Juno

Last night, Steve and I stayed behind at work to help the others run a few tests on one of our databases. Luckily enough, we didn’t have to stay the whole night and only ended up staying for an hour and a half. After leaving the office, we decided to go to Yorkdale to have dinner and see a movie. We didn’t really have a specific movie in mind and neither did we check the movie schedules before going there but we thought we’d just go and check the movie listing when we got there.

I had wanted to see Atonement since it came out but it’s not Steve’s idea of a good movie to see in the theaters (he doesn’t like period pieces and really sappy love stories… too bad for him because I just happen to love them! LOL) plus it wasn’t showing at Yorkdale so it was either National Treasure or Juno. We decided on Juno so we’d have enough time to grab a bite before the movie.

I loved Juno. I thought it was a really good movie. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil it for those of you who haven’t seen it yet and have plans on going. I’m sure most of you know it touches on teen pregnancy but yeah.. it’s an interesting movie and I especially love the lines.. quite witty. I would highly recommend it.

Some good lines from the movie:

Vanessa Loring: Your parents are probably wondering where you are.
Juno MacGuff: Nah… I mean, I’m already pregnant, so what other kind of shenanigans could I get into?

——————-
Juno MacGuff: You should’ve gone to China, you know, ’cause I hear they give away babies like free iPods. You know, they pretty much just put them in those t-shirt guns and shoot them out at sporting events.

——————-
Juno MacGuff: I think I’m, like, in love with you.
Paulie Bleeker: You mean as friends?
Juno MacGuff: No, I mean, like, for real. ‘Cause you’re, like, the coolest person I’ve ever met, and you don’t even have to try, you know…
Paulie Bleeker: I try really hard, actually.

——————-
Juno MacGuff: If I could just have the thing and give it to you now, I totally would. But I’m guessing it looks, probably like a sea monkey right now, and I should let it get a little cuter.

——————-
Juno MacGuff: I could like, have this baby and give it to someone who like totally needs it.
Leah: You should look in the PennySaver.
Juno MacGuff: They have ads for parents?
Leah: Yeah! ‘Desperately Seeking Spawn.’

——————-
Juno MacGuff: It all started with a chair.

——————-
Juno MacGuff: Can’t we just like kick this old school. You know, like I stick the baby in a basket, send it your way, like Moses and the reeds?
Mark Loring: Technically that would be Old Testament.

——————-
Paulie Bleeker: I still have your underwear.
Juno MacGuff: I still have your virginity.
Paulie Bleeker: Shut up.

——————-
Juno MacGuff: Can two people stay together forever?
Mac MacGuff: You mean like couples?
Juno: Yeah, like people in love.
Mac MacGuff: Are you having boy troubles? ‘Cause I got to be honest, I don’t much approve of you dating in your condition. That’s kinda messed up! That’s pretty skanky. Isn’t that what you girls call it? Shanky? Skeevy? Tore up from the floor up?

——————-
Juno MacGuff: Bleeker is actually good in… chair.

——————-
Mac MacGuff: Look, in my opinion the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what-have-you. The right person is still going to think the sun shines out of your ass. That’s the kind of person that’s worth sticking with.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I finally finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!

Wow.

I have to admit I didn’t expect it to end that way. Some of the things that happened, I kinda guessed it already but some of them took me by surprise… wow.

Did I like it?

LOVED IT!

Think, people

I came across this article on MSN and it surprises me that people don’t think about this kind of thing happening. Every time I see pictures of lottery winners on the front cover of a newspaper or on TV, I can’t help but shake my head in disapproval and go, “What the heck were these people thinking?!”

Don’t you realize that telling the world you have $20 million dollars makes you a really good target for people with bad intentions?

In the Philippines (if I remember correctly), they don’t publish winners’ identities simply because of how dangerous it is. We are well aware of just how many bad and desperate people are out there. We can’t even display our cellphones in public too much for fear of attracting a stalker/hold-upper/thief. I remember going to Glorietta one summer with my family to buy school supplies. We had lunch and then my mom realized her purse had been stolen… together with at least 5000php in it and all her credit cards and bank cards. It was so bad. I also remember commuting to UST one early morning with 5 people in the jeep and the guy near the exit was holding a knife and asking the girl beside me to give him her watch. Her watch! It wasn’t even anything special… it was plain and old.

So when you are out there smiling towards a camera, waiving a check in hand and a headline that says, “Winner of $20 million…” Is it not just plain D-U-M-B? Is it really all that surprising when someone tries something against you?

Be more wary people.

They Obviously Thought They Can Dance

Ever watch the show So You Think You Can Dance?

Last night while having dinner with Steve and Fey, we were watching the show. It really amazes me how gutsy these people are! I have to say there are those who are truly talented and really know how to move. And then there are those that are…uh…how shall I put it… plain horrible. I admire them for trying but maaannn… one guy was dressed in a very weird costume and basically stomped his feet through his audition. What were you thinking? One girl proudly said she had been training for 15 years and when she got on stage, everyone said she was horrendous. She didn’t know how to dance. At all.

