Sunday, February 17, 2008

1st Official Badminton Tournament -- Team Prima

For the longest time, I've been wanting to join a tournament in Badminton just to see if I can stand the pressure of an official Badminton game. I remember Doths, Mommy Weng, Joey and I were planning to join one after we were done with our training a couple of years ago. But they got busy with their US relocation that the tournament was totally scrapped off the list.

Now, that we've resumed play in my office, the tournament idea was brought back to life. This is also due to the insistent invite of Anna to play in a tournament, we finally had the guts to join one.

We've been playing at Powersmash for almost a year now and we saw a poster of a tournament that will have its leveling on the same place also. This is it! It's now or never, we have to join na!

Today was the leveling of players, wherein, a certified Badminton trainer/official (I think..) will see you play and will determine the level you will play in.

I almost didn't want to go today, I get intimidated easily especially if we are small in numbers. It was only Anna and I who joined this tournament and not knowing what to do and expect is a big No-No for me. When I get into something, I want to know everything -- how it works, what's the whole process, what to do and what to expect. True enough, nerves got into us and the level we got in was quite disappointing. It didn't help us too when we were paired to play with topnotch-Level A+ players that we often see at Powersmash. We literally looked like Beginners of the sport when we played them. Hayz...

We felt defeated after that leveling. We just stayed there for awhile and watched other players get leveled and tried to console ourselves (like: "Wag kasi mag-expect masyado!" tsaka "Bakit ba?! First tournament kaya natin to. Level up na lang next time." tsaka "At least yung makakalaban natin eh ayos lang" tsaka "At least natupad natin yung advise ni Axel na mag-downplay, yun nga lang di sinasadya" hehehe). We played like crap and leaving the court feeling like that was not a good thing. (Di man lang kami pinagpawisan!)

But if Doths and Lod were there, I think we could've mustered enough courage, confidence and added a little fun with it and would've done well at the leveling. (-->Kasi naman eh, ba't wala kayo dun!!! Wah!!!<--)

Oh well, maybe next time -- our goal now is to win in our level --> Level E - Intermediate III. Jonathan, our trainer before, would surely be disappointed if he ever finds out that I'm only playing at this level. Bwahahahahahaha

By the way, Level F is the lowest level in the tournament. Games will start on March 2, 2008. So that's that... Wish us luck, I think we're going to need it.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

2008 Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

Doths (a.k.a The Janitress), Angie (a.k.a Warla), Rosa (a.k.a RoFa RUMPA), Anna (a.k.a. Baby ni Dan), Dan (a.k.a. The Driver) and I (a.k.a Bespren ni Jose) went to attend the 2008 Hot Air Balloon Fiesta at Clark Field Pampanga. Dan and I wanted to take some pratice shots with our cams and the great thing was our friends wanted to come along with us too. What fun!

The plan was to go there on a Friday night after office hours and spend the night in a cheap 2-3 star hotel because we have to witness the early morning flights of the balloons. So after office, off we went to Clark. I had fun during this trip because I was not driving all the way to Pampanga. Dan was the designated driver and I can just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Aaaaahhhhh, that's what I call a weekend getway.

The Troopers -- Off to Clark


We were booked at the Maharajah hotel that was recommended by our friend Fang. It was a so-so hotel, the downside was that they didn't allow 6 people in one room even if we were only going to spend the night there, oh yeah, plus the TV is so small you cannot plug the magicsing to it. Angie almost lost her temper at the front desk because it was not a fair price for the room. She vowed that when we check out the following morning, she will trash the place and not clean up and will never go back to this hotel ever!!! A good thing was Mr. Jose Cuervo and Mr. Bicycle kept all of us company 'til the wee hours of the morning.

Just arrived at the Maharajah Hotel


Still at Maharajah, before trashing the place


I didn't think that all of us could finish a liter of Cuervo, but lo and behold, we did. And as far as my drinking escapades goes, this is the first time that I can't uhm.. remember some stuff I did while drinking an alcoholic beverage. Hihihi Such fun...

My bespren goes great with oranges


The oranges goes great with my friends


The bespren


The oranges


Come morning, the sane ones, Doths, Angie and Rosa, told stories of what the insane ones did that night. One was being a human electric fan and broke a glass, one puked in bed and slept on it and one was being woken up by ice and stripped half naked in bed because it was already 5AM and we all have to go the Balloon Fiesta already. Angie was surprised too because the place looked spic and span the morning after the insane ones (this one included Angie) trashed the place. After much investigation, someone in our group cleaned the place up because she couldn't take the messiness around. Hehehe Any guesses who?

