Over before it even began...

Well, it seems it's over. Lol.

It didn't even make it to a month. Oh well, that's life I guess.

Hmm, I guess what sucks about it is I thought it was actually going somewhere. I should've known it was too good to be true.

In a way, it's good that I have a drop of cynicism in me so I didn't completely commit the mistake I would've committed had I been in my early 20s.

残念ですね.

The analytical side of me saw me reading the conversations that started in late December. It's funny how a few weeks can change how a conversation goes. But I guess that's the reality of dating, huh? You date to find out if you fit with the other person.

Hmm, the thing is I really thought there was a fit. I dun care about the distance. 64 kilometers is nothing. Heck, I'm willing to take the train to and fro Tokyo every Sunday if that's the only way to have some QT. But these past few days, you've been like the weather in Tokyo - on some days cool, on most days cold... and I guess it's only going to get colder.

At the very least, I'm grateful for the awesome date last 28 December and 30 December. It's been awhile since I've had a great date like that. I felt the kilig and it was good.

Ueno Park. Starbucks Ueno. A walk around the park. United Arrows gloves. Last train to Ibaraki. Last train to Horikirishobuen.

Good one.

Travel...

Haha, I found this video to be really amusing.

Not so much because of the topic because of the quotes that the girl was using when she talked about travel. I'm pretty sure I've posted one of those quotes on my Instagram. Hahahaha!

I also love how some light shines on her whenever she talks about travel.

Great production!

Sigh, I can't wait to get on a plane again. I can't wait for the day when I have a choice to travel by a regular carrier and by Business Class without having to think about burning a hole in pocket. Lol!

Tired because of the weather...

It was a relaxed Saturday, compared to the past few Saturdays. Haha!

For some reason, it still turned out to be a very long day. I got back about 40 minutes ago and I intend to hit the sack after I write this post. I'm slightly tempted to watch an episode of Agents of SHIELD since I'm a bit behind. Hmm, I think I will skip it because I want to wake up early tomorrow for a run.

Today's very hot weather, I think, is partly to be blamed why I felt so exhausted on the way back. Haha!

My day started with Pump at MBFC. Initially, I invited Mon to join me but he had errands to do. I invited Jon to join me but he had a late Friday night. Hehe!

I did meet Mon after gym. He was done with his errands by then. We agreed to meet up at Raffles City for lunch at the salad/wrap place at the basement. Hmm, I think I still prefer Toss & Turn. I'm a huge T&T fan now! Haha!

Post-lunch, my next appointment was at 2PM at the National Museum. Since I had 40 minutes to kill, I decided to hang out first at neighbouring SMU for kopi si. I know, I know. It was insane that I was having hot kopi si given the crazy sweltering heat. What can I do? I love my kopi si. Haha!

Close to 2PM, I walked over to the National Museum. Today, I felt very lucky because I got to see how the new revamped history gallery now looks like. It is exciting! I was happy to see Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles again! Hehe! There are still several traces from the previous layout, but there are also a lot of new additions. I can't wait for it to open... along with the National Gallery. Sheesh, November onwards would be very busy guiding time for docents.

The curator walkthrough a little after 4. My next appointment was at 6. I had to meet up with a fellow docent to collect tickets for the Design Film Fest movies Mon, Rich and I are watching tomorrow and next Saturday.

With some time to kill, I headed back to SMU and spent an hour reading and studying. After I got the tickets from my fellow docent, I headed next to the library to continue my reading and studying. I stayed there until closing time, of course. Lol!

From the National Lib, I walked over to City Hall where I took the train all the way back to the West.

One interesting thing that happened today was I had a chance meetup with this guy I was chatting with via Line. Lol. I was walking to the library, I passed by the bus stop, and guess what, he was there! I didn't notice him because I was checking the bus route board. I started walking again. When I checked my phone, I got a message from the guy saying he was at the bus stop. Lol! I made a U-turn and we ended up having chitchat over dinner. It was good. He asked me if I wanted to hang out with him at his place, but I really was set to do some studying so I said no. Hehe!

Anyway... good night...

Thursday random stuff...

