Bottom's Up 2009

This is my own version of the annual "year end report". It's my first time to do a recap of my year in all its highs and lows. I just want to put up some trends in my blog starting this new year. =) And so, Bottom's Up is first. It will be a rundown of the happenings that made or broke my year starting with the things that made me go rock bottom to the things which places me up there in the stairway of whatchamacallit.

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So here goes..Bottom's up!

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• 15. PEOPLE ALWAYS LEAVE MOMENTS - This is the year where separate lives are born and friendships are tested to its core. Some of my friends already label it the PAL symdrome because of its over usage! haha! It's lonely to be alone, nevertheless, missing people can make the coming back worthwhile. Just make sure to come back, you nitwits!
• 14. BUMNESS - I am understimulated this year. As I was saying, I've reached a plateau where anything seems silent and flat amidst the buzz outside of my circle. I have not exercised my license yet. I haven't put it to risk. What a bummer!
• 13. GLOBAL WARMING - This year was a cacophony of Mother Earth's impending wrath. Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng affected more lives than we can ever imagine. News about endangered sea creatures drifting to the shoreline were also increasing. This just means their habitat is not safe anymore that's why they are escaping. Plus, the scorching heat of everyday is just unbearable! Do we really need to hear this monstrosity before we listen to nature?!
• 12. DEATHS - Celebrity deaths from Francis Magalona to Michael Jackson and Cory Aquino. Not to mention a couple of family acquaintances. This year is just plain morbid.
• 11. NO LEYTON - Lucas and Peyton, my favorite One Tree Hill characters were cut from the show's seventh season. Staying true to the OTH flag, I still watch the show and the story is getting better as the season goes, but I still miss the two.
• 10. ONLINE SHOPPING - From books to wardrobe, online shopping at Multiply.com is fun! I bought a lot of books online this year..Plus those that were given as gifts! Now I have lots to catch up on!
• 9. EFREN AND MANNY - Efren Penaflorida and Manny Pacquiao are two of the Philippine's pride! It was my first time to see a Pacquiao match live this year. I never thought I would enjoy it with all its testosterone might, but I actually did! The Pacquiao-Cotto match was a hit! As with Efren Penaflorida, his being really inspires me. His acceptance speech at the CNN Hero of the Year always makes me teary eyed, whether seeing, hearing or reading it. He is a man worth emulating. And of course, there is Arnel Pineda and Charice. Oh well.
• 8. LIFE - They say if something's gone, something will have to replace. This year, two of my cousins gave birth. Cousin Vic Vic to a chubby Miakka and Cousin Angging to twin boys. We are very excited to have the first twins in the family! I am Miakka's Ninang as well as Dennison's, the twin's older brother. Babies are adorable!
• 7. THE CEBU-BOHOL TRIP - This was the most fun family vacation to date! We went on a trip to both cities via land. If only the van walls could talk! haha!
• 6. RIGHT TO SUFFRAGE - Yes, I am finally a registered voter and it will be my first time to vote in the May 2010 elections. I am currently raising awareness on who to vote. (etchos!)
• 5. DRIVING LESSONS - I was not able to make an entry about my driving lessons last time. I took one a couple of months ago and thanks to my kick-ass married-twice mother of an instructor, I am already driving on the road! Not alone yet though.. I still have to convert my student's permit to a license.
• 4. GRADUATE SCHOOL - After 1 year, I am currently on my last 6 academic units. Comprehensive exams and a thesis to go then I'm done!
• 3. PLURK AND TWITTER - If you can't plurk it, tweet it! haha! Plurk, Twitter and Facebook are my ways to stay updated with peeps as well as expressing my everyday quips. If not for them, I'll live in solitary mood all year long! Plus, celebrity replies in Twitter make my day!
• 2. GLEE - My favorite new season show!! Underdogs + musical = Hazel's love!!! My heart goes out to them! It's my midweek stress buster and it never fails to make me smile every time they belt out a song! I get teary eyed with their heartfelt songs! I also play their songs at You Tube repeatedly if I'm really digging it! I am a certified Gleek!!!
• 1. THE RED, YELLOW AND ROUND - This DH thingy is weird and is driving me bananas but sometimes, if not most of the time, it is the only one I've got to escape boredom and depression (especially during those idle internet times) and I found my newest best friend because of it. There are 6 billion people in the world, but sometimes, all you need is one...- one hell of a person, or a non-person for that matter! hahaha! Happy Friday on New Year's!

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There you go! My 2009. Nothing really interesting there. Just bumness in between. Nevertheless, affirming the positives is food for the soul.

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2010 is something waiting to unfold. Anxiety is written all over it in my calendar but I'm definitely looking forward to brave the coming storm and enjoy the sunny side up of it!

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Wishing you all good tidings and smiles! Happy New Year!

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Love and Bliss!! Mwah!

