Some catching up to do... 6:48 PM

GTA IV wanted poster
Originally uploaded by freshyill

My XBOX 360 is back and I am up to my nose with gaming backlog. Need to focus now and get back into matrix.

Signing-off on the real world. Click.

Oh, Great Cosmic Being... 3:15 PM

... save me! I'm right here!

(Finally, Google Maps found us.)

Lessons from Wanted 12:08 PM

Wanted Movie
Originally uploaded by jankoraseta

- Angelina Jolie is a scary bitch
- Never ride a car, a bus or a train when Angelina's around
- Don't expect James McAvoy to break into his Atonement or Narnia accent
- Morgan Freeman is just everywhere these days
- I don't remember the last time I said 'Ouch', 'Sh!t' or 'Fcuk' in a movie house
- Men will now start looking for women with capable thighs
- Exhaling lustfully in a racing vehicle has a nice Doppler effect
- Paraffin is good for the skin... and bones
- If you are not in the title billing, you are expendable
- Buy an ergonomic keyboard
- Life should always be in bullet time

Let It Rain, Let It Rain 1:06 AM

365:52 - Let It Rain, Let It Rain
Originally uploaded by James_Jackson

Let it rain, let it rain
Let the sorrow through the drain
Let the deluge still the pain
Let it rain, let it rain

Enmity is not my cup tea 11:26 PM

Remember, remember the 5th of November
Originally uploaded by Mr Geoff

What's there to remember? What's there to forget?
What's there to cry over? What's there to regret?
The past may have buried the truth
But not the hatchet
Time may have healed the wounds
But never erase words that were said

Hate is a strong word
A stronger word departs me

Aphelion - The Apophis, part 5 11:27 PM

Sun and Signs
Originally uploaded by .: sandman

July 7, 2025

"Just shoot it, Jenkins."

I shook as I held the gun up. The sun was high up the Nevada sky and the heat was dizzying as it bounced off the road.

"It's just a dog Jenkins. Shoot it."

I closed my eyes.

"Shoot it!"

And I did.

--------------------

Back in the road, Mike hummed the old western on the radio while he drove. I kept quiet still looking down, my cap shading my eyes. "You ok, Pete?" Miked asked taking a quick look at me. "Pete?"

"I'm ok." I exhaled as my voice cracked.

"The dog was going to die anyway. And you said it just ran into the road. There was no way you could have avoided..."

"Let's not talk about it anymore, ok?" I spoke loudly this time interrupting intentionally. I looked out my window. I could then feel Mike's eyes boring through the back of my head.

"I just don't like you not speaking to me. Not now. Not this time." Mike turned off the radio. "Talk to me."

I blinked and kept my silence. There was nothing to talk about. I can see his face reflecting on the window. He was upset now. He can see me looking at his reflection. I looked down.

I held on the dashboard as he hit the breaks to the pickup and turned to the shoulder. He got out and went to my side of the car.

"Come out here, Pete." He went for my door and pulled it open. I can tell he was angry now from the tone of his voice. "I said come out here!" He pulled me out and I slid off my seat. He pushed me to the side of the truck. Looking at me now he can see I was crying. He let go of me and let the side of the truck support my weight. He moved away towards the desert and turned abruptly 15 meters away facing me. "I know what you're doing Pete and it's not going to work!"

I wanted to speak but I no longer had the strength to do so.

"I am not running away. I want to do this." He gestured back trying to convince me along with the desert sun. "You were always the smart one. And I envied you so much for that. This was offered to me. And now I can do something my dad could be proud of." He started to walk back. "Aren't you happy for me Pete?" He stopped in front of me. "Tell me you're ok with this."

I could not answer. I was shaking again.

"Say yes, Pete."

I closed my eyes.

"Say yes!"

And I did.

I guess I am the competitive type 4:37 PM

Red Team
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

Nothing like a healthy dose of team competition to relieve the daily stresses of work. It was hot, sweaty, muddy and wet. Allies were formed and friendships were lost. Egos were burned and spirits were crushed.

Bring on the hurt!

