A Fairytale Wonderland

So it’s my first time to blog after ages, and today, kids, I’d like to take on a topic that has been bugging me for the longest time. 

Grammar. At least I think that’s what you call it. 

It’s sad that with the advent of technology, people have disgregarded proper grammar. Either that, or they’re simply becoming illiterate. A lot of the texts I get have people typing in sticky caps. In sHoRt, ThEy tYpE LiKe tHiS. What’s worse is that 75% of the time, they disregard vowels and interchange letters. So, In eFfCt, DeY TyPe lYk dIS. Take it to an extreme level. They drop vowels and consonants, but add a million punctuation marks. ...HenCe,,, dEy tYpE lYk dIs!!!!!!! Mind you, sometimes I get official announcements TyPeD LyK Dat. Insert facepalm here. 

It’s downright migraine-inducing when the text is in Filipino. Say for example this text:

,,PwD PoH BnG MkHrM Ng nOTeS SuH sTat???,

I swear, I have gotten a text like that, and I nearly died of nosebleed. Do you really need all those extra punctuation marks before and after the text? And what the heck is pwd and mkhrm? It took me a full minute to realize that those so-called words meant “pwede” and “makahiram” respectively. I don’t understand why people can’t just text completely. Not only does it cause unnecessary confusion, it’s rude. It’s like disrespect; you can’t find the time to spare whoever you’re texting a well-worded statement. Or a few vowels at the very least. I think all cellphones have the requisite 26 letters of the alphabet and then some. Show me one that doesn’t and I will gladly eat my socks. 

I know this may sound mean, but I can’t take these kinds of texters seriously. I know a lot of smart people who text this way, and it just gets me irritated because I know they can text properly, but they don’t. Some may argue that it’s for convenience’s sake. Sure, but the easy way is not necessarily the right way. And the easy way doesn’t seem like the sincere way. Like when people apologize to me through text:

....im xo xori huh???

Yeah, the intention may have been there, but I’d give this one a negative score for sincerity and impact. 

What’s even more annoying is that people use improper grammar on the internet. Excuse me. Don’t you have a full keyboard with twenty-six letters and then some to type whatever you want to say completely and properly? 

On my Facebook feed, some people’s posts are always in capitals. Always. I don’t know if their caps lock key is broken or stuck or something, but it gets funny/annoying to see things like:

SO WHAT ARE YOU UP TO TODAY?
SAAN TAYO MAGKIKITA BUKAS? HAHAHA.
BUY ME ON FRIENDS FOR SALE!!!!
SURE, GOD, I THINK I CAN DO THAT.
OH ****, I FORGOT ABOUT THAT. HAHAHA. THANKS FOR REMINDING ME. SEE YOU TOM. 

Did anyone ever tell you that typing in capitals is synonymous to yelling? No. Well, now I’m telling you. 

The same old thing happens on Facebook. The StIcKy cApS, use of a million punctuation marks...................... ,,,,,adding ChOnSoNaNtSsS and removing vwls. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think it shows that we have grown at all. In fact, it may seem that our generation has dumbed down. I don’t know how many people will agree with me here. 

I’m more concerned since some people who do this are Mass Communication students. My batchmates. How are we supposed to be good communicators if we don’t know how to communicate properly?

Matamaan ang matamaan. All I’m saying is you’re smarter than that. We’re all smarter than that. A lot has happened because of the advancement of technology, but I don’t think we should allow the negative effects to continue. After all, we are perceptive, thinking, breathing, observing, intelligent human beings. Not cockroaches. Let’s show the world that we actually put our brains to use. 

 As I wrote in my last journal entry, I am becoming an avid microblogger, and I'm trying out different blogging styles lately. 

As of now, I have Twitter, Plurk and now, Tumblr on my list of blogs with unique formats. I love the challenges they present. Twitter and Plurk are basically microblogging. Posts are only allowed to be 140 characters in length (though people cheat by posting more than once). It's a fun, easy and short way to update people or announce stuff. 

Tumblr, on the other hand, is a mixed-media blog site. It is simple to use and simple to view. You can posts text, photos, quotes, links, audio or video links and even chat conversations (and they don't look messy at all!) It's no frills, no-fuss. You can blog as long or as short as you like, and you can blog in words or pictures (whichever you prefer.)

I joined Tumblr four hours ago. Haha. I have two tumblrs. One is a regular anything-goes blog. The other is a theme blog. I named it onehundredwords, and basically, I have to tell a story I want to tell (fictional or not) in exactly one hundred words. I might revive my digital camera to take pictures for the stories, but right now it's all text. Go check them out. 

onehundredwords.tumblr.com/
rainydaysandsunsets.tumblr.com/

Also, please check out JB/Noise, an online magazine that has taken up much of my waking hours during the last weeks of May. :P It's an online magazine by and for Jonas Brothers fans in the Philippines and I wrote a lot of stuff in it. Haha. Even if you don't like the Jonas Brothers (and yay you if you do; you are an enlightened soul) please do check it out and tell me what you think. :) 

mag.jonaspilipinas.web44.net/

 Right. So the new Multiply kind of sucks. I'm back on LJ, though I guess I will still be cross-posting entries. 

