ah, wishlists be darned! as there will be another megastorm coming, i'd better get this up and running before power goes out and i'll be sitting in the dark and staring into nothingness! :)

first off, kudos to the Fed for such a fantastic season -- 12 champion titles this year, ending with a masterful sweep at the Tennis Masters -- $8,000,000+ total prize money for 2006 (gimme some moolah)! i was quite certain he was going to win, and he did =) ... oh, i must mention that Rog is featured on the December issue of Vogue Magazine, in an six-page spread with him donning elegant haute couture. and he's also in People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive issue. cute!

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the tension's slowly slithering in again, and come next week we'll be pencil-pushing already for quizzes, quizzes and more quizzes... plus those crazy things the profs want you to do just to fill the syllabi requirements. there's nothing more satisfying than banging your head on the table over piles of homework, so as always i won't be that visible around here to give my crap. welcome to the fabulously hectic life of ellie, geek supahstar! ;p

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if there's one thing that keeps me on my toes, it's my PE. this is my last, and i'm going to make the most out of it. (perhaps if we were to foresee the next few years without mandatory physical education, i would probably look like an overweight ass... like the guy in fatboy slim's album cover!). predictably, our first drills meeting in table tennis went down like a soggy rat on me, since i didn't know how to play. i had one wrong serve too many, balls bouncing in odd places, picking up more than i can play, the prof branding me 'epileptic' because i couldn't relax my arms. i felt hopeless with my table-mates (and well, everybody else) because they're able to do those things and i can't. :(

but of course, I HAVE TO DO IT! naturally it's only my first time, so four months will be enough for me to learn and be good at it (that's the spirit! i mean if RF plays table tennis, then so should i :D) ... i've got to show 'em what i can do. so with my classmate L., we went to the gym after class last week to practice ourselves. and there was some progress on my part in yesterday's class, at the very least i was able to serve correctly... diagonal and straight. it's a good thing i can do it, since next week we'll have a practical test on serves. receiving would be another subject altogether! that would mean yet another million rounds of ball-picking... *shudder* (pulot girl!)

i'm even practicing at home, hitting the ball against the wall! i get really tired afterwards that i feel immobile in the morning. i swear, playing is making me lose weight... i can imagine those icky fats dripping as sweat! i'll be sexy in no time :)

sometimes, i just have to think positively in order for things to go right.

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on the subject of The Amazing Race 10, which i haven't exactly tackled this season: we're down to 4 teams (hotties, couple, moms, and the damn barbies) and the pressure is on! the thing is that none of my bets have made it this far (father-daughter, and the cho brothers) so i guess i have to stick it out with the hot models James & Tyler because they're good anyway and well, they're cute. ;p the beauty queens annoy me so much -- why weren't they eliminated? for viewership's sake? (come on!) ... all i can say is that TAR is some kind of a national pastime every monday, 'coz i influenced the folks into watching it with me. heehee :) ... rumor has it they're gonna have a Paris leg in the final! go J&T!

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i managed to catch Casino Royale, and make no mistake about it: the movie's great. i'm one of the many people who had initial apprehension about Daniel Craig being cast as Bond (actually, i never really liked the series -- just Pierce!), and i should better eat my words up. Craig's not your run-of-the-mill spy clone, he created his own style and with good effect. i loved the first half of the film, and the ending left me half-expecting for more. and (semi spoiler!) accountants rule! =p this is one of the few movies i truly enjoyed this year.

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i've been setting up a new blog layout... it's somewhere in the final stages. maybe i can "unveil" it in a couple of weeks. clue: a la mode en femme!

cheerio ... i hear the wind already, aaah!!!!

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HOW HAS THE INTERNET CHANGED MY LIFE?

July 14, 2001. Seven-fourteen-twenty o'one.

I was only thirteen back then. I remember coming home from school one fine Saturday to discover we finally had my own computer all set up and ready in the room. It was a real delight, like a little child who got the greatest thing she ever wanted, right in front of her eyes. This box of wonders, primarily intended for all my high school research assistance, held the key to everything I wanted back then and more. I can finally do away with the typewriter, play those wacky games, and sit in front of it contented and couldn't care less about the rest of the world just clicking, typing and exploring away.

And of course, the Internet. It was a fabulous realm on the upswing with endless possibilities that I have not discovered yet, but have been very curious of. I cannot imagine why many of whom I knew confessed to having been totally transfixed by it, fazed by its awesome power. With buzzwords like "website", "email", and "chatting", I was determined to see the glory of it myself. That afternoon, armed with a 3-hour internet dial-up, I scrambled in on the Internet craze. But being the technology novice that I was, those three hours were consumed running in circles around Yahoo.

Two weeks later, I became an Internet addict.

I finally knew why everyone's raving about it. It was the answer to everyone's nagging question, a sort-of Holy Grail of every imaginable kind for every imaginable inquisitor. It offered a smorgasbord of wonders, catering to every interest, whim and fancy. It has virtually everything you could ever ask for, and more! I could've sworn the Internet is the greatest invention ever!