Not much happening these past few days.

Work has been very manageable. Some of the more toxic issues I have to work on are not due for production til next month. Hence, I do have a day or two when I finish work earlier than usual.

The other things that have been keeping me busy are my Japanese classes and my museum docent training.

Japanese lessons are starting to be more difficult, as I have mentioned in a few other posts. The basic forms/rules are easy to remember. What is difficult are the verb conjugations and constructing the sentences. I'm confident with simple sentences beyond こんにちは。 わたし は アンジエロ です。 おげんき です か。(Hello, I am Angelo. How are you?), but I am still struggling with long sentences. Haha! I'm glad I have the once a week italki sessions with Yoshisan. That is a big help and practice. I'm not sure if I'll continue with my school lessons or I should take a break first. I'm paying for the Japanese lessons out of my own pocket and well, I could use the break.

Anyway, we'll see how.

Museum docent training is also equally demanding, if not more demanding. The time to write the tour paper has come. I will be spending several Saturdays (and possibly, Sundays) in the library with books, my notepad and Stefan (my MacBook) to work on the paper. A few more lectures to go and then it's showtime.

To be honest, I'm very excited for the opening of the new museum. I'm sure it'll be fantastic. I'm really excited to see the art pieces, especially the ones by Filipino artists. Hehe!

That's definitely something to look forward to.

Okay, today is a so so day. I'm done with most of the things that I have to do. So I decided I'll go for a run during lunchtime. Initially, I was planning to just go to the nearby park connector for my run. But then, the sun is out and it's going to be very hot. Hehe! I'll just go to the gym then for a quick run and head back.

Tonight, it's Japanese classes... and possibly, a coffee date, if I hear from someone. Lol.

Two years...

Two years today.

Time flies very fast. Hehe!

I think I may have written in another blog entry that before I left for Singapore, I visited a friend who reads tarot cards. Of course, one of my questions was "Will I have a love life in SG?"

His reply was, "Yes." He even went into details. So far, two of the things he has said have already happened. I don't fully believe in tarot cards because that will probably compromise my chances of entering heaven (hehe!) but it's just fun and entertaining.

Anyway, so here we are two years later PG Boy and me. Well, today the more appropriate statement would be, "Here I am" and "There you are in faraway land." Lol!

PG Boy is on a family trip in Europe. According to him, this is the only time his eldest brother was able to take a leave. Hehe!

I-issue pa ba ko?! Deadma na. Kebs na sa unwanted drama.

We'll just have our post-anniv celeb when he returns. Tonight, I'll probably go on a nice dinner by myself to still celebrate. Hehe!

Our first anniv together was also spent apart. I was in Myanmar with MkSurf8, RKGreg and Chris. PG Boy was in the US with his own friends.

I wonder if it's an indication of anything. Haha! It's an indication that we need to travel together... soon.

Happy two years, PG Boy! :)

Two more years? Parang EP lang. Char.

Random...

2013, I'm not liking you very much.

Old sketches...

On my recent trip back to Manila, I found my sketchbook for a Visual Arts class I had in uni.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the sketches I did are still in good condition, considering that these were done over ten years ago. Haha!

On my senior year in uni, we had to take up an Elective class. While the rest of my blockmates were registered in an Anthropology class, I was happily drawing in my Visual Arts class. Hehe!

Okay, okay, I admit that one of the main reasons I signed up for the Visual Arts class was because I wanted a final grade of 1.0-1.25. Haha! (I think I got a 1.25. I have to check my transcripts. Hehe!)

But the class turned out to be a good one. Most of my classmates were students under the Philippine Arts program. I was the only one from the Organizational Communication program.

Our teacher was the late Sid Hildawa. At that time, I didn't know that he was actually a very accomplished individual. He was a good teacher. I was sorry to hear about his untimely demise.

After the semester, I still did a few sketches. Those are my folks. I wanted to draw my entire family, but I didn't get to finish it anymore. The other portrait is... me! This was when I was still in prep school. Hehe!

I haven't been doing a lot of sketches now. I dunno. I'm too preoccupied with too many other things. But at least, I'm glad that I got to do these few drawings then.