First week of school is over. In this week, I have learned that I love my course more than I thought imaginable. I have a great respect for Mass Comm and the people who are in the field of Communications. With any luck, I'll be joining them soon, too. :) 

I have a blister. I've named it Ted. Say hi to Ted. Ted has been causing me extreme pain in the past few days. I can't wear regular shoes because they hurt. I can only wear slippers. Ugh. I hate you, Ted.

By the way, I'm an avid microblogger now. Follow me on Twitter (@jasminestiara) and Plurk (rainydaysandsunsets). Easy way to update mundane stuff while I think of good blog entries to write. Right now, I shall skeedadle. I want to finish a fic. :) 

It's officially summer vacation today! Finally! No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks! 

Goodbye, Juvenile detention center.

 

Hello, Jailhouse.                                               

 

It’s been more or less a week since I turned eighteen. You know what that means.  Finally legal. Wuhoo. I was saving this thank-you entry for a while now, because I wanted it to be special. I originally planned for this entry to be the first I’d type on Joseph, my new laptop (a gift from my parents). Since it took FOREVER for Joe to get fixed, I’ve been saving it and saving it until now. J

 

Thank-yous are definitely in order. I swear, I have never felt so loved. My birthday celebration started a few days before, with the JBnoys. I think this was the topic of my last blog, so I needn’t go into detail. J A few days later, on March 10, some of my high school friends and I celebrated my birthday, too. J They’re forever special.

 

And then, of course, the day itself. Gosh. It was simply surprise after surprise. First, I received about ten text messages from people greeting me at exactly midnight, with more texts through the day. I received a big box of Fererro from my special friend. Then, my friends and my soul sister devised a plan to surprise me with my favorite cake (no, NOT TIRAMISU, THANKS.) which was really funny ‘cause I was at the school internet shop at the time and it was almost exactly the same scenario as my birthday last year. This year, there were candles. :P

 

Almost immediately after, was the EXTREMELY FUNNY AND SUPER AWKWARD surprise from Brug and Bembem. They asked their friends from the music department (Jonas Brothers lookalikes daw) to give me my present. “Joe Jonas” handed me the gift, adding “Happy birthday from Joe Jonas and his brothers.” Er, okay?

 

My friends and classmates even gave me a last surprise: 18 Joe Jonases plus their messages written at the back. All those Joes, so much hotness. Aaaah.

 

The best part was that I didn’t flunk P.E. that day. And when I came home that day, I got my Joseph. J Plus a freebie cell phone, too.

 

When I woke up that morning, I lay in bed for a few minutes, thinking of how being eighteen years young would change my life. It hasn’t. I still feel like the same Jasmine I’ve always been. Nothing has drastically changed in my life. I don’t feel any different, though I admit that on my birthday, I felt light, happy, and content.

 

Eighteen is like a milestone, I suppose. A milestone that celebrates not just me, but the people who have been a part of my life. I want to take this time (really, really late, but better late than never) to thank the following who made me feel super special and extremely loved.

 

 

• ·         The JBnoys (Fiel, Bryan, Maui, Grace, Kitkat, Lia) - what you guys did TOTALLY caught me by surprise and made me tear up. Thank you. Through you guys, I have learned that sometimes, distance doesn’t matter when it comes to true friendship. J
  
• ·         Anna Katrina Lastimosa- you deserve a space of your own, with your full name. Yes, I know, I’ve thanked you before and I will thank you again. You’re like the sister I’ve always wanted to have. J ILY.
  
• ·         Lia, Bryan, Melca, Ate Nicole, Feliz, Dani, Grace, Ched, Ella, France, Niki, and Yin – for the birthday greetings. :D My message inbox is so full ‘cause of you guys. ILY.
  
• ·         Clyde, Melca and Janine- for the 18 Joes and the gifts. May Taylor and Robert be with us always. :P
  
• ·         Roselle and Ate Nicole – for reasons mere words can’t give justice to. ILY both.
  
• ·         202a- for the greetings. :D
  
• ·         Vian- for the Fererro.
  
• ·         Brug and Bembem- FOR THE FUNNIEST, AWKWARD MOMENT OF THE YEAR. ILYYYY.
  
• ·         Sir Quesada- for not flunking me in P.E. :D YAY.
  
• ·         Everyone else I might have missed.
  

 

Here’s to you guys. J I definitely have a lot to live for. Here’s hoping that I don’t land in jail, and I do marry Joe Jonas in an ostentatious wedding in Greece, wherein all of you will be bridesmaids. Ha. 

A couple of weeks ago, I felt drained. I was tired of my boring, routine life. I felt like I needed a reason to get up in the mornings with a smile on my lips and a song in my soul, but try as I might, I couldn't find that reason. I wished that I would find that reason, so I could be genuinely happy again.

