thoughts and occurrences

batmanrunningawayfromshit:

Suggested by thoughtsandoccurrences

run batman, RUN!

“…cause when she sings i hear a symphony…”

the best song in the album

for my love of fallout. im going to leave you for sanctuary in a few days and this is a sort of thanks for reminding me to never feed the yao guai! that is all. 

(original photo of pinup model taken from deviantart)

..much have changed since you lived here my friend. all was peaceful until the dark riders came and destroyed our village. many were cut down where they stood, and those who took up arms were slain o-or dragged away to become slaves… or worse. the church at the edge of town has been desecrated and is being used for dark rituals. the screams that echo in the night are inhuman; but, some of our townsfolk may yet survive. follow the path that lies between my tavern and the blacksmith’s shop to find the church and save who you can. perhaps i can tell you more if we speak again. good luck!”

and with that began my addiction for this game. i think it was way back in ‘97 or ‘98. before i was only sitting up right beside my uncle, watching the games he was playing in his pc. i watched like it was cartoons. warcraft, doom, heretic, etc. then one day he came home with a new game. it had a knight in it. i kept watching him still. then he said was to me my magic words: “oh, now you try! let’s make you a character!”

i wanted the guy with the sword. the warrior. i loved the story. the horror was more real now that i was controlling and not watching. it kept me at the edge of my seat! heart pounding before i open a door (BLARGH! FRESH MEAT!) my chracter became stronger and looked cooler! i destroyed demons, skeletons, mad mages, armored spirits, naked women with bat wings, then finally diablo. 

then my character stabbed myself in the head with the soul stone. i was devasted. my first game and my character dies. 

later on in my nth run of the game i finally understood the last narrative…

“…you pray that you are strong enough to hold the demon and keep him at bay… (and then) …in the ancient lands to the east. perhaps there you will find your answers, or perhaps… salvation…)

im alive! there will be a sequel! then i waited…

four years ago i was the new blood in my work place. and through the years i grew, learned, made friends, made money, and most of all enhanced myself in terms of skill, talent and personality. so what ever people may think of aep, i am still thankful for all those things i have acquired through the company, whatever the degree is.

and looking back, i can’t help but compare my working years there with the comic book super heroes fantastic four. and here’s why:

Year One: the Human Torch
of course when you are starting in a new environment, you have to be on fire! and i can say i was back then. i was a show off. i left my trail of creativity that made clients what to see more. i made sure that everyone wanted to have me (thinks of being pulled by other teams just to make them some spec ads). so there, i was on fire and i made sure i kept on burning.

Year Two: Invisible Girl
it was the time i suddenly mellowed down. became just one of the designers on the floor. almost invisible when comparing myself to other people. it was also during this time that you start to hear and experience the negative vibes of people so it’s either you absorb them or you repel them. but i think what made me into this “invisible fellow” back them was the sudden disappearance of a really good ally. not just an ally but a fellow peer, competitor, and some sort of inspiration here and there too. so i felt i had no friend and confidant that i had to shell up.

Year Three: Mr. Fantastic
three years and running. i had a new goal. i had a new achievement i wanted to attain. suddenly i found myself “stretching.” not only i was designing, i was also doing responsibilities that aren’t part of what i usually do. i was showing that i was leader material. i showed my intent, and it was seen. i showed i can handle the pressure of talking to clients on calls, making mature decisions, and being a good leader. and i know that i did good. but sadly all the hard work ended to nothing.

Year Four: Thing
the stone. so hardened throughout the years that pain (work pain that is: stress, peer pressure, etc, etc) has no more effect on me. i have to be contended to be the grunt. to be main working hand. the turn to guy when there’s hard work. i don’t care anymore if people see me as a man still on fire. i don’t care about having or not having a voice and being able to be heard. i don’t have anymore intent on having a better seat. what’s important now is that i go to work. i do what i do. i go home. i get paid. the stone.

let’s see if i can remember everything correctly.

____________________________

Day 1

we arrived in baguio at an earlier time than our expected. we waited for our tour guide kuya james (pronounced jah-mess) by the bus station, warming ourselves with taho and other hot food the locals were selling. i had a try of strawberry taho which had really nothing special to it. 

when our guide arrived, we didn’t waste anymore time and placed our bags on top of the jeep, rode in, then rode off. the jeep came to a halt a few kilometers out of the city then kuya james told us we could now ride top deck!

we couldn’t all fit top deck with the bags so we had to switch with the other guys later on. the ride took around 4 hours with breakfast and a broken jeep to repair along the way before we reached the DENR registration camp.

after logging in and registering, the DENR guys showed us this mini video about the hiking rules of mt. pulag. then they gave us a briefing on the two routes we were about to embark.

the akiki trail is one of the most difficult trail offered to hikers and the like. the “killer trail” it was named. by what we went through, it was a killer trail. 8 hours of assault. it was physically punishing specially for one who doesn’t have enough exercise (points to self). the sun was scorching hot but the winds were cold. the view was exquisite with all the mountains, pines trees, and the vegetable gardens here and there. that was were we hiked, climbed, rested, hiked, saw open burial mounds - skulls and all, crossed hanging bridges,

drank in cold rivers, climbed, rested, climbed again. climbed until the sun went down, climbed until our bodies would about to give up.

reaching the camp site after the dreaded killer trail was the most rewarding thing that day. we set up camp ate dinner, and slept.

