the great pancake disaster

Music: The Re-Arranger by Mates of State

Yesterday, I just made the worst batch of pancakes, ever.

Blame it on the fact that I’ve been sick for one week and counting, or my kuya’s ridiculous tale (that I cannot even remember anymore), or my sudden culinary inspiration to add cinnamon in the pancake-and-water mix. Whatever the reason, I must have over-mixed the batter (something the instructions on the outside of the box emphasized NOT to do), because when I poured the first glomp on the skillet, the thing bubbled like mad and refused to be apart from the black pan.

When I finally succeeded in salvaging as much as I could from the weird concoction, it didn’t even look like a pancake anymore. More like oversized, mushy bread leftovers. Burnt, oversized, mushy bread leftovers.

I’m like, OMGWTFBBQ.

I have made countless pancakes in my time. Some were close to perfect, others not so much, but definitely edible. The horrid thing in front of me then could definitely cause food poisoning.

I was devastated. I had more than half a bowl of pancake batter in front of me, and I didn’t know what to do with it.

Breathing in and out, trying to calm myself, I listed my options inside my woozy head:

Option one: Add flour to the batter. This will make the taste bland, but I could always add sugar. Problem: I’m not sure if that will work, or if it will make the mixture more horrible than it already was.

Option two: Add cornstarch instead. Problem: Refer to option number one.

Option three: Throw the batter away, and start over. Problem: I don’t like wasting food.

Option four: Be adventurous. Bake the damned thing. Problem: I’m not really much of a baker. Pfft.

I opted for option four. I mean, what was the worst that could happen, right?

(Flashback: When I was in grade school, a friend and I tried baking a chocolate cake for our parents. The cake ended up as a sludge of brown, gooey thing that our parents couldn’t stop laughing and talking about it for days. Another flashback: In college, I baked a batch of brownies for (and with) my best friend/crush. We ended up with a batch of hard cookies instead. To be fair, I blame it mostly on the flirting in the kitchen.)

I poured a tablespoon of cooking oil in the batter (no, the original instructions did not require oil so I didn’t bother), took out a rectangular baking tray, poured the batter in it, and popped it in our oven toaster, setting the timer to fifteen minutes.

As I waited for the thing to finish baking, several scenarios went through my head:

Scenario one: The batter will be overbaked and inedible, and not only have I wasted precious food, but I wasted electricity as well.

Scenario two: My sisters will not like the taste, but I can always force them to eat it. Or I can finish it up myself, and suffer from a stomachache later.

Scenario three: The glomp will actually turn out okay, coming out of the toaster as a decent-enough-bread-thingy that I can serve for breakfast. Or a late snack. Since it was already, like, close to ten a.m. then.

Sceanrio three happened. I was saved.

And to make things better, several hours later, my sister came out of her room, went to the kitchen, looked at the empty plate where the pancake-turned-bread used to be, and asked, “Wala nang pancake?”

sorry for the inconvenience (another playlist)

Music: All Deliberate Speed by MAE

After making a playlist for my barkada (and enjoying the experience), I decided to make one for my best friend too. At first I had around twenty titles in my longlist, but after I shortlisted them, I ended up with only seven.

I'd like to think they're a fabulous seven though. Or maybe I should have made it five? Like, fabulous five?

Anyway.

Like my first playlist, I'm willing to share this to anyone who'll be interested. Just drop me a message somewhere on or before December 31, because, you know, that's when the FTP link expires.

List of songs are as follows:

1 - When you feel tired and what is left of your self-esteem is slowly slipping out of your grasp:

"Nothing in this room but empty space--no me, no world, no mind, no face."

Believe (K's Choice 3:31)

2 - When you feel useless:

"Well, you and me, we could change the world."

All Deliberate Speed (MAE 5:10)

3 - When you just want to give up because you're oh so tired:

"As you fall, wish for a place where you want to be."