Last Saturday, I found that reason. A group of friends met up at Trinoma to watch the Jonas Brothers Concert Experience. It was also supposed to be an early birthday celebration for me, though I really wasn't expecting anything. Imagine my surprise, then, when after the movie, Kitkat handed me this huge homemade birthday card containing messages from some of my JBnoys friends. I was shocked, speechless and extremely touched.

It just goes to show how I made some of the best friends online. Even if we don't see each other that often, they still did something to make my birthday special. It was the sweetest, most touching thing anyone has ever done for me--I didn't even ask for it. I think it'll be one of the most valuable things I will ever own, 'cause I really felt so extremely loved. It was the reason I'd been searching for: that I do matter to some people and they would do things to make me feel happy, loved and special.

ILY JBnoys. Thank you so much.

William Wordsworth once said that "Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility. " It basically means that one shouldn't write in the heat of the moment; we should collect our thoughts and examine them when we have come down from the emotional high, because, sometimes, our revised thoughts are clearer and better than the thoughts the come forth from us when we're still drowning in the zone.

The above paragraph is my excuse for not blogging right away about the most amazing day of my seventeen-year-old life.

The last day of February was marked in my planner as the Best. Day. Ever. It's even written in glittery bold red ink, and whenver I flip through the pages of my planner, I can't help but pause and smile when I see that entry, and the accompanying card inserted into that page of my planner.

See, February 28th was the advanced screening date of the Jonas Brothers 3D Concert Movie Experience. March 4 is the real release date here in the Philippines, but MCA Music gave some of us JBnoys an opportunity to see the movie before everyone else.

Not only did we get free tickets and a chance to see the next best thing besides a real live Jonas Brothers concert, it was such a great experience because we had a chance to bond with each other again, and make new friends with JBnoys we hadn't met yet.

When G and I arrived at the Atrium of North Edsa, it all went too fast for me. Everyone was shiny and happy, and m'gosh. Hugs all around. I was most touched when Kitkat really screamed out loud when she saw me, and as she hugged me, her scream echoed through the Atrium. Man, that's love. I think people stopped to look, but heck. Who cares. It just goes to show that yes, online friends are real friends, too. I missed all of them: Kate, Eira, Fiel, Lia, Gia, Jho, Marian, Kitkat.. I think we saw Fiel first, and she was in this very very cool Beatles shirt which I want. :P

There are several things I will never forget about this day. First was the aforementioned. Second is the standees and posters. I think there were about two million Jonas posters and standees around North Edsa (Only I'm bad at math, so don't take my word for it), and all of them were freaking hot. It was so awkward yet fun when we carried the cardboard Jonas Brothers up to the cinema. I kept thinking that if it was a real Jonas brother, he'd be carrying me. But let's save that thought for another blog.

Another thing I won't forget is the conversations. Great people, great conversations. We stayed at Sebastian's while waiting for 6pm to roll around. We had the most awkward yet fun topics that included the Chinese, Camp Rock Panties, the Burning Up Book, a certain PIE and Taylor Swift (or as I like to call her, Little Miss No-Show-at-her-own-movie). Forgive me for sounding redundant now, but it was all so, so, so fun, amazing, awesome (God, do I sound like Kevin now? XD)

We even met more JBnoys! Bryan, Maui, Alyssa, Carla, Grace... Gosh, you are all so cool and I so love you. I met other JBnoys who, I'm afraid I will know by face and not by name now. When cocktails rolled around, people got drunk on teen spirit. Well, I did, at least. I proposed marriage to a cardboard Joe Jonas. How's that for fangirling?

We also met lots of cool people. We met the Total Girl editors, Pam Pastor of Inquirer, VJ Drei (who I wish really was a Jonas), among others. We even got interviewed! Ah. Kitkat is officially semi-famous now. @-) Yiiiie.

The movie itself was a mind-blowing experience. I shall save my opinions and thoughts about it for another review, probably up by Saturday. And in reference to my entry title, YES I AM GLAD MY DEODORANT HELD UP. @-) I would have seriously died if I didn't smell powder fresh after that movie, which should have been given a freaking R rating. The Jonas boys are just too hot for words.

Saturday... was really one of the best days I've had so far. I find it funny that I can always have a good time with the JBnoys, considering I don't even get to see them every day. I guess that's true friendship, then. It's not really about the distance, but the trust. I love love love my JBnoys and I can't wait to see you guys again on Saturday. :)

A thought: I'm glad I thought about this entry before writing it, because if I wrote it immediately after the movie, I would have probably written something like this:

UFHSDGFSYHDTGREWUREIOYROIERIOEUITWASFREAKINGAWESOOOOOOOOOOME!!!!!!!11111!oneleven11!

But heck, that was fun to write, so let's end this coherent entry with an incoherent exlamation. XD

UFHSDGFSYHDTGREWUREIOYROIERIOEUITWASFREAKINGAWESOOOOOOOOOOME!!!!!!!11111!oneleven11!

