Let Me Bask on the Lime Light

Turned out he gave two more DVDs of his favorite movies. And today...


"Hey.." I finally found him in his office. He was working on his data. Instead of the DVDs like last time, he gave me two books, The Prince and James Cavell's translation of Sun Tzu.

"I don't know when I can give them back to you," I thought he was lending me the books.

"They are yours."

I blushed. "Oh...that's so sweet," and without any reservation, I hugged him sideways. He was sitting, I was standing, otherwise, the guy was just too tall to be hugged in a proper manner. He reciprocated to pull me even tighter.

Ah, the joy. I want need more of it.

Bridesmaidzillas

The day was supposed to be started with a quick drive through at a favorite snack place and then we would be on our merry way to H-town. What were we thinking. It was already pass 12 PM.

"Can I have five of the iced nuts and one of the cream filled, please."

"Mam, we don't have anymore of the iced nuts, in fact we barely have anything now. You're welcome to come inside to look."

"Okay then, I will have five of those, and a chocolate milk, and two waters, please."

"Dollar even."

"Are you sure?" I motioned to the milk, the donuts and the water. I should've wiped them clean.
.
.
.
Reason for the trip: bridesmaid dresses shopping. Our beautiful bride-to-be had carefully made appointments at two different bridal establishments, a big national chain over on Westheimer and an independent one in Chinatown. Either way, we were never far from the center of culinary heaven that is H-town.

Big national chain has advantage in the size and variety of selections, not so much on quality. The mom-and-pop offers better style. It's probably not too far fetched to say that these bridal businesses seem to cater to statistics (7.5 marriage : 3.8 divorce per 1000 population). A divorce-rate limited!

Needless to say, the three of us were this close from turning into bridesmaidzillas. Sometimes watching too much TLC is not good for your soul. The consensus was a halter neck for one (in the hope to alleviate a certain booby-ness situation), tube dress for the petite one, and a v-neck for another. Against all precarious notions, we settled on dresses with the exact same style, and the oohs and the ahhs commencing. Until somebody brought up the style of the reception which in the end resulted in a unanimous voted against the dress. This, of course, warrants for (hopefully) another shopping trip. LOL.

I am glad the bride-to-be has ordered hers.

The Train Has Left the Station

hey

yes
you know what J, I was just thinking

what u thinking girl

like the playa...we have the same interest on musics, books, sports, topics for discussion, etc...
even chocolate!
so I thought I found the guy version of me...a soul mate...

dont get ur hopes too high yet
the fall will be higher
and besides everybody always say that when u are starting to know each other, the puppy love

well yes..that exactly somehow my point
you don't need someone to have the same interests
it takes the mystery out of the relationship...the fun is actually less...the exploration is dull
no I dont have hopes on him..it is more like a spur of the moment...the joy of bumping into someone who can have the same interests as me...
is it weird thinking?

sorry was in wece
and talking to mom too

euyyhh...at the same time?

noooooooooooooooooooo of course
was cleaning something in restroom

hhi ok

u puppy in lov

hm...never met someone like before...that's just one in a million chance

everybody always say that

ok..I never said it before

oh well

yeah..oh well...
if it wasnt meant to be it wasnt meant to be
what do we know right

any kino from u?
ur fault

haha...
I'm just not used to it..

get used to it
or the train will leave
for good
or it might have left long time ago

dang!

turn and look behind u
do u see it?

dang double dang

its gone

and it was a bullet train too
no wonder I missed it
I'm accustomed to the coal powered one

Update (permisi ya Bu)

gave the book to J

AND

"here...it's for you"

"to read?"

"yeah....I thought I got to repay you somehow for those DVDs rentals, past and future"

lol

"haha..thanks!"

trus ngomongin Sun Tzu, Machiaevelli...

ckck
berat

"I don't know, but most people, when they read Sun Tzu, they read Machiavelli too, and this book...so that's why...you haven't got a copy right?"

"no, I haven't. when I went to Delaware for that co-op, I went to a bookstore and spent almost 200 $ on their classic section. Count of Monte Cristo, War and Peace, Sun Tzu, The Prince..."