The result of mixing my bespren-oranges-wacky friends:

Happy


A-scared


Riot


Blissful


Memory Gap


Knocked-out


Sad to say though, the insane ones couldn't wake up at 5AM and see the Balloons take off. A good thing though (not sure if it's really a good thing) was that the winds were too strong that morning that no balloons were able to take off so the insane ones didn't miss much. Hehehe

The morning after


I have to say sorry to Doths, Angie and Rosa though because that morning, they were forced to commute around Clark just to attend the early take off of the Balloons because both drivers were unavailable and were so dizzy and dreaming in Tralala Land. And that was the ONLY reason why we wanted to sleep in Clark in the first place - to see the take off of the balloons and not get totally wasted.

Doths took this shot. Nice no?


Tres Sane Ones


Anyway, we checked out of the hotel around lunch time already and had our lunch at the famous RUMPA restaurant where the specialty was the Pork Barbeque Ribs. A good recommendation by Dan, it was really delish! Rosa marked this place with something, that's why after we left this place, her alias got stuck.

At Rumpa -- with a slight hangover


Enjoying the house blended iced tea
(Sorry Angie at natakpan kita Hehe)


Pork BBQ Ribs


After that, the sun was still high and it was still hot at the Balloon Fiesta field so the group decided to go to Duty Free first and buy some pasalubong. Outside the store was a lady that sells these cute little puppies for a cheap price. They were so cute!!! I took lotsa pics of them too.

Dan, Doths and Rosa with the puppies


Ang mag "Baby" with their baby


At the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, it was so dusty and the balloons were still not inflated due to the strong winds. It was such a bummer indeed, all we did there was to take photos of ourselves and buy the same shirts as a souvenir. Hayz... Do you think this was Karma for being drunk the night before? Hehehe I don't like to think so... The company was still fun though, so that was the only thing that's not boring at that place.

I'll just share my favorite shots in the event:

Pre-nup pic?!


With Jake Roxas


Kid and Kite


Pre-nup pic #2?!


EDSA Katorse


My tank


Reach out


Inflating Balloon #1 -- with no luck


Inflating Balloon #2 -- still with no luck


Inflated! But for a few mins only


Wacky pic na lang tayo guys...


The Night Glow -- with no Balloons


On the way home, we were planning to eat at a good merienda place again recommended by Dan. But we got lost going there so that took up a lot of time and it was already closed when we got there, we were also planning to eat at Razon's but it was also closed already. We ended up having a very late dinner at Chowking and Tapa King in San Fernando.

Identical shirts -- with a flaw, can you see it?


Then the following day, we got news that the Balloons were inflated and were able to take off. Bummer.. though FUN.. but still Bummer...

There's still next year!

Monday, February 04, 2008

Can't sleep

I can't sleep. Lots of thoughts enter your mind while you're in your bed, tossing and turning. I really hate this scenario. I don't like to think about a lot of stuff in bed, it's f*ucking frustrating, it starts an anxiety attack and it's gonna be another one of those sleepless nights which I can't afford to have.

I read in a magazine that in order to sleep better, one way is to list whatever it is you're thinking about so as to get it out of your head and level out those thoughts. So to be able to sleep tonight, I thought I'll write about what I'm tossing and turning about here. Oh what the hell.. I'll write what I want to write.

I'm turning the big 3-0 this year. Whoopteedoo, yehey, whatever?! I know that in today's times, it's like being in your 20's only. Just like they say when you turn 40 it feels like your 30 and so on and so f*cking forth. Well, maybe it's just a state of mind. Your mind is in your 20's but your body is the real one that's turning 30. But true also as they say, that the mind is a very powerful tool. So just think that both your mind and body are turning 20 instead of 30. Magical!

The thing is.. life is great and fun when your single. You can do whatever you want, you only think of yourself, you spend money the way you want it, you don't think about tuition fees and what will you prepare for dinner. I just think of my personal bills, my parents' health, the places I want to visit this year, not think of the next love that comes your way and gifts to buy for this year's Christmas. However, it's also true that sometimes aside from your parents, you want someone to be there for you too, i.e. only for you.

I was editing my Friendster account awhile ago and I remembered my favorite movies, some of which are Love Affair and The Moulin Rouge. I love the part in the movie Love Affair (which was remade by Warren Beatty and Annette Bening) where they went to an island to visit Warren Beatty's character's Aunt. She had a house on top of a plateau that is in the middle of a grassy field where wild horses run free. That is my most favoritest place in the whole wide world! I would so love to visit that paradise one day if I can. In Moulin Rouge, the tagline is what is unforgettable. Who would ever forget: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return."

I was also watching a TV show wherein one of the characters asked her fellow girl friends a question, the question went: "If they only get to have one thing only, what would it be: Love, Sex or Kids?" I'll answer this with another question, Why do women now a days have to choose from these three options? In reality, why can't we have all of them?! For those who have all those things, lucky you!

Damn! I'm getting sentimental, I'll stop now. Enough of this. This is not helping me go to sleep. I'll just watch another crappy movie, maybe that'll put me to sleep.