And here's what she wants:

• Every Girl's Guide to Heartaches by Marla Miniano
• Every Girl's Guide to Flings by Marla Miniano
• Books from The Private Series by Kate Brian
• Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
• Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
• How They Met and Other Stories by David Levithan
• The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
• Size 12 is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
• Size 14 is Not Fat, Either by Meg Cabot
• Pants on Fire by Meg Cabot
• Thanks for the Memories by Cecilia Ahern
• The Virgin's Lover by Philippa Gregory
• The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory
• Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty
• Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty
• Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty
• Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty
• Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty
• Burning Up Book by the Jonas Brothers

and,

• more skinnies. :D
• a big roomy bag in gold or silver.

 

That's it, I suppose. :P More homework to do.

I frigging OD-ed on Tiramisu earlier this afternoon and I feel so bloated. I think I can still smell the rum they used in the cake. Ugh. I was not meant to eat that much cake in one sitting.

For the first time in a long time, I missed high school so much. :( I don't miss St. Scho. I still study at St. Scho. The buildings are the same, the walls are still ecru, the canteen food is still so-so. What I miss is high school, the experience, the memories. Our batch graduated a mere two years ago and it seems like a lifetime. So much has changed.

Today, we had our elective reunion. Sad, 'cause a lot of people from our batch didn't come. Oh well. More than paying attention to the short films of the current Campus Media students, we had fun being boisterous, like we were. I don't remember much. Only being really really... full. Of cake.

We watched the demo video we made all those years ago. Gosh. Funny how the things we said and did in that video showed who we were, and the stuff we thought we would be somehow came true. :P I really fell silent watching it. It was eerie, seeing a part of my high school like that, mapped out for me. It was weirder seeing me talk abot my future. It seemed so unsure back then. Hm. It still seems kinda unsure.

Still, I suppose. When we made that video, I never knew what would happen to me. I didn't know about the friends I'd make now, the positions I'd be in... I didn't know any of that. And to see me there, so happy (stressed) and... calm... it was just weird.

I suppose I can't think straight now. I'm so full up to my neck. :| TIRAMISU.

..because I haven't blogged in a while.

Ahh, my head is bursting. There's just too much to do and so little time to do it. Among the things fighting for attention are the Literature book review, Filipino Thesis (I mean, GOD, who really writes a thesis in Filipino?), Theo project, WriMaMed Script... I seriously feel like I'm in an emergency room sometimes, 'cause right now, life is exactly like that. Some days are boring, nothing happens. Other days are loaded, heavy, stressful, that I can't sleep 'til late because I'm up all night doing a paper that will get me a halfway decent grade.

I'm tired, stressed out, burned out. Some days, when I get home from school, I want to blog but I can't. Sometimes there's nothing to write about. ...okay, that's a lie. There's always something to write about, but I can't seem to find the words that will perfectly convey what I want to write about. I miss blogging. I miss writing. I haven't written a chapter of my fic in ages. I haven't read in a long time either.

Last week, I was able to read three books. All fiction, meaning not related at all to schoolwork. It felt so great. I felt so accomplished after reading each book, because I felt that the real Jasmine, who was being suffocated by so many stressful things, was finally able to take a breath of fresh air. Finally. It was like a part of me of long ago (but not really long ago) came back, and life seemed more manageable, more bright.

And on the subject of a bright life, I met up with high school friends this week, too. Man, they always know how to make me smile. Nothing beats high school friends. We talked about such vulgar topics over lunch, and it felt nice because with them, I can be extremely open in a way I can't with my college friends. It's definitely different when you've grown up with someone, 'cause you know that they're going to love you anyway, quirks and all.

I'm so excited for the 28th. I can't wait to see my JBnoys again. :) Aaah, it's been just too long. It's the only thing keeping me going right now. I keep thinking of what will happen when we finally see each other again after a zillion years. I wonder if people cut their hair. I wonder if some of them had lipo done. Kidding. But seriously.

With life and all its' stresses, I still feel pretty darn lucky 'cause I'm blessed with all these friends who can offer support and make me smile even when I feel like crying. Ah. Crying because I don't know how to translate an entire English book report into Filipino, or crying because my eyes are bleeding from staring at the computer screen for so long. :P Well, whatever. C'est la vie.

There are only two kinds of people that will read this blog. Some will think that the title of this entry is just something I pulled out of nowhere. The others will know that it is a line from a Beatles’ song which the Jonas Brothers covered. And this entry is for the latter.

I have much to be thankful about for the year 2008. It has certainly been one of the most memorable years I’ve had. However, before I get to thanking everyone else and recapping what I did from January to December this year, I feel that I should first thank this special group of people who are immeasurably significant to me.

As some of you may or may not know, this year was a year of so much change for me. In June, I had to say goodbye to the home I grew up in because we had to move to another place. This year, I had to endure the painful sadness of not being with my block mates from 1st year, the people I’ve grown so close to. With the deblocking came the separation, too. Some of my closest friends aren't so close anymore.

Brug is the cause of all this. I blame her. Back in late 2007, she reintroduced me to a band I had already been familiar with since I was in third year. She showed me recent pictures and articles and kept gushing on how freaking hot they were. I did not disagree. I googled them, learned more about them, found some of their songs and listened to them, but I never really got hooked because I was too busy with school.

