Changing the World, Changing Perspective: One Ranter at a Time

A friend and constant online buddy IM-ed me of how amazed he was that it will almost be a year since he had a last girlfriend. I could sense he kinda missed the feeling of having someone around and constantly worrying about his whereabouts and adventures, so I decided to cheer him up a bit. I told him that he has (1) an awesome job (2) great friends (3) more time for surfing and (4) more focus on his studying for his CFA exam. He told me I had a point (and it's amazing how I basked on this once-in-a-blue-moon compliment). Besides, it was a mission accomplished as I made him a happier b*tch!

Kidding aside, we are all like my friend who we shall hide under the monicker, Jejeboy (I have this fascination with the Jejemon kind, more on that later!). Oftentimes negative, we never really see the brighter side of things. Or that silver lining which peeks through that nimbus cloud. Or how about, the comedy of a tragedy. I could go on and on about this thing we dub as hope/optimism but I guess you get the picture, no?

We always see the bad side and these negativities affect us more than these should really. So what if you got a lousy, crappy job? At least consider yourself employed who gets a salary every payday. How about if we complain of how our bosses are uhm bossy? Well, they are bosses anyway and they can boss you around if they want to. But at least think of how lucky you are compared to those whose bosses rape and physically abuse them.

You don't endear yourself to people when you constantly rant about your new job. No one gives a rat's ass how you think your job is crappy or how your new gadget is no longer top of the line. If for everytime we complain and rant we dole out at least a peso, hey Jude we're gonna pay off our national debt way ahead of maturity!

So let's start thinking more positively. I am not saying that you suddenly become a burst of sunshine and be all cheery to everyone (someone might slap you for being too perky, anyway) but do it in an itty-bitty way or in a way that is more attainable to you (attempting to smile when you're pissed to the high heavens will just result in a cross between a smile and a smirk. Heavens, horrible!).

It all boils down to perspective and how you see things. A wee bit of change in perspective wouldn't hurt anybody and come to think of it, a change in perspective would actually make an impact on somebody.

Cheers! :)

On Half-finished Sandman and Half-Baked Conclusions

I have never been a graphic novel fan because I find the mishmash of drawings, bubbles and words too confusing and annoying. I didn't want to miss anything else I go back from where I began and trace the events that transpired. I was a purist and I believed that novels should only comprise of words on pages and a wee bit of illustration to break the monotony. So yeah, I was not a fan of such novels.

Take note of the verb WAS.

You see, I was introduced to the world of graphic novels when my then-friend-now-boyfriend suggested that I read Neil Gaiman's Sandman series. I am a Gaiman fanatic and I already read most of his novels and short stories alike. I came across Sandman a few times whenever Gaiman was mentioned but hearing the word "graphic" alongside novel kinda reminded me of Palahniuk and his writing style and well, it sort of ticked me off. But since it was highly recommended by THE friend (of course I didn't want to say something profane else his geek side kicks in and decides to silence me. bleh!), I decided to give Sandman a shot.

I am half-way through the series and I must say, it is one helluva good read (half-way! half-way!). I have been struggling to finish the whole series but you see, it is not that easy because of the numerous characters and references to famous myths and legends that span religions and beliefs. It was a crash course on Heaven and Hell and the never-ending battle of Good and Evil, of Reality and Illusion. Of course, these are just my observations and I have yet to delve deeper among the pages, illustrations and words to make a well-founded conclusion/realization/book report.

*Credits to lawrenceyong.wordpress.com for the pic*

You might have differing opinions as to mine, and please, do share your thoughts on Sandman and Gaiman. Since I am biased, I would say (and declare! Oh hail!) that Gaiman is one of the best writers around and that Sandman is one lip-smacking masterpiece.

*Oh hail Gaiman - geekazoids*

Hindi Ako Masyado Magsi-Swimming!

Text ng Tatay: Magswimming tayo sa Sunday. I-sked niyo na.

Natanggap ko habang pauwi ako nung Biyernes. Ayoko sanang sumama sa swimming dahil 1) gastos na naman at kulang na ang pera ko at 2) mas gusto ko sanang magpahinga dahil Linggo naman. Pero di na lang ako nag-reply hanggang sa maka-uwi ako.