Day 2

after a hearty breakfast, it was time to pack camp and continue on. although the hardest part was over, the toll it took from us were great. that made this leg of the journey a challenge still. with aching and shivering bodies, we picked up our bags and entered the mossy forest trail. the ascend was not at all steep and the cold morning air gave us relief throughout the trail.

then the forest suddenly opened up.

that high up we didn’t worry so much of the sun burning us because the cold winds are constantly giving us a chill. the killer trail finally ended and so began the marlboro trail.

a few moments of walking and we beheld our destination, the peak of mt. pulag.
 
the marlboro trail went unexpected short for us. we had a lot of cam whore moments along the trail before reaching the last camping ground, saddle camp. we set up our tents again while kuya james prepared our lunch.

we had a lot of rest time thanks to our somewhat fast pace (than the other hiking groups that is. hahaha) and by the afternoon, we were somewhat energized for the hike to the summit to watch the sun set.

then the cam whoring started.

just as the sun was setting, this big cloud comes along and covered everything up! it even swallowed up the summit whole. with zero visibility it was kinda sad not to see the sun set. then someone came along with the “mt. pulag summit challenge” in which us guys said challenge accepted!so with all our manliness combined, the shirts flew and we went topless on the summit:
 

we made a slow descend back to camp, still hoping to get a glimpse of the setting sun. the clouds soon gave way for us but still it covered up majority of the sun leaving us with red clouds as it slowly turned to violet, then the stars twinkled one at a time until the sky was pitch black.

our night ended with socials and ghosts stories of the locale.

Day 3

it was 4am when we started packing up our stuff. had coffee for breakfast; then, in the dark of the early morn, made our way back up to the summit.

oh, by the way, here are the two super heroes that made our trip safe:

after basking in the glory of the sun rise, we started our way back down mt. pulag. this time we took another trail in our descend, the ambangeg trail. an easier path to hike on. a few hours later, right about lunch time, we reached the ranger station for that trail. while kuya james cooked lunch for us,

we freshened up taking our well deserved ice cold water baths. lunch was epic with his uber special sinangag and sinigang, and ice cold coke. 

after lunch it was time to head up to baguio. another 4 hour trip spent on top of the jeep, side trip to the DENR to log out, and slept away the journey back. we also had a side trip over at tam-awan village for some dinner

and the civet coffee

then we headed up the market to buy some pasalubong. we said our goodbyes and thank yous to our manong drivers and kuya james the guide as they dropped us off to the manila bound bus.

____________________________

first climb of the year. and all i can say is EPIC CLIMB IS EPIC.

top: me, lubelle, julienne, ryan, brian, janelle, jc, ted
bottom: jin, ed, ra, dom, rain, maui, jane 

I am a cuddler.
I am a morning person.
I am an only child. 
I am currently in my pajamas.
I am currently pregnant.
I am left handed.
I am a little shy around the opposite gender at first.
I bite my nails.
I can be paranoid at times.
I enjoy country music.
I enjoy smoothies.
I enjoy talking on the phone.
I have a car.
I have/had a hard time paying attention at school.
I have a hidden talent.
I have a pet.
I have a tendency to fall for the “wrong” guy/girl.
I have all my grandparents. 
I have been to another country. 
I have been told that I have an unusual sense of humor.
I have or had broken a bone.
I have caller I.D. on my phone.
I have bathed someone.
I have changed a diaper.
I have changed a lot over the past year.
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
I have had major/minor surgery.
I have killed another person.
I have had my hair cut within the last week.
I have mood swings.
I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.
I have rejected someone before.
I like the taste of blood.
I love Michael Jackson.
I love sleeping.
I love to shop.
I own 100 CDs or more.
I own and use a library card.
I read books for pleasure in my spare time.
I sleep a lot during the day.
I strongly dislike math.
I was born in a country other than the US.
I watch soap operas on a regular basis.
I work at a job that I enjoy.
I would classify myself as ghetto.
I would get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free of cost, and scar-free.
I am currently wearing socks.
I am tired.
I love to paint/draw/sketch/sculpt.  (if adobe illustrator counts in this)  
I consume at least one alchoholic drink every month.

I have/had:
Graduated high school.
Kissed someone.
Smoked cigarettes.
Rode every ride at an amusement park.
Collected something really stupid.
Gone to a concert.
Helped someone.
Spun turn tables.
Watched four movies in one night.
Been dumped.
Taken a college level course.
Been in a car accident. 
Been in a tornado. 
Watched someone die.
Been to a funeral.
Burned yourself.
Ran a marathon.
Your parents got divorced.
Cried yourself to sleep.
Spent over £200 in one day.
Cheated on someone.
Been cheated on.
Written a 10 page letter.
Had a best friend.
Lost someone you loved.
Skipped school.
Got in trouble for something you didn’t do.
Stolen books from the library. 
Been in a mental hospital.
Watched the “Harry Potter” movies.
Fired a gun.
Been in a school play.
Been fired from a job.
Taken a lie detector test.
Swam with dolphins.
Gone to Sea World.
Attempted suicide. 
Written poetry.
Read more than 20 books a year.
Gone to Europe.
Loved someone you couldn’t have.
Used a coloring book over age 12.
Had surgery.
Had stitches.
Taken a taxi.
Had more than 5 online conversations going at once.   (very VERY dangerous!!!) 
Had a hamster.
Dyed your hair.
Had something pierced.
Got straight A’s.
Your parents sent you to a shrink.
Been handcuffed.

Some of my biggest fears are ___.
Spiders/other insects (IPIIIIIIIIIIS!!!)
Dying
Doctor/dentist appointments
Hospitals
Needles
Disease
Being alone in the dark
Heights
Small spaces
Oceans/large bodies of water
Holes
Large animals
Small animals
Dying young
Open spaces

• arnold: remember all those times i was in a contest and you told me i could win?
• grandpa: oh sure, but i really didn't believe you could win.
• arnold: [gasps]
• grandpa: i just told you that stuff on the off chance that the other kids will blow it.

superpose!

so this is my first threadless submission. let’s see where this baby will reach!