As You Fall (Bent 3:35)

4 - When you feel like everything is going wrong and nothing is going right:

"Little holes in parachutes won't leave you falling, if they do, it's because you want to land."

Little (Something Corporate 4:51)

5 - When you're heartbroken:

"This cycle never ends; you gotta fall in order to mend."

Brand New Day (Joshua Radin 3:33)

6 - When you feel all alone and unloved:

"If your face is salty wet and you're drowning in regret, just don't forget...love heals."

Love Heals (Rent OST 4:36)

7 - Bonus track:

(When you just want to dance)

Two Birds (MAE 2:57)

battle royale novel spin-off?!

Music: How To Save a Life by The Fray

I don't usually repost news and other entertainment tidbits (because I normally don't care about them), but this one hits too close to home.

Battle Royale: Tenshi-tachi no Kokkyō (Battle Royale: Angels’ Border), a new spinoff manga based on Koushun Takami’s dystopian novel Battle Royale, will launch in next year’s third issue of Akita Shoten’s Young Champion magazine on January 11. Mioko Ōnishi (Izo’s Lover!) is drawing the new manga, and Takami is penning an all-new story for it.

The original 1999 novel followed a class of junior high school students who are forced to play a deadly game. On a deserted island, they must hunt each other down, and the last studentleft alive wins. The novel inspired two live-action films, and the first film by director Kinji Fukasaku was converted into stereoscopic 3D this year. Masayuki Taguchi serialized an earlier manga in Young Champion from 2000 to 2005.

Viz Media published the original novel in North America, and its Haikasoru imprint reissued the novel with a newly revisted text, as well as supplemental material from Takami himself, Max Allan Collins (Road to Perdition, Batman: The Child of Dreams), and Fukasaku. Tokyopop published the 15 volumes of Taguchi’s manga version in North America.

Source:

http://japanentertainment.tumblr.com/post/2408380860/battle-royale-novel-gets-new-manga-spinoff-in-january

I have mixed feelings, really.

On the one hand, I'm thrilled to see something new from Takami after so long (mostly because I haven't really paid attention to his other works that are not BR-related). On the other hand, I'm always kind of skeptical when it comes to BR spin-offs, especially because the second movie (Battle Royale II: Requiem) is HORRIBLE. Battle Royale II: Blitz Royale, the manga inspired by the second movie, half-bored me to death, and that's saying something, since I finished the first manga in less than a week.

I just don't know how to feel about this newest spin-off, especially since the news didn't contain any plot summary or synopsis.

But still, I guess it's something to look forward to in 2011.

Hoorah?

the thursday group

Music: The Simple Life by Sherwood

Because I hate Christmas shopping, I generally don't give gifts on Christmas. But since I love my barkada (and I'm in my things-I've-never-done-before phase), I decided to make a playlist for them this yuletide season.

My playlist includes the following songs (and dedications):

1 - Simple Life (Sherwood) - For everyone in my little group (because, after all, I think they are the ones I’ve been searching for all my life...well, at least part of what I've been searching for)

2 - Not Sure Yet (Andy Lange) - For Gel (because he's never given up on the idea of a happy ending)

3- Chase This Light (Jimmy Eat World) - For Ice (because, after all the chasing and falling and hurting, she's finally getting the happily ever after she deserves)

4 - Brand New Day (Joshua Radin) - For Ivan (because he finally found Miss Right, after a series of Miss Wrong)

5 - Hammers and Strings – A Lullaby (Jack’s Mannequin) - For Ayen (because sometimes, all she really needs is someone to sing to her in her sleep)

6 - How To Save a Life (The Fray) - For Gia (because sometimes, despite all efforts, friendships end, but it doesn’t mean that they end forever)

7 - Goodnight and Go (Imogen Heap) - For Lorraine (because of reasons that will not be mentioned here, since, you know, I fear for my life)

8 - Giving It Away (MAE) - For myself (because I need to learn to start trusting again)

I have an FTP link to all eight songs (plus lyrics) that will expire on December 30 (yes, 2010), so if anyone wants a copy of the playlist, drop a shout-out or PM or text me or something so I can send it to you too. Because, well, it's the season to be generous, so I'm willing to share it with other people (until before the link expires, of course).