Napag-isip-isip kong sumama sa swimming dahil 1) kasama naman sila kuya at lil sister at 2) tutal, minsan lang mag-aya si Tatay at mukhang ok naman dun sa lugar na yun dahil madalas niyang maikuwento yun at nagagawi siya sa resort na yun.

Linggo nang umaga at pupungas-pungas pa akong bumangon. Kumain ng isang hati ng tirang pizza at habang nginunguya ito ay nasabi ko sa Tatay ko: "di na pala ako masyadong magsi-swimming kasi ayokong mangitim. Magbo-Bora at Bohol pa tayo. Ayokong pagdating ng Hunyo eh di niyo na ako maalala dahil sa itim ko." Sumagot si Tatay ng: "sige lang. Ikaw bahala."

Fastforward sa hapon ng Linggo. Nagkayayayaan nang umuwi dahil hapon na at dadaan pa kami ng memorial park. Pag-ahon ko sa pool, natatawa si lil sister dahil ang pula-pula ko raw. Hindi ako natinig, tutal dapat naman talaga akong ma-sunburn dahil naarawan ako eh. Habang nagbibihis, dun ko napansin na medyo mahapdi ang balikat ko. Ang dibdib ko rin ay mapula! *gasp gasp* at hinawi ko ang damit at nakita kong bakat na bakat ang racerback kong suot habang nagsi-swimming!

*Gasp, gasp, gaaaaaaasp*

Hindi ako maitim pero ANG PULA PULA KO! Daig ko pa ang alimangong niluto. At napakahapdi ng mukha ko at tuyot na tuyot ang labi ko.

Habang napapangiwi sa hapdi, humirit ang kapatid ko: HINDI PALA MAGSI-SWIMMING AH!

Ps. Mas mapula ako kaysa kanya. Rawr.


Ang likod at ang balikat kong ubod nang hapdi! Oh kaysakit! Aray! Aray!

Gaming for Dummies

I was a kid who never really grew up around video games. When I was younger, we had Nintendo's Family Computer and summers were spent bargaining (try begging) with siblings to have a shot in playing video games. I was the kid who died first in battles and the one who always ended up last in races. I was the kid who barely managed to make the cut of Top Scores and the kid who always pulled the cord of the controller out of sheer excitement. Even if I play a game the whole day, I will never get the hang of it, get all the coins in Super Mario, save the princess, or even reach the final level to kill King Koopa. A more updated version hoho!

Then Family Computer became a thing of the past then along came PCs and PC games. I was able to play Starcraft for a while but then my camp always got defeated and the Zergs scared the sh*t out of me. Then I found my niche in the virtual games world - Text Twist and Hangman (the ultimate geekiness oh heaven!).

So for a change, I decided to ditch my geeky games and tried a PlayStation 3 game and a PC game. By spending a weekend at the bf's house, I was surrounded by gaming geek overlords - his sister, guy friend, and gal friend.

I first tried Left for Dead. Killing zombies was fun, if only I was able to find my way out of the damned hotel. So for dummies like me, it was a new experience to find new function in the keyboards. Keyboards are my keys to heaven of words but then with PC games, W became forward movement while S was for moving back, A and D for moving left and right, respectively. Left-click was for shooting/hacking (depends on the weapon) the goddamn zombies with left-click will temporarily shoo the annoying bastard away. Other functions I wasn't able to explore because my eyes grew tired of the screen (it was soooooo wide!) and the headphones kept on slipping down my ears. If you're up for one helluva shootin spree, I'd highly recommend Left for Dead. Are you Left for Dead?