In February, she started nagging me to join this forum for this band’s fans in the Philippines. I checked it out, but I did not register for an account simply because I was too busy and I didn’t think I could regularly check back for updates. Meanwhile, their songs remained on my playlist. Two months later was summer vacation. I had nothing to do at home. We were moving, so my days were busy packing, organizing and boxing stuff at home. The free time I had was spent on the internet or in front of the television. We didn’t really go out much save for the mall on weekends because we were busy with the move.

I was always tuned in to the music channels on TV, I noticed that this band had a particular song that was always played on all three music channels. It always charted high, and eventually became #1 for weeks. I fell in love with the song completely. I was so addicted to it; I would never miss a replay of the music video. As I fell in love with that song, I listened again to their other songs on my playlist, and I finally fell in love with the band.

One day in April, I had a dream about the band. It was a very vivid dream that I could not get out of my head for a long time. I told Brug about it and she said that it was good enough to write into a story. Now, until that time I had not written anything creative for a long, long time, and I wondered how I would get those images and dialogues in my head on paper in a way that would give justice to the dream I had. Eventually, I was able to write the first four chapters of the first story I had written in a year, maybe. I showed it to Brug and she encouraged me to post it on the forums. Since I did not have the excuse of being “too busy” anymore, I registered for an account and posted it on the Fan fiction boards. That was the first post I ever made on that forum, and since that first post, so many wonderful things have happened.

As you may know now, the story I posted was Mundane, my baby. The forum was Jonas Brothers Philippines. The song was When You Look Me in the Eyes and the band was, of course, the Jonas Brothers.

Since that first post on the forum, I have met such amazing people. First, they were the people who commented on my fic. I knew them as usernames at first, but since I kept posting, getting to know them and chatting with them, they ceased to because mere usernames to me. They were real people with real names. They were real friends.

The JBnoys have been so important to me this 2008. Not only did they encourage me to write again, they also made me find my purpose. I was surprised that so many people on the forum loved Mundane, and I was more touched when several of them said that I inspire people through my writing. They said that I could be a great writer and rock the world with what I churn out of my imagination. I have never forgotten that.

The JBnoys have also been there for me during the hard times. When I was having problems with school or with friends, they were there to listen and offer support. Many of them are younger than me, but they are so much wiser and mature. One of them said “We’re there for each other sa lahat, whether it’s Jonas brothers or real life, kasi we’re all friends now, diba?” I couldn’t agree more.

In August, I was fortunate to be part of the Total Girl Plus shoot for the Jonas Brothers fans. I think it’s unnecessary to say I became an extreme addict, even converting some of my other friends. It was such an amazing experience, finally meeting the people who were Y!M buddies. There were finally faces to the names, and that was the day I knew online friends are real friends, too.

The JBnoys have sometimes been better friends than my friends in school. In December, a small group of us met at Kitkat’s house for a get-together, and I honestly had the most fun I’ve had in ages. It’s nice to let go and just act crazy once in a while, and with the JBnoys, I can do just that.

Since then, I’d like to think we’ve become closer. As the Jonas Brothers provided me inspiration and help when I most needed it, the JBnoys were there, too. They’re like a family to me now, and I can’t imagine how I would have handled the many changes that came this year without them. I think I would have totally broken down.

So here’s to all of you, dear friends. Kitkat, Eira, Kate, Fiel, Angel, Maui, Lia, Gia, Pat, Alyssa, Reg, Nicole, Inna, Issa, Marian, Jho. Anjilou, Steph, Bryan, Rafael, Gelo, those who’ve reviewed my fic and been there from the very start, thank you. I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone! I love you guys. You are my life now. We said hello, hello, and let’s not say goodbye too soon. LOL.

Brug, thank you for nagging me to register.

And Joe, Kevin, and Nick. I suppose if it weren’t for you guys, we wouldn’t have even met at all. Thank you for the songs, the moments, the funny jokes and lines, and the daydreams. Thank you or giving me a reason to smile when I don’t feel like being happy. Thank you for being the cutest, most adorable, most perfect boys men ever. Most of all, thank you for the friends. Thank you for them. :)

I started this entry by trying to answer the meme Janine tagged me with, but my thoughts are somehow deviating from that. I guess it's the cold weather, the cozy atmosphere, and the multitide of glittering lights on the Christmas tree some feet away.

This Christmas did not feel like it should have. I don't know if the blame should be put on me, for growing up, or on the world, for making us grow up. The holidays are so commercialized now. I suppose kids associate Christmas with gifts---and that's not good. Somehow, the meaning is lost among the flurry of satin ribbons and wrapping paper and glittery tinsel. I guess the intent is there but it doesn't really follow though.

I did write a rant about this year's Peace Camp. Yes, I did. But I'm not going to post that. Sure, it was bogus, with a super-short program which was quite uneventful, plus the mass that was just typical. Sure it was annoying to have to come to school at 4:00pm in school uniform and sit through a program without any leeway whatsoever to move around and take pictures and have a bit of fun. Sure we had to go home late and endure the barrage of parents and students trying to breathe at the gate. Sure there was all of that. But you know what? There was Christmas in that.