I would understand if it were the first season when people didn’t know yet what to expect and were auditioning for the show but if you followed the previous season and you know damn well how difficult the competition is and who you are up against, wouldn’t you be more prepared? Wouldn’t you choreograph something that would compete with the top 20 finalists of the previous season? I would think so.

At least I can admire them for trying and going for what they want. One thing’s for sure, it was fun watching the whole thing.

Professionalism

Most days I hate having to train clients. But then once in awhile I’m fortunate to get someone who is not only nice and smart but also makes my job so much easier by being generally pleasant and professional. You would think most professionals would have a certain level of professionalism but professionalism is apparently not a common characteristic even with individuals who attended reputable schools and hold such high professions. It always surprises me when I speak to a CEO or a president who is rude and very unprofessional. How do they manage to keep their businesses running I wonder?

People often forget that the only way the other person is ever going to know you is through the sound of your voice over the phone or through your e-mails. They will not spend weekends with you nor be able to witness all the other things you do. So sometimes, that one phone call or that one e-mail you send is all the impression they are ever going to get. It’s your only shot to a giving a good first impression. Regardless of what position you hold within your company, it does NOT and will NEVER be an excuse for your bad attitude.

How often do I find myself either working with or talking to someone who’s obviously had a rough day and is not in the most pleasant of moods? I do understand how difficult it is to do your job being in such a bad state. But being a true professional means leaving your personal problems at the door and putting on your best “work attitude” just as you should leave your work issues at the door when you come home. The entire office does not need to suffer just because you had a bad night. It does not give you the right to yell or be rude to the people around you. If you can’t smile, at least be polite. Be mindful of the people around you who also have personal issues to deal with but come to work not only delivering a good job but also displays the right kind of attitude. True, there are people who are very annoying and who really try your patience but always, ALWAYS try your best to be professional. Try your best to smile, remember to say “please” and “thank you”, be polite, maintain a positive attitude and if you are ever on the phone or writing an e-mail be mindful of the tone you are using.

How easy it is for us to forget that we are dealing with others who are also making a living for themselves, who also have lives to live and personal issues to deal with. How hard is it to do your job and try your best to make someone’s else job easier?

Top 10 Most Bizarre Foods

Yey Friday!!

I came across another interesting article on MSN this morning. Click here to read it.

I’m familiar with some of them although the only one I’ve ever eaten out of the 10 as it is, is Durian. A couple of them I think I’ve also eaten although not exactly with the same ingredients.

1. Durian
Location – Pinang, Malaysia
An extremely odoriferous (some would say noxious) fruit with custard-like flesh. Native to Malaysia, the oblong, thorny fruit can be deep fried, formed into cake and candy, or made into flavorings for ice cream, beverages, and other food items. Durian is considered a delicacy in some parts of Malaysia, and has been known to sell for $50 (U.S.) for one fruit. Many people love the taste of durian, but its powerful aroma is so offensive to some that airplanes, trains, and buses often prohibit the fruit in passenger areas.

I had no idea Durian originated in Malaysia. We have it in the Philippines too although I only eat it as a fruit and I don’t really like it as an ice cream flavor or anything else. I have to agree, it does smell bad but man, it tastes good!

2. K’lia
Location – Marrakech, MoroccoAlso spelled khlea, this meat (usually lamb) is salted, dried, and preserved in its own fat. A traditional specialty of Morocco, k’lia is often served with lentils and spices at the outdoor market, Djemma al Fna in Marrakech, Morocco.

I don’t think I’ll like it. I’m not so huge on Lamb.

3. Mangrove Worms
Location – Palawan, Philippines
Worms that live off dead wood pulp. Eaten raw. Popular in Sabang Beach in the Philippines, these long, slimy worms are said to be high in iron and taste similar to oysters.

I have to ask, WHY? Why oh why? I wouldn’t eat it even if it did taste like Oysters. I wouldn’t eat it if my life depended on it! They’re worms that live off dead wood pulp people! The first person to ever try it must have been extremely desperate.

4. Callos
Location – Taberna de Antonio Sanchez in Madrid, Spain
A casserole made with blood sausage and tripe, which comes from the intestines of various domestic animals. This dish is popular in Taberna de Antonio Sanchez in Madrid, Spain, where it is often served as tapas, small dishes designed for sharing.

My grandma makes this although slightly different. Not too sure if she makes it with blood sausage (whatever that is). Would I eat it? I think I already have… I knew it, sometimes ignorance is bliss.

5. Coconut Grubs
Location – Coca, Ecuador
Larvae that live in dead palm trees. Zimmern tried the dish in the home of a member of the Pilche community in the Amazon rain forest.

One word: Larvae. Can I just say yuck?

6. Menudo
Location – Motes de la Magdalena in Quito, EcuadorSoup made with tripe and beef hearts. This soup is also popular in Mexico, where it began as a peasant dish. Menudo in Mexico can refer to “raw stomach meat” as well as the stew. The recipe for menudo varies in different regions of Latin America.