In the meantime, here are the lyrics of The Simple Life by Sherwood, the first song in the playlist:

Simple Life

This is the easy life

This is the simple life baby

And you maybe just what I

Have always been searching for

A light through an open door darling

But you're guarding it all night

I will whisper a song in your ear

Of the things you've been missing my dear

If you remember the tune

It's all I can do

Just remember I wrote it for you

And I carry an open box

Of rusted and broken locks, slowly

Can you show me where to lie?

Cause I'm tired as I can be

My legs aren't a part of me darling

Let us go then, you and I, through the night

I will whisper a song in your ear

Of the things you've been missing my dear

If you remember the tune

It's all I can do

Just remember I wrote it for you

I will whisper a song in your ear

Of the things you've been missing my dear

If you remember the tune

It's all I can do

Just remember I wrote it for you

Just remember I wrote it for you

(And here's a random YouTube link, to give non-Sherwood fans an idea of how it sounds like: The Simple Life)

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope your 2010 was more bearable than mine was, and even if it wasn't, I hope you learned important lessons along the way, just as I did.

Here's hoping to a, ehem, fantabulous 2011?

the great putobumbong hunt

Music: Knock Out episode via our TV set :p

I get weird cravings sometimes, and they usually last for a month (mostly because it takes me that long to find the food I’m looking for). I remember way back last year (or was it last, last year) that I craved for takoyaki so badly I searched different malls and bazaars just to find a takoyaki stall. I found one at the Megamall A food court. After a few days, I saw takoyaki stands everywhere.

Just a couple of months ago, I had a terrible craving for kwek-kwek (quail eggs fried with orange flour), but the stalls which sell them made me fear a relapse of typhoid fever (yes dinuguan, I blame you for that). It took me about another month to actually find a clean-enough-looking stall to buy kwek-kwek from. A week later, I saw two new stalls that sell fish balls, squid balls, and yes, even kwek-kwek.

Next was the controversial avocado ice cream. This was trickier, because not all groceries sell that flavor. Finally, I had to drag Lorraine to Megamall in search of a cone, which thankfully BTIC has. The events after that will remain unspoken of, mostly because I still like to pretend that none of it happened. Let's just say it involved a stalker and some, uh, stalking?

Then last November I suddenly had a craving for putobumbong. Knowing that it was nearing Christmas, I figured that bibingka stalls would sprout like weed in every corner, and for one month I searched for the perfect putobumbong...all in vain. It took me two weeks to find one measly stall, and it was situated in a place so inconvenient that I would have to go down from the jeepney on my way home from church just so I could buy some. I never did, mostly because I feared that it would not be worth it. Yes, I'm stupid like that.

Finally, about two weeks ago, my sister's boyfriend mentioned a friend's family who sold putobumbong somewhere in San Roque, Marikina. One cold evening, on our way home from theater practice, I asked--commanded--my sister to take a detour to said place so we could finally buy some.

It was worth it.

The sticky, violet malagkit was just the right amount of texture I wanted, and the combination of sugar and coconut shreds added to the light, fluffy flavor I prefer. I was so happy I finished two sets in one night. Which is, of course, bad for my stomach, but I didn't care. The great putobumbong hunt was over.

The following day, my cousin told me the store outside our condominium had set up a bibingka and putobumbong stand just that evening.

Damn it.

people need the Lord (and other theater blues)

Music: People Need the Lord by Steve Green

With the postponed performance for the Bicutan drug rehab this coming Sunday, I felt pretty bad about all the rehearsals we had the past couple of Saturdays. Not that I think they're wasted; I'm just...well...disappointed. Then I got an invitation for a music sketch performance on December 15, and at first I'm a bit hesitant to accept, because it's a weekday and it's hard to come up with something in the span of a few days.