For the first few months, I roamed around current affairs sites & forums -- as that was my 'thing' back then. It was a relief that many others share my thoughts and feelings about stuff that happen in this crazy world. I voiced out my opinions on certain issues, and people would welcome them and share their own. Some topics were mild, others were very much a debate room for would-be lawyers and pundits! Aside from all the news discussion, we also let loose over off-topic items such as hobbies, films, and the occasional relationship talk. It was a generally friendly atmosphere, and I learned & enjoyed a lot. I still drop by on the politics forums once in a while and check out what they're heckling about :)

As you would a hyperactive teener with short attention span, I shifted my main interest from news to writing. The Internet, I could say was where I actually honed my skills as a writer. I joined a writing site that helps budding literati to test the waters, write and publish their works over the site to gain exposure and be able to receive constructive criticism. I posted some of my scribbles, and the first comments I received were not so good. The other members probably figured I was just starting out with those amateurish attempts. Here was another community who embraced fellow writers however diverse their works and sensibilities were, treating each one with respect. They helped out in revising works out for the better, encouraged people in tapping their inner Dickens or Shakespeare and crafting magnificent prose or poetry through little contests and challenges, opened writers' minds about subjects that they weren't initially keen on and give it a spin of their own. They were very concerned about each member's progress, and even if I didn't really know the people behind those pen names, I felt their warmth and sincerity in bringing out the best in oneself.

Apart from pursuing a so-called writing 'career' on the Net, I also diverged in the world of music, movies and anything in between. Listening to my favorite music has never been easier with peer-to-peer file sharing, finding out what's a good cinematic experience takes only a simple search, and knowing that you're only one degree close to your crush is such a lovely thought. While on those doldrums with nothing else to do, I'd simply browse the web, and not long after find another treasure.

I simply love the Internet. If I were stuck in an island, I bet I'll be fine with only food and an Internet connection! Sometimes I'd even get 'withdrawal symptoms' for not accessing the web for one day! There's something very alluring about the Internet, that even if you access the same site many times over, you'll always end up with a different experience. Must it be a pending reply, the breaking news, the hope of finding something new and cool? To me, it's everything! :D

The major driving force right now for me on why I've kept a solid relationship with the Internet is blogging. An offshoot of writing, it came both naturally and accidentally to me. I started with a personal website around 2002 that featured the essays I've written, but since it was hard to maintain I switched to making an online journal, a relatively new thing back then, and it became a repository for my works. Little did I know I'd be talking my heart out to the world about the most mundane of things a year later. I read other people's blogs one time and became so impressed by them, that I decided to start my own personal blog. I had set up about a dozen blogs in entirety, but only maintained a couple up to the present -- still talking about the most mundane of things, yes -- and ready to dash out bits of life, madness, and perhaps love on the side...

There is no doubt that the Internet has made life easier and the world smaller, but more than that it has become a force for mankind. It is a harbinger of communication & harmony and a tool for development & growth, among the many purposes it serves. It is constantly changing my life in a lot of ways. It made me become more aware of the world, and helped me express myself and gradually overcome my self-doubts about my capabilities as a person; to be respectful and open to many views and personalities, to seek out new friends and establish my relationship with the dear ones I have.

To say that the Internet has become a part of my life is no cliche. I can even come close to saying that I live and breathe the Internet! I couldn't imagine the world without it. Our existence wouldn't be so thrilling and fun, I swear. My peers must certainly feel lucky to have the Internet born in this era, as with all other techno gizmos... we are the consumerist generation, after all!

The Internet has been my no-miss daily activity ever since -- my ever dependable schoolwork assistant, my provider, my bridge to people far and wide, my babysitter, my awesome CIA to all the guys I've ever had a crush on, my storage room, my confidant to angst-ridden rants and raves, my caffeine to all those boring insomniac nights, my invisible but lovable best friend.

I can say I'm very different now from what I was on that fateful July afternoon... I am at present a confident, competent woman ready to face the world.

Thank God for the Internet! :)

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as the AMV fortunately (or unfortunately) found itself to be established just after sem break, we avid youngsters are relishing accountancy week (the first time we'll actually celebrate it to some effect). for 4 days we'll be having shortened classes, and loads of fun and happy programs we'll participate and enjoy with all our might. i'm just exaggerating on that last sentence. anyway, i'm only sharing how yesterday went, because i guess it's worth posting for reference.

we had the privilege of having Washington Sycip of the venerable SGV accounting firm deliver a lecture before us this morning. i am convinced that he is one of the greatest people i've come across with. he is full of wisdom, knowledge and grace... i mean, even if he's pushing 80 he still has a sharp mind and clear memory (things i believe i will be gone in my system at 60!), well-informed about anything and very much a jetsetter. he talked about why the country has fallen behind other nations in the region given we have far more resources than them, and why he doesn't think western democracy suits our government. he lamented about underfunded education and lack of infrastructure, and the growing divide of the rich and the poor, among others. he even took time to answer questions and entertain reactions for over half an hour. i've never been more impressed.

a little while after the VIP show ended, it's our turn as it was "Student's Recognition Day". this is where all the Dean's Listers receive the lovely piece of paper and shake fists with the administrators. belated as it was to honor those made it the past year, but even so. for me, this probably would be my first & last in the DL stint, as it is a tough act to follow. it's a pleasure to be recognized by the higher-ups, because i've never really had any academics-related achievement for a long time -- i guess the last time i was in the honor roll was way back in early grade school?! i'm happy i've got my 15 seconds of fame :)

(P.S. can someone tell me why Fed looks so good in this pic? sizzlin' emperor!)

