Why blonds ruled

I was called in to work "Some Like It Hot" at the Civic Friday evening, a classic, 1959 BW film that starred Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Marilyn Monroe. It was shown as part of the Auckland Heritage Week. Read the plot here.

Did you know that it was named by the American Film Insitute as the Greatest American Comedy Film of All Time? Tony Curtis was his usual debonaire self, and Jack Lemmon was the man that left everyone in stitches. Think Owen Wilson & Ben Stiller, but with much, much more class (I suddenly think that's not even a fair comparison).

And Marilyn Monroe... I've never seen her films before this, and wondered what's all the mystery around her.

Now I know why.

The two chicks on the left are actually Tony Curtis & Jack Lemmon

She epitomized the dumb blond that every man wanted to sleep with. Maybe she was, and that's why she was so convincing playing the ukelele-playing Sugar Kane. I wonder if she really sang as well as I heard on the film.

I also can't believe this was the 50s, kasi for the entirety of the movie, eh bra-less po sya. Look at the spotlight, it never went down her chest, pero I'm sure 99% ng mga nanonood eh doon nakatingin.

Inde masagwa ha, unlike when Alma Moreno danced bra-less at aalog-alog sa Loveli-Ness (my gulay, ano bang mga pinapanood ng nanay ko sakin nung bata ako, hehehe).

A night with Deepak Chopra

I worked "A Night With Deepak Chopra" yesterday. I was at the door, but got to peak in once in a while to listen to his pocket jingle full of knowledge (and more), buying the Civic a full house.

His principal themes combined science, medicine, religion. He shared his thoughts on evolution, intelligent design-creation, and recipes for peace, love and healing. I heard a quote that night "The path to learning is in remembering." Para syang advise ko sa mga bagong break "You can never forget, only not remember."

Naks, hehe...



The ticket prices ran as high as $200, the cheapest about $50. The books he sold outside was about $35 each. Hmmm... la lang :)

I got it!

There's no getting rid of me now, bebeh, nyar-har-har-har!

After seven months and 3 days, over 50 applications (and as many CVs sent), about a dozen interviews, more than 10 rejections, and 3 jobs(one unsuccesful), my visa officer is finally convinced. I just got back my passport today with a residence visa sticker.

Ang dami kong dapat pasalamatan (mga kaibigan dito sa NZ, sa Pinas, mga amo, mga kaopisina, ka-flatmates, ka-blog...), pero ang pinaka eh of course ang pamilya ko(kung wala sila siguro nabuwang na ako dito), at si Lord (ang tunay na Big Brother.. kuuu, pinakaba mo ako ha, kung makurot lang sana kita, hehehe).

Woohoo, parang gusto ko tuloy sumayaw ng...

My Daily Commute: CBD Running Route

Today was the fourth day running home. The day starts by walking to the office at about 8:15AM, arriving 35 minutes later at the office. I get off work at 6PM to start my evening runs, arriving here at the flat at about 6:45PM.

I grabed a map at Wises to plot the route. Blue dots show my morning walk, the red dots my evening run home.


The morning walk starts with a gradual downhill along Symonds Street till a very steep foot path inside the Alten Reserve. A long uphill follows at aptly named Parnell Rise, which peaks just after our office (A). It's a good warm-up to start the day.

Evening runs are scenic. It starts at Parnel Road, immediately turning right into Auckland Domain(Parang Luneta or Rizal Park satin ba, pero much prettier-and cleaner!). The running paths here are lined by large, old trees, manicured grass and gardens. I ran up the museum once (the shield shaped figure in the park) to do stair drills and stretch. It's a good place to view the CBD sunset and the Sky Tower light up (Today it's blue and yellow). Next week I'll do speed drills sa rugby grounds (wag sana ako mapagkamalan at i-tackle bigla, nay ko pu!).

The route then leads to the Auckland Hospital (good to know its there :)), Grafton Bridge, then back to Symonds. When I get a camera, I'll take photos of my evening running route. Much better than Gamboa Carpark in Makati :).

I love running in the evenings, to let off steam after a stressful day. Beyond the stiffness (expected after not running at all for the last 5 months), everything's fine. I'm now more relaxed and sleep well at night. I don't know if I snore louder though (Kawawa naman ang flatmates, hehehe).

Ang tatlong itlog...

Scream no evil, see no evil, eat no evil

Sumo Wrestling

Wala lang, ang ku-cute kasi, hehehe...

Running back in time

Indi ako nakakapost recently kasi busy po kasi ang lolo nyo. I've been working hard sa office kasi busy period namin, at tumanggap ako ng maraming shift sa part time job ko during weekends. And with house work filling in my spare time in the evenings, there isn't really much time to write.

And besides, what is there to write?

Ah, nakuha ko na pala residency ko.

Yehey...

Bat maliit lang? Ewan ko ba. Siguro kasi eh nung nakuha ko yung sulat eh magisa lang ako sa flat, at wala akong maka-chest pump man lang. Siguro I reached a plateau dahil na-achieve ko na lahat ng short-term goals na na-set ko when I first arrived (1. get a good paying job 2. get your residency). And with the family arriving in February pa, it's a waiting game from now on.

I'm not good at waiting. I need a new goal.

So today I decided to run.

A jetti(or port?) along Tamaki Drive, on the way to Mission Bay

At JM Savage Memorial. Napalayo ata takbo ku..
(Doon pa ako uwi sa mga building sa malayo, waaaa)

I rediscovered running and why I loved doing it for about 8 years. I loved the rush and the zen, and can't wait to run (and run) again tomorrow and on the weekend. Call me Forrest Gump for all I care but, God, running makes me feel so... alive.

Maybe it's the runner's high, or the getting there, or getting to the finish line. The last two are things I can relate to in a deeper sense. The plan now is to do these and join the Auckland Marathon (well for now a quarter marathon).

And it's such a beautiful country to run. So clean and runner(and bike) friendly. Care to join me?