This is Oli's dog. He's a mini schnauzer who pounces on anyone at anytime and he loves to cuddle. Oh! And he has bad breath.

An old school snack! Whatever happened to this? I don't know, I'm just glad it's back. The colors of the frosting seem brighter, but the taste is the same. =)

I'm back.

Today, I promised myself to "take more photos".

I'm quite sure I won't be able to do this everyday or publish photos that would take your breath away, but that's really not the point of this exercise. I'm taking these photos so I can be reminded of the littlest things that happen to me each day. [Insert sentimental music here.] Ah basta, gusto ko lang.


Started studying French a couple of months ago and I'm currently on the 3rd module (there's a gazillion more to go). This is the notebook I use in class. Quite apt, don't you think? =)

I like bumming out on weekends.. kahit na may menstrual pains.. =) Watched Office Space, Fanboys, Religulous, A Complete History Of My Sexual Failures and now, American Gangster.

I'm also determined to lose weight. No carbs for 2 weeks... tapos balik gym! WEE! Wish me luck! =)

[07.19.08-07.20.08] One weekend, we decided to take a trip to Belgium. Day one was spent in Bruges while half of day two was spent in Brussels. Personally, I liked Bruges better. There were more sites to see (sites other than the city square).

Well anyway, here are my thoughts on what we saw in Bruges and Belgium.

( ...click here to read more )

Since doing another blog about my trip would be a lot of work, I've decided to just copy my review from WhereIsAIF? I'm lazy, I know. Long read, btw.

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The One About Utrecht

I've been home from The Netherlands for almost 2 months now and this is the first time I will be blogging about my trips. Lakas talaga ng AIF.. Hehe.

I was sent to work in Utrecht by the bosses last year and I must say: this was the most rewarding experience of my life. But wait, where is "Utrecht" anyway? When people talk about The Netherlands, one place comes to mind, Amsterdam (baby!). No one ever really cares or knows about Utrecht. Come on guys, marijuana is ALSO legal here. Hehe.

Utrecht according to Wiki is.. the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the north-eastern end of the Randstad, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands, with a population of 300,030 in 2007.

( ..click here to read more )

I never really thought that one day, I would fall in love. I mean, yeah, I would dream about it. Pero hanggang doon lang un.

For the past few months I have been visiting PowerMac Rockwell religiously to drool over their MAC books. Everyday I would ask Oli, "What do you think? Is it worth it?". And time and time again, Oli + more and more people seem to tell me how they all saw the 'light'. Soon, I found myself asking, "Should I get it on installment or isang bayaran? Who can give me a discount?", which meant that I was seriously considering getting one. Plus the fact that every night, I was itching to do something on the computer but can't since my brother is borrowing (owning/arbor-ig) mine.

So to end the agony of wanting something so bad, I gave in and decided to make the biggest purchase of my life: A MacBook. Ultrathin 13.3-inch LED-backlit display. Precision aluminum unibody enclosure.

As soon as I opened the box, I was in love. Sakit pala sa bulsa when you're in love. Just sure hope it's worth it.

Met up with an old friend (Calvin) from college the other day and we started talking about "The List". You know, that list of things to do before you die. I have a list, just not tangible at the moment, scattered somewhere in my brain. So, what I'm gonna do today is start listing those things. Just for fun.. and maybe to motivate me a little.

List of things to do before I die (in no particular order):
1. Skydive (I'm doing this this weekend, woohoo)
2. Bungee jump (This, by April, hopefully)
3. Dance in the rain (preferably a slow dance)
4. Learn to play the guitar/piano (Even if it's just one song)
5. Visit Egypt
6. Ride a horse
7. Go backpacking (through Europe)
8. Fly a plane

...So far yan palang naaalala ko sa list ko. I'll add more later.

It's March.. in exactly 23 days I'll be home. For good this time.
I'm happy and sad at the same time. No explanation needed there.

Hmm...I feel like crying a bit.

See you soon Manila. Hope you understand that there's still some stuff I need to do here, on my own.

...why do i always feel like i'm about to cry?
...ain't it amazing when he seems to care about other people but not you?
...bakit kelangan pang pilitin ang isang taong tumingin sayo kung mahal ka naman talaga niya?
...at bakit ngayon lang.

it hurts inside.

my lj account gradually died when i left manila.
today, i'm gonna revive it. haha.