"wait a minute, they categorize it that way? How's Monte Cristo in the book? I know their movie adaption supposed to be suck..."

trus saya bilang saya blum baca Machiavelli...

ok

dia bilang ya udah ntar dia bawain

lol
movie AND book buddy
ah so familiar
TOO familiar

trus...

"hey...I'm uploading my list of movies...I'll send it you so you can choose whatever movie you want next"

bentar lagi music juga bu

"in fact..here..."

dia buka excel file...we looked through it...I shrieked...

"I want Newsradio!!"

gile ini apal semua conversationnya

lol

whats newsradiooo i dont even kno

"Do you like Newsradio? Man, if you like it, you're gonna love The Office...do you have the portable harddrive..cause I have both with me..."

trus saya ambil deh..trus dia transfer Newsradio & The Office to my harddrive

Newsradio is a very funny sitcom situated at a newsradio office...very very funny...my favorite..I love all the cast members

ok

and he showed me a clip from the Office and that I should start watching Arrested Development

parah....about music
well, his winamp was playing Pink Floyd
..there you go...another sigh

HAHAHAHA
I KNEW IT

oh well...
wonder if he ever sees me in a different way..

sigh

the guy is very popular with girls, Bu
tadi saya lagi ngomong ama dia gitu..masak ada dua cewek krucil masuk (anak2 MS baru mulai semester kemaren)
langsung aja gitu invading his space...buka2 laci...ngomong2

hohohoho
krucil
i sense cynicism
i smell blood

LOL
LOL

hihih

"Btw, I think I misunderstood you earlier...it is not just to read, it is to own. Enjoy!"

"OH! Thanks, I really appreciate it. I will probably finish it this weekend. Hope you enjoy the shows. I will try and remember the movies for you, if there are any others."

Playa Wannabe

Case A.
Just when I didn't sit by the phone, a VIC (very important call) came. It was J! *sigh* Maybe next time.

Case B.

yoo..
B' asked me out again...to lunch tomorrow and bingo Wednesday night...
bingo group thing, lunch bedua aja...
is it bad to go with this while I'm "plotting" something for J?

no...
have fun

ok...thank you

you're wecome, regards - satan

ADUHHH yang bener dong PAAK
gue nggak enakk nih

bener2
it's ok

I thought so...toh kita nggak ada bilang exclusivity, right?

yup
santai aja dulu

iyah

Wondering Too

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080116/ap_on_re_us/preacher_paternity
there are still 1500 members of that church... :P

mygoodness
But the results of a court-ordered paternity test revealed in October that Paulk is the biological father of his brother's son, D.E. Paulk, who is now head pastor at the church. <--- !!!

:P
there are still 1500 members of that church <== this is even weirder

ha ha
kok bisa sih disuruh paternity test ttg anak adeknya?
this will make a good Law & Order episode

maybe all sorts of lawsuit left and right
brothernya curiga kali
i'm willing to bet 90% of pastors have their own way of releasing sexual tension
it's just not natural...

you mean Catholic priests?

yeah that's what i meant
ha ha

yeah...I will inquire about this during confession...btw, Father..how do you...

yeah ask that

I will

bener ya tanyain

or I'll search priests blogs...see if they talk about that kind of stuff
hihihi

please report back

ok...this will take time
I'll probably get thrown into purgatory forever, if not straight to hell

The Closest Things to a

Scene on My Best's Friend Wedding

Reference Scene

George Downes: Michael's chasing Kimmy?
Julianne Potter: Yes!
George Downes: You're chasing Michael?
Julianne Potter: YES!
George Downes: Who's chasing you... nobody, get it? There's your answer. It's Kimmy.

