Things Have Happened

I enrolled. Fixed my schedules, paid my fees. Went to class for the first time this semester.

After the last class of the day, I found that I’m not ready for this yet. It’s going to be really difficult this time, I can feel it.

That being said, I hung out with my classmates on the first couple days of class.

I’m the one in the green shirt & faded jeans + dirty black sneakers.

I went back home to Manila after.

I got my hair dyed red for some reason I’m not sure of. I also had it cut a bit shorter. I like it. I think it looks kinda awesome. And besides, my sister paid for it.

It’s her birthday in a couple of days too, so I guess I came home in time.

There’s a big storm over some parts of the country again. Signal no. 5 or something. I can’t even begin to think of things that would make this okay.

We have a new fish in the tank. It’s an aroana. We haven’t yet decided on the name. It seems to be afraid of me.

[audio http://skinsparty.free.fr/pro/Rock%20anglais/M.I.A%20-%20Paper%20Planes.mp3]
I fly like paper, get high like planes
if you catch me at the border, I got visas in my name
if you come around here, I make ’em all day
I get one done in a second if you wait

all I wanna do is *bang bang bang bang*
and a *klak* and *kching*
and take your money

pirate skulls and bones
sticks and stones and weed and bones
running when we hit ’em
lethal poison through their system

no one on the corner has swagger like us

some, some, some I, some I murder
some I, some I let go
—”Paper Planes” by M.I.A.

68. Bad Quality

But it hardly matters, as long as your eyes see it for what it is, whatever it is

67. Some Friends, And You

I wish I could know what your silences mean

66. Starts Left Hanging

However, we do hope to finish the next day, and start for good, start for real.

Morality

On the bus to Cubao earlier this afternoon, I was worried about two men who were talking about how easy it was to pick pockets in buses–they were even making loose demonstrations among themselves. I was terrified; my insides turned cold, like a shroud of ice settled over my guts. I was sure that at a certain point in the trip they’d stand up with guns held out and by the end of the ride I’d be stranded in Cubao without even a bag that would at least make me look like I hadn’t just been robbed.

Now that I look back on it, though, after scrutinizing their clothing, I’m starting to think they were the exact opposite of what I thought they were: instead of robbers, they were probably cops.

Although, in hindsight, nowadays you’d be hard-pushed to tell the difference between the two.

65. Plunge In, Neck Deep

But I do not know how to swim

In No Particular Order..

November 1. My dad accidentally stepped on a piece of wood with a rusty nail poking out of it. He had to get anti-tetanus shots for it, but not until two days after and his foot had swollen to twice its size. Because y’know, trips to the doctor are impractical affairs that cost money. He’s fine now, just limping a little. I can only hope he remembers that big rusty nail digging into his sole and how he yelled in panic the next time he refuses to be careful.

* * * * *

October 20. This was the puppy that died. She was named Chewbacca, nicknamed Chewie. She is survived by her mother, Rasubear, and her three sisters Bernardine, Little Brown, & Diamond.

* * * * *

I’ll be going back to Baguio in a few days. I’m packing up later today. Enrollment’s on the 5th, and classes start on the 7th. Who’s heard of breathers? Apparently not the folks at school.  I miss my friends, sure, but that hardly matters when set beside the prospect of the impending hardship this oncoming storm that is 2nd Semester AY 2013 – 2014 is bound to be. Damn it, I am so not ready for the new semester. I am not ready at all.

* * * * *

Some good albums:

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October 30. I went out and was social with my two younger friends again.

Looking forward to going with these guys to UPD FebFair again next year.

* * * * *

This sembreak was rather productive. I got around to finishing some of the books I’ve been meaning to get over and done with, I cleaned out my room, wiped windows, cooked some stuff for the Feast Of All Souls, and even got around to sorting my reading material, as you can see below.

Look at those readings. Hot damn, that’s a lot. And that’s not even all of it; I threw away some of my papers from first year (shame on me, I know). That’s still a whole lot of reading material I’ll probably never get around to reading until summer. Then, and maybe on Christmas break. I’m pretty excited!

* * * * *

October 26 & 29. I bought myself some books, and a new journal.

Tom Carson’s Gilligan’s Wake & Benjamin Kunkel’s Indecision bought on October 26 for Php99, Php49.50 each.

On the same day I bought the new journal, whom I dubbed Vlad Joachim. Green, hardbound, unlined, with black ribbon page marker. “Middle finger foot” sticker rebuked from Gretta Juliann and transferred to back of Joche.

Holly Payne’s The Virgin Knot, Alex Master’s Stuart: A Life Backwards, & Stephen King’s Needful Things bought  on October 29 at Booksale, all for under Php90. Covers aren’t in good condition, but the pages are alright. Currently in the middle of Needful Things. Probably the best bargain book I’ve ever bought.

* * * * *

Check out this fuckin’ big-ass rabbit

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I need to sleep. The rest of the posts will have to wait until later today.

64. November Has Come.*

In which there is both sun and rain

(*Gorillaz song)

Ylvis – Someone Like Me

Excuse me, miss
but do you like the dubstep?

May I present to you Ylvis, the Lonely Island of Norway (though apparently they were in the business years before than the Dudes). Ylvis is actually two people, brothers Bard & Vegard Ylvisaker (with IPA symbols I am too lazy to look for)—both are hilarious, extremely good-looking, have funny accents that manage to sound sexy, and can actually sing. The blond angel singing in this genius piece of musical + dubstep is Bard, and your ears are testament to the fact that the boy has got some serious singing talent. The lady with the beautiful voice I am not entirely familiar with, though her face does resemble WIllem Dafoe’s (I don’t mean to insult! Willem Dafoe is a very handsome man!). I will probably never get tired of this video, since I have already dipped a toe into the realm of dubstep some time ago and reluctantly embraced it. This video  + song, however, is a total game changer, and I am seriously considering listening to more dubstep in the future, because I now recognize it more as a genre than a subject of online ridicule.

My horizons widen and broaden again, thanks to Swatdojo and Ylvis.