Isn't She Lovely...

Photo from Paul Vincent

On March 18, 2007, graphic artist extraordinaire and good friend Carol walked down the aisle to exchange vows with long time boyfriend, Tom.

Most people here at work (especially the new ones) probably don't know her personally. Some may have heard about her. Others may have bumped into her, but not know it was her. People rarely get to meet her, but her great designs have been seen by our colleagues from all over the world.

Carol resigned earlier this year to start a family. Huhuhu! We miss her very much, but we always have the brochures, the tarps, and the posters she created to make us remember that such a beautiful girl created those beautiful designs.

Congratulations, Tom and Carol!

Calling All Fellow Booklovers...

Check it out. See you there.

We may even fight over a book. Haha!

Just kidding. I'm a peace-loving person.

Bye bye Moto... Hello Nokia...

Despite the incident yesterday morning, I knew that I had to get a new phone as soon as possible. (Although I was tempted to delay getting a phone so that I could slight be un-connected to the world. Hehehe!)

Early in the evening, I called very good friend Thea. I was a surprised that she was surprised that she didn't know I lost my phone. That was probably the reason why I didn't hear from her the entire day.

Anyway, true friend that she is, she helped me decide what to do. I've been wanting to get a postpaid subscription for the longest time and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. However, I found out it takes about a week to process the subscription. And since it's a long weekend next week, it may even take longer.

Thea suggested we just go to the mall to get a new phone. And that's what we did.

I just found out that the SM Mall of Asia closes at 10PM, so that gave Thea and me enough time to look for a new phone. We went from store to store to check out the prices and the phones.

I had no idea it was now this difficult to choose a phone model. There are a LOT! I was torn between Sony Ericsson and Nokia. The Sony Ericsson K800i seemed perfect because of the Cybershot camera, but I was worried about the toggle. Meanwhile, I liked a lot of Nokia phones. The E81 was nice because of the QWERTY keypad, but it didn't have a camera. I also liked the newly released N70 Music Edition because the features are great and it's not that pricey.

I was so close to getting it, but I ended up getting another model probably because the trauma was still there.

Don't laugh now, but what I got was a sucky Nokia 1600. Hahaha! It was really cheap, so just in case the incident happens again (I hope that was the last of it though), I'd happily throw the phone hard on the jerk's face.

For now, I'm okay with this phone. Anyway, I don't need the extra features of newer phones yet. I just need something to keep me connected again.

I'm hoping though that I can get a newer phone within the year. But now I can say goodbye to getting a digital camera. Huhuhu!

Anyway, to friends and work friends, please email me with your mobile number in the subject line. Rebuilding my phonebook again.

I lost my phone...

I lost my phone this morning.

Well, technically, I didn't lose it lose it. I was on my way to work, and I was very happy because all vehicles were moving quickly and there weren't lots of passengers since school term has ended.

Well, it turns out this has a downside.

The only passengers of the vehicle I took were me and another guy who came from the market. Two guys also boarded.

So there I was sitting happily and looking forward to go to work, and the next thing I knew, there was a knife right in front of my face.

And maybe because I was sitting there dreamily, it took a second or two for me to realize that I was being robbed. In fact, I even asked the a-hole, "Huh? What are you asking?"

Apparently, he was asking for my mobile phone. With a knife pointed at me, all I could do was reach out for my phone which was hidden in my bag. Hmm, they ask for my phone while the other guy who had his phone out and was texting gets to keep his phone. Unfair.

Whatta morning, huh?!

300 Abs and I'm Hungry...

Watched 300 with Carlo this evening. Like so many other people, I thought the movie was great.

The movie at exactly 12 midnight, and although it was late, we were both feeling hungry so Carlo and I headed to Cafe Adriatico to get something to eat. He had the tapsilog, while I had a tocilog. Hmmm, does that make our meal a late dinner or a very early breakfast? Haha!

Also, Cafe Adriatico at Gateway is starting to become another "Dome" for me and Carlo. Hahaha!

It was a good Saturday night.

The Boys Have Arrived...

Since I loved History Boys so much, the next thing I did after watching the movie is to look for the book.