Christmas is a holiday when we spend time with our loved ones and be thankful for what we have because when it comes right down to it, the people we share our lives with are gifts. They're the gifts that make Christmas a meaningful holiday, not the wrapped ones we receive and put under the tree. Those are just bonuses.

Now that I think about it, that evening was the funnest, wackiest evening I spent with some of my friends. There was Christmas in that, despite all the restrictions. All of that doesn't matter because I went to bed with a smile that night. I suppose that's the point of all this. When Christmas doesn't seem to come to you, go find it for yourself. There is Christmas in a lot of things we take for granted.

So, since Christmas Day is just one day away, I'd like to thank you for being one of the special gifts in my life. You're definitely not something I would want to wrap and put under a tree. You're a gift I love spending time with simply because you mean a lot to me.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

I'm extremely tired and my eyes are threatening to shut tight, however I felt the extreme need to post this entry.

So. It's officially Christmas Break as of 8:47 p.m. this evening. I don't have to see my freaking school for an entire blissful two weeks. The feeling of being free is quite new. For the first time in a long time, I don't have to think about my crazy schedule for the next day, or get worried over the stuff I have to accomplish for the following morning. I can finally rest, relax and make time to think about the little things creeping up in my mind.

It's also a very satisfying feeling to know that I can finally write. I can finally blog, I can finally continue my fic. I can dream and imagine again, now that there's nothing weighing me down.

I don't know how stress does that. It's really weird. I'm normally quite carefree in the sense that I like to think of childish things. I like to think simply and live life without complications (Yes, honestly, I do!). In fact, you could probably place my picture under the word "whimsy" in the dictionary. However, when I have so much work to do, I think I lose my mind. I lose myself. I worry a lot, I overthink, I panic... I'm sure the people close to me know this side of me really well.

There's just something about the prospect of a long break that lifted a huge weight off my shoulders and allowed me to truly breathe. I can let my mind wander and pick up whatever it fancies from the recesses of my imagination. The thought just makes me smile. During school days, I barely dream. Sleep doesn't seem like an experience; it becomes a chore.

However, I think I can be happy now. I'm extremely content with the world (sort of). I got whatever I wanted this Christmas, and there's still a week left for gift-giving! I also am (sort of) content with the people in my life right now. I've never felt more secure, content and happy.

It's going to be a wonderful break. I can feel it. Now, I have to get back to my regular programming. I'mma rant about this year's Peace Camp soon. Ohoho. Yes, it was pure hate. More on that later. Sleep now.

I nearly died laughing. I want to marry the psycho-genius who created this thing. Bahahaha. Grabbed from Fiel.

 

"kasi pare ganito daw yun. may isa daw babae na hot daw pare. pero maputla siya kasi hindi
siya inalagaan ng nanay niya pare. tapos pare emo daw siya kasi nga daw hindi siya mahal ng mundo at para siyang patay na bata na galit sa mundo. tapos pare, lumipat daw siya ng tirahan kasi daw masyado daw siyang emo para sa luma niyang tirahan. sabi niya sa nanay niya "tangina mo nay gusto ko lumipat kay tay". tangina pare hindi nagalit nanay niya. sabi lang ng nanay niya "tangina mo pare wag ka magmura".
so lumipat siya sa tatay niya di ba? pagkarating niya dun sabi niya, "tangina erpat bakit maulan dito?" sabi ng erpat niya "gago "bur" months na! malamig na tangena". so nagtaka yung babaeng simula ngayon ay tatawagin na lang nating "babaeng maputla at emo".

so pumasok siya sa school di ba? binigyan siya ng truck ng tatay niya pare. sabi ng tatay niya "tangina mo sa'yo na tong truck ko". sabi niya "salamat tay".

pagkarating niyang school tsong, may nakita siyang lalaking mukhang bangkay pero pogi. sakto. pogi pero mukhang bangkay. sabi ni babaeng maputla at emo "hot pare".

nung chem lab na ni babaeng maputla at emo, natagpuan niyang lab partner niya yung poging bangkay. so nung tinignan siya nung poging bangaky, ang asim ng mukha nito. mukhang nandiri ata kay babaeng maputla at emo.

sabi ni poging bangkay "tangina mo". sabi ni babaeng maputla at emo "tangina KA". sabi ni poging bangkay "tangina NIYA oh *tumuro sa teacher nila*". sabi ni babaeng maputla at emo "oo nga noh. TANGINA MO". sabi ni poging bangkay "tangina mo gago bampira ako". tapos naghubad siya ng damit at kumintab ang katawan niya kasi linagyan niya ng glitters ang abs niya kasi tigas siya at ganun na ang mga tigas ngayon na nagpupuntang emba.

so pare na in love si babaeng maputla at emo kay poging bangkay. si poging bangkay naman sige lang kasi sex din daw yun. so ayun. angshweet shweet nila.

