Long ago I’d spend hours looking for that perfect wallpaper. I used applications that would swap pictures every day. I used my celeb-crushes, I used quotes, I used motivational pictures, animes, family pictures, etc. etc. These days I don’t remember the last time I’ve actually been bothered to “personalise” my computer. But I did just recently change my wallpaper.

Pining tagged me (suki mo na ko ha) for this “show me your desktop” going around the net like a virus. I might actually be the last person to do this as I’ve seen this on most blogs I’ve been to. So I guess I will end this here & not tag anyone okay lusot na hehe Oh hey if you still want to show me/us what you got, just pick this up!

As I said before, my hormones are taking over & I’ve been fancying McAvoy for some days now. So here’s my work-desktop. And like I said, I’ve got dual monitors so his face is plastered on both. Awfully nice.

See that pose? I think it’s perfect. He gazes at me whenever I close the 20-odd applications (when actually busy, right now I’m blogging — bad auee) I’ve got open. Is this geek Heaven?

Angel tagged me to discover what other great events happened on my birthday. I was mildly disappointed because I didn’t know most of these other Cancerians but the events were aplenty.

Da Rules:

1. Go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday (month and day).
2. Write down three events, 2 births, 1 holiday and tag 5 friends.
3. There are five slots in the Birthday Meme. As you are tagged, you have to remove the name in the first slot and bump everyone up so that your name can be added to the bottom.

Da 3 Events:
1284 - According to legend, the Pied Piper lures 130 children of Hamelin away.
1963 - John F. Kennedy speaks the famous words “Ich bin ein Berliner” on a visit to West Berlin.
1997 - Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling is published in the United Kingdom

Da 2 Births:
1921 - Violette Szabo, French WWII secret agent (d. 1945)
2005 - Princess Alexia of the Netherlands

Da 1 Hol:
Lebanon: Prophet’s Birthday (until 1999)

Da list:
Are We There Yet?
Gran’s Memory Keeping Corner
Teacher Julie
Mommyness is Happiness
Kwentong Walang Kwenta

Da Diss:
Here is where I break the rules. I’m not going to tag anyone as I have barely scratched the surface of my blogging. I did enjoy this though & I’m sure YOU will too, so pick it up & go WIKI!

Oh wow! I’m very, very flattered. I rock? Seriously?! It certainly made my day, okay week. Heck I might take this feeling with me for at least a month.

Teacher Julie said…

Chateau said…

I love her honest humor and sharp wit. I wonder why she called her kwentos walang kwenta when it’s exactly the opposite. She is also a cool rocker mom who loves Metallica. Rock on, Auee!

and Connie, the Sassy Lawyer, also gave me one! I checked my self on the mirror (not easy in our office) to see if I was red because I really felt a warm glow all-over.

Thanks for your kind words & for even thinking of me! Oscar-worthy speech eh.

I am passing the Rockin’ Girl Blogger award to these superladies:

1. Verna of the walk of my life-shlife : Verns, you’re one cool chick & your posts and wit take me back to the good ol’ days of single-blessedness.

2. Jen of J and the three Boys : Jen’s anecdotes about her sweet boys never fail to make me smile or roll with laughter. I’m super impressed with her ability to stay a cool & yummy mommy while managing a successful business, too.

3. Rose of Cookie Jar : Osang an artist in the making, never failing to make waves anywhere she goes. Continue blogging & posting those pictures, please!

4. Pining of Hinaing ni Pining : A treasure found from Annamanila’s million blogfriends. I always look forward to reading her stories, for they remind me I’m not the lone Pinay in the UK afterall. Her engaging writing style provokes a lot of memories & emotions.

5. Mona of Renaissance Girl : My first ever blog haunt that got me hooked. She’s witty, she’s scary, she’s very impressive. Her Corporate Slave series is a winner. Mona, come on, blog! If you get the chance download at her weblog favourites & start laughing.

Well the “rule” says pass on the hot pink award to other ladies in the blogosphere but if you can’t that’s fine. Just wanted to let you know that you all rock!

Please accept my grovelling apologies for not responding to the tags I received in the last two weeks.

I am slowly ploughing through them now. I swear if I can only type while standing in a crowded train, I wouldn’t be so late in my blogging-addiction.