I called Powerbooks and Fully Booked, but the book is out of stock. I went to other specialty bookstores like a different bookstore and ink and stone but they also don't have it. The Powerbooks people told me though that the book was already included on their order list but they don't yet when it'll arrive. I decided to just leave my contact info so they can get in touch with me when the book arrives

But about two weeks ago, I found the book on one of the best bargain places in the world - Ebay.

This guy from LA was selling the book for about a dollar. I bid and won. Woo woo woo! The shipping and money transfer cost was a bit expensive, but when I thought about it, that's the same amount I'll be spending when I do buy the book here.

Anyway, when I got home last night, my Dad told me that a package had arrived. Woo woo woo!

I'm one happy boy because the boys are now here.

Turn to Page 123...

Got this one from Carlo.

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Mark the fifth sentence. Pick up the next three sentences and post. (In other words, post sentence nos. 6-8 on page 123.)
4. Acknowledge the book and the author.
5. Tag 3 people in turn.

Here's what I got:

"Then what is it" she said angrily "What about us? What about all the times we made love?" Her face began to tremble with emotion.

I'm going to break the rules and continue with the next few sentences.

"You never said anything." She threw her books onto the ground. "How dare you tell me you suddenly think you like guys!"

This passage is from one of my favorite books of all time - Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez.

Uhm, I'm tagging Suki, Chari and Rony.

Here Come the Pinoys and the Italians...

One of the things I enjoy about my work is that I'm not tied down to a desk eight hours a day, five days a week. I get to go to different places, meet people and learn new things.

Last Thursday and Friday, I joined the roadshow of one of our principals in the company. Two representatives from the Italy headquarters flew in to conduct the presentation. We went to four schools to promote a career onboard a cruise shipt o students of four universities. It was all very interesting to me, especially when I saw the videos of the cruise ships. I knew they were huge, but I didn't expect them to be that huge. It's really like a small village actually.

By the time we went to the third school, I already knew the flow of the presentation very well that if I were asked to give it, I could have. Haha! But of course, my task was to document the entire event. Good thing one of the crew helped me out. He did the video coverage, while I did the photo coverage. (Thanks Michael.) This I guess is also one of the things I like about events like this. The teacher in me comes out. I get to teach people how to document an event, and even if they won't be doing it as their full time job when they go onboard the ship or wherever, it's nice to hear that they learned something new.

Anyway, it was a good experience. Tiring, but like I said, fun because I get to go around and meet people.

Turn the Heat On!

Check out the newest issue of ICON Magazine

Top model Jon Mullally graces on the cover of the March-April issue of ICON. Yep, that read March and April. ICON is now bimonthly. Woo woo woo!!!

You may also want to check out Performance Level. There's an article there written by the same guy writing this entry. Hahaha! Shameless plugging.

Enjoy!

Memorable Quotes from the Boys...

Here are some of the quotes from the History Boys (via imdb.com).

[Posner has confessed to Irwin that he thinks he is homosexual and in love with Dakin]
Posner: Do you ever look at your life?
Tom Irwin: I thought everybody did.
Posner: I'm a Jew... I'm small... I'm homosexual... and I live in Sheffield.
[pause]
Posner: I'm fucked.

[Dakin is annoyed because he thinks Irwin doesn't like him]
Posner: But he doesn't understand, Irwin *does* like him. He seldom looks at anyone else.
Scripps: How do you know?
Posner: Because nor do I. Our eyes meet looking at Dakin.

[Scripps is taking the mick out of Dakin for trying to please Irwin too much]
Scripps: Have you looked at your handwriting recently? You're beginning to write like him!
[Turns to look at Posner's essay]
Scripps: You're writin' like 'im an' all!
Posner: I am not! Dakin writes like him, I write like Dakin.
[Discussing Posner liking Dakin]
Scripps: It'll pass.
Posner: I know, it's a phase. What if I don't want it to pass? I wouldn't mind. But the pain, the *pain*.
Scripps: Mr Hector would say it's the only education worth 'aving.
Posner: Yes. I only wish we got marks for it.

Hector: The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.

