Love, Deuce and Advantage

I watched the final game of the Australian Open Women's Division. It's the battle between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. I like Serena because she's a great tennis player. I have never seen her underestimate an opponent. She always plays with so much intensity, focus and determinatio. sometimes who will be the winner is out of the question. I like Maria Sharapova because she's beautiful and lady-like but very cunning in her strategies as well. At 19, she has a very promising career ahead of her.

That's why I was torn between the two greats yesterday when I watched them battle it out for the title. Sharapova is seeded as number 1 in the world, while Serena is unseeded as she has been inactive for more than a year (after the death of her sister in a shooting incident) and is ranked number 87.

It turned out that Maria was not in the game, not in her usual competitive mode. I saw her talking to herself, as if she's fighting some demons around her who sort of possessed her and not giving her a chance to play her game. The battle ended within an hour and 3 minute with a score: 2-6, 2-6. The commentators even mentioned that this was the easiest game Serena had in the whole open.

This is Serena's 3rd grand slam championship, now she is now among the greats like Navratilova, Stefi Graf and Martina Hingis (my ultimate crush in the Tennis World).

I believe Maria was almost on the verge of tears. I believe she knows that Serena took advantage of the unforced errors, double faults and faulty forehand and backhand shots she committed. But she was a great sport when she was asked by the emcee to give a few words. She even joked about her loss. I LOVE HER!!!

Serena was such a great champion, recognising the great potential of Sharapova. She entered the competition as an unseeded, ranked number 87 and left Australia at number 14.. WOW!! Love Tennis...

Lalalalalalalalalalalalalala ...(Happy Tree Friends theme)

I just want to share one of the songs that I shared with my teammates at eBay UK. The theme for such songs started with Cacai, the baby of the team. I love this song the first time I heard and saw it in Myx. The song is realistic. It doesn't a bitter feel to it. The girl in the song is not in denial that she still loves the guy but is optimistic that she will get through this trying time.

For the people who have been hurt,

May you take this moment of grief, of loneliness, of pain as a blessing -- that you still feel... Let the tears flow and roll down your face. It's not bad to indulge in the bittersweet taste of love. But never let that pain kill your faith and your hope in love -- losing faith and hope in love means losing faith and love in God -- for God is the source of true love and happiness. We may never understand the purpose of such pain today but we will, in time. For God's loving hands continue to work, to prepare the perfect moment for you and your lifetime partner, God never stops working, but He is waiting for us to show him that we are ready. For the people who are in pain, just feel it and let it help you be stronger and better...

Someday (Nina)
Someday you’re gonna realize.
One day, you’ll see this through my eyes.
By then, I won’t even be there
I’ll be happy somewhere
Even if I care.

I know you don’t really see my worth
You think you're the last guy on earth
Well I’ve got news for you
though I’m not that strong
But it wont take long,
Wont take long.

Someday someone’s gonna love me
The way I wanted you to need me
Someday someone’s gonna take your place
One day I’ll forget about you
You see I won’t even miss you
Someday, someday.

(I know, someone's
gonna be there.)

Right now I know you can tell
I’m down and I’m not doing well
But one day, these tears they will all run dry
I won’t have to cry,
sweet goodbye
Another song... Wala lang.. Hindi naman ako brokenhearted ngayon but I just like this song. I first heard this song sa Starstruck (current season, I'm not sure what batch). Kinanta ng apat na girls pero pinaka love kong performance yung kay Stef. Pretty with a pretty voice and good stage presence (Pinoy Pop Superstar judge?)

Irreplaceable (Beyonce)
To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
To the left
Everything you own in the box to the left

In the closet that's my stuff - Yes
If I bought it nigga please don't touch
And keep talking that mess, that's fine
But could you walk and talk at the same time
And It's my mine name that is on that Jag
So remove your bags let me call you a cab

Standing in the front yard telling me
How I'm such a fool - Talking about
How I'll never ever find a man like you
You got me twisted

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
matter fact he'll be here in a minute - baby

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I can have another you by tomorrow
So don't you ever for a second get to thinking you're irreplaceable

So go ahead and get gone
And call up on that chick and see if she is home
Oops, I bet ya thought that I didn't know
What did you think I was putting you out for?
Cause you was untrue
Rolling her around in the car that I bought you
Baby you dropped them keys hurry up before your taxi leaves
Standing in the front yard telling me
How I am such a fool - Talking about
How I'll never ever find a man like you
You got me twisted

You must not know about me
You must not know about me
I could have another you in a minute
matter fact he'll be here in a minute - baby

ANG TARAY, DI BA?

Last song for this blog...

Nagustuhan ko itong song na ito kasi it talks about freedom. It encourages speaking out, coz no one will do it for you. Alam ninyo naman ako..MEEK!!
Naririnig ko na 'to sa commercial ng Pantene. Pero I get to here the real beauty of the song nung pinatugtog ni Joycee sa office. Ayun, I'm hooked. Hindi ko pa rin kabisado pero keber.. Like ko ito...

Unwritten (Natasha Anne Bedingfield)

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh, oh

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, yeah, yeah

in the absence of my presence...

