"Life offers you a thousand chances, all you have to do is take one"
I always thought that Tuscany was in France.
I learn it's in Italy after watching "Under the Tuscan Sun".
Little did I know that when I was in Florence, I was right in the heart of the Tuscan region.
Now back to the movie!
Diane Lane portrays Frances Mays, a recently divorced American writer.
While on a 10 day 'gay' tour of Tuscany, she impulsively buys a villa.
She meets people who become her 'family'.
The Polish immigrants who renovate 'Bramasole'.
The aging film star, Katherine who was discovered by Fellini.
The realtor, Senor Martini who faithfully checks up on her.
Her neighbors whose grandmother was spurned by her online lover.
Patti, her pregnant Asian lesbian best friend.
Marcello, a gigolo who breaks her fragile heart.
Eventually, everything simply falls into place.
Lovely scenery, quirky characters, funny dialogue.

Frances: I'm in Italy I can hire the muscular descendants of Roman Gods to do the heavy lifting.
Patti: Yeah right!

Frances: Do traffic lights mean anything here?
Marcello: Sure. Green light ... avanti avanti
Marcello: Yellow light ... a decoration
Frances: What about red light?
Marcello: Just a suggestion!

Marcello: You have beautiful eyes Francesca.
Marcello: I wish I could swim in them.
Frances: That is exactly what American women think Italian men will say

Patti: These are straight men!
Frances: In tights.
Patti: Twirling flags.
Patti: How fantastic!
Frances: YES!!!

I loved the movie. I saw it 3 times before returning it to the video store.
It brought back fond memories of my travels to Bella Italia!

Mp3s
I just finished downloading mp3s.
It takes me about 20 minutes for each song.
I know it can be much faster if I had DSL.
But this building doesn't have the infrastructure.
So I just wait, patiently. I play Internet Checkers.
I blog hop. I forward emails. I sing.
I stayed up for the following songs:

3 Doors Down - "Here without You"

[aka the I.MISS.IYAD song]

I'm here without you baby.
But you're still on my lonely mind.
I think about you baby and
I dream about you all the time.
I'm here without you baby,
but you're still with me in my dreams.
And tonight there's only you & me.

SouthBorder - "Rainbow"

Take a little time, baby.
See the butterflies colors.
Listen to the birds that were sent to sing for me and you.
Can you feel me?
This is such a wonderful place to be. Even if there is pain now.
Everything will be alright.
For as long as the world still turns, there will be night and day.
Can you hear me?
There's a rainbow always after the rain.

Harem Scarem -"Honestly"

Tell me honestly,
if you're still loving me.
Looking into my eyes honestly.
Words have more meaning,
if they're said at certain times.
I need you now so I can feel alive!

This past weekend

I didn't go to my parents' place.

I took a total of 6 showers.

I forwarded funny emails.

I had a brief conversation with a neighbor.

I inhaled toxic pest control fumes.

I watched 2 movies on VCD.

I played Internet Checkers till 4:30 a.m.

I listened to Maroon 5's This Love repeatedly.

I cleaned the aircons' filters.

I got my new jeans from Alterations Plus.

I accompanied my sister to the dentist.

I binged on Hershey's chocolate bars.

I caught Wajdi on MIRC, briefly.
Wajdi: tks 4 remembering my bday, coz I forgot it
Me: welcome, u forgot ur own birthday?
Wajdi: yup
Wajdi: only today I knew it when I saw my email
Me: oh how sad
Wajdi: not really, you know I don't celebrate it
Me: that's true but still ....

I watched his documentary on CNN.

I read these articles in Time Magazine.
March 22 issue
"Doing it Depp's Way" Most Unusual Star.
"Welcome back, Capos" - "The Sopranos".
March 29 issue
"Who's the real enemy now?" AL-Qaeda's new look.
"The Last Don" - 'Big Joey' Massino.
"The Trial of Ben Affable" Ben Affleck

I sang "Do Ya think I'm Sexy" in the car.

I went grocery shopping.

I laughed when I hear this on the radio:
Male DJ: There you go, that was Andrea Bocelli.
Female DJ: His concert's at Araneta Coliseum on April 30.
Male DJ: I didn't know he was blind.

Female DJ: WHAT?!! So you thought it was normal for him to sing with his eyes always closed?!

"You'll always be my friend(s).
You know too much."
Me: have you seen Love actually?
Me: there is this character in that movie who sort of reminded me of you
Erik--: not yet.. Did you like it?
Me: yes I loved it
Erik--: oh? Maybe I should see it and try to guess which character :)
Erik--: then I can see if I guess right... Or why ;)
Me: it was just my 'inner' feeling
Erik--: I see ... ok, I'm curious
Me: yeah so go watch it
Me: well if it is still showing there

@---<----
Greatguy: hey daph
Greatguy: sorry to hear about the way things went with that guy
Greatguy: but it was obviously not meant to last
Greatguy: still it was nice as a generator of good feelings
Greatguy: and I still think it is a sign of good things to come
Greatguy: hugs ... hugs ... and more hugs
Greatguy: be positive ... If you can
Greatguy: you'll be better off

