Sing your song and light up the lights, we need to make this Christmas bright.

Well, that was the worst yet. The guys sped through their presentations, nobody asked questions... it was all done in less than 10 minutes. I've never seen anything like it.  Even the moderator was like... HUH?!

I now know what it's like for performers who don't get any reaction from the audience.

It all turned out well in the main event, though.  But we're only halfway done. The most important part is yet to be seen. Like usual.

Ghost writer

My dad's friend is dying but even then, he still found the time to e-mail my dad and their other friends, letting them know that they shouldn't worry about him because he has accepted his fate.  He said he had a few days, if not just hours, on earth.

Naturally, people had to reply.  For my dad's part, he had so much to say but with all the emotion, he found it hard to write everything.  The thing was he already had to reply as time was of the essence.  He was worried that if he put it off for another day, his friend might never get to read his letter.

Eto na, shet. He called me and asked for my help. He was already a bit teary-eyed when he was telling me the gist of what he wanted to say but couldn't articulate in writing.  I know it's my job -- one of the things I get paid for is to write what people want me to write... but a letter to a dying person? Darn! But I had to do it, of course.

I guess that's the difference -- if it were me, I wouldn't have been able to say exactly how I felt but I would've been able to write fluidly.  Perhaps the only time that I'd be able to talk about something that heavy is if I'm intoxicated... then somebody has to stop my talking!

Let's reawaken the fangirl in me.

Long day! Friday always seems to be the busiest day of the week for me such that getting a buzz after work becomes really necessary (haha or are we just justifying that?)... and what a dork I am! I get home and surf the net as if I didn't spend the day in front of the computer.  Oh, right. I wasn't surfing then.

Observation from a friend: I didn't seem to be as excited about New Moon as I was for Twilight. I haven't posted anything on New Moon yet.

Well, here it is. My New Moon post. I'm excited now that it's finally out after a year's worth of waiting. I know it's gonna be better than Twilight because from worse, it can only get better, right?

The improved version of the Wolfpack gets more exposure this time:

Don't they look like a bunch of sidekicks in a Pinoy movie? I can almost imagine one of them saying... "Saging lang ang may puso! Saging lang!" But mygosh, they're giving Ben Chan an idea for the next Bench ad. Pasikatin ang shorts na ganito! Teka, porke magkabarkada kayo, kailangan ba talaga pare-pareho ng shorts? :)

Jacob Black also underwent Extreme Makeover from Twilight:

To New Moon (naman!!!):

But Edward will always be Edward. I just hope di na namumuo yung make-up niya, otherwise, Max Factor = double fail!

After all the promotional stuff for New Moon, I bet Robert Pattinson's not gonna take a bath for weeks again.  Eeew, but if this is the straight-out-of-bed-pero-kailangan-naka-leather-jacket look, okay lang. :)

But who do I really want to be part of the Twilight Saga but isn't? STEVEN STRAIT! He would've been a better Edward. I watch The Covenant over and over and over again.

Good night and good morning. I'm finally getting to see New Moon in a few hours. I hope it doesn't disappoint.

It's official.

Raikkonen to take sabbatical in 2010.

Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen will take a sabbatical from Formula 1 next year, his manager has revealed, following the collapse of talks with McLaren about a deal for 2010.

Raikkonen said last month that, in the wake of being released from his Ferrari contract, his only option to remain in F1 was with McLaren - because he wanted to be guaranteed a top-line grand prix car.

However, amid increasing speculation that Jenson Button is on his way to the British team, Raikkonen's manager Steve Robertson revealed on Tuesday night that discussions with McLaren had come to an end.

"The options in F1 were with McLaren next season or not at all," Robertson was quoted as saying by respected Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat, which has close links with the Raikkonen camp. "Kimi and McLaren were unable to reach an agreement, so he will not drive at the F1 level - at least not next year.

"A gap year means nothing for Kimi. He is more interested in fighting for wins and the world championship. F1 will miss Kimi. He worked hard over the summer - doing things in a Ferrari that only the best drivers are capable of."

