Geographically Convenient. Or maybe just convenient.

I guess it’s one of those disadvantages you’d rather have. I mean, some people believe that it’s better not to have anything because you’d have nothing to lose.

I thought it was a real advantage for me to live near the place where I work. Very short commute time and even when I wake up late, I can hurry up and get to the office on time. And it was an advantage, too, that most of my co-workers lived near the office because that meant that we didn’t have to go very far whenever we had non-work-related events. Dinner would be at the mall that’s less thatn 4km from my house. Drinks would be at a neighboring subdivision. Easy to get to. And in case any of those places were already closed well, that’s where my house comes in.

It’s just in the middle of where everyone else lives. Well, more or less. Of course, its proximity wouldn’t be half as advantageous if I didn’t have nice parents who let me entertain people and not a lot of neighbors who complain about noise and whatever. The best part? Or so I thought, was that while at the end of the day, everyone else had to leave, I didn’t have to. I could just take a few steps and sleep in my own bed. Of course, this turned out to be the absolute worst part as well, which I guess is one of those things that people mean when they say that God has a sense of humor. That what you thought was the best thing could actually be the worst thing and the vice-versa.

See, while everyone else got to plan who rides with whom, I’m left to just watch as they leave me behind. I can’t go with them of course. I’m already home!

I miss out on a lot, actually. Every time anyone needs anything, it’s my responsibility to find it and get it on account of it’s my house and what do they know about where my family keeps things? As well, I’m left with the clean-up.

In a way it makes me feel important because it means that they need me or I can help or that I’m not completely useless. But sometimes it can feel like you’re working for your friends and you can’t just enjoy yourself because it’s more or less your responsibility to make sure that everyone’s fine and dandy. I mean, if they get bored, they’re sure to think of the venue where they got bored and I don’t want my house to be labeled in their minds as a boring venue.

But definitely, the worst part of being the hostess is waving goodbye to everyone as they leave. And when they left, I was alone. I mean, there were other people in the house but they were asleep and it was just so quiet.

I have half a mind never to invite guests over again just so I could avoid that feeling of getting left. *sigh* It feels really sad.

Hello, Frank Darabont

It’s because the theme song of The Walking Dead is so catchy, that’s why. I remember Frank Darabont as the producer. One time an officemate asked me if J.J. Abrams was the producer of The Walking Dead, because you know, he produced Lost and Star Trek and all. I said no, the producer of the The Walking Dead was Frank Darabont. I surprised myself when I realized that I knew it.

And now, because about a gazillion of people I’ve talked to at work who want to speak English have told me that their favorite movie is The Shawshank Redemption, I decided to see it, and wouldn’t you know it, it was directed by my new favorite producer himself, Frank Darabont.

I know everyone in Hollywood’s bound to have had something to do with a movie or two before they become famous and you start remembering their name, but it does surprise me when a name I never expect to come up somehow does and I realize that I’ve been liking things that the same person was responsible for.

Take the time that I was telling M about Gattaca, about how it was such a great movie and one of Ethan Hawke’s finest and that it introduced Jude Law to the world. I told her about its plot and 1950′s feel and she said something like, “The way you talk about it somehow reminds me of In Time.”

I told her that I liked that movie, too, despite its negative reviews, and then I realized that silly me, the same person wrote and directed Gattaca and In Time. Andrew Niccol!

At one point I named him as my favorite writer, but now that he’s in charge of Stephenie Meyer’s The Host, well, OK. I guess since I haven’t lost respect for Robert Pattinson and Anna Kendrick despite their involvement in Stephenie Meyer’s work, I guess, I can just think that maybe Andrew Niccol did it for the money. And, I don’t think I would take that against anyone.

I’m a little angry.

I’m not saying I’m the most reliable person in the world but… It astonishes me how there can be a whole lot of people who can’t seem to live in this world.

OK, that’s way too harsh and people don’t deserve it. People deserve a lot more credit. But this is a rant and so I’m going to be irrational.

First: I’d like to say that I am of course not infallible and am probably also guilty of some of these things but I really hate myself whenever I do some of these things and I try not to do them again. I never deliberately nor uncaringly do these things and if I could control the world, I’m quite sure that I would never do them unless I was trying to make a point. What things, you ask? Well, read on.

1. Not replying to text messages/e-mails. I get that you’re busy and that you can’t be expected to be on your phone or checking your e-mail all the time but unless you’re in a desert, I expect that you at least look at your phone and e-mail once a day. Meaning, if you don’t reply to a text/e-mail within 24-48 hours, I’m not the crazy one for wondering why or how you could not have seen the message I sent you yet.
   On a side note, I also can’t understand how people can still get away with “My phone’s battery died.” because again, unless you’re living in a desert or a deserted island, chances are, there’s an outlet near you and you can charge your phone within 12 hours after its battery died.
2. Being late. Hey, if companies don’t accept “traffic jam” as an excuse then neither should I. Unless you’re going to a place for the first time and would therefore have no idea how long it realistically takes to get there, you shouldn’t be late to go anywhere. Ever. I mean, of course there are valid reasons for this, like maybe you’re sick or a family member is sick or well, there are a lot of valid reasons really, but I really dislike it when people say “traffic” or “I woke up late” as their reasons for being late. I mean, what part of “twelve noon” is so difficult to understand?
3. Cancelling at the last minute. Don’t we all have calendars on our phones now? Don’t some people spend so much money on coffee just to get a planner? How can some people still forget when they’ve committed to something and suddenly flake out a few days or worse, a few hours or minutes before the time they said they would meet with you? Sometimes people even flake out a few minutes or hours after they said they would meet with you and you realize you just wasted several hours of your life waiting for something that was never going to arrive.
4. Showing up, but leaving immediately. This is almost just as bad as people who cancel at the last minute. I mean, just say you can’t come if you’re just coming for the sake of not being called a canceller.

I’m aware that sometimes circumstances are beyond our control and that nothing ever goes the way they’re planned. What really bothers me is how a lot of people are so unapologetic about it. Like only their time matters and that you’re the loser because you have nothing better to do than to wait for them or commit to spending time with them. Really. Am I the one wrong because I want people to be on time or at least to inform you within an appropriate time frame that they can’t make it to something?

Edited!

Instagram shminstagram. Because I’m bitter that this app doesn’t work properly on my phone, I downloaded four different photo editors to compensate. I deleted all my games (save for one) in favor of these photo editors. But I’m happy about it because not only did they compensate, they also exceeded my needs and expectations. And now I think I’m addicted to filters and borders and taking pictures with my phone. I even want to buy a new phone with a better camera. I don’t think it makes me vain because I don’t take pictures of myself anyway. But why do I have to explain myself?

Pictures!

Looking out at the beach while writing and drinking coffee is my idea of paradise. Being able to do this everyday should be my goal in life.

Sights in Bohol. I love this place. And the timing of my vacation here this year could not have been better, srsly.

On my parents’ 33rd wedding anniversary, they had coffee at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. A small celebration, but it was just for the two of them. They brought home a cup of coffee and a slice of cheesecake for me, though.

Sometimes cemeteries can look so picturesque… This photo is pixelated on account of my sucky phone camera.

We visit my grandparents’ grave every year in November. I like the flowers my aunt brought this year.