Hooted Locally 8:06 PM

Hooted
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

Nothing like sharing my love of hot wings with family.

Hooters of Manila Bay observations. It is spanking new. No sign of the usual grime yet. The curly fries are replaced with steak fries. The size of the servings is good. Sodas are still refillable. They give you a fork and a knife on the get go which is good. The 'Hot' wings have a tad less heat for my liking but still very tasty. 'Medium' is Jollibee chicken joy straight out of the fryer. They let you pay for the blue cheese. P50. Bummer. They won't let you toss 'Medium' wings (ordered by mistake) into some 'Hot' wing sauce. Boo. They don't have those small packs of antibacterial wipes they normally give you after a meal. Loser.

But overall, the wings are good and that's the most important thing. So yay to me and yay to Hooters of Manila Bay!

Wings: P350 for 10, P750 for 20.

Beach-ology 101 2:21 AM

The Air Up There
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

Always bring fun friends!

Bitch... I want to believe! 11:25 AM

XF 2 : I want to Believe
Originally uploaded by cautious_piper

Mark your calendars... July 28, 2008.

Dang it! 12:56 PM

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?
Originally uploaded by Mustangmatt

I think I am destined to see all of the errors the XBOX 360 is capable of offering. Damn you Microsoft! Oh well, I guess it's time to pick up another hobby. Now, where did I put those throwing stars?

Sleeping In 11:40 PM

sleeping norwegian forest cat in my room
Originally uploaded by mitsukuni

The last remaining luxury I hold dearly
Please don't take this away from me
Let me start my day late
Let me not think of anything

Is Twilight the next Harry Potter? 12:39 PM

At the heels of the disappointment that is The Golden Compass comes another fantasy novel bestseller movie franchise.

Twilight stars Robert Pattinson of Harry Potter fame. After Cedric Diggory's demise in Potter movie 4, Robert returns and survives as one of the undead in this dark romantic tale from author Stephenie Meyer. Robert is paired against Kristen Stewart from the movie Jumper and Zathura.

Amazon.com
"Softly he brushed my cheek, then held my face between his marble hands. 'Be very still,' he whispered, as if I wasn't already frozen. Slowly, never moving his eyes from mine, he leaned toward me. Then abruptly, but very gently, he rested his cold cheek against the hollow at the base of my throat."

As Shakespeare knew, love burns high when thwarted by obstacles. In Twilight, an exquisite fantasy by Stephenie Meyer, readers discover a pair of lovers who are supremely star-crossed. Bella (Kristen Stewart) adores beautiful Edward (Robert Pattinson), and he returns her love. But Edward is having a hard time controlling the blood lust she arouses in him, because--he's a vampire. At any moment, the intensity of their passion could drive him to kill her, and he agonizes over the danger. But, Bella would rather be dead than part from Edward, so she risks her life to stay near him, and the novel burns with the erotic tension of their dangerous and necessarily chaste relationship.

This movie has a lot of promise but we will hold our judgment until at least a trailer comes out.

Craving for Hooters' Hot Wings 5:21 PM

I know it will never be the same but here's the closest we could get to them.

Hooters' Hot Wings (reproduction)

Prep. Time: 1:45
Serves: 4

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. black pepper
20 chicken wing segments
1/2 cup butter OR margarine
1/2 cup hot sauce (see Notes, below)


-In a shallow dish, combine flour, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and peppers.
-Coat chicken entirely in the flour mixture; refrigerate coated wings for 1 hour; coat chicken again with remaining flour mixture.
-In a 2-quart saucepan, heat butter and hot sauce just until butter melts; turn heat to low and keep warm on stove top.
-Deep-fry chicken, 8 - 10 pieces at a time, in 375 degree oil (vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil) for 13 minutes, turning once or twice.
-Drain chicken on a wire cooling rack for 30 seconds, then immediately toss fried chicken in buffalo sauce mixture and remove with a slotted spoon.
-Repeat with remaining chicken.

