Crowns and Oranges

This poetry anthology contains a poem of mine, the first time I've been published outside of La Salle's literary folio. Being a "published poet" doesn't mean much around here, but I had a proud smile when I saw this in Powerbooks today.

Tale of Two Coffees

Good thing Crema e Gusto was out of stock when I went to Lavazza. Because that made me try the Club variant, which according to the helpful barista, is single-source 100% Arabica exclusively from Latin America.

The Club is--and I cannot say this enough--fantastic. Smells terrific, and has a hundred different great flavors in it. Smoky, nutty, some sort of sweetish. It's the best coffee I've ever brewed for myself.

iPod Classic 120G

Finally got to replace my old 30G iPod with this 120G one. No more editing my play list before syncing, hooray!

Guest Blog: Corinne on a Dinner at Terrace, Greenbelt 5

My friend Corinne shares her thoughts on a dinner at Terrace at Greenbelt 5, which, by the way, serves really excellent food. Anyway, here is her entry:

22 May 2009

The first line of The Verve’s "Bittersweet Symphony" reverberates. “Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life. Trying to make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die.”

This was my mantra as I welcomed 2009. And, the hypnotic global phenomenon called recession did not help at all.

But tonight, I allowed myself to be pulled back to earth. Tonight, I spent precious and irrevocable time with people who are close to my heart. Unlike any other gimmick nights, tonight we were not out to people watch nor to be seen.

We were just a group of 3 friends, out to enjoy great food, interesting conversations, and terrific company. Oblivious to passers by, oblivious to other diners of The Terrace, we ate, drank wine, laughed, and shared stories. (Once in a while though, servers would get in our bubble. Impressed with their impeccable service, we would willingly let them in).

It was indeed as if we were situated in the comforts of our homes, like a snug and cozy space of a terrace.

Tonight was a life experience captured by this receipt that's definitely one for the ledger.

A Thing of Note

I just recently discovered this jotting pad produced by Star Paper at the neighboring school supplies store. At just P40 a pad, it's a steal considering the excellent paper quality. Today, I thought of injecting some "glamor" into my daily office tasks by making my own little letterhead with it. The result, I think, is surprisingly good. Also, I'm really liking the Goudy Old Style font I used.

I think I'm gonna write somebody a note now.

Today's Lunch

Rice, chicken yakitori and shiitake mushroom

Simple, austere, perfect.

Things I'm Listening To

Actor by St Vincent

The music of St Vincent (aka Annie Clark, formerly of Polyphonic Spree) is one of the best things I've discovered this year. Her voice remains low key and pretty all throughout, but the music is by turns lush and gorgeous then explosive and violent. There's range and complexity aplenty in this superb CD.



The Law of the Playground by The Boy Least Likely To

The music of The Boy Least Likely To is instantly beguiling in its seemingly childish simplicity, but the tension comes from the themes explored in this duo's lyrics. The result is wonderful.


Set Yourself on Fire by Stars

Okay this album is four years old, but Stars is one of my all-time favorite bands, and this is their best album. It contains "The Big Fight," which when I first heard, slayed me no end.


Love vs Money by The-Dream

As far as R&B goes, this is really solid. Great beats and grooves all around.


Fantasies by Metric

I've been listening to this album nearly every day for three weeks now. It's so catchy, electric and cool, I can't stop.

Paris via Siberia

I'm dreaming of belle epoque Paris via Russia these days, much like the narrator of Dreams of My Russian Summers, Andrei Makine's dreamy, deeply perceptive and sensuous novel about memory and imagination.

Meanwhile, here is where I thank Timmy and Mells for generously hosting us two weekends ago in this beautiful house in Tali Beach. I read a chunk of this book there while enjoying their hospitality. I find that reading takes on another dimension of pleasure when you do it somewhere scenic.



I loved my room, too.