It's been a while...Na-miss ko 'to!! (ok kahit papaano) I was so hooked up finishing the two Agatha Christie Jane Marple mysteries that I borrowed from Mau's baby sister, Rochelle (Bing to most of us). Grabe!! Hindi pa rin kumukupas si Manang Agatha, ganda talaga ng pagkakasulat at pagkakapresent ng mga events. Mas nagustuhan ko nga lang yung "What Mrs McGillicuddy saw" kasi the case was opened in an unorthodox way. Like the witness was not even connected with the suspect or the victim. Basta astig. Tapos yung mystery ng human nature, how somehow it boils down to deprivation, to blame, to hatred then to murder (be it accidental or premeditated). Hindi ko pa nga natatapos yung Sybil pero go agad ako kay Agatha, tagal ko na rin kasing hindi nakakabasa ng aklat niya. Ang hirap kasing hanapin ngayon sa Recto ang mga works niya. Anyway, since I am through reading Agatha Christie, I'm now back to Sybil.

Why did it take me so long to write another blog? Medyo busy-busyhan. (ahem) Last time, ang nabanggit ko, mag-eexam sis ko sa PUP right? Bad news, my sister didn't pass the UPCAT exam. I don't know if my sister knows but I just don't have the guts to tell her. Not that she badly wants to study there, but I just felt that it would be a great sense of achievement for her. (Stage ate??!!) I just hope she makes it to PUP, because this is where she really wants to study. Haay!! Mega worry na naman ako. As you know, ok kung sa PUP siya, alam ninyo bang P12 per unit lang doon?!! Tapos hindi na aabot ng libo ang miscellaneous fees?!! Eh di makakatipid na si Ate, makakaipon na ako ng pambili ng videocam at PC... Libre lang mangarap.

Check out: http://www.pup.edu.ph/admissions/fees.asp

Ok ang quality ng education dun kasi state university yun eh. Kaso paano kung hindi? Pero malabo din na hindi pero worst case scenario?? I know you're wondering why I am so worried about this. But this is my promise to my mom that once my sister's in college, she doesn't have to worry about anything. AND I WANT TO FULFILL THAT PROMISE!!! Because I have been a bad daughter, I want to make it up to my mom and my dad. Haay!! Pressure!! Good thing, Ceasar's there to back me up. Give me the courage and the confidence that I can do it -- WE CAN DO IT!! (Romantic 'no?) Shucks!!! (blushing..)

After the exam, we went to Gate 1 of Manila Pier, to visit Doulos, the floating bookstore. (naalala ko si Manong Tanod dun sa sakayan ng mga jeep sa Pier, nakataxi kasi kami kasi hindi namin alam Safest way na magmukhang tanga, nakataxi ka! Kaso si manong Tanod nainis sa amin, hindi namin siya ma-gets. MALAMANG!! Kung alam ba namin, magtatanong pa ba kami? KUMUSTA NAMAN!!!?) Once there, megalakad kasi sobrang trafik tapos PILA.... PILA.... PILA.... PILA.... PILA.... PILA.... PILA.... (teka UP na ba ito?) It took us 2 1/2 hours waiting in line before we actually went aboard the ship and looked for books. By the time we were on the ship, we don't have the strength to move any muscle to search for the books we like. It'll be a disappointment if you think that you'll find in Doulos the books that you've been wanting to buy at National Bookstore, Powerbooks or Fully Booked at the cheapest price. Because it's likely that you WON'T kasi WALA!! Dictionaries, christian/catechism books (at they are spreading the word of God), cook books and great reference books from McGraw-Hill and Glencoe Publications. May novels din pero never heard dito sa Philippines ang mga novelits kaya I didn't take the risk to buy one.

What's nice about Doulos is that this is a haven for public schools. Why? Because they have this promo... Sa Ukay-ukay section ng Doulos, if you buy a Doulos katsa bag (take note: walang tatak ng DOULOS--- blanko) for 300pesos you'll get 3 books of your choice. I was able to buy 2 bags so I now have 1 book for basic English, 1 book for Economics, 2 books for basic High School Mathematics and 2 books for French learning -- for only 600 pesos at lahat hardbound and bago!!! So kung ang DepEd nag-alot ng 100,000 pesos, meron ng 10,000 reference books na mabibili na pwedeng ibigay at ibahagi sa maraming Public schools!! Imagine!!! Sana kinuha nila ang pagkakataon na yun. Still, I went home a happy bunny. :p

Kumain pala ulit kami ni Ceasar sa Javi's (Sikatuna Village). The home of refillable iced tea, affordable yummy steaks, jalapeño cheese fingers and friendly service. Wala lang.. Galante si Sir, nagyaya after work, ayun.. P300 pwede na, kasama na pamasahe doon ha? Yummy pero namp&%@#! sira na naman ang vow kong mag-diet. Fine! Healthier nga ang iced tea kesa sa beer pero pag nakapito ka nang large glasses of iced tea, healthy pa ba yun? :) Sabi nga ni Edgran, bakit parang ako daw ang nalalasing at ang kulit ko daw?!!! heheheh

Last week, busy week kasi tumulong ako sa pag-organise ng thoughts ni Ceasar, dami niya kasing pinagkakaabalaha: business, school, banda at turo.. Haay!! Ayun ang loko, hilong talilong. kaya pag naglalaro siya ng PS2 sa buong time na magkasama kami, hinahayaan ko na ang bata, dun lang daw siya nakakapag-unwind. Kawawa naman, eh. Haay..