And the night didn't end with killing zombies. By nighttime, I was re-introduced to this lovely PS3 game called Little Big Planet. You see, playing a PS3 game is a lot more complicated than playing a PC game. For one, you use a controller with various buttons and joysticks (I told you I am noob!) and my five fingers in one hand is not enough to grope around the thingamajigs! But on an up note, there are no cords so look Ma, I can pull all I want! The basic controls on the controller is pretty simple - move the left joystick so your character can move accordingly on the screen. The X button on the right panel is for jumping while the square button is for opening choice and circle button for selecting a choice. The R1 button can be used to hold on to things or push them - depending on the movement of the left joystick. Instead of coins, the character is out to break the glass bubbles which contain new items that can be used throughout the game (stickers, decorations, masks, etc.). The aim of the game? Burst as many bubbles as you can while swinging over deadly gaps, killer (cute and pillow-y) stones and finishing the game alive. It's a lot more fun to play the game in 2's or even more. Word to the wise: be patient enough in behalf of your lame-o playmates (i.e. someone like me) since the point of the game is to have fun and not bash each other because someone dies repeatedly. Thankfully, there was no bashing incident when I accidentally ruined a certain game play (thank heavens!). See Little Big Planet here.

So to you all ye nerds like me who are scared of video games, fear not. Tutorial and constant game play shall make us the Overloard Geeky Nerds!

Just kidding. Have fun playing with your joysticks! (And I mean that in a wholesome way XD)

Ties and Shredders Don't Get Along. Really. Even Pashminas and Printers.

I have always acknowledged the fact that I am clumsy. No doubt about it. I get bruises and cuts and always wonder if a dwarf was secretly punching, pinching or scratching me just because it wants attention *random wild imagination, pardon meh*.

But aside from being clumsy, I also have this utak-sa-paa moments. Like the time my pashmina .....

*Nabitin ka ba? Here's more. Read here.

Here's an effective to make your friends feel guilty when they turn down offered foods:

Moi: Uy, kain ka pa o. *points at the cake*

Friend: Uhm, ok nako. *shakes head*

Moi: Alam mo, mapalad ka pa. Buti nga nakakatikim ka ng ganyan eh *points at cake again* Yung iba kasi, hindi. *sabay kanta ng...Nakaligo ka na ba sa dagat ng basura..*

Kung di ka ba naman makonsensya niyan! :P

This is child labor at its finest. Bleh!

Ties and Shredders Don't Get Along. Really. Even Pashminas and Printers.

I have always acknowledged the fact that I am clumsy. No doubt about it. I get bruises and cuts and always wonder if a dwarf was secretly punching, pinching or scratching me just because it wants attention *random wild imagination, pardon meh*.

But aside from being clumsy, I also have this utak-sa-paa moments. Like the time my pashmina got caught at the printer and I was panicking because I almost thought I'd die of choking. Or if not by choking, death by falling off the window because our printer was placed on a cabinet with loose wheels near the glass window while moi is tangled with my stupid pashmina in the printer. Morbid, I know. Stupid, I know now. Hah! I always thought ties-getting-caught-in-shredders-stories are plain urban legends made up to scare the beejesus out of us. But when the printer incident happened, I suddenly realized: (1) I am stupid *top of mind, sorry* and (2) it happened to me and it can happen to you too! *double gasp with too much air inside your nose*.

After the pashmina-in-the-printer incident, I now check if I have dangling clothes pieces or loose thread. Who knows what that killer printer is up to next. *paranoid much*




The Killer Printer

La Feliza Signing On. *test mic hello is this on?!*

Today, a sad news greeted me. My friend and fellow MT finally got promoted to Assistant Manager, thereby officially making moi the last Supervisor MT standing. Out of depression, I decided to do something productive (i.e. a report on a certain conglomerate) and fun (i.e. navigating thru the BSP website. I know, vair vair geeky).

Then I decided. I don't want to be sad anymore. Hence, the randomness of conceiving this blog.

Why lefelizashow? Why happy [girl] show? Well I say to you, why not?

Hmm, I guess it stemmed from my constant and conscious decision to see the brighter side of things. I know it sounds silly and stupid to be such an optimist but I heard that being happy can actually make me feel younger and healthier (that part I just made up XD).

In here you'll see a chopsuey of photos, notes, realizations, food trips, travel notes and anecdotes. Hopefully when you leave my site, you'll be able to say: La Feliza made me one happy b*tch!