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Listening To: Coffee and Cigarettes by Michelle Featherstone

9 Lessons in 2009

Every year is just a mere page of a book waiting to unfold. This year, I reached a plateau where everything seems the same but when you look back, it was different. I feel like I've changed without instantly knowing it; like I am a different person now. One day, I just felt that snap like I've changed. I felt like I was lazier, crankier, an emotional roller coaster, there are also times that I am better and times that I am worse, but more that that I feel more alone. This is the first of the many years to come that friendships are apart and separate lives are born.

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At first, I attributed this change in me from too much internet usage. I spend a bulk of my day in front of a laptop and my interactions are now in pixels rather than in voices and expressions. Now I know how the computer age can change you without even knowing it. But then again, a lot has happened that made its effect on me. This has brought about highs and lows over the past months. Human as I am, I falter but in time, I got my groove back.

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I want to share my life's lessons in 2009. Extracted from the shambles of the year, I learned, and I learned well. Here they are:

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1. Some things are not worth the rush. We often want things to be done but we lose sight of time. Things do not simply fall in time, they fall in God's time. Great things and plans await us. Just wait.
2. Do what you deem is right for the present moment that will lead you to the future. We don't have to follow the flow of the happy river. Just move even if it's rocky. You'll be surprised of how many fishes will follow your route.
3. Some people are just there to disappoint. You'll have to endure those moments because one moment will not numb you for the next one. Choose your battles. Do not waste your time on petty things but do not allow yourself to be indifferent. Help, as long as you can.
4. The internet is sheepishly evil but satisfyingly good. 'Nuff said.
5. You cannot push something as an immediate concern to people who do not regard that thing as a priority. You will just frustrate yourself of understanding. It also goes out to communication as well. You cannot make them talk to you or hang out if you are not a priority of the moment.
6. "People always leave. But sometimes, they come back." - That's why it's called 'sometimes' because more often than not, they don't. It's only in the sacred space in our hearts that there is an "always and forever". Missing them only means the coming back is worthwhile because when the time is right, goodbyes doesn't mean forever.
7. Never ever give up on friendship. They may wreck your limbic system out of emotions unknown to man, but they are still treasures. Distance, whether space, place or time, is a piece of sh*t, for lack of a better term. Constant communication may be the key but it is definitely not enough. Make time for a physical bond to strengthen the heart bond. Make time!
8. A genuine smile is more often harder to elicit than a mere laugh. People can make you laugh but only a few can make you smile.
9. No one can define the entirety of life and love. What only matters is we live it in its meat and core. Sometimes we tend to focus on the icing that we forget about the cake.

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Live life! Love life! (I meant the latter as a cheer for an upcoming love life not a cheer for loving life! Hahaha! Kidding! =D )

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Happy Holidays!! May you have a fruitful year ahead of you! Thank you for being a part of my 2009 for merely reading my entries and sharing your insights on a couple of my raves and rants.. Hugs and mwah! Have a merry 2009 and a greater 2010!

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Love and Bliss!

12 Gifts of Craze-mas

This is my own version of an outrageous Christmas wishlist. Just warming up from blogging hiatus due to a writer's block for quite a while. These may be over the top but Santa, if you can hear me, I would really love to have these things for Christmas! Haha!

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Here are the 12 gifts I would dream to have this chrHAZEmas in no particular order:

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1. A mini library for my (still) mini book collection, filled with novels and book sets and a stunning ability to arrange them according to the Dewey Decimal System. Currently, I arrange my books by appearance since I have no inkling on how to arrange them.
2. To try eating on one of the pig out spots featured on Discovery Travel and Living's Man v. Food which is currently one of my favorite shows. I swear I'm gonna try to finish those calorific treats!
3. To have an all expenses paid overseas vacation with my closest friends. (who wants to come? haha!) - Again, inspired by Discovery's Travel and Living!
4. All 5 Shopaholic Series book set and all 10 Princess Diaries Series book set. Saw them last week and they would really look good in that mini library!
5. Digital SLR camera and a free one on one tutorial until I shoot like a pro (haha!)
6. A home theater equipped with reclining soft seats and a popcorn stand
7. Original One Tree Hill, Grey's Anatomy, Glee, Gossip Girl, Mercy, The Vampire Diaries DVD box sets in complete seasons. Plus, Disney Classics and Musicals won't hurt! Of course I need something to watch on that home theater!
8. An in house masseuse ready to unkink those stubborn muscles 24/7!
9. To work as a production staff in a acclaimed Hollywood film
10. For Iloilo to have regular Broadway play productions that comes in an affordable All Seasons Pass so that instead of going to the movies, I can enjoy shows with art and substance.
11. The gift of discernment which would allow me to think with reason and foresight on what roads to take
12. And of course...dun-dun-dun-dun...True love's first kiss! Haha. Hilarious.

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There you have it folks! Things that money can't buy but my friends can't! haha! A girl can dream, right?!

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Merry Christmas Frecklesnoots! Dream big and dream on! harhar.

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Love and Bliss!

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Listening To: A Natural Woman by Aretha Franklin