It's proof that I am indeed one of the sons of Antonio Morales. Hehe!

Yours truly...

Check out this nice video. :)

I just saw it on the FB page of one of my friends. I'm sure it's going to have thousand more hits very soon.

Nice, nice.

Eleven Layers...

Obviously, I'm too lazy to post anything...

LAYER 1: BASICS
Name: Angelo

Birth Date: Uhm, 1979. Haha! I feel so ancient. But I love being a 1979 baby. I've seen a lot of world histories happen. And I experienced the best of the old and the new, technology wise. 

Current Location: My room at home.

Hair Color: Black

Righty/Lefty: Righty.

LAYER 2: ON THE INSIDE.
Your fear: Rollercoasters. Seriously.

Your dream of the perfect date: The date itself is easy. What's more important is whether the call and/or text after the date. Then the date must have been perfect. ;)

LAYER 3: YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND TOMORROW.
Your first thoughts waking up: Saturday!

Your bedtime: Usually 1130PM. Latest would be 12 midnight. I need my 5 hours. 

Your most missed memory: Any of the travels outside of Manila. I have a love/hate relationship with this city.

LAYER 4: YOUR PICK. 
Pepsi or Coke: Coke Zero

McDonald’s or Burger King: Mickey D's, but it's junk food.

Single or Group Dates: Single.

Adidas or Nike: Adidas.

Chocolate or Vanilla: Chocolate.

Cappuccino or Coffee: Coffee.

LAYER 5: DO YOU.


Smoke: No. Tried once or twice.

Cuss: Whattashit!
Take showers: Yes.

Have a crush: Hmm, none lately.

Like school: Back then, most of the time. Now, I do. UP years are the best!
Think you’re a health freak: I've been a health freak lately. Been going to the gym a lot. Eating healthier. I'm starting to realize that I'm not as young as I was.

WHAT HAPPENED TO LAYER 6???

LAYER 7: HAVE YOU EVER. 


Played a stripping game: Maybe.

Kissed the same sex: Wrong question. What you should be asking is…

Gotten beaten up: Nope. Peace-loving person. Haha!



LAYER 8: GETTING OLD. 
Age you’re hoping to be married by: 35.

Number of kids you’re planning on having: IDK. Maybe just one.



LAYER 9: IN A GIRL/GUY.


Best eye color:  Black.
Hair color: Black.

Short or long hair: Short and clean.

Fat or fit: Fit.

Looks or personality: A beautiful face attracts me. But a beautiful personality is way better.

Fun or serious: FUN. I’m very boring.

LAYER 10: WHAT WERE YOU DOING.


1 MINUTE AGO: started answering this crap.

1 HOUR AGO: I was watching Vampire Diaries.

1 WEEK AGO: My third 21K, man!

LAYER 11: FINISH THE SENTENCE. 


I FEEL: Just right.

I HATE: Lies. It's the worst thing you can do.

I HIDE: Things sometimes and when I need them, I can't find them anymore. Haha!

I NEED: Love and Money. Not necessarily in that order. Haha!

I LOVE: Just because.

Jack Berger-ed...

I've been Jack Berger-ed.

You remember Jack Berger from the first few episodes of SATC season 6. Carrie was dating writer Jack Berger. They appeared to be getting along very well. If you followed the series, you would know that the two split and then Berger tells Carrie he wants to make things work. And then just after one night that Berger says this to Carrie, the poor girl wakes up alone in her bedroom with a post-it that read - I'm sorry. I can't. Don't hate me.

That's episode came to mind while I was thinking of how to write about the recent dud in the dating department.

I went out on a couple of dates with this guy I (thought I) really liked. He was smart. He was funny. He was in a profession I look up to very much mainly because that profession ran in my family (the earlier generations, at least).

And he was also waaaayyy younger.

Don't ask how young. Let's just say that when he was born, I was already running around grade school playing cops and robbers. Hahaha!

Initially, I was worried about the age thing. I mean, come on. The last time I went out with a guy much younger, he mentioned Justin Bieber and I just stared at him wondering who the heck he was talking about. Gawd, I'm old.

