THAI EKLAT

Hey, anyone remember that rundown-but-spicy-yummy Thai canteen at the end of Katipunan? I can't remember where it was located coming from UP—uhm, at the back of the International Center, maybe? Anyway, it's been gone for nearly a decade now.

A few years ago I heard rumors that the old lady who ran the canteen moved to Singapore and had a shop near an airport terminal, or maybe it's runway. Well, now, Cel's friend informed her a week ago that the lady was seen working at a restaurant in the Ortigas Home Depot area. Cel and I checked it out the next day and, lo, there she was! The shop's called Khao Pad, near the car shops at the OHD, still specializing in Thai delicacies, but of course with a more expanded menu than what we were used to. We just wanted the old beef/pork/chicken/squid with mixed vegetables that was the only thing most people ordered at UP, but she had a large bulk order that day, so we had to settle on the ulams behind the glass partition and not on the menu.

She was quite happy-surprised when I told her we were her old customers at UP, though I still couldn't understand what she was saying, haha. For sure, Cel and I will be coming back some other time to dig into that combo we've been craving for for ten years now. Heh.

CELESTE COSCOLULZA

Had our laundry done a week ago when our maid went on vacation. Welcome to the club, my love!

Perhaps some of my family find it frustrating when, 99 percent of the time, people spell or pronounce our name wrong. Me, I'm sometimes astounded at how someone can't seem to write a word down even when it's spelled out very slowly for them, or even copy it, or repeat it right after it's been pronounced the right way. But most of the time I just find this endlessly amusing.

IRON MAN

I know this post comes two weeks too late, but, haha, I just have to say that I couldn't contain my fanboy joy when I heard SLJ's voice in the scene after the end credits of Iron Man. Here's why (click to enlarge):

This from a comic book that came out more than three years ago. So I couldn't help but laugh and whoop when Samuel L. Jackson appeared on screen. Who'd've thunk it would actually happen?

In searching for the above page, I also came across a funny coincidence, now with Nick Fury/SLJ referencing Robert Downey Junior.

Lolz. Thanks to the people who told me to wait till after the end credits, and more thanks for not spoiling it.

HELLO, WORLD

Had about a month-long hiatus, and had been unable to post due to various reasons, mostly work (editing and photography-related), out-of-town trips, weekend visits to the in-laws and the puyat at playing video games.

Puyat has always been something I've been good at, me often needing to making a conscious effort to go to sleep (sometimes because of morning photoshoots or errands; otherwise, a glance at the clock or dawn light at the window would have me saying, "Oh shit," before scampering to bed).

Lately, I've discovered that pairing up fatigue and lack of sleep results in me nodding off uncontrollably. Working late at the computer, and once, in an early morning interview with Shine two weeks ago at Bohol, I found myself dozing in front of a group of DTI officials. The thing that jolted me awake was probably my anger at the realization of my body betraying me this way, but, oh well, tumatanda na talaga.

Randall and I often talk about this, how our tolerances to certain stuff are lower now than when we were in high school, in stuff like hard liquor and, you know, stuff. I remember once, some months ago, we scheduled our D&D game for an overnighter, but after Dong, Cupkeyk, Carding and I were nodding off in turns, we decided that overnighters weren't fun anymore.

Anyway, on a sunnier note, guess who graduated last month?

Kumander na, master pa!

At least somebody wanted to pose for me.

More photos at my Multiply account. Oh, another Quill alumni graduated this year. Clue: she's the daughter of UP Mindanao Chancellor Dr. Gilda C. Rivero. And oh, Daryll, if you get to read this, I'll burn you the photos.