Sex & the City quotes [part 2]

Miranda: “Whatever happened to aging gracefully?”

Carrie: “It got old.”

another Survivor post

Sorry for the lame title above. I have previously written numerous articles on Survivor that I am already contemplating on creating another category for the said reality show on this blog (laughs out loud). Kidding aside though, the 5th episode of Gabon is over and things are indeed taking shape. GC already quit the game (no surprise) and Sugar’s hold of the idol is making people wonder whether she’s smart enough to take full advantage of it while it’s in her possession. After all, she made a bold statement in the previous episode saying, and I quote her: “[I'd] have to be really dumb to get sent home next.”

While it is too early to tell, I am finding this season quite enjoyable to watch, especially with a myriad of characters. You have the likes of Matty, Dan, Crystal, or Ace willing to give it their all on physical challenges, Bob or Ken showing off their wits, and GC… yes, he’s one character that’s quite hard to fit into a mold and I don’t mean that as a compliment.

For die-hard Survivor fans, assessment is well on its way, even at this early in the season. And I thought of coming up with this poll, just to be able to come up with raw information on what Survivor fans think about all 17 seasons.

travel and food

These two would always be in conjunction with each other if you were to ask me what heaven on earth should be like.

I love food – although it might not be too obvious if you were to see my tiny frame (laughs out loud). However, I’d like to take that as an advantage, knowing that I can devour (sorry for the word) any food that I like. Traveling is also another passion of mine. As a kid, I always listed places all over the world that I wanted to visit. Beyond seeing new places or world class attractions, it is experiencing new cultures, meeting new people, and the act of traveling itself that entice me. Hence, road trips always excite me and have been on several of them as a child.

That is why I am crazy over Food Network’s “Giada’s Weekend Getaways“. I’ve always loved Giada de Laurentiis’ Everday Italian but this is like Super Bowl for travel and food shows. Call it voyeurism if you like, I like that the show satisfies my dream – a day in a foreign country and enjoying local delicacies. Indeed, Giada hit the spot: “One of the best ways to get to know a city is through its food.“

Watch the video below for Giada’s weekend getaway in Santa Barbara, California:

thoughts on rumors

No Comment!

Most of us, when faced with rumor (especially negative ones) respond through this overused statement. Ironically enough, this phrase does not offer much statement at all. As rumors themselves are shrouded with uncertainty, an uncertain answer such as this could be the worst way to respond to a rumor. In fact, it could only trigger people to hypothesize all the more: is the person concerned saying this because s/he is afraid to confront the rumor, or is it simply a nonchalant attitude that creates the idea of being unaffected due to its false nature?

Whichever way you choose to see it, rumors will continue to exist – at school, in the workplace, at home, within the streets, basically just about anywhere people live and exist. A quote I read implies the idea that gossiping and creating rumors are the lowest form of conversation one person can engage in. And hence, it is often considered taking the high road when you choose not to respond.

On the other end of the spectrum, choosing not to respond to rumors would only encourage the rumor to thrive. Without the opportunity to retort, one can never clear the clouds of confusion and so, most people would accept the rumor as fact.

For a better retrospect, you can read an article on rumors by clicking here.

(Note: Thanks to Dean for providing me this link.)

the art of make-up

Cosmetics is an art. It was an art that I, however, was unable to embrace until recently. Way back in college days, I disliked the idea of wearing make-up. To begin with, I found it uncomfortable while I also lived the idea that “simpler is better.”

When I graduated however, things changed. I was encouraged to wear make-up so I would look my age. Aside from being petite, my features made me look like I am 16, as my mom would often point out. Wearing make-up (because I never did give in to my mom’s persistence that I wear more corporate-looking outfits) seemed like the most suitable alternative so I would look like my chronological age.

Like all forms of art, you have to be precise with the amount of make-up you wear though. You cannot overdo it, or else you could end up looking older or worse, trashy. It entails just the right amount of shading and combination of colors, something of which I enjoy working to achieve. I would often go in to cosmetic stores and leave with a few pesos off my wallet and a bag of cosmetic products. It’s my guilty pleasure, and most certainly one of the ways to pampering myself.