AUTOSPORT understands that there were several stumbling blocks to a deal being completed with McLaren prior to the team finding out that Button was available and interested.

As well as a difference of opinion about wages, Raikkonen and McLaren were believed to not be in agreement about the number of sponsorship appearance days he should do, or about how free he was to do rallies.

With Raikkonen only interested in returning to F1 in a race-winning car, his best option for 2011 would appear to lie with Red Bull Racing - which has a theoretical vacancy for 2011 with Mark Webber currently only contracted until the end of next year.

Although it is not clear what Raikkonen will do next year, it is possible that he will focus his efforts on the World Rally Championship – while he sorts out an F1 return. Red Bull could be involved in his rally plans too.

The only thing that he will have to contend with is withdrawal from F1 but in terms of income, Ferrari will reportedly give him 17M if he sits out for a year, and 10M if he races for another team. Citroen Red Bull is a hefty sum for him to drive in WRC.  If everything goes well in WRC, I reckon (reckon! haha they use it a lot in BBC commentating) we won't see him again in F1.

Rally may not be a good TV sport but looks like it's becoming more popular now that it's attracting top motorsports personalities.  F1 drivers have driven there this year and there are also rumors of Valentino Rossi considering to do one.

Anyway, I'll continue watching F1 and see Button fly as number two. 2010 will be like a revelation year -- it will be proven how worthy a champion he is in equal machinery with the best. And I reckon (reckon!) we'll see him a lot on the podium (as he does well in a good car) but only after he follows Hamilton to the chequered flag.  And let us not forget the Ferraris who are making a comeback.  Forza Ferrari!

Looks like things have taken a wrong turn...

and Jenson Button is now reportedly going to McLaren. Raikkonen to WRC for Citroen Red Bull and is reportedly being offered a salary twice more than what Sebastian Loeb, reigning champion, is getting.

If this is true, someone please point me to a cable provider with a channel that shows all WRCs.

If it's not true then that's cool!

Pick-up line from Lola Techie

Good times, bad hangover.

But ahlaveeeet! :) We rarely post photos of ourselves because if we did, all the pics would look the same anyway. What differs everytime are the conversations -- those are priceless.

And there are certain days when I just wish I can instantly make all of them appear in front of me. We'll talk about serious stuff, laugh a lot, tell stupid jokes, insult each other, make fun of the world, sing our favorite songs, repeat our favorite lines, reminisce about the past and dream about the future. (yada yada yada... save the drama for your mama! haha)

I only got to see 1/4 of the troops last weekend because I got there at 2 a.m. already -- after work and drinks with my colleagues, which is another type of conversation altogether. It's like I switch worlds: I'm someone else when I'm at work and I only become myself again when I pass through the toll gates down south. 


Guys, I told you we have to devise something like the Truman Show so we can see each other's episodes at "The Office". I bet we'll all be laughing our asses off! There are times when I forget that I'm still technically in my 'work world' but I'm constantly reminded so I can get back into JGM mode. It's funny how being in the corporate world makes us mature (or rather obliges us to mature faster) but it's tiring to be behaving properly all the time (hehe).  It's fun to let loose once in a while and just let go.


It is Friday the 13th! Stay away from black cats! Love you :)

I wanna run, run, run!

Kidding. You know I can't run, run, run, let alone walk, walk, walk, fast.

I don't know what the fuck is happening.  The other night I was giving a pep talk and now I think I need to pep myself up. Apparently, I cannot practice what I preach. Bad, bad, bad.

I don't know if these are just hormones.  It's like there are butterflies in my stomach but I'm not sure if I'm nervous or what basta I'm feeling something weird and it's not happiness. I don't know what it is but I'm pretty sure hindi rin pang romansa (hahaha -- bruha!). Maybe I'm annoyed again at something but I don't know what.

I am fully aware that crankiness is next to ugliness. Let's just have a few drinks and make the cranky go away!

