Plants vs Zombies!

Brains!

My brother plays it, my sisters play it, my officemates play it, everyone go ga-ga about Plants vs Zombies! Why? It’s pure, harmless fun. And maybe a bit psychologically environmentally relevant (duh?!). Well, there could be a huge subliminal message in all this besides “plants good, zombies bad.” Maybe “Go green,” or something like that. While you’re at it, use hybrid cars and cheap auto insurance. 

But, really, they’re coming. The zombies, that is. To eat your brains. So go plant. Check this game out . 

In-Your-Face Advertising

So I read this article about how retail displays of cigars have an impact on people who are trying to quit smoking. You can imagine there are effects, even for people who are not even giving thought on starting (to smoke). Interviewees say that seeing displays of advertisements and the actual thing on convenience stores and the likes makes it so hard to quit smoking because the imagery those in-your-face temptations provide just reminds them about everything they like about smoking. And I’m sure it’s quite not practical to give up buying stuff from such establishments just because they have inviting cigarette packs lying around. But that’s business. It’s a tricky thing to judge people making a living at the expense of other people’s health. It’s a two-way street, although human nature seems to win most of the time, and not always in our best interests.

Tenant

While the current fad among my peers is to step up from renting apartments to being homeowners - mostly condos -  I’ve started considering my options as well. Many of my friends still - and many others used to  - rent living spaces, but it does seem like a more practical option these days to get a home loan and acquire a property instead. The monthly dues do not differ all that much. I guess I just have to think it over a little more just to make sure that I’m not rejecting the idea at once nor am I jumping to something I cannot yet afford. I’m dreaming of a nice place, though, with considerable space and comfort. I can already see the nice sofa set and the custom blinds, and perhaps a rather large LCD TV.

Well, I can dream for now. We’ll see within the next few years if it will amount to something.    

Freeze Frame

Can you think of a particular moment in time that you want to keep forever in your memory, for whatever reason?  It could be because of its utter beauty, or the happiness that accompanies it, or clarity and perspective it gave you. Well, at the moment, I can’t. Which must mean I am still in the hunt for that perfect moment. That single, no matter how short, space in time when everything just feels like how they’re supposed to be.

They say sometimes you need to find your happiness where you can get it. And sometimes it’s staring right into your face and you don’t know it. I’ve always been the finder. But I also believe that I know myself well enough to know if something I’m not looking for, but fits, is lurking around the corner. I just hope that I get my freeze-frame moment before I get too old to enjoy it. Soon enough, I’ll be getting first communion invitations from my used-to-be single friends. Now that would make me feel really ancient.

Showbiz

I’ve been  following Lea Salonga on Twitter and Facebook. Just because. She’s a cultural icon and I like her and she does share interesting things. Last December, I thought I saw a rather annoyed (well, “annoyed” is a mild word) status message regarding someone pretending to be her close friend. I thought it was quite cryptic and I didn’t really dig into that to know who she was talking about.

Well, now I got my answer. And I’m also linking here just because. Apparently, Lea was asked to do a concert and was paid a bounced check for her performance. She remains unpaid to this date save for the down payment. That’s the short story. Follow the link above for the long one. Tsk. This is a personal matter, but I’m thinking in the interest of fairness, whatever the reason may be, a deal is a deal and both sides need to deliver on what is promised. Sugar-coating it would be just like covering severe acne with foundation cream.

Framework

When you suddenly engage in any intense physical exertion, like playing a high-performance sport for instance, after a period of inactivity, be prepared to have pain in your muscles and joints the following day, no matter how many streches you did as a warm-up. I always worry about hurting my joints because of badminton -  a sport that can make one very prone to wear and tear in the muscles and joints, no matter how beneficial the other effects are. I know people who had tendinitis, some even had extensive knee surgeries, because of such complications. My right ankle has been hurting, which is possibly more related to a slip rather than too much badminton, so I’m very careful about running around chasing the shuttlecock during play. I’ve read there are meds/supplements, like glucosamine chondroitin sulphate, that help protect our body’s framework - the bones and joints. Maybe I should research further on this.

Cliqued

 I did say I was going to the badminton courts, as is our Saturday routine. Well, I’m happy to report that this weekend has been just great in terms of our play and attendance. Many of our usual, what do you call it, playmates, were there and it struck me that our group has become quite large. Gone were those days when we’re stuck at the cornermost court because nobody wants to play with us. Over the years since I started playing the sport a little more seriously than the just-for-fun types or those who are looking to burn some energy in place of the best cholesterol treatments, I’ve been to a few other courts aside from our designated “home”, and I’ve noticed that cliques are common in all of them. The more advanced players don’t normally play with beginners, and that’s aside from the groups created by divisions due to personal dramas and stuff. I’ve learned to understand all those and adapt to them. Maybe that’s why after almost 5 years, our badminton group has become like a small family outside of work and home. It’s definitely something nice to have.

Woods

Tiger Woods apologized today. I was watching CNN’s coverage and they’ve been doing an in-depth analysis of the 13.5 minutes of no-questions-please public apology.

Ehhh. I don’t know. I don’t really care about golf, although I am interested about sporting heroes. Tiger Woods was among the most elite of those. Until his carefully manufactured facade was revealed for what it is. I don’t know how America will forgive him, much less his wife, but I think this is not something that can be wiped out like applying an acne lotion. As a mere, remote spectator of it all, I don’t have the right to judge or condemn. But this serves as a reminder that people are not always what they seem to be. And that no one is entitled to do things that are wrong, no matter how famous or moneyed or accomplished they are.  

When You Know You Need Some Fun

I’ve been spending a lot of my time in front of the computer lately, which means I don’t move around at all that much, which means I may need to take some slimming pills to trim down.

When I watched last week episode of Smallville, the theme struck a chord in me. Someone asked Chloe, the loyal sidekick and good friend of The Red-Blue Blur also known as Clark Kent also known to us as the future Superman, when she last allowed herself to have fun. She’s been too busy watching over the world, so to speak, looking at her computers to see where trouble is brewing so our heroes can save those who need saving. She couldn’t give a ready answer. And neither can I. So I’m playing badminton today with my friends. I don’t have a task as daunting as Chloe’s but I sure need to the workout and company once in a while.

No Diet for Me

I commented on one of my friends’ Facebook status message that “I hate dieting.” It’s true. I love food too much. Truth be told, I hate unhealthy dieting with a passion - the kind where people give up food in extreme measures for quick quick weight loss. I think it’s counterproductive and more than a little vain. But I’m not trying to set up a great debate here. Merely stating an opinion - self-deprivation is one thing, “killing yourself” to “look good” is another. As with most thing, the key, I believe, is moderation.