So I said no more dating younger guys. But then this recent guy turned out to be quite different (that's what I thought then). Our first non-date date went really well. When we were together, I didn't really feel the age gap. That's when I thought I'll give this a shot.

Another reason why I went ahead with going out with the guy is the story of my folks. My Dad is 15 years older than my Mom. They've been married for the past 32 years, I think. They don't have the perfect marriage, but they're still together. So they probably did something right. If a marriage with a 15 year age gap survived, hmm, I thought this is worth trying.

Anyway, things were on the way to great with this guy. My best friends could tell. I had a huge smile on my face. I was getting kilig. I wasn't in a gray area, which I absolutely liked.

Then on a recent date, we came into some sort of "argument." He wanted something. I wanted different. Because of a few words that came out of each other's mouths, his mood (and at that moment, his feelings) changed faster than you can spell Hinulugang Taktak.

I explained my side, and told him why I chose what I chose thinking he'd understand. Instead, that led to a list of faults he saw in me but never really mentioned. It's amusing because I honestly thought he was liking me for being me. Because that's how I was during the few times we went out and those times that we talked. I liked him for who he was. Stupid me, I believed that he felt the same.

The list of faults came in a message that was generally mean and hurtful. Thank god for the four years in the corporate world, I've become sort of thick-skinned. Still, the message was hurtful. While I was still processing things, my best friend was so ready to break a nose and a face. I can't really blame her. That's what best friends do. As for me, I was just numb.

A day after the message came, the guy got in touch with me again. He explained his side - why he acted the way he did, what he thought he wanted. Stubborn person that I am, I somewhat believed. Told him the ball was in his court. I knew what I wanted. And I was ready to make some changes in me. It was him who was unsure of things.

I told him to think about things. My upcoming out of town business trip was a good time for him to think, I said. I, on the other hand, will just be here.

Last night, I finally got another message, the content of which can be summarized by his last sentence.

"I'm sorry I can't be that guy."

Uhm, a part of me was already expecting that. I tried to be an adult about it, and thought to respond properly. If it were my two other very good friends, they would have preferred I send a response that was "more fitting." Hehe!

And there you have it. My Jack Berger moment! I think Lady Gaga was thinking of this boy when she wrote that song.

Jeez, ewan ko ba why these things happen to me. Natutulog ata ako ng magsabog si Lord ng magandang kapalaran sa larangan nag pag-ibig. Haha! Failure after failure. It gets tiring. The heart should have a quote for the number of heartaches it has to go through. It's too draining.

There. Just had to write this.

30-Day Tumblr Challenge: Day 12 — Whatever post: I like quirky stuff

If you see my office cubicle, you'll notice that I have a lot of items that are not really office-related.

The ones above are some examples. Hehe!

I've realized that I like cute, quirky items. Haha! Actually, it was my friends who noticed it.

I dunno. I just really like these mostly small items, and more often than not, I find them by surprise. Either that or they're given to me.

One favorite store to visit for stuff that you don't need but you just gotta have it is Dimensione. Hehehe! Everytime I visit the store, there is always something there that catches my eye. Hahaha!

That's where I got Bruce and Johnny. Hehehe! They're meant to be used as bookends, but they ended up adding more testosterone to my desk. Haha! Most recently, I got this giant "Glue" tissue holder. Hahaha! Liking it a lot.

Zap, the PAL pilot teddy, I "adopted" on flight back to Manila from Saigon during a trip last year. The moment I saw the teddy, I just gotta have it. Hehe! Don't ask why I named him Zap. The other bear, Ben, was from this Singapore store I love - New Urban Male. I've been looking for a rainbow bear for so long and on my visit to NUM, I found lots and lots of rainbow bears by the window. Yey!

The magnets are souvenirs from my trips. But a lot were also given as gifts by friends from their trips abroad. I super love the magnets from my friend Bernice and the Wicked magnet from Roy. :)

What else? Team Manila is also a good place to visit for unique items. I got the mug two years ago I think? And it's still sitting nicely on my desk.