Scripps: What makes you think he'd do it with you?
[Dakin smiles]
Scripps: You complacent fuck.
Dakin: Does the Archbishop of Canterbury know you talk like this?

Mrs. Lintott: Can you, for a moment, imagine how dispiriting it is to teach five centuries of masculine ineptitude? History is a commentary on the various and continuing incapabilities of men. What is history? History is women following behind with the bucket.

Dakin: I'm just kicking the tyres on this one but, further to the drink, what I was really wondering was whether there were any circumstances in which there was any chance of your sucking me off.
[pause]
Dakin: Or something similar.
[pause]
Dakin: Actually, that would please Hector.
Tom Irwin: What?
Dakin: "Your sucking me off." It's a gerund. He likes gerunds. And your being scared shitless, that's another gerund.
Tom Irwin: I didn't know you were that way inclined.
Dakin: I'm not, but it's the end of term; I've got into Oxford; I though we might push the boat out.

Dakin: I just wanted to say thank you.
Scripps: So? Give him a subscription to The Spectator or a box of Black Magic. Just because you've got a scholarship doesn't mean you've got to give him unfettered access to your dick.

Hector: Pass the parcel. That's sometimes all you can do. Take it, feel it and pass it on. Not for me, not for you, but for someone, somewhere, one day. Pass it on, boys. That's the game I want you to learn. Pass it on.

Mrs. Lintott: Actually I wouldn't have said he was sad. I would have said he was cunt-struck.
Hector: Dorothy!
Mrs. Lintott: I'd have thought you'd have liked that. It's a compound adjective. You like compound adjectives.

Dakin: So how would you say thank you?
Scripps: Same as you probably. On my knees.

Lockwood: I've only got trainers.
Crowther: It's not an interview on footwear.

Posner: I'm not happy but I'm not unhappy about it.

The Boys Who Are Making History...

One of the best films I have seen so far this year is The History Boys.

When I read in the papers that it was going to be shown in Glorietta, I made sure that I got to see this fantastic film.

The film was released in October 2006, and had it not been shown here in Manila, I wouldn't know it existed. Adapted from the play of the same name, The History Boys was written by Alan Bennett and was directed by Nicholas Hytner. The plan bagged the 2005 Olivier Award for Best New Play and the 2006 Tony Award for Best Play.

To give a bit of info about it, the setting is the 1980s at a fictional boys' grammar school in the north of England. The play revolves around a group of history students who are preparing for the Oxbridge (Oxford-Cambridge) entrance examinations. This was the first time that the school had such an accomplishment so the pressure was on.

Playing an important role in guiding the students are two teachers (Irwin and Hector) who have very polarized teaching styles.

A mix of both comedy and tragedy, the storyline involves severall themese - growing up, education, teaching methods, homosexuality, to name a few.

I completely enjoyed the film because I'm a fan of movies that are in an academic setting (since I love the academe) and because it was LGBT-related. What I also liked about it was that the script was written so well. It sounds weird but very rarely do I get excited about the dialogues and words spoken out by characters. (It must be the "writer" in me.)

Anyway, if you have a chance, you should watch this.

First Entry...

Ah, finally. The first blog entry.

I've been putting off this move to start a blog for some time, because things at work are just crazy. The amount of work that comes just never stops. And as I write this entry, I realize that work, or some other distraction, will always be there and that if I really want to start on this blog, I should stop waiting for the perfect moment and just make the first entry.

So here I am, it's six in the morning, I'm at the office, and while waiting for the network restriction to be removed, I write my first entry.

I thought it was only fitting to make my first entry about why I chose the name "clayman79" for my blog name. I've already used two blog names - greenjack and jackmcph.
Clayman is Samuel Clay. He is 1/2 of the wonderful duo of Michael Chabon's The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.

Joe (Kavalier) calls him Clayman. I feel a certain affinity towards clayman because he's a writer, and he really knows how to use words. Another reason why I feel this link to him is because he's, well, just read the book. Hehehe!

The 79 I added is my birth year. Unfortunately, someone already beat me to having an http://clayman.blogspot.com address so I ended up with clayman79.

So there, my first blog entry. That wasn't so hard, was it?