Adjusting the spiciness of the sauce: As is, the recipe produces a medium sauce. To change the amount of spiciness, simply adjust the butter-to-hot sauce-ratio:
Mild: Use 3/4 cup butter and 1/4 cup hot sauce.
Hot: Use 1/4 cup butter and 3/4 cup hot sauce.

Notes: The recipe calls for Frank's® Buffalo Wing sauce if you enjoy the flavor of Buffalo sauce, but not the heat. If you like spice, you can use regular Frank's® Red Hot Sauce. Another Louisiana hot sauce or hot sauce like Tabasco® would work fine, but Frank's® has a great flavor, not just heat. Use ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing as a dip for these fabulous wings!

Postcards from Vacationland 11:33 PM

Refracted
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

A lot has changed in Galera since the only other time I've been there.
For one thing, I don't remember obsessing over a 9F last time.
I really hope 9F is stupid.
9F couldn't possibly have everything.
Please be stupid.

Everything is so random... 10:15 PM

OMG. This show is friggin' hilarious! Start seeing it or be left out!



Summer Heights High... here I come!

Fail 9:55 AM

Not Yet Another Failure
Originally uploaded by Behrooz Nobakht

I have felt awkward to a fault.
I pause to think when I shouldn't.
I overanalyze.
I am driven to a corner.
I turn away.
I have more stock fantasy than reality.
I look for things that are not there.
I keep my thoughts to myself.
I listen but I don't agree.
I have more than friendship in mind.
I do know what I want.
I see you.
I fail.

Someone Else's Story 12:19 AM

Fell in love with this song from the musical Chess back in 2000 on my first US stint. I share my love of this song with Sheryl. Lea made it happen.



Check out more of Lea as she performs Broadway hits such as 'Someone Like You' from Jeckyll & Hyde and 'As If we Never Said Goodbye' from Sunset Boulevard in this link: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=5DB2BA2A5E1E2E86

On Sale Today! 3:29 PM

Slightly Jaded and now Half Off!
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

Somebody say "I love you" to me quick
My guard is down and I am looking the other way
Somebody say "I love you" to me fast
I just might hear it and jump for joy

Somebody grab my hand and look straight into my eyes
My knees are weak and I'm here for the taking
Hurry, distract me and steal a kiss
Promise I won't get angry, promise I won't pull away

Somebody come forward and claim me now
While I'm on sale and the lines are short
"Will the owner of a lost love come to aisle 10?"
"He has opened a few Cheetos and made a lot of mess"

Kobe Crossing 12:03 AM

Tophie, Jocy & I
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

Finally had a chance to step out of a Japanese airport and see the country. Now I just need to visit Spain and I could say I've terrorized every country that occupied Manila. :)

We sure are cute for two ugly people... 8:47 PM

The song at the end of Juno by The Moldy Peaches as sung by Michael Cera and Ellen Page.

Achievement Whores 11:34 PM

The Crooner & his Muse 6:27 PM

The Crooner & his Muse
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

I'm always a sucker for happy endings. :)
Katel forever!

Flowers, Balloons, Chocolates... 8:20 AM

Cupid Limited
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

Paging love. Where's mine? :)

Moving through time & space 11:50 PM

total film feb 2008
Originally uploaded by Puzzle with Pans

Sci-fi is in!

Jumper is a 1992 science fiction novel by Steven Gould. It tells the story of Davey, a teenager who has just escaped an abusive household. Davey discovers that he can teleport himself by using his thoughts, although he doesn't know how it works. As he tries to make his way alone in the world, he looks for his long-lost mother and uses his talent for criminal activities and to foil hijackers around the globe.

It has Hayden Christensen, Rachel Bilson & Jamie Bell.

Hot, hot, hot!

Jumper opens Feb 13 nationwide.

Game Over (for now) 1:33 PM

Red Ring of Death
Originally uploaded by Rogue Soul

Well, this sucks.
"Hardware failure due to overheating."
Never happened to me but I guess everybody reacts differently to stress.
Just contacted a miracle worker to perform the resurrection.
Life temporarily on hold.

Quicker than a ray of light... 10:37 PM

Press play...



