MTS and Shaw. Would you guys happen to know which provider provides better service in the ‘Peg? I want to switch from MTS kasi namamahalan ako at napapangitan sa service. When I checked Shaw, halos pareho lang rin, pero mas mabilis Internet ng Shaw kesa sa MTS.
What to do? What to do?

2. Finish my degree planning and call my advisor. Btw, I’ll be majoring in English and taking a minor in Anthropology. As much as I want to do a double degree, Anthropology is demanding 60 credit hours for a major! Too much! If I take that I won’t be able to finish my degree by 2011. Sana nga matapos na ako ng 2011. Sige na po please…..

3. Use the stuff we recently bought so as not to feel like we’ve just wasted money. By “we” I mean my sister and me. Use those freaking things every single day! Well right now we’re just using one, but we’ll use the other one as soon as we move.
4. Be pro and not slay Bantay pag nagbigay na sya sa akin ng lingguhang hatol sa trabaho.

My mom (with her passion for dental hygiene) probably started cleaning my first tooth the moment it popped out of my gums. And ever since then, she forced me, (and convinced me) to take of my own teeth.

So, I grew up brushing at least twice a day (was more when I dormed in eLBi). I used manual brushes for most of my early years, til I recently discovered the joy of using a motorized toothbrush.

My mom wasn’t much of a fan of motorized toothbrushes. She said that they’re just all fancy and what not. But lately, I’ve been noticing how I can’t reach my molars so I don’t get to clean them as much. So back in December 2008, I secretly slipped a Crest Spinbrush with the rest of the grocery shopping. Haha! And viola, I’ve loved the brush since.

Now, I don’t know if my mom and sisters are shitting me, or they’re really serious that they (at least once) used my toothbrush out of curiosity….

~~~

June 29:
The Kapatids and ANAKs went to Fun Mountain as the year-end outing. It’s been really fun being with those kids for a school year. These Kapatids bring me closer to home and it’s really rewarding to see them adapt into this new world. And in this outing, Ate Darlyne said I just found a life-long buddy: Kuya Symmone! Haha! He read my status message on MSN (i.e. Nikon D60 or Canon Rebel XS?) and since he’s a budding photographer/artist (take note: he designed and took all the photos for the Filipino Community’s 50th year anniversary in Manitoba), he’s willing to help me out with my photography-related interest and urge.

So now, I am decided on buying Nikon for my first DSLR. I’m leaning towards buying a D60, but it can swing to D40. What won me over is Kuya Symmone. He has invested on buying everything from Nikon and really pointed me at a good direction such as taking into consideration the features, advantages, and resell price of the two brands I was pondering on,  He even invited me to tag along when he has shoots to see what kind of photography I’d want to specialize in. I did tell him though that I don’t plan on going into portraiture because I’d rather photograph inanimate objects than subjective people.  Hehe! Also, he said it will really help me to know someone who knows the brand so well because we can share and whatnot! Perks of purchasing a Nikon!  

~~~

We’re moving in 7.5 weeks! After being in this hellhole of an apartment for 2years+, it’s nice to finally be moving into our own house. The family dynamics changed dramatically. And we’re all really excited moving into our own rooms! Oh the heaven of having my own private room again!

~~~

I’ve just recently found the interest in learning Photoshop. I’m currently using CS2 for the edits. I am not pro, yet! But I want to be good at it. Aja!

For over two years, my prescription glasses which I bought from the Philippines served its purpose well through the ups and downs of my life (exaggerated).

However, everything has a retirement age, and I think my glasses just reached that age.   Well, in all fairness, my glasses usually just last a year when I was still in the Philippines, and this one got the most beating. Imagine being out in the –40C cold of winter! I really am surprised at how my glasses managed the temperature swings.

And since it’s retired, I went to LensCrafters for a new pair. My prescription is now:

OD: Sphere = -6.50; Cylinder = –2.00; Axis = 007
OS: Sphere = –5.00; Cylinder = –2.75; Axis = 167

Ezra said he thinks I can actually pass for a legally blind person. But yea….

Even though this is a first world country, I still like the service Dr. Pagdanganan, my optician/optometrist, gave me back home. He is always nice to me whenever we went to get a pair. Dr. Sewell, the optometrist/ophthalmologist at LensCrafters, was nice and all, but not really. He was doing the test to see which corrective lenses to give me and I told him that his lenses are dirty, so I stick my finger inside the viewfinder to clean it off and he went ballistic (exaggeration), “Don’t stick your finger in there you’re gonna smudge the lens!” I wanted to smirk back at him and quip, “Dr, your lenses are dirty even without my help.” but I just kept quiet. Seriously, don’t they ever clean their equipment? Dr. Pagdanganan’s office is spotless whenever we went there and I even saw him cleaning his lenses ones.

So all in all, I requested to have my new pair of glasses to have transition lenses with anti-glare coating; they also recommended to have the lenses compressed for me. Jack, the sales associate there, said that it’s rare having people with glass lenses. Usually, they just have the plastic ones. My broken pair is made of glasses and it doesn’t feel heavy and it rarely get scratches. I hope the new pair they’ll make me will be as scratch-resistant as this one.

The cost for all the service I had today? $75.00 for the eye exam…. Seriously this is free back home! The glasses totalled to $502.45 after taxes. I was expecting more for the pair because of all the features, but good thing they have a 50% off deal on lenses. The new frames is from Alfred Sung if I remember correctly. It really sucks how my sister’s glasses cost $850.00 at ADL; the only special feature it has is the Crizal lenses. Yea….. The catch with the new pair though is I won’t be able to have it til next week. BLIND!

But the spending didn’t stop at $502.45! I bought my dad a pair of Ray-ban sun glasses because he wasn’t sporting any type of sun protection glasses. So the total spending is…. $655.89! I don’t mind buying my dad the pair. With all the cost for the new house, I’d rather buy him something for himself.

Wow…with that amount I would have been able to buy either a Canon Rebel XS or a NIkon D60 by now! The dSLR can wait until September. ^^

Gawd, I had to skip work on Tuesday coz of the broken glasses….. Hopefully, the old broken pair will hold for the next 2 days of work. My dad used a soldering iron on it for the meantime.

~~~~
On a side-note, I haven’t touched Lunia for 3 weeks now! Woot! They say it takes approximately 3 weeks to break a habit. So I’m on the right track! ^^ I still visit the forum, but I don’t even bother reading all of the posts. I visit my old guild’s forum, but nothing much there as well. I’m happy being able to leave it one step at a time. Two years has been enough for that game, thank you! And the fortune I spent there would have been enough for an iTouch.

We’ve been in this city for 2.75 years, but the family has never been to the Red River Ex. Well, this year, I went twice! 

Both visits were fun, but I really didn’t try all of the rides. If I compare the Ex to Enchanted Kingdom, I’d say that EK’s rides are well maintained and has more variety (concept-wise).

In June 13, I went with Ate Astride, Kuya Ed, Lawrence, and Kenzi (Ate’s nephew). Hanging out with my first real friends in Canada is truly awesome. I hope our friendships deepen and will last long. (=

The Ex has a lot of food kiosks. I tasted Bison meat and found it good! I got to eat more of the stuff when I went with my family because mom paid for almost everything. Haha! And I also got a Kyle (from Southpark) stuffed-toy! ^^

Another great thing I found in the Ex is the washroom. This will never ever happen in the Philippines (where thousands of people gather in a day). The washroom was immaculate!

So all in all, the experience was fun. I’m happy I got to go with friends and family. Too bad, we didn't get to see the fireworks show, but that's no biggy. ^^

Lately, my relationship with my dad has been going smoothly and I am relieved.