So first off my to-do list is Kathy’s ‘hate’ tag — Thanks sis!

1. Food you hate
–> Falafel. Being a foodie (read: matakaw) I tried this falafel sandwich back in 2001. I’ve seen a lot of people go for it & I thought I’d give it a bite. EGAD! It was the first time in my life I actually had to spit out my food. I wasn’t ready. People say it tastes great, perhaps the restaurant I went to was no good, but I don’t want to try falafel again.

UPDATE: Sorry forgot to describe what falafel tasted-like for me. Mapaklang-mapait-na-sobrang-tuyo (Acrid-Bitter-very-dry). Yummy…

2. Fruits that you hate
–> I can’t think of any. Even the fruits I didn’t like growing up like Apples & Mabolo, I like (and miss, in the case of mabolo) now.

3. Veggies that you hate
–> Brusells sprouts. Honestly after liking ampalaya, I thought they’re making such a big fuss over the tiny-cabbages. I tried it with my sunday roast (from a gastro-pub) and I don’t think I will be serving my family this stuff lest my son forces me to eat it up!

4. Celebrities or people that you hate
–> I’d like to say I don’t hate anyone as hate is such a strong word & it conjures ‘revulsion’ of a fellow man. But if we’re talking about leeches in politics & some power-tripping civil servants, then I can reserve that term of endearment for them.

5. Event/Incident/Situation that you hate
–> US immigration. The first time I arrived on an American airport I was really shocked at their officers’ abrasive manners. They might using their rough treatment of people to fend off potential wrong-doers but there’s really no need for the aggravation. I didn’t want to live there, I never wanted to live there & the only reason I was there was because a US-based company needed my services. To stand there & be glared at & nearly humiliated is intolerable. I thought that treatment was reserved for non-white like me, but white British officemates told me they got the same deal.

I think if the US customs are trying to catch people offguard they’re using the wrong strategy. Being polite & professional & perhaps even chatting casually to people may get them more information than their bullying tactic.

6. TV Shows or Movies that you hate
–> I don’t ‘hate’ any shows or films but I don’t like a number of them. Top of my list are reality shows especially the American one (some years ago) about marrying a millionaire. After the “wedding” the winning girl wanted to divorce. I wonder why?

7. Type of Music that you hate
–> I was going to put garage & trash metal BUT I remembered the proliferation of those OPM songs that insinuates sex & other lewd topic. What are they called again? Every time I see youngsters & really old women (as in grans) cavorting to those songs, I feel humiliated. And every time I see parents, mostly mothers, encouraging their young ones to act like a-go-go dancers, I get the urge to give them a whack on the head.

8. Household chore that you hate
–> It has to be ironing. I used to be okay with it, but since my series of RSI problems, it’s a no-go area for me now.

9. Things you hate about the world
–> War and greed, they’re one & the same aren’t they?

10. Things that you hate about yourself
– > Physically, I am very conscious of my double-chin and every time I mention it I can still hear the Batibot song “alagang-alaga ko si puti, bakang mataba, bakang maputi…”. I’m seriously damaged ain’t I?

I’m now supposed to tag people but I’d rather you pick it up if you feel up to it. Come on, tell us what makes you go “hmp!”

UPDATE 20 June: Truly embarrassing, this meme was supposed to be kakikayan facts. Tsk, tsk. Oh well, sorry folks but I changed the rule at this end unwittingly.

===========
Noemi tagged me to divulge 7 random facts about the woman behind KWK. I have been chewing on this topic for a whole week. I always find it difficult to come up with answers about myself. So here are some really random facts about Auee:

1. When I was in high school I get teased a lot about being Ms Eveready, you know the battery? I hate not having what I need. So on most days my bag is filled with band-aid, bottle of water, brollie, baby powder, 2 hankies (I need a spare!), hand gel, hand lotion, lip balm, post-it notes (or small notebook) & a pen. Those are just the minimum content.

2. I started dyeing my hair when I turned 18 because my mestiza mother gave me their white (grey) hair not her complexion. My colour of choice is red, as in a head you can see from far away if the sun is very bright.

3. I hate math but I chose Computer Science in my UPCAT application because it sounded cool. The first time I saw our syllabus, I wanted to shift to Psychology straightaway. I have maths and statistics until I graduate?? Thankfully I didn’t move out & stayed the course. Though talking in my dream about “X’s value” is not my idea of sleepless nights.

