Company Night-out with the Super Keps

I promised to stay home this weekend, but my friends forced me to come to our company party. I have to say, it was so much better than I expected. All my friends came, and that's all I really wanted. I downed a few glasses of beer (it's a mystery how I managed to do it), laughed out loud, and danced till I could barely stand. I had so much fun, albeit the headache.

Day 1: A photo that makes me happy.

To try and explain why this photo makes me happy would risk understatement. How could you look at it and say that it can't make a person happy? This is a prime example of how a picture can paint a thousand words. Apart from the obvious uncontrived spontaneity of us falling down, it captures the essence of the friendship I share with these people. Fun. Candid. Close.

Whenever I find myself missing my Burkies, I take a quick look at this photo, and instantly I find myself transported to a time when we were young, carefree, and virtually inseparable. I smile at the idea that at one point in our lives, a problem meant not knowing where to eat for lunch or which room would we hang out in. Life is catching up on us, and now we're facing real problems, and alone most of the time. This Kodak (not really) moment, however, still brings the same kind of joy it once did, albeit tinged with longing and melancholia.

My friends and I still catch up every now and then, but traditions have been harder to keep, and simple get-togethers now need careful planning. I miss them, and I miss the way we were, but I guess we all have to grow up sometime. I take comfort in the fact though that even if we're growing up apart from each other, we still remain the best of friends.

2011: A Year In Photos

I am no photographer. Let's be clear about that. And if you're asking how I could be so bold to sum up the past year in photos in spite of this reality, well I account that to one thing: laziness. I now write for a living, and no matter how much I enjoy it, I have to admit that it can get exhausting. So bear with me on this one. Don't worry, most of it aren't my own shots anyway.

Celebrating Gwen's success at MO2. This was the night I lost my part-time job. LOL.

The first half of 2011 was dedicated to my personal growth. I cried, laughed, baked, read, did art, started a business. I tried to find myself then, and still am now. I guess it's a sort of journey that takes a lifetime to complete.

Wanderlust #1: Bantayan Summer Escapade with the Burkes. I've had my fair share of travels this year, but this has got to be my favorite. The reason? I got to share the experience with my best friends.

The best thing about coming back to Intelmed. :)

I turned 23, and gave up on the plans I've long been a slave to. I gave it up not because I lost hope, but because I'm making space for a new one. Hopefully this one turns out better than the last one.

Wanderlust #2: Meeting Peter in Manila. The trip I've been most excited about the whole year. I GOT TO WATCH PETER PAN ON STAGE! That show made my year.

Wanderlust #3: A Short and Sweet Visit to Beautiful Tagaytay. I've only had lunch at Sonya's, and already I'm in love.

Lucas Nathaniel. This little bundle of joy came to our lives. He almost peed on my phone, causing me to drop it, but I still love this bugger.

Wanderlust #4: Palawan Paradise. By far, the most beautiful place I've ever been to. I was gonna write about it in detail, but I've been swamped with work. :| I'll try to get around it really soon.

These are the only pictures I could find, but this thing right here is the highlight of my 2011. Enough said.

There. 2011 summed up in photos. I'd love to say more, but there's not much I could say. 2011 was a very interesting year for me, and I hope 2012 proves to be a whole lot better. To friends old and new, to places I've been and will be going to, to the family that's ever growing, and to life that's never boring, I lift my glass up for you. Cheers to a new year!

The Forever Alone Conjecture

My circle of friends is composed of fifteen equally amazing and gifted individuals. All fifteen are lovely in their own right. However, 73.33% of the said population is currently single; 60% have never been in a relationship; 26.67% have never been romantically involved with anyone, living, dead, or otherwise. Makes you wonder doesn't it? The statistics show that our group isn't performing well in the romance department. Shocking? Barely.

It has been scientifically proven that people are intimidated with people who belong in a large, closely-knit group. More so if the group is comprised of members with strong personalities. They not only have to prove themselves to the person they are interested in, but also to his/her peers. This makes it exhausting and even irksome for any interested party. This alone can be accounted for the lack of good performance by the group in terms of romance and intimacy.

Another theory that supports the data presented is the "My Friends Over You" Rule. Any person seeking for a serious relationship is usually opposed to this rule, save for special cases such as when both parties belong to the same group of friends thus making the rule redundant. Since 46.67% of the population practices the said rule, other people then feels discouraged to make any advances.

We now live in a modern age where most people would do away with customs and traditions. More and more people turn to technology to find a match, and the group's hesitation to resort to this method contributes to the data gathered as well. Although some don't mind meeting people online or through texting, a whopping 73.33% prefer to meet someone traditionally. Although not all the singles share this idea, it is interesting to note that the percentage of those who prefer the traditional method matches that of the singles of the group. This traditional mindset narrows down the chances of meeting more people and basically limits the group to people within their immediate environment and their relations.