"Faster than the speeding light she's flying
Trying to remember where it all began"

9:48 pm - I get the green light to arrange travel
11:23 pm - I get first of 2 management approvals
8:28 am - I get second of 2 management approvals
9:07 am - I send approvals to travel desk
10:36 am - Travel desk sends e-ticket for 3:20 pm flight
10:52 am - I make hotel reservations
11:48 am - I leave for the airport
2:43 pm - I am sitting on the gate in NAIA
5:19 pm - I wake up seeing we've landed in my first stop over
9:25 pm - I find myself in a taxi racing from my last stop to Kuala Lumpur
10:37 pm - I am sitting in a hotel room wondering how I got here

Easy Like... 9:23 PM

An idle man once said, "Doing nothing is so underrated."
I agree.

Sunday Morning - No Doubt



Sunday Morning - Maroon 5



Sunday Morning - KOS



Sunday Morning - The Velvet Underground

Itching causes (red)ness 12:35 AM

iPod + Fatboy
Originally uploaded by runeveerasawmy

Got one!
To those who have one, buy a crystal case!
It is gorgeous!

When the world is not watching... 11:26 PM

I hum a familiar tune. And when I'm sure there's no one around, I sing. I sing on good days. I sing on bad days. My heart speaks to me through song.

Find your inner selves in these 3 indie musicals I dug up this past week. All great. All speak to the heart. Now let me get back to my singing. :)

Colma, The Musical











Three teens contemplate life after high school while singing their hearts out in this fresh musical.

Taking place in the suburban town of Colma, where the dead outnumber the living 1500 to 1, Colma: The Musical takes the music of H.P. Mendoza and weaves it into a fresh personal look into the ups and downs of early adulthood.

Best pals Rodel, Billy, and Maribel find themselves in a state of limbo; fresh out of high school, they are just beginning to explore a new world of part-time mall jobs and crashing college parties. As newfound revelations and romances challenge their relationships with one another and their parents, the trio must assess what to hold onto, and how to best follow their dreams.

20 centímetros















Shot through with colorful musical numbers, 20 CENTIMETERS is a delirious romp through the life of transsexual Marieta (Monica Cervera) who longs to become a fully-fledged woman.

It's a self-consciously ''Almodóvarian'' confection, studded with small odes to the glory of self-creation. Marieta is a narcoleptic pre-op transsexual prostitute saving up for an operation to remove eight inches of unwanted manhood. In her blackouts, she lapses into lavish musical fantasies, à la Dancer in the Dark.

Once













A charming, captivating tale of love and music, Once sets the standard for the modern musical.

This is my favorite of the 3.

The Irish romance ONCE may be a musical, but it is miles away from the traditional Hollywood idea of people bursting into song. Glen Hansard (frontman for indie rock band The Frames) plays the guy, a street musician who is playing for change when he meets the girl (Marketa Irglova), an immigrant from the Czech Republic. The pair immediately bond over their shared love of music (he is a guitarist, and she plays the piano), and the film chronicles their tentative relationship. Both are weighed down by plenty of baggage: his songs are fueled by a painful breakup, and she is a young mother who left her husband behind in her native country.

The song Falling Slowly sung by Glen and Marketa halfway through is reason enough to watch the film. The perfect blend of sad and beautiful.



* Rotten Tomatoes (rottentomatoes.com)

Feeling (reddest) 7:16 PM

iPod Nano (PRODUCT)Red
Originally uploaded by sh3kk

Urghhh! Ok... I'm getting one.

Feeling (redder) 7:09 PM

Love was Black and White
Originally uploaded by powerbooktrance

Geez... that clear case sure looks awesome!

Feeling (red) 7:02 PM

iPod nano PRODUCT Red
Originally uploaded by therealp00h

Itching for one. It just looks bloody cool.

What ever happened to... the original Power Rangers? 10:04 AM

15 years after they first stormed into our tv screens and imaginations, let's re-visit the 6 actors that made up this colorful band of renegade enforcers.