4. I love cartoons, actually make that addicted to cartoons. Even when I was single I used to drag friends to see animated films. Nope not just adult-targeted animation, even Rugrats and Pokemon movies. I think this is one of the reasons why my niece, Gella, and my son loves me so much.

5. I’m a voracious eater even when I was young. Every time we attend Fiestas, the host often remark how nice it is to see “your kid loving our food”. Translation? “Susme ang takaw naman ng anak ninyo!” I even devised a strategy when attending all-you-can-eat events, if we’re visiting a number of houses, I would feast on the main courses for the first 3 houses and finish off the round with desserts from the remaining places-to-eat (ok, see). I also limit the rice intake to accomodate more lechon or similar fare. Just remembering this is already making me salivate! I miss Fiestas & their open houses…

6. I’m a dreamer. I dream about tomorrow, about conquering the world, about a vacation in Pinas or in Venice, about being a rockstar, about being a Palanca winner. It’s endless. Thankfully, I get a lot of stale time on the train to & from work so I can indulge in these fantasies.

7. I’m a hoarder. Eversince I can remember I love keeping “remembrances”. The oldest keepsake I have is the very first Christmas card I received. It was given by my then gradeschool ditse’s closest friend (can’t remember her name now) and it is dated “12 1981″. It’s one of those small cards you get when you buy a bag of crisp in the sari-sari store (local variety store). I also kept letters I have received from suitors and even pictures of my crushes & High School boyfriends. I love going through boxes of these things whenever we visit Pinas.

Well that’s it. Now for the fun part, to tag some of you!
:-)
I tag Vernaloo, Jason, and Rose.

Thanks Noemi for this meme, it wasn’t as ‘painful’ as I thought hehe

Because I loved the “interview” meme so much, I pleaded with Verna to ask me some more
:-)

1. What scares you the most?
I try to shake off bad thoughts but now & then when you read horrible news I always say a prayer to keep those “bad things” from happening to my loved ones, especially to my son. I just don’t know how I’d cope should anything happens to him.

2. What is the first thing single women/men should know about married life?
That it is very different from “dating”. I know you consider each other’s feelings now but when you’re tied together “forever”, it will mean sharing everything - good, bad, ugly, pretty, smelly & fragrant. It is difficult to compromise & bend your will, but you must sometimes. Marriage is not looking at all the positive attributes you already like, but looking at his negative traits & deciding whether you can really live with them. Because trust me, they’re unlikely to change - permanently.

3. If you can create a music video of your life, what song will it be and what will be the theme of the video?
For these days, I can’t think of a particular song but I’d like Ely Buendia to sing it, you know full of irony. The video will be of roller coasters zooming up & down, doing 360-degrees turn. That’s how it feels sometimes, exhilarating & fun but also disappointingly repetitive in the end haha

4. Say you have the power to change an ending of one movie, what movie will it be and what’s the new ending?
I’d change the last “Rocky” film & have Sly’s character be shown as old & aged or even dead & revered. So that we wouldn’t have to endure his pathetic comeback. That film and also “Die Hard” with the same treatment.

5. Do you watch Desperate Housewives? If yes, what character is closest to your personality? If no, choose a movie or tv series character that best describes your personality.
I rarely catch Desperate Housewives as it’s shown late at night. When they were still being shown I liked Stargate (original with Richard Dean Anderson of MacGyver fame) and “Dark Angel” (Jessica Alba). I love to think I’m adventurous that’s why I chose them but I also like “Ugly Betty” so I think it’s just the escapist in me.

Character? Probably “Lt Col Samantha Carter” of SG-1. I normally with an all men crew & I don’t get intimated, I get the job done.

There. All 5 questions sweetly concluded. YEHEY! Thanks again Verna, I enjoyed these, too.

aahh nakaka-adik ang blog, sabi ko busy ko pero eto na naman ako :-)

Julie tagged me to name seven (7) songs I’m listening to. Unfortunately I’m only listening to one artist - Metallica - so there won’t be any variety. I’m “preparing” for their concert so I’m attempting to memorise at least the choruses of their songs.