In conclusion, the group is faced with the statistics presented because of the mutual attachment of the members to the group and their traditional ideals. Also, it is not to be blamed solely on group dynamics. The individual factor is yet to be considered. Most members have set standards that are deemed high by the general public. The members of the group are idealistic in nature and has romantic notions that prevent them from settling to anything below their standards. With this in mind, along with all the supporting theories presented, the high singles percentage of the group is explained. This is why we are all Forever Alone. Together. :)

Boy, Do I Think Too Much Before Sleeping!

Lying on my bed, waiting for sweet slumber to take over, I find myself thinking about my friend's dilemma. Talking about her boy trouble was the last conversation I had before I decided to hit the sack.

Just lately, my girl friends were having boy troubles, and trying to help them somehow feels like directing a drama written in a language I don't understand. I feel like I know how it should go, but in reality, I simply have no idea! I haven't had much experience in terms of the heart, and my feeble wisdom on the subject comes mostly from the fiction I read. I'm a novice trying to coach a team in the big league.

"I'm married to my friends", that's what we always say. We are a tight group of friends who claim that we are enough for each other, but I know that time will come when we would finally open our doors to other people for a more intimate commitment. And although our bond would remain intact, our little group would probably have to take a back seat for some. I know this and I've prepared myself for it. It might get to the ones left behind, but we'll surely come to terms with it. My friends mean so much to me and I won't take it against them because I don't want to hold them back. That's why even with my lack of experience and the prospect of that inevitable-but-a-little-unwanted future, I try to help out with their problems of the heart.

I really want things to get better for them. I want them to experience something that I feel is long overdue for people as lovely and amazing as my soul siblings. I want them to feel how it is to love and be loved, and maybe how it is to get your heart broken too. I want them to realize how they deserve nothing but the best, and that compromising is never an option. I want them to feel the rush of a budding love affair and taste the bittersweet fruit that's out of my reach.

I'm not gonna pretend that I'm not hoping to hitch a ride on the love train, but right now it's my best friends' turn to get on. And although I'll still be stuck at the station waiting, I want to make sure that they enjoy the ride and get off at the next stop in one piece. So whether they ask for it or not, I'll be here to share my honest opinion and point out their blind spots. I'll be here to cheer them on when they need it or give them a good smacking when they let things get out of control, because that's what friends do. And no matter where I am or what I'm doing, they can always count on me to be one.

Christmas Party - Burkes-Style

Stupid things don't feel so stupid when you're doing it with good friends.

Last night, my friends and I came together for a little tradition - our annual Christmas Party. We had food, games, and tons of fun. Although it may sound very cliche to say that it was a party like no other, it's actually true. It was a party like no other. Because being the eccentric group of friends that we are, we didn't do a traditional Christmas Party where everyone just comes in and bring gifts and chat around the Christmas table. No. We're far too creative and far too child-like to do just that. We did something out of the ordinary. A little immature, yes, but way more fun than doing it the old way. We did away with tradition and had a themed-costume party.

Costume parties are usually associated with Halloween, yes, but the gang and I thought that it would be fun to do things differently this year. With all the changes that had transpired throughout the year, we felt it was quite appropriate to blow the winds of change to our party's direction as well. And since most of us are frustrated travelers who can't afford plane tickets to our dream destinations, we decided to bring the world to us. We decided to party as representatives of varying nations. And I would be representing Greece.

But wearing costumes for a Christmas party is just the tip of the iceberg. We did another thing that we could only dare to do in front of each other. Something that we only did out of respect for our friend who cooked up the idea. The highlight, if I may say so, of the year's most awaited event. We did a Christmas Talent show. My God, the thought alone makes me laugh my ass off. It was something so embarrassing, yet highly entertaining at the same time. It was an I-hope-no-one-sees-this kind of thing, but you just can't help but laugh at the thought of seemingly mature people doing something so immature. I'm not sure if it's the right thing to say, but I'm sort of glad in a but-it-still would-have-been-fine-without-it kind of way that Jdin thought of something as stupid as that. It sort of made my year. Ha!

So yeah, I had a great time last night. Inspite of all the day's challenges like stitching up a greek costume, being sick and sleepy, Abi's headache, Marah's pancit, Nicole's wallet, Margy's absence. Somehow, the company of the best friends anyone could ever have made up for all of it.

Parkmall. I Love You Goodbye. Sylvanas. Sean's Ice Cream. The Jingle Sluts. Bottom 3 Costumes (Sean, Marah, Karen). Manito-Manita. Personal Item Raffle. I can only sum it up in three words: I love it.

Καλά Χριστούγεννα!

That's Greek for Merry Christmas.