Actual Scenes

Nomenclature:
X = the troubled female
J = member of the opposite sex X digs
B' = member of the opposite sex X went on an alleged "date" with
M = female friend of X

Situation 1:
X and M were on a line for a free lunch
B' and J were also on the same line, a person apart from X and M
X and M were talking
B' saw X and nodded acknowledgedly, might be wanting to strike a small conversation
X and M still talking to each other
X finally stroke a conversation with B'
B', X, and M immediately were in a group conversation
When B' and M talked with each other, X sneakily stroke a conversation with J, involving a high five
B' eagerly joined on the conversation

Situation 2:
X and M sat together at the lunch
B' and J went their separate ways
After lunch J suddenly came over and sat beside X (he would stay until the end of the day)
B' still sat at his seat
J and X involved in a very moving conversation about everything and nothing
X thought she saw B' looking at her and J several times

With those situations firmly recorded on her mind, X is now confused on who is "chasing" who.

--> denotes one-way "chasing"
<--> denotes mutual

Scenario:
1. B'-->X-->J (who is J "chasing"? Answer: Tall, skinny, curly, dark-haired hottie)
2. B'--> J or vice versa (LOL, Bu Didi, you're too funny!)
3. J<-->X
4. X--> J or B' (shooting-for-the-star-landing-on-a-moon mentality)


1, 2, and 3 are highly unlikely. 4 is what's really happening.

And I'm officially stressed out I came up with the silliest post. I've started to write my dissertation officially yesterday. We'll see how I survive.

Calling You to See

After Hate Me, another song that I forgot the title of, and this song, I have to start seriously listening to Blue October.

There's something that I can't quite explain
I'm so in love with you - you'll never take that away
And if I've said a hundred times before,
Expect a thousand more - you'll never take that away

Well, expect me to be calling you to see if you're okay when I'm not around
Asking if you love me; I love the way you make it sound
Calling you to see
Do I try too hard to make you smile? To make us smile?

Well, I will keep calling you to see
If you're sleeping, are you dreaming?
If you're dreaming, are you dreaming of me?
I can't believe you actually picked me

I thought that the world had lost its sway (It's so hard sometimes)
Then I fell in love with you (Then came you. Then came you)
And you took that away (Its not so difficult. The world is not so difficult)
You take away the old, show me the new

And I feel like I can fly when I stand next to you.
So while I'm on this phone, a hundred miles from home,
I'll take the words you gave, and send them back to you

I only want to see if you're okay when I'm not around
Asking if you love me; I love the way you make it sound
Calling you to see
Do I try too hard to make you smile? To make us smile?

Well, I will keep calling you to see
If you're sleeping, are you dreaming?
If you're dreaming, are you dreaming of me?
I can't believe you actually picked me

Well, I will keep calling you to see
If you're sleeping, are you dreaming?
If you're dreaming, are you dreaming of me?
I can't believe you actually picked me

Well, I will keep calling you to see
If you're sleeping, are you dreaming?
If you're dreaming, are you dreaming of me?
I can't believe you actually picked me

Oh ohh oh oh, oh oh oh uh oh, uh oh, uh oh oh oh
Oh ohh oh oh, oh oh oh uh oh, uh oh, uh oh oh oh
Oh ohh oh oh, oh oh oh uh oh, uh oh, uh oh oh oh
Oh ohh oh oh, oh oh oh uh oh, uh oh, uh oh oh oh

Blue October, Calling You

Scary and Gross?

my dream last night was so scary

do tell me

I was suddenly 9-month pregnant and was on these 5-minute contractions...ready to give birth...and I just realized I hadn't taken any of the birth preparation class or what not...and I didn't remember there's a husband around, only me and my mother

u crazy
damn u
get a bfriend

that's probably what happened as a result of a bfriend

yes

Homeless Guy and Purse

My cellphone rang yesterday around 6 PM. On the caller ID was the number of a friend, M, who just had lost her purse the day before.

Hello, Mam, are you Inda? My name is Terry Brown and I am a homeless person. I found a purse on a dumpster and I am making a call from the cellphone I found inside the purse. I looked at the wallet, and she is a very pretty lady, I just don't want people to use all her credit cards here. There are a wallet full of cards, keys, key to an office building, and a checkbook. Now, I don't know if somebody else had been through it and dump the bag, but I have the rest of it like I said before.