@---<----
DoNna: maybe tomorrow me and mar will go to the sea near our home to eat lunch
DoNna: here it's not that humid ... not like dubai it's very dry here
Me: ah ok in dubai you would melt like ice cream
DoNna: I know LOL
DoNna: we have the high temperatures like dubai but without the high humidity
DoNna: here we just fry like an egg if we go outside LOL
DoNna: Dubai is too humid and Kuwait is too dry!
Me: ack!
Me: don't they have some place just right?
DoNna: hmmm nope LOL
DoNna: everywhere is either too hot or too cold
Me: I know
DoNna: when its hot we complain and when its cold we complain
Me: yeah never satisfied
Me: whining bitches
DoNna: exactly! LOL
DoNna: anything new with u sis?
DoNna: nothing with me LOL
DoNna: same sh** different day LOL
Me: new jeans ... That's all
DoNna: LOL

@---<----
John wrote:
[March 19] hi how are you feeling? Much better? Hey tiramisu is good for the sorrow you know.. Well at least for me .. Kidding... :P take care hope you feel better...
[March 21] Just checking on you.. Making sure you're ok.. Take care....
[March 23] Hope days are coming easier.. As they should come ... Take care ... Miss our chats!

"Thy will be done"
Despite my sister nagging me to death.
I kept postponing it.
I felt I needed to condition myself.
But I finally watched "The Passion of the Christ."
I have always been the least skirmish one in this family. But this film gripped me.
I had to cover my eyes during the horrific scenes.
It was heart wrenching.
I still vividly remember when I visited Jerusalem.
5 days pilgrimage to the Holy Land. March 2000.
Walking through the Garden of Gethsemane.
Roaming the narrow steps of the Via Dolorosa.
Then finally climbing to the top of Golgotha.
The very spot where Jesus Christ was crucified.
That trip is etched in my soul forever.
This film made it all the more poignant for me.

Shopping
Great therapy to get over a break up.
Albeit expensive.
Last time I shopped this vigorously was eons ago.
March 2001, to be exact.
During my European grand vacance.
I ransacked the shops in Brussels, Belgium.
I came home with 2 extra suitcases.
Loaded with clothes, accessories & shoes.
It helps that I no longer need to save my money.
For that Dubai trip I was planning later this year.
I'm still reeling from the huge chunk of expenses.
I incurred last year.
I bought a new computer and a digicam.
Plus the airfare & accommodation for just 1 week.
In Dubai to celebrate Iyad's birthday together.
But what the heck! It's my money.
So even if my feet hurt. My wallet, empty.
My body, tired from trying all those outfits.
My stomach, sensitive from overeating.
The weather, stuffy and humid.
I just take a look at my harvest. I smile gleefully.
My soul is happy.

A relatively great day [Yesterday]
I had a sinful lunch at Dencio's Rockwell.
Bulalo Steak, Shrimps with taba ng aligue.
Chicharon Bulaklak & Green Mango Shake.
My body laden with cholesterol and fatty acids.
Just about enough to clog my arteries.
Then I had extra dose of caffeine at Cibo.
Might as well go for the kill.
You only live once!

I finally watched Love Actually.
My favorite season - Christmas.
My favorite topic - Love.
My favorite actors - Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Emma Thompson.
My favorite phrases - Everytime, someone would say 'Right', 'Indeed' & 'Excellent' in their cute British accent.
My favorite scene - Mark, showing up at Peter's place complete with sound effects and a cardboard expressing his true sentiments to Juliet. Then walking off with a smile on his face, he uttered "Enough". He was finally moving on.
My sentiments - Felt good in a mushy cosy way with big smile to boot.

I received a text message last night.
Iyad: Just wanna say hi & hope you're doing well.
Me: It's been tough but il be ok tks. Wish u well.
Sent genuinely with no hurt feelings at all.
Wishing though the text was from someone else.
Sighed. Then promptly slumbered into dreamland.

The search is on
Would you believe I only own one pair of jeans?
Yes, that's true.
All the years I lived abroad I only wore pants.
It had to do with projecting an image.
Daughter.of.diplomat.dress.appropriately image.
I bought my one and only existing 'XOXO' jeans.
At Bur Juman Mall, Dubai.
A year before we were due back in Pinas for good.
Now that I am an 'average' citizen once more.
It was time for me to dress the part.
To blend in with the jeans wearing crowd.
My main problem though is that I'm very picky.
It has to be the perfect fit and correct color.
The back pockets squarely located on my butt.
I actually began my hunt for jeans, Sunday.
At Rustan's to use my 2002 birthday gift certificate.
I never realized that todays style was low waist.
I mean, sure, I knew! But not that low. Geez!
I felt, I was exposing way too much of my big butt.
Neither did I appreciate my tummy all bunched up. Folding like the Banaue rice terraces.
It wasn't a pleasant experience.
All the huffing and puffing in the fitting room.
My sister and I were hysterical.
We were laughing our asses off, literally.
Today, still no luck at Rockwell.
There was always something not quite right.
Even if my sister said they looked just fine on me.
I'm not giving up.
I'm determined to find the right one.
So I can finally retire my 'XOXO' jeans.