finding my Mayle

After a not-so-crazy day at work, I went to National Bookstore in Cubao to check out whether it still has the pre-owned book section at the 4th floor. To my delight, it was still there, as disorganized as ever. Unfortunately, pre-owned book prices have gone up. I used to be able to buy cheap books that were good as new. One time I bought Wally Lamb’s newest book for only 50 pesos because one corner of the cover was creased! I guess with the rising popularity of pre-owned bookstores, NBS decided to up their profit margin.

This visit proved to be very fruitful, rummaging through shelves and shelves of books, gingerly picking titles I found interesting, lo and behold was Peter Mayle’s Anything Considered. I quickly snatched it and after a few more minutes, I found a second book, Bon Appetit which I am now reading.

Peter Mayle’s books are such a pleasure to read… I read A year in Provence and was immediately drawn in by the characters’ adventures. His writing is both funny and insightful, especially those that are gastronomical in nature.

Kill Bill: Which Deadly Viper Assassin Are You?

O-Ren Ishii (Cottonmouth)

You’re O-Ren Ishii! Twisted and homicidal, you respect most people, but let them know not to mess with you. You have a talent for sensing danger, and keep only the most loyal and skilled people around you.

Kill Bill: Which Deadly Viper Assassin Are You? (Vol. II)

non-working mundane Monday

GRRRRR nakalamang na naman kayo! It’s SONA day today and Malacañang has declared 25 July 2005 as a special non-working holiday… unfortunately my organization does not listen to these kinds of announcements… hirap talga maging international civil servant… ganito pala feeling ng domestic helper sa ibang bayan… to the rest of you enjoying a long weekend, well, enjoy and take care… please don’t clog my traffic on my way home

See you soon, Jeannet

Last Tuesday was no regular uwhockey session. We were about to play our “last” game with Jeannet or Net as we fondly call her. She is our batchmate and she’s leaving for the US for good

After the usual games, we decided to give Net a tribute by way of a red carpet goal. After the signal for both teams to start, Net, the center forward, rushed to the middle of the pool to secure the puck. The opposing teams swam to position but teammate Roy was close by intercepting anybody standing in Net’s way. It was sweet goal and was received by loud hoots, cheers and laughter… everybody cheering Net!

Here are some photos taken during our most recent party celebrating July birthdays…

We will surely miss this funny and sweet gal… continue playing uwh in California!

Balancing 101…

After snorkeling and a late breakfast, we groggily scrambled to the nearby windsurfing camp in Batangas. It was a crash course on windsurfing and a test of our bargaining skills. 12 uwhockey addicts listened attentively, albeit distracted by the intense midday sun. In just a few minutes, 5 sacrificial lambs surged into the water to try their luck and balance in windsurfing. Most of us were accompanied by instructors to counter our seeming absence of stability. It was bumpy ride. Good thing the wind muffled my occasional shrieks as I try to recall the harried instructions and confront the naughty sea that seemed relentless in turning me and my surfboard over. After several to and fro with my teacher, I reluctantly returned to shore so others can try this passion we only used to hear from our “dude, pare” buddy

Here are the “successful” newbie windsurfers and the not so successful ones…

Idol talaga, he’s using a bigger sail

makinig kasi…

thank God for rescue boats…

I have to traaaayyyy

Kitam!

Yipee… ako din

Doctor prescribed to

damn, I’m good…

Can you wave?

come on.. pose

told you I’M GOOD

… hmmph ako din

see..

Uh oh

Grrrr this cannot happen to “The Don”

Told you so…

Maybe not…

Oh well… Pano ba tlaga magbalance?

I again, tested my balance, minus the teacher this time. It seemed easier because I only had my balance to worry about. Mang Richard, the veteran/pioneer of windsurfing was always nearby together with the rescue boats patrolling by. The other pro windsurfers were also standing by to give shouts of encouragement and tip to improve our balance.

After windsurfing… there was clowning around…

this is what happens when you’re always asleep

we are united… heheheh

and this is how your friends show how much they love you…

It was a fun experience and we will definitely be coming back for more!

free diving in Batangas

Went to Batangas with my uwhockey friends to celebrate our uwhockey pal’s birthday. 20 exuberant uwhockey newbie addicts and 4 “guests” trooped to Aplaya resort early Saturday morning. There was a riotous scrambling for the cheaper rooms, but, I opted to get the more expensive air-conditioned room especially when it was only a 200 peso price difference. This proved to be a wise decision because barely an hour had passed when we heard plots from possible squatters to our comfortable and cool room.

… stopping over in Bauan…

It was a pretty place, it had a nice beach front with corals for snorkeling, a nice swimming pool ,

a Jacuzzi ,

pretty lounge chairs

and a mascot named Bill–short for Billabong–the cute dog in heat

After resting, settling, snacking and constant chit-chatting, we decided to go snorkeling. The corals and fish were gorgeous and we were having a blast. We rescued a coral from a sack, I guess someone was trying to steal it and failed. We also dragged a driftwood onto shore. And then someone smartly dove and scraped his head on one of the corals! It was a scene from out of the movies… blood dripping down his head amidst stares from horrors-stricken faces.

After lunch, there was more chit-chat, laughter, swimming, and snorkeling. Some went on their first intro dive, with the birthday celebrant as their dive master. Others went for a boat ride to the nearby island for more snorkeling. I didn’t go because it was drizzling and I knew I’d freeze in the boat to and from the island.

…what I did after my nap and while waiting for them to return from the boat ride…

…our attempts to while away the time while waiting for dinner…

Dinnertime came followed by drinks… and more drinks… and more drinks. It was FUN! After reaching the desired level of intoxication laughter, cajoling and daring skyrocketed. Some went off to bed, while others continued the “teambuilding activities.” Then, sometime before midnight, someone rushed into our room and asked for our trusty doctor buddy to come outside, our roommate accidentally stepped on a broken beer bottle on his way to our room. It was BLOODY and funny at the same time. He ended up getting 7-stiches on his big toe and won’t get to play uwhockey for several weeks!

Sunday was another adventure!