Whatever happened to cassette tapes? Before I got a job, I remember I was saving the change from the allowance (for job hunting) my parents were giving me so I can buy tapes of albums of my favorite recording artists. I was carrying a Walkman then, before the iPod ever saw the light of day. Remember when people used to make mixed tapes as gifts? It was a labor of love and hardwork back then. In these times of CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray disks, I wonder if people still use tape drives. I haven’t even seen one, to be honest. Not that I’m complaining. I remember how devastated I get whenever the “tape” I’m playing “gets caught” inside the cassette player (Oh, you know what I mean), that I have to wind it back but it will not sound the same anymore because it’s all damaged and frilly. Old times. Good times.
I came from Batangas today and during our trip back to Manila, my sister, my brother, and I were laughing hysterically at the movie being shown inside the bus. I didn’t even catch the title, but it was a foreign movie dubbed in a mixture of English and Indian language with English subtitles. At the beginning, I thought it was one really serious movie about the media and terrorism; the action sequences are mildly compelling, and the main character and his gun-swagging friend were quite hot, to be honest. I was about to doze it off when suddenly, out of nowhere, after a scene of gunfire exchanges, there in the screen is the main protagonist, under the disco lights, singing and strutting his stuff with a bunch of belly-dancing ladies. I swear I thought I was dreaming! I don’t think I’ve ever seen an action movie that intersperse MTV-like sequences even when the protagonists were running for their lives, stealing computer data I think a laptop memory cannot handle by using a pen drive, and fighting off bad guys from every corner. There’s even one scene where an actor looking very much like American President Bush, when asked about the “Turkey situation,” berated his staff for bothering him about birds. I don’t know why I thought about suggesting the DVDs I have in my bag to the driver in the first place.
Over dinner today, my friends and I talked about something we have in common – feeling stressed and worn down. I remember one friend calling a seemingly happy-go-lucky colleague as someone “like a balloon with an air hole,” because nothing seems to faze this person – but we know that appearances can be deceiving sometimes. I’ve done the rounds when it comes to facing and handling stressful situations. It may not show because it doesn’t work like diet pills on me, but as time goes by I think I’m actually learning to understand the meaning of “work-life balance,” at least in terms of my personal situation. Not that I’m a success with that by now, mind you. I just meant I’m trying to tip the scales, so to speak. I’m still going through the extremes and having a seesaw kind of ride. Now, I don’t mean that all my woes come from work but it’s a big part. Sometimes, even just going through the motions can be awfully tiresome. Gah, I need some inspiration. Where do you buy that cheap?
Can you believe how fast time flies? I personally don’t want to.
This is going to be one very random post with no continuity so I’d like to start with Project Runway. I’m watching season 4 on DVD and I must say “Hooray for creativity!” Awesome show. Unbelievable skills. Christian, who won last season, is one supremely talented kid (he’s only 21?)! And he’s got attitude.
Maria Sharapova is out of Montreal, out of the Olympics, and out of the U.S. Open. Her right shoulder injury will have her sidelined for at least three months. Let’s see if Ana Ivanovic can get it together and be this year’s last Grand Slam’s IT girl and champion as well.
Roger Federer is not so lucky either. He was booted out of Cincinnati masters in the third round after barely winning his first match after that Wimbledon loss to Nadal. Rafael Nadal will most probably be the new no. 1 next week, if he wins the tournament.
I’m trying my hand at selling some personal items online (I started with books). But now that my first book (which I realized too late that I priced too low) got a bid, I’m feeling a little sad about parting with it. I like keeping my (small) collection but I’m trying to see if this is a better way go than have them gather dust and their pages turn yellow. Maybe I’ll even cry a little when I have to ship them off.
I read that the new Mummy movie is not good but don’t take my word for it. There’s this new film about a man who crossed the World Trade Center twin towers, in 1974, through a tightrope - Man on Wire. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince now has a teaser trailer. Look for it online. And speaking of August and movies, have you heard of this 2006 film August Rush? Rather schmaltzy but nice movie.