Wow, that's so nice. She told me she just lost the whole thing yesterday. She will be really happy when she finds out about it. I will try to get a hold of her right now, I don't know how since she doesn't have her cellphone now and she's not online. Anyway, I will call you back at this number as soon as I find out more. Where are you located, Sir?

I am at the Shell station by Antoine and HW 290.

Are you going to stay there all night?

Yes, Mam, I am homeless. I sleep during the day and helping around the station all night. Most probably I will stay here the whole night.

OK, sounds great. I will call you soon. By the way, is the battery running out?

No, Mam, it still has the whole bar.

OK, thank you! I'll talk to you soon.

I hung up and I called E, another friend who lives on the same city as M, so that E can relay the message to M. What do I know, E had let M use her cellphone the whole day, so I actually got to tell M first hand about the guy finding her purse in the dumpster. M arranged to pick it up from the gentleman the next morning. What M told me about him restored my hope on humanity.
The End.

Paranoia

my goodness....it was like an epiphany...

what? what?

tadi malem gue baru nyadar...man, I'm 28...
will I have a family of my own...the biological clock is ticking..the window is getting smaller
asli ketakutan gitu? my goodness

lets put it in perspective you're about to get something VERY few people get... so you had to sacrifice something else

I know...it's just it was never this real before...

And you're only 28... lots of people get married in their 30s the bio clock is long from expiring

who knows I might get an early menopouse (I'm sometime paranoid)

lol

LOL
trus di Golden Girls..the episode was about artificial insemination
will I be reduced to that? LOL

ha ha what if a plane drops on ur head...what if what if

yeah, I know...
kemaren aja di Rec...kan basketball rim-nya di geret ke atas gitu because the gym is under renovation, jadi semua alat dipindahin ke lap basket...and I was working out and I looked up, langsung ngeri gitu gimana kalo ketimpa besi dua ton...

ha ha

and the worst was the other night when I was about to withdraw a larger sum of money from the ATM, and there was this black guy on the bike with his hoody up suddenly making a turn and waited in line for me to finish my withdrawal...and this was Northgate...I prejudiced as well as being a paranoid

ha ha
racist!

well you know...with the Katrina victims still around...and you should read the police reports nowadays (Federal Clery Act)
CS aint that safe anymore

i know...i always lock the door when a suspicious looking black dude gets near

Remember December

I was on elliptical machine this afternoon when the news of Benazir Bhutto assassination was broadcasted over NPR. I know nothing about Pakistani politics and a few questions come into mind. Does she still have power over Pakistan for her to be the target of assassination like that. Yeah, she is the opposition leader, but to think that both incumbent government and her potential-would-be-government are both US-backed makes it a moot point. Why they haven't succeeded in killing Musharaf?

can people get tired of the beach?

i guess
u can get tired of anything i suppose

hehe
poor Ms. Bhutto

yeah

emang gimana sih dia? masih berpengaruh kah sampe perlu dibunuh?

yeah she's the main rival...
she's big in P town
:P

either way incumbent goverment and hers are US backed, no?

yes
maybe isszz becoz da wimmen aren't supposed to do thiese things
taliban says
:P

stupid Taliban
her resume is impressive

yup
well time for a round up of construction today
c ya later...

bye
may the god of $mn be with you

On a lighter note, I didn't realize that MTV2 took over the channel assigned by my cable company for CSPAN2--the cable company rhymes with box, if you must know. I was ready to tune in to CSPAN2 thinking that today is part of the weekend (and on weekends I watch/listen to BookTV while working on my stuff). A quick browsing at TVGuide Listings showed that they moved it all the way to channel 74. I reprogrammed the TV and found the said channel.

Back to working on latest paper. The paper is based on a proceeding we submitted. The advisor wanted the first finish product in less than two-weeks time. I am thinking this is a nice way to spend the lasts days of 2007 when one is somehow broke and is still in limbo over financial situation in the incoming semester.