"eow poh... ahihihihi"

"bebe mwahugz,..... ^^,"

so tapos nun nagpunta sila sa damuhan kasi.... alam mo na. tapos sabi ni poging bangkay "ikaw na buhay ko ngayon" sabi ni babaeng maputla at emo "tangina mo gago patay ka na". sabi ni poging bangkay "TANGINA KA".

tapos nagsex sila

so basically pare yun lang yung mga importanteng nangyari sa buong storya. intense noh? kaya pala nahhook lahat ng tao. akala ko overrated. hindi pala. astig pala. parang estorya ni jesus christ pero may mga bampira. mas astig. alam naman natin ang basic equation ng pagkacool."

 

I just highlighted the extremely true ones.

 

You have always longed for tenderness, love and a sensitivity of feeling into which you would like to blend. You are a very gentle warm person and responsive to 'All things bright and beautiful'. This personifies a caring person, a person who 'needs' and indeed 'needs to be needed'.

You are a leader and possibly at this tine in a position of authority, but you are experiencing problems. You are not quite sure how to handle the present situation.

You are a dreamer and you seek perfection in any relationship that you may establish. Some of your ideas and standards are over the top so it may be a good idea to review your perception of life and accept people for what they are - not for what you would like them to be.

You are being unduly influenced by the situation that is all around you. You do not like the feeling of loneliness and whatever it is that seems to separate you from others. You know that life can be wonderful and you are anxious to experience life in all its aspects, to live it to the full. You therefore resent any restriction or limitations that are being imposed on you and you insist on going it alone.

You wish to be left in peace... no more conflict and no more differences of opinion. In fact you just don't want to be involved in arguments of any shape or form. All you want is for 'them' to get on with it - and to leave you alone.

Monday. Oh, Monday. It was so much fun. I still have a smile on my face when I remember the totally crazy stuff we did. For people who don't know what happened, Monday was the date of the JBnoys' get-together/Christmas Party at Kitkat's house. There were only two problems with the whole thing. 1: We couldn't invite everyone, and 2: There were people who couldn't come. :(

A side note for other JBnoys reading this: we have to plan another get-together with a sufficiently large venue to hold all of us. That is our only problem: the venue. I want to see ALL of you guys next time!

So going back. The games were hilarious. I didn't think it would be that fun and funny; at the time I was thinking of the mechanics, it seemed rally corny. Ah well, all is love in the world of Jonas. The Alphabet game showdown was epic. Girrrrrrl, please! *snaps fingers* So was the lip-synched version of On the Line. Hahaha. Okay. I must have looked so silly.

I wish you guys weren't so shy, though. I mean, Lord. We know each other's fantasies and chat like crazy on YM, so I thought we would...um...talk more? IDK. I'm glad Fiel, Eira and Pia were talkative. Kate, Kitkat and I were always jabbermouths. Kitkat and I moreso. Brug talked! Finally.

I will never forget how Kate freaked out when she got six pairs of wayfarers from Brug. Hahaha. It was so cute. I'm glad she got what she wanted.

Oh, and my Secret Santa! Thank you so much for getting me what I wanted, too. :) ILY, and I'm glad we met.

Thank you also to Fiel, Lia, Marian & Jho, Kate, Kitkat and Eira for their gifts. And Brug, too. I think I left the guitar keychain at your place, though. XD

JBnoys, I love ya'll. I'm glad I became this obsessive fangirl, because I met great friends. Next time, we have to be complete, okay? Love, love. :D

 

P.S. Kitkat, yer staircase is so pretty. XD

Yeah, I've been upset this week over the whole Joe Jonas/Taylor Swift/Camilla Belle brouhaha. I'm not over it; I'm just going to pretend it did not happen (the DENIAL movement!). It's dangerous when you have nothing else to do in your spare time. :P

In other news, I have been having really really weird dreams about Kapitan. In this dream, he was fighting with one of my friends so that he could give me the last roll of Strawberry bubblegum tape (which that friend had). He was also, um, really close. I don't like him in that way, so I have really no idea why I keep having these weird dreams. He's not even my type. I think at one point, he tried to steal a kiss.  Ewww. When I woke up, I had to scrub my skin til it was red to get rid of the kilig feeling in the dream. Ewwww talaga. I take back what I said. It wasn't a dream; it was a nightmare.

I. Don't. Like. Him.

Ewwww. Anyway. Back to party-planning.

The title of this blog isn't exactly what it's about. Not totally, anyway.

I've been thinking about my future more seriously now. We had our first Principles of Journalism class awhile ago, and a couple of things which our prof said stuck to me and made me think deeply. It made me question myself--if what I thought I wanted my future to be two years ago is the same as what I want my future to be now.

Let's face it. When you're fresh out of high school, you have big dreams, big expectations about what you want to happen after you're done with college. What most people don't realize as fresh high school grads is that college itself can prove to be a hurdle that can change you greatly. I'm definitely one of those people. I didn't realize, well, reality. Reality bites

I'm in a rut right now, and that's being blithe about it. Two years ago, I pictured myself to be a successful journalist in the future. My definition of journalist for myself was a writer. A weaver of words. One who would change people through words. Then, I entered college. It has been one and a half years since I have been accepted into the degree program that would allow me to make my dreams a reality. But along the way, I realized that writing was not my only gift.

