Oscar Wow

This is quite possibly the best book I've read this year. That's all.

--Morx

Optimism

Bright colors say optimism, and in these days of economic gloom, we all need a bit of color. Cardigan from Topman.

-- Morx

"torn leaves, crushed twigs, flowing sap, fallen branches, old leaves, green moss, fir, pine and tiny mushrooms"

I love how enumeration can sometimes produce poetry inadvertently, as the title of this post does. Imagine a bottle that contains the scents of these poetic-sounding and -smelling things, and you get a variant of CB I Hate Perfume perfume.

Read about Christopher Brosius, his peculiar sense of smell and the scents he sells here.

-- Morx

Huamin Health Massage Socks

7/11 is not where you'd ordinarily buy your socks. But when you get cold feet from walking in the rain and getting your socks soaked, well, thank God they sell them. And not only do they sell socks, they sell the health massage kind.

What, you ask, in heaven's name are health massage socks. The beautiful nugget of wisdom on the tag says it all:



I don't know about my feet's "sympathetic spots," but reading the English labels on Chinese products always has a stimulating effect on my brain. Plus I'm just happy my feet are warm and dry.

Thank you, 7/11! And thank you, Huamin! Haha.

--Morx

Solitary Lunch October 10, 2008

Went out to eat lunch alone, as all my lunch mates from the office are in Boracay. I don't mind eating by myself when in public. But eating alone in the office means I have a personality problem, which I'm not saying I don't. Haha.

--Morx

Simple Times by Joshua Radin

It's Joshua Radin weather outside, gray and rainy. Which means it's the perfect time to listen to his new CD, Simple Times. There's always an ineffable sadness to Radin's songs, even the upbeat ones, that makes me feel like I'm about to cry. And times like this, it helps to delude yourself that the sky's commiserating with you.

--Morx

Toni & Guy Haircut

For years now, nobody has touched my hair but the wonderful, talented Cherry Reyes, who is the managing director of the Toni and Guy franchise in the country, and wife of Talk n Text coach, Chot Reyes.

She's known my hair from the time it was waaaay fuller and she could style it any which way she wanted (sometimes, almost too funky) until now that it's grown sparser. She cuts hair with an almost fanatical meticulousness, which makes the price seem cheap. That's why although etiquette tells me not to tip a stylist who's also the salon owner, I still do. I just don't give it to her directly, but leave it with the receptionist.

To make the money and the trip worth it, I make it a point to grow my hair to an uncomfortable length before having a haircut, as shown in this photo taken at Chicane. I feel queasy looking at myself looking like this, really.




And this is me after the haircut. What a relief.





See what a haircut can do? Lots.

--Morx

Chicane September 27, 2008

This was my third Chicane gig so far. The first one, held years ago at Casino Filipino in Paranaque, was very fun and memorable. Last year was unbearable, because of the extreme heat at World Trade.

The ticket was courtesy of Corinne, who got it as sponsor at Nokia. Here she is with fiance, Nico.

Hyc in "these days de rigeuer for her" headband came with her fiance Nino. Such is life these days; I'm surrounded by affianced couples.

Thank God the always-sleepy Che, here in her beautiful gold ves,t allowed herself to be forced to go that night, and so even out the number.

The first few songs were mostly blah, and the sound system conked out in the third song, I think. I hear it conked out again a few songs after, but we weren't there anymore.

The night's highlight for me was bumping into the gang I haven't seen in months: Kate, Chinkee and Matt (who I just heard are also engaged to be married next year) and pareng Jezer. I miss those guys.

--Morx

Wagyu Love

No receipt for this (how shall we put it?) uh, "black market" purchase. Underground economy's more like it, but anyway. Lok at these. Any lover of beef will agree with me that these pieces of wagyu are beautiful. And at P2000, a steal.

The resulting surf and turf meal was delicious. The meat was just seasoned with salt and pepper, and the shrimps were basted with lemon butter sauce.

Friends, this is a great way to have a wonderful meal at a fraction of the cost at a restaurant. I can bring my very portable grill if you want to hold the dinner at your place.

--Morx