*Sings: 

I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin
And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go, somewhere only we know
Somewhere only we know?

Somewhere Only We Know - Keane

I saw my past and I saw my future

You take the pieces of the dreams that you have
'Cause you don't like the way they seem to be going
You cut them up and spread them out on the floor
You're full of hope as we begin rearranging
Put it all back together

Rexona

Won't let you down.

Hmmmmmmm. Life.

The Eagle and the Rabbit

An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing. A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked him, “Can I also sit like you and do nothing?”

The eagle answered, “Sure , why not.”

So the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested.
All of a sudden, a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Moral of the story: To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.


:-)

It's all about the money! It's all about the dum dum dum dum dum....

In a post-race interview following his last outing for Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen answered one simple question about his departure and he did confirm what a lot of people have been thinking all along -- it was Santander's money that bought him out of his contract. Santander, Spain's biggest financial institution, has inked a deal for a major Ferrari sponsorship and with it is a clause for a Spanish driver in the Ferrari cockpit. The Spaniards waved a big wad of cash, which, of course, the Italians couldn't resist.

Today I got a DM from Ferrari in my inbox with the subject, "Thank you for everything Kimi".  Of course, it's a tribute to their only World Champion after Schumacher, right? WRONG.

They're promoting Raikkonen merchandise. Hahaha! At the end of the day, yes it's a sport but it's also a huge business.  Good thing they announced Raikkonen's departure before I saw the Ferrari Store in San Francisco.  I would've been gutted (gutted - haha, I love this British expression) if I bought stuff only to find out they're outdated just days after as I'm sure I would've gotten Raikkonen stuff because even if he were the only Ferrari driver left in the world, I'll never spend money on Felipe Massa. The Ferrari Store was cool but I didn't bother to check it out because I already know what's inside and more importantly, I was told that they prohibit picture-taking inside. I don't buy racing stuff because I don't wear those. Mug? Keychain? Lanyard? I imagine my brother and my cousin would have appreciated caps, shirts or jackets -- but they're both McLaren fans. :)

Then again, even if I went inside the store, I think I wouldn't have gotten anything.  Maybe these would've been useful to me...

But I wouldn't sharpen them because they will shorten. I also wouldn't use the eraser, mauupod. Totoy!

Or this Enzo Ferrari key.

But why would anyone spend 200 grand on a key to a car you don't own??!

Or this Ferrari bike for USD 1,000.00

So ang bike ba, kapag Ferrari, super duper ultra mega bilis din? Like it's capable of 315 km/h (196 mph) and has a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 4.3 seconds? Heheheh


Anyway, this is probably one of my last F1 posts for this year (the super last one, maybe, when we get that final announcement and the missus gets the sign). It's McLaren or nothing. On to 2010!

Go Lewis! Go Home!

There's no denying that Lewis Hamilton is good. He isn't the 2008 World Champion and 2007 runner up for nothing. However, just like Schumacher, I was never a supporter of Hamilton.  I learned to like Fernando Alonso after all his tantrums, I liked Vettel at the onset, and now I admire rookie driver Kobayashi... but not Hamilton.  So, it's a bit unusual that I found myself rooting for him in the Abu Dhabi GP.  I don't know why but I actually genuinely wanted him to win the race. I recognized the effort he made during the second half of the season and the fact that since June (I think), he's the driver who scored the most points despite not being in contention for the championship. In short, I was a Lewis supporter. Just today... and I wanted it in black and white so here goes my Twitter update:

21 laps later, Lewis Hamilton retires due to a break problem.  That's the first mechanical failure in his F1 career.  And then the Twitter update:

Hahahahahaha! Unfortunately, for so many reasons, both Ferraris and the remaining McLaren (KOValainen) failed to score points thus maintaining the standings before the race. McLaren is third in the constructor's championship. At least I did my part to help Ferrari. Harharhar.

So for 2010, GO HAMILTON! *Evil Laugh*
(Wait... I might actually really really mean it without the bad luck if Raikkonen becomes his teammate)