I have other talents, but I can only choose one to develop. So, yes, I'm really having a difficult time deciding which minor to choose. Print Journalism would seem like the obvious choice. I know I have a gift with words, and I know I'm passionate about it. Writing has always been my first love; it has been there for me when nothing else could. However, Broadcast Journalism will expand my horizons so much. I could learn a whole lot from it, I'm good at it, and the people I want to be thesis-mates with in the future would probably take Broadcast Journalism.

And that's the whole problem. I'm afraid that no matter which minor I choose, I'm going to end up disappointing someone. If I choose my first love, I will definitely disappoint one someone who is really, really important to me. That's the worst. I really don't want to disappoint his person. Not ever. Not in a million years. If I choose Broadcast, though,  I will disappoint the people who wanted to see me grow and excel in the aspect of mass communication that made me take the course in the first place. Not only that, I might end up disappointing myself, and regretting the decision to take Broadcast Journalism. I guess that would hurt the most. I can't just shift.

I guess another problem is that I don't even know what I want. I'm passionate about both. One day, I could be all for Print Journalism, and the next, for Broadcast. It's so confusing and terrifying when I think about it. I have around two semesters to think about what I want. Hopefully, I'll be secure about whatever I decide to take come third year.

For now, I'm saying sorry. I'm sorry. Like I said before, I know I'm definitely going to disappoint a lot of people no matter which minor I take. That hurts the most. I hate disappointing people.

This is my future. I have to take it into my own hands. But at the same time, I see my future with the people I love. How do I achieve both? Sigh. That is one of the many questions I need to find answers to.

For now, I think I need to do a lot of soul-searching.

Today is/was the last day of sembreak, and the only day out of 14 lazy days that I got inspired to write something nice. Haha. I'm letting it sit for a while then I'll edit it later. Yay for me.

I'd like to thank Boys Like Girls + Vintage Jonas for the inspiration. I listened to the entire BLG album and the IAT album and the story practically wrote itself in one night and one day. I didn't even have to think so much.

Anyway. School tomorrow. Urk. I dunno whether to be happy or sad. There are certain people I don't really want to see. Well, hopefully there won't be much stress or homework tomorrow. :P First subject = PhilGoCo.

I need notes. Does anyone have notes? Anyone? Pretty please? 

[x] High School Musical
[x] Lizzie McGuire Movie
[x] Cheetah Girls
[x] Halloween Town
[x] Halloween Town High
[x] Cadet Kelly

 

Total: 6

 

[x] Get a Clue
[  ] Motocrossed
[x] Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
[x] Pocahontas
[x] Pocahontas 2
[x] Lady and the Tramp

 

Total: 5

 

[x] Lady and the Tramp 2
[x] Cinderella
[x] The Parent Trap
[x] The Little Mermaid
[x] The Little Mermaid 2

 

total: 5

 

[x] Mary Poppins
[x] The Fox and the Hound
[x] Dumbo
[x] Pinocchio
[x] Bambi

 

total: 5

 

[x] The Great Mouse Detective
[x] The Rescuers Down Under
[x] Toy Story
[x] Toy Story 2
[x] Lion King
[x] Lion King 1.5
[x] Lion King 2

 

total: 7

 

[x] Peter Pan
[x] Peter Pan 2
[x] Fantasia
[x] The Three Caballeros
[x] Alice in Wonderland
[x] Sleeping Beauty

 

total: 6

 

[x] 101 Dalmatians
[x] 102 Dalmatians
[ ] The Sword in the Stone
[x] The Jungle Book
[x] The Aristocats

 

total: 4

 

[x] Robin Hood
[  ] Oliver and Company
[x] Beauty and the Beast

[x] Beauty and the Beast 2
[x] Aladdin
[x] Aladdin: Return of Jafar
[x] Aladdin: The King of Thieves

 

total: 6

 

[x] Finding Nemo
[x] Monsters, Inc.
[x] Hercules
[x] Mulan
[x] Mulan 2
[x] Tarzan

 

total: 6

 

[x] Lilo & Stitch
[x] The Hunchback of Notre Dame
[x] The Emperor's New Groove
[x] The Nightmare Before Christmas
[x] Bed Knobs and Broomsticks
[  ] Pete's Dragon

 

total: 5

 

[x] Remember the Titans
[ ] Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
[x] James and the Giant Peach
[x] Mighty Ducks
[x] A Bug's Life
[x] The Incredibles

 

total: 5

 

[x] A Goofy Movie
[x] An Extremely Goofy Movie
[x] Atlantis
[x] The Chronicles of Narnia
[ ] Around the World in 80 Days
[x] Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

 

total: 5

 

[x] A Cinderella Story

[x] Pirates of the Caribbean

[x] Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

[x] Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

total: 4

[x] National Treasure

[x] Princess Diaries

[x] Princess Diaries 2

 

total: 3

 

[x] Freaky Friday
[x] Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
[x] A Muppet Christmas Carol
[x] Ice Princess

 

total: 4