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shattered glass: there's this one episode from the series "how i met your mother" wherein the characters talk about "shattered glass". basic idea is that, truth dawns on you only after being mentioned by someone else. i've been having these "shattered glass" moments about some of my friends lately. not necessarily bad truths but truths nonetheless. wala lang, natuwa lang ako. hehe.

home: it's only fall and i'm already getting hit by the winter blues. i feel i'm gonna breakdown soon if i don't go home. good thing december is just around the corner. can't wait to be with my family and friends. =)

people: it's funny how sometimes we think we know people. it's a pity how sometimes we end up feeling disappointed for allowing ourselves to become so vulnerable to that idea of connecting with someone. hesitation on the other hand can lead to regrets.. i guess this just proves that acceptance is also key to any relationship. it's either you take it as it is or leave it be. tanggapin mo nalang na may mga bagay na hindi mo macocontrol o madidictate.

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ok, will update this next time. medyo sabog na ako. time to go to sleep. heehee. goodnight world.

wow.. tagal na since last LJ update.

...

it's sad that i can't go home when i need to.
my first birthday without my sisters and i miss them terribly.
had a costume party yesterday in celebration of my 25th.
the theme was alice in wonderland! it was a lot of fun... and different.. first time kong magcostume party!!! sana pagbalik ko sa pinas magparty rin kami nila ainee ng ganon =P

...

it's been raining here all week. buti umuulan lang usually kapag weekdays.
suprisingly, on weekends, walang ulan! pano kaya nila ginagawa un...?

...

i'm really happy that things back home are ok now.
bati na sila mommy and nikki. it really is the best birthday gift ever. =)

...

i need to relax.
take it one day at a time.

so today, we went shopping.
just bought some stuff for the house, a pair of white flats, and my biggest buy of the day: a bike.
look! she's so pretty. =)

now what shall i call her?

i miscalculated it.. =( 78 days to go pa pala.

- KL804 10:45am flight to amsterdam's schiphol airport. astig kasi walang delay delay ang flight. 10am palang nagbboard na kami. parang nakakanibago sa laging delay ng ibang airlines. *hint hint* hahaha.
- read nikki's letter na sobrang nagpaiyak sakin. thanks shobe! i love you and i miss you guys so much!
- overweight pala maleta ko. was supposed to spend 180EU for those excess kilos. you do the math nalang, hindi sulit. haha. buti nalang napakiusapan ung nagaasikaso. nilipat nalang ung ibang excess ko sa gamit ni gian. tutal sabi nga ni marie, payat naman si gian at maliit ang damit, di mabigat. hahaha =)
- klm's service was pretty sweet. not bad pa yung food and inflight entertainment. was able to watch 3 movies (dan in real life, 21 and penelope) and several tv series!! and malinis yung plane cr. babait pa ng cabin crew. =)
- feel ko parang unano ako sa plane, lumipat nga yung katabi kong australian ng seat e..kasi hindi magkasha ung legs niya sa seat. akalain mo nga naman yun.
- sleep sleep sleep.. stiff neck stiff neck stiff neck
- 12hrs later.. amsterdam na. met up with tina edrik mel and cris at the airport. nahassle pa ung maghahatid samin sa hotel kasi mga 30mins na daw niya kaming hinahanap. oopsies.. sorry mister dutchman!
- may tumawag sakin dito kanina e.. nagulat ako, he was probably dutch and he was asking if i was crying. didn't even ask who he was coz i was so bangag. sabi ko lang, "no no..ok, i'll put down the phone now." hindi ako nananaginip nun i'm sure. creepy.
- nagising ako kanina sa tv. umuugong kasi. mga babaeng umuugong. dami pala dito ung porn. mga tipong "text sms " to something. hahaha. maraming lalakeng matutuwa.. =p

...i'm still on manila time right now. i'm excited but homesick as well. i guess it hasn't hit me yet. i miss my family and friedns. but i'm gonna take it one day at a time..wish us well =)

pics posted at http://catcastro.multiply.com/photos/album/151.

currently watching this while working.

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Estella: So... I hear all about you. You're doing great.
Finn: I'm doing okay.
Estella: Things have been... different for me. For a long time, I kept...
Finn: What?
Estella: I think about you. A lot lately.
Finn: I'm glad.
Estella: Can you ever forgive me?
Finn: Don't you know me at all?

Finn: if this isn't love, I don't think I can handle the real thing.

Finn: It's my heart, and its broken.

Finn: Everything I have ever done, I've done for you.

feeling a lot less important and it sucks.
just wondering when it'll end.

again.

hmm..

pwede nga naman mapagkamalan si burger na yosemite sam.. hahahah =)