My mum makes this at home although differently. Mum makes it with pork instead so no harm there! No strange, disgusting ingredients either.. just pork, green peppers, potatoes and green peas i think. Whew!

7. Goose Intestines on Bean Sprouts – Goose guts.
Location – New York’s Chinatown
Served at Congee, a restaurant in New York City’s Chinatown. Goose intestines are not uncommon fare in China, but then again, neither are duck feet or frogs.

Stick with chicken. I personally don’t eat goose, duck nor frogs. I’ve heard it tastes really good but I just can’t. eat. it.

8. Nutria in Sauce Piquant – a large semiaquatic rodent.
Location – Morgan City, Lousiana
Eaten in the home of a trapper in the bayou in Morgan City, Lousiana. Dining on nutria is not for the faint of heart. The rodents resemble large rats with bright orange incisors. Still, the nutria is probably safer on your plate than alive in your yard—the animals are a host for a nematode parasite that can infect human skin. Yummy!

Um… yeah.. sure.. excuse me while I go vomit.

9. Soup No. 5 (Yes, that’s the real name)
Location – Balaw Balaw in Luzon, Philippines
Soup made from the back and testicles of a cow is eaten at Balaw Balaw in Luzon, Philippines. In the United States, cow testicles are also sometimes referred to as “Rocky Mountain oysters” and can be prepared in a batter and then fried in oil and eaten with hot sauce.

“Rocky Mountain Oysters”… funny. No thanks!

10. Haggis – Assorted sheep parts mixed with oatmeal and stuffed into a sheep stomach.
Location – Edinburgh, Scotland
This traditional Scottish dish was originally a common peasant meal, but can now be found in grocery stores year round all over Scotland and other areas of the United Kingdom.

Let’s go take out some Chinese instead..

Maybe the foods mentioned above aren’t as bad as they seem. I mean, it’s different when the recipe is written down as opposed to seeing the finished product. Although I have to ask, the people who first tried/made these dishes… why? Was there a lack of food that they started eating whatever they could find??

Happy note on "Happy Slip"

I recently came across an interesting website: Happy Slip!

I love how she imitates her parents and her aunt. It’s so funny! JR and I were watching some of her videos on YouTube the other night and we couldn’t help but laugh because we can relate! She’s so entertaining to watch. JR said that fellow Filipinos would find them funny more than others but I don’t think so. I mean there are people of different nationalities who gave good comments too. I haven’t had the chance to browse all of her videos on YouTube but among my faves are:

Help
Peelings
Morning Meest
YouChoob
Mixed Nuts
Home

Pinoy and proud! It’s always nice to find Filipinos who despite growing up outside the country still retains their values and still recognizes their roots.

You think it’s healthy?

Read this Healthy Habits That Aren’t

It certainly seems like everyday people are learning new things that contradict former “beliefs”. I would say former “studies” but now when I think about it, how many of these so-called “studies” were actually performed?

Peanuts cause Acne, Coffee’s bad for you… do this, avoid that, this is good, that’s bad… where do I even begin?

And as soon as you decide to follow these “health” advisories and when you’ve been following them for quite sometime, a health bulletin or another study will come out contradicting whatever it was they said before which just makes it all the more confusing.

Maybe I should be more conscious about my health. Sometimes though eating healthy takes the fun out of it. If I had to choose between a regular health bar and a chocolate coated one, I’d choose the chocolate coated bar.

Maybe I’ll feel different when I get older.

Useless

There are a lot of things I learned in school while growing up. All these things I’ve learned I’m sure are tucked away somewhere in my mind, meant to be retrieved when needed. You know what they say, the human mind is pretty powerful and that it acts like a sponge – absorbing and processing information. Unfortunately, no one bothers to tell you that squeezing the info out of your sponge is not as easy as it seems. Sure you can store them, there’s just no guarantee you’re going to be able to get them out of there.

Sometimes I’ll come across a situation where I can’t help but say to myself, “If only I paid more attention to it when I was being taught…” or “if only I used the things I learned then maybe I wouldn’t have forgotten…” Take for example, crocheting. I learned that in high school. But ask me to make something and I’ll look at you with a quizzical expression, trying to remember the different types of stitches (if you even call it that) and how the hell I managed to make those coasters back in school. I did a good job at it. I even remember the color of the thread I used – they were peach. But now, I wouldn’t know where to begin or how for that matter.

I also learned ballroom dancing in school but now I can only remember four of them – waltz, swing, LA walk, and a bit of cha cha. All the other ones, I’ve already forgotten (although I did know back then there was no way I was going to remember Tango.. there were just too many steps and too many rules). I also took a few cooking lessons – I can’t remember any of the dishes I learned back then. It’s frustrating when I think about. There are so many little things we take for granted while growing up. Some these things would have been useful to me. It would have been cool to know so many things.

Be considerate.

Inconsiderate people… hmpf. Pisses me off.

Keep the golden rule in mind:

“Do unto others what you want others to do unto you”