I hope I am not perceived as being kikay though, as Ed once teased me about. The thing is, it is more functional than aesthetic. If it is able to enhance one’s looks, then I could take that. Especially when it makes you feel good about yourself and helps you become more confident. Hopefully, we’ve also gotten past the stage wherein the use of cosmetics is associated with trying to become the object of male gaze.

anecdotes

On my way to work today, I saw an old man wielding a sign at the back of the jeepney that read:

“The world might end today, repent!“

This was supposedly a verse from the bible, but I was unable to read from which chapter it was extracted from. Poor old man, I thought. But after contemplating, I found the statement ironic.

In a highly Christian-driven society as we have, repenting is such a potent part of our faith. But, for me, the idea of gaining salvation through repenting only encourages sin or, rather, doing sinful acts.

Most of us live life in a reverse fashion. We are too caught up with mending relationships, instead of building strong foundations. We like to find justification for our previous actions instead of learning from them and (hopefully) making informed decisions in the future. Maybe it’s just human nature. I am not trying to profess self-righteousness here, don’t get me wrong. But what if the so-called “end of world” or “apocalypse” happened today? Where in the world do you stand?

wanderlust

Most people hate geography, which I find hard to discern why. It is one of the geekiest things about me that only a few people know about.

As a kid, I always kept a world map. Then, I would study different countries from certain continents. After recognizing each country, I would memorize their capital cities, which is indicated by a star (or they usually come in bold letters). And while my expertise in geography has waned as I grew up, I could still remember some of them. Lately, this urge to learn more about cities from other countries is fueled by my dream to travel.

Not many people might be aware of this but I know every capital city for all of the US’ 50 states. Hence, I also wanted to visit every single state in the US. I am serious about this but will be something worth investing on. It amazes me how each state offers a unique experience each time. Here are a few things I look forward to in visiting these states:

1. The rich history of the South – visiting states like Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana. I’d like to listen to some jazz music or attend at least one Mardi Gras celebration before I die.

2. Beauty of natural formation in the Southwest – canyon formations in California and Arizona, and the huge desserts in Nebraska, Utah, or Nevada.

3. Roadtrip – It should be fun to drive around Florida and experience its famed Everglades National Park and the world-class Daytona Beach.

4. And who says you can’t have fun with snow? Over at Alaska, I might be able to learn some new snow skiing skills.

Some rainy nights, I would sit on my bed and watch the world through the window, especially when a slight rain is pouring. I always dream I was in Paris, walking in cobbled stone paths. Or in Amsterdam, picking out my favorite white tulips on a spring day. Or better yet, bungee jumping in New Zealand.

Just the other night, I was flipping through magazines on a bookshop and I saw this log cabin house and I dreamt of a winter vacation on the American Midwest, Aspen perhaps. Meanwhile, another shown a bungalow somewhere in Hawaii, with a terrace overlooking the blue-green ocean. I instantly thought of having breakfast there while sipping a cup of coffee.

Survivor Reflections

First stop – Gabon.

For the second episode, things are shaken up a bit. And what’s more exciting for me is the fact that Gabon’s second episode had an effect on me, which I haven’t seen in a while – the challenges literally had me up on my feet (oh yeah, how geeky of me! haha).

The reward challenge was purely physical, and I love it! Aside from the post, the castaways had to rely on pure brawn to outdo each other. For their first taste of victory, Fang had to experience a little bit of comfort in their life at the jungle. As for the equally adrenaline-pumping (or is it just me?) immunity challenge, I thought Bob had no competition in figuring out the combination to the lock. Turns out, Ken (the professional video gamer) had something between those ears too. As a video game writer, it leaves me to think as to whether or not video games help improve your analytical skills or Ken was just innately good with Math? (grin) Whichever is the case, I was glad to see the Fang tribe intact for another day.

Sailing over to Koh Tarutao for Survivor Philippines, the latest boot was the most shocking so far. While am rooting for Naak tribe, Gigit was one of the least I had expected to get booted from the Jarakay tribe at this early in the game. He might be the oldest, but he was built for the outdoors and he’s undeniably smart (ehem, a UP alumnus! ).

Now that Gigit is out, I couldn’t care less anymore who exits next from the blue tribe, as long as JC and Kiko are safe. Gigit’s ouster can be categorized as a blindside, knowing that Gigit was confident going into tribal council that he had a solid alliance with most of them. Turns out, it was a landslide vote against him! That’s what I’m talking about! At least, we see more conniving, plotting, and bold moves! This was certainly a step towards a more cunning strategic game in Survivor Philippines, particularly within the Jarakay tribe. To know whether this was a good strategic move or a poor one, we have yet to find out.