Austin St. John - Red Ranger

St. John wrote a martial arts book since leaving the show. It is entitled Karate Warrior: A Beginner's Guide to Martial Arts. He is currently a paramedic n the Washington DC suburbs of Northern Virginia. And for those who had a big crush on him during his glory days, on the left is a
recent pic!

Walter Emanuel Jones - Black Ranger

Jones has focused on teaching and performing salsa dancing and placed first in the 2004 Mayan International Salsa Championship. He recently appeared in the reality tv show Age of Love providing salsa instructions. He now runs a dance studio in LA.

David Yost - Blue Ranger

Yost continued on acting soon after finishing close to 200 episodes of the show. Of the original 5, he stayed with the show the longest. He has since produced a number of cable tv series. Recently, he starred as a Playboy photographer in the made-for-tv movie After Diff'rent Strokes: When the Laughter Stopped.

Thuy Trang - Yellow Ranger

Trang died at the age of 27 in a car accident on September 3, 2001 near San Francisco, California. She and former actress/model Angela Rockwood-Nguyen, to whom Trang was to be a bridesmaid later that year, were passengers in a car traveling on Interstate 5 between San Francisco and Los Angeles (they were returning from visiting Angela's planned maid of honor) when the driver (another of Angela's bridesmaids) of the vehicle she was riding in lost control. The episode "Circuit Unsure" of Power Rangers: Time Force was dedicated to her memory.

Amy Jo Johnson - Pink Ranger

Johnson was Julie Emrick in the popular tv drama Felicity. She now regularly appears with her band Valhalla, where she is the lead singer as well as a guitarist & has recently contributed guest vocals to Koishii and Hush's cover of The Cars track "Since You're Gone".

Jason David Frank - Green Ranger

Frank appeared in the most Power Ranger series & spin-offs. He was in Mighty Morphin (original), Zeo, Turbo, Wild Force and DinoThunder. He also starred in 2 Power Rangers movies! Since then, he has founded of the Toso Kune Do sytem, an American Martial Arts system that follows the concepts of many of the American Martial Art Masters such as Bruce Lee, Ed Parker and the like who blended many martial art techniques, concepts and disciplines to seek truth in self expression. He now teaches this technique in his Rising Sun Karate Academy in Houston.

The music, movie & tv geek was here 10:20 PM

The music, movie & tv geek was here
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

I take my daily media dose seriously. If I'm not playing video games, I'm watching tv. And if I'm not watching tv, I'm tripping on sound.

I'm always on the look out for the latest and greatest out there. That's my addiction. It will be the death of me.

Wow! That court is really blue! 12:00 PM

Australian Open '08 this year has a few changes. Not least of which are the blue courts. Blue is a great color but I am on the fence on the contrast. It's bit too bright for me.

This year, we no longer have Hingis or Clijsters. Bummer. I really like those 2, especially Hingis. Hard to imagine they were just contesting for a semifinal spot last year. At least Davenport is still around.

Oh well, go Roger!

Do not stand at my grave and weep 4:00 PM

Originally uploaded by andrewlee1967

I saw the latest episode of Desperate Housewives yesterday ("Welcome to Kanagawa", first airing on the ABC network January 6, 2008). In the episode, the character Mrs. McCluskey recited a modified version of the poem "Do not stand at my grave and weep" by Mary Elizabeth Frye (1904-2004) as she was scattering the ashes of her dear friend Ida Greenberg on the baseball field where Ida had executed a triple play as a women's professional ballplayer.

The poem was sad, subtle and nothing short of beautiful.

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I did not die.

To the Limerent Other 4:04 AM

"I've got some things I'd like to set in pen.
I would have used a pencil, but lead's just not permanent."
- Hellogoodbye - Dear Jamie... Sincerely Me



"Oh it's what you do to me,
Oh it's what you do to me."
- Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah



"This is the way you left me,
I'm not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No happy ending."
- Mika - Happy Ending

Nothing Good Is On 11:09 PM

I am looking forward to hangovers this Yuletide season. Nothing seems to be worth waking up for these days. I seem to occupy myself between meals just working off a list of immediate to-dos. And I never seem run out of those.

