Considering my luck reeks unmistakably of a two-week-old sandwich, I am elated. I have never been handed a prize just for typing someone’s name before. Anyhow, I finally got around to claiming these here Ayala Museum complimentary tickets yesterday. I won them at Jessica Zafra’s blog.
There was a sheet of paper at the Information Counter where she listed the winners’ names in her precision handwriting. I signed right next to mine. That I think was part of the prize.
The cosmos relented. I can no longer claim that I have never won a raffle in my life. Time to think up a new drinking session anecdote.
The story behind the longest running in-joke is this:
One Saturday night about a year ago, we were sitting in a van on the NAIA parking lot. My best friend was to pick up a client who had just flown in from the US and I for the lack of better things to do that weekend decided to tag along.
So the client arrives, a rather portly African-American lady who we were forewarned had a reputation of being a no-nonsense sort of person. Taking care not offend her sensibilities, I sat quietly in the back seat with my other friend.
On the drive to the hotel, my best friend being the perfect hostess makes small talk. Asks her how her flight was, tells her about Manila and all that good stuff. About half an hour later, the lady turns to the back seat and asks, “Are these your daughters?”
I held myself back mid-snort.
Mind you my best friend and I were literally born hours apart from each other. It must have been really dark inside that van. It’s either that or…
It didn’t help that our entire circle of friends already referred to her as Mama Bear. It also didn’t help that I told everyone that story. Now even her older sister jokingly refers to her (rather explicitly and in public) as Mama, much to her chagrin.
In order to make up for unapologetically stoking the flames, I made this little video. I discovered this song while going through my obsessive Cass Elliot hunt. I thought it only befits this whole snafu of being mistaken for everyone’s mother.
**Just as a footnote, the great Mama Cass also sang a song called Jane The Insane Dog Lady which I thought was hilarious.
Captured by NASA Earth Observatory, September 30, 2009
Beautiful yet menacing. Kindda like the Sirens of Greek mythology. Or as Juno would put it, Diana Ross.
This is super typhoon Parma (locally known as Pepeng) as it heaves in the Southern Pacific cauldron and gets ready to give the Philippines another beating. Not one week and again we’re facing the battering ram. Although not expected to have as much rains as Ondoy, this one packs a punch with maximum sustained winds of over 200 kph. Take it from someone who grew up in the typhoon belt, that number is giving me the willies.
Say your prayers, take a deep breath and hunker down everyone. It’s going to be another bumpy weekend. Let’s hope it won’t turn into a reenactment of the The Day After Tomorrow (minus the snow). Disaster films should only be witnessed within the safe confines of the celluloid, not in real life.
I strongly encourage you to click the picture above. It is linked to a Facebook video posted by a Lemuel Espinol. Personally, I have no idea who these people are but I found this so hilarious, I took it upon myself to give them as much free publicity as I can.
A classic example of that Pinoy just-laught-it-off attitude that sets us apart from the rest of the world. Which in a way ties in with my new motto “don’t get mad…get entertained.” Easier said than done but looks like these guys have it down to an art.
Kumakain pa ng chichirya. San ka pa lulugar! I love it, I love it, I love it!