But the Lord works in ways that I can never comprehend. I got nine volunteers who are willing to perform on the 15th, and I have until Friday evening to write the script. I have absolutely nothing, but I believe the Lord will give me wisdom, since He pretty much made this possible to begin with.

In the meantime, here are the lyrics to the song I'll be working on. This song was suggested by the event organizer, and though it's not exactly a Christmas-y song, it's perfect for evangelism. And I've always wanted to write something for this anyway, but never really took the time to sit down and actually do it. Now I won't have an excuse anymore, so in a way, maybe this is God's way of telling me to get off my butt and write more material for the songs I love.

If anyone wants a copy of the script (assuming I actually finish something on time), I'd be more than willing to share. Just give me a holler, a shout-out, a hello-how-are-you and I'll e-mail you a copy of the file, most probably in Excel format. Uh, yes, because formatting a music sketch script in Word is torture.

Okay, enough mumbling. Here you go:

People Need the Lord (Steve Green)
Everyday they pass me by
I can see it in their eyes
Empty people filled with care
Headed who knows where
On they go through private pain
Living fear to fear
Laughter hides their silent cries
Only Jesus hears

People need the Lord
People need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams
He's the open door
People need the Lord
People need the Lord
When will we realize
People need the Lord
 We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right
What could be too great a cost for
Sharing life with one who's lost
Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear
They must hear the words of life
Only we can share
 People need the Lord
People need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams
He's the open door
People need the Lord
When will they realize
That we must give our lives
For people need the Lord
People need the Lord
People need the Lord
  

barkada emo moments part v - gia v2.0

Music: Prince of Tennis opening song

I've neglected my blog for a couple of weeks, but then again, real life happened.

Anyway, here's the next part of my barkada emo sessions. This is Gia's reply to Gel's post.

The war continues!

@gel... i guess you are tackling it in a different context. since the "happy ending" i dont believe in is the "fairy tale happy ending" because joshene introduced the term happy ending after the fairy tale thingy of her ex-crush. it's a fairy tale...kwentong kutsero, a magnified and sanitized version of the truth (that you cannot experience happiness in real life without going through trials and pains).

you and your partner might not be the ones creating the trials, but it's part of life and relationships...you could never say you fully trust and believe in your relationship until it is challenged...you could easily say that, when it is not...but what happens when it is???

marriage is not a path to happiness...it is commitment, trust, respect and love...marriage is simply a tool to show the commitment, trust, respect and love.

marriage can be a path to hell. if based on all the wrong reasons. or even if based on the right reasons, but the couple left it in the minds and failed to exercise the reasons of the marriage.

the problem with some airheads is they that think, pag kasal na OK na ang lahat, but it is not...that's why some marriages fall apart. because at one point or another...naging sobrang kampante na sa marriage, akala nila dahil natali na nila...tali na sa kanila...

kahit kasal ka na

...you still have to nurture the relationship...you still have to work hard to keep it strong.

sabi nga ng mga kaibigan ko na may-asawa: you have to compromise a lot...you have to be strong...and in a relationship you have to continually remember "it doesn't mean that when a person doesn't love you the way you want to be loved...they don't love you."

"It doesn't mean that when a person doesn't love you the way you want to be loved...they don't love you."

This is my favorite part of the post. And not because I'm cheesy or mushy or any of that crap. I just think it makes sense. You can't force people to love you. You just have to let them do it in their own way, at their own pace. Whether it be romantic or brotherly love, it's really not your call. You just need to learn to accept whatever that person is capable of giving.

Believe me, you'll be better off that way.

Links to previous posts for reference:

barkada emo moments part iv - joyce

barkada emo moments part iii - gel

barkada emo moments part ii - ivan

barkada emo moments part i - gia