I’ve got 4 of their albums but these are the top 7 that I like repeating again & again & again…

1. Of Wolf and Man
2. For Whom The Bell Tolls
3. Enter Sandman
4. The Memory Remains
5. Nothing Else Matters
6. Whiplash
7. Master of Puppets

If you’re a fan too, you’ll notice my top 5 came from their Black Album. I wish I could put attach audio to this post so you’d see why I like these songs. Can you imagine me sitting in the train just playing these songs over & over on the way to work? By the time I get off I’m wide awake & ready to rock!

I’m not tagging anyone in particular, but do pick it up if you’re interested & let me know so I can check out you’re listening pleasures, too!

I asked Annamanila of Ode2Old to grill interview me and oblige she did.

1. Do you still keep the black dog? If so, why is it so hard to exchange it for a lighter-colored one? If not, how did you shoo it away?

First question & I’m almost tongue-tied, how did you manage to find this post? Yes, my black dog is still present but these days he’s only a chihuahua. It took me a year’s worth of medication and some lifestyle changes to cope with my depression.

I guess I have always been prone to depression because I think and worry too much. I often find it difficult to let go of situations or emotions that some people find easy to dismiss. When I leapt on the chance to be with my husband, the only thing in my mind was Love. I wasn’t prepared for the many changes I “contracted in” by marrying an OFW & leaving my comfortable life in Pinas.

So far I have managed without “happy pills” for over 5 years now. Even in 2006 when I was at my lowest, I did not need it. Pills and depression do not control me anymore and I really hope it stays that way.

2. What part of you has been most thoroughly “britified” or “londonized” in more than five years living in England?

This one is the toughest. I did this last as I need more think-time but my answer is still lame.

Professionalism? One thing I didn’t like when I worked in Pinas, lahat personalan. Pati ba naman performance evaluation may mga personal comments? Of course, office politics is nearly the same everywhere, but at least I deal with less BS here, excuse my French.

Food. Sabagay foodie naman ako talaga kaya di ito kataka-taka. I love the Cornish pasties and the British meat pies, especially the steak-and-kidney pie. I also buy their national dish, fish-and-chips, and their other national dish, the chicken tikka masala.

Accent daw. No violent reactions please… I get goosebumps every time somebody tells me I actually sound British, because I don’t. I still sound more American than English, but really in my heart I know my “accent” is publicschool english.

After 15 minutes(!) these are the only things I can think of. I know you’ve only asked for one but I gave you more, because if I put in just one of these it sounds even lamer. I guess I’m forever Pinoy through and through.

3. I am going to London not to visit the Queen but to visit Auee. As I am too excited and breathless, you perversely want to take me to a place where my bubble would burst. Where will it be?

I will take you to London’s version of Tondo – Hackney. We always associate England with culture, class, social snobbery, and everything else of top quality/standard. What most people don’t know is the high crime rates, the rife burglary, the poor education, the near-slum like situation in some areas, the list goes on. When I first got here, I was shocked to learn London is struggling with similar situations we can find in our own Urban Poor, only of course you don’t call them jologs, here they’re called chavs.

If the ghetto doesn’t stump you, I’ll book you for the Body Show. Ikaw lang, antayin kita sa labas kasi nandidiri ako hehe.

4. You have the chance to develop and test the software (or some other IT product) that will change the world for the better. What will it be?

A product that sniffs out corrupt politicians & executes punishment on detection? :-)

Seriously, it has to be for the environment. Something like real time systems we can embed in any plants, factories or machines that will automatically convert pollutants to harmless gases. If we extend the application’s features (or our imaginations) we can include an ozone layer repair tool, too.

Or I could stick with my first choice.

5. Your readers tell you that your blogsite is wonderful, inspiring, and ‘may kwenta.” They insist you change the title. What will it be?

“Samu’t sari” but I just googled it, it’s already taken – at least 3 times!

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Goodness, I should have timed how long it took me to answer this because my leg’s fallen asleep!

Thanks Annamanila for your wonderful questions. You really did read a good chunk of my archive, wow I’m really, well, grateful & humbled at the same time.

I am reluctant to post the following as I cannot possibly match Myrna’s thought-provoking Q’s, but hey give it a go.

Interview rules:1. Leave me a comment saying “Interview me.”2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someoneelse in the same post.5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.