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happy november y'all.

for starters, it was a bum sem break for me because i DIDN'T really get to accomplish anything. i've decided to rehash an old essay of mine for a contest i'm not too keen on, forgot Gawad Ustetika altogether, and is only scratching up on the third one because i'm gutsy . i have not finished any book i've wanted to get over this break -- except John Grisham's "The Chamber" which consumed the last two days picking up on the 450 pages left (out of 676), because i've put off reading too many times. dull, right? i've surrendered myself to watching tennis matches on tv, the only new hobby i've picked up, and forgot all movement in the process. i am a total slob. last friday, i've watched five matches all in all, one of the Federer-Henman AIG Japan Open Championship Finals last October, and the other four the 3rd round of the BNP Paribas Masters in France. gah, i've never been so hooked on this. i must be a strung-up lunatic! ^^,

the break would've been so wasted and unsatisfying if not for the lovely reunion i've had with my long-lost (!) SJ buddies last saturday. it was definitely the highlight on this side of town. it was my first time to spend an all-out gimmick with friends (and heck, there were 10 of us! =D). we all went to SM Mall of Asia. paulo & bern were celebrating their respective birthdays the following week (*this week, actually - happy b'day!*) and so they gathered us up and treated us for a roarin' day out. we had pizza & pasta yumyum for lunch... i finally got to catch up with everyone's lives, how they were doing, and everything was all fine and dandy. i had an interesting chat with ozy (i appreciated it, thanks), shimmied like mad with peach (MB rocks your socks -- groupie love!), and wondered at how much krystelle aka soup girl had become 'demure' since we last met (like duh, she isn't! hahaha xp). the dynamic duo, bern and shuri, were as lovable as ever. it was sentimental to think that even if the company i've kept since high school had matured and had all gone to some 'higher calling' now (lol), if you bunch us up together we'd still be the hooligans of yesteryears. ;)

the food reveille ended, and next came the afternoon action. the majority wanted to go to the arcade, and so we all rag-tagged over to Timezone. frankly i've never stepped on an arcade for more than a decade, and didn't really have the desire to play... but of course i don't want to be a pain in the butt. so i watched shuri & bern & tiff doing their thang on Drum Mania & Guitar Freaks (shuri was cut out for this stuff ^^,), peach & pau hamming it up on the Dancepad, and soupgirl & ozy strutting their stuff on Dance Crazy (?) w/ hand sensors. they were really great. i reluctantly tried on the guitar (with shuri's assistance), and managed horribly to get the sequences right with the Dance things that peach was pushing me to have a spin. i must say i have two mangled hands and a pair of left feet, and i vow never to shame myself again *lol*.

but there's something unexpected for me. among the kiddie stuff and the showman dancefloors was a Virtual Tennis play station! i hadn't noticed such a thing until an hour later. it intrigued me that someone could 'play' tennis on it, and it featured characters like you would on the real court -- Federer, Nadal, Roddick, Davydenko, et al and they looked, hmmm, human-like. the thing you'll ever need was a control gear to shift your player in different directions, and 2 buttons -- one for the serve and another for the defensive shots. so i got the better of my curiosity and played it twice. i played Fed on both occasions -- it was smashing baby! ^^;;; just on my first try, i won the first tournament (out of 5), defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero 2-1! (i eventually lost to Tommy Haas. ugh.) ... the second was not so lucky, however. the opponent was our favorite nemesis banaNadal who beat Rog after a deuce. guess i didn't give justice to Fed, huh? it was exhilarating though, and i'd surely like to play more had i the chance. (thanks so much to bern & peach for being gracious about this! *kisses*)

i agree, i've found my own niche in the arcade. ^^, .. but then time has been too harsh and quick that we had to part ways. saturday was something that kept me hopeful for the next time i'll see cherished friends again. :)

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but for more pressing matters, i'm off to Boot Camp (that is school) for the 2nd semester. i wonder if i'll return to waking up at exactly 5AM everyday, when for almost a month i'd rise at 7AM+. this time, we'll be having NSTP on sundays already, leaving me no actual rest day. my MWF sked is such a backbreaker (Eco, BA, Acct all at the same day?! give 'em hell!). and rumor has it we'll be having Calculus ~ just when my math falls as my first period! *h. dies and goes to heaven* .. in spite of all the fire & brimstone, i'm really hoping i could work it out this sem. God knows i need the grades i could muster.

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sensational sports advisory: the Tennis Masters Cup will be held on Shanghai, China on November 12-19. it's the awaited season-ending tournament, featuring the top 8 players. (because i don't want to picspam here, the photolink which i've tenderly created is right here). click on the official site for the contenders and everything in between. i'm so excited... go Rog! ^^,

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