Out of the Frying Pan and Into The Fire

i sort of can't figure out how i'm going to make it through the holidays.

although it's been quite an eventful year for me, and already, i've got countless of both work-related and non-work related big things lined up in the first quarter of '08, it seems that the magic and the charm of the season is getting to me already. it's not like i'm some grinch or something, i like the season– it's cold, traffic's bad but at least, with valid reason, and everybody's making extended attempts at being nice (futile attempt or not, i appreciate the small gestures...). yeah, christmas is definitely that time of the year, but sometimes, it can be pretty depressing.

i mean, i'm sort of having thought whether or not i should spend it alone again this year. mind you, i'm not saying that i'm lonely, just alone. there's a world of a difference, chumps. i think people can be happy even if they're alone, but when people are lonely, they're totally fucked.

good thing that things with the band are doing okay. lotsa gigs, lotsa good reviews. holy fuck. this seems serious.

good thing jade's coming home soon. she can prolly think of a million things to do or even more ways to make hanging out enjoyable.

got a chance to go to cebu. that was refreshing, and the in-flight turbulence was a much-needed kick in the ass. never really got jumpy about anything these past few months. my buddy frey made sure we had a good time even though he was in the province for work. though it was rainy and everything seemed to be slow, i guess i appreciated the fact that i didn't know what to do. for the longest time, it was all about not having enouogh time for all the work, the plans... everything. now, i had the most enjoyable challenge: to think of how to spend my day. i mean, most of the day was sleeping and chowing down on some native lechon and barbecued treats and eating like kings, but it was mingling with new people and feeling like a stranger (and being humble enough to admit it) that really changed my perspective somehow. i dunno. i wouldn't say was an eye-opening experience (China, my friends, was eye-opening...) but i guess it's just always nice to retreat there.

the hospital experience was pretty hilarious too. my left eye swelled up like crazy after i got back from Cebu, so i rushed over to medical city. it's cool there, coz the convenience store where you get your drugs (aka "medicine...") sold Nerds and Gobstoppers. those things rock.

the lady doctor was nice. she put up with me, even though it was 3 a.m. and even though i wasn't very charming.


me: hi. my eye looks like it's going to burst. what do i do? and can you fix this up coz i gotta head back to the office...

dr. nice: (laughs) okay, one at a time. what happened?

me: beats me. it just got all red. now it hurts. bummer.

dr. nice: oh let's see... any allergies?

me: nuthin...

dr. nice: ...allergic to any food or medicine?
me: nope. just people. i'm allergic to morons.
dr. nice: (laughing again) haha, okay. let's get you in the laboratory. i'll check it out.


being in the hospital was nice. was quiet, and peaceful, and people minded their own business. even though i took more than hour in the lab, it seemed to whiz by so fast, i didn't have time to complain.


dr. nice: okay, so that's it. you take this capsule four times a day, then eye drops twice a day.

me: will this cost a lot?

dr. nice: do you have a medicard?

me: i left it at home.
dr. nice: oh. ok. then... yes.

me: i appreciate your honesty.

dr. nice: don't mention it.


you see folks, now THAT was a nice conversation. direct, but polite enough to remember. i hate it when people use the bullshit niceties and fast-food etiquette. it's all just too...fake and insincere. clearly, this doctor was a smart person.

no wonder she's a doctor.

+++