I lost some weight. Good for me. Funny thing is I never really found a hobby aside from eating. I am in the middle of 6 books and 11 video games. It shows I lose interest a little too quickly.

I love tv. Thank God for tv. I'd rather watch tv than live my own life nowadays. Betty Suarez's life is more interesting. I'd swap lives with the pie maker any day. I may have more tv heroes now than real life role models.

I seem to have been stringing a number boring days lately. Things would only get better from now on I would think. Something big is bound to happen for sure. Because right now... if I were a tv show, I wouldn't be watching me.

Cousins 8:36 AM

Cousins
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

Family time is Fun time!

A Pocket full of Creepy Crawlies 10:21 PM

A Pocketful of Creepy Crawlies
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

Crazy folks, all special...

Surviving Long-Haul Flights 11:43 AM

Luggage
Originally uploaded by Cake Walk

Feature film in the main cabin sucky? Children just love kicking your seat from behind? You just can't get some sleep?

Here's the best way to travel for us citizens of the world.

1) Not with Northwest

Though the may offer the cheapest flights, if you travel frequently, a little comfort and leg room are more that welcome. My experience with Cathay is great for trans-pacific. They have personal entertainment systems in the main cabin!

2) With earplugs

For those that could bear the lull of the engine at 2000 feet, I tell you, you are freaks of nature. Get medical help.

3) With noise-canceling headphones/earphones

This is a 10 year old technology. Listening to Beyonce from you ipod may prove a tad more satisfying without the crying baby in background.

4) With an eye mask

Some people just love reading when it's supposed to be lights off. This would help improve the illusion of darkness.

5) Without belts or jewelry

Efficiency before style. Get rid of the hassle of constantly un-bling-ing and bling-ing when passing through security inspection from the onset.

6) With a DS lite or a PSP slim

Just love it when kids point and drool. Hahaha. Ok, didn't I tell you guys I was evil?

7) With a jacket that has deep and secure pockets

They ask for hand carry bags and luggage to be stowed. Not jackets.

8) Using online check-in

They have predicted back in 1992 that lines would be a thing of the past by now. I guess they were wrong.

Deja Vu 8:31 AM

Deja Vu
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

Did it. Done it!

The same picture 5 years ago!

Good Question 3:55 AM

Good Question
Originally uploaded by Michelle L.

It pains me to answer a number of questions.
But nothing pains me more than this one I guess.
There's no way around it; It's plain and bare.
Will you go out with yourself? Nothing more, nothing less.

Far From Home 2:48 AM

Northern Dusk
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

I grew up from place much different from this
A place where dust is in every crevice
Where the sun sets early in the evening
And where the day ends late at night

Where I am right now could not be more distant
For it takes no notice of the world beyond
It exists where reality ends for some
And it survives purely in the minds of most

The leaves here grow weary as the seasons change
And here, the autumn breeze carries a forlorn fall
The dream of here can only be for now
A flight not for me and maybe not for all

Free Willy? 6:56 PM

A Killer Whale Jumps!

5 years & about 20 lbs later 4:21 AM

Me above Toronto
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

I am flying back to the Metropolitan Toronto. Just found out about the trip 12 hours ago. I am supposed to leave 8 hours from now. As I did in Chicago, I hope to have a recapture of this same picture above. It will be interesting to see how much the skyline has changed.

Here's the plan for this trip:

1) Visit Niagara again. Ride the Maid of the Mist this time.
2) Check out the club scene.
3) Check out off Broadway plays.
4) Finally visit Jaimee in Indianapolis.
5) Maybe buy a new racquet and the new Ipod.

6) and... ohhh... work. Hehehehehe.

My first gig... in McDo 12:47 AM

Song Bite
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

Not exactly Araneta but I guess you have to start somewhere! :)

Smacking me with balloons 12:44 AM

Smacking me with balloons
Originally uploaded by Mark Ordoñez

I don't think I deserve this type of abuse!
Mean and ungrateful children!
Behave!