In any rate, I am going to submit the paper to him and immediately ask for defense scheduling no later than beginning of May. Wish this poor girl some form of luck?

Just for the sake of posting picture. This is the stuff Sis and I cooked for a potluck Christmas dinner at a friend's. Our Korean-themed entrees (beef bulgoki, grilled pork, legume dumpling, and fishcake) blended well with the rest of the local and international selections brought by others. Oh, not to forget the ever indulging Panamanian rum ponche.



W(B)MD post-script:
Wednesday: three-mile run
Thursday: thirty minute elliptical, ten minute stationary bike, twenty minute upper body work out

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

I ran around three miles across campus. Just a perfect time to do such thing in the holiday season. There was no car and no one around. The sun was up high, and the weather was in the high 50's.

I also made a batch of Ms. S******'s chocolate almond toffee crackers recipe. I failed on the caramel, but it was still tasty. NY loves it. I'll bring some to the Christmas dinner tomorrow at G's.

We called Mom in the afternoon. It is hard for all of us. The first Christmas without my father. "Let's hope things are getting better by this time next year," says Mom.

I am going to midnight Mass and tomorrow's Christmas day Mass. "All hope failed on you," says Mr. Y. May the spirit of Christmas be upon all of us.

.
.
.

This song has been played over a diamond store commercial on TV. I couldn't help to post it up here. I think that possibly, maybe I'm falling for you.

Speaking of falling, I'd extend congratulations on my best friend and his bride on their wedding on December 23rd. Many happy years to follow!

I think that possibly, maybe I'm falling for you
Yes, there's a chance that I've fallen quite hard over you
I've seen the paths that your eyes wander down
I want to come too

I think that possibly, maybe I'm falling for you

No one understands me quite like you do
Through all of the shadowy corners of me

I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop
I love so much
All of the while I never knew
I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop
I love so much
All of the while I never knew

I think that possibly, maybe I'm falling for you
Yes, there's a chance that I've fallen quite hard over you
I've seen the waters that make your eyes shine
Now I'm shining too

Because oh because
I've fallen quite hard over over you

If I didn't know you, I'd rather not know
If I couldn't have you, I'd rather be alone

I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop
I love so much
All of the while I never knew
I never knew just what it was about this old coffee shop
I love so much
All of the while, I never knew

All of the while , all of the while

--Coffee Shop, Landon Pigg

I invited B to a choir concert at church two hours before the concert. We met a Korean guy who turned to be a post doc at his group and his wife. She asked B if I am his girlfriend. It was funny how the both of us said no. He walked me over to my apt, met with Bro and Sis, and ended up stayed for two hours mostly watching TV. We are going to a basketball game sometime in January. B seemed to blend well with my friends and family. Definitely a good thing.

Too Much Info?

Dear Blog,

The following are conspicuous signs of weight gain. I still denied it and blamed no. 1-3 from shrinking stuff in the dryer during laundry. After experiencing no. 4 yesterday, it really is a sure thing:

1. Muffin tops
2. Tighter jeans/pants
3. Fuller cups...hi hi hi...
4. Exploding belt

It's time to focus on running again...and to curb that appetite. Man, oh, man, and the holiday is not even started yet.

PS:
Happy Birthday, Pak Dodol.

No Wonder I Hate Myself So Much

kalo nama anak Arabella lucu juga kali ya

u females

it means answered prayer in Italian

oooo

I like it not just because the cute sound
by the way...I hate when people use girly name or word that means beautiful
kayak uli ...bahasa batak..artinya cantik

hahaha

or bella, Italian for beautiful
turn out....my own name means just that in Spanish
LOL!!!!

ha ha ha
i didnt know that

yeah...Linda means beautiful
parah!!!!
no wonder I hate myself so much...LOL

huahahaha

Question!

Mr. Serendipity (background posts about him to refresh your memory are available here and here) wrote an e-mail to me about suggestions for place to eat in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas. He is visiting with the parents on the 23rd of this month. I liberally forwarded his e-mail to some of you former and current residents of said cities. Here were my forewords:

Ibu dan Bapak2, tolongin temen gue ini dong. Mr. Serendipity nih...hihihi...

Bu Didi...tanyain [name deleted] dong kalo buat Austin/San Anton gimana? Pwease?


Makasih loh...

inda

I got a quick reply from a certain genius, you-know-who-you-are, who included Mr. Serendipity's e-mail address on his cc-list. So now, Mr. S can see the "Mr. Serendipity nih..." reference I wrote about him.

Buh, humbug!

I was planning to offer a friendly meet up with Mr. S and the parents. But after this incident, I don't think it will be a good idea, right? What do you guys think?

Maria Maria

I got awaken several times from my sleep on Thursday night/Friday morning. As if on an autopilot, I prayed several Hail Mary's in the midst of going back to slumber. Something usually happened every time I experienced such sleeping trouble. I am guessing me saying the Hail Mary's was a divine mechanism to ease my mind of.

I went home around 5:20 PM the next day from school. St. Mary's is on my walking route. People were walking to church for the 5:30 Mass. So I decided to go Mass also. It is really not a bad idea to start one's weekend. What do I know, it was a Feast of Immaculate Conception (of Mary).

Coincidence? I don't think so.
I went on a date with this boy on Saturday, two months after he asked me out to lunch. http://notesfromthedungeon2.blogspot.com/2007/10/boys-again.html We went out to watch a play in a local theater in downtown Bryan. He called me 15 minutes before the play started. What kept him, I wonder. He didn't try to explain either. We arrived at the converted stage area on the third floor of a building just a few minutes after the play had started. It was a parody of Dicken's Christmas Carol spiced up with current pop cultures and what not. He laughed and he checked on me several times to make sure I enjoyed the play. I did.
He surprised me afterward by asking for a walk around the touristy downtown area. We even landed ourselves on a mom and pop's Mexican restaurant for a late dinner. The restaurant was closing in 15 minutes but we still got served nicely and promptly. He was being proper throughout the date. We kept our personal spaces intact. The guy is obviously not a chatterbox, he's more like yours truly actually.
He ended the date with an invitation to movie sometime. I agreed and I thanked him for the nice evening. All in all, things were more than what I had expected, though, I have no intention to develop the relationship into something more serious. I have set J on the highest pedestal these days. It seems natural to feel the indifference towards the poor guy.

As Seen on FD

Church outfit this week



Tank top: Forever 21 (on sale for less than 5 bucks)
Cardigan: Guess (also on sale for less than 20 bucks, MSRP $ 69.00)
Skirt: George (Walmart brand, also on sale for $ 5.99)
Shoes: Ninewest (NY's from Ross)
Watch: Mossimo (also on sale from Target for less than $9.99)

I am a sale enthusiast.

Not Just a Favorite

Waktu terus berlalu
Tanpa kusadari yang ada hanya aku dan kenangan
Masih teringat jelas
Senyum terakhir yang kau beri untukku
Tak pernah ku mencoba
Dan tak ingin ku mengisi hati ku dengan cinta yang lain
Kan kubiarkan ruang hampa di dalam hidupku

Bila aku harus mencintai dan berbagi hati itu hanya denganmu,
Namun bila kuharus tanpamu,
Akan tetap kuarungi hidup tanpa bercinta

Hanya dirimu yang pernah tenangkanku
Dalam pelukmu saat ku menangis

Element, Rahasia Hati

Just an Old Favorite

Tonight I'm tangled in my blanket of clouds
Dreaming aloud
Things just won't do without you, matter of fact
I'm on your back, I'm on your back, I'm on your back

If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you
If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you

If you'd accept surrender, I'll give up some more
Weren't you adored
I cannot be without you, matter of fact
I'm on your back, I'm on your back, I'm on your back

If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you
If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you

Another heart is cracked in two, I'm on your back

I cannot be without you, matter of fact
I'm on your back, I'm on your back, I'm on your back

If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you
If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you
If you walk out on me, I'm walking after you

Another heart is cracked in two, I'